### Chapter 62: The Fifth-Order Python
The Black Veil Forest loomed ahead, its canopy so dense it swallowed sunlight, casting the woods in perpetual twilight. Lin Yi stood at the edge, flanked by Pan Yu and Fang Yue, as Elder Zhao's voice boomed behind them.
"Remember—stay in groups. Shout for help if needed. And keep an eye out for 妖魔异动 (demonic activity). Now go!"
With that, the four sects split, each vanishing into the forest's shadowy depths. Lin Yi glanced back, catching sight of Yan Shizong from Xuanfeng Cave—still as 倨傲 (arrogant) as ever—and nearly laughed. The man had no idea he was staring at the "Xu Lin" who'd mocked him in the Yunmeng Marsh.
*Fools*, he thought, turning to follow his group.
…
Six hours later, Lin Yi crouched in the crook of an ancient oak, watching a 水潭 (pond) below.
Tension hung thick in the air. Six cultivators—three from Dianxuan, two from Mengxuan Sect, one from Xuanling Sect—stood at the pond's edge, their faces pale. Between them and the water coiled a 巨蟒 (giant python), its scales glinting like obsidian, two bulbous growths on its head hinting at 龙角 (dragon horns).
*Fifth-order beast*, Lin Yi realized, his breath catching. That meant strength equal to a 筑基后期 (Late Foundation Establishment) cultivator. One step from becoming a 蛟龙 (flood dragon)—a leap that would make it nigh-unstoppable.
"咝!" The python hissed, its forked tongue flicking. Poisonous red mist billowed from its jaws, coiling toward the cultivators.
"Defend!" roared a Dianxuan disciple, activating his 防御法衣 (defensive robe). The others followed suit, spiritual shields flaring to life.
But the mist ate through the shields like acid.
"啊!" (Ah!) A Xuanling disciple screamed as his shield dissolved. His face melted, flesh sloughing off to reveal bone, before he collapsed into a puddle of 尸水 (rotting liquid). Only his storage bag and tattered robes remained.
The survivors paled. This wasn't a fight—it was a 屠杀 (massacre).
"Run!" someone shouted.
They scattered, activating speed talismans, but the python struck. Its tail lashed out, crushing a Dianxuan disciple's ribs. He died mid-scream, his body crumpling like a ragdoll.
Lin Yi winced. He'd killed men, even 掠夺者 (raiders), but watching a Fifth-order beast tear through cultivators like paper… it was a stark reminder of how fragile he still was.
*Xiao Bei was right*, he thought. *This place is a death trap.*
The remaining four fled, two firing 求救信号 (distress flares)—one spelling "Dianxuan," the other "Mengxuan." The python didn't chase, instead slithering back to the pond, its eyes fixed on the water as if guarding something.
Lin Yi waited until the coast was clear, then dropped from the tree. He rummaged through the dead disciples' storage bags—low-grade talismans, a few spirit stones, a mid-grade shield. Nothing extraordinary, but every bit helped.
"多谢了,师兄们." (Thanks, brothers.) he muttered, tucking the loot away.
Then he turned to the pond. The python's 执念 (obsession) with it piqued his curiosity. What would make a Fifth-order beast linger in one spot?
He approached cautiously, 灵力 (spiritual energy) coiled in his palms, ready to unleash the 碎灵诀 (Shattering Spirit Technique) at a moment's notice. The water was murky, black as ink, but… there, near the bottom, something glinted.
Not 矿石 (ore) or 灵草 (spiritual herbs). It looked like… 鳞片 (scales)?
Lin Yi leaned closer. The scales were larger than the python's, iridescent, etched with faint 符文 (runes). They pulsed faintly, as if alive.
*Dragon scales*, he realized. *A real dragon's scales.*
No wonder the python guarded this place. Bathing in water infused with dragon scales would加速 (accelerate) its evolution into a flood dragon.
Lin Yi's heart raced. Dragon scales were 至宝 (treasures)—used in 炼器 (artifact forging), they could make weapons that 克制 (counter) demonic energy. If he could get even one…
But the python was still in the pond, its head resting on the surface. Sneaking past it would be 自杀 (suicide).
*Or is it?*
Lin Yi's gaze drifted to the 五灵淬体九变诀 (Five Spirits Body Tempering Technique) manual in his mind. The third transformation—经脉变 (Meridian Refinement)—granted him 超常感知 (supernatural senses). What if he could 屏蔽气息 (mask his aura), slip in, grab a scale, and slip out?
It was reckless. Stupid, even. But 机遇 (opportunity) rarely knocked twice.
He took a deep breath, channeling the technique. His 灵力 (spiritual energy) hummed, wrapping around him like a cloak, muffling his 气息 (aura) until he felt almost… 无形 (invisible).
Slowly, he stepped into the pond. The water was icy, but he ignored it, focusing on the dragon scales glinting below. The python's eyes were closed, but its 警惕 (vigilance) was palpable.
One step. Two.
He was ten feet from the scales when the python's eyes snapped open.
"咝!"
Lin Yi cursed. He'd been 识破 (detected).
The python lunged, jaws wide,毒牙 (poisonous fangs) bared. Lin Yi didn't hesitate. He 激活 (activated) the 清风靴 (Breezing Wind Boots), darting forward, snatching a dragon scale from the muck, then 爆退 (leaping back) as the python's jaws crashed shut where he'd stood.
"再见了,大虫!" (See ya, big guy!) he shouted, turning to run.
The python roared, 愤怒 (enraged), and gave chase. Its massive body 碾压 (crushed) trees in its path, the ground shaking with each 重击 (thud).
Lin Yi sprinted, the dragon scale clutched in his hand. He could hear the python's 咆哮 (roar) behind him, getting closer.
*碎灵诀 (Shattering Spirit Technique)*, he thought. *Now or never.*
He skidded to a halt, spinning, and 灌注灵力 (poured spiritual energy) into the technique. His meridians screamed as every last drop of power was 榨取 (siphoned) out,凝聚 (gathered) into a single, 璀璨 (blinding) orb of energy.
"吃我一招!" (Take this!)
He hurled the orb. It streaked toward the python, exploding in a 耀眼 (dazzling) blast of light. The shockwave knocked Lin Yi off his feet, but he 挣扎 (stumbled) to his knees, staring.
The python lay on the ground, 抽搐 (twitching), its scales 焦黑 (charred), one eye 瞎了 (blinded). It wasn't dead, but it was 重创 (severely injured)—too weak to chase.
Lin Yi 瘫倒 (collapsed) onto his back, gasping. He'd used every ounce of strength, and his meridians felt like they'd been 撕裂 (torn) apart.
But he grinned, holding up the dragon scale.
"值了." (Worth it.)
As darkness 吞噬 (swallowed) him, he thought of Xiao Bei's 叮嘱 (warning), of Elder Zhao's 告诫 (caution), of the 未知危险 (unknown dangers) lurking in the forest.
The Black Veil Forest had 证明 (proven) itself cruel. But Lin Yi? He was 活着 (alive). And that, for now, was enough.