Chapter Twenty-Nine: Mission Accomplished

Hiding nearby, Yao Xueqing was startled as well. She recognized the high-tier Mysterious-rank Venomous Crocodile. Though she hadn't fully grasped the extent of Li Sibai's growth, she knew all too well the danger of this beast—especially here in the Doomsday Marsh.

Li Sibai was inwardly shocked. The crocodile's strength exceeded all his expectations.

The Venomous Crocodile, too, had suffered a hidden loss. It never imagined that the unremarkable black sword in the youth’s hand could withstand the full force of its tail. That sweeping attack had utilized all its might, driven by its powerful waist and the force of inertia—a strike capable of crushing anything in its path. Yet it failed to injure Li Sibai.

Now, Li Sibai found himself almost at a dead end. He had set his heart on slaying this Venomous Crocodile, but the Xuantian Sword Technique proved useless against it. The raw power of the sword was no match for the beast, and skill counted for nothing. What could he possibly do?

Time was not on his side. The longer the fight dragged on, the more perilous his situation became. The effects of the Xuantian Jade Purity Pill within him were waning, and the Silverhorn Pill’s strength was fading as well. His own stock was running low. If he kept this up, he would die from the poisonous mist before the crocodile even made a move.

The Venomous Crocodile seemed to sense his desperation. Though it had been hurt by the Xuantian Sword, its thick, rugged hide had prevented any real wound. With Li Sibai clearly faltering, the beast prepared to attack in earnest.

The crocodile’s primary weapons were its jaws and tail. Its bite could easily tear off flesh, and if it caught you, death from blood loss was swift. Living in the toxic mists of the marsh, its body was saturated with poison—though it had become immune to its own toxins. Its tail, however, was its most formidable weapon, capable of shattering bones or knocking foes unconscious with a single blow.

Suddenly, the crocodile lunged forward, jaws wide, aiming to bite Li Sibai. Knowing the beast was venomous, Li Sibai dared not meet the attack head-on and dodged aside. But in that instant, the crocodile’s long tail swept toward his face. Without hesitation, Li Sibai leapt a full ten feet away.

Thus, one attacked and the other fled, resulting in a tense standoff. Yet Li Sibai’s situation grew more dire with every passing moment.

Yao Xueqing, watching from her hiding place, was ready to step in and help. Though doing so might cost Li Sibai his chance to advance, she could not bear to see him perish on the brink of disaster.

By now, Li Sibai’s eyes were bloodshot with desperation. Out of options, he swallowed another Xuantian Jade Purity Pill and a Silverhorn Pill, restoring some of his inner energy. But he knew that at this rate, he would soon run dry and collapse from exhaustion. It was death by waiting or by fighting—so he chose to gamble everything on one last attack, determined to die with his head held high.

Pouring all his remaining energy into the Xuantian Sword, the blade responded to his resolve. Golden light flared from its body, accompanied by dazzling red sparks.

Yao Xueqing could see that Li Sibai was at his limit. She wanted to help, but feared wounding his pride. Yet if she did nothing, he would surely die. Unable to hold back, she called out a warning:

“Xiaobai, don’t panic! Attack its eyes!”

The familiar and urgent voice soothed Li Sibai’s heart. Senior Sister Yao was here. Attack the eyes!

He made his decision instantly.

At that moment, the Venomous Crocodile, startled by the sudden blaze of golden light from the Xuantian Sword, hesitated. The golden light unsettled it, making it wary of drawing near. The flickering radiance seemed to taunt the beast, and soon, enraged, it lunged—not at Li Sibai, but at the sword itself.

Perfect, thought Li Sibai. He channeled his energy into his eyes, and the Purple Divine Sight emitted two beams of violet light that struck the crocodile squarely in the eyes. Blinded, the beast squeezed its eyes shut in pain, losing its balance mid-leap.

Li Sibai’s nerves were stretched to the breaking point. Suddenly, a cooling sensation rose from his lower abdomen, rapidly flowing into the Xuantian Sword. White sparks joined the red, swirling together in a radiant dance. This was everything he had. He thrust the sword straight into the crocodile’s gaping maw.

A resounding crack echoed as the Xuantian Sword pierced through the beast’s mouth and out its back, skewering it completely.

A wretched howl split the air, and purple-black blood gushed from the crocodile’s mouth. The venom ran down the blade, threatening to touch Li Sibai. He hastily withdrew the sword to avoid the toxic blood.

The Venomous Crocodile crashed to the ground, writhing in agony for a few moments before falling still.

Li Sibai collapsed heavily to the ground, gasping for breath, his clothes drenched in sweat. He could barely sit upright and was on the verge of passing out.

Yao Xueqing rushed over and steadied him from behind, then took a Blood Coagulation Pill from her pack and placed it in his mouth. This was a special medicine of the Xuantian Sword Sect; as soon as he swallowed it, his wounds stopped bleeding.

“Thank you, Senior Sister Yao,” Li Sibai managed, forcing a faint smile as he looked up at her.

Yao Xueqing took a handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat from his brow. “Silly boy, I was really worried about you just now. But the mission is complete. Rest a bit, and I’ll take you out of here.”

Li Sibai nodded, finally able to relax. He swallowed another Xuantian Jade Purity Pill, restoring some of his energy, and slowly began to recover from his exhaustion.

Seeing him improved, Yao Xueqing helped him cut up the Venomous Crocodile, stowing the valuable medicinal parts in her pack. Because the marsh mist was poisonous, they dared not linger. Yao Xueqing activated her Purple Divine Sight and led Li Sibai out of the swamp.