Chapter 91: Dimensional Space

The Lin family all stared at Lu Ming as though he were deranged.

Even grandmasters were no match for that giant python, yet he dared speak so brazenly. Had he gone insane from greed?

Not far away, Wang Shixin was also looking at Lu Ming in astonishment. The python’s strength was plain for all to see; this was no joke. With an ability like his, charging in would be no different from serving himself up on a platter.

By then, however, Lin Xiao was already at the end of his tether, forcing himself to hold on by sheer will. Hearing that someone was willing to save him, he had no mind to care what Lu Ming intended to do. He hurriedly agreed.

“Sir, save me. Money is no issue.”

At those words, Lu Ming laughed and sprang into a full run toward the giant python. Halfway there, a golden flame ignited around him.

When he had closed to within a few yards of the beast, he leapt into the air and hurled a flying kick straight toward its head.

The python saw this and, affronted that a mere ant would dare attack it, snapped its jaws open and lunged to bite down. That bloodied maw and the interlocking saw-like teeth were enough to make anyone’s scalp tingle.

Just as it seemed Lu Ming was about to be swallowed alive, he twisted his body in midair with uncanny agility and planted his foot squarely on the python’s lower jaw.

With a thunderous impact, the beast let out a shrill hiss, its massive head snapping backward before crashing heavily to the ground and sending dust billowing everywhere. Lu Ming’s draconic strength was no trifling matter. Stung by the blow, the python’s tail loosened its grip, and Lu Ming casually seized Lin Xiao and flung him toward the Lin clan’s younger members.

By then, everyone had been stunned speechless, staring at Lu Ming in a daze.

Not even when Lin Xiao landed on the ground did anyone step forward to help him.

What on earth had just happened?

This young man had actually kicked that giant python flying with a single blow, just like that?

Yet Yeqi Miyu and Futu remained calm, as though everything were only to be expected.

Before the crowd could recover from their shock, the giant python suddenly rolled over, raised its upper body high into the air, flicked out its crimson tongue, and fixed its bulb-like eyes on Lu Ming from on high.

Lu Ming looked up at it, smiling.

The moment he laid eyes on the beast, he had already found its origin in his memory.

This giant python had once been an ordinary snake, but by some stroke of fortune it had devoured some precious heavenly treasure and awakened a measure of intelligence, learning to draw in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Once it had intelligence, it hid itself away and began its slow cultivation.

It knew nothing of techniques or mental methods. It relied only on instinct, evolving little by little.

With the passing years, it grew larger and larger, its body hardening like iron, gradually becoming a terrifying existence.

So long as it lived on, and continued refining that heavenly treasure within itself, it could one day evolve into a super lifeform: a sub-dragon.

And once it became a sub-dragon, if fortune favored it further and it evolved once more, it might become a true dragon, possessing an almost endless lifespan.

It was already very close to becoming a sub-dragon. Unfortunately for it, it had been discovered.

Then Lu Ming looked at the giant python and said, “Let me take your inner core, and I’ll spare your life.”

The crowd froze again.

What was wrong with this man? Did he really think it could understand him?

At that moment, however, the giant python let out a furious roar at Lu Ming, gathering itself as though ready to pounce.

Seeing this, Lu Ming said, “If you’re unwilling to part with it, then don’t blame me.”

He knew that a ferocious beast like this already possessed considerable intelligence and could understand what he was saying.

Considering how difficult its cultivation had been, Lu Ming had intended to spare its life if it surrendered its inner core.

Without the core, the giant python would lose any chance of further evolution, but living a few more hundred years would still be no problem.

Yet the beast refused. In that case, Lu Ming had no alternative.

He was determined to have that inner core. Otherwise, who knew when he would be able to restore Qin Lan’s body?

The enraged python suddenly spat a mouthful of green vapor toward Lu Ming.

Lu Ming laughed. The moment the green miasma touched the golden flame of his power, it vanished without a trace.

This giant python had already begun to show some resemblance to a dragon’s breath. A pity it had met him.

Seeing that its poison had no effect, the python let out another earthshaking howl and opened its jaws wide to bite down again.

Lu Ming, however, neither dodged nor retreated, making everyone watching tense up in dread.

