Chapter 73: The Dragonblood Serpent—On the Verge of the Golden Body Realm? Utter Domination!

“What are we going to say when we return, now that those Western followers are dead?”
In a certain area of Shennongjia.
A member of Celestial Technology broke the silence, his face troubled.
Although the deaths pleased them, it would not be easy to explain to the company.
The higher-ups would surely investigate thoroughly.
The others were equally anxious, all turning to Asura, waiting for his decision.
“We’ll say that after entering Shennongjia, we soon encountered a powerful mutant beast,” Asura pondered for a moment and offered an excuse.
“But will the company believe that?”
Someone doubted the story; it was too much of a coincidence that only the Westerners died.
“As long as I’m also injured, the story will be much more convincing.”
His gaze sharpened as he spoke.
Even though Lu Yuan had said he could take the blame alone, Asura was unwilling.
Those Westerners had been arrogant and overbearing, fighting for the Ice Fairy all the way.
He had tried to dissuade them many times, but they ignored him, bringing their fate upon themselves.
Asura’s thinking was simple—he didn’t want Lu Yuan, a fellow countryman, to be dragged into trouble for the sake of a few Westerners.
Though Lu Yuan was strong, Asura knew well the resources the company possessed.
Besides, he was the one who had led the group inside.
The others exchanged uneasy glances.
Would this work?
“There’s no other way. Lu Yuan is one of our own,” Asura declared.
With a deep breath and no hesitation, he raised his fist and struck himself hard.
Still uneasy, he found several massive boulders nearby and repeatedly rammed his body against them.
Only when half his bones were broken did he finally stop.
He then warned everyone:
What happened today must remain a secret. Even if the higher-ups suspect, let all blame fall on him.
After all, Asura was the team leader. The others were only at the initial stage and uninjured, which was easily explained.
Hearing this, the Celestial Technology members nodded vigorously.
They were little more than test subjects for the company, akin to puppets.
They agreed with Asura; at other times, they might have acted differently, but not when it came to a fellow countryman.
No one wanted Lu Yuan implicated because of a few Westerners—after all, the Westerners were already dead. At worst, they’d suffer a little.
Surely the higher-ups wouldn’t lose their temper over those foreigners?
And so,
they supported the injured Asura as they slowly made their way toward the outskirts of Shennongjia.

“Master, I can sense the aura of the Dragonblood Python.”
Deep within Shennongjia, above the clouds,
after several days of searching,
the Golden-Winged Roc finally detected something. Gazing east, it declared, “Master, it’s just a few hundred miles that way.”
“Then let’s go.” Lu Yuan nodded, curious about what kind of creature a beast with dragon’s blood would be.
With the Golden-Winged Roc’s speed,
they covered the distance in no time, arriving at a vast valley.
The valley teemed with mutant beasts, including many of kingly rank, their roars echoing through the forest.
Shennongjia had always been a mysterious place,
and with the world’s changes,
mutant beasts were more abundant than ever.
At last,
Lu Yuan saw the so-called Dragonblood Python.

