Down the mountain, Jiang Feng gazed at the egg-sized fruit in his hand, his eyes burning with intensity.
Was this the Heavenly Spirit Fruit? It was entirely blood-red, wreathed in a radiant glow, and emitting wave after wave of intoxicating, rich fragrance. A single breath of its scent made him feel as though he were floating to the immortals.
After a moment, the Big Cyan Wolf also trotted over from afar. Seeing the Heavenly Spirit Fruit in Jiang Feng's hand, its eyes filled with longing.
Jiang Feng tossed one of the Heavenly Spirit Fruits to the Big Cyan Wolf. "Refine it quickly, and then we're going to go finish it off."
Returning to the cabin, Jiang Feng did not hesitate in the least, eating the remaining Heavenly Spirit Fruit right away.
Instantly, torrents of pure spiritual Qi and medicinal potency surged endlessly from his abdomen toward his limbs and bones. The spiritual Qi entered his meridians, then rushed along them toward his Dantian. Meanwhile, the medicinal potency entered his bloodstream and was carried by his blood to every corner of his body.
Before long, Jiang Feng's Dantian and meridians were filled to capacity with spiritual Qi, and his entire body slowly began to swell.
Jiang Feng was startled. Enduring the excruciating pain of his tearing meridians, he hurriedly crossed his legs and sat down, using his intent to guide the Qi, leading the spiritual Qi to flow through cycle after grand cycle along his meridians. The spiritual Qi that could no longer be contained within his meridians was forced by him into every part of his body to temper his flesh, bones, and internal organs.
Gradually, Jiang Feng's meridians and Dantian were expanded wider and wider by the spiritual Qi, becoming increasingly resilient, while the spiritual Qi was continuously refined into True Qi and compressed within his Dantian.
He did not know how much time had passed when a sudden buzzing sound echoed from within Jiang Feng's body. His aura abruptly began to climb upward, and the speed at which he refined the spiritual Qi accelerated significantly.
An hour later, Jiang Feng's aura gradually stabilized: the Mortal Mastery Stage! Moreover, he was only a step away from the Transcendence Stage. If not for the fact that Jiang Feng's Dantian and meridians were much broader than those of ordinary people, he certainly would have broken through once more and stepped directly into the Mortal Transcendence Stage.
Jiang Feng threw a few punches, then shifted his stance a few times, and could not help exclaiming in praise, "As expected of a heavenly spirit treasure, this advancement has actually made my physical body grow this much stronger. With just a casual punch now, I have at least two thousand catties of force."
In addition, Jiang Feng was surprised to discover that his meridians and physical body seemed to have undergone some sort of refinement; when he exerted force and unleashed his strength, there was not the slightest obstruction.
Jiang Feng nodded in satisfaction. He was confident that if he went up against the Big Cyan Wolf again, a single punch from him would send it flying.
Stepping out of the cabin, Jiang Feng found that the Big Cyan Wolf was already waiting before the barrier. At this moment, the Big Cyan Wolf's build was much taller and larger than before, and its fur was shifting from cyan to black, gleaming brightly. Its fierce gaze made his hair stand on end.
"How is it?"
"Successfully advanced, reaching the second star directly. My strength has increased by thirty percent."
Jiang Feng thought to himself in secret: This fellow advances really fast. Having both taken a single Heavenly Spirit Fruit, he himself hadn't improved as much as a wolf. His own future advancements would only grow slower and slower; it seemed he could not simply rely on blind cultivation alone—he needed to venture out and seek his own fortuitous encounters.
Jiang Feng nodded in satisfaction at the Big Cyan Wolf, and man and wolf headed straight toward the Golden Python's territory.
As they passed through the Big Cyan Wolf's territory, Jiang Feng was stunned to discover that countless pythons were swarming and slaughtering grey wolves within the domain, and the ground was already littered with the corpses of many grey wolves.
Just as Jiang Feng was about to make a move, a flash of cyan light suddenly cut across his vision. The Big Cyan Wolf had already dashed toward the pythons at extreme speed, killing as it charged, taking down one with every claw. It was beyond furious as it watched its pack members fall one by one right before its eyes.
At that moment, the Golden Python was in the middle of chasing down a large grey wolf. The theft of the Heavenly Spirit Fruit had caused it to vent all its rage upon the spirit wolves, so it had led its subordinates to launch a crusade against them.
It moved with extreme speed, swatting the grey wolf away with a sweep of its tail, and then viciously lunged forward to swallow it whole. The grey wolf no longer had the strength to flee, and could only watch in terror as the giant python's maw drew closer and closer.
Right at that moment, a massive wind blade came roaring through the air from afar, striking the Golden Python squarely on the head with a loud *bang*, making it see stars. Before it could whip its head back around, a cold-gleaming wolf claw slashed viciously into its body, bursting forth with a shower of sparks.
Though the Golden Python's scales were as hard as iron, a few were still ripped away by the Big Cyan Wolf, and drops of fresh blood seeped from the wounds.
