Chapter 273 - 265: The Irony of Fate

Chapter 273: Chapter 265: The Irony of Fate

The vengeful flames burning in the Sea Serpent’s eyes were terrifying. Its hateful gaze seemed to take physical form, making Elder Liu’s very soul tremble.

The gap between an immortal and a mortal was as vast as that between the clouds and the earth. Even if a mortal was lucky enough to ascend to the heavens, the slightest misstep would send them plummeting into a bottomless abyss.

The Sea Serpent moved again.

It opened its massive jaws, its sharp fangs glinting with a cold light. Droplets of venom dripped from them, corroding small pits into the ground where they landed.

The serpent’s body coiled and wound, its frame arching slightly before it shot out like a bolt of lightning!

This time, it didn’t attack Elder Liu, for it understood he didn’t have long to live.

This time, it charged straight for the other team members!

The Sea Serpent’s movements were swift and decisive. One, two, three...

After injecting venom into every single person who had ambushed it, the Sea Serpent finally came to Elder Liu.

Perhaps it knew Elder Liu was the mastermind behind this hunt, or perhaps it didn’t.

In any case, it no longer mattered.

The Sea Serpent slowly opened its giant maw. Its fangs descended toward the paralyzed and helpless man, and then, it snapped its jaws shut!

CLICK.

Its massive jaws froze in mid-air, unmoving.

The Sea Serpent blinked, its serpentine eyes filled with confusion.

It tried to move its jaw again but was met with an immense force that prevented it from closing.

’What’s going on?’

Meanwhile, Elder Liu, who had closed his eyes in regret, awaiting death, realized it hadn’t come and opened them.

The sight that met his eyes left him stunned.

He couldn’t help but wonder if he was hallucinating from extreme fear.

Or perhaps he had already passed through the Ghost Gate, and what he was seeing now was just the illusory projection of a soul lingering in the mortal world.

A young man was standing right in front of him.

The man had clamped the Sea Serpent’s head firmly with just two fingers.

No matter how it struggled, it couldn’t attack, left hanging stiffly in mid-air, completely immobilized.

"Old Sir, it seems you’re in some trouble. Do you need help?" the young man asked.

Elder Liu didn’t care if it was a hallucination or something else. He forced his limp body to give a heavy nod.

The man said nothing, merely giving a light smile. The Sea Serpent in his hand went limp, its eyes losing their light. It was as dead as could be.

Before Elder Liu could recover from his shock, he saw the man flick his hand, sending a cloud of pale green mist into his body.

The moment the pale green mist touched Elder Liu’s body, all of his wounds, large and small, began to heal at a High Speed.

This was true for everything, from the wounds on his skin to his shattered and displaced internal organs.

In just a moment, Elder Liu felt his body regain its former vitality. In fact, it was even more absurd—he felt healthier and stronger than he had in his twenties or thirties!

Feeling this change, Elder Liu dropped to his knees with a THUD!

"This old man is endlessly grateful for the Immortal Family’s life-saving grace! I kowtow in thanks, Upper Immortal!"

"But this humble old man’s life is of little worth, with few years left. I only beg the Upper Immortal to save the other victims as well. All three hundred souls of Liu Family Village will be eternally grateful to you, Upper Immortal. We will build a shrine in your honor and burn incense and kowtow before it every day!"

The young man paused for a moment, then smiled and gestured to the surroundings.

"There’s no need for such ceremony, Old Sir. Take a look over there."

Elder Liu instinctively turned his head and looked around.

He saw that the dozen or so members of the Fishing Team who had been struck by the Sea Serpent’s venomous fangs were now standing there, completely unharmed.

Expressions of disbelief were etched on their faces as their eyes darted between one another, as if trying to confirm an impossible reality.

They had all survived!

Shock glittered in everyone’s eyes. The experience of surviving such an ordeal made their hearts pound like drums, and a profound sense of shock and relief washed over them.

"This...?"

Jiang Xu’s gaze rested on Elder Liu’s face, a mixture of shock and excitement, as he recalled the preceding events.

When he had first arrived in this remote corner of the world, he knew that as an outsider, his first priority was to understand the local power dynamics.

To distinguish which factions were approachable and which should be avoided.

To gather this information, he couldn’t just strike up a conversation with anyone. He needed to find someone with knowledge and access to information; otherwise, he would just be wasting his breath for nothing of value.

As it happened, he had chanced upon this group of mortals locked in a life-or-death struggle with a Demon Beast, a sight that had greatly surprised him.

Even if this Demon Beast was only Tier One Lower Grade, it shouldn’t have been something mortals could even dream of challenging.

But after watching the entire process, Jiang Xu couldn’t help but feel a sense of sincere admiration.

Human ingenuity was astonishing. Even when their combat power was far inferior, they could still use their wisdom to hunt their prey.

They skillfully used every advantage their environment offered, even deeply analyzing the Demon Beast’s physiology and behavioral habits to devise a strategy capable of defeating a powerful foe.

The scene was a testament to human ingenuity; they had actually defeated an opponent who was, in theory, more than ten times stronger than them.

Throughout the entire process, Jiang Xu had remained an observer, watching intently from start to finish without making a sound, his eyes capturing every subtle movement and momentary turn of events.

He deliberately chose not to intervene, wanting to see what limits these people could reach in this life-or-death struggle.

But life is unpredictable. Just as the battle was about to conclude, the once clear and cloudless sky suddenly turned hostile. A torrential downpour began, a cruel twist of fate that made one feel how fickle destiny could be.

The fierce rain instantly changed the situation on the battlefield.

He watched as the trapped Sea Serpent, aided by the rain, broke free of its restraints and launched a ferocious counterattack.

He knew he could no longer stand by and watch, so he chose to intervene without hesitation.

Although Jiang Xu had no connection to them, they had, in a way, taught him a lesson. They made him understand more deeply that the level of one’s combat power wasn’t the sole factor in determining victory.

For that reason alone, Jiang Xu had to save them!

However, before acting, Jiang Xu had intended not to reveal himself. He had planned to simply help out against injustice and then depart quietly, leaving his good deed and name unknown.

But just as he was about to intervene discreetly, he noticed Elder Liu’s bearing and demeanor. He was clearly an experienced leader well-versed in these matters.

The skilled manner in which the old man directed the hunt for the Demon Beast, and his ability to earn the villagers’ trust to organize this risky expedition, all indicated that he likely held an important leadership position in the village or was a deeply respected elder.

Most importantly, his age meant he had accumulated a wealth of experience and profound knowledge. For Jiang Xu, such a person was a timely blessing.

’After saving them, I might be able to learn a lot of information from him.’

After Jiang Xu saved the old man, his behavior also satisfied Jiang Xu.

Not because the man was kowtowing in gratitude, but because he knew Jiang Xu was an Immortal Cultivator. This meant he had some connection with Immortal Cultivators and possessed some understanding of them.

When Elder Liu saw that everyone was safe, he began to perform the full ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows to Jiang Xu, and the other villagers followed suit. This startled Jiang Xu, who quickly stepped aside.

Then, a wave of Magical Power lifted them up, preventing them from bowing any further.

"Old Sir, please don’t. I am not worthy of this."

Jiang Xu waved his hand, ignoring the other villagers. He conjured a Sound Insulation Shield that enveloped only Elder Liu, blocking out all other noise.

Although Elder Liu had seen Immortal Cultivators before, they were always just passing through in a hurry.

Unless the villagers failed to pay enough tribute, the cultivators wouldn’t even give them the time of day.

Now, seeing Jiang Xu act this way, Elder Liu felt his heart fill with unease, uncertain of what would happen next.