Deep in the Yuntian Mountain Range.
Mu Jinyu once again came here alone.
However, after searching for two days, he still could not find the "Dragon Saliva Celestial Origin Fruit" required for this mission.
Gradually, Mu Jinyu began to venture into the domain of third-rank ferocious beasts.
These beasts possessed strength equivalent to that of humans in the Fanxu Realm.
"Hiss! Hiss!"
A giant python over thirty meters long, upon seeing Mu Jinyu in its territory, immediately became enraged and let out an earth-shattering roar!
This was a low-level third-rank ferocious beast!
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu frowned slightly but then quickly relaxed before suddenly charging toward the giant python!
"Boom!"
Mu Jinyu executed the movement technique "Ten Steps Move" and simultaneously urged "Green Emperor's Wood Emperor Art" and "True Dragon Art" to activate his Azure Dragon Bloodline. Instantly, his cultivation rose from the Eighth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm to nearly the Ninth Layer under the Bloodline Power's enhancement!
Thereafter, Mu Jinyu threw a punch with the "Dragon-Elephant Prison Suppression Technique," using his plain Physical Strength to deliver a terrifying force of tens of thousands of pounds straight to the python's head!
"Bang!!"
A loud noise erupted, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, shaking the surrounding area hundreds of miles around vigorously.
Fortunately, in the domain of third-rank ferocious beasts, other beasts were normally not allowed to reside. Otherwise, this commotion would have caused hundreds of birds to fly and thousands of beasts to flee...
"Bang! Bang! Bang!!"
The python was sent flying forty-five meters away by Mu Jinyu's punch, rolling and convulsing before it stood up again, glaring furiously at Mu Jinyu.
"Hiss... Hiss..."
It extended its forked tongue, extremely angry but not greatly injured, and then lunged at Mu Jinyu, swift as lightning, flickering past.
"You have tough bones, huh?"
Seeing the python unscathed, Mu Jinyu wasn't surprised, considering it was a third-rank ferocious beast.
Under the Bloodline enhancement of "True Dragon Art," his cultivation had barely reached the Ninth Layer of the Divine Transformation Realm, so how could a single punch kill it?
He was just using it to test his skills, to see how much he was lacking compared to the Fanxu Realm.
Besides, with "Ten Steps Move," he could surely escape even if he couldn't defeat it.
"Boom!"
The python, fast as lightning, lunged at Mu Jinyu within moments and opened its mouth to bite.
Mu Jinyu performed "Ten Steps Move," instantly darting dozens of meters away to avoid the python's attack.
"Whoosh!"
"Bang!!"
However, just as Mu Jinyu retreated dozens of meters, the python performed a "Dragon Tail Swing," its tail whipping toward him!
"Damn, it's so fierce?"
Seeing this, Mu Jinyu cursed silently and swiftly executed the second step of "Ten Steps Move," fleeing dozens of meters further and narrowly dodging the python's tail!
"Crack!!"
A sound like a whip cracked through the air as the snake's tail smashed a nearby cluster of trees and left a three to four meters wide crack in the ground!
"Ha!!"
As Mu Jinyu steadied himself, still reeling from the fright, the python had already fixed its gaze on him, opening its huge maw and letting out a soul-shaking roar!
Mu Jinyu's head pounded with pain, and he silently cursed his bad luck. This giant python also knew spiritual attacks?
"Whoosh!!"
The python finished roaring and spat out a black, near two-meter-wide venomous liquid at Mu Jinyu!
This was snake venom!
At this moment, Mu Jinyu's spiritual thoughts were still dazed by the python's attack, leaving him standing there dumbfounded, unaware of how to dodge!
"Hum..."
Just as it seemed Mu Jinyu would fall to the python's successive attacks, a gentle power surged from the mystical little tree in his Sea of Consciousness, soothing his injured soul.
Mu Jinyu immediately felt a refreshing sensation in his spirit, easing his dizziness.
He regained his senses and instantly realized the present lethal threat, breaking out in a cold sweat.
Without hesitation, Mu Jinyu quickly performed "Ten Steps Move" again, clumsily evading the python's venomous spray!
"Too dangerous, third-rank ferocious beasts indeed live up to their name!"
Still trembling from fear, Mu Jinyu dashed back another hundred meters with several more steps of "Ten Steps Move."
He now realized that the third-rank ferocious beast was beyond his ability to handle. His first punch had only connected because the python didn't expect him to attack.
Afterward, the python quickly retaliated with a series of unrelenting attacks, leaving him defenseless.
If not for the mystical little tree's timely intervention in his Sea of Consciousness, he would have been severely wounded or even worse by the snake venom.
"Although it's dangerous and I can't fend off the python, as long as I am careful, it can't do much to me either. This is a rare opportunity to hone my 'Ten Steps Move,'" he thought.
Gazing at the advancing python from a hundred meters away, Mu Jinyu's eyes flickered determinately as he made a bold decision.
Since he perfected the "Ten Steps Move" to an almost effortless level behind Tianlan Peak, progress had stagnated.
Mu Jinyu had surmised this was due to a lack of real-combat experience. Though he sought sparring partners, "Ten Steps Move" made him an unmatched force in close combat, always getting the upper hand easily.
Hence, real battle refinement was hard to come by.
The sudden encounter with the third-rank giant python proved extremely perilous, but each use of "Ten Steps Move" barely allowed him to escape its strike zone, a true test for his movement technique.
"Boom!!"
Not long after making his decision, the python closed the distance in a frenzied rush and decimated a large swath of trees with a tail smash.
Mu Jinyu quickly evaded, heart pumping with excitement, his mission to find the "Dragon Saliva Celestial Origin Fruit" momentarily forgotten as he engaged the python in a fierce skirmish, darting in and out of combat.
In a flash, half a day passed.
Throughout this time, Mu Jinyu was entangled in combat and fleeting escapes with the python.
Though he looked battered, he elevated his skills in "Great Freedom Heavenly Wood Sword Qi," "Dragon-Elephant Prison Suppression Technique," and "Ten Steps Move" to new heights.
The process was treacherous. Mu Jinyu faced death countless times, but he always pulled through.
Gradually, Mu Jinyu fought more fiercely, while the python showed signs of exhaustion.
It was natural. Mu Jinyu had not only mastered his martial arts and supernatural powers to a masterful level; his True Essence Power quickly replenished by the mystical little tree, and physical tiredness mitigated by Life Source Energy.
The third-rank ferocious beast had no such advantages.
After half a day of continuous fighting, the python's energy and True Yuan were massively depleted, leaving it increasingly exhausted.
"Hiss!!"
The python let out a final hiss, whipped its tail to force Mu Jinyu back dozens of meters, then turned and fled!
It decided to escape instead of continuing the battle with Mu Jinyu.