It was, in truth, a giant python—its entire body blood-red, a single dragon horn sprouting from its head.
Coiled at the valley’s very heart, its body was not especially large, smaller than the White King of the Qinling Mountains, but its aura was overwhelming.
No other beast dared approach its domain.
It was the undisputed overlord here.
“Master, this Dragonblood Python has broken through twelve gene shackles.”
Circling high above, the Golden-Winged Roc could not help but speak.
Within its inherited memories,
any creature bearing dragon’s blood was tremendously powerful—dragons themselves were among the most terrifying beings of all.
Possessing such a lineage, none could be considered weak, but even the Roc hadn’t expected its first target to be so formidable.
If it had come alone,
the outcome would have been uncertain.
“Don’t worry. Go straight down,” Lu Yuan read the Roc’s thoughts.
This Dragonblood Python was stronger than the White King, and with dragon’s blood, its strength was truly fearsome.
However, as long as it hadn’t evolved to the Golden Body stage, Lu Yuan could easily crush it.
“Yes, Master!”
Emboldened by these words,
the Golden-Winged Roc folded its wings and dived at incredible speed.
Roar!
Below,
the Dragonblood Python instantly sensed the threat.
It raised its massive head, blood-red eyes blazing. “Golden-Winged Roc? Hmph, you’ve only broken one shackle, yet you come courting death? Perfect timing—I’m on the verge of evolution. With your Roc blood, I’ll enter the Golden Body stage and become the true king of Shennongjia!”
It roared, scorn in its voice, as blood-red scales flared with crimson light.
A wave of oppressive might swept out for miles,
driving nearby mutant beasts to wail and flee.
Those with dragon’s blood could help the Golden-Winged Roc refine its lineage,
and likewise, the Dragonblood Python could use Roc blood to evolve.
The two were natural enemies!
Now,
the Dragonblood Python intended to devour the Roc and ascend.
Yet, in the next moment, it suddenly felt a far greater pressure descend.
At the same time,
an eleven-tiered blood-colored pagoda manifested in the air.
And the Dragonblood Python finally saw—
on the Roc’s back,
stood a human figure, arms folded.
“Not good!”
It panicked, immediately suppressing its aura and trying to flee at top speed.
The Dragonblood Python was clever—at the sight of the blood pagoda, it knew it was hopelessly outmatched.
“Trying to escape?”
Lu Yuan smiled, leaping down.
Boom!
As he landed, the ground quaked with the force.
Bending his knees,
he sprang forward like a cannonball, moving so fast he broke the sound barrier, catching up in an instant and slamming his fist at the Dragonblood Python.

Bang!
The python tumbled, smashing through hundreds of gigantic trees.
Its scales shattered, blood pouring from the wounds.
“Damn it!”
“Where did this human come from, to be so strong?”
The Dragonblood Python cursed inwardly. Still, having broken twelve shackles and bearing dragon’s blood, its flesh was immensely tough—no weaker than the Golden-Winged Roc.
Though it took Lu Yuan’s punch head-on, the injury wasn’t fatal. It shouted an insult at the Roc and continued fleeing.
Its speed was astonishing; in moments, it had covered several kilometers, and was accelerating still.
Had Lu Yuan not been so formidable, with many trump cards,
an ordinary human of his level would surely have lost the trail.
“Master, don’t let it escape! There’s a terrifying presence ahead—it’s dangerous!”
The Golden-Winged Roc called down from above, feathers drawn tight, sensing peril.
Below,
Lu Yuan looked up with a frown and opened his Martial Dao Heavenly Eyes.
He saw, several miles ahead, a pillar of blood-red light shooting into the sky, filled with incredible energy.
This was the most powerful energy Lu Yuan had ever seen, yet unlike the Roc,
he sensed no danger from it.
On the contrary,
he felt a gentle aura there.
“What is that place?” Lu Yuan wondered, his eyes bright with curiosity.
Every instinct told him there was a great opportunity within that blood-red pillar.
Still, he did not rush over—he knew too little, and there was still business to finish.
He drew the Great Luo Sword Embryo, and without hesitation, slashed toward the Dragonblood Python.
The sword-light fell in an instant,
imbued with the sword intent of Heaven and Earth that Lu Yuan had comprehended.
The stroke of the Great Luo Sword Embryo blazed with unmatched brilliance.
With a wet slash,
the Dragonblood Python’s body was cleaved in two, blood spraying like rain to drench the earth.
To slay a creature that had broken twelve shackles in so short a time was no easy feat.
Of course, Lu Yuan had also held back.
“Master, you are mighty!”
Above, the Golden-Winged Roc was ecstatic at the sight.
Having such a powerful master
suddenly seemed like a blessing.
Lu Yuan paid him no mind. He stamped his foot on the python’s massive head, conjuring the blood pagoda to subdue it, then pointed toward the pillar of blood-red light and asked quietly, “Tell me—what is that place?”
(End of chapter)