Cultivation Begins with Skill Points-Chapter 168 Golden Horned Python

"Master, they’ve all left."

Zhong Lin glanced at the ashes beside him, a hint of a smile appearing in his eyes. Unexpectedly, it was this pair of ashes that avoided trouble.

Zhong Lin also relayed the Xu family’s father and son’s reply.

Yin Daoyan nodded and said, "Indeed, it’s the style of the Xu family disciples. These two should be from the Xu family of Lilang City in Cheng Country."

"Master knows this too?"

Zhong Lin was full of surprise.

"Having traveled to many places, I know a bit more. Besides, this place is near Cheng Country, and some of those people just now wore clothes with certain Cheng Country features, which made them easy to identify. I just didn’t expect their target was the Vermilion Fruit; such a good thing indeed."

Yin Daoyan’s eyes lit up slightly.

The Vermilion Fruit blooms every thirty years, bears fruit every thirty years, and matures after another thirty years, meaning it takes a full hundred years to harvest.

This treasure’s greatest function is to enhance inner breath; a Third Grade martial artist can devour and refine it to achieve inner breath perfection, while a Second Grade martial artist can use its medicinal power to open meridians and break through acupoints.

If used as the main ingredient to make an elixir, it can maximize effectiveness, potentially opening one or two meridians, and even Zhong Lin himself could use it to enhance True Qi.

After pondering for a moment, Yin Daoyan shook his head and said, "Forget it, the Heavenly Essence Fruit is more critical. According to my estimation, it should mature in these few days, so we must not let minor issues spoil major plans."

Zhong Lin had no further words, as long as you are happy.

After resting for a while, the two no longer tarried and got up to continue on their way.

Two days later, they finally reached the valley Yin Daoyan had spoken of.

The entire valley was not large, surrounded by mountains on all sides, densely covered with forests, with only a sliver of sunlight breaking through.

In such an isolated place, it is usually impossible to develop unless by accident.

"We’ve finally arrived."

Yin Daoyan quietly breathed a sigh of relief, having been tense all the way, fearing they had taken the wrong path and missed the timing. Fortunately, there were no mishaps.

"Let’s go!"

The two quickly entered the valley, finally seeing the Heavenly Essence Fruit in a cold pond.

On one side of the cold pond, a small green tree stood quietly, about half a person tall. Originally, it should be surrounded by dense forest and overgrown weeds, but now it was all barren, and even the ancient trees tens of meters away were withered, looking malnourished.

"Master, there are actually two Heavenly Essence Fruits?"

Zhong Lin looked at the two fruits hanging on the tree, ecstatic. Both fruits were the size of a fist, entirely green, but with golden lines on them.

Logically, a single fruit tree cannot sustain two fruits, so Heavenly Essence Fruits usually appear alone. However, strangely enough, two fruits had grown on this one.

Yin Daoyan laughed heartily, his face also brimming with joy.

"The Heavenly Essence Fruit tree is extremely domineering, capable of absorbing all nutrients from the earth within hundreds of meters around, so the area is usually barren. I don’t know what makes this cold pond special, but it nourishes the Heavenly Essence Fruit tree and even bears two fruits, leaving the surroundings relatively unchanged. I thought I was mistaken when I first came here, and only after checking for a long time, I confirmed it."

The excitement was inevitable for the two, as two fruits could mean potentially concocting two Breakthrough Pills, which might result in two Grandmaster-Level fighters surpassing the First Grade.

The Sword Cauldron Sect, with only one Grandmaster-Level Sect Master, already dominated the whole Great Chen, with countless sects and families submitting. If they could add two more Grandmasters, they would suppress the contemporary era, with no one able to match them.

Suddenly, rustling noises came from afar, and Yin Daoyan hurriedly pulled Zhong Lin to hide.

The previously quiet valley was suddenly disturbed as countless birds flew up from the forest as if startled.

Hiss, hiss!

Moments later, a giant python slithered out from the mountainside.

Countless wild beasts and birds, sensing the python’s presence, fled in panic.

This panic spread rapidly among the beasts, even those powerful ones deep within the mountains trembled at the presence, turning tail and running.

Zhong Lin looked up and immediately saw a terrifying Golden Horned Python crossing the valley.

"Gasp..."

Zhong Lin gasped, even though he had already heard his Master describe this mutant beast; seeing it up close was truly shocking.

The previously encountered Golden Crown Python was nothing compared to this, more like a small snake.

Its massive body, terrifying golden eyes, and purple python horn all spoke volumes of its great strength.

The sound of trees breaking filled the air as it moved, leaving a path wide enough for a vehicle behind it.

Yin Daoyan’s face changed drastically, sucking in a cold breath, his entire body shivering with chills.

"How is this possible? The last time I came, it was purple, now it’s golden without any warning?"

Zhong Lin quickly recalled the contents of the Exotic Beast Atlas.

The mutant beast before them was called the "Golden Horned Python," originally green, shedding skin every five hundred years to turn purple, and another five hundred years to become golden. After a thousand years, it would grow a python horn.

Legend has it that given enough time, it could even grow four limbs and transform into a dragon flying to the heavens.

Whether turning into a dragon is real or not is unknown, but this one was entirely golden, with an undeveloped horn on its head. If it could devour the mature Heavenly Essence Fruit, it might break through the limit and grow a purple horn.

"Not good, it wants to devour the Heavenly Essence Fruit."

Zhong Lin saw the Golden Horned Python getting closer to the Heavenly Essence Fruit tree, urgency written on his face. If the creature devoured it, their trip would have been in vain.

Zhong Lin let out a long whistle, lifting the giant stone beside him and hurling it toward the Golden Horned Python.

Boom!

The Golden Horned Python turned its head, its golden eyes showing a ferocious look. Its tail swung with a dull thud, smashing the stone Zhong Lin threw.

"Hah~"

Zhong Lin roared fiercely, the Horse-Slaying Saber he had been carrying on his back flying up and landing in his hands.

With the saber in hand, Zhong Lin’s entire aura changed, exuding a sense of dominance and ferocity.

He slashed out, a hundred-meter-long golden Sword Qi bursting forth, carrying a tearing whistle towards the Golden Horned Python.

Bang!

Trees flew, the Sword Qi cutting through like bamboo, slicing open the Golden Horned Python’s back, tearing through flesh, blood spraying.

Hiss!

The Golden Horned Python roared in pain, its body rolling violently, its remaining tail pulled from the ground, a body over a hundred zhang long sprawling out, thrashing about. Each slap carried the weight of ten thousand pounds, shaking the ground with resounding booms.

Taking this opportunity, Zhong Lin leapt, suddenly crossing to the frontline of the Golden Horned Python, his Horse-Slaying Saber chopping down again.