Snake-Style Deft Hand Perfected

Zhao Han suddenly stepped forward and said, "Three older brothers, wait for me."

"So you've come, kid. But since you didn't help with this python, don't think you're getting a share of the money." Yang Li sneered, his face full of refusal.

This python was worth at least six taels of silver. Split three ways, it wasn't a small sum—no way they'd let some young punk leech off them.

Zhao Han quickly smiled and said, "I'm just here to see the world. I understand that more work means more reward."

"Well said—more work, more reward!"

Seeing that Zhao Han truly didn't seem to be angling for a cut of the spoils, the others' expressions softened considerably.

Then they coiled the unconscious python into a loop, tied it with rope, and stuffed it into a cloth bag.

The group continued onward together, the torchlight illuminating a much wider area.

Before long, they encountered another python, which burst out of the underground river with a splash.

This python was eight meters long, but not thick enough—only about the width of a forearm.

Zhao Han remained motionless, making no move, standing to the side as he warily scanned the surroundings.

The python could be dealt with later; the priority was to guard against the Mountain Lord, who had yet to show himself.

With the four of them here, their odds of taking down an injured demonic tiger were still pretty good.

The other three, however, were overjoyed. A python meant silver—the bigger it was, the more it was worth.

The three immediately began excitedly preparing to capture the python.

After some maneuvering, they soon knocked the python unconscious and hauled it up.

Seeing this, the trio was already imagining how big their haul today would be.

They'd really come to the right place.

"Swish!"

Suddenly, a sharp sound rippled across the river's surface.

A ten-meter-long python, as thick as an upper arm, shot out of the river in a flash, wrapped itself around Zhou Fei, who had been daydreaming nearby, and dragged him into the underground river.

"Damn, there's another python!"

The other two immediately moved to intercept, but the python was too fast and too far away—it had already pulled Zhou Fei under the underground river's surface.

"Gurgle, gurgle..."

Bubbles kept rising from the river, clearly showing that the man was struggling underwater.

The Hunter and Yang Li both hesitated for a moment, exchanged glances, and read each other's thoughts from the depths of their eyes.

That was—don't save him. One less person meant one fewer to split the silver.

The two captured pythons together were already worth about fifteen taels of silver.

If just the two of them split it, Yang Li would get ten taels, the Hunter five—everyone would make a killing.

If there was one more person, Yang Li and Zhou Fei would each get six taels, and the Hunter three—far too little.

"Splash!"

But what the two didn't expect was that the young man beside them, Zhao Han, suddenly plunged into the not-too-swift underground river and sank down.

"Finally, I can train Snake-Style Deft Hand to mastery!"

Holding his breath as he sank to the bottom, about four meters down, Zhao Han spotted Zhou Fei, wrapped entirely in the python's coils, struggling helplessly.

His consciousness was still clear, but the python's strength was immense—he couldn't muster any force, and his stomach was already full of water.

Seeing Zhao Han's figure, Zhou Fei's eyes lit up with the hope of survival.

The python also noticed Zhao Han, but it didn't let go. Instead, it stretched out its head and flicked its tongue, threatening Zhao Han to stay away.

"A mere beast, and you dare bare your fangs!"

Zhao Han struck with a Snake-Style Deft Hand, and the python immediately lunged to bite him.

But unexpectedly, Zhao Han's technique was so skilled that he dodged it.

Snake-Style Deft Hand itself was a martial art imitating snakes, making it even more effective against snakes.

He instantly clamped down on the python's head, then squeezed hard. The python immediately lost strength and released its grip on Zhou Fei.

Freed from the bind, Zhou Fei struggled desperately upward, but he had swallowed too much water—his body was too heavy to float up.

"Crack!"

Zhao Han's fingers tightened, and the python's head snapped.

But Snake-Style Deft Hand hadn't reacted yet—clearly, the python was still alive.

Pythons had strong vitality; they weren't so easy to kill.

Zhao Han lifted the python's entire body, then pulled a short blade from his spatial storage and slashed hard across its head.

"Rip!"

The python's head split open, blood gushing out—surely it was dead now.

"Grab the tail!"

Zhao Han didn't linger. He seized the python's body and floated upward, ignoring the severed head.

Below, Zhou Fei clung to life with fierce desperation, gripping the python's tail for all he was worth.

What he hadn't expected was that even underwater, Zhao Han possessed such immense arm strength, hauling him up by sheer force.

Fortunately, the python's body was tough and resilient, able to withstand that much strain.

Once ashore, Zhao Han began dragging, quickly pulling up Zhou Fei, whose belly had swollen to a round paunch.

The strength of the Muscle Refining Realm was plain to see.

"Ugh..."

The moment he hit land, Zhou Fei vomited torrents of the water he'd swallowed.

After spewing a large puddle, his stomach still bulging, he stuck his fingers down his throat to gag himself, retching again.

Zhao Han, meanwhile, focused on the changes in his body.

Snake-Style Deft Hand had reached Great Completion, naturally giving Zhao Han's strength another boost.

The improvement was small, but still perceptible.

Once it became imperceptible, no amount of training—even a hundred more Classified martial arts—would ever elevate him beyond the Classified level!

At this moment, Zhao Han had three Classified martial arts at Great Completion and one Classified martial art at Mastery!

Zhao Han had walked the path that took ordinary people decades.

"I need to find stronger martial arts. The Classified level just doesn't cut it!"

"Cough, cough..."

Zhou Fei had now expelled ninety percent of the water, feeling much better, though he kept coughing.

"Th-thanks!" Zhou Fei struggled to his feet and clasped his hands in salute to Zhao Han.

Zhao Han glanced at him, then at his chest and sides.

After drinking that much water, the guy looked fine now, but within three days, fluid would definitely build up in his lungs, making it hard to breathe, and he'd be done for.

He wondered if a Skin Refining Realm physique could see him through this ordeal. For an ordinary person, survival was impossible.

"No big deal. But I never work for free, you see..." Zhao Han waved a hand, looking unconcerned, but his next words left Zhou Fei dumbfounded.

"Of course, of course. This Humble One understands..."

"The python I hunted with those two earlier—I'll give the money from selling it to you, my savior!"

Zhou Fei was generous enough.

Though he was also a bit stingy, not offering that any pythons caught afterward would also go to Zhao Han.

"Then I'll gladly accept." Zhao Han chuckled lightly.

You think I want money, but I'm really just using you as a shield to deal with that Mountain Lord.

The value of a demon tiger far exceeds that of a python.

Besides, since it's become a demon, and Old Zhang is still demanding payment from it, the Mountain Lord might be hoarding a lot of money and treasures.

The other two stared at Zhao Han in amazement.

Clearly, Zhao Han's decisive and practiced movements revealed his skill and strength—he was no ordinary person.

Most likely, he was a Skin Refining Realm Martial Artist like them.

"Didn't expect the young man to be hiding his talents!" Yang Li said with a pointed, sarcastic tone.

Zhao Han replied casually, "After all, traveling abroad, you've got to have at least a few basic tricks up your sleeve!"