CHAPTER 228: CHAPTER 228 EFFORTLESSLY 2(1)_1

"Youyou, don’t run off. I will protect you. No matter what happens, I will always stand in front of you," Shangguan Qing said firmly. He felt her familiar small hand in his and was determined to protect her, no matter what lay below.

"Youyou, stay close to me. I will protect you," Gui Mo also said.

"Mhm, I’ll definitely stay by your sides," Shangguan You nodded. She was genuinely touched; it would be a lie to claim she wasn’t. Only in the most dangerous times can one see a person’s truest thoughts.

"Did you collect the medicinal herbs?"

"I did, but they weren’t medicinal herbs, rather a type of fruit. There are exactly seven. Each of you take one; that way, you won’t be too hungry." Shangguan You waved her hand, took out seven Biling Fruit from her space, and gave one to each person.

"What is this? It’s so sweet!"

"Pearl Spirit Fruit. I’ve bought them before. I didn’t expect to see them here again, so I picked some to ease everyone’s hunger," Shangguan You said calmly. Anyway, as long as Ye Sanshao isn’t here, she can say whatever she wants; no one else recognizes this fruit.

"We’re free-falling now, so we should talk less and conserve our energy. We don’t know what’s below," Shangguan You said calmly, then closed her eyes. She slowly began absorbing whatever she could from her surroundings, especially the brown elements that continuously surged into her body. The others couldn’t see these things, but she saw them with perfect clarity.

Her Water Element was also ready at a moment’s notice. When they neared the ground, she would use her Water Element to envelop everyone and use Enchanting Fragrance to put them to sleep. That way, she could deal with any danger below by herself, and no one would know what happened. Her special abilities wouldn’t be discovered either.

Even after half an hour, everyone was still falling. Shangguan You could clearly see the pitch-black expanse below, and within it, pairs of gleaming green eyes. Below were two massive serpents, each taller than a human! How could this be? A surge of irritation welled up inside her. No wonder those little snakes at the cave entrance were prostrating themselves; they were worshipping their king! And we are the offerings for their king! Looking at those gaping, blood-red maws, Shangguan You couldn’t help but shiver. It’s too terrifying! If we fall, they’ll definitely devour us one by one!

"Youyou, it’s okay. I’m here," Shangguan Qing comforted her softly, sensing her body trembling.

Brother Qing, you’re not afraid because you haven’t seen those two huge snakes below. If you saw them, I doubt you’d be able to say such things. We’re just food for these snakes!

"Mhm," Shangguan You replied quietly. She then took out the Enchanting Fragrance from her space and secretly sprinkled it into the air. Watching as everyone’s eyes grew hazy and slowly closed, she cast a Stasis Curse, stopping time and halting their fall.

Below, the two large snakes still had their mouths wide open, waiting for their food. Shangguan You shuddered but quickly forced herself to calm down. She had already maneuvered herself into mid-air.

"Ice Seal Thousand Miles!" Shangguan You shouted, casting the spell to freeze the two large serpents. Looking at their lantern-sized eyes, she couldn’t help but shudder again. I’ll shatter you damned things! You want to eat me? As if this young lady is someone the likes of you can eat!

"Water Chains!" Shangguan You shouted lightly. Shangguan Qing and the other five were ensnared by her Water Element, suspended spread-eagled in mid-air and slowly being pulled upwards. Mid-air is the safest place for now. There are snakes higher up and snakes down below. So, the six of them can only stay here for the moment, gradually ascending.

Shangguan You channeled Spiritual Energy into her hands and fiercely struck down at the two large serpents. CRASH! The sound of shattering ice echoed as the two frozen serpents broke into blocks of ice, tumbling to the ground. Time flowed once more; the Stasis Curse had ended.

She had dealt with the two large serpents silently. Shangguan You breathed a sigh of relief. After checking on the six sleeping figures, she floated down to the cave floor, carefully avoiding the fragmented snake corpses. She could clearly see the blood congealed within the ice chunks and the distinct, blocky segments of their bodies.

The cave floor was gloomy, and blasts of cold wind blew in from an unknown source. Her vision suddenly dimmed, and Shangguan You recoiled a few steps. Damn it! She saw a skeleton—no, not just one, but rows upon rows of skeletons, with countless small snakes coiled around them. Shangguan You shivered.

She retreated several more steps and pulled the Hundred Poisons Pill from her space. Two large serpents, and now countless small ones! How is anyone supposed to live through this? Wherever the white powder drifted, innumerable small snakes closed their eyes and fainted.

Shangguan You hovered in mid-air. The cave floor was dark and eerie, permeated by an unbearable stench. Noticing a long passage ahead, she involuntarily drifted towards it.

SWISH! SWISH! The sound echoed in her ears, and she halted her advance. For a moment, a stunned look flashed in her deep eyes. She saw two red "lanterns," and then a massive, blood-red serpent—a Blood Serpent—lunged at her.

"AAAH! AAAH!" Shangguan You screamed. Her voice shot out from the cave entrance, and combined with its sheer power, even the entire troop heard it clearly. The expressions of Liu Dabao, Gui Yongjun, and the others rushing up the mountain grew even more solemn. That... that sound is one of terror! What on earth did they encounter on the mountain?

"Advance quickly! Head towards the sound!" Liu Dabao bellowed, pushing himself to his utmost limit as he sprinted off.

Shangguan You screamed again and turned to flee outwards. The Blood Serpent was fully twice her height, with large red eyes and a long, crimson forked tongue. Its powerful tail lashed towards her intermittently. She was utterly terrified! Moreover, the space here was limited, and the Blood Serpent occupied most of it, leaving her no room to dodge or escape.

She was afraid of snakes! So afraid of snakes! As Shangguan You sprinted outwards, she simultaneously pulled out the potent poisons she usually concocted from her space and hurled them at the Blood Serpent. Wherever the poisons landed, a noxious cloud erupted. The countless smaller snakes that had fainted earlier instantly melted into puddles of liquid, disappearing within the cave.