In just a few seconds, Zhou Yan felt his entire body go numb, as if losing all sensation.
Zhou Yan's expression turned grim, his eyes cold. "It seems these people came for me specifically, and their methods are extremely cruel and vicious!"
He knew that within the savage jungle, apart from demonic beasts, there were also fierce wild animals. Ordinary hunters would seek help from villagers when encountering danger.
However, the attackers had clearly set their sights on his life, using potent poison to ambush and kill him.
Zhou Yan let out a cold snort, his eyes gleaming with icy light. His powerful true essence flowed through his limbs and meridians, nourishing his internal organs, bones, and skin.
Instantly, a warm current surged from his chest, expelling the toxins that had infiltrated his body. He was also able to mobilize the true qi in his dantian to slowly mend his injuries.
"Roar~~"
A violent tremor reverberated in his ears, chilling and terrifying.
In the distance, a massive black silhouette streaked towards him, kicking up dust that obscured the sunlight.
It was a giant serpent, three zhang thick, covered in black scales that glinted like metal. It bared its fangs and lunged towards Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan bent his knees slightly, then exerted force, powerfully stomping on the ground. Using the phản lực, he moved laterally seven or eight meters, narrowly evading the serpent's attack.
In an instant, the hard stone slabs shattered, and mud and sand sprayed everywhere.
The serpent's tail swept across, smashing a giant rock into powder.
"Beast, you court death."
Zhou Yan erupted in fury, his gaze chilling.
Although the serpent's vital points were not struck in the previous attack, it had sustained considerable injuries and its ferocity was fully ignited.
Suddenly, a sharp, piercing shriek exploded.
A flame-like shadow sped towards him, emitting intense heat that incinerated the surrounding trees.
"Huh? What is this..."
Zhou Yan paused, his gaze sharpening as he observed.
It was a Fire Qilin, powerfully built and incredibly majestic, engulfed in flames like a war machine.
Wherever it passed, vegetation turned to ash, the ground cracked, leaving behind a scorched trail.
This was a spiritual beast of the Divine King level!
The Fire Qilin, wreathed in fire, resembling a scarlet inferno, was ferocious and terrifying.
Its eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty glint, staring intently at Zhou Yan as if appraising a delicious meal.
"Evil creature, you seek death."
Zhou Yan shouted coldly, his pupils flashing with sharp intent.
The Fire Qilin was a heavenly and earthly spirit beast, containing the essence of heaven and earth, capable of helping martial artists enhance their strength.
At this moment, the Fire Qilin locked onto Zhou Yan and pounced ferociously, spewing scorching flames that rolled in like a tidal wave.
Zhou Yan's mood was foul, his gaze growing colder.
This Fire Qilin was too powerful, possessing the cultivation of a Divine King second realm.
Under these circumstances, Zhou Yan could only choose to temporarily evade its offensive and retreat rapidly.
The Fire Qilin was incredibly fast, catching up in an instant and spewing forth flames.
Caught off guard and unable to dodge, Zhou Yan was engulfed by the flames, his body swaying twice.
Immediately, Zhou Yan raised his fist, infusing it with true qi, condensing it into a brilliant ball of light that he hurled at the Fire Qilin.
The Fire Qilin roared repeatedly but did not flinch, charging headlong into the attack. The collision produced a sound like muffled thunder.
In an instant, the Fire Qilin was sent staggering back several steps, its paws sinking into the ground and snapping over a dozen ancient, towering trees.
"Such formidable physical strength, no wonder you dare to confront me!"
Zhou Yan frowned. This Fire Qilin was quite troublesome; its combat prowess was in no way inferior to his.
For a martial artist of the same rank, killing a Divine King realm Fire Qilin would be no easy feat.
Especially since the Fire Qilin was covered in fiery red scales, its defense was astonishing.
The Fire Qilin growled and charged again.
"Hmph, since you want to play, this young master will indulge you!"
Zhou Yan sneered and met the charge without hesitation, unleashing his "Overlord Fist." The fist wind whistled, powerful and unrestrained.
In just a moment, the Fire Qilin was smashed to the ground by a single iron fist, blood gushing from its mouth. It writhed and struggled, emitting miserable cries.
"Merely a Fire Qilin, yet you dare to bellow before me?"
Zhou Yan snorted coldly, a chilling killing intent radiating from his eyes.
He had slain over ten Fire Qilins of this level before; dealing with them was simple and easy.
After all, the combat techniques of a Fire Qilin were far inferior to those of other ferocious beasts.
Therefore, Zhou Yan was able to toy with the Fire Qilin at will, making it spin around and constantly suffer agonizing torment.
Half an hour later, the Fire Qilin lay on the ground, on the verge of death, its body covered in blood, heavily wounded.
Zhou Yan walked forward, looking down from above at the dying Fire Qilin, and said indifferently, "Submit."
The Fire Qilin opened its eyes and glared fiercely at Zhou Yan.
Although its intelligence was low, it still understood dignity and would never yield to an enemy.
"Heh heh, you refuse the wine and insist on the penalty!"
Zhou Yan sneered, raising his hand to press down on the Fire Qilin's head, and employed the Soul-Seizing technique.
In an instant, the Fire Qilin's body stiffened, its eyes became vacant, and its eyeballs rolled, filled with confusion.
"Master!"
The Fire Qilin roared and prostrated itself, kneeling on the ground.
"What is your name? Where are you from?" Zhou Yan asked.
"Master, my name is Qing Yan, and I was originally a Fire Flood Dragon from the Southern Border."
The Fire Qilin replied respectfully, recalling the past with a sigh.
Thousands of years ago, it was a powerful being that roamed the martial world, its fearsome reputation causing countless enemies to flee in terror. Unfortunately, time passed, and circumstances changed.
Now, it had fallen to the status of a slave, at the mercy of its enemies.
"Do you know what region this mountain range is?" Zhou Yan continued to ask.
The Southern Ridge was vast and its terrain complex. Even with records, inaccuracies were inevitable.
"Reporting to Master, this is the eastern part of the Southern Ridge," Qing Yan replied respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan nodded, speculating that this mountain range might be Dragon Tiger Mountain.
After all, this world was too mystical, with ancient secret treasures emerging endlessly.
It was said that Dragon Tiger Mountain held numerous precious medicines and spiritual fruits, rare and valuable beyond measure.
"Who is your master?"
Zhou Yan continued to inquire, this was crucial and had to be clarified.
"Reporting to Master, my master... is a spiritual beast of the Divine King level," Qing Yan said hesitantly.
"Divine King realm?" Zhou Yan was stunned, his heart filled with awe.
Divine King realm powerhouses in this world were exceedingly rare, each being a figure who commanded great influence.
If it were truly a Divine King spiritual beast, there might only be a handful in the entire Southern Ridge.
"Are you sure?" Zhou Yan questioned.
"Master, I would not lie, because..."
His voice faltered, Qing Yan's eyes showed apprehension, as if recalling something, his voice became suppressed. "Because, Master's subordinate once led a group of demonic beasts to break through Dragon Tiger Mountain's protective formation and steal a spiritual medicine..."
"That spiritual medicine was precisely what Master's mother, Immortal Fairy Zi Luo, required!"