The serpent, heavily wounded, let out a mournful roar and thrashed its body, coiling around Zhou Yan, attempting to drag him into the mire.
"Scram!"
Zhou Yan roared, delivering a swift backhand.
*Bang!*
The serpent was struck, its head exploding and its body disintegrating. Blood splattered everywhere, leaving no trace of its remains.
Elsewhere, Zhou Yan moved like lightning, his long saber a blur as he entered the fray like a tiger among sheep, cutting down serpent after serpent.
"What a catch, possessing a cultivation of around two hundred years."
Zhou Yan exclaimed with a smack of his lips, his gaze burning with desire.
These serpents were all second-tier demonic beasts, not weak, comparable to martial apprentices at the seventh or eighth level.
Alas, their encounter with him sealed their tragic fate.
*Swish, swish, swish...*
Zhou Yan's figure was ethereal, like a fish weaving through water, each sword strike precise.
Though the serpents were numerous, his strength far surpassed theirs.
In the time it took for a single stick of incense to burn, six serpents had fallen to his blade.
"Roar..."
The remaining serpents, sensing the danger, scattered, burrowing into the mud and vanishing.
"Heh, they sure run fast."
Zhou Yan smirked disdainfully, making no move to pursue.
These serpents, thoroughly frightened, would not dare show themselves again for a while.
After all, he had used the Soul Searching Technique to glean information about them.
It turned out these serpents were called Crimson Flame Snakes, possessing a cruel and venomous nature. They enjoyed devouring their own kind and had a particular, ravenous appetite for beautiful women.
Once they set their sights on someone, survival was a slim hope.
This was a widely known fact within the Desolate Ancient Kingdom.
"This fifth-grade Ganoderma, it must be hundreds of years old too."
Zhou Yan crouched down, examining it closely, and his face lit up with delight.
This fifth-grade Ganoderma was as large as a baby's fist, radiating a powerful and pure essence.
Consuming it would greatly benefit his physical body.
"Heh heh, since I'm here, I can't leave empty-handed."
Zhou Yan grinned, taking out his iron hammer and beginning to work.
*Crack! Crack! Crack!*
Before long, Zhou Yan had cut the Ganoderma into pieces, packing them into two separate boxes.
Then, he looked ahead, his eyes cold, a killing intent surging within him.
"Hmph, no need to hide anymore, all of you, come out!"
Zhou Yan spoke indifferently.
A chorus of angry roars echoed, the mud erupting as more serpents surged forth.
There were over twenty of them, all peak second-tier demonic beasts.
"Overestimating yourselves, you will all meet your end!"
Zhou Yan's face was stern. He moved with profound steps, instantly closing the distance to the serpents, and thrust his sword forward. Sword energy erupted, piercing the void with terrifying pressure.
In the blink of an eye, over ten serpents were slain, their blood raining down.
Zhou Yan scanned his surroundings, his expression growing more solemn as he murmured, "Such dense miasma, this truly is the Dragon Serpent Marsh!"
The Dragon Serpent Marsh was perpetually shrouded in poisonous fog and thick miasma, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach. Carelessness here could lead to madness and death.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Zhou Yan felt his body grow heavy, as if burdened by a thousand pounds.
"This won't do, staying here any longer will surely suffocate me."
Zhou Yan shook his head and turned to leave.
He emerged from the marsh, drawing in a deep breath of fresh air, his body relaxing.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's expression faltered, his gaze fixed on the area ahead.
Deep within the dense forest, he heard the faint sound of splashing water.
*Whoosh!*
The next moment, a massive crocodile surfaced, its maw opening wide, lunging to bite at Zhou Yan's neck.
"Beast, you seek death!"
Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed. He gripped his longsword tightly and swung it with all his might.
*Clang!*
The crocodile's head exploded into a mist of blood, its remnants falling to the ground as scales.
"Eh, crocodile skin?"
Zhou Yan picked up the scales, a hint of surprise on his face.
