Only then did I see clearly—it was a giant python. Howard Lee cried out in shock and immediately pulled out two blue talismans.
"Mighty Yin-Yang, sun rises in the east, command this talisman, sweep away all ill fortune. Spit out the water of Samadhi, eyes shining like the sun. Summon the Heavenly Marshal, break disease with Vajra, subdue monsters, transform misfortune into blessing. By the law, Water Curse—hurry!"
Suddenly, two blue talismans flashed with azure light. With two sharp snaps, they struck the python's neck where it was biting me. Instantly, a stream of pale blue water shimmered into existence, and the giant python twisted violently, making two more loud cracks.
The two blue talismans instantly ignited on their own.
"Ethan Zhang, hold on. This thing—it's not an evil spirit."
Howard Lee shouted. With a thunderous crash, the giant python slammed to the ground, cracking the earth and leaving a huge pit. Everything around me shook violently.
I looked into the snake’s eyes and felt a strange sense of familiarity—it was Mason Yu. I cried out in shock.
"Howard, don’t attack. This creature is Mason Yu."
I saw Howard Lee already holding a bell and a red string. I shouted at once, and he, along with several other Ghost Burial Squad members, retreated. The commotion drew more attention, and a large crowd rushed over.
"Ethan Zhang..."
The giant python now coiled on the ground, clamping its jaws around me, glaring viciously at the Ghost Burial Squad.
With a swishing sound, two white silk ribbons flew toward me, winding around the python’s neck—it was Rachel Lan. Just then, the python seemed to go berserk, rapidly slithering toward the people ahead.
"Everyone, get out of the way!"
I couldn't understand what was happening. The moment the giant python bit me, my body went completely numb, as if my connection to the spirit world was abruptly severed. Helpless, I watched the python surge toward the crowd—just then, Ken Wang stepped forward, clutching a small notebook and a pen, preparing to write something.
"Wait, let me handle this. Your spell isn't mature enough—it can't withstand what's coming."
It was Old Eccentric. He pulled Ken Wang aside, then raised his hand and traced a character in the air—a purple "lock." Instantly, the giant python froze, then struggled violently. The purple lock character was branded onto its body, emitting crackling purple light. Chains of purple instantly bound the python, halting its movements.
"Everyone, spread out!"
Old Eccentric shouted, and everyone scattered. I struggled to pry open the python's jaws, trying to break free. But with a loud bang, the purple chains binding the python vanished into smoke, and the python that held me charged toward the fleeing crowd.
Thuds echoed as snake trails marked the ground, debris flying everywhere. Its strength was overwhelming—I was utterly powerless, left at its mercy.
At that moment, a figure over two meters tall—Justin Huang—rushed out, arms outstretched, blocking the python’s path with a loud smack.
"Hey, Mason Yu, have you lost your mind?"
Justin Huang’s clothes were already shredded, his muscles bulging and veins popping with black lines. He completely blocked the python’s attack, and the ground beneath his feet split open.
"Ethan, hang in there."
Justin Huang roared, then with a burst of strength, flung the entire python to the left. He immediately leaped toward me, his massive fists cracking as he prepared to strike. With a loud punch, he slammed down on the python’s head.
The immense force slammed the python to the ground, but it still refused to let go.
"Mason Yu, have you had enough?"
Justin Huang shouted, and just then, I yelled out as well.
"Justin, get out of the way!"
But before I finished speaking, the python’s tail whipped across Justin Huang’s body. I saw him raise his arms in defense, then crash violently into the dorm building. With a thunderous crash, a hole was smashed through the wall, dust billowing everywhere.
"Ethan, this is the Nether Syndicate’s Snake Transformation Technique. Be careful—the boy inside is completely under the snake spirit’s control now."
Old Eccentric shouted. I felt the python’s jaws clamp down even harder, my bones fracturing, my body creaking under the pressure.
"Mason Yu, damn it!"
I cursed loudly. I was in agony, blood streaming from the corner of my mouth. My internal organs were likely ruptured, and I kept spitting out mouthfuls of blood.
