"Haha, I haven't disappointed Father." Zhou Yan was extremely excited.
Soon, he calmed his mind and began to clear the battlefield.
This trip to the Ancient Wilderness ruins treasure hunt was quite rewarding.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Zhou Yan noticed a faint green liquid flowing from the waist of the Savage Elephant King.
"Blood of the Savage Elephant!" Zhou Yan's heart pounded, his gaze burning as he murmured, "This must be the essence blood of the Savage Elephant King, containing immense energy, beneficial for tempering muscles and bones."
Before he finished speaking, Zhou Yan impatiently took out a porcelain bottle, preparing to collect the Savage Elephant's blood.
"Kid, you're courting death!"
However, at this moment, a cold rebuke echoed in all directions.
"Hmm?" Zhou Yan frowned and followed the sound.
Instantly, a burly Savage Elephant slowly ambled into view before him.
The Savage Elephant was massive, its skin radiating a faint silver luster, exuding explosive power.
At this moment, the Savage Elephant King glared at Zhou Yan with murderous intent.
"The Savage Elephant King from before seems to be this one's mate..."
Zhou Yan muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing.
"This Savage Elephant's strength is slightly superior to the Savage Elephant King's, reaching the Warrior realm."
Zhou Yan took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "It seems I have to strike first and try to resolve it as soon as possible."
"Otherwise, it will be a huge trouble when the Savage Elephant King returns."
Whoosh~
With a thought, Zhou Yan flicked his wrist and drew out two short blades.
"Roar!"
In an instant, the Savage Elephant King roared to the sky, stamping its hooves and charging ferociously towards Zhou Yan.
The Savage Elephant King's massive form was like a moving mountain, exuding immense power.
In the blink of an eye, it reached Zhou Yan, and its thick, pillar-like legs violently kicked towards Zhou Yan's chest.
"So strong!" Zhou Yan's eyes twitched, and he dared not confront it directly, hastily dodging to the side.
However, the Savage Elephant King's attack suddenly accelerated, striking Zhou Yan's shoulder with a booming sound.
Zhou Yan's right arm went numb, dislocated, and his tiger's mouth tore open, bleeding profusely.
The next moment, Zhou Yan grunted and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"This beast's strength is too great!" Zhou Yan was shocked and looked up at the Savage Elephant King.
This Savage Elephant King, with its colossal body, harbored immense power within. Each move and strike possessed unfathomable might.
"Must end this quickly!" Zhou Yan's eyes sparkled as he pondered.
Zhou Yan's figure flashed, executing the "Seven Steps of Dragon Taming," his body becoming a wisp of spectral light, evading the Savage Elephant King's assault.
Then, he leaped up, raising his short dagger high, and thrust it towards the Savage Elephant King's neck.
The sharp short dagger gleamed with a chilling light, sharp and imposing.
"Roar~"
The Savage Elephant King let out a low growl, a hint of playful amusement appearing in its eyes, seemingly unperturbed.
"Could it have a trump card?" Zhou Yan frowned, hesitant.
After all, as the king of the Savage Elephant tribe, the Savage Elephant King surely had many hidden cards, and he couldn't afford to be careless.
The Savage Elephant King roared, its hooves flying like two small mountains crashing down.
Zhou Yan's expression changed slightly, and he retreated three steps, barely fending off this wave of attacks.
"Damn human, die!"
The Savage Elephant King became furious, smoke puffing from its nostrils, and it swiped at Zhou Yan with its claw, generating a torrent of wind.
"Damn guy, you're really troublesome..."
Zhou Yan's face was grim, and he could only evade temporarily.
The next instant, the Savage Elephant King leaped, charging like a tank, collapsing the nearby forest, and raising clouds of dust.
Immediately after, the Savage Elephant King stomped down, like a heavy hammer, crushing down and shattering a large area of soil, sending mud splashing several feet high.
"This guy's combat experience is even more terrifying than the Savage Elephant King's."
Zhou Yan's face was ashen, and his heart was filled with awe.
In his memory, the Savage Elephant King only knew how to charge like a bull, ferocious and brutal.
This Savage Elephant King, however, was clearly intelligent and knew how to coordinate with the Savage Elephant King's attacks.
If not for that, how could a single beast like the Savage Elephant King contend with him!
Furthermore, Zhou Yan keenly sensed that the Savage Elephant King's speed and reaction ability far surpassed the Savage Elephant King's.
"This Savage Elephant King seems to have achieved sentience!" Zhou Yan's eyes showed a pensive look.
According to common sense, ordinary wild beasts would never develop intelligence.
However, the Savage Elephant King was an exception.
"Perhaps it has something to do with the Savage Elephant King consuming the spirit grass..."
Thinking of this, Zhou Yan couldn't help but sigh.
The Savage Elephant King was truly fortunate. By chance, it ate a spiritual herb, which gave it sentience and turned it into a demonic beast.
Not only that, but it also fed the rest of the Savage Elephants, causing their bloodlines to transform and become semi-demonic beasts.
"Roar~"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed.
In the depths of the jungle, a black centipede several meters long was crawling out.
"Poisonous insect?"
Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed, somewhat surprised.
He recognized the black centipede as a highly venomous scorpion, which specialized in preying on snakes, insects, rats, and ants.
The black centipede flicked its tongue, its scarlet tongue sharp as a blade.
Immediately, the black centipede opened its maw and spat out a cloud of purple poisonous mist, which swept over like a deluge.
"Not good!"
Zhou Yan was shocked and immediately held his breath, retreating rapidly.
The next moment, amidst the swirling miasma, countless venomous snakes began to slither out.
These snakes were entirely black, their fangs menacing, exuding deadly venom.
"This is bad, I'm surrounded..." Zhou Yan's heart sank.
The scene before him sent shivers down his spine.
This group of poisonous creatures was too terrifying, with hundreds of venomous snakes swarming forward, their concentrated venom a shocking sight.
"Ah!"
In an instant, a mercenary was bitten, letting out a mournful cry. His skin rapidly rotted, and he quickly decayed into bare bones.
An experienced mercenary had met his instant demise.
"So terrifying?" Zhou Yan was greatly shaken.
The scene before him completely overturned his worldview.
These venomous snakes possessed potent venom that could kill a person.
"Little brother, hurry and come over, follow me and get out of here..."
Suddenly, an anxious shout attracted Zhou Yan's attention.
Following the sound, he saw the mercenary, wielding a short axe, desperately fending off the venomous snakes, hoping for Zhou Yan's rescue.
Soon, Zhou Yan saw the situation clearly.
Originally, the mercenary and a few martial apprentices were guarding the stone cave entrance, protecting the young girl Ayina.
But now, those martial apprentices were all dead.
Only the mercenary, despite being heavily wounded, had not given up resisting, fighting the venomous snakes to the death, trying to protect the girl.
"Little brother, hurry and escape, it'll be too late if you don't leave now."
The mercenary, covered in blood and panting, earnestly urged Zhou Yan.
"Escape? Why should I escape?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yan shook his head, refusing.
"Little brother, you don't know how terrifying these venomous snakes are..."
The mercenary was extremely anxious and continued to persuade, "You're no match for them. While the snakes haven't fully gathered, run now, and you might still have a chance to live..."