The roar echoed through the forest like thunder.
The river beneath the stone bridge churned violently, and countless birds fled into the sky.
The wounded disciple stumbled toward Lin Yuan.
His academy robes were soaked with blood, and one sleeve had been torn away.
"Run..." he gasped.
"It's... it's not an ordinary Second-Order Spirit Beast."
Before Lin Yuan could ask another question, the forest fell unnaturally silent.
Not a single insect chirped.
Not a single leaf rustled.
Then...
BOOM!
An enormous emerald tail smashed through the trees, sending splintered wood flying in every direction.
A colossal serpent slowly emerged from the forest.
Its body was thicker than an ancient tree, covered in shimmering green scales that reflected the sunlight.
Two golden eyes stared coldly at everything before it.
The disciples who had been searching nearby froze in terror.
"The Emerald Python..."
Someone whispered.
"It guards the center of the Verdant Secret Realm!"
The python raised its head and released another deafening hiss.
An oppressive aura swept across the area.
Several weaker disciples collapsed to their knees.
Lin Yuan gritted his teeth.
"So this is the pressure of a true Second-Order Spirit Beast..."
Compared to the Iron Mountain Bear, the Emerald Python felt even more dangerous.
Without warning, the python lunged.
Its enormous body moved with astonishing speed.
A disciple from the Earth Courtyard screamed as the tail swept toward him.
Just before the attack landed, Lin Yuan dashed forward.
He grabbed the disciple by the shoulder and threw both of them aside.
BOOM!
The tail smashed into the stone bridge.
The ancient bridge shook violently as cracks spread across its surface.
"Get everyone away from here!" Lin Yuan shouted.
The stunned disciples quickly regained their senses and fled deeper into the forest.
Only Lin Yuan remained.
The Emerald Python's golden eyes fixed upon him.
For some reason...
It ignored everyone else.
It wanted him.
Deep within his spiritual sea, the Green Spirit Sapling trembled.
Not with fear.
With recognition.
The python slowly lowered its enormous head until its eyes were level with Lin Yuan.
Instead of attacking again, it sniffed the air around him.
Then it tilted its head slightly.
A strange expression appeared in its eyes.
Confusion.
Curiosity.
Lin Yuan remained perfectly still.
"If it wanted to kill me..."
"...it already could have."
The Green Spirit Sapling released a gentle wave of life essence.
The emerald flower glowed softly.
The python suddenly closed its eyes.
It let out a low rumble that sounded almost... peaceful.
Then something unbelievable happened.
The enormous beast lowered its head until it touched the ground before Lin Yuan.
It was not attacking.
It was bowing.
The disciples watching from a distance stared in disbelief.
"Did..."
"Did the Emerald Python just bow to him?"
Lin Yuan himself was stunned.
Before he could react, a glowing emerald scale detached itself from the python's forehead.
It floated through the air and stopped before him.
The moment he reached out and touched it, memories flooded into his mind.
He saw the same colossal World Tree.
He saw countless spirit beasts living peacefully beneath its branches.
Among them was a small emerald snake.
The tiny snake coiled around one of the World Tree's roots, listening to its heartbeat.
Thousands of years passed in an instant.
The small snake gradually became the colossal python standing before him.
The vision faded.
Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes.
The Emerald Python looked at him quietly.
He finally understood.
This beast...
Was not guarding the Verdant Secret Realm.
It was guarding the legacy of the World Tree.
And it had recognized the aura of the Green Spirit Sapling.
The python released a soft hiss before turning toward the depths of the forest.
It looked back at Lin Yuan once.
Then began to move away.
It wanted him to follow.
Lin Yuan hesitated only briefly before taking a step forward.
Whatever lay ahead...
It was connected to the origin of his Martial Soul.