Chapter 20: The Hunt
“Hiss, hiss…”
A giant python nearly ten meters long, its body covered entirely in black scales, glided silently through the dim forest.
Above its head, dense branches and leaves blocked the sunlight while concealing it from the vision of predators in the sky.
The ground was thickly layered with fallen leaves, and any movement caused faint cracking sounds of “ka-ka.”
In such an environment, this mutated Blackscale Python was the undisputed ruler of the forest.
However, today, the Blackscale Python sensed the presence of another serpent.
Though it lacked intelligence, it could still tell from the lingering scent that this unfamiliar intruder had not yet become a Ferocious Beast.
Even though it didn’t understand what a Ferocious Beast was, it instinctively knew that there were certain beings it couldn’t afford to provoke. But this time, the owner of the aura it sensed was not one of them.
Dozens of meters away, in the crown of a large tree, a pair of sharp eyes stared intently at the Blackscale Python. It was none other than Zhou Ming, who had been in the wilderness for several days.
The vegetation draped across his body gave off a pungent smell, showing that he had come prepared — not only concealing his figure but also masking his scent.
Moreover, the surrounding area was deliberately laced with the scent left behind by No.1 Ironthread Snake, constantly interfering with the Blackscale Python’s senses.
Even so, the creature seemed to have noticed something, as it began to slither slowly toward the tree where Zhou Ming was hiding.
“Creak, creak…”
A few brittle sounds of dry leaves breaking echoed faintly — barely audible, yet piercingly loud in the otherwise silent woods.
The Blackscale Python instantly coiled its massive body, ready to respond to any sudden danger.
Although its reaction was quick, the Ironthread Snake that ambushed it was even faster — concealed under the fallen leaves, waiting to strike.
Because the aura left behind by the mutated No.1 Ironthread Snake had disrupted its senses, the Blackscale Python had failed to detect the other Ironthread Snakes lurking beneath the leaves.
Once it entered the trap Zhou Ming had laid, he immediately commanded the Ironthread Snakes to launch their attack.
Bang!
The thick layer of dead leaves was blown into the air as the Blackscale Python’s massive tail slammed the ground, scattering decayed leaves in all directions.
When it saw that its attackers were small Ironthread Snakes, it retaliated by lashing out with its tail.
While its attention was drawn away, No.1 Ironthread Snake had already crept near the python’s heart. Its tiny fangs pierced the Blackscale Python’s scales, leaving behind two small puncture marks.
Seeing the ambush succeed, Zhou Ming immediately commanded the Ironthread Snakes to scatter and retreat. The one responsible for the sneak attack — No.1 Ironthread Snake — also fled swiftly.
Although the Blackscale Python was non-venomous, its powerful physique and hardened scales were enough to threaten the safety of the Ironthread Snakes.
Sensing death looming, the Blackscale Python hesitated briefly as it watched the Ironthread Snakes escape in all directions. Yet that single moment of hesitation sealed its fate — it couldn’t even take one of them down with it.
Bang.
Compared to before, this sound was far less violent.
The paralytic venom quickly reached the python’s heart, rendering it unable to lift its head. Its massive body writhed instinctively, twitching weakly in place.
Hiding nearby, Zhou Ming’s lips curved into a pleased smile as he saw his plan succeed.
The Ironthread Snakes that had dispersed earlier slithered back to gather around him. The Beast Tamer and his beasts patiently waited for death to claim their prey.
Several minutes later, the struggling Blackscale Python finally went still. Once Zhou Ming confirmed there was no danger, he nimbly dropped to the ground.
“Time to eat.”
He did not move to harvest the valuable snake skin or carve out the chewy meat for food.
Instead, he commanded the Ironthread Snakes to devour the Blackscale Python before them.
During his year in the Qinshan Library, Zhou Ming had learned that a Beast’s potential was not its only measure of power — with sufficient resources, even a pig could become a Beast King.
The only issue was cost-effectiveness.
Due to his own limitations, Zhou Ming could only nurture the best and most suitable beasts within his reach — the Ironthread Snakes.
Even if he raised his Spiritual Power to the peak of the Apprentice Rank — the limit of human capacity — the quality of his divided Spiritual Seeds only allowed him to control mutated animals.
As for Ferocious Beasts, even their cubs were beyond his reach. That was a difference in essence.
Besides gathering resources, Zhou Ming’s goal in the wilderness was to strengthen his Ironthread Snakes.
Since the Blackscale Python was also a serpent, its mutated flesh and blood were perfect nourishment for enhancing the Ironthread Snakes’ power.
As the scales were bitten open, warm python blood began to flow into their bellies.
Digest.
Standing beside them, Zhou Ming didn’t stay idle. He immediately began assisting his beasts in their feeding.
Just like how he had once used a spiritual technique to intimidate ordinary people, “Digest” was a basic skill that every Beast Tamer mastered — one he had learned from the library.
Its purpose was to help one’s beasts digest food faster and enhance their absorption rate.
In essence, it was an active method of aiding a beast’s cultivation.
However, as the most basic of Beast Taming techniques, “Digest” merely accelerated the absorption process. To truly unleash its full potential, the only solution was — money.
While it wouldn’t directly elevate a beast’s rank, it could significantly hasten growth within the same stage.
This principle applied to Ferocious Beasts — but Zhou Ming’s Ironthread Snakes were merely ordinary mutated animals. Only No.1 Ironthread Snake had undergone a second mutation, reaching the half-step pseudo–Ferocious Beast level.
Thus, the “Digest” technique worked especially well on them, which was why he planned to feed the entire Blackscale Python to his Ironthread Snakes.
The only thing needed now was time.
“By tomorrow, the Blackscale Python’s essence should be completely refined,” Zhou Ming estimated, glancing at the serpent’s corpse.
As the six Ironthread Snakes devoured the python’s flesh and blood with all their might, Zhou Ming kept No.1 Ironthread Snake from overeating while letting the other five eat freely.
If they overate, they wouldn’t be able to respond to sudden dangers — at least the strongest No.1 Ironthread Snake needed to stay battle-ready.
Besides, given its strength, the benefits from the python’s flesh weren’t too significant. It was better for it to remain on guard.
Not long after, when the Ironthread Snakes could eat no more, Zhou Ming sat beneath a sturdy tree and began meditating to restore his Spiritual Power.
No.1 Ironthread Snake slithered constantly beside him, ensuring his safety.
Though the other overfed snakes could hardly move, they still performed basic sentry duties, positioned throughout the dark forest.
With his reliable companions by his side, Zhou Ming spent two days in the desolate woods — alternating between meditation and helping his beasts digest the python’s blood and flesh.
On the third day, as he looked at the dried, withered remains of the Blackscale Python, Zhou Ming once again set off toward his next destination.