Within the swaying, passion lies hidden.

The fire python thrashed violently, but Xie Wuji clung to the bronze sword and refused to let go. To bolster his courage, he even began singing atop the serpent’s vulnerable spot.

“Swing! Swing! Swing! Swing! My passionate blood cannot be contained! Swing! Swing! Swing! Swing! The spirit flows through north, south, east, and west!”

His hearty laughter fueled his momentum, and it also won him the admiration of the Fire Dragon Sect’s disciples.

“What a character! Even in such a moment, he has the nerve to sing. But to be honest, he does have a nice voice,” commented one of the elders.

In a shadowy corner, Shi Zhentian stood dumbstruck, mouth agape. “Master, you want me to plot against a lunatic like him? I’m not mad—how am I supposed to outwit him? Is he insane? He’s still standing on the snake’s head and won’t get down?!”

Some in the crowd watched in awe, others in disbelief, but Xie Wuji’s focus was entirely fixed on the fire python.

In truth, without this mysterious bronze sword, Xie Wuji would have been powerless against the beast; he wasn’t even at the Golden Core stage—a mere ant to be crushed in an instant. But fortune did not favor the fire python. It had not reckoned with Xie Wuji’s expertise in dealing with snakes. Its scales were as hard as diamond, its head tough as iron, yet the fatal wound on its body was its undoing. That wound had nearly cost it its life recently, driving it to devour humans in hopes of absorbing their spiritual energy to heal.

Xie Wuji was already exhausted from being tossed around. He struck the bronze sword again and again, and finally, on the two-hundredth blow, there was a crisp sound.

With a soft pop, like air escaping from a plastic bag or a balloon bursting, or something being punctured, the fire python abruptly ceased its struggles. It lifted its head toward the sky, then suddenly collapsed, falling rigidly to the ground.

Xie Wuji tumbled down as well, landing on his back in an ungraceful heap.

Blood flowed from the beast’s body, and curiously, at that moment, the undying bird within Xie Wuji stirred. The blood gathered together, congealing into clusters of fire crystals.

Fire crystals can be acquired in two ways: mining, or drawing them directly from the bodies of high-level fire-type monsters. Usually, when mined, it’s because an ancient fire monster is buried beneath, and only their blood can condense into crystal.

Now, the fire python’s blood pooled into a crystal the size of a fist—a treasure to Xie Wuji, who quickly hid it in his robes.

Because of their rarity, when Xie Wuji took the Fire Crystal Bracers from the Azure Cloud Sect, the Golden Dragon had nearly lost its composure.

“You little rascal,” Swordmaster Dongmen gazed at Xie Wuji for a long moment, then smiled, his lips curling slightly. Shaking his head, he mounted his sword and departed.

He’d seen his younger sister, Qianyun, hiding behind Xie Wuji throughout the ordeal. Though the young man was a bit of a clown, he had fought the fire python head-on, keeping his sister safe, while his own robes were nearly torn to rags.

“I’ll let you keep my sister company for now, but if you dare step out of line, I’ll never forgive you,” Swordmaster Dongmen muttered, casting a backward glance before vanishing into the horizon.

In the shadows, Shi Zhentian seethed, biting his nails. “That brat really killed the fire python! If he returns to bask in the limelight, Master will never let me off. But now he’s utterly spent; this is my chance to finish him off. I’m a hundred percent sure I can handle him now!”

With that thought, Shi Zhentian wrapped his face in a black cloth and crept forward stealthily. Yet as he crawled across the grass, a large group suddenly rushed over.

Shi Zhentian was stunned. The newcomers didn’t notice him hiding in the grass and stampeded right over his back.

He was nearly crippled by their trampling.

“Oh, heavens, this is killing me…” he gasped for breath as the crowd, all members of the Fire Dragon Sect, passed over him.

But trouble comes in droves. A three-hundred-pound giant lumbered toward him.

Shi Zhentian’s eyes widened. “Is… is that Fat Dragon?”

“Brother Xie, you were amazing!” Fat Dragon spread his arms wide, running toward Xie Wuji.

Crunch! His foot came down hard on Shi Zhentian’s waist, eliciting a crisp crack. Fat Dragon paused. “Huh? Did I step on something?”

“Probably just a stray cat or dog. This place is full of them. Hurry and congratulate Brother Xie!” said Skinny Tiger.

Fat Dragon paid it no mind and continued on.

Sect Master Huo Chilian of the Fire Dragon Sect was overjoyed. “Brother Xie, truly, heroes are made young. You have rid us of a terrible scourge. We… we don’t even know how to thank you.”

“It’s nothing. By the way, Sect Master Chilian, do you know whose sword this is?” Xie Wuji had already pulled the bronze sword from the fire python’s corpse.

Huo Chilian accepted the sword, examining it. “This is a magical weapon—a flying sword of considerable grade. Wait, I remember now! Half a year ago, an elder in Daoist robes came through Fire Dragon County, carrying this sword on his back. I remember distinctly—he stayed in my inn for two days, mistook one of our waiters for a thief because of his shifty looks, but later apologized.”

“An elder?” Xie Wuji wondered if the sword belonged to an elder from another sect.

But now that the fire python was slain, Xie Wuji cut off its head and thoroughly inspected the remains, finding only a damaged monster core.

“What a shame. Such a fine beast, but its core is cracked. A broken core is useless; its spiritual energy has already dissipated,” Dongmen Qianyun remarked.

Xie Wuji gazed at the core, and suddenly the undying bird within him grew excited, drooling as if desperate to devour it.

“Let’s just keep it as a memento,” Xie Wuji said.

“Brother Xie, Lady Dongmen, this fire python has plagued Fire Dragon County for over half a year, devouring countless lives. You’ve rid us of this disaster and are benefactors to all our people. If you’re not in a hurry, I would like, on behalf of the county, to host a banquet for the four of you, to celebrate this victory. What do you say?” County Magistrate Lu stepped forward.

Xie Wuji grinned. “I was just worrying about my empty stomach—haven’t had breakfast yet. I’ll gladly accept your hospitality!”

“Haha, wonderful!” the magistrate replied, equally delighted.

Within the county office, Lu Xianglan sat at her desk, pondering the events of the previous night.

“My lady, what are you thinking about?” Xiao Hong asked.

Lu Xianglan replied, “Something’s odd. The night before last, I distinctly remember someone poking me with a toothpick.”

Xiao Hong covered her mouth in surprise. “Could it be that no one ate the silver ear porridge, and Young Master Xie found it and threw it away instead?”

“Probably. But in doing so, he spared me further embarrassment. Sigh… He is from the Danxia Sect, after all—we’re still not in their league. But the person who poked me must not go unpunished! Once or twice, fine—but ten times? Outrageous! Xiao Hong, go find out who had the nerve to sneak into my chambers and poke me with something as sharp as a toothpick!”

“Leave it to me, miss!” Xiao Hong replied solemnly.

Meanwhile, Shi Zhentian could barely walk, leaning on a wooden cane to stay upright, his back throbbing in agony from being trampled countless times. For a man, there’s no worse injury than to the waist.

He staggered through the streets of Fire Dragon County, carrying the longsword Ding Desheng had given him, groaning in pain every few steps.

As he neared the city gate, a few ruffians loitered in the shadows.

“Look, there’s a cripple. That sword on his back might fetch a good price—we should take it.”

“And those fine clothes. What a waste on a limping fool.”

“He must have money on him. We can’t let this fat sheep get away!”

And so, the trouble continued to mount…