"This Golden Crown Python has such a formidable body, its internal organs are absolutely not inferior to ordinary cultivators; otherwise, it wouldn’t be able to achieve this."
Zhong Lin marveled in his heart.
Many mutant beasts have their own weaknesses, especially in terms of internal organs, after all, they cannot have specialized methods like humans for refining internal organs. They are more often strong in tendons, bones, fur, and claws.
Zhong Lin’s gaze was as sharp as electricity, drawing his long sword from the scabbard, with a stream of white light flowing on the blade, forming a three-foot Sword Gang.
He stood deep and solemn, his body as if carved from wood, unmoving like a mountain.
The Golden Crown Python opposite him also did not move, except for the flicking of its snake tongue.
Suddenly, cold light flickered in the eyes of the Golden Crown Python as it opened its mouth wide, striking towards Zhong Lin like lightning.
Zhong Lin snorted coldly, swung the blade like an iron rod, violently sweeping across.
A powerful and unimaginable force swept up the fallen leaves around him with a rustling sound, creating a fierce ripping noise as it collided hard with the open mouth of the Golden Crown Python.
With a loud boom, Zhong Lin felt a tremendous force hit him, unable to stand firmly, his feet stomped forward, his body flipped backward, extraordinarily agile in the air, landing and immediately dissipating the massive force.
However, the Golden Crown Python on the opposite side merely paused before continuing its charge, unscathed.
"This beast is incredibly powerful."
Zhong Lin marveled inwardly, realizing the previous encounter didn’t involve using his inner breath, relying solely on physical power for the clash.
Truly a mutant beast, overwhelmingly superior to human martial artists in terms of power.
As he pondered, the Golden Crown Python had already charged before him, the stench from its gaping mouth pouring over Zhong Lin’s face as it targeted his head, just like it did to that horse earlier.
Zhong Lin stamped his foot, his figure appearing in the air as though he had teleported, his right leg lifted high, crashing down fiercely like a massive axe cleaving the sky.
Zhong Lin’s battle axe-like leg moved at lightning speed, smashing heavily onto the head of the Golden Crown Python in the blink of an eye.
The Golden Crown Python let out a wretched howl, its head slammed into the ground, shaking as if it were dazed.
"Shattering Star Slash!"
Zhong Lin uttered the incantation, his inner breath from his Dantian surged frantically, the long sword in his hand emitted a platinum glow, descending from the void.
The entire sword seemed to vibrate under the influence of this inner breath, as if attuned to the frequency of the heavens and the earth, causing resonance.
Suddenly, the rocks and cliffs near where the sword was pointed shattered, and before it even got close, the scales on the Golden Crown Python’s neck were already cracked inch by inch.
When the Golden Crown Python collided with the long sword, time seemed to pause for a moment.
Then, for the first time, the giant snake head was sent flying high.
The snake head flew higher and higher, leaving behind a portion of the body, and a ground littered with snake blood, its sharp tail seemingly twitched lightly unconsciously, then never moved again.
As if spontaneously, the crowd behind them returned their stupefied gazes, focusing together on Zhong Lin.
"Senior Brother has become stronger, stronger again."
Jiang Yuan screamed internally, unable to maintain her ladylike demeanor.
There had only been three battles along the way, but each time, Zhong Lin gave Jiang Yuan a different level of understanding, getting stronger each time.
Although she had not witnessed the terror of the Golden Crown Python, she knew of it from books, and yet now, it was dispatched in just two moves.
This was a mutant beast Golden Crown Python, not some random wild snake on the roadside, so easily decapitated, how strong must Senior Brother truly be?
An electric flash burst from Zhong Lin’s eyes, he suddenly swung his sword towards the distance, a streak of Sword Qi slashed by, shattering a massive rock, causing a figure to fall out from it.
At this moment, Niu Dali finally found his sense of existence, shouting.
With the order, dozens of guards rushed forward, encircling the figure directly, their long knives pressed against his neck.
It was a middle-aged man in a gray robe, his face deathly pale, clearly heavily injured by Zhong Lin’s Sword Qi just now.
"Qing Guang, you killed my Qing Guang!"
The gray-robed middle-aged man did not plead for mercy despite being cornered, instead glaring fiercely at Zhong Lin, wishing to pierce him with a thousand arrows if his gaze could kill.
Niu Dali’s face filled with astonishment.
Jiang Yuan also stepped down from the carriage, looking curiously at the gray-robed middle-aged man before her.
"Reporting to the Princess, this person is a guest under the Eldest Prince, skilled in taming snakes, yet it was unexpected he had actually kept a mutant beast like the Golden Crown Python, truly unbelievable, turns out mutant beasts can also be nurtured."
The bluestone beneath Jiang Yuan’s feet shattered instantly, a wave of anguish surged within her heart.
"Brother’s man? Brother can’t tolerate me either?"
Along the way, there had been three assassination attempts total, first by the Fourth Prince’s army, then the Upper Third Grades martial artist from the Second Prince, followed now by the mutant beast sent by the Eldest Prince.
Jiang Yuan experienced the taste of fratricide, the ruthlessness of the imperial family.
No matter how intimate the brotherly relationship, faced with the supreme throne, it seemed so fragile.
Jiang Yuan took a deep breath, her expression restored to calm, her voice icy, "Kill him."
Niu Dali dared not slack, swinging his long knife, the gray-robed middle-aged man met his end on the spot.
Jiang Yuan stepped forward, respectfully saying, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for saving my life once again."
Zhong Lin glanced at Jiang Yuan, "Jiang Junior Sister, even now, do you still want to contend?"
The wagon wheels creaked as the convoy resumed its journey.
The atmosphere along the way was slightly somber, the many guards were strictly disciplined, especially after the recent ordeal, they were more cautious, vigilantly watching the surroundings, fearing another ambush. This created a tense atmosphere.
Zhong Lin sat upright in the carriage, eyes closed, silent.
"If this were just an ordinary world, it would be fine, but unfortunately, this world is dominated by Martial Arts, where Martial Arts reign supreme."
"Power begets authority, everything else is illusory, only power is real, even a king must bow before me once I break through to the First Grade and become a Grandmaster."
Accompanied by the heavy sound of footsteps, the Capital City gradually came into view.
Perhaps because of Zhong Lin, or perhaps because they were getting closer to the Capital City, those princes and descendants no longer dared to trouble the convoy.
Finally, two days before reaching the Capital City, Zhong Lin completed the cultivation of the Foot Three Yin Meridians and Foot Three Yang Meridians, achieving perfection in opening four levels of the meridians, greatly enhancing his martial arts cultivation.
Upon reaching the Capital City, the carriages stopped.
"Princess, the people from the Ministry of Rites have come to greet you."
The voice of Niu Dali came from outside the carriage.
Jiang Yuan slowly opened her eyes, stepped out of the carriage, and saw officials of the Ministry of Rites, dressed in official robes, bowing in salute. In front of them were several familiar figures; some looked furious, others grim, or sinisterly watching Jiang Yuan.