The giant python was right before them, yet as Rahu had said, probing with divine sense revealed nothing ahead.
Hongjun turned to Rahu and inquired, "What do we do now? Force our way through?"
Rahu shook his head and spoke softly, "There's no need. This Heaven-Swallowing Python is not weak. Though we could defeat it together, it would attract other chaotic beasts. We'll make our move when the Primordial Nether Flower has fully matured!"
Hongjun nodded. The two of them remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for the Primordial Nether Flower to mature.
Just as the Primordial Nether Flower was about to ripen, the Heaven-Swallowing Python suddenly let out a furious roar towards the sky!
Seeing this, Hongjun and Rahu quickly concealed themselves. Hongjun looked at Rahu, puzzled.
Rahu, noticing Hongjun's gaze, began to explain. "This chaotic realm is unlike the Primordial World. These chaotic spirit beasts cultivate with chaotic energy, their combat power far exceeding that of the Primordial World's spirit beasts. A slight misstep could lead to our demise here! Judging by the Heaven-Swallowing Python's appearance, its archenemy has arrived."
Hongjun frowned upon hearing this. "Then the chaotic beasts I encountered earlier weren't that formidable? While troublesome, they wouldn't have been able to take our lives, would they?"
Rahu shot Hongjun a disdainful look. "That was at the periphery of the chaotic realm. The truly powerful chaotic beasts reside in the depths. Those lesser creatures only fled to the outer regions because they couldn't survive in the deep chaotic areas."
Hongjun had not expected the chaotic realm to be so perilous. Looking at the roaring Heaven-Swallowing Python, he quickly asked, "What exactly is the Heaven-Swallowing Python's archenemy?"
Rahu, finding Hongjun's constant questioning like that of an idiot, patiently explained, "The Thunder-Fire Divine Finch! This Thunder-Fire Divine Finch and the Heaven-Swallowing Python are like natural enemies. The moment they meet, it's a life-or-death struggle. They constantly hunt each other."
Hongjun exclaimed, "Good heavens! What kind of grudge do they have? It seems like they're determined to kill each other!"
Rahu chuckled and immediately replied, "When I first entered the deep chaotic realm, I encountered a Heaven-Swallowing Python and was almost swallowed whole. In my moment of crisis, a Thunder-Fire Divine Finch saved me!"
"These Thunder-Fire Divine Finches and Heaven-Swallowing Pythons are very interesting. They both prey on each other's young and eggs, so these sworn enemies will stop at nothing once they find each other!"
As Rahu and Hongjun were speaking, a colossal figure appeared within their sight.
A bird, covered in black chaotic divine thunder and blue chaotic divine fire, materialized before the great python.
Upon seeing the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch, the Heaven-Swallowing Python immediately reared its head high, letting out a hissing sound. Its blue eyes turned red at a visible rate, and it roared at the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch.
The Thunder-Fire Divine Finch, upon seeing the Heaven-Swallowing Python, intensified its thunder and fire aura, roaring back at the python.
Seeing this, Rahu immediately pulled the spectating Hongjun slightly further back.
"The Thunder-Fire Divine Finch and the Heaven-Swallowing Python are about to fight. Let's be careful not to get caught in the crossfire. Once they start fighting, we'll immediately snatch the Primordial Nether Flower. This Heaven-Swallowing Python is not yet an adult, so it shouldn't be a match for this Thunder-Fire Divine Finch."
Hongjun, hearing this, looked at the colossal creature and asked incredulously, "This thing isn't even an adult yet?"
Rahu looked at Hongjun as if he were an idiot. "Do you think its name, Heaven-Swallowing Python, is for show? This creature specifically seeks out the Primordial Nether Flower and the heavenly dao of small worlds to devour and grow."
Hongjun was greatly shocked and asked in surprise, "This thing eats heavenly dao?"
Rahu, relishing Hongjun's ignorance, nodded slightly.
Upon receiving Rahu's confirmation, an idea immediately struck Hongjun. "Rahu, if we were to drive these chaotic beasts towards the Primordial World, wouldn't we be able to deal with the Three Pure Ones without lifting a finger?"
Rahu glared at Hongjun. "What are you thinking? In your current state, even an adult Heaven-Swallowing Python would consider you an extra meal. Even if you recovered, you could at best fight it to a draw. To repel these chaotic beasts, I reckon it would take a Celestial Venerable! Besides, these chaotic beasts seem to fear the Primordial World. They tend to detour whenever they encounter any floating parts of it."
While Rahu and Hongjun were talking, the Heaven-Swallowing Python glanced at the Primordial Nether Flower and then launched an attack at the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch.
Rahu, watching the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch and the Heaven-Swallowing Python begin their battle, immediately pulled Hongjun towards the Primordial Nether Flower.
The Thunder-Fire Divine Finch, seeing the Heaven-Swallowing Python attacking, showed no fear. Its thunder and fire aura intensified, and it opened its mouth, spitting a glob of saliva mixed with chaotic divine thunder and chaotic divine fire at the Heaven-Swallowing Python.
Hongjun, observing the thunder-fire projectile spat by the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch, gently tried to sense its power with his divine sense.
Rahu, noticing Hongjun's foolish action, found it too late to stop him. He quickly pulled Hongjun a little distance away.
The moment Hongjun's divine sense touched the thunder and fire, a scream of agony erupted from him.
"Ah!"
As soon as Hongjun's divine sense brushed against the chaotic divine thunder and chaotic divine fire, he felt as if the thunder-fire projectile had struck his soul.
Hongjun's scream immediately drew the attention of the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch and the Heaven-Swallowing Python. However, after a brief glance at Hongjun, they resumed their fierce battle.
Rahu looked at the scorched Hongjun and said with annoyance, "If you want to die, don't drag me down with you. That is chaotic divine thunder and chaotic divine fire, not something you can just touch! If these two chaotic beasts weren't mortal enemies, we would have to pay a price to escape. Idiot!"
Hongjun, looking at Rahu who was berating him, dared not utter a word. He had only wanted to gauge the power of the thunder-fire projectile. He never imagined that his soul would be injured the moment his divine sense touched it.
It was so fast that he didn't even have time to sever the connection between his divine sense and himself.
Rahu knew that the Heaven-Swallowing Python was not yet an adult and would soon be defeated. Once the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch dealt with the python, it would turn its attention to them.
Rahu quickly pulled Hongjun, snatched the Primordial Nether Flower, and immediately fled.
With the Primordial Nether Flower in hand, Rahu stuffed a wadded-up ball of it into Hongjun's mouth as they ran.
Hongjun, with the Primordial Nether Flower stuffed into his mouth, mumbled incoherently, unsure of what he was saying.
Rahu, annoyed by Hongjun's babbling, roared, "Be quiet!"
Just as the two of them left, they heard a piteous cry from the Heaven-Swallowing Python.
Rahu, hearing the sound, knew that the Heaven-Swallowing Python was likely about to become a meal for the Thunder-Fire Divine Finch.