The villagers didn't disperse quickly, and some were even reluctant to leave.
As Ashu opened the door, ready to face the battle, many torches were still flickering near the vegetable garden.
"Old man, hanging himself—guess he's tired of living."
To avoid a pile of corpses outside his door, Ashu directly used his Magical Essence control ability, remotely manipulating a torch and throwing it ahead.
The torch spun through the air, casting a faint light against the dark curtain of the night.
It naturally drew the villagers' attention. Gorn Village was so small, and people were used to walking around, familiar with the surroundings.
When they saw that the torch didn't land in the field, but instead landed on something that looked like flowing, iron-like material, they were immediately startled.
"Holy shit! What is that? What's there?"
"A monster! It's a monster! A monster's in the village!"
"Run! Run! If you don't want to die, run!"
"Damn it! Fuck!"
In a panic, many villagers quickly sprinted in different directions. Those who hadn't seen the monster were swept up in the frantic atmosphere and followed the others, scattering in a rush.
At that moment.
Ashu looked into the distance.
Through the flow of Magical Essence in the air, he had already calculated the monster's trail and form.
He was at his peak, full of energy, but still could only cast a single Water Bullet. As for other spells, they would be useless.
Only Water Bullet, a system-returned magic, could deal damage at a cultivator apprentice level or higher. Attacks within the ordinary cultivator apprentice range couldn't even break through the defense of monster Carol. From his investigation, this monster was larger and stronger than Carol.
That monster might be a magical beast, mutated into a more terrifying alchemical beast by wizard Ula-Ula's potion.
If the Water Bullet was effective, he could still manage to kill the beast with some effort.
If even the Water Bullet didn't work, based on the monster's trajectory, his garden and home would undoubtedly be reduced to rubble.
That was a sight Ashu didn't want to see. Over the years, he had invested too much into this place.
He stepped forward and stood in the center of the front yard, facing the approaching monster at a closer distance.
In terms of size, the Water Bullet, which had a smaller impact area but greater penetration, required precision in its targeting.
However, without the spiritual perception talent, Ashu couldn't see the giant serpent's head in the darkness.
"Anna, guide me with Magical Essence… use Magical Essence to mark a point for me, I can't see it," Ashu said.
Anna, who had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, immediately understood Ashu's intent. Magical Essence was an energy that filled the space, and those skilled in its manipulation could trace and reverse-track positions using Magical Essence.
For example, a master of Magical Essence control could sense someone casting magic behind them, even with their eyes closed.
At that moment,
Anna, with her spiritual perception at level twelve, clearly captured the image of the giant serpent and condensed a point of concentrated Magical Essence at its head.
This point of concentrated Magical Essence moved with the giant serpent's movements.
Ashu closed his eyes.
In the pitch-black night, his mortal vision had become an obstacle, while his Magical Essence control ability became the guiding force.
He focused intently on the point of concentrated Magical Essence, waiting for the distance to shorten—seventy meters, fifty meters, forty meters...
When the distance closed to thirty meters, Ashu decisively recited the incantation for a regular Water Ball spell, transforming it into a powerful Water Bullet.
In an instant,
The water element condensed in a radial shape, turning into a droplet. The droplet locked onto the concentrated Magical Essence point in the darkness, aiming with pinpoint accuracy!
"Bang—!"
A loud explosion echoed through the night sky above Gorn Village.
The villagers who had fled were still trembling with fear.
"Boom—!"
"It hit, Ashu!"
With Anna's report, the giant serpent's brain was pierced by the water droplet. It didn't die instantly, but lost control of its body, crashing into the ground and sliding several meters through the soft soil of the field.
At this moment, Kidopriest, who had been swallowed by the serpent, seized the opportunity and successfully broke free from its stomach!
The combined damage from both blows hit the giant serpent in quick succession. Writhing in agony, its mind became clouded, its massive body convulsing as its snakehead slumped onto the rural road, emitting a resentful hiss.
"Ah—!"
At this distance, Ashu could already see it with his own eyes.
After all, they were only about five meters away now.
Even though the giant serpent had lost its life, its enormous body still twitched faintly. Just its head alone was as large as half a house.
