The shallow bite marks vanished quickly, replaced by a surge of immense energy flooding Zhang Yang’s body. Soon, he regained some strength, no longer feeling so weak he couldn’t stand.

His empty Dantian was once again filled with internal force.

It was a pity that this time, unlike before, he wasn't completely replenished in one go. Zhang Yang’s internal force only recovered to about thirty percent at most. Wuying, who usually acted as an invincible tonic capable of fully restoring internal strength, couldn’t manage that feat this time.

Zhang Yang’s current power was vastly greater than before, and the expenditure this time had been too significant—energy-based expenditure at that. Wuying could only manage this much.

Moreover, after this replenishment, Wuying wouldn't be able to provide another charge consecutively.

But even this was better than nothing. Zhang Yang took out a Fourth-Tier Essence Blood Pill and swallowed it immediately. Essence Blood Pills replenished internal force slower than Wuying, but they were still much faster than self-recovery.

He still didn’t know the exact status of the Ten-Crowned Golden Python. If he had known the Energy Burst would be this draining, he wouldn't have used that technique that pushed him beyond his natural limits.

What if the Golden Python wasn't dead, and he was left powerless? Wouldn't he just be slaughtered?

The Ten-Crowned Golden Python was indeed not dead. It lay on the other side, flickering its tongue, its face contorted in agony.

Though alive, its current condition was hardly better.

It had sensed the power of the Energy Burst earlier and dared not meet it head-on. When Zhang Yang unleashed it, the Python exerted every ounce of strength it possessed to flee.

Unfortunately, the Energy Burst was swift. Even though it didn't strike directly, it exploded near the creature.

The Golden Python’s nearly thirty-meter-long body was blown away by half; only about ten-plus meters remained. Even this remaining half was riddled with horrific wounds, and one of its fangs had been blasted clean off.

Its head was bloody, and the originally bright, lightning-gold crown looked exceptionally battered.

Lying prone on the ground, it appeared incredibly pained, its fresh blood staining the earth nearby.

Not far from it lay a massive crater, five to six meters deep.

When Hu Yanfeng fought Zhang Yang previously, they had only managed to gouge out small, one or two-meter-deep pits. But that was on the grasslands, soft, damp soil. This was a primeval forest; beneath the earth lay rugged mountains. Creating a pit this deep in mountainous terrain was far more difficult than on a plain.

Zhang Yang advanced slowly, gripping the Cold Spring Sword.

Seeing the deep pit, easily over ten meters in diameter, even he was momentarily stunned by the sheer destructive force of the Energy Burst—that he had caused it.

“Pfft!”

A plume of black mist suddenly erupted from the Ten-Crowned Golden Python’s mouth. Though more than half its body had been vaporized, it was still alive and capable of offense.

It was a cloud of toxic vapor. Having suffered a loss just moments ago, Zhang Yang felt no alarm now; he merely shifted slightly to the side. After Wuying’s bite, he no longer feared such toxins.

As he sidestepped, a streak of white light suddenly darted out from the black mist as it approached.

The white light arrived in an instant. Zhang Yang had no time to dodge and could only raise his hand, swinging his sword to block.

“Crack!”

Zhang Yang’s arm jerked violently downward, and his body staggered backward unnaturally. The Cold Spring Sword was nearly jarred loose from his grip.

The white light deflected slightly upon contact with the Cold Spring Sword, changing its trajectory before landing on the ground nearby.

Only then did Zhang Yang clearly see what it was: a massive fang. The Golden Python had spat out its broken tooth as a projectile, accompanied by a confusing cloud of black mist.

If Zhang Yang hadn't had the Cold Spring Sword in his hand this time, he might have been hit again.

This realization made Zhang Yang even more cautious. Even severely wounded, this Golden Python still possessed the capacity to harm him—after all, it was a Spirit Beast in the late stages of the Fourth Tier.

The fang didn't pose a major threat, but the Golden Python roared and spat out continuous clouds of black mist.

Its eyes burned with venomous hatred. With half its body destroyed, its mobility was severely compromised. Such a grave injury had almost no chance of healing; even if it survived, its power would be drastically diminished, rendering it a crippled serpent.

This only intensified its resentment toward Zhang Yang, toward the human who had brought all this upon it.

These black mists were purely toxic, with no further projectiles hidden within.

Even so, Zhang Yang managed to evade them temporarily. A Golden Python that had lived so long was undeniably powerful. If not for his Heaven-Shattering Sword Arts and the ability of Energy Manifestation, he would never have stood a chance against this behemoth.

Even with Energy Manifestation, defeating the Golden Python was no easy feat.

Ultimately, it was the accidentally generated Energy Burst that succeeded in heavily wounding the Ten-Crowned Golden Python.

After spitting for a while, the Golden Python’s head drooped again. The damage it sustained was too severe; its power had plummeted. It couldn't even pose a threat to Zhui Feng now.

As long as Zhui Feng didn't foolishly engage its head in a direct confrontation, he could handle the beast now.

“The Ten-Crowned Golden Python is about to perish!”

The pair of distant parrots watched the scene in silence, their thoughts unknown.

