Starting as a stray dog, I embarked on a journey of cultivation.

Seeing Gou An's transformation, the giant python opened its mouth and spewed out a black wind without saying a word, the wind also carrying black thorns.

Gou An leaped into the air, dodging the first wave of attacks.

The black wind struck the spot where Gou An had just stood, instantly carving a prominent trench in the ground.

Holding the Divine Iron Hammer, Gou An used the Cloud-Stepping Technique in mid-air, dodging left and right in succession, trying to get close enough to deliver a blow to the giant python.

The giant python, though enormous, was incredibly agile, weaving and shifting in the air to create distance between itself and Gou An, while continuously launching long-range attacks on Gou An with its black wind.

Seeing that getting close was futile, Gou An had no choice but to abandon his strategy of continuous pursuit. Instead, he gripped the Divine Iron Hammer tightly with his right hand to gather power, while his left hand formed a hand seal, condensing a large number of black demonic energy missiles around his body.

"go!"

Gou An pointed forward with one hand, and a large number of demonic energy missiles blasted towards the giant python like heavy cannons, moving at extremely high speed.

Upon seeing this, the giant python hurriedly tried to dodge, but there were too many missiles and its own enormous size made it impossible to completely dodge them, and it was still hit by several of the demonic energy missiles.

At this moment, Gou An had already condensed his demon core, making this move much more powerful than before.

After being hit several times, the giant python paused in mid-air and let out a long hiss.

Seeing that his attack was effective, Gou An immediately repeated his trick, condensing dozens of demonic energy missiles and shooting them at the giant python once again.

Having just suffered a loss, the giant python no longer chose to evade. Instead, it coiled its body in the air, shrinking to its smallest size, with its hardest scales all facing Gou An's direction, forming a solid shield.

Bang bang bang!

The continuous missile bombardment struck the python's body.

However, it was blocked by the giant python under its full defense, and its power was not as effective as before.

Seeing that individual missile attacks were ineffective, Gou An immediately condensed dozens of missiles and wrapped each missile with a layer of Nine-Fragment Demon Fire.

This is Gou An's strongest long-range attack so far. If this doesn't take down this guy, he'll have no choice but to run away.

After all, he couldn't get close to his opponent, and staying to fight would be very disadvantageous.

"Even if you have this move, don't dodge it!"

Gou An shouted at the giant python.

The next second, the demonic energy missile, enveloped in the Nine-Part Demonic Flame, shot towards the giant python.

Bang bang bang!

Several more explosions followed.

The demonic missile struck the giant python, which was on full defensive. As expected, the demonic fire ignited its scales and spread rapidly.

The giant python sensed something was wrong and plunged headfirst into the pool below.

However, the demonic fire did not extinguish upon contact with water, which caused the giant python to struggle in the water for a few moments before breaking out of the water again.

Just as Gou An grinned, thinking he could burn the other party to death, the giant python suddenly opened its mouth and spewed out a large amount of miasma, which then swirled around its body like a whirlwind.

Surprisingly, it actually extinguished the demonic fire attached to the python's body.

The giant python was spewing black breath, clearly enraged.

Many scales were charred where the demonic fire had just burned.

The giant python hissed and opened its mouth to spew out another gust of black wind. However, this time the black wind was not directed at Gou An, but rather enveloped its entire body in the violent black wind.

It was obvious that it had just been burned by Gou An's Nine-Fold Demon Fire, so it used this black wind to wrap its whole body, forming a layer of wind armor to prevent Gou An from igniting it again.

Then the giant python, its entire body covered in black wind armor, pounced on Gou An, clearly intending to bite him at close range.

Upon seeing this, Gou An immediately curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

Close combat?

This is exactly what I wanted.

Although the charging time of the divine iron hammer in his right hand was not long, its power was already considerable.

Seeing the giant python rushing towards him, Gou An did not retreat but advanced, heading straight for the python. In a flash, he transformed into several afterimages.

The giant python lunged forward, its jaws wide open, clearly intending to bite Gou An to death.

Faced with the afterimage, it panicked for a moment and only managed to pounce on one of the afterimages.

At that moment, Gou An swung his charged iron hammer, smashing it down on the giant python's chin from below.

Bang!

A muffled thud.

The giant python's massive body tumbled in the air before finally crashing straight down onto the rocky shore.

Although the hammer blow did not shatter the opponent's body, it clearly knocked him unconscious.

Seeing this, Gou An breathed a sigh of relief. After reverting to his gigantic form, he swallowed a Qi-replenishing pill and then walked towards the giant python.

This giant python was no ordinary monster.

After all, even a ninth-tier demon beast wouldn't possess such a powerful aura of cultivation.

This reminded Gou An of what Xueyin had told him about the wild beasts when he was in the snowy region.

Once a demon beast reaches the ninth rank, it has two paths to cultivate.

One option is to transform into human form, while the other is to retain the animal form.

It looks like this giant python took the latter path!

If that's the case, then it's quite interesting. Gou An even wants to dissect it to see its internal structure.

When he got to the giant python's head, he found that the python was still breathing and seemed to have regained some consciousness, but it was still unable to move.

"Wow! You woke up pretty quickly!"

Gou An raised his divine iron hammer, ready to deliver the final blow to the giant python.

After killing him with a hammer, then dissect him.

But just as the hammer was about to fall, the enormous python suddenly shrank rapidly, eventually transforming into a small, black snake.

"Huh?" Gou An was surprised, but still prepared to kill.

But then the little snake twisted its body and transformed into a black snake-shaped metal bracelet, which floated up.

Seeing this, Gou An stopped.

"It can be like this?" Gou An bent down, picked up the bracelet, and examined it in his hand.

The bracelet, which was formed from the giant python, felt cool to the touch, like some kind of magical artifact.

So Gou An tried to infuse a wisp of demonic energy into the bracelet. The next second, a flood of messages appeared in Gou An's mind, as if a giant python was speaking to him.

This giant python was no ordinary demon python, but a hybrid demon beast that was half dragon and half snake.

Because of its hybrid nature, its body is flawed and it cannot transform into human form; it can only cultivate along the path of a wild beast.

This guy has been cultivating in this place for over a hundred years, relying on devouring high-level demonic beasts that have strayed into this place, or transformed demonic creatures, to improve his cultivation.

Unfortunately, I encountered Gou An today!

Having read the contents of the bracelet, Gou An knew that the giant python was begging for mercy, so it transformed into a magical artifact to ask Gou An to spare its life and to obey Gou An's orders in the future.

The giant python has been transformed into a magical artifact, allowing Gou An to channel his demonic energy into it, after which the artifact will be completely under his control.

Even if the bracelet turns back into a giant python, Gou An can still control it at will.

"Excellent, excellent!"

Gou An was very satisfied with the bracelet. He had only come out to find a spiritual herb, but he didn't expect to get such a treasure.

After putting the bracelet on his left wrist, Gou An was able to fully read the information inside the bracelet and learn how to use it.

Wearing this bracelet allows you to use the giant python's skills, including using black wind venomous stings for attacks and condensing dragon scale shields to defend against attacks.

In addition, Gou An can also summon the giant python to serve as his mount and fight alongside him.

"You're smart to know what's good for you!" Gou An rubbed his fingers against the bracelet on his wrist and said, "From now on, I won't treat you badly if you follow me."

The bracelet vibrated slightly, as if in some kind of response.