Slaying

He had gone the wrong way!

He hurriedly tried to take out the map and check it, but this entire area was shrouded in fog. He could not see a thing. Even saying that he could not see his own fingers in front of his face would not have been an exaggeration.

This was bad!

He had clearly been heading toward the outskirts just now, so why did it seem like he had entered the depths of Phoenix Mountain?

Could there be something wrong with Old Third Yue's map?

Jiang Fan had no time to think it through. The feeling of being pricked by thorns from behind made him extremely uncomfortable!

He was certain that something had its eyes on him.

What should he do?

He could not see anything right now!

Cold sweat trickled into his eyes, and the stinging sensation made them ache sharply.

He wanted to raise a hand and wipe them, but the moment he lifted it, he hurriedly stopped.

With something watching him like this, he did not even have the courage to move!

Sweat ran down his forehead, slid past his eyes, and reached the corners of his mouth. The sour, astringent taste was unbearable!

At the same time, he could even hear a rustling sound by his ear.

That thing seemed to be getting closer and closer!

He could not wait any longer!

He had to think of something!

When he lost his vision just now, panic had filled him. Now that he had calmed down, his mind raced.

Right, there was still the Innate Breathing and Absorption Technique!

Jiang Fan suddenly remembered that when he had fought the female cultivator in the second stage of the space, her speed had been so fast that he simply could not see her movements clearly.

So later, during the battle, he had always circulated the Innate Breathing and Absorption Technique first, then judged her movements through perception.

The current situation was remarkably similar to that battle in the space!

Perhaps it would work!

With that thought, Jiang Fan drew a deep breath. Without hesitating any longer, he circulated the Innate Breathing and Absorption Technique.

The instant he began circulating it, his ears suddenly cleared!

Delighted, he hurriedly used his perception to observe his surroundings.

Within his blurry perception, something enormous seemed to be slowly approaching from behind him on the right!

It was a giant python!

Jiang Fan's palm was slightly sweaty as he clenched the hatchet in his hand.

He could not help feeling secretly relieved. Fortunately, he had taken the hatchet with him from the knife just now, in case of danger. Otherwise... the consequences would have been unthinkable!

But could a hatchet withstand this giant python?

The moment he thought of this, he heard a sharp whoosh.

The giant python behind him launched its enormous body like lightning. Clearly, it had lost patience with hunting this human and had taken the initiative to attack.

Jiang Fan had been prepared. The instant the giant python moved, he had already slammed both feet into the ground and flashed aside as swiftly as a gale.

The giant python missed and its enormous body smashed into a boulder beside it, instantly shattering it.

Amid the fog, sparks flew in all directions!

Yet when Jiang Fan saw this, his heart immediately relaxed.

It was an Azure-Scaled Giant Python, a second-tier aberrant beast!

The sparks just now had been caused by the Azure-Scaled Giant Python's hard scales scraping against the shattered stone!

Jiang Fan had never seen a real Azure-Scaled Giant Python, but fortunately, he had studied the course on identifying aberrant beasts deeply enough.

The Azure-Scaled Giant Python looked enormous and exceptionally ferocious.

In reality, however, its combat power was average. Apart from its hard scales, which provided defense, it relied entirely on brute force to hunt.

As long as he was not constricted or struck, he still had a chance to escape.

Most importantly, the Azure-Scaled Giant Python had a fatal weakness located on its abdomen—and Jiang Fan happened to know about it.

If...

If he killed the Azure-Scaled Giant Python, would he be able to obtain Life Energy?

Jiang Fan's speed had originally been fast enough that, after dodging one strike, he could have escaped safely. But now that he knew it was an Azure-Scaled Giant Python, a hint of ambition suddenly stirred within him.

The Azure-Scaled Giant Python grew furious after missing its first strike. It whipped its tail, launched its body into the air, and charged at Jiang Fan again.

In that split second just now, Jiang Fan had already formed a plan.

He retreated quickly. When he reached the trees behind him, he suddenly turned his shoulder, planted his left foot, and launched himself into the air.

When he reached a certain height, he suddenly thrust his right foot against the tree trunk.

At the same time, he gripped the knife handle with both hands and stabbed downward with all his strength.

The Azure-Scaled Giant Python showed no fear. It charged straight into Jiang Fan's knife.

But just as Jiang Fan neared its body, he tilted in midair and slid beneath it, toward its abdomen.

Relying on his perception, he stabbed into its abdomen.

Too bad!

The moment the blade touched the giant python's abdomen, Jiang Fan knew that he had not found the right spot.

The giant python's back was covered in scales. Although its abdomen was bare, its hide was still thick and tough!

Even with Jiang Fan's abundant vital energy, he had only managed to pierce the skin slightly!

If he had struck its vital point, it should have been extremely fragile. It should not have been like this.

Realizing that his strike had missed, Jiang Fan hurriedly pulled back and retreated.

But he was ultimately too close to the giant python. Just as he was about to leave its attack range, a massive tail swept over. Jiang Fan was sent flying straight into the dense forest.

He spat out a mouthful of blood. This strike had nearly cost him half his life!

The reason the Azure-Scaled Giant Python had no special abilities yet still ranked as a second-tier aberrant beast was its tremendous strength.

An ordinary Martial Artist simply could not withstand one of its strikes.

Even if they barely managed to endure it, their injuries would make it difficult to withstand the next round of attacks.

But Jiang Fan had faced a powerhouse like the female cultivator in the space and had long since been tempered through countless trials. Although his chest hurt unbearably, he still forced himself to his feet and faced the giant python charging at him again!

Before long, Jiang Fan was sent flying again!

Fortunately, although he was seriously injured, his body's agility was still superior to the giant python's. He had not been caught by it, or things would truly have become troublesome.

And so, Jiang Fan was sent flying, climbed back up, was sent flying again, and climbed back up again!

Within the dense forest, the clang of metal rang out from time to time.

Sometimes sparks flew in all directions; sometimes the treetops swayed!

After more than ten minutes, there was finally a bang as the Azure-Scaled Giant Python crashed to the ground from the air. Jiang Fan had struck precisely at the Azure-Scaled Giant Python's weak point, seven inches from its head.

To make sure the giant python was dead, he twisted the hatchet hard several more times.

Only after the giant python stopped moving did he collapse to the ground with a thud.

The moment he lay down, a sudden ding rang out.

"Congratulations, you have killed the target. You have obtained 121 points of Life Energy!"

At once, an indistinct stream of energy flowed from the Azure-Scaled Giant Python into his body.

This energy was tremendously powerful. After Jiang Fan absorbed it into his body, it slowly merged into his meridians.

The trickle flowing through his meridians grew increasingly robust after fusing with this energy.

Once it had completely merged, the trickle of energy in his meridians overflowed and spread outward. Part of it flowed toward his injuries.

His wounds slowly healed, while the blood clots left behind by the heavy blow to his internal organs were cleared away.

The other part merged into the vital energy throughout his body, making it even stronger!

This process lasted for more than ten minutes. Once it was complete, Jiang Fan felt as if his entire body was filled with strength again.

He swung his fist and felt stronger than ever before!

If he had not been in the depths of Phoenix Mountain, he would have wanted to enter the space immediately and challenge the female cultivator!

The depths of Phoenix Mountain!

At the thought of this, Jiang Fan's expression changed. He hurriedly looked at the map again.

He could not find the book's name through a search. Maybe he could try searching for the author instead. Perhaps it had merely been renamed!