Just as the beast’s maw was about to swallow him whole, Lu Ming finally shouted and seized the upper and lower jaws with both hands before flipping the massive body over in a brutal throw.

The enormous python was hurled around by Lu Ming and slammed viciously into the ground.

Dazed and reeling, the beast’s eyes went unfocused.

Lu Ming sprang onto its head and brought his fist crashing down.

“If you refuse to hand over your inner core, then pay the price for the humans you’ve killed.”

With that, he hammered down again and again with relentless force. In the blink of an eye, the once-overbearing giant python was beaten to death by Lu Ming.

Only when he sensed that the beast had lost all breath did Lu Ming stop, leaping down from its head.

He dusted off his hands and said to the python, “You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Bastard.”

Only then did Lin Xiao, Wang Shixin, and the others finally react. That ferocious beast, which had seemed invincible before their very eyes, had been dealt with by Lu Ming in just a few brutal strikes.

Still shaken, yet seeing that the danger had passed, Lin Xiao led the Lin family members over to Lu Ming and bowed deeply.

“So a true expert was here all along. This old man was blind and dim-sighted. Please forgive me.”

Lu Ming said leisurely, “No need for all that. Just remember to bring the money.”

“No problem. Once we return, this old man will personally deliver it to you as thanks for saving our lives.”

At that moment, Wang Shixin also brought his injured clansmen over and bowed before Lu Ming.

“We were blind and failed to recognize a true mountain before us. We are deeply ashamed. Please instruct us, sir.”

Lu Ming smiled. “Too serious. There’s nothing for me to instruct.”

“We have offended you greatly, Grandmaster. Please punish us,” Wang Shixin said, refusing to rise.

It seemed that, toward grandmasters, Wang Shixin still retained ample respect.

Lu Ming shook his head. “We are all martial artists. Why make such a fuss? There is always a higher peak beyond the next. As for sayings like ‘grandmasters cannot be insulted’ or ‘grandmasters are invincible,’ to me, they’re nothing but a joke.”

At those words, Lin Xiao’s face flushed with shame.

Ever since he had become a grandmaster, he had been revered wherever he went, admired by all.

The notions that grandmasters were invincible and could not be insulted had long since been etched into his mind as supreme commandments.

And yet today, Lu Ming had slapped him in the face with brutal force.

Both were grandmasters, yet the other man kept a low profile and his strength was far above Lin Xiao’s own.

Lin Xiao had acted arrogant and overbearing, only to end in crushing defeat and even need the other man to save him. At this moment, his grandmaster’s face burned hot with shame.

Then Lu Ming said, “I won’t waste time chatting with you any longer. I have something to do.”

After that, he murmured a few words in the Dragon Tongue, and vanished on the spot. The giant python vanished as well.

Seeing Lu Ming disappear right before their eyes, the others were shocked once more. What kind of feat was this? How could a person simply vanish into thin air?

One by one, they stood there with mouths agape, unable to believe what they had seen.

Inside the Dragon God Altar, Lu Ming tossed the giant python onto the central altar.

From his memories, he knew that for spiritual beasts like this, once they died, the energy within their bodies would gradually dissipate unless they were sealed with special materials and methods.

He had no time to waste on explanations. He would sacrifice the python first and deal with the rest later.

As the power of the Dragon God descended, the giant python dissolved into starlight and vanished, transforming into golden divine grace.

Lu Ming looked at the luminous panel before him and began to make his selection.

This time, he had resolved to resist temptation no matter what. No matter how bizarre or rare the options might be, he had to find something that could restore Qin Lan’s body first.

As he gazed at the countless options and all manner of strange, dazzling treasures, he forced himself to remain steadfast and searched diligently for what he needed.

He knew that old dragon’s temperament well. It would use all kinds of miraculous things to tempt him into spending divine grace. He had to endure it and keep going until he found what he was looking for.

And so Lu Ming browsed through the offerings in torment. Several times he nearly gave in and clicked on something impulsively, but each time he held himself back.

Then, suddenly, he saw something.

“Dimensional Space: Exchange for this option, and an exclusive dimensional space will be immediately opened for you, allowing you to store and retrieve items anywhere, under any conditions.”

Lu Ming drew in a sharp breath.

Even something this miraculous existed?