Leo led the astonished group of eight deep into the canyon.
“Amitabha, such heavy yin energy,” Edgar said, holding one hand to his chest with a horrified expression.
“That’s not yin energy; it’s polluted dragon aura,” Leo explained.
“Dragon aura? Impossible. Dragon aura is pure yang, the natural enemy of yin energy. How could it be polluted?” Priest Parker was puzzled.
Leo didn’t want to explain further and continued leading the group until they reached the bottom of the canyon.
“Masters, now take your positions as I instructed. Edgar, stand in the north; Priest Parker, in the west; Master Chen, in the south; and Master Xiao, in the east…”
The eight took their positions as Leo directed.
Leo moved his hands swiftly, forming eight seals, then shouted, “Release!”
A ghostly blue light connected the eight individuals, forming a soul-based array.
As the array emerged, a terrifying pressure enveloped the canyon floor like an enormous fishing net.
Under this immense pressure, the dark yellow aura began to contract.
Soon, a pool was revealed, from which strands of polluted dragon aura were emanating.
Seeing the pool, Leo looked surprised and then commanded loudly, “Masters, gather around the pool and assume the positions I taught you!”
The eight quickly complied.
“Chant the incantations!”
One by one, they chanted the incantations.
A rune array appeared above the pool and slowly descended.
Vast spiritual energy seeped from the array, forcing the polluted dragon aura back into the pool.
A loud noise erupted from the pool as a splash of water burst forth. An angry, hoarse voice emerged from within.
“Stop immediately, or I’ll kill you all!”
Leo smirked coldly. The evil spirit hiding in the pool could no longer endure.
Seeing the soul bodies of the eight waver, Leo reminded them, “Do not panic. Focus your minds. The evil spirit is no match for us.”
The wavering soul bodies stabilized, and the rune array continued to descend. Once it touched the water’s surface, no more dark yellow aura emerged from the pool.
“You’ve ruined my plans! I’ll kill you all!”
The hoarse voice was filled with rage. Amidst the churning water, a long dark shadow broke through but was suppressed by the rune array.
The rune array ensnared the shadow like a fishing net, preventing any escape despite its struggles.
Leo squinted in surprise. The creature emerging from the pool was an anaconda.
An anaconda is a transitional form between a python and a Flood Dragon, not yet fully evolved into a Flood Dragon.
No wonder the dragon aura was impure and easily polluted; now it made sense.
An anaconda has a significant chance of becoming a true dragon upon evolving into a Flood Dragon, hence possessing some dragon aura.
This anaconda was dark purple, about six meters long, with scales on its belly as large as a human palm.
It had a single horn on its head and blood-red eyes the size of a baby’s fist. Its mouth revealed sharp fangs when it roared, looking terrifying.
Dragon aura burst from the anaconda’s body in waves, impacting the rune array and making it difficult to subdue it immediately.
“What is that?”
“It has a horn on its head; it looks like a Flood Dragon!”
“No, its head is still that of a snake. It hasn’t fully transformed into a Flood Dragon yet. It must be an anaconda.”
“Even if it’s an anaconda, it’s still one-third dragon. Are we really going to slay a dragon?”
The eight masters couldn’t help but discuss, their expressions filled with uncertainty.
Since Leo used their soul bodies as the foundation for the array, any distraction would destabilize it.
If the anaconda broke free, all efforts would be wasted.
“Shut up! It’s not a dragon; it’s just a snake! Understand? Don’t be afraid; just do it!” Leo shouted angrily, fearing they might abandon him halfway.
“Killing a dragon is impossible. Killing a snake is doable,” one of them muttered unexpectedly.
Seeing signs of the rune array collapsing, Leo regretted bringing them along.
It seemed he had to use Controlling Soul Art.
Leo moved his hands quickly, embedding seals into each of their soul bodies.
Their soul bodies stabilized, glowing intensely with blue light. The rune array constructed from this connection shone brightly and tightened downward.
The anaconda let out a piercing scream.
“I can’t move! What’s happening?”
“My body feels like it’s going to explode with power! What’s going on?”
“Mr. Bloomer, help me! I’m in pain!”
The eight masters’ soul bodies cried out in agony, but Leo ignored them.
If the anaconda broke through the rune array, their soul bodies would dissipate completely-soul destruction as it’s commonly known.
Pain was better than soul destruction.
Leo controlled the rune array to tighten and rotate. The anaconda struggled like a fish caught in a net, its scaly skin marked with wounds from the array’s pressure.
The anaconda was forced back into the pool.
“Damn it! I was so close to becoming a Flood Dragon, and you ruined it! I won’t accept this!” The anaconda cursed furiously.
Leo coldly replied to the raging anaconda, “Being born a snake isn’t your fault. But killing people during your cultivation is.”
“Harming others for your gain goes against heavenly principles. As I’ve encountered you today, I must act on behalf of heaven and destroy you!”
“Ah…!” The anaconda screamed in agony, barely holding on.
Realizing it was no match for Leo, it pleaded for mercy. “Master, I was wrong. I’ll never harm anyone again. Please spare me; my cultivation hasn’t been easy.”
Leo considered for a moment and then asked sternly, “Spare you? Maybe. But tell me how you gained sentience and cultivated into an anaconda.”
Heavenly principles dictate that animals cannot possess human intelligence unless through some rare opportunity. Leo was curious about how this snake became an anaconda and started its path of cultivation.