Zhong Lin directly broke the rope, found a chopstick, and dared not touch the black iron ring with his hand, for he was utterly terrified by what had just occurred.
Carefully, he stored the ring into a jade box and placed it close to his body.
Jade is naturally an excellent isolating material, just perfect for keeping the "old master," and besides, Zhong Lin has no plans to awaken it yet. First, his inner breath wasn’t enough, and second, he wasn’t fully prepared.
Zhong Lin was poised for the possibility that this might be a "dark old master" and intended to meet it in his strongest state.
He glanced at Gu Chen, unsure if he was asleep or unconscious. When he found the broken rope in the morning, he’d probably think the ring was lost and might mourn for a day or two, but his recovery would more than compensate.
Lacking the "old master," it might actually be a good thing for him.
After all, judging by this draining method, Gu Chen wouldn’t even be able to cultivate to the Upper Third Grades, struggling at Middle Third Grades.
"This old master doesn’t understand sustainable development; fishing by draining the pond isn’t a good idea."
Zhong Lin stood up and left the room, skillfully using his inner breath to lock the beam within the room before leaving.
The next morning, after bidding farewell to the Gu family father and son, the convoy set out once more.
Inside the carriage, he swallowed a drop of ten-thousand-year ice marrow, and with the full level Spiritual Cold Sword Scripture running, he skillfully cycled his inner breath to devour and refine it.
Eventually, with even greater power, he aimed towards another acupoint. In less than half a day, the Earth Machine Acupoint was breached and vast inner breath flooded in at a speed that even amazed Zhong Lin.
"Very well, at this pace, all the acupoints in the leg will be fully opened before reaching the capital, enhancing the power when performing leg martial arts or the Lightweight Secret Technique."
Suppressing the joy within his heart, Zhong Lin again closed his eyes and resumed cultivation.
Time silently passed, and they were getting closer to the capital.
"General Niu, what is up ahead?"
Inside the carriage, Jiang Yuan parted the curtain and gazed afar, seeing a gigantic mountain range appear before them and, before them, a vast canyon within the mountains.
Niu Dali rode forward, cupping his fists, "Reporting to the Princess, ahead is Black Dragon Pass, past which lies An Yuan City."
Jiang Yuan nodded, knowing An Yuan City was just before the Capital, indicating they’d reach it in about ten days.
However, for some unknown reason, looking at the dark canyon passage before her, Jiang Yuan felt a foreboding sense, as if danger loomed ahead.
"Stop the carriages."
Jiang Yuan suddenly called out loud.
Though unaware of the reason, Niu Dali signaled for the convoy to stop.
"General Niu, send someone to explore ahead; I have a bad feeling about it."
Niu Dali nodded and, with a wave of his hand, sent a squad galloping away.
Suddenly, a foul wind blew from the canyon, filled with a strong nauseating stench.
The next moment, a python over twenty meters long, as thick as a barrel, surged out from among the rocks. Its appearance was no different from normal pythons—massive and powerful, but upon closer inspection, its skin was covered with dense scale armor, although these scales were inconspicuous and required careful observation to distinguish.
The most eye-catching was the golden crown on the head of this scale snake.
This crown somewhat resembled the vibrant rooster comb but was considerably more robust and growing on the scale snake’s head, emanating an indescribable eerie aura.
The upper body of the python suddenly rose while coiling its lower body into a towering snake formation, its terrifying mouth flickering with a flexible tongue.
The scales from its neck upward spread open, the inverted scales sharp as blades, frightfully fierce.
Especially the large, gaping mouth wide enough to swallow an elephant, truly a "snake swallowing an elephant," without any deceit.
The razor-sharp, tusk-length venomed fangs in that mouth hinted at a grim fate for anyone bitten.
The sudden emergence of the python startled the galloping horses, causing their front hooves to rear up with a skyward neigh.
Suddenly, the python lunged towards a guard with lightning speed, biting the horse’s head into its blood-soaked maw.
The guard atop was thrown off in terror, scarcely hitting the ground before the snake’s tail swung forcefully, crashing into his chest.
With a muffled grunt, the guard couldn’t even scream before being smashed into a pile of mush.
The others, already terrified, swiftly turned their horses and fled crazily.
"Golden Crown Python, it’s the mutant beast, the Golden Crown Python!"
Niu Dali fearfully identified the snake.
Jiang Yuan also turned pale, not just from the snake’s mutant beast identity but from a deep-seated fear of serpent creatures.
Regardless of gender, it seemed a fear of snakes was embedded into their very genes.
In the carriage, Zhong Lin, engaged in cultivation, abruptly opened his eyes and, with a swift step, appeared before the canyon like a gust of wind.
"Golden Crown Python, a snake-like mutant beast famous for the golden crown on its head, typically found in mountainous forests, why is it here on the main road?"
Zhong Lin frowned, showing puzzlement.
Ordinary pythons lack sight, but as mutant beasts, they can’t be judged by common standards.
Beneath the Golden Crown Python’s crown, two small eyes glinted fiercely and cunningly, their gaze chillingly devoid of emotion.
With a squirm of its belly, it swiftly swallowed the herd of galloping horses whole, showing no change in its massive form.
Niu Dali bellowed, drawing his sword, as the guards swiftly surrounded Jiang Yuan’s carriage in a protective circle.
"Brother, this Golden Crown Python can’t appear here without reason; surely someone is controlling it." Jiang Yuan suppressed her internal dread to suggest.
Zhong Lin nodded slightly, scanning the area without detecting any suspicious individuals.
"General Niu, protect Sister Jiang. Let me handle this mutant beast first."
Zhong Lin let out a piercing shout, striding boldly into the valley.
After the Qi Cultivation Method transformation, Zhong Lin had always wanted a chance to try out the power of the Spiritual Cold Sword Scripture; now, the chance had come.
Upon hearing Zhong Lin’s shout, the Golden Crown Python halted, its small eyes fixating on Zhong Lin. Its tongue flicked ever faster, as it seemingly perceived something, its enormous body slowly coiling into a concentrated mass.
An ordinary python, even over ten meters long, after consuming so many wild beasts wouldn’t be able to form a snake formation again. But this Golden Crown Python, being a naturally nurtured mutant beast, its massive body managed to forcibly coil into another extensive snake formation.