Zhang Yang was sure that Long Feng felt it too, wherever it was. Long Feng's internal energy wasn't superior to his own, but the gap wasn't vast.

At their level, the range of things they could sense was nearly identical; if he felt danger, Long Feng would too. Knowing the place held clear danger, yet Long Feng was still willing to follow, genuinely moved Zhang Yang.

After a moment, Zhang Yang spoke, "Long Feng, there's no need for you to come this time!" Long Feng let out a soft laugh, shaking his head gently. "For the next three years, I am your bodyguard.

Wherever you go, I must follow. If I knew there was danger and didn't go, what kind of bodyguard would I be?" Long Feng's resolve was firm; judging by his demeanor, even if Zhang Yang refused to take him, he would insist on following.

"Very well, hand over your Snow Whip!" Zhang Yang slowly nodded, extending his hand toward Long Feng. Long Feng's Snow Whip was a fine weapon, but Zhang Yang didn't use whips; they didn't suit his style, and he couldn't bring out its full power wielding it.

Ever since Long Feng agreed to follow him, Zhang Yang had returned the whip. With Long Feng and Lightning present, even if Long Feng harbored ill intentions then, Zhang Yang wouldn't worry~~ShuShu Web Upon hearing this, Long Feng brushed his waist, and the nearly transparent Snow Whip materialized in his hand, which he then passed to Zhang Yang.

This, too, was a sign of trust; casually handing over one's unique weapon was impossible without a profound level of reliance. Zhang Yang took out a small bottle and carefully smeared some medicine on the tip of the whip.

This was a mixed toxin he had developed himself, containing not only the venom of the Fox-tailed Marten but also the venom of the Black Iron Spider—both being the most potent and lethal kinds available. Beyond those, he had mixed in several other highly toxic substances to amplify the poison's lethality further.

Currently, this poison had no antidote. If Zhang Yang were to contract it himself, a cure would be possible, but it would be extremely troublesome.

He would never have used such a poison unless the sense of danger felt this overwhelming. Adding poison to Long Feng's Snow Whip was a way to enhance his combat strength.

Long Feng was already strong, and the poisoned whip would be a capable aid, at least ensuring he wouldn't become a liability. "Alright, let's move out.

Don't alert them!" Zhang Yang casually picked up the hunting rifle beside him and started moving. Long Feng appeared slightly surprised; he hadn't expected Zhang Yang to carry a weapon like a rifle.

Rifle bullets were fast, but they had inherent weaknesses, primarily slow reloading, rendering them useless against things moving much faster. For instance, Lightning could easily dodge bullets, making it impossible to hit.

Though puzzled, he asked no questions. After securing the Snow Whip, he followed closely behind Zhang Yang.

The two of them silently departed the camp, unknown even to Er Hu and the auxiliary defense team keeping watch. Their speed was incredible.

Once outside the town limits, they stopped holding back; the two figures shot into the depths of the forest like twin streaks of light. Along the way, they encountered several fierce beasts, including a wolf pack, all near the outer perimeter of the mountain.

The increasing number of large predators emerging from the deep mountains confirmed a colossal danger lurking within, forcing them to flee. Animals' instinctual detection of danger far surpassed that of humans.

Zhang Yang and Long Feng paid them no mind. In just twenty minutes, the pair had entered the dense mountains, reaching a spot they had spent the entire morning traversing earlier that day.

The feeling of dread, a chilling premonition, returned upon reaching this area, and this time it was far more intense. It was night, and the moon offered little light; the deep mountains were pitch black.

Zhang Yang held a spotlight, sweeping it around, while his ears remained acutely tuned to every ambient sound. "Squeak-squeak-squeak!" Lightning suddenly cried out.

Zhang Yang's eyes snapped toward a direction ahead. Long Feng stood silently behind him.

He, too, sensed the danger ahead. Yet, amidst the peril, there was also a surge of excitement.

After all, Long Feng was still a young man who enjoyed the pursuit of thrills. Few things could truly stimulate him—hunting and racing held no interest.

Only operations like this could awaken that part of him. Moreover, Long Feng possessed immense confidence.

This time, he wasn't alone. With Zhang Yang, who was stronger than him, and the spirit beast Fox-tailed Marten, they constituted a trio of masters.

These three could likely contend even with the family elders. "Let's go.

Stay alert for anything around us!" After staring in that direction for a moment, Zhang Yang slowly nodded and quickened his pace inward. Long Feng followed without hesitation, the two shadows weaving deeper into the forest.

Five minutes later, Zhang Yang abruptly stopped. Lightning felt a profound unease, an anxiety so strong it seemed to infect the air.

They were drawing nearer to the threat. Zhang Yang was now certain the danger stemmed from a powerful creature unknown to him—something powerful enough to disturb Lightning could not be ordinary.

This realization caused him to hesitate slightly. "Chirp-chirp-chirp!" Wuying suddenly popped out of the canvas bag, its eyes locked straight ahead, its nose twitching rapidly, a look of sheer delight on its small face.

