Chapter 281: Hunting Journey
At the easternmost edge of Bewitching Gorge, it was already deep within the territory of the Endless Forest Sea. Amid the dim mist, the sudden sound of intense steel grinding rang out.
Near where the clouds and fog churned, an Iron-armored Python that had advanced to a High-tier Ferocious Beast continuously twisted its body. Its incomparably hard scales scraped and collided against each other, producing bursts of sparks.
However, no matter how the Iron-armored Python struggled, a blood-colored serpent phantom clamped onto its body like a pair of iron pincers, relentlessly extracting the Bloodline Essence filled with life energy from within it.
In less than a moment, the Iron-armored Python ultimately turned into a decayed desiccated corpse, its body devoid of anything of value.
Within the abdomen of the blood-colored serpent phantom, a dazzling blood-red jewel could faintly be seen.
As the blood-colored serpent phantom gradually vanished into the mist, the blood-red jewel in its abdomen fell into Zhou Ming’s hand.
Ever since he had finished mining all the Mysterious Black Crystal Stone ore within the Hunting Demon Spider Nest a day ago, Zhou Ming had begun searching for suitable Ferocious Beasts to refine Bloodline Jewels, intending to use them to nurture his second-mutated Ironthread Snake, newly implanted with a Spiritual Seed.
“Who would have thought that a low-tier Ferocious Beast like the Iron-armored Python, after advancing to High-tier, would contain Bloodline Essence not inferior to that of a naturally High-tier Ferocious Beast? The Endless Forest Sea truly lives up to its name as a massive treasure vault.”
After briefly inspecting the Bloodline Jewel in his hand, Zhou Ming could not help but sigh at the abundance of resources in the Endless Forest Sea.
Under normal circumstances, if resources were insufficient or Energy Particles were too sparse, even if a High-tier Ferocious Beast cub reached adulthood, its strength might only rival the overlords among low-tier Ferocious Beasts. Advancement to High-tier was not guaranteed.
But if resources were sufficient, a low-tier Ferocious Beast like the Iron-armored Python had the opportunity to advance further and become a High-tier Ferocious Beast. However, advancing to a Lord-level Ferocious Beast was virtually impossible—its bloodline potential had already reached its limit.
Moreover, in ordinary circumstances, High-tier Ferocious Beasts that had advanced from low-tier bloodlines were generally weaker than those born with innate High-tier bloodlines. That was why Zhou Ming had been slightly surprised.
After a brief moment of reflection, Zhou Ming stored the Bloodline Jewel away. Having changed into a new protective suit, he planned to witness the scenery at the other end of Bewitching Gorge.
With an explosive burst of force beneath his feet, his body moved through the forest like a nimble monkey, freely weaving between the trees. The towering ancient trees that pierced the sky became perfect footholds.
As his figure shot through the thin mist like a sharp arrow, an aura reminiscent of ancient primordial wilderness rushed toward him.
With his keen perception, he sensed that within the sea-like forest and the undulating mountain ranges ahead, a large number of High-tier Ferocious Beasts lay hidden.
“This should count as truly entering the Endless Forest Sea.”
Only then did Zhou Ming realize that the places he had previously traversed were at most the outer perimeter of the Endless Forest Sea.
Upon entering its depths, true peril lurked everywhere. Hunting and being hunted formed the main theme.
All living beings instinctively hunted others to obtain more resources, thereby continuously strengthening themselves.
After all, the shackles of bloodlines were not unbreakable—otherwise, mutations would never exist.
Just as Zhou Ming stood upon the crown of a towering ancient tree, surveying his surroundings, a giant python whose scales resembled finely carved jade silently approached along the trunk.
When it drew near and coiled its body, preparing to launch an arrow-like ambush, Zhou Ming suddenly turned to look at it.
“Jade Python? Courting death.”
Seeing an uninvited guest disturb him—especially a Jade Python he had encountered before—Zhou Ming instantly felt a surge of anger rise within him.
It was as if a sovereign emperor admiring the scenery had been disturbed by his own subject.
