The price of cultivating immortality was far too brutal.
Within the image on the heavenly screen.
In a valley of the Blood-Colored Forbidden Land, cold winds howled.
Ma Hongjun lay amid a thicket of black thorns.
Sharp wooden spikes pierced his flesh, but he could no longer feel the pain.
Because the agonizing pain in his chest had already consumed all his senses.
Every time he breathed, his lungs wheezed like a broken bellows, and blood foam constantly spilled from the corners of his mouth.
On a massive boulder ahead.
The Azure Rock Python was slowly stretching out its enormous body.
Its azure scales scraped against the black stone, producing a teeth-grating rustle.
The sound echoed through the empty valley, like a death knell rung by the Reaper.
The Azure Rock Python did not immediately pounce.
This second-tier demonic beast already possessed rudimentary intelligence.
Ma Hongjun had just startled it awake, and it was filled with anger at having its rest disturbed.
Its cold vertical pupils looked down upon the fat man from above.
Its scarlet forked tongue flicked rapidly through the air, tasting the scent of fear emanating from Ma Hongjun.
To demonic beasts, a prey's fear was the finest seasoning.
Ma Hongjun scrambled desperately backward on all fours.
Mud and blood smeared his entire body.
His chubby face, usually always wearing a smug grin, was now twisted out of shape by extreme terror.
Tears and snot mingled as they streamed down uncontrollably.
"Phoenix, Evil Fire Phoenix..."
Ma Hongjun's lips trembled as he desperately squeezed his dried-up meridians.
He wanted to summon his martial soul.
Even if he could only produce the tiniest spark, at least it would give him some courage.
He bit through the tip of his tongue, and a rusty taste spread through his mouth.