The Golden Python flew into a rage, its serpent head thrashing wildly. Had it not been solely focused on devouring that grey wolf just a moment ago, it would never have been injured.
Abandoning the grey wolf, it whipped back around and spewed a mouthful of black smoke while simultaneously spinning its body and smashing its tail toward the Big Cyan Wolf.
This mouthful of black smoke was not only highly toxic, but also scorching hot. It startled the Big Cyan Wolf into dodging frantically to the side, only to be heavily struck by the python tail hidden behind the poisonous smoke, sending it flying over two zhang away.
By this time Jiang Feng had already arrived. After slaying a few threatening pythons, he located the Golden Python using his Divine Sense.
Intercepting the Golden Python as it lunged toward the Big Cyan Wolf, Jiang Feng launched no tentative probes; the moment he struck, it was the Mountain Crushing Fist's Threefold Surge, blasting directly toward the serpent's neck.
While people often said to hit a snake seven inches down, a python's vital spot was actually very difficult to strike with precision.
His grandfather had told him that the spinal bones right behind a serpent's neck were extremely fragile, protecting the python's brain within. Therefore, this punch from Jiang Feng slammed straight toward the back of the Golden Python's head and neck.
The Golden Python drew its head back, evading the fatal spot, and its massive body immediately coiled toward Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng hurriedly dodged; if he were entangled, given his current strength, he would certainly be unable to break free and stood a high chance of being crushed to death.
With the Big Cyan Wolf joining the fray, man and wolf became locked in a chaotic battle with the Golden Python.
Although Jiang Feng and the Big Cyan Wolf managed to strike the Golden Python from time to time, the Golden Python's scales were far too tough, rendering their attacks almost harmless to it. On the contrary, the Golden Python spat out toxic smoke from time to time, leaving Jiang Feng and the Big Cyan Wolf scurrying in exhaustion to dodge it.
What should he do? Jiang Feng immediately analyzed the Golden Python's traits in his mind. Fast movement speed, strong bodily defense, hard to hit, and capable of spewing toxic smoke.
"Damn it, this really isn't an easy one to deal with," Jiang Feng cursed out loud. "If you don't enter the tiger's den, how can you catch its cubs? If there's no opening, I'll create one. When necessary, I'll put everything on the line even if it costs me a price."
Conceiving a plan, Jiang Feng sent a telepathic message to the Big Cyan Wolf...
Approaching the Golden Python once more, Jiang Feng launched frequent attacks against its wounds. The Big Cyan Wolf, acting in accordance with Jiang Feng's arrangement, spat out wind blades to specifically assault the Golden Python's head.
In an instant, the Golden Python found itself besieged from near and far, overwhelmed and unable to cope.
Amidst the chaotic melee, the Golden Python dodged a wind blade, only to be struck by Jiang Feng's right fist. Seizing the opportunity instantly, Jiang Feng unleashed the Threefold Surge, sending the Golden Python spinning through the air with fresh blood pouring from its mouth. Right now, the three combined forces of Jiang Feng's right fist reached a terrifying seven thousand five hundred catties.
The Golden Python instantly flew into a frenzy, violently spewing a mouthful of toxic smoke toward Jiang Feng right in front of it before charging rapidly at the Big Cyan Wolf, preparing to inflict heavy injuries on the wolf while Jiang Feng was distracted by dodging.
To its surprise, this time the Big Cyan Wolf advanced instead of retreating, lashing out with a full-strength claw straight for the python's vital spot. The Golden Python twisted its body to the side, its tail whipping outward in response.
Right at that moment, leaving a trail of afterimages behind, Jiang Feng suddenly leaped out from within the toxic smoke behind the Golden Python. At the same time, his right fist, shrouded in a pale golden glow, smashed toward the Golden Python's head and neck.
Just as the Golden Python tried to whip around, a sudden daze washed over its mind, and trying to dodge now was out of the question.
With a muffled, explosive *bang*, the spine behind the Golden Python's head and neck was shattered by Jiang Feng's Threefold Surge, breaking its bones and snapping its joints. Its massive body tumbled onto the ground, thrashing a few times before losing all life.
At this moment, Jiang Feng was in tatters, his entire body pitch-black, his skin burning with pain from the intense heat of the toxic smoke.
Looking at the thoroughly dead Golden Python, Jiang Feng let out a long breath. It had been far too perilous; if he hadn't activated the Star Shield in advance, and if he hadn't taken an antidote pill beforehand, he likely would have been poisoned to death by now.
Stowing the Golden Python's corpse into his jade pendant, Jiang Feng panted for a long while before finally looking over at the Big Cyan Wolf.
"The Golden Python is dead, and your realm has also advanced. Now there is no one here who can threaten you—are you still willing to follow me?"
"Of course. My aspirations do not lie here. Ever since I met Master that day, my heart has no longer been in this place."
"Very well, you stay here to rest and recuperate for now. When conditions are ripe, I will come looking for you myself."
......