However, Zhou Yan did not fear, as his physique was strong enough to resist the corrosive effects of the poison.
"Let's give it a shot."
After a moment of thought, Zhou Yan made his decision, unwilling to retreat just yet.
In his past life, Zhou Yan had trained in the northwestern wilderness and overcome countless crises; why would he be timid today?
"Roar!"
"Awoo!"
Just then, a pack of jackals surrounded him, their eyes cold, baring their fangs.
"Beasts, you dare block my path? You court death."
Zhou Yan let out a cold snort and threw a punch, striking with fierce force. Bang, bang, bang... Wherever his fist landed, jackals were sent flying backward, their bodies caved in.
In the blink of an eye, all the jackals lay dead in pools of blood.
"What a domineering strength!" Zhou Yan was shocked and filled with joy, feeling that he had not made the wrong choice this time.
Although Zhou Yan's previous attacks were purely based on brute strength, without employing any martial arts techniques, they still inflicted fatal damage on the jackals.
It was known that Zhou Yan cultivated the Nine Yang Body Tempering Technique, which refined his physical body, making his strength twice that of an ordinary person, with terrifying explosive power.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a gray wolf roared and charged again, its sharp fangs tearing at him.
This gray wolf was magnificent, its fur sleek and glossy, its build agile, with short, powerful limbs. It ran like a tiger descending a mountain, its momentum surging.
"Wretched beast!"
Zhou Yan's gaze turned cold, and he showed no fear, directly unleashing a punch. Tendons bulged on his fist, erupting with immense power.
Boom!
A punch met a claw, producing a muffled thunderous sound. Dust swirled, and waves of energy raged. With a single punch, Zhou Yan stood unmoving, while the gray wolf staggered back three steps, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
"Roar~"
The gray wolf roared in anger, its eyes bloodshot, and it attacked ferociously.
Under such circumstances, Zhou Yan remained unfazed, even showing an expression of excitement as he thrust his spear.
Clang!
Metal struck metal, sparks flew, and Zhou Yan's long spear was bitten and held fast by the gray wolf.
This wolf was extremely ferocious, its fangs bared, attempting to devour Zhou Yan alive.
"Hmph, you court death!"
Zhou Yan's eyes turned icy. He flicked his long spear, its blade whistling through the air, tracing an arc that precisely sliced into the gray wolf's neck. Blood spurted out, dyeing the grass red.
This gray wolf must have ingested something that poisoned it, slowing its movements and reaction time, allowing Zhou Yan to strike.
Squelch...
With a desolate cry, Zhou Yan withdrew his spear. The gray wolf collapsed, its spear still embedded in its bloody neck, blood gushing out.
"So fast!"
Zhou Yan was shocked. The gray wolf's speed was remarkable. If it were someone else, they would surely have stumbled if caught off guard.
However, he had easily evaded it, reacting swiftly without any mishap.
Zhou Yan estimated that with his current strength, he could be compared to a beginner martial artist.
"Since that's the case, there's no need to hold back."
Zhou Yan's thoughts stirred. He circulated the *Heavenly Gang Art*, and heat boiled in his dantian, converging into his right arm and pouring into it. A surge of immense power erupted instantaneously, sweeping through his entire body like a tide.
"Roar!"
Zhou Yan roared at the sky. His muscles tensed, veins bulging, and his entire body expanded, reaching a height of nearly three meters. His skin gleamed with a silver light, as if forged from steel.
Crack~~~
With a crisp sound, the gray wolf's head exploded, brains splattering everywhere.
In an instant, Zhou Yan transformed from a slender child into a burly man, his aura potent and suffocating.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Zhou Yan panted, gazing at his fists with fervent eyes, murmuring to himself, "This is the first time I've unleashed my full power after regaining my strength. I possess such terrifying explosive force!"
"This is my physical body; it has transcended the mortal realm."
"For an ordinary human, they would have burst and died from the strain."
Zhou Yan took a deep breath, calmed himself, and scanned his surroundings. Seeing no other beasts nearby, he felt relieved. He then walked to the edge of the lake and leaped into it.
Splash!
Entering the water, Zhou Yan held his breath and swam forward.
After a while, Zhou Yan reached the bottom of the lake. Here, many shells were piled densely, of various shapes and dazzling colors.
"Eh, is this coral!?"
Suddenly, a piece of coral caught his eye. Zhou Yan's expression froze as he observed it closely. The coral had fine branches, and its tip was crystal clear, like a glazed gem, with a faint spiritual light flowing within.
"A spirit herb!"
Instantly, a smile bloomed on Zhou Yan's face, his eyes blazing with desire.
In his past life, Zhou Yan had heard his father speak of spirit herbs, sacred herbs, and even immortal herbs—precious items with miraculous effects, worth fortunes, and incredibly rare, found only once in centuries.
According to his father, spirit herbs and sacred herbs were born from the essence of heaven and earth, possessing sentience. They could drift with the wind, their movements unpredictable, and only paused at the moment of being picked.
Moreover, spirit herbs and sacred herbs had a special fragrance; just a whiff was enough to identify them clearly.
In his past life, Zhou Yan had attempted to capture spirit herbs but failed.
Of course, Zhou Yan knew that in his past life, these spirit herbs were in nationally protected areas, inaccessible to ordinary people and difficult to obtain.
Now, there was a piece of coral in this swamp.
"This coral must have matured..." Zhou Yan's eyes burned with anticipation, and he immediately stepped forward to examine it.
The coral tree bore a row of sharp points, like knives, shining with a cold glint, making it very conspicuous.
"Chirp chirp..."
Suddenly, a wisp of black smoke appeared from nowhere, drifted into the coral tree, and vanished.
The next moment, the coral tree trembled slightly, and a tender green sprout emerged. It was crystal clear, as if carved from crystal, emitting a faint fluorescence.
"It's mature!"
Zhou Yan was incredibly excited. This sprout was a seedling of a spirit herb, extremely rare and immensely valuable.
"How can such a small sprout be eaten?" Zhou Yan frowned, pondering.
He then took out a dagger, cut off the sprout, and tucked it into his bosom.
"I'll take it back first for Grandpa to identify."
Zhou Yan's thoughts raced, and he continued onward.
This lake was quite vast, its bottom covered in silt, moist and dark.
The lake water was bone-chillingly cold. Wearing his raincoat, Zhou Yan felt uncomfortable, so he unfastened it, discarded it, and dove into the lake.
Splash...
Zhou Yan swung his fists, smashing into the silt and sending up sprays of water. His movements were agile, like a dragon emerging from the sea, exuding an astonishing aura.
The silt at the bottom of the lake was incredibly hard. With every punch, Zhou Yan felt immense resistance, as if hitting a stubborn rock.
However, his strength was immense. With each descending fist, the silt cracked, revealing a passage. Following the passage, Zhou Yan soon reached its end.
Ahead, there was a hollow, dark and quiet, where one could not see their hand in front of their face.
"Hmm?"
Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat strange. Logically, the silt should contain many fish and shrimp, perhaps even crocodiles, but the scene before him was entirely different.