On a bend along a stretch of the Fen River tributary.
One ship after another lay anchored on the river.
"Mr. Fang, this is the place."
"However, that Water Origin Cave can only be entered from underwater, so we'll have to go into the water."
On the deck of the large ship in the middle of the fleet, a group stood side by side.
Zhou Chengyuan looked at Fang Hong, who was surveying the surroundings, and spoke.
"Alright. Since we're entering from underwater today, let's get in quickly. The sooner we enter, the sooner we finish."
After observing the surrounding environment for a while, Fang Hong spoke directly.
Then, a series of splashes rang out without pause.
Everyone jumped into the water together.
After diving underwater, Wu Pengjing, the most skilled swimmer among them, led the way.
Wu Pengjing looked every bit like a muscular brute on the outside.
Yet in the water, he moved as nimbly as a fish.
Following him, everyone quickly dived into a cave entrance.
The entrance was not narrow, though it seemed to slope upward overall.
Before long, several heads emerged from a patch of water.
This was a fairly spacious cavern.
Judging from the direction they had swum from, this cavern should have been beneath that river bend.
Moreover, although this cavern lay underground and could only be entered through an underwater hidden passage.
It was not completely pitch-black inside.
Many dark green algae emitting a faint glow grew on the damp cavern walls around them.
They continuously gave off a hazy, dim radiance.
Furthermore, while standing within this cavern, there was not the slightest feeling of breathlessness or stuffiness.
The air inside the cavern seemed remarkably abundant.
There was not a trace of decay in it. Aside from the dampness.
It instead gave off an incomparably fresh feeling.
Standing within it, one could only feel open-hearted and clear-minded, utterly comfortable.
Was it because the spiritual energy was so abundant?
After climbing ashore, Fang Hong surveyed the surroundings as he silently pondered.
"Elder Zhou, didn't you say there was a Great Python inside this cave?"
"Why haven't we seen it at all?"
After looking around, Fang Hong asked curiously.
"It's deeper in the cave."
Zhou Chengyuan looked toward the depths of the cavern ahead.
"The Water Origin Cave is filled with spiritual energy. Something extremely important to that Great Python must have grown inside."
"That's why the Great Python has always guarded the interior."
"The last time we entered, if we hadn't fled out here in time, and if that Great Python hadn't been unwilling to chase us out, we likely would have died here already."
Zhou Chengyuan spoke with lingering fear.
"Then let's go. I also happen to want to meet this Bone Refinement-level Great Python."
Upon hearing Zhou Chengyuan's words, Fang Hong narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then, he took the lead and headed toward the depths of the cavern.
The farther they went into the cave, the more a faint stench of blood and rot filled the air.
An increasingly intense sense of danger gradually surfaced in Fang Hong's heart.
Fang Hong silently sharpened his focus, every muscle in his body held in a state of barely restrained tension.
Whoosh!
Just as Fang Hong rounded a corner.
A violent shriek of something cutting through the air suddenly rang out.
The instant that sound rang out, there was even the faint boom of an airburst.
Fang Hong only saw an enormous snake tail lashing toward him.
He instantly raised both arms to block.
Bang!!
With a muffled collision, Fang Hong was instantly sent flying backward.
With a thud, he slammed heavily into the damp stone wall at the side.
"Mr. Fang!"
"Mr. Fang!!"
Seeing this sudden scene, Zhou Chengyuan and the other two cried out in unison.
"I'm fine!"
After answering, Fang Hong looked at the huge crimson lash mark on his arms.
Then his eyes stared straight into the depths of the cave.
Licking his lips, Fang Hong's mouth curved slightly upward. "What a Great Python. It really has reached the Bone Refinement level!"
Hiss, hiss—
At that moment, everyone followed Fang Hong's gaze.
They saw a snake head as large as a basin, its scales savage and hideous, slowly emerge from behind the corner.
Its pair of cold serpent eyes fixed dead on Fang Hong as its tongue flicked out continuously.
Hummm—
Even though only its head had emerged.
The Great Python's cold, brutal, oppressive aura continued spreading through the cavern.
"Hiss—"
At the sight of that enormous, ferocious snake head, everyone staggered back a step in fright.
Especially the newly recruited subordinates among the people behind Zhou Chengyuan and the other two.
Seeing this scene before them, they all sucked in sharp breaths, their bodies turning stiff.
They only felt a chill shoot straight from the soles of their feet to the crowns of their heads.
Damn it, that snake head is as big as a washbasin.
Can a snake really grow that huge?!
This sight, which surpassed everything they had ever known, made the fear in their hearts spread without end.
"Mr... Mr. Fang, we're relying entirely on you this time."
Wu Pengjing, this hulking man, spoke to Fang Hong with a somewhat hoarse voice, pleading.
Fang Hong remained calm, but a trace of excitement appeared in his eyes as he looked at the Great Python.
"Don't worry. If I take your money, I'll help you dispel your calamity."
"Since I've already agreed to it, I'll naturally take care of this thing."
Fang Hong crossed his hands and twisted them, loosening up. "Just in time—I also want to see how much stronger I've become now."
The moment he finished speaking, an equally dangerous aura began rising continuously from Fang Hong's body.
It then directly clashed against the Great Python's aura.
The instant it sensed this aura, the Great Python's cold serpent eyes suddenly contracted slightly.
The people not far away looked at Fang Hong again with expressions of utter shock.
Damn, there's another expert here!
Is this the aura of a Bone Refinement realm expert?
Terrifying!
No wonder the Zhou Family head and the gang leader had been so polite to Mr. Fang all along the way.
Feeling the two auras colliding, everyone's bodies trembled without cease.
Yet their hearts were also filled with constant amazement.
At the same time, the fear they felt toward the Great Python eased slightly.
After all, Fang Hong's aura was so powerful, not the least bit weaker than the Great Python's.
Mr. Fang should be able to deal with this Great Python, right?
But in the next moment, before the amazement in their hearts could fade.
Their eyes suddenly flew wide open, round as saucers!
Their faces were filled with shock beyond all measure.
Th-this... what is that?
Is that still even human?!
Following everyone's incomparably shocked gazes.
They saw Fang Hong's muscles writhing continuously, his entire body seemingly swelling larger by a full circle.
He changed from a tall young man into a burly brute with knotted muscles and bulging veins.
But those changes were not what shocked them most.
Fang Hong's arms had become extraordinarily thick, veins like twisted steel bars covering them.
His two hands had directly transformed into savage beast claws.
Sharp nails, thick fingers, huge protruding knuckles, and broad, heavy palms that were dark and dull, each larger than a palm-leaf fan.
Looking at the Great Python staring at him, Fang Hong bared his teeth in a ferocious grin.
"Let's try that again!!"
Bang!
With a heavy stomp, Fang Hong raised those hands like demon claws and charged straight at it!
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