Just then, an eagle’s cry rang out in the sky—it was Rachel Lan, riding atop a giant paper eagle. Several white silk ribbons swept toward us.
Instantly, the python noticed her.
"Don’t come any closer!"
I shouted, and suddenly, the python holding me sprang up from the ground, lunging toward Rachel Lan.
Rachel Lan deftly maneuvered the paper eagle in the air, dodging the attack. White silk ribbons wrapped around the python’s neck. I saw her land on the ground, and then, suddenly, two paper ants appeared. Rachel placed the silk on the ants’ antennae, and with a surge of force, the python was dragged toward the ground, though it continued to struggle.
With a thunderous roar from the dorm building, Justin Huang charged over, swinging his fists. With two heavy blows, he struck the python’s neck.
(This chapter isn't finished yet~.~ Please click 'Next Page' to continue reading the exciting story!)
The python crashed to the ground again. I saw Old Eccentric rush over, extending a finger and tracing a red character for 'weight' in the air. It flew toward the python’s body, and with a booming crash and flying debris, a powerful force pinned the python to the ground, rendering it completely immobile.
"Quick, help out!"
Old Eccentric shouted. Justin Huang rushed over, straining to pry open the python’s jaws, but it refused to let go of me.
"Did you eat shit, Mason Yu?"
Justin Huang cursed loudly.
"He’s not conscious—don’t bother cursing him."
Old Eccentric said, staring at the python. Finally, with a loud crack, I screamed as Justin Huang pried the jaws open with brute force.
"Damn, you actually tore its jaws off."
Finally able to move, I immediately released Deathbane Aura. Justin Huang pulled me out.
"Careful, kid—the snake is shedding its skin."
Old Eccentric shouted. In an instant, I burst into black mist. With a rumble, the ground beneath Rachel Lan rose, and I grabbed her, dodging aside.
The python sprang up, jaws wide. Holding Rachel Lan, I dodged accurately, spread my wings, and floated in midair.
After missing us, the python immediately charged at me. I raised my hand and, in front of its eyes, conjured a block of black ice. With a loud crash, the python hissed, its crimson tongue flicking. I quickly landed with Rachel Lan.
"Everyone spread out. Justin Huang, help me."
I glanced at the snake skin on the ground, already weathering away. In no time, it had vanished, and the python attacked again.
Justin Huang rushed over. I immediately released two streams of Deathbane Aura, following him. With a bang, Justin blocked the python again, and my aura quickly wrapped around it.
I tried to use my mind to freeze the aura, but to my surprise, with a bang, Justin Huang was flung toward me. The python’s skin completely blocked my aura, and as it twisted, all my aura was repelled.
I’d never encountered this before—the python was now in a frenzy, twisting rapidly and attacking us. After falling, Justin Huang quickly scrambled up.
I was racking my brain for a way to deal with this python that Mason Yu had become, but it was already upon me. I had to stop it—the crowd was right behind me. I roared, raised my fist, and as its gaping jaws lunged at me, I punched.
With a cry, I realized my fist slid off the python’s body, as if I’d struck something both hard and slick. Instantly, I turned into mist, but the python’s head came crashing down, slamming me to the ground.
The python opened its jaws again, lunging at me. In a flash, I appeared atop its head—Tong Ghost stood beside me.
"Thanks."
Gasping for breath, I watched as the python bit off a huge chunk of earth and attacked me again.
"Let me eat it."
I cried out, and at that moment, Tong Ghost beside me instantly turned into a cloud of black mist, drifting toward the python.
"What’s happening?"
After a faint wailing, I saw the python rapidly disappear, as if something were gnawing it away. In moments, only a white skeleton remained—its flesh was gone.
It all happened as Tong Ghost drifted over the python’s body in mist form. Then, I noticed a sticky bundle in the python’s belly.
With a crash, the skeleton scattered and vanished in the wind. With a slap, the sticky bundle dropped to the ground.