After sniffing intently, it immediately turned back toward Zhang Yang, chirping urgently. Wuying’s loyalty wasn't absolute, making its intentions difficult for Zhang Yang to decipher, but its excitement was undeniable.

Only treasures could make Wuying this agitated. Given its current frenzy, it was likely a significant treasure.

Zhang Yang, whose initial purpose for entering the mountain included searching for valuables, immediately dismissed his previous reservations. Danger or not, he had to press on.

His thoughts mirrored Long Feng's: they were adequately prepared, with three masters accompanying them; even a Dragon's Den and Tiger's Lair would be worth braving. Retreating now would be detrimental to his future cultivation mindset.

"Long Feng, let's go!" Zhang Yang murmured softly and moved forward again, though this time he proceeded slowly, not with the rapid stride from before. There were no other living creatures in the immediate vicinity.

Zhang Yang now surmised that the appearance of this entity must have driven the large predators out of the deep woods, preventing their return. Based on when the beasts fled, this creature likely hadn't arrived long ago, or the outside world would have already detected it.

Such a creature wouldn't appear here without cause. Combined with Wuying's reaction, Zhang Yang suspected a rare Heavenly Treasure had manifested, drawing this powerful being here.

If a genuine treasure existed, the risk was worth taking. "Attack!

A very powerful entity!" The Fox-tailed Marten suddenly issued a warning to Zhang Yang. Without thinking, he vaulted sideways.

Just as he leaped, the spot he had occupied was struck heavily by something. Long Feng, behind him, also scrambled quickly to the side.

"Bang!" Zhang Yang spun around and fired a shot, immediately relocating as he fired. During the movement, he finally caught a glimpse of what had ambushed him: it was a massive python tail.

Judging by the tail's girth, the snake must be at least ten meters long, perhaps even longer. "Long Feng, did you see it clearly?" Zhang Yang wasn't sure if the shot had landed.

He had loaded the most potent bullets available; recoil was not an issue for him, the only concern was whether the shot would miss or fail to pierce the creature’s hide. Some spirit beasts possessed incredibly tough skins that ordinary firearms couldn't penetrate.

This time, Zhang Yang was certain their opponent was a spirit beast, and a formidable one at that. "A python!

It’s a large snake. I don't know if you hit it; it already evaded!" Long Feng shouted, his concentration razor-sharp.

He shared Zhang Yang's assessment that they were facing a spirit beast. If it was a python, hitting it once should be enough to injure it severely.

A python's scales were not as impervious as those of a Black Iron Spider spirit beast. If Zhang Yang managed to hit it with the rifle, the chance of piercing the skin was quite high.

Once struck, even a powerful spirit beast would have its strength significantly curtailed. He had coated the rifle casings with the same toxin he applied to Long Feng's Snow Whip.

Poisoned, even a spirit beast's power would drastically diminish. Against an ordinary python, that single shot might have been fatal.

"Lightning, can you sense where it is?" Zhang Yang suddenly asked. Lightning chirped an affirmative but shook its head; it could only sense that the entity still existed and wasn't dead, but its precise location was unknown.

"It doesn't matter. If it won't come out, we will go to it.

Wuying, find the thing!" A smile touched Zhang Yang's lips. This giant python had likely discovered some Heavenly Treasure and came to claim it, or perhaps it had always known of its existence and arrived precisely when the treasure was ripening.

Unfortunately for the python, it ran into Zhang Yang, who coveted the treasure just as much. Since there was only one prize and two competing parties, a battle was inevitable.

Zhang Yang didn't care where the giant python was hiding; he only needed to locate the treasure. Once the treasure was found, the python would surely reveal itself.

Wuying sniffed the air and immediately chirped toward one direction, signaling the location of the treasure. Zhang Yang began walking slowly toward that spot, every muscle tensed, every sense alert.

Long Feng gripped his Snow Whip, following closely, the two of them covering all blind spots, ensuring they would spot the python should it appear. Darkness was their greatest disadvantage now, but fortunately, the python was massive.

Even in the dark, if it materialized, Zhang Yang and Long Feng would spot it. "Chirp-chirp-chirp!" Wuying called out more urgently; they were getting closer to the treasure.

As they walked, a sudden wave of alarm washed over Zhang Yang. He grabbed Long Feng, and they both leaped backward rapidly.

A gust of fetid air assaulted them, and a massive golden python, its head larger than a washbasin, materialized before them. Seeing the giant python's appearance, both Zhang Yang and Long Feng's faces shifted, tinged with bitterness.

They had not expected to face such a foe this time. Especially upon seeing the five brilliant, golden crowns atop the python's head, both Zhang Yang and Long Feng felt a chill run down their spines.

The Golden-Crested Python—one of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Beasts, a formidable creature that made even seasoned veterans blanch. They had certainly aimed high this time.

Neither Zhang Yang nor Long Feng had anticipated confronting an adversary of this magnitude.