"Boom!" A deafening roar echoed from the crater, shaking it violently. Then, a massive figure burst out of the opening and landed on the ground, only to burrow back into the earth.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yan left the valley and headed straight back. He planned to refine the two seven-star, fourth-tier spiritual herbs he had into pills. Zhou Yan knew he absolutely could not lose the upcoming competition, so he needed to enhance his strength.
Zhou Yan took out a jade box and opened it. A rich aroma wafted out. He then retrieved two round, green pills. These two pills were crystal clear, emitting a faint green luminescence that made one instinctively want to pop one in their mouth.
Zhou Yan then placed the two green pills into his mouth and chewed. They melted upon contact, and a refreshing sensation flowed down his throat into his stomach. Zhou Yan closed his eyes, savoring the peculiar feeling.
After a moment, Zhou Yan opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing across his face. These two spiritual herbs were indeed extraordinary. Not only were they sweet and refreshing, but they also carried a hint of coolness. Zhou Yan was certain their effects were remarkable. If an ordinary person consumed these herbs, it was estimated that all impurities in their body would be expelled within a week, potentially even leading to a complete transformation. Of course, this was for ordinary people. For cultivators like Zhou Yan, the effect would be significantly diminished.
However, even if it only increased his lifespan by a few years, the effect was still considerable. Such a small change was enough to bridge the gap.
Zhou Yan took out another cloth bag and carefully put the spiritual herbs away. He intended to refine them into pills later and give them to Li Mengjie and Liu Hao.
Zhou Yan continued on his way back, but he wasn't in a hurry. He observed his surroundings while waiting for time to pass.
Time passed quickly, and Zhou Yan finally reached the opportune moment. At this point, a hint of dawn appeared in the sky, which then gradually brightened as the morning sun slowly ascended.
Zhou Yan stood still, quietly gazing at the distant sunrise, thinking to himself, "It should be around nighttime now. I wonder how things are over there?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan's ears twitched. He abruptly looked to his left and saw a colossal python dart out of the jungle. It was several meters long and as thick as a bowl. The snake had two horns on its head and opened its gaping maw, appearing ravenous as it lunged towards Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed. He took a step forward with his right foot, and his body shot out like lightning. In an instant, he closed the distance to the giant snake and raised his fist, smashing it fiercely into the snake's head.
"Bang!" A dull thud echoed from the top of the snake's head. Zhou Yan's punch had not even budged the giant snake. Instead, he was forced back three steps. However, the snake seemed enraged by Zhou Yan. It opened its blood-red mouth and bit towards him. Zhou Yan dodged to the side, and the python missed, but it didn't give up. It continued to chase Zhou Yan frantically, flailing wildly.
Zhou Yan let out a cold snort, then swept his right leg out horizontally, instantly kicking the top of the giant snake's head. It was sent flying five to six meters before it stopped. A distinct red mark remained on the snake's head.
Zhou Yan seized the opportunity, leaped onto the snake's back, clenched his right fist, and pounded heavily on the snake's back. "Crack!" The snake's incredibly tough scales couldn't withstand Zhou Yan's assault. They were torn apart by Zhou Yan's fist, and blood gushed out.
The giant snake writhed in agony, but it couldn't escape Zhou Yan's grasp. Zhou Yan gripped the snake's neck tightly, and despite its thrashing, he didn't let go.
"Bang... bang..." Zhou Yan held the snake's neck, continuously swinging his fists and striking the snake's body fiercely. Each punch shattered its scales and sprayed blood, but it didn't kill the snake.
However, as Zhou Yan continued his attacks, the snake struggled more and more violently. Zhou Yan knew the python was close to death, but he still wasn't willing to stop. He wanted to strangle the snake alive.
"Hiss... hiss..." The intense pain drove the python to use its last bit of strength to writhe. Its massive tail thrashed wildly, striking Zhou Yan and making loud slapping sounds. However, Zhou Yan was wearing the Black Dragon Armor, so even a fierce blow from the giant python had no effect. Yet, he didn't stop, continuing his frenzied assault.
Not long after, the snake's body gradually went limp, ceasing all movement. Zhou Yan then slowly dragged the snake into the depths of the jungle, found a flat, spacious grassy area, and buried the snake within it. He patted the dust off his body and turned to leave.
As soon as Zhou Yan left, the giant snake, which had been lying on the ground, suddenly opened its eyes. It quickly got up and followed him. However, due to the snake's cumbersome body, tracking was not easy. Soon, the snake lost its way and finally stopped in a densely wooded area.
The giant snake circled a few times before finally choosing to ascend a towering tree, where it coiled itself.
"Huh!" Suddenly, Zhou Yan's brow furrowed slightly. He noticed a large poisonous snake coiled around the giant tree. While this snake was not as massive as the python he had just encountered, it was still formidable.
Zhou Yan stared at this poisonous snake for a moment before leaping towards its location.
The poisonous snake sensed Zhou Yan's presence and immediately became vigilant, raising its head. Its pair of cold, emerald green eyes fixed on Zhou Yan, as if it intended to devour him.
Zhou Yan ignored the poisonous snake. He bypassed the tree trunk where the snake was located and stealthily approached. Soon, he arrived near the giant snake.
"Whoosh!" Zhou Yan took a deep breath. The muscles in his right arm bulged, and his body shot out like an arrow. His right fist, carrying a powerful gust of wind, slammed down fiercely towards the giant snake's head.
Sensing the approaching danger, the giant snake opened its maw and lunged at Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan had anticipated this. He swung his right hand violently, and a ball of blue flame appeared on his right hand, hurtling towards the giant snake's head. The snake, feeling the scorching heat, flinched in fear and hurriedly dodged.
Zhou Yan seized this opportunity, leaping up and straddling the giant snake's spine. With his left hand, he firmly gripped the snake's vital point, the "seven inches," and with his right hand, he clenched his fist and smashed down again. The giant snake cried out in pain, its body trembling uncontrollably.