In the dense forest, two ferocious Demonic Beasts were locked in a struggle, tearing and biting at each other.
A Demon Tiger, about two zhang tall and four zhang long, let out an earth-shattering roar.
The other was a terrifying giant python, seven or eight zhang long and about half a zhang in diameter, completely covered in black scales.
At this moment, the black giant python had coiled around the Demon Tiger’s body and was continuously tightening, clearly intending to strangle the Demon Tiger to death!
But the Demon Tiger was no pushover; in its pain, it went berserk, its gaping maw tearing wildly. The black giant python’s scales, hard as iron, were like paper under the Demon Tiger’s fangs, and blood spurted continuously!
“Hiss… hiss…”
The black giant python let out a sharp hiss, and its coiling body tightened even further.
Feeling the threat of death.
The Demon Tiger began to roll its body, and the two Demonic Beasts, entangled together like a giant ball of flesh, began to tumble back and forth.
Boom!
Bang!
Wherever they went, giant trees as thick as buckets continuously toppled, and the ground was gouged with trenches by the aftershocks of their battle.
At this moment, a pair of eyes, hidden among the dense leaves of an ancient tree not far away, watched the battlefield.
“These two are both Peak First-Order Demonic Beasts!”
Chen Zheng lowered his body, not daring to reveal the slightest trace of Qi, as if he had merged with the ancient tree.
Demonic Beasts of this level had already developed intelligence. If they discovered Chen Zheng’s presence, they would immediately stop fighting. At that point, Chen Zheng wouldn’t just miss out on reaping the benefits; he might not even be able to save his own life!
But now, Chen Zheng only needed to wait.
He would wait until the two Demonic Beasts determined a victor, and then he would go in to clean up the battlefield.
At that time, he would effortlessly obtain two Peak First-Order Demonic Cores!
Not only that!
Chen Zheng’s gaze continuously swept around, as if searching for something.
Generally speaking, intelligent Demonic Beasts rarely fought to the death with creatures of the same level, unless… there was something worth them risking their lives for!
Chen Zheng’s search quickly yielded results.
Not far from the two Demonic Beasts, there was a particularly thick withered tree. Even during their deathmatch, the two Demonic Beasts would subconsciously avoid that spot.
At the top of the withered tree hung a bright red fruit, about the size of a child’s fist.
“It’s a Spirit Fruit!”
Chen Zheng’s heart was excited.
Spirit Fruits were different from Spirit Medicine. Spirit Medicine still required an Alchemist to refine it before it could exert its full efficacy, but Spirit Fruits were different!
Spirit Fruits could not only be eaten directly, but their effects were often miraculously powerful!
Their value far surpassed Spirit Medicine!
Although Chen Zheng didn’t recognize the specific type of red Spirit Fruit, for it to make two Peak First-Order Demonic Beasts fight to the death over it, it was certainly not an ordinary item!
“Don’t panic! Wait a little longer!”
The more critical the moment, the calmer Chen Zheng became.
In the dense forest, the battle between the two Demonic Beasts was also nearing its end.
Ultimately, the black giant python gained the upper hand. The Demon Tiger’s struggling strength was gradually weakening, but the black giant python was clearly not having an easy time either.
Its black scales were already shattered, and in some places, bloody white bones could even be faintly seen!
“Now!”
Chen Zheng’s eyes narrowed, condensing his Qi and holding his breath. He slowly approached while the two Demonic Beasts were making their final struggles!
Finally!
Crack!
The exhausted Demon Tiger could no longer withstand the black giant python’s strangulation. Its tiger bones instantly snapped, and hot beast blood flowed from the Demon Tiger’s five orifices.
Bang!
The black giant python, having delivered the final blow, also couldn’t hold on. Its head slammed heavily to the ground, and its coiling body gradually relaxed.
But its cold, vertical pupils remained fixed on the Spirit Fruit on the large withered tree in the distance, a human-like craving flashing within them!
