Godslayer: Reincarnated with SSS Rank Cultivation System

The flame in the center of the serpent's coils still flickered, working as a perfect distraction, drawing the beast's attention away from Wen Ran's actions. As the serpent opened its eyes, it didn't immediately register the loss of its treasure. Instead, it gazed at Wen Ran with a look of pure disdain, as if it were regarding some insignificant insect. Wen Ran could practically feel the mockery in its eyes, a silent judgment as it looked down on him.

Maybe that works to my advantage, Wen Ran thought, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. Without hesitation, he darted away, moving as quickly as his legs could carry him. He made sure to keep the flower hidden securely behind his back, not daring to risk a glance over his shoulder. The last thing he needed was to confirm the beast was chasing after him.

It took the azure serpent only a few breaths to realize that the heat it had been basking in was slowly fading. When it glanced over at the fiery flower it had been guarding, its eyes widened in realization. The flower was gone. The beast was no fool. It immediately deduced that the human it had seen earlier had taken its treasure and fled.

A hiss of rage erupted from the serpent, and before it could even move, the flame in the center of its coils suddenly began to grow. With a deafening boom, it erupted, sending flames roaring through the air and engulfing the beast.

Stupid beast, Wen Ran scoffed as he dashed away. He knew the trick wouldn't buy him much time, but it was better than nothing. He kept pushing forward, focusing on staying ahead of the serpent, even as the beast's fury burned bright in his mind.

Just as he expected, the serpent quickly recovered. Its azure scales were singed, but the gleam of powerful rage in its eyes was a harsh reminder of the beast's strength. With a mighty swing of its tail, cracking the rocks beneath it, the beast charged at him with terrifying speed, and Wen Ran could feel it closing in fast.

The beast lunged at Wen Ran, its massive fangs, capable of slicing through him like a hot knife through butter, just inches away from his back.

"Humph!" Wen Ran snorted, spinning to the side with a swift leap. His blade cut through the air at the same time, grazing the beast's tail and drawing a small amount of blood—just enough. That's all Wen Ran needed. With its blood, he could use his secret technique.

The serpent, however, barely flinched. The shallow cut was little more than an annoyance, and it didn't feel much pain. It quickly curled into a spring-like position, spinning in place. A powerful wind pressure whipped through the air, sending cutting gusts toward Wen Ran. The unpredictable movements of the serpent made it harder to track, forcing Wen Ran to carefully watch for the next move.

He knew what was coming, though. Wen Ran wasn't about to let the beast dictate the pace. He focused on the blood now dripping from its wound, connecting the blood on his blade to the fresh trail of crimson leaking from the beast. Using that connection, he formed a thin yet powerful thread that latched onto the beast's tail. With a precise tug, he stopped the serpent mid-spin, halting its charge just as it was about to launch at him.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Wen Ran held the massive beast by its tail, and despite his seemingly frail physique, his strength was anything but. His small, compact muscles, akin to a body cultivator's, packed an incredible punch. With this power, he began to spin the serpent around him, whipping it through the air. The beast slammed into the rocks with brutal force, disorienting it from the unexpected and unorthodox method of combat.

Wen Ran didn't care about the methods. All that mattered was the result. The beast shattered rocks on its way, and Wen Ran released it, sending the creature tumbling down the massive cliff. It hit the ground below with a thunderous crash, its body barely able to recover from the violent toss.

"Well, that was easier than I expected," Wen Ran mused, a smirk tugging at his lips. His blood control ability had given him the freedom to get creative in battle. With that kind of power, he could shape his combat style to his whims, and who knew? Maybe one day, he'd be able to control blood to the point where he was truly invincible, not just on this plane but beyond. The thought of that made his heart race with excitement.

Wen Ran stepped up to the cliff, peering down to see how far the beast had been sent tumbling. But as his foot edged closer to the precipice, an instinct honed over years of battles in his previous life flared up—an acute sense of danger, a sixth sense he couldn't ignore. Without thinking, he quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding the massive serpent that shot past him, soaring into the sky with newly sprouted wings.

Wen Ran's eyes widened. "So this beast is not that simple," he muttered under his breath. "It must have a rare or even a legendary bloodline." His curse was sharp with frustration, but his mind quickly assessed the situation. He glanced at the wound he had inflicted, noticing it was already closing. The blood that he had been manipulating was no longer accessible, and the connection had been severed.

"Great," Wen Ran sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That's a problem." He couldn't rely on his usual technique now that the blood was no longer flowing. That left him with one option, but it was a dangerous one—a reckless move that could backfire.

The insane thought flickered in his mind, but he couldn't afford to hesitate, at least not in the position he was in. Wen Ran knew that if he didn't act fast, the serpent would turn the tables.