Golden-Crowned Snake

"Sharing deep confidences with a shallow acquaintance—though after these past few days together, Zhou Heng believed Lin Fuxiang wasn't a bad person, just a bit of a spoiled young lady, the Moon Shadow Heart Art was far too significant!"

He could now be certain that the person who died in the valley must have been at the Spirit Gathering Realm, and for a powerhouse of that level to treasure something so dearly, even losing their life over it, just how precious was the Moon Shadow Heart Art?

He and Lin Fuxiang parted ways at the cave entrance.

One was in a hurry to return to the Nine Spirits Sect and report the news of the Earth Rock Cloud Stone, while the other had to attend his family's year-end celebration. Since they had already agreed on a future meeting, and being both young, there was no lingering reluctance in their farewell. They each set off in their own direction, quickly disappearing into the forest on opposite sides.

Without the bothersome young lady around, Zhou Heng's ears were suddenly much quieter. Devoted to the martial path, he soon cast her graceful figure from his mind, only occasionally recalling it when his fingers brushed the sword at his waist, prompting a faint smile.

Lin Fuxiang hadn't said where the Nine Spirits Sect was, only telling Zhou Heng that even a blind man could find it, and that the Frost Cold Sword was the token—just show it, and someone would receive him.

Her tone was just like those people from White Jade Valley, as if the Nine Spirits Sect and White Jade Valley were household names. If he hadn't heard of them, it could only be chalked up to his own ignorance!

And indeed it was. Zhou Heng had always been isolated in the Zhou Family. Who would bother with a waste young master like him? His father, Zhou Dinghai, was away on business all year, and when he did return, he only cared about Zhou Heng's "illness." Why would he bring up martial matters to provoke him?

Though he was a son of a martial arts clan, Zhou Heng had never truly stepped into that circle.

Giving up the Earth Rock Cloud Stone to Lin Fuxiang, or rather to the Nine Spirits Sect, didn't bother Zhou Heng. He had no means to mine it, no channels to sell it, and without formidable strength to guard it, revealing such wealth would only invite utter disaster.

The Blood Refining Realm was not the end of the martial path. Above it were powerhouses of the Spirit Gathering Realm. According to Lin Fuxiang, a hundred Blood Refining Realm experts combined couldn't match a single Spirit Gathering Realm cultivator!

The two were fundamentally different in quality—utterly overwhelming!

If the Zhou Family got their hands on this Earth Rock Cloud Stone mine, the only outcome would be to hand it over under pressure from a stronger force, or be ground to dust!

His memory was getting better and better. Looking up at the sky, a three-dimensional map of the terrain immediately surfaced in his mind. Raw Stone Town and his current location were both clearly marked, and he was confident the error wouldn't exceed a hundred meters!

The Black Broken Sword had been quietly reshaping his body, subtly and gradually. After three months, the effects were already quite noticeable.

Zhou Heng strode forward. Though the mountain paths were steep, he was nearly at the peak of the Sixth Layer of Body Refining. Coupled with the marvel of the Flying Cloud Steps, he moved as if on flat ground, barely slowing his pace.

"Ten days until the New Year, but at my current speed, I can make it back to Raw Stone Town in four days!"

He was confident and no longer anxious, mulling over the fact that returning empty-handed seemed a bit improper. He had to prepare a gift for his father!

"That stingy woman!" Thinking of this, Zhou Heng couldn't help clenching his fist. They had clearly discovered a mine of Earth Rock Cloud Stone, a tremendous fortune, yet when they parted, Lin Fuxiang had still skinned the Six-Legged Giant-Headed Beast, taken the bones and teeth, and left him only a bloody carcass!

How could he carry back several hundred pounds of meat?

Zhou Heng only cut off a few of the best pieces of beast meat, leaving the rest behind. Though it was a terrible waste, what could he do with his limited time?

Beast meat—a great tonic for martial artists!

By noon, Zhou Heng stopped to light a campfire and roast the already-cleaned beast meat. Soon, a fragrant aroma spread all around. He took a bite, finding the meat tender and springy, delicious even without any seasoning!

No wonder beast meat was so valuable. Not only was it a great tonic, but it was also top-tier cuisine!

After eating, Zhou Heng didn't set off immediately. Instead, he sat down to meditate and refine the food in his stomach. Though it couldn't compare to the energy released by the Black Sword, it was still beast meat. He had only eaten it twice in his life, and that was when he was very young. He couldn't afford to waste it.

The Moon Shadow Heart Art began to circulate, and the beast meat released a large amount of free-floating energy under the technique's influence, which was then converted into True Essence Power and stored in his muscles.

Such powerful energy! Compared to ordinary wild game, the intensity was at least ten times greater!

In terms of quantity, though it couldn't match what the Black Sword released, it wasn't far off. If he could get a steady supply, the gains in a single day wouldn't be insignificant!

"No wonder Lin Fuxiang, at just eighteen, has already reached the peak of the Ninth Layer of Body Refining. Her cultivation speed is even faster than my father's back then!"

"Poverty drives study, wealth drives martial arts. I always thought the Zhou Family was well-off, but compared to true wealthy clans, we're practically beggars!"

