A sickening crack echoed through the trees.
The demon python's eye exploded in a spray of ichor. The entire length of the steel saber vanished into the socket, leaving only the hilt quivering in the ruined flesh.
A sound tore from its throat—a guttural shriek that was nothing like a hiss. "SKREEE!!"
Blinded and in agony, the colossal beast went berserk. It thrashed through the forest, a whirlwind of destruction, leveling trees and shattering rocks in a blind, pain-fueled rampage.
"Big Brother!" Zhou Hong screamed, his voice laced with shock and terror.
"Just go!" Zhou Wu yelled, his lower half already trapped in the python's massive jaws. "Get out of here! Find someone to avenge me! I—"
His words were cut off as the demon python swallowed him whole.
On the ground, Zhou Hong was paralyzed by a storm of grief and rage. His face became a dark mask. He shot one last, venomous glare at the rampaging serpent before turning and running for his life without a backward glance. His brother was gone. A direct fight was suicide. Revenge could only come if he survived.
He was decisive. Within moments, he was a speck in the distance.
Seeing the brutal fight come to its end, Luo Zhen knew it was his cue to leave. The python was still tearing the forest apart. Sticking around was an invitation to become collateral damage. He bolted, not slowing until he'd put several thousand meters between himself and the chaos.
Just as he was about to catch his breath, the roar ripped through the air again, louder this time.
"SKREEE!!"
Luo Zhen glanced back. In the far distance, the giant python was completely consumed by its fury. It writhed against the sky, its cries carrying a crushing, unnatural power that rolled out like a shockwave.
An irresistible pressure washed over him like a tidal wave. His strength vanished, his body going limp as he collapsed to the ground, utterly powerless. He wasn't the only one. For thousands of meters in every direction, every beast caught in the wave of its power was slammed to the ground, unable to move a muscle.
This was true demonic might.
After all, the Yellow-striped Demon Python was the undisputed king of the Mist Marsh, a tenth-level beast. A roar born of pure agony was more than any creature in its domain could withstand.
It took more than a dozen long breaths before Luo Zhen felt strength seep back into his limbs. The moment he could move, he shot toward a nearby pile of rubble and began to dig frantically with his tail. For a seventh-level beast like him, the hard-packed earth might as well have been tofu. Empowered by his energy, his tail carved through the ground like a hot knife through butter.
In seconds, he'd dug a deep burrow. He slid inside, leaving only his head exposed to watch the unfolding chaos.
Whoosh!
He'd hidden just in time. A foul, gusting wind swept through the area, heralding the python's arrival. Peeking through the rocks, Luo Zhen saw the colossal serpent bearing down, its presence poisoning the air. Any beast too slow to hide was swallowed whole, not even getting the chance to scream. Even with one eye and grievous injuries, the python's power was absolute.
A quarter of an hour later, Luo Zhen checked his internal map and froze.
The map was completely blank for ten thousand meters around him. Besides himself, there wasn't a single living beast left in the area. They were either in the python's stomach or had fled in terror. The python itself had moved on, taking its campaign of slaughter elsewhere.
Luo Zhen felt a profound sense of relief. He'd narrowly escaped a slaughter. His small size and quick thinking had saved him. If he'd hesitated for even a second, he'd be either dead or on the run.
Even with the immediate danger gone, he had no intention of leaving his hideout. He was perfectly concealed, and with the beasts he'd eaten earlier, he could easily wait out the storm for weeks if needed.
Flicking his forked tongue, he focused on his map. He zoomed out and watched as the cluster of life-signs to the east began to vanish, one by one. The python was still hunting.
He remembered seeing it earlier. After swallowing another beast, a faint yellow light had pulsed across the python's scales, and its wounds seemed to knit together just a little.
A chilling realization dawned on Luo Zhen.
That thing… it can heal itself by absorbing the essence of other beasts.
In a way, it was just like his own system, which allowed him to gain power by consuming his prey. From a certain point of view, he and the Yellow-striped Demon Python were essentially the same.
I should've known the king of the marsh would have a few tricks up its sleeve, he thought. Even with my system, I can't afford to get cocky. Who knows what other bizarre powers the creatures—or humans—of this world possess…
He flicked his tongue, closed his eyes, and decided to wait. He would only emerge once the python had finished its rampage and the marsh had returned to some semblance of peace.
It was a good plan. But the world had other ideas.
Two days later, a new creature appeared: a giant black centipede, as thick as a water bucket and nearly three meters long. It scrambled frantically from the distance, its body trembling with what looked like pure terror. As it got closer, Luo Zhen could see deep gashes all over its armored body, some still weeping blood. It had clearly just escaped a fight.
