With that matter settled, Cheng Zongyang finally relaxed and turned back, heading in the three o’clock direction.

[Another half an hour passed.]

However, just as Cheng Zongyang was about to reach his destination, he stopped dead in his tracks. He quickly ducked behind a tree trunk vibrant with fresh, green leaves.

He saw a giant python, as thick as a grown man’s waist, hanging from a branch on a tree over one hundred—almost two hundred—meters away. Its massive body bent the bough, and the sparse leaves around it rustled softly.

The massive python was in the process of swallowing a creature, only two small feet and a section of its tail still visible. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

With his excellent eyesight, Cheng Zongyang instantly recognized the prey as some sort of monkey.

Ever since he had seen the Black-Horned Python, every other snake or python he encountered seemed like a mere hatchling in comparison.

Even though this python would be considered an enormous beast by the villagers, in Cheng Zongyang’s eyes, it was only a third the size of the Black-Horned Python. Still, it was exceptionally large.

Cheng Zongyang wasted no time. He vanished for a few moments, and when he reappeared, he was holding a Hundred-Forged Fine Iron Bow he had acquired from his item bar some time ago and had barely used since.

It was also his only Green Level weapon!

——

[Hundred-Forged Fine Iron Bow]

Description: A finished bow from the ruins of the Human Race in the Wilderness World. Though a casual creation by a Master Forger using leftover Refined Iron and the tough sinew of an unknown creature, it was crafted with the hundred-forging technique, making it a rare and valuable weapon.

Grade: Green Level

Durability: 1000

Weight: 25.9 kg

Maximum Range: 500 meters

Effective Range: 300 meters

[Note: Comes with fifty Refined Iron Arrows.]

——

While the maximum range was useless to him, the 300-meter effective range for lethal shots was more than enough. It allowed him to launch surprise attacks from a distance with plenty of time to react.

He was positioned a little over a hundred meters from the python as it swallowed its meal.

Not caring whether the beast had noticed him, Cheng Zongyang held the Hundred-Forged Bow—its weight just right, its feel in his hands superb—and drew a Refined Iron arrow!

He nocked the arrow and slowly drew the bowstring into a full moon. The muscles in his right arm bulged, sharply defined!

’This draw weight... A Martial Artist below the Seventh Grade couldn’t even dream of fully drawing it!’ Cheng Zongyang marveled inwardly.

It wasn’t his first time using the bow. Back when he was a Seventh Grade Martial Artist, it had taken all his strength just to draw it fully.

Now, he could draw it to its limit with less than half his strength!

After a moment of thought, he eased the tension on the string slightly, releasing it from a full draw.

His eyes, sharp as hooks, locked onto the python. It had already swallowed its prey and its body was contracting, forcing the meal down its gullet. His aim traveled from its raised head, slowly moving downward.

Finally, his aim settled on the bulging section of its body.

Right where the swallowed prey was lodged.

Instantly, he released his fingers. The arrow vanished in a streak of black light!

It crossed the nearly two hundred meters in the blink of an eye!

THWACK! The nearly meter-long Iron Arrow struck the python right in its belly as it was preoccupied with swallowing, piercing it but not passing clean through!

The Arrowhead had just barely poked through the other side, lodging the shaft firmly in the python’s body. The shot had also pierced the prey within its belly, pinning the meal in place!

The wounded python let out a pained shriek and fell from the tree, crashing to the ground. It immediately began to thrash and writhe on the grass!

At the same time, it spotted Cheng Zongyang, who had revealed himself!

Cheng Zongyang watched as the python, in its agony, found itself unable to either regurgitate or swallow its meal. A faint smile touched his lips.

’This is exactly what I wanted!’

He immediately nocked another arrow and began to draw the bow. But in the next moment, his expression changed. The giant python, suddenly ignoring the pain, slithered rapidly toward him! It moved with a speed that defied its injury, completely catching Cheng Zongyang by surprise.

But what happened next shocked him even more!

The moment the giant python raised its head, its massive maw gaped open. A flaming fireball rapidly condensed in front of its mouth and shot forth!

The entire process took less than two breaths!