It didn’t know what the Spirit Fruit was, but the instinctive craving from its Physical Body reminded it that as long as it ate that Spirit Fruit, it would be able to Breakthrough to a Second-Order Demonic Beast and become the absolute overlord of the surrounding area!
And now, its only opponent had been eliminated, and it was time to enjoy the fruits of victory!
The black giant python struggled to lift its head, its body slowly sliding towards the large withered tree.
Just as the black giant python was immersed in its dream of becoming an overlord, a blade’s hum awakened it.
As the black giant python’s serpentine pupils rolled upward, it saw that at some unknown point, a figure had appeared above him, gripping a blade with both hands, the blade light dazzling!
A terrifying killing intent enveloped him!
Feeling the shadow of death looming, the black giant python opened its mouth and let out an unwilling hiss!
It wanted to retaliate!
But he was too severely wounded!
“Flowing Cloud Kill!”
The blade, which had been accumulating power for a long time, unleashed the most powerful strike Chen Zheng had ever delivered!
Furthermore, Chen Zheng had specifically targeted the black giant python’s wound!
Swish!
The blade light flashed!
The ferocious snake head, like a giant rock, crashed to the ground!
Spouting blood, like a fountain, splattered everywhere.
After successfully striking, Chen Zheng still dared not be careless. He executed the Ghost Shadow Seven Steps, rapidly putting distance between himself and the giant python’s corpse.
Snakes inherently possessed extremely tenacious life, let alone this Peak First-Order giant python!
Even if decapitated, its body would not instantly lose vitality!
Boom!
Bang, bang, bang!
Just as Chen Zheng had expected, the headless body of the python, like a rolling earth Dragon, began to attack indiscriminately in all directions. In an instant, shattered rocks and broken wood flew everywhere.
The terrifying power made Chen Zheng glance sideways in alarm and also made him vigilant.
If he had encountered them alone, whether the Demon Tiger or this giant python, he wouldn’t have had any chance of victory!
But in the end, the victor was still he!
“Strength is the foundation, but one cannot be blind because of strength! Otherwise, one might also suffer an unexpected setback!”
Obtaining the Divine Cauldron, gaining the Divine Art, and killing enemies across Realms!
In just a few days, Chen Zheng’s life had been turned upside down, and it had also given rise to some pride in him.
But at this moment!
The budding pride in his heart was personally extinguished by him!
“The stronger one is! The less one can be complacent, the more cautious one should be!”
“In the Great Yuan Kingdom, without reaching the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, one is ultimately an ant! I do not yet have the right to be proud!”
“Even a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert like my father is now trapped, his life or death unknown… Now, the safety of the Chen Manor and my mother rests on me alone. In the future, I must act more meticulously and cautiously!”
After a period of self-reflection, Chen Zheng also gained a clear understanding of his future path.
At this point, the giant python had completely lost all movement.
Chen Zheng took a deep breath. He didn’t rush to dig out the Demonic Core but instead bypassed the two Demonic Beast corpses and headed straight for the red Spirit Fruit.
In a few leaps, Chen Zheng climbed to the top of the withered tree. Looking at the Spirit Fruit, now within arm’s reach, he found himself in a predicament again.
Harvesting Spirit Fruits also required special techniques; otherwise, it was easy to damage the Spirit Fruit’s spiritual essence the moment it was picked.
“It seems I’ll have to learn more about this kind of knowledge in the future! To avoid wasting natural treasures.”
Chen Zheng shook his head.
Since he couldn’t, he wouldn’t dwell on it. He would just pick it directly.
But as he reached out, a voice suddenly came from behind him: “Young friend, wait!”
Chen Zheng’s heart jumped. He quickly turned around and saw a man in a green Daoist robe smiling at him.
Instantly!
Cold sweat streamed down Chen Zheng’s body!
It wasn’t that the man’s appearance was terrifying, but that he found himself… unable to move!