However, hitting the snake spirit's pupils was no easy feat.
It required not only perfect timing but also the exploitation of every possible advantage.
Jiang Chen's mind was free of all distractions. The chain seal within his sea of consciousness was exceptionally active, keeping all five senses and six perceptions at their absolute peak.
"This opportunity will vanish in an instant. I have to create that one opening."
With a single thought, Jiang Chen formed a hand seal and sent it forth. Countless vines of the Ice Fire Demon Lotus erupted from the ground in unison, surging toward the snake spirit with breathtaking speed.
The terror of the Ice Fire Demon Lotus lay in the fact that its vines not only possessed powerful ice-fire attributes and offensive might but also boasted fearsome entangling ability.
One or two vines might not seem particularly overwhelming in terms of binding power, but when hundreds or even thousands of vines moved together, the spectacle was truly magnificent.
Moreover, the form of the Ice Fire Demon Lotus had been continuously evolving and advancing along with Jiang Chen's growing strength. Its current appearance was utterly different from its earliest incarnation.
Every single vine was brimming with resilience.
The snake spirit, caught completely off guard, was ensnared by thousands of arm-thick vines. It thrashed wildly, its body twisting and contorting in a desperate attempt to snap free of the entanglement.
Jiang Chen knew that with the snake spirit's power, this binding would not hold for long.
So he did not hesitate for even a moment. He activated his Dharma Eye, and the Evil Golden Eye shot forth a terrifying golden radiance, carrying a murderous aura straight at the snake spirit.
The golden light was blindingly intense, like the brilliance of the midday sun, and it forced the snake spirit's eyes shut.
"Now!"
Jiang Chen's instincts told him this was the perfect moment.
Two arrows sat upon the bowstring, pulled back into a full moon.
*Whoosh!*
A piercing whistle split the air as a streak of golden light tore through the void.
In a flash, the two arrows vanished into the emptiness. The next instant, the snake spirit let out a hysterical, ear-splitting roar.
Its clumsy divine form twisted wildly, its tail sweeping across the landscape like a colossal whip. Ancient trees were snapped clean in half one after another.
The ground was smashed with trench after trench, each a full *zhang* deep, like freshly plowed furrows.
The snake spirit howled in agony, both eyes pierced through, blood gushing forth in torrential streams.
Jiang Chen was elated.
"Move!" The thought flashed through his mind.
With incredible speed, Jiang Chen vaulted across the snake spirit's zone of control in just a few leaps, landing far ahead beyond its domain.
He drew a deep breath and looked back at the still-raging snake spirit, his heart still trembling with residual fear.
Had this attempt failed, he knew his only option would have been to deploy the Enchantment Puppet. He truly did not want to use the Enchantment Puppet — he had even gone so far as to consider that deploying it would be worse than simply giving up on the Ninth Cave's mission.
Fortunately, the Ninth Cave had been conquered.
This trial was not merely a victory of raw power — it was a triumph of tactics, a testament to his courage and audacity in battle.
Without every one of these elements falling into place, he would never have made it through.
Having passed the snake spirit's trial, Jiang Chen did not let his guard down. He knew that the Ninth Cave's test was likely nearing its end.
But he was not entirely certain whether the snake spirit was truly the final challenge.
Fortunately, it was. When Jiang Chen reached the safe zone, one of the Ninth Cave's exit gates materialized before him.
"Congratulations, challenger. You have successfully passed all the trials of the Nine-Winding Cloud Cavern."
To Jiang Chen's ears, these words were nothing short of heavenly music.
He stepped through the gate and emerged on the other side.
Outside, thunderous applause erupted all at once. The three Holy Sovereigns, the elders of the Elder Hall — all of them were clapping wildly.
Beyond the applause, their eyes brimmed with astonishment and admiration.
Zi Che Min abandoned all pretense of restraint and stepped forward to greet him. "Shao Yuan, congratulations! You are my pride, and the pride of the entire Eternal Sacred Land."
"Come, come — come and pay your respects to the three Holy Sovereigns. They came here personally to cheer you on. You, Shao Yuan, are the first person in the Eternal Sacred Land to receive such an honor."
Jiang Chen offered a faint smile. He had already met the three Holy Sovereigns before, so he was hardly nervous. He stepped forward and bowed. "This junior, Shao Yuan, thanks the Holy Sovereigns for their grace."
"Young man, this sovereign misjudged you — misjudged you completely," the Grand Holy Sovereign said, his tone brimming with pleasure and his gaze full of appreciation. "I never expected that our Eternal Sacred Land would finally see a young man pass the trials of the Nine-Winding Cloud Cavern. You are the first, and you've set a fine precedent. I hope this is only the beginning of many more to come."
Jiang Chen smiled. "It certainly will be."
At that moment, Yan Qingsang came running over, his expression one of wild excitement. He threw his arm around Jiang Chen's shoulder. "Brother, incredible!"
Numerous elders from the Elder Hall stepped forward to offer their congratulations.