Chapter 3

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This time, after eating several pounds of roasted meat, it still could not make up for the massive energy expenditure. The hunger deep within his body did not ease at all.

Chen Xun put down the medicine basket, took out the two Yuyang grass plants he had luckily picked in the morning, and broke half of one to slowly chew.

The juice of the grass was bitter, but as it went down his throat, the medicinal power transformed into a warm current, directly seeping into his bones and veins. Chen Xun vaguely felt that his entire body's qi and blood were strengthened at this moment.

Chen Xun thought to himself, no wonder a single Yuyang grass can be exchanged for an iron tool from the merchants of large tribes; the medicinal power is really potent.

Ordinary people have limits when consuming spiritual medicines.

Overconsumption is harmful, and the body cannot absorb excessive amounts. Taking more than the body can handle often results in death from internal bleeding.

However, after consuming one Yuyang grass, the medicinal power had not diminished, and his body, which had been pushed to its limits, still had the capacity to absorb more. Chen Xun felt that his body's strength had increased even more. He then chewed and swallowed the second Yuyang grass slowly.

Although he could not refine the medicinal power with mystical techniques, Chen Xun still closed his eyes to experience the profound sensation of the medicinal power seeping into his bones.

After a while, Chen Xun opened his eyes. His entire body was filled with surging energy. The mountains in the twilight became clearer and brighter, indicating that his vision had significantly improved.

Chen Xun tied the grass rope around his shoulder and pushed the giant beast's corpse into the ditch. Indeed, it felt much lighter than before.

***

Chen Xun followed the valley where the mountain flood rushed, walking about six to seven miles into the mountains. The valley turned twice, and his body was once again pushed to its limits.

By this time, it was completely dark.

The sky was overcast, and it looked like a heavy rain was about to fall.

In such weather, the strong from the Black Rock Tribe would not easily come out. Chen Xun was also relieved that he did not see any Black Rock Tribe members holding torches searching from downstream.

Dragging the strange beast's corpse to the shore, Chen Xun collapsed, feeling as if his bones were about to fall apart, with a mouth full of blood.

Not to mention the cuts and bruises on his hands and body from the jagged rocks, the intense strain on his body had caused internal organs to crack, and every spit was a mouthful of blood.

If it weren't for Chen Xun's special constitution, an ordinary person might have already died on the shore.

The meat he had carried with him was long gone. Apart from the Yuyang grass he had taken earlier, the other herbs he had picked in the morning were ordinary medicines. Chewing them in large mouthfuls could only slightly alleviate his hunger and thirst.

Not caring about the precious deer fat anymore, Chen Xun took out the deer from the medicine basket, cut a small piece of meat with a stone knife, and put it in his mouth.

Over the past three years, he had become accustomed to a raw meat diet.

Unexpectedly, the deer meat, besides being exceptionally tender, also produced a warm current when chewed slowly, which spread throughout his body.

No wonder this gentle strange beast was classified as a primitive species.

The life essence contained in the deer's flesh was not much worse than that of the Yuyang grass.

He needed to eat six to seven pounds of meat in one meal to feel full, but eating half a pound of raw deer meat made him feel full, and his strength quickly recovered.

Chen Xun thought to himself, no wonder the tribes around the Python Tooth Ridge consider strange beasts as precious supplements; the effects are truly remarkable.

Chen Xun glanced at the black-scaled beast he had dragged to the shore. His understanding of this world was still shallow, and he did not know what kind of strange primitive species this black-scaled beast was, but he knew that its flesh must be rich in life essence.

The sky was pitch black, and the stone trees were invisible beyond a few steps. It was uncertain whether it would rain heavily at night. Dragging the black-scaled beast along the mountain stream would be too dangerous.

To prevent the mountain flood from washing away the strange beast on the shore, Chen Xun tied one end of the rope to a tree trunk as thick as two arms.

Finally, he climbed up the tree and tied himself to a branch, planning to spend the night there.

***

In the distance, there was a rustling sound, and Chen Xun suddenly woke up from his sleep. He found that the dark clouds had dispersed, and the bright moonlight illuminated the entire mountain and valley, making the world seem as if it were immersed in a clear and transparent lake bottom.

The rustling sound was from wild animals passing through the distant forest.

This place was not far from the Black Mountain Tribe, and it was a hunting area between the Black Mountain Tribe and the Black Python Tribe. Generally, there would not be particularly fierce beasts or birds.

The most dangerous thing might be the Black Mountain Tribe members who could enter the mountains under the moonlight.

Seeing the clear sky and the moon, Chen Xun did not dare to stay any longer. He untied the rope, climbed down the tree, and pushed the black-scaled beast into the mountain stream, continuing his journey.

The water in the mountain stream had not decreased, but after walking about fifteen to sixteen miles in the deep valley, his body had not yet reached its limit.

As dawn approached, the valley was bathed in a faint greenish light. Chen Xun dragged the giant beast's corpse, and his muscles were taut like a fully drawn bowstring.