Without wearing cosmetic contact lenses, his Dark-gold Serpent Pupils erupted with terrifying momentum. The power of the throne descended like divine wrath from the heavens, instantly filling the Jade Python—who had believed it found prey—with immense terror.
The bloodline suppression from the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils forced the Jade Python to flee in panic. But Zhou Ming gave it no chance.
From his palm, the blood-colored giant serpent manifested by the Blood Descendant Secret Technique · Phantom Snake Hands emerged. Its sharp fangs pierced through the Jade Python’s scales, and its crimson body immediately coiled around it.
One red, one green—two giant pythons entwined together, forming a massive serpent sphere hanging from the treetop.
However, the tail of the blood-colored giant serpent remained connected to Zhou Ming, continuously reinforced by his Bloodline Power. The Jade Python’s constriction ability was utterly inferior.
Even its capacity to mobilize Wood-element Energy Particles to cast spells was sealed by the flashing rune light on the blood-colored serpent.
After obtaining the inheritance of the Hydra Rune School, the blood-colored serpent phantom formed by Phantom Snake Hands had become more agile. It was no longer merely a manifestation of pure Bloodline Aura but had integrated a portion of rune power.
In Zhou Ming’s design, Phantom Snake Hands primarily focused on constriction, sealing, and suppression, while Blood Descendant Secret Technique · Snake Tide Poison Miasma emphasized toxin enhancement and the construction of battle formations.
However, he had only recently obtained the Hydra Rune School inheritance. For now, he mainly used his own Will Runes for reinforcement. The only spell that had been significantly improved was Phantom Snake Hands.
To truly transform Phantom Snake Hands and his other spells, Zhou Ming would require much more time for research, perfectly integrating them into his spell system.
Yet even this semi-finished Phantom Snake Hands, relying on the crushing difference in strength level, left the Jade Python unable to escape the blood-colored serpent’s grasp.
Once the Jade Python lost its ability to resist, Zhou Ming immediately used Phantom Snake Hands to perform Bloodline Extraction. The Jade Python ultimately transformed from hunter to prey, its withered corpse dropping stiffly to the ground.
Looking at the Bloodline Jewel now in his possession once again, Zhou Ming no longer paused to admire the sea of trees swaying like waves. He immediately continued along his path of slaughter.
The first unfortunate creature he found next was a five-meter-long Stone-armored Beast, shaped like a pangolin. Its entire body was covered in earthy-yellow scales, and its sharp, hardened foreclaws could dig through ore as if it were tofu.
Though it did not excel in speed, its defensive capability and its innate spell Rock Spike—capable of instantly producing hardened stone spikes from the ground and even launching them skyward like arrows—made it quite renowned among High-tier Ferocious Beasts.
With the reinforcement of Earth-element Energy Particles, its scales were nearly indestructible.
Unfortunately, Zhou Ming, lavish in resources, expended most of the durability of his Steel-Cleaving Sword to unleash Blade-Shattering Slash. With the addition of Snake Venom enhancement, the beast ultimately became yet another Bloodline Jewel.
After acquiring partial professional knowledge from the Crimson Apostle path, Zhou Ming’s Bloodline Extraction had grown increasingly refined. It was no longer limited to snake-type Ferocious Beasts.
In any case, his objective was simply to obtain the life essence within bloodlines—whether to purely enhance his strength or to compensate for bodily depletion.
After eliminating the first unfortunate target, Zhou Ming accelerated once more, continuing his hunting journey.
In just a few short days, Zhou Ming successfully hunted dozens of High-tier Ferocious Beasts, never worrying about a shortage of prey.
With his current strength, as long as he did not face a Beast Tide or a Lord-level Ferocious Beast, High-tier Ferocious Beasts were simply no match for him.
But the Endless Forest Sea, a notoriously dangerous land, would never allow him to slaughter freely without consequence.
On the fifth day after passing through Bewitching Gorge, the chaos Zhou Ming had caused finally attracted something massive—something that made even him feel a sense of danger.