The nine-headed serpent behind me, though not fully materialized, exuded a pressure no less imposing than the former.

Its nine heads, like open sea anemones, surrounded the four of us from different directions. Nine crimson maws opened simultaneously, creating a wind-like whistling sound.

Lin Zhao and Nie Xiaochun instinctively moved to attack, but they saw that Ye Yang and I still stood with our hands clasped behind our backs, watching the battle on the hillside.

The nine-headed serpent behind us seemed surprised by this reaction. After striking a pose, it hesitated in the air, unsure of what to do.

I looked into the distance and said calmly, "Zhu Zining, I told you not to eavesdrop on us. Every time you listen, you lose a little more. Why don't you ever believe me?"

"I'll take your second Jiutoushe Jade (Nine-Headed Serpent Jade) too!"

As the nine-headed serpent above us paused slightly, as if human, Ye Yang suddenly stomped his left foot on the ground. The sound of sword energy breaking through the earth rose from beneath his feet.

However, the sword energy wasn't aimed at the nine-headed serpent, but directly at the ground.

One sword to shatter the soul, even the Yellow Springs shall be cleaved!

Ye Yang's sword seemed to strike the ground, but in reality, it was tracking Zhu Zining's soul.

We had been talking about "Zhu Zining escaping" all along, waiting for the moment she appeared near us.

Zhu Zining was prone to sneak attacks and held grudges.

If she couldn't gain an advantage, she wouldn't let it go.

Therefore, Zhu Zining would inevitably choose to counterattack from behind.

At this moment, Zhu Zining's soul was fused with the Jiutoushe Jade, and it would take some time to separate them, giving Ye Yang an opportunity.

In the blink of an eye, violent sword energy exploded underwater.

The nine-headed serpent, which had been hovering in the air, seemed to have been split in two vertically by a sword, its body abruptly dividing and falling into the water on either side.

As I looked down at the water, the rocks beneath our feet collapsed with a roar, and the three of us fell into the water together.

This was bad!

Although Ye Yang, Lin Zhao and I were decent swimmers, we weren't skilled enough to fight in the rapids.

Falling into the water meant focusing on survival; who had time to worry about the Jiutoushe Jade?

While the three of us were struggling, the earth soldiers guarding us jumped into the water one by one, desperately dragging us towards the shore.

The Taiping Army and the nine-headed serpent were locked in a fierce battle on the opposite hillside. The earth soldiers didn't dare drag us into the fray and could only pull us to the other side.

I was almost driven mad, "Why are you dragging us over here? Send us back!"

It's easy for a person to carry a ghost, but difficult for a ghost to carry a person!

The three of us were full of vitality. Even Nie Xiaochun would struggle to carry us.

It was difficult for ten earth soldiers to carry us across the river.

The earth soldiers had no choice but to hastily build a pontoon bridge. Watching the busy earth soldiers, I couldn't help but deflate, "Forget it! You should take Nie Xiaochun into the water and find Ye Yang's sword!"

Saying this, I gave Ye Yang a pointed look, "Can you be a bit more accurate next time? That sword just blew up the stone cave! Luckily, it's water underneath. What if it was a latrine? Would we have to fall in together?"

Ye Yang glanced at me expressionlessly, "What are you planning to do standing on top of a latrine?"

This guy just can't communicate normally!

I won't argue with him!

When I turned to look at the opposite bank, the nine-headed serpent had broken through the Taiping Army's defenses and was rushing towards the water's edge.

Was it going into the water to reunite with the snake jade at the bottom?

That's right!

Ye Yang's sword, which shattered the soul, specialized in attacking souls, so he could accurately locate the snake jade and nail it to the bottom of the water with one strike.

Zhu Zining was unwilling to let the snake jade fall into our hands, so she had to find a way to reunite the two pieces.

Ye Yang shouted, "Stop it! Don't let the nine-headed serpent get into the water!"

The Taiping Army, which had been scattered, regrouped and formed a defensive line on the water with shields and spears. In an instant, the huge serpent slammed down on the line.

Shields, spears, and people flew like paper in the wind, but the nine-headed serpent pressed forward towards the water's edge.

Ye Yang shouted, "Cut the snake's tail!"

Without him shouting, the Taiping Army, who had caught up from behind, were already hacking at the snake's body with all their might.

The nine-headed serpent advanced, and the Taiping Army followed closely behind, hacking away. I could even see snake scales flying everywhere, but the nine-headed serpent seemed oblivious to the pain and rushed straight to the riverbank.

Ye Yang shouted, "Send me over!" and leaped into the air, stepping on the void to cross the rapids.

"You..." I wanted to stop him, but it was too late. I could only throw out the Black and White Twin Blades.

As the two scimitars advanced in parallel, one in front of the other, Ye Yang's figure began to fall. Fortunately, Bai Zhou (White Day) arrived under Ye Yang's feet one step ahead, allowing him to borrow strength and fly several more meters forward, landing at the position where Zi Ye (Midnight) was staying.

I could control the swords with my qi, allowing them to carry Ye Yang forward, but after two consecutive leaps, Ye Yang had reached his limit just as he reached the opposite bank. Could he still fight?