This is mine!

"Scatter!" Song Qiuling shouted loudly.

No sooner had her words left her lips than the Phoenix-crowned Blood Python let out a piercing screech, its forked tongue flickering as it dove straight at the group.

With a thunderous crash, dust billowed and trees snapped. Yu Daoyi and his companions scattered in all directions. Poor Yu Daoyi tumbled and rolled, only to find himself rolling farther and farther away, entirely unable to stop.

Damn it, could I just stop already! Yu Daoyi raged inwardly.

After rolling more than a dozen times, the impact finally wore off. He sprang to his feet, glancing around. Though his cultivation wasn't much to speak of, his physical strength sufficed. He shook his head, and the dizziness quickly faded.

He saw Song Qiuling and his younger brother working together to draw the monster python’s attention, desperately buying time. Then Yu Daoyi noticed a rather sly-looking figure quickly moving toward another group of people.

Are you kidding me! Song Cheng, while your sister and my brother are risking their lives, you’re sneaking off to escape with the others!

My god, this temper of mine, I can barely hold it in!

Right after, an even sneakier figure hurried after the hapless group.

Hang in there, little sister, little brother! Your big brother will help you get the wounded to safety, so you’ll have no worries at your back!

The Phoenix-crowned Blood Python grew annoyed at the two humans before it. Its limited intelligence told it that neither could match its strength—only the boy in black fighting gear had spirit energy barely comparable to its own. Yet here it was, entangled by two mere youngsters. Enraged, it sped up, a blur of motion, intent on ending this quickly.

The air filled with swirling dust, boulders, and branches flying in chaos.

"We can't hold on much longer!" Song Qiuling shouted, seeing the python’s attacks intensify.

"No matter. We need only delay it a moment longer," Yu Yunfan replied softly, composed and unhurried. His usually expressionless face seemed even colder, his gaze flickering often toward the distant group.

Song Qiuling glanced at the boy, younger than herself, a little speechless. She couldn't fathom where his confidence came from. If they had someone at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, perhaps things would be easier. But she’d long since learned that this cold, strikingly handsome youth before her was only at the seventh level. In Green Mountain Town, that would be an extraordinary talent. But here, in the back hills, one careless move meant becoming a beast’s meal.

Elsewhere—

"Cousin, it really is you! What are you doing here?" Song Cheng asked in surprise.

"It’s a long story, but this is no place to linger. We need to escape this danger as soon as we can," the pale-faced youth replied.

"How long can they hold out? We have wounded here—someone’s already unconscious from their injuries, and Ergou—" Another pale-faced strongman stepped from the group, grief cutting off his words.

"Are you blind? Where are your eyes? Quit yapping! Instead of wasting time talking, get moving! We don’t have the strength to worry about the dead. What matters now is keeping the living alive!" Yu Daoyi ran over from afar, speaking bluntly.

The strongman didn’t argue—he knew insisting on carrying the dead would only slow them down.

"And you are?" the pale youth asked.

"I'm your father! Enough with the questions! Song Cheng and I will each carry one. Those of you who can still stand, move ahead!"

With that, he grabbed Song Cheng and led him to the two who lay exhausted on the ground, both covered in blood.

"That one," Yu Daoyi pointed at a thin man, barking at Song Cheng. Then, after a pause, he pointed at the other and declared, "This one’s mine! Don’t even think about it!"

Song Cheng glanced at his shameless companion, who was eagerly rubbing his hands together, leering as he reached for a delicate, defenseless young lady.

Beast! Even now, you’re thinking of taking advantage!

Let go of that girl! Let me do it!

With practiced ease, while Song Cheng was still hesitating over how to pick up the nearly-dead youth, Yu Daoyi scooped up the girl, marveling at her supple, boneless grace.

"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and grab him!" Yu Daoyi barked, then took off running.

Here he was, carrying a young woman, while I had to pick up a man. What a letdown... But in a flash, Song Cheng had the thin man on his back and followed suit.

Yu Daoyi sped forward, his expression grave, brows tightly furrowed as thoughts raced through his mind.

With time pressing, everyone gritted their teeth and followed Yu Daoyi. The Blood Crimson Fruit meant nothing when survival was on the line.

Suddenly, several loud explosions echoed behind them. Yu Daoyi halted instantly, turning with a grim face.

"Daoyi, why did you stop?" Song Cheng asked, unnerved by the intensity in his friend’s eyes—a look he’d never seen before.

"That was the sound of the Calamity Spirit Pellets exploding. The Phoenix-crowned Blood Python must have realized we're gone. Song Cheng, carry them and go! I’ll go help the others!" Yu Daoyi handed over the wounded, his tone heavy.

"Daoyi, you’re so weak! Going back is just suicide!" Song Cheng said anxiously.

Yes, I’m weak, sorry to disappoint you! Could you not kill my morale at a time like this? I just mustered my courage!

"Right! Since you’re so worried about me dying, let me carry them. You go!"

What the—?

"Daoyi! Be careful! Show that overgrown worm what you’re made of! I’ll be waiting for you in a safe place!" Song Cheng’s attitude instantly shifted, his expression grave, his tone full of concern for his brother.

In a blink, he was gone.

Yu Daoyi: "………"

Song Cheng, carrying two people, quickly caught up with his cousin and the strongman.

"Where’s your friend?" his cousin asked.

"The Phoenix-crowned Blood Python noticed we were missing. My sister and his brother are in grave danger—he went back to help," Song Cheng replied quietly.

"We can’t let him go alone! We should help too!" his cousin exclaimed.

"Not one of you is going back! You’re all wounded, and I’m not strong enough! We’d only be a burden!" Song Cheng shouted suddenly.

"But that boy’s only at the third level of Qi Refinement," the strongman said, frowning.

"He’s different. I believe in him," Song Cheng replied, his tone unwavering.

"The most urgent thing now is to find a safe place, leave a mark, and wait for them to return," Song Cheng continued.

The strongman glanced back at the lingering dust, saying nothing more.

His cousin also kept his head down as he ran, his expression unreadable.

On the way back, Yu Daoyi gripped the five remaining Calamity Spirit Pellets tightly, his face grim, silent.

He arrived to see the Phoenix-crowned Blood Python roaring at the two on the ground, its massive tail lashing furiously.

Blood poured from its old wound, the ground around it scorched black—clearly the work of the Calamity Spirit Pellets.

Opposite it, Song Qiuling was covered in dust, her clothes badly torn, pale skin visible beneath the fabric.

Yu Yunfan formed hand seals, hair flying as he controlled the now-enlarged ink-black cauldron, smashing it again and again into the python’s seven-inch weak point, driving the beast into a frenzy of hissing.

Fortunately, both were only lightly injured. Yu Daoyi breathed a sigh of relief at the sight.

His eyes were sharp with determination. As a transmigrator, Yu Daoyi knew well—the ultimate way to triumph was to endure. Endure to the end, and all would be his.

He licked his parched lips, rolling the glossy black pellets in his hand as if they were walnuts, heedless of their danger. His mind raced.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted to a distant corpse whose name he didn’t even know. After a moment’s deliberation, he made up his mind and dashed toward it.