The one that hadn't spoken nodded, and then the other commented, “This human is anything but simple. He has a strong possibility of growing to the Fifth Tier in the future!”

As it spoke, the parrot’s voice was somewhat subdued.

It was clear the two parrots regarded Zhang Yang with considerable apprehension. They hadn't feared the Ten-Crowned Golden Python; even if it were stronger than them, they were confident in their ability to protect themselves and drive the Python away.

But facing Zhang Yang, they lacked that assurance. Zhang Yang had made them feel a significant sense of threat.

This indicated that they had reassessed Zhang Yang’s true power level.

“Swish, swish!”

As they spoke, six more streaks of sword light shot forth from the Cold Spring Sword.

Zhang Yang had no intention of continuing a protracted skirmish with the Golden Python. Who knew what other tricks it might have up its sleeve? Eliminating it quickly was best; this was an extremely perilous opponent.

The heavily wounded Ten-Crowned Golden Python found it difficult to maneuver its body now, making evasion of the unavoidable sword lights even harder.

“Puchi!”

Three sword streaks pierced its body, and one struck its head.

Its head instantly turned into a bloody mess, and three more bloody holes appeared on its torso.

The Golden Python’s head lolled, its mouth twitching rhythmically, appearing as if it were dead.

However, Zhang Yang did not approach. He had already noticed that the sword light which hit its head had not penetrated the skull, or rather, it had only broken the outer layer of skin.

This creature’s bones were truly hard. It seemed breaking its head from the outside would be very difficult; he still needed to find a way, like last time, to attack through the serpent’s mouth.

The Ten-Crowned Golden Python displayed every sign of imminent death, yet Zhang Yang dared not let his guard down, continuously launching sword lights from a distance.

The energy sword lights consumed a significant amount of internal force, but Zhang Yang had recovered some after taking the Essence Blood Pill, making these expenditures sustainable. For safety, he preferred a cautious approach to getting close to this dangerous brute.

Soon, seven or eight large holes were ripped through the Golden Python’s body.

The Golden Python lay still, devoid of breath, its aura fading rapidly.

But Zhang Yang knew the beast was not truly dead. As long as it hadn't genuinely perished, Zhang Yang would not move closer. This was his caution, a lesson learned from the encounters where he had been reckless.

Gazing at the Ten-Crowned Golden Python lying motionless in the distance, Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes slightly.

Two sword lights surged from the Cold Spring Sword, this time aimed precisely at the Golden Python’s eyes.

Its skull was incredibly hard, resisting the sword lights, but its eyes could never be that tough; they certainly couldn't withstand these two streaks of light.

If its eyes were destroyed, the pain would be unbearable even for a late-stage Fourth Tier Spirit Beast, and the loss of sight would cripple its combat effectiveness significantly.

The Golden Python was unlike common snakes with poor eyesight; their vision was excellent, as was true for all Spirit Beasts.

“Roar!”

The moment the two sword lights were launched, the Golden Python’s head snapped up violently, charging directly toward Zhang Yang’s position.

The Ten-Crowned Golden Python understood that Zhang Yang was determined not to approach, dashing his last chance to inflict grievous damage through a final, painful rush. If it didn't counterattack now, it might truly be killed right here by Zhang Yang’s siege.

The Python’s massive head shot forward. Because half its body was severed, it couldn't control its trajectory; the entire motion was like a launch, aiming to crash into Zhang Yang and then slam him into the ground.

Zhang Yang, already on alert, certainly wouldn't let it succeed.

He sprang into the air, leaping to the other side, and watched the fragmented body of the Ten-Crowned Golden Python crash into the earth by itself.

Before the Golden Python could right itself, Zhang Yang’s Cold Spring Sword sliced straight through the middle of its body, scraping off a large chunk of flesh this time, causing even more blood to gush out.

“Roar! Roar!”

The Golden Python’s furious roars echoed everywhere. Seeing its plight, Zhui Feng and Wuying immediately joined the assault.

Zhui Feng repeatedly kicked viciously at its wounds, while Wuying constantly channeled her potent internal force into the lacerations. Zhang Yang, meanwhile, relentlessly bombarded its head with sword lights.

“Whoosh!”

After sustaining these concentrated blows, the Golden Python’s body convulsed violently, surging forward again. But this time, it only managed to lunge less than ten meters before stopping, and its massive head once more collapsed onto the ground.

After this fall, it never managed to rise again.

Zhui Feng and Wuying ceased their attacks, standing back with Zhang Yang. Slowly, a look of relief dawned on Zhang Yang’s face. This time, he could sense the life force draining from the Ten-Crowned Golden Python.

This terrifying behemoth was finally nearing its end.

No matter how strong the Golden Python had been, such catastrophic injuries were fatal. It had bled too much and suffered too severely; even Hu Yanfeng’s injuries previously might not have been as debilitating.

Its body ripped in two, the remaining half riddled with holes, its skull fractured in multiple places—if it could survive this, it wouldn't be a Spirit Beast; it would be a god.

After about ten minutes, the Golden Python’s life signs grew extremely faint. Only then did Zhang Yang cautiously begin to advance.

Until the Golden Python was completely dead, he would not relax his vigilance.

Third update; the fourth update will follow after midnight!