"I can't get complacent either. Though I have the Black Sword's help, compared to true scions of wealthy families, I don't have a huge advantage in accumulating True Essence Power!"

"But I shouldn't sell myself short either. On the martial path, accumulating True Essence Power is actually a minor matter. The most important thing is comprehension. Take Lin Fuxiang—she said she entered the Bone Refining Realm at thirteen, reached its peak after just two years of accumulation, and only now sees a glimmer of a breakthrough to the Blood Refining Realm!"

"I cultivate the Heaven-Soaring Nine Styles. In terms of comprehension, I'm confident no one in the world can match me!"

Zhou Heng's boldness surged. With a long cry, he leaped up and sped through the forest.

He was also very close to the Bone Refining Realm. The breakthrough would come within a day or two!

Who would believe that by the time he returned to the Zhou Family, he would be a Bone Refining Realm cultivator?

When he stunned everyone at the New Year celebration, what kind of expressions would those family members have?

Zhou Heng couldn't help but look forward to it!

The day passed quickly. Zhou Heng didn't travel through the night; he had plenty of time. Late at night, after refining the free energy released by the Black Sword, he revealed a faint smile. Tomorrow, after absorbing one more wave of free energy, he could attempt to break through to the Bone Refining Realm!

A martial artist's cultivation could, to some extent, replace sleep. Though sleep was still necessary, the time could be greatly compressed. Three or four hours a day was enough. Only after intense battles did one need more rest.

Waking up in the morning, Zhou Heng felt refreshed. After breakfast, he continued on his way, executing the Flying Cloud Steps, drifting like an immortal, as if he could ride the wind away.

After traveling more than ten li, he suddenly stopped, tilting his head slightly to focus. Amid the howling mountain wind, he caught a few human shouts, faint and distant.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Zhou Heng immediately changed direction, veering toward the source of the shouts.

With the Flying Cloud Steps, covering three or four li was no trouble at all. Zhou Heng burst through a small forest and saw, at the edge of the woods, five young men locked in battle with a giant snake!

The snake was nearly ten meters long, as thick as a bucket, entirely black, but with a golden, crown-like fleshy growth on its head—extremely strange!

A Golden-Crowned Snake!

Zhou Heng's eyes lit up. The greatest use of a Golden-Crowned Snake was its gall, which could cure a hundred poisons—worth a fortune!

However, an adult Golden-Crowned Snake was a Bone Refining Realm existence. Though Zhou Heng was still dozens of meters away, he could clearly feel its powerful aura, no less than that of the Six-Legged Giant-Headed Beast!

Ninth Layer of Body Refining!

Zhou Heng gripped the sword at his waist. If not for this divine weapon, encountering a Ninth Layer of Body Refining beast would have sent him running without a second thought. There was no treasure worth risking his life for!

But with the Frost Cold Sword in hand, he felt a surge of confidence—this divine weapon could definitely sever the Golden-Crowned Snake's bones!

He then looked at the five youths, who were clearly showing signs of defeat under the assault of this Ninth Layer of Body Refining beast. However, one of them caught Zhou Heng's attention.

That youth had a cold expression, and while his aura wasn't as strong as the beast's, it was definitely stronger than Zhou Heng's, placing his cultivation at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Body Refining. Logically, he shouldn't have been a match for the Golden-Crowned Snake.

Yet, wielding a massive green blade in his hands, he danced and spun, actually managing to contend with the Golden-Crowned Snake. Though each clash sent him stumbling backward, he didn't show any clear signs of losing!

Hiss, if this youth reached the Ninth Layer of Body Refining, could he overpower the beast in strength?

But that alone wasn't enough. The Golden-Crowned Snake had completely seized control of the field, its massive serpentine body incredibly agile as it darted back and forth, forcing the five to retreat continuously.

At this point, it was no longer about the five trying to kill the snake for treasure—the Golden-Crowned Snake refused to let them go, intent on making them its meal!

--While beasts were great supplements for martial artists, the reverse was also true: martial artists were nourishment for beasts.

"Ah--" With a scream, one youth was coiled by the Golden-Crowned Snake. As the snake's body tightened, the sound of cracking bones rang out from him, crackling like firecrackers.

His blood flow was cut off, his face turning bright red. As the snake's body squeezed tighter, pop, both of his eyeballs were forced out, and blood gushed from his seven orifices in a gruesome sight.

Without even a struggle, he died on the spot!

"Shi Hu!" The four youths shouted in fury.

Zhou Heng sighed inwardly, then activated Flying Cloud Steps. Swoosh, he leaped down from the treetop, shooting toward the Golden-Crowned Snake like an arrow. Clang, the Frost Cold Sword slid from its sheath, and he swung it out, sending down a cascade of sword shadows like a flying waterfall.

It was the Flying Waterfall Sword Technique!

Using the First Form of Heaven-Soaring would indeed be powerful, but with his current cultivation, he could only slash five times in a row. That wasn't enough to guarantee killing the Golden-Crowned Snake, and if he exhausted his strength, he was as good as dead!

The Heaven-Soaring Second Style?

It might be able to kill the beast instantly, but he'd fall into a state of complete weakness, leaving his life in the hands of four strangers.

Of course, Zhou Heng wouldn't do that!