His hands and feet were firmly planted on the jagged rocks, like a strong ox plowing the land. Each step he took maintained a consistent posture, and with each step, he exhaled lightly.

Not only was each step consistent, but upon closer inspection, the rhythm and form of the taut muscles from his shoulders to his waist and feet were also constantly repeated.

The black-scaled beast was too heavy. Even with his body strengthened by the demon blood, and with the strength of a beginner martial artist, each step required him to squeeze every bit of energy from his body.

Therefore, with each step, his body instinctively adjusted its posture.

All his energy and spirit permeated through every tendon from his shoulders to his waist and legs, ensuring that every bit of potential was fully utilized.

Even the simplest act of dragging the beast, through Chen Xun's continuous pushing of his body to its limits, reached a subtle realm where his body and mind were in perfect harmony.

By this time, he was far from the Black Rock Tribe's territory. Walking another ten miles would bring him to the Black Python Tribe's hunting area. The thought of soon seeing the Black Python Tribe members hunting in the mountains filled him with joy.

However, as soon as he relaxed his mind, the subtle realm was lost, and it felt as if several hundred pounds of weight had suddenly been added to his shoulders, almost causing him to stumble.

Chen Xun barely managed to steady himself, tied the grass rope around his waist, and wondered why a slight relaxation of his mind made him feel so much heavier, almost dragging him into the water.

Perhaps he had been too focused and had unknowingly felt the weight on his shoulders and waist lighten?

***

At this moment, footsteps could be heard from the front of the mountain stream.

After a while, seeing the Black Python Tribe members emerge from the forest, Chen Xun finally felt truly relieved.

Chen Xun was now completely exhausted. After the Black Python Tribe members untied the rope from his body, he fell onto the shore, sprawling out like an old ox, panting heavily, and unable to move even his toes.

"Where have you been all night?" Zong Ya placed his large black bow on his thigh and squatted down to look at the battered Chen Xun. "How did you get so injured? Did you encounter the Black Mountain Tribe?"

Chen Xun's shoulders and waist were bruised and bloody from the rope, and his hands and feet were cut by the rocks. He looked like a blood-soaked man lying in the grass.

Although pushing his body to its limits was a form of training for him, doing it several times in one night, almost to the point of collapse, was beyond what his body could endure.

He did not have the strength to say a word. If it weren't for Zong Ya and the others finding him, he might not have had the strength to return to the village to report. Seeing Zong Ya's youthful, rough face, he felt a particular sense of warmth.

He thought to himself: Why does Zong Ya's face look so big?

"I'm just tired,"

The leading black-faced giant walked over and saw that Chen Xun had no knife or arrow wounds, but to be this exhausted was truly remarkable. He lightly patted Chen Xun's shoulder with his large, calloused hand and said in a deep voice,

"You dragged such a heavy thing all night and didn't die; you must have a big heart."

He took a black pill from his pocket, put it in Chen Xun's mouth, and told him to swallow it.

The black pill was bitter and astringent, but it quickly turned into a warm current in his mouth, spreading through his body as it went down his throat. His blood almost boiled...

The medicinal power was much stronger than that of the Yuyang grass.

Chen Xun could feel his strength rapidly recovering. He thought that the Black Python Pill was truly a good thing, and he was grateful for Zong Sang's generosity. This night's hard work was worth it.

Zong Ya was also surprised by Uncle Zong Sang's generosity. After all, when Grandpa decided to take in Chen Xun, Uncle Zong Sang had strongly opposed it. Even though he no longer insisted on driving Chen Xun out of the Black Python Tribe, he did not show much kindness to Chen Xun. It was unexpected that he would now give Chen Xun a Black Python Pill to treat his injuries.

In the village, even a higher-level martial artist like Uncle Chen might not get a Black Python Pill in a month.

The black-scaled beast was extremely heavy, and it took two Black Python Tribe members to drag the giant corpse onto the shore.

Zong Ya saw half of the black-scaled beast's head exposed above the water, and its massive body was comparable to a strong ox. He asked Uncle Zong Sang,

"What is this thing?"

"I'm not sure; we need to call your grandpa over..." The black-faced giant Zong Sang squatted on the riverbank. Even in a squatting position, his tall and strong body resembled half a tower. He stared at the strange beast for a long time, unsure if it was a legendary primitive species.

Zong Sang's rugged face, marked with the python head totem, looked exceptionally fierce, like a stone ridge eroded by a mountain flood. His thick eyebrows, like heavy brush strokes, were furrowed. He turned and smiled at Chen Xun,

"You're not a nobody."

Zong Sang's smile was uglier than a cry. Chen Xun thought to himself, whether I'm a nobody or not, do I need you to say it?

However, Zong Sang, who was dedicated to protecting the Black Python Tribe, rarely showed kindness to anyone. It was rare to hear him say something complimentary, and Chen Xun felt quite gratified.