The Golden-Crowned Python had been feigning death; Zhang Yang, inexperienced, had let his guard down before confirming the beast was truly deceased, and now it was too late to evade.

In the blink of an eye, that massive maw was upon Zhang Yang.

Acting purely on instinct, Zhang Yang thrust whatever he held upward—it was his hunting rifle, which jammed directly into the Python's open mouth.

The snake's mouth reeked of foul, (fishy stench), and the sight of those two gleaming fangs sent a profound chill down Zhang Yang’s spine.

The small rifle was no match for the Golden-Crowned Python, whose eyes glinted with savage fury.

It had battled these three small creatures for a long time, sustaining injury after injury, nearly losing its life. The Python now wished nothing more than to tear them into a thousand pieces.

It knew that Zhang Yang was the greatest threat among the trio; eliminating him would make the other two insignificant.

Just as it prepared to clamp down, the Python’s head suddenly spun, almost causing it to collapse right there.

The venom it had previously suffered was taking effect. The Fox-Tailed Marten was also a highly poisonous beast. Even though its venom was mild, and the Python’s immense strength allowed it to resist for a time, it couldn't resist indefinitely.

Now, the Marten’s toxins were finally asserting their power.

This outbreak wasn't enough to fatally threaten the Python, nor could it render it unconscious, but it caused its head to reel, blurring its senses.

This slight delay bought Zhang Yang the crucial second he needed—a life-saving second.

"Bang! Bang!"

In his desperation, Zhang Yang finally remembered he held a rifle and pulled the trigger twice.

The rifle was lodged inside the Python’s mouth, where there were no protective scales, only soft flesh. The great snake’s head jolted violently, its huge eyes rolling back as it stared at Zhang Yang in stunned disbelief.

After firing, Zhang Yang scrambled backward, retreating from the suffocating sensation of being inside the giant serpent's mouth.

A gush of blood began to pour from the Python’s jaws. Its head swayed erratically a couple of times before finally lying still; this time, it did not close its eyes, its massive head simply resting on the ground.

The blood quickly stained the earth, an especially large volume expelled from the Python's mouth this time.

Zhang Yang stood back at a distance, reloading his rifle. The Golden-Crowned Python’s strength far exceeded his expectations; he didn't know if those two shots fired point-blank would be fatal.

Blood continued to drain away. The Python lay there, mouth slightly agape, eyes fixed on Zhang Yang, utterly motionless.

After nearly half an hour, Zhang Yang slowly approached the Golden-Crowned Python. As he drew near, he raised his rifle again and fired a final shot directly into the Python's still-open eye.

That shot blasted a bloody hole through the eye; the Python’s body did not move an inch.

"It must be dead!"

A voice came from behind Zhang Yang. He whirled around to see Long Feng standing there, having arrived without him noticing.

Long Feng’s face was still slightly ashen, his body showing clear fatigue, and he regarded Zhang Yang with a complex expression.

Upon waking, Long Feng had found Lightning beside him, anxiously hopping about. Seeing him awake, Lightning immediately waved its small paws and chirped, "Zhi zhi."

Long Feng couldn't understand the words, but he knew Zhang Yang must have saved him.

Since both Zhang Yang and the Python were gone, he had guessed Zhang Yang deliberately lured the Python away to prevent friendly fire.

Though, this time his guess was wrong; the Python had fled on its own, not lured by Zhang Yang.

After waking, he followed Lightning over immediately, only to find Zhang Yang perfectly fine and the Golden-Crowned Python inert on the ground.

Regardless of the details, Zhang Yang’s success in killing the Golden-Crowned Python was utterly beyond his expectation. The Python’s strength far surpassed theirs; this was truly a fight against a superior rank.

"Zhi zhi!"

Lightning quickly scampered onto the Python’s head and began calling out incessantly.

Zhang Yang walked over slowly, sensing through his connection that Lightning had confirmed the Python was dead—dead beyond any doubt.

Zhang Yang’s two shots, fired from inside its mouth at such close range, had perforated the creature’s skull, driving the bullets deep into its brain.

No matter how hard its scales were, they only protected the exterior; the internal structures offered no resistance. Even an ordinary knife, without any internal energy infusion, could cause harm, let alone a bullet.

Those two shots had been absolutely fatal; this time, the feigning was over.

Feeling no residual life signs from the Golden-Crowned Python, Zhang Yang sank down onto the ground. That had been a near-death experience; he had been terrifyingly close to disaster. When the Python was about to bite, he had felt genuine despair.

Long Feng also approached, carefully examining the Python's massive corpse.

The more he looked, the more stunned he became. The Python was almost entirely covered in blood, bearing numerous knife wounds, and its head was a gruesome sight—one eye completely destroyed.

He had witnessed the destruction of that last eye, but the other injuries implied Zhang Yang had engaged in a brute-force struggle. This suggested that Zhang Yang, on his own, possessed the strength to directly contend with the Golden-Crowned Python.