The centipede stopped about five hundred meters away, near another pile of rubble. After circling it once, it seemed to make a decision and began digging furiously with its sharp mandibles, which chewed through the earth like steel saws. Soon, it had created a burrow and vanished inside.
Another refugee, just like him. The python's reign of terror had turned the entire marsh into a hunting ground with nowhere to hide.
Luo Zhen cautiously eyed the centipede's hiding spot. On his map, it showed up as a pale red dot. Red meant danger. The dimness of the light suggested the threat wasn't critical, but he wasn't taking any chances.
Just then, a foul, chilling wind ripped through the air.
Luo Zhen's head snapped up. There, moving with terrifying speed, was the Yellow-striped Demon Python. Aside from its ruined eye socket, it was completely healed. The demonic aura rolling off its scales was as potent as ever.
Huddled in his burrow, Luo Zhen held his breath, not daring to move. He watched as the python swept the area with its remaining eye, its forked tongue tasting the air. Within seconds, it honed in on the centipede's hiding place.
It found it!
The python raised its massive tail high into the air and brought it down with devastating force. BOOM! The ground shook from the impact. A black shadow burst from the shattered earth and fled for its life. It was the centipede, its hiding spot discovered.
It moved with incredible speed, but the python was a yellow blur right behind it. In moments, both creatures vanished over the horizon, their furious battle echoing back through the trees.
The sudden violence left Luo Zhen's mouth dry. His mind raced.
That centipede doesn't stand a chance. It's going to be eaten. And once the python is done with it, it might just circle back here to keep hunting. Then I'm next.
Damn it! I just wanted to lie low, but this marsh has become a death trap!
He had to leave. His original plan of quietly leveling up here was officially dead. The hunted centipede was a preview of his own fate if he stayed.
Luo Zhen was decisive. The moment the thought solidified, he burst from his hiding spot and shot toward the edge of the marsh.
His destination: the human settlement, Huangye Town.
He'd already considered it as a worst-case scenario. While the town had its own dangers—namely, human martial artists—the recent battle had likely wiped out their strongest fighters. The survivors shouldn't be a match for his current seventh-level power. Plus, as a snake, he was a master of stealth. Finding a dark corner to hide in a human town would be easy. It was a risk, but it was better than waiting to be hunted.
He unleashed his full seventh-level strength, becoming a blur against the landscape. The wind howled past him as he rocketed toward the marsh's border.
A quarter of an hour later, he reached it. A wide, flat road snaked its way into the distance.
"Finally," he hissed in relief. He'd seen this road on his map. It was the only route to Huangye Town.
Just then, his senses picked up movement. In the distance, three horse-drawn carts were slowly making their way toward him.
Humans. He could see they were loaded with sacks and jars, likely supplies for the town. A quick check of his map showed only a few dim, white dots. No red.
No threat, he concluded. As the carts drew closer, an idea sparked in his mind. He slipped into the tall grass by the side of the road and waited.
As the first cart rumbled past his hiding spot, a black shadow shot out like a bolt of lightning, disappearing among the cargo.
His plan was simple: hitch a ride.
He found a spot among sacks of salt, sugar, and jars of vinegar, their scents filling the air. He'd just settled in when he heard the drivers talking.
"Heard Second Brother Zhou took a turn for the worse," one said.
"Really? I thought he made it out okay," the other replied, surprised.
"He made it out, sure, but not okay. That python's tail caught him square in the chest. Doc says he's got a few broken ribs, maybe more."
"Damn. He's the strongest we've got left. If he goes down…"
"I know," the first driver sighed. "It all comes down to that monster in the marsh. We sent our best in there, and only a handful came back. Even Big Brother Zhou didn't make it."
The men fell into a grim silence.
Big Brother Zhou? Second Brother Zhou? Luo Zhen's mind worked quickly. That must be the brothers who attacked the python. The one who got away, Zhou Hong, was the 'Second Brother.' And it sounds like he's badly injured…
He flicked his forked tongue, a cold serpent's smile playing on his lips.
That's good news for me. He'd been worried about facing a ninth-level martial artist. But a wounded one? That changed everything. Suddenly, Huangye Town was looking a lot more welcoming.
An hour or two later, a quaint, rustic town came into view. From the drivers' chatter, he knew this was it: Huangye Town. The journey had been surprisingly short, which meant the town was dangerously close to the Mist Marsh. No wonder its people were so invested in what happened there. Their survival depended on it.
As they neared the town gates, Luo Zhen slipped silently from the carriage and vanished into the dense woods that bordered the road.
Once hidden, he pulled up his system map. It had already updated, rendering the entire town in perfect detail. Dozens of white dots, representing the town's martial artists, were scattered across the map. Not a single one glowed red.
So it's true, he thought, a wave of relief washing over him. Zhou Hong is so badly injured that he's no longer a threat to me. This place is safe.
