Those eyes quietly watched Zhang Ergou approach the legendary herb, the Zi Danluo.
Zhang Ergou was completely unaware.
In his extreme excitement, he even forgot to be wary of his surroundings.
He rapidly moved towards the vividly colored Zi Danluo, not even taking the time to survey the environment.
And those eyes did not move, only following Zhang Ergou’s every motion.
Just as Zhang Ergou neared the ancient wood, preparing to bend down and pluck the Zi Danluo, a sudden change occurred.
*Swish!*
A colossal python, as thick as a bowl, lunged rapidly towards Zhang Ergou.
In a moment of desperation, Zhang Ergou rolled on the ground, barely evading the python’s attack.
However, this still sent a cold sweat down his back.
He never imagined that a serpentine demonic beast would be hidden here.
If not for his quick reflexes, he would likely have been attacked.
The python also hadn't expected that in such a situation, the human before it could dodge its surprise attack.
Its eyes narrowed anthropomorphically, as if trying to see through Zhang Ergou.
After the initial strike, the python did not continue its assault. Instead, it continued to stare intently at Zhang Ergou.
However, its massive body had already shielded the Zi Danluo beneath the ancient wood.
Zhang Ergou now understood.
Rare medicinal herbs were usually protected by demonic beasts; this python was likely the guardian of this Zi Danluo.
It was because of the surrounding medicinal herbs and the Zi Danluo that this python was able to grow to its current state.
Now that it had discovered the human before it was trying to steal its treasure.
The python naturally would not allow it.
Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded: the human and the snake, less than ten feet apart, stared at each other from a distance.
Zhang Ergou watched the python with full alertness.
He found it somewhat difficult to discern the python's cultivation realm, and the python seemed unwilling to leave the vicinity of the Zi Danluo.
As long as Zhang Ergou did not approach the Zi Danluo, the python would not initiate an attack.
After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Zhang Ergou finally lost patience. During the standoff with the giant python,
he had also discovered that the python would not voluntarily leave the area where the Zi Danluo grew.
And the Zi Danluo was far too precious, a rare find.
If it were any other ordinary medicinal herb, Zhang Ergou would have turned and left long ago, never spending so much time confronting this python.
However, as a legendary medicinal herb, encountering the Zi Danluo was an immense stroke of luck for Zhang Ergou.
How could he simply let it slip away?
Even with the giant python before him, he was determined to find a way to obtain the Zi Danluo.
Zhang Ergou pondered for a moment. If he were to engage the giant python in a direct battle, the ensuing chaos might very well damage the fragile Zi Danluo.
If he could resolve the python silently.
Then he could obtain the Zi Danluo, couldn't he? But how could he deal with the python silently?
Zhang Ergou had once read in ancient texts that snakes were creatures of cold nature; fire likely possessed a natural restraint over them.
Ordinary flames might not inflict much damage on this python, which clearly possessed a significant cultivation realm.
But he possessed a spiritual fire.
A spiritual fire that even the Old Man of Snow Mountain could not discern.
With a thought, Zhang Ergou stealthily summoned his spiritual fire. Because it had absorbed a great deal of energy,
the spiritual fire transformed into an invisible and colorless flame, silently approaching the python.
Zhang Ergou remained in place, his eyes vigilantly fixed on the giant python.
The python did not detect the malicious intent of the human before it.
It merely thought that this insignificant human had become intimidated by its presence. It coiled its body around the Zi Danluo, its massive head raised, looking at Zhang Ergou provocatively.
Occasionally, its open mouth exhaled a foul, pungent odor.
Zhang Ergou directed the spiritual fire to continue approaching the python.
He himself feigned an attack, drawing the python's attention.
Zhang Ergou did not guide the spiritual fire to directly charge at the python's head.
Instead, it circled around the python's enormous body, stealthily reaching its tail, and then the spiritual fire transformed into a substantial flame, swiftly leaping onto the python's tail.
"Roar~~"
The python let out a strange, piercing shriek that shook the surrounding forest.
Yet, even so, the python did not damage the Zi Danluo it was protecting. Instead, it rapidly moved its tail away from the base of the roots.
Once a safe distance from the Zi Danluo was established, it desperately thrashed its tail like a whip.
But no matter how it thrashed, the bone-chilling pain did not diminish; instead, it intensified.
At this point, the python no longer cared about observing Zhang Ergou.
It turned its massive head and tried to bite off the source of the pain.
*Poof!*
A column of blood shot into the sky as the giant python forcefully bit off its own tail.
However, the expected relief from the pain did not materialize.
The moment it severed its tail, the spiritual fire directly surged into its mouth.
It flowed down its esophagus and into the giant python's body.
Now the python was truly in for it. The pain, a hundred times worse than before, drove it into a frenzy.
At this point, the python could no longer concern itself with the Zi Danluo. Its massive body crashed down from the ancient wood.
It then desperately thrashed against the ground, the vegetation within several yards of its vicinity caught in the chaos.
Trees flew through the air as the giant python screamed and thrashed, pounding the ground.
But its wild, unorganized flailing had no effect whatsoever; instead, it intensified the pain in its body.
Zhang Ergou guided the spiritual fire, which roamed throughout the python's internal organs.
The python's two enormous eyes were now bloodshot, and even blood dripped from them.
"Roar~~"
The python shrieked again, but this cry was much weaker than its initial one.
Clearly, after being tormented by the spiritual fire, the python was on its last breath.
It was clearly dying, yet it still struggled to lift its body, its expression complex as it glanced at Zhang Ergou.
Instinctively, it felt that all its suffering was somehow related to the insignificant human before it.
But it was too late for regret. It was now on the verge of death.
The giant python did not surrender. Enduring the excruciating pain, it slowly crawled towards the Zi Danluo it had guarded its entire life.
Zhang Ergou quietly observed the python's actions.
If the python intended to destroy the precious Zi Danluo in its final moments, he would intervene immediately.
However, contrary to Zhang Ergou's expectations, the giant python stopped its movement when it was about two or three paces away from the Zi Danluo.
It raised its massive tongue with difficulty, then slightly opened its mouth, its forked tongue flicking out as if confiding in the Zi Danluo.
What Zhang Ergou witnessed next was even more astonishing.
The instant the python opened its mouth, the leaves of the Zi Danluo rapidly unfurled, and a purple aura enveloped the giant python.
The python breathed greedily, and slowly, its enormous eyes gradually closed.
From those eyes, two streams of blood-like tears flowed...
Seeing that the python was dead, Zhang Ergou no longer hesitated and swiftly moved to pluck the Zi Danluo.
"Zhang Ergou?" A voice called out from behind him...