To think such a formidable creature had been vanquished by Zhang Yang alone was difficult for Long Feng to accept.

Long Feng’s guess was partially correct this time, though skewed.

Zhang Yang hadn't killed the Python single-handedly; the prior battle with the three of them had been crucial in draining the Python’s stamina and allowing it to be poisoned.

This meant the Python's later strength had drastically diminished, possibly to less than thirty percent of its peak, while Zhang Yang had regained his full, peak power. This advantage, the shifting balance of power, had given him the capital to fight.

If both parties had been at their peak, Zhang Yang would have done well to run as far as possible.

Regardless of the process, the outcome was favorable: the three of them, working together, had slain a Five-Crowned Golden-Crowned Python, a spirit beast over three hundred years old.

Every part of a spirit beast was treasure; just killing this Python meant a substantial gain.

"Ji ji ji!"

Wuying suddenly popped out from the ground. Whenever a fight broke out, this little fellow always disappeared... [Fastest text updates from Book Fan Tower]

Zhang Yang grinned, scooping up Wuying, who had given him a huge surprise today.

"Ding dong!"

The moment he picked up Wuying, a crisp sound echoed in Zhang Yang’s mind. The long-absent Saint Hand System reappeared.

"Congratulations to the Host for completing the hidden mission 'Long Feng’s Allegiance.' This mission difficulty is Level Five. The Host has received the following rewards..."

The System’s voice droned on, followed by a long list of rewards: attributes increased across the board, and five additional points were granted to Zhang Yang's Qi Gong.

The long-absent surge of warmth returned. Zhang Yang flexed, the surging internal energy bringing him immense satisfaction.

His internal energy had finally returned to the peak level of his previous life, and was even slightly stronger. To recover this much in just a few months was far beyond his expectations.

This recovery time was significantly shorter than he had anticipated.

Regarding the System hidden within his body, Zhang Yang no longer felt such strong aversion. At least for now, everything the System offered was beneficial; without it, he could not have recovered so quickly.

The System finished detailing the mission rewards.

'Long Feng’s Allegiance' was a hidden mission that triggered automatically upon completion. Zhang Yang’s repeated rescues, his gift of spirit medicine, and the act of luring the Python away had finally moved Long Feng, dissolving any remaining reservations about following him.

Long Feng had not witnessed the Python fleeing on its own; he believed Zhang Yang had deliberately drawn it away for his own safety.

Of course, Long Feng was merely following him; he hadn't abandoned his family. If forced to choose between his clan and Zhang Yang, Long Feng would likely kill himself.

This meant he absolutely would not side with his family against Zhang Yang again.

This was excellent news for Zhang Yang. He hadn't been without precautions regarding Long Feng; otherwise, such a bodyguard was useless if he was only bought time.

Now, that lingering worry could vanish. Everything the System had said thus far had proven true without fail.

Besides Long Feng, the System delivered another piece of good news.

From this battle, the loyalty of both Lightning and Wuying had increased substantially. Lightning’s devotion had reached eighty-three percent, and Wuying had broken through seventy, a jump of several points for both.

Once Wuying’s loyalty surpassed seventy, Zhang Yang could faintly sense its thoughts, though the connection was weak, unlike his telepathic bond with Lightning.

With both pets showing such high loyalty, it was unequivocally good news for Zhang Yang. At the very least, he no longer had to worry about Wuying leaving; he wouldn't be able to drive it away even if he tried.

"Zhang Yang, what's wrong?"

Long Feng suddenly walked over, asking with a frown.

Zhang Yang had been staring blankly for a moment, sporting a foolish grin, which looked undeniably strange.

"I’m fine. Let's hurry up and deal with this giant!"

Zhang Yang quickly shook his head. The System was his greatest secret; he couldn't very well tell Long Feng, "I know you are completely loyal to me now, and I have zero concerns."

If he said that, Long Feng would probably think he was a monster.

"Zhi zhi zhi!"

Lightning hopped back onto Zhang Yang, chirping continuously.

Little Lightning was also excited. The Golden-Crowned Python was ranked higher than it, its strength far superior. It had never imagined defeating a Five-Crowned Golden-Crowned Python.

This achievement alone would give it cause for pride for a long time.

Even though Zhang Yang had dealt the killing blow, Lightning didn't see it that way; in its heart, it and Zhang Yang were a single entity, inseparable.

Zhang Yang understood Lightning's sentiment. Holding it, he walked toward the serpent’s head.

The most conspicuous feature on the head was the five small, glittering golden crowns. The entire essence of the Golden-Crowned Python’s life resided in these crowns; they were the most valuable treasure on its body.

It was depressing to realize he couldn't write a single word during the day, feeling utterly listless. This was probably the result of a disrupted circadian rhythm—once he slept midday, he instantly became energetic in the afternoon. Tragic.