After eighteen years, this was Ashu's first time witnessing such a colossal creature.
To say that he wasn't at all afraid would be a lie.
"Sorry, Lady Saint, for letting this monster disturb you."
Kidopriest quickly apologized as he freed himself from the serpent's belly, immediately assessing the surroundings. He didn't have time to clean the snake's acidic residue off him, but his first priority was to apologize to Anna.
When he had been trapped inside the serpent, he had clearly felt the beast suffer a sudden and devastating blow.
He suspected that it had to be the Saintess who had struck it.
Otherwise.
Given the current state of Gorn Village, no one here could have harmed this monster.
In other words, it was the Saintess who had saved his life.
Anna, however, did not acknowledge Kidopriest's words. Instead, she moved forward to support Ashu. Although Ashu had passive protection, Anna was unaware of this.
She could only simultaneously cast a Healing Spell to help ease Ashu's exhaustion.
Following Anna's actions, Kidopriest noticed Ashu.
His steps were unsteady, his expression hollow... Well, it was understandable. He had just started down the path of a cultivator and was already facing such a monster. It was reasonable that he'd be frightened.
"Mr. Ashu, courage is admirable, but one must know their limits," Kidopriest said.
Upon hearing this,
Ashu paused for a moment, mistakenly thinking Kidopriest was referring to the law enforcers.
At that moment,
A patch of dark clouds shifted, revealing the hidden moonlight.
Silver beams bathed the land, shining down on the serpent's corpse. Its scales reflected the faint glow, brighter than the ground beneath it.
Ashu turned around and saw that one of the giant serpent's eyes had already exploded. Only then did he realize that Anna's Magical Essence guidance point had been the serpent's eye.
"You actually aimed at its eye? Won't it avoid it because of its sensitivity?"
"That's its weakest point," Anna replied.
Hearing Anna's words, Kidopriest couldn't help but speak up again, "As expected of the Saintess, even in such an environment, you're able to calmly analyze the monster's weaknesses. We've been going around in circles with it for a long time. And even if we wanted to target the eye, it would be difficult to land a hit. Truly, it's impressive!"
"Kidopriest, what are you talking about? Have you investigated thoroughly?"
"My sincerest apologies. On behalf of the Cultivator Guild, I have investigated wizard Ula-Ula's blasphemous actions. However, the three law enforcers unfortunately perished, and they could not report to the City Hall. Therefore, Mr. Ashu's honor and reward can only be given once the City Hall sends people to continue the investigation and close the case."
So, those three were really dead.
Ashu furrowed his brow and said, "Could there be other alchemical beasts nearby?"
"Please rest assured, Mr. Ashu. We've already killed many alchemical beasts along the way. This one should be the last," Kidopriest responded.
"Should be?"
"Heh, even if there are other alchemical beasts, they wouldn't dare approach the Saintess. Otherwise, the Saintess would definitely execute them," Kidopriest flattered while simultaneously trying to shift the blame.
Every household in the village was required to pay an extra tax to the Cultivator Guild each year. This money was separate from regular taxes and was not tied to the usual funds.
According to Cultivator Guild rules, the guild was supposed to protect taxpayers.
But now, it was clear that Kidopriest wanted to wash his hands of the matter.
Upon hearing this, Ashu fell silent. This was how things had always been; he had grown used to it over the years.
Anna, however, shot a cold glance at Kidopriest and quietly said to Ashu, "Don't worry, there are no alchemical beast disturbances around us for now. At least we should be able to sleep peacefully tonight."
"Mm… Anna, do you know Purification Magic? I feel like Ula-Ula's curse has been activated on me. That alchemical giant serpent clearly came after me."
"I studied it before," Anna replied.
When Ashu heard this, he was filled with hope!
Not only would he not have to make the long journey to town, but the system would also likely trigger a critical hit return!
The two of them completely ignored Kidopriest, walked into the house, locked the door, and pulled the curtains shut.
By the light of the oil lamp, Ashu and Anna sat on the edge of the bed.
She twisted her supple waist to face Ashu, placing her index finger on his forehead.
"Lost child, bathe in the holy light and cleanse your filth. Purify!"