Crocodile skin was a valuable material for refining weapons, tough and wear-resistant, offering strong defense. It could be used to craft armor and battle garments.
Zhou Yan was only wearing a thin shirt.
Now, with this crocodile skin, it was perfect for crafting a set of soft armor.
"As expected of a marsh, to encounter a crocodile here. If I hadn't killed it, I wouldn't be able to move freely later."
Zhou Yan mused.
This marsh, filled with poisonous miasma, was deadly to ordinary people.
He had already incurred their wrath by killing the serpents.
Lingering here would surely invite retaliation from other demonic beasts. While open attacks were easy to guard against, hidden dangers were far more perilous.
"So be it, I killed it, and I killed it!"
Zhou Yan's eyes flickered as he unleashed a sword strike.
Instantly, the crocodile skin split into several pieces, spreading across the ground to form a rudimentary set of armor.
"Hm? What's happening..."
The next moment, Zhou Yan froze, his expression contorted.
A gaping bloody wound had appeared on his chest, crimson blood oozing out and soaking his entire front.
"I've been poisoned!"
Zhou Yan's brow furrowed, his face grave.
He possessed the Purple Sun True Qi, which made him immune to all poisons, yet he had still been poisoned. This indicated the miasma in this marsh was no ordinary threat.
*Huff!*
Immediately, Zhou Yan held his breath, focused his mind, and circulated the Purple Sun True Art.
In an instant, the true qi within him boiled like a vast ocean, surging with power.
*Sizzle...*
The Purple Sun True Qi, domineering and scorching hot, drove the toxins away, rapidly healing his injuries.
After a while, the poison was completely eradicated, and his injuries were fully healed.
"This poison must be extraordinary..."
Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow and murmured to himself.
*Rumble!*
Just then, a terrifying wave of energy swept in, the wind howling and sand and dust filling the air.
The next moment, a colossal demonic wolf slowly crawled onto the bank, its pair of sinister green eyes fixing on Zhou Yan.
This demonic wolf was agile, its body covered in black scales that shimmered with a faint metallic sheen. Its sharp teeth were bared, exuding a chilling aura.
"Second-tier high-grade demonic beast – Black Scale Wolf King!"
Zhou Yan's expression became solemn, his heart pounding faster.
He had just killed three second-tier serpents and a crocodile, his stamina severely depleted. Now, facing a second-tier high-grade demonic beast, the Black Scale Wolf King, his mood was heavy.
"Awooo!"
The Black Scale Wolf King let out a skyward roar, its nostrils flaring as it exhaled heavily, a ferocious aura emanating from it as it pounced towards Zhou Yan.
"I'll give it my all!"
Zhou Yan's face was pale. With a clench of his jaw, he flipped his wrist, and a longsword was drawn from its sheath.
"One Sword Throat Slit!"
Zhou Yan roared, wielding his sword and unleashing a sharp sword light.
*Clang!*
Sparks flew. The Black Scale Wolf King's body shuddered, it retreated several steps, blood trickling from the corner of its mouth, its ferocious gaze locked onto Zhou Yan.
"As expected of a second-tier high-grade demonic beast, truly formidable!"
Zhou Yan's heart grew cold, his expression grim.
In the previous exchange, he had suffered greatly, his stamina severely depleted, unable to maintain peak condition.
Killing the Black Scale Wolf King would be a considerable challenge.
"Awooo!"
The Black Scale Wolf King howled, its ferocity surging, and lunged at Zhou Yan.
"Vile creature, die!"
Zhou Yan's gaze sharpened, and he brought his sword down. The sharp sword light tore through the air, landing on the Black Scale Wolf King.
*Boom!*
The Black Scale Wolf King's body stiffened. Blood gushed from its spine, dyeing the marsh red.
"Awooo..."
The Black Scale Wolf King wailed, its body collapsing to the ground, its life extinguished.
Zhou Yan's face turned pale, and he fell to one knee, gasping for breath, his complexion sallow.