For now, he just needed to rest. The last few days in the marsh had left him constantly on edge. He found a quiet pile of rocks on the outskirts of town, slithered into a deep crevice, and let sleep take him.
He woke up to a gnawing hunger in his belly. He had no idea how long he'd been out, but his body was screaming for fuel. If he didn't eat soon, he'd be too weak to move.
He slithered to the top of an ancient tree, his gaze fixed on Huangye Town. It was dusk. Hundreds of plumes of cooking smoke rose into the twilight air, carrying the rich, savory smells of roasting meat and baking bread.
Nothing smells as good as human food, he mused, his senses swimming in the delicious aroma. It had been so long.
He was a snake, yes, but he wasn't an animal. Ordinary snakes swallowed their food whole, driven by pure instinct. But Luo Zhen possessed human intelligence. He could control his body with precision, even eating in small, deliberate bites. If I had hands, he often thought, I could probably use chopsticks.
It was this intelligence that allowed him to wait. An ordinary snake would have already charged into town, driven mad by hunger. But Luo Zhen understood the value of patience. He would wait for the cover of total darkness.
As the last sliver of sun dipped below the horizon, the sky grew heavy with dark clouds, swallowing the moon and stars. A cold wind began to blow.
A dark and windy night, Luo Zhen thought, flicking his tongue. Perfect for a hunt.
He moved like a shadow, slipping into Huangye Town without a sound. The streets were deserted. Most of the homes were already dark and silent, their occupants asleep. A few, however, still glowed with the warm, yellow light of lanterns. The grandest of them all sat right in the town's center, a sprawling estate that screamed wealth and power. Above the ornate gate, a large plaque read:
Zhou Manor.
So this is Zhou Hong's place, he figured. It made sense. In any world, power and wealth went hand in hand.
As he drew closer, he noticed a distinct smell cutting through the aromas of food: the sharp, earthy scent of medicinal herbs. And it was getting stronger. It was coming from inside the manor.
Valuable herbs, he realized, his narrow eyes lighting up. His system could process more than just beast flesh; rare plants also provided a wealth of experience.
Zhou Hong may be injured, but he's still a ninth-level martial artist. This is his home. He hesitated for a second. But he's no longer a threat. Those herbs have to be mine!
He scaled a wall and slipped into the courtyard. Almost immediately, he heard voices from a nearby room. He could make out fragments: "…the great marsh snake…" "…medicinal herbs…" "…expert…"
Curious, he slithered closer, pressing himself against a crack in the door. Inside, two men were talking. One was a white-haired old man who looked like a steward. The other, lying pale and weak on a bed, was Zhou Hong.
"Uncle Liu," Zhou Hong said, his voice raspy after a fit of coughing, "have you gathered the herbs?"
"Yes, Second Young Master," the steward replied quickly. "All five of them. Each one is over three hundred years old."
"Good, good," Zhou Hong coughed again. "Guard them with your life. It wasn't easy to find herbs of that quality. Don't let anyone steal them."
"Of course, Second Young Master," the old man said before hesitating. "Sir… are you certain about using them to hire an outsider?"
Zhou Hong gave a bitter laugh. "What other choice is there? That serpent in the marsh is too powerful. My brother is dead, I'm crippled… Huangye Town can't handle it alone. We need help."
His face darkened with grief and frustration. "We know it's a tenth-level beast. That's terrifying, but it's a devil we know. If we let it grow stronger, it could trigger a beast tide or just decide to wipe us out for sport. Either way, we're finished."
"Couldn't we… relocate?" the steward suggested timidly. "Rebuild somewhere else?"
"You think it's that simple?" Zhou Hong shot back. "And go where? Live on what? We've built our lives here for generations. Are we to throw all that away? No. Compared to that, hiring someone to kill a snake is the easy path."
"You are right, of course, Second Young Master," the old man said, wiping sweat from his brow. "But… if we give away all the herbs, what about your injuries?"
"I'll manage," Zhou Hong said dismissively. "I have other medicines. It will take time—half a year, maybe more—but I'll recover."
The steward nodded, still looking worried. "I have one last question. You and the First Young Master are both ninth-level martial artists. You took all our best fighters with you, and still… he and the others died, and you were nearly killed. The point is… this python is unbelievably strong. Are you sure the expert we can afford to hire will be strong enough to kill it?"
For the first time, Zhou Hong smiled, a cold, confident glint in his eyes.
"Don't worry, Uncle Liu. I know what I'm doing," he said, his voice low but steady. "Five herbs, each over three hundred years old. That's a king's ransom. It's more than enough to attract the attention of a true master."
"How… how powerful a master?" the old man asked, his curiosity piqued.
Zhou Hong's smile widened.
"Someone from the Qi Martial Realm."