Luo Lan moved with both caution and speed. Unable to ascertain what manner of danger lurked in that area, she did not dare linger there for even a moment.
Even as Luo Lan wrapped up the Void King Realm expert's corpse and withdrew, Ni Guang reached out toward the spirit flower that resembled a rooster's comb.
But just then, an unexpected change erupted.
Behind Ni Guang, a previously unremarkable patch of earth suddenly bulged upward. From the raised ground, a flat, triangular snake head emerged and, in a flash, lunged toward Ni Guang's neck.
The entire sequence unfolded so quickly it defied the eye, with not the slightest warning. The instant the snake head burst from the ground and struck toward Ni Guang, Xue Yue's lovely face drained of color and she cried out in alarm: "Uncle Ni, watch out!"
Before her words had even faded, the snake head clamped its jaws around Ni Guang's neck.
Xue Yue's expression changed dramatically!
Seeing this, how could she not understand how that Void King Realm expert had died before? It had been exactly the same — the moment his attention was drawn to the comb-like spirit flower, this serpentine demon beast lurking behind him had launched a fatal ambush.
She did not know whether Ni Guang could handle it. After all, from the looks of things, he had been struck as well.
But Ni Guang was Ni Guang. Setting aside his profound cultivation, he had come here fully aware of the dangers. How could he have let his guard down? So even as he moved to harvest the spirit flower, he had been quietly on alert, prepared for any contingency — paying particular attention to the protection of the back of his neck. This sneak attack was destined to be in vain.
A crisp "ding" rang out as a halo-like ring of energy rippled from Ni Guang's neck. The force of the blow sent his entire body hurtling forward as though struck by a tremendous impact.
He let out a low shout. While still midair, he twisted his body with brute force and slapped a palm strike behind him, all while his other hand did not forget to reach for the spirit flower.
A counter-blow from a Void King Realm Second Stage expert was not to be underestimated. The savage force sent the snake head recoiling backward, unable to launch another attack.
But the instant Ni Guang seized the spirit flower, his face changed abruptly: "This is..."
He felt a distinctly different sensation from the flower. It was nothing like picking a spirit herb or medicinal plant. Instead, it felt as though he had grabbed something cold and slippery — as though he had seized a living creature.
He released his grip without hesitation.
At that very moment, the fragrant spirit flower underwent a sudden transformation. It shot up from the ground, its entire bloom radiating an eerie green glow, and plunged toward Ni Guang's palm.
In an instant, the surrounding area became a maelstrom of flying sand and rolling stones. Interspersed within the chaos were Ni Guang's cold grunts and the sharp hissing of a spirit serpent's forked tongue.
Moments later, Ni Guang leapt free of the fray and hovered in midair, his expression grave beyond measure.
When Yang Kai and the others looked on, their faces were equally stunned.
As the dust gradually settled, only then did they grasp the true nature of the trap before them.
Where the comb-like spirit flower had stood moments ago, there was no flower to be seen — only an earth-yellow demonic serpent roughly three zhang in length and as thick as an infant's arm, coiled upright with its body, ceaselessly flicking its forked tongue.
The creature bore not the slightest detectable aura. Without eyes to see it, one would never have noticed its existence. It seemed almost like something not alive. And at the tip of its tail grew a fleshy, comb-like growth.
What everyone had taken for a spirit flower had in fact been an elaborate illusion created by this creature — its body hidden underground with only its tail left above the surface.
Anyone who attempted to lay hands on the "spirit flower" would inevitably suffer its attack.
"A Tail-Crested Serpent?" Ni Guang's eyes lit up as he called out the demon beast's name.
His knowledge was vast, and his high standing within the Heng Luo Commerce Association had granted him access to many ancient texts. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to recognize this peculiar demon beast that had survived only from a bygone era.
"A Tail-Crested Serpent?" Luo Lan furrowed her brows and regarded Ni Guang with a measure of admiration. "I had never heard that such creatures existed in this Lost Land."
Back in the underground ravine, no one had been able to identify the dark shadow they had encountered — it had seemed somewhat similar to a yin spirit, yet fundamentally different. Now, this Tail-Crested Serpent was something the other three had never even heard of.
What the Lost Land was unfolding before them was a bizarre, otherworldly realm they had never encountered.
Ni Guang chuckled darkly. "No need to worry. The Tail-Crested Serpent is dangerous, but its actual strength is nothing impressive. Its true power lies in concealment and ambush. Since the ambush has failed, it can only become my prey."
With those words, he charged straight toward the Tail-Crested Serpent.