He never expected that after ten thousand years, he would once again see the divine bow from the Immortal Fantasy Continent of old. The Hou Yi Bow had changed hands countless times, and ten thousand years ago, its last owner was Ethan Brooks's father, Charles Brooks. Back then, Charles Brooks relied on this bow to shoot down three peerless experts who besieged him in a single day, making his name known in one battle and shaking the entire Immortal Fantasy Continent.

Ethan Brooks's lips trembled as he softly said, "Hou Yi Bow... I never thought that after ten thousand years, I would be reunited with you..."

At that moment, a deafening roar erupted, and countless massive boulders tumbled down from the volcano's crater. A giant serpent shot up into the sky, its hundred-zhang-long body fully exposed in the air.

Chapter Four: Hou Yi Slays the Dragon

The giant serpent's tail touched the ground, its hundred-zhang-long body standing upright in the air, exuding a terrifying aura, as if it was about to transform into a dragon and ascend.

Little Princess casually picked up a carved-feather arrow and nocked it onto the bowstring, then used all her strength to draw the Hou Yi Bow just a little. The dark Hou Yi Bow began to emit a faint golden glow, which flowed like a thin mist toward the carved-feather arrow on the string. Ordinary iron turned into refined gold; the once ordinary arrow became entirely golden, and finally turned into a streak of golden light that shot from the bow.

Wind and thunder roared, heaven and earth lost their color, and the golden light seemed to tear through the void, reaching the giant serpent in the blink of an eye. The giant serpent was terrified, as if it sensed the immense energy contained in the golden arrow. It quickly dove toward the ground, its massive body barely dodging the golden brilliance that made heaven and earth pale. The serpent coiled around the volcano's mouth, trembling uncontrollably.

The golden arrow brushed past the giant serpent, leaving everyone deeply disappointed. Yet in the blink of an eye, wind and thunder sounded again—the golden arrow, which had disappeared, came whistling back from afar. Its dazzling brilliance outshone even the sun in the sky, and in an instant, the golden arrow pierced into the giant serpent's body.

"Poof"

A torrent of blood spurted from the serpent's wound, and a crimson glow shot up from the volcano's mouth. The massive serpent rolled and thrashed around the crater, sending countless huge rocks flying as its body crashed into them. Little Princess and the others hurriedly dodged.

After more than ten minutes, the giant serpent stopped thrashing. It straightened up again, its ferocious head rising more than ten zhang above the ground, glaring viciously at Little Princess. However, when it saw the Hou Yi Bow, it instinctively showed fear.

The serpent's body had been split open by the golden arrow, leaving a huge bloody hole that went all the way through. Blood gushed out in streams.

An apprentice mage said, "Your Highness, please fire the divine bow again. If you hit the same wound, you can surely slay the demon serpent in one shot."

"No, I don't have the strength to draw the divine bow anymore. You try!"

A dozen guards each stepped forward to try, but not a single one could draw the divine bow.

Ethan Brooks, hiding behind a rock, had seen everything clearly. No one present understood the Hou Yi Bow better than he did. Without extraordinary skill, it was nearly impossible to move the divine bow even a fraction. If Little Princess had enough power, and had drawn the Hou Yi Bow just a bit more earlier, not to mention a giant serpent—even a dragon would have been doomed. In ancient legend, the Hou Yi Bow had once shot down gods from the heavens, and was one of the most powerful immortal treasures on the Immortal Fantasy Continent.

The giant serpent seemed to realize that no one could use the "dark tool" that filled it with fear anymore. Its eyes flashed with a fierce light. After glancing at the blazing Immortal Lotus inside the volcano, it charged straight at the group not far away.

Ethan Brooks had already sensed danger and immediately ran down the mountain.

Only now did Little Princess truly show panic. "I overestimated my own strength!"

The guards shouted, "Your Highness, run!"

Little Princess slung the Hou Yi Bow on her back, gave the group a deep look, and turned to run down the mountain.

At this moment, the giant serpent swooped down, stirring up a wild gale. Its massive head appeared before the group in an instant. Its blood-red tongue and gleaming white fangs were only inches from their bodies. Three apprentice mages quickly raised a pale blue barrier. The serpent's head slammed into the magical shield, shattering it instantly. The three apprentice mages spat blood, and the guards were sent flying by the tremendous force, rolling down the mountain.

The giant serpent moved as fast as lightning, catching up with the tumbling group in the blink of an eye. Two people were crushed beneath its massive body, turned to pulp before they could even scream. The guards were terrified to the core. The serpent did not continue attacking the other guards, but with fierce, vicious eyes, it chased after Little Princess ahead.

At this moment, Ethan Brooks was scared out of his wits, with Little Demon following behind him, and the giant serpent relentlessly pursuing her.

Little Princess screamed repeatedly, "Ah..."

Ethan Brooks shouted back, "Stop screaming, Little Demon! Don't follow me around like a shadow!"

"Wretch, you stinking thief, how dare you talk to me like that! One day I'll drag you into the palace to be a eunuch—ah! The damn snake is coming..." At this point, Little Princess had lost all her previous composure and was in a complete panic.

When the guards heard Little Princess's screams, they forced themselves up despite their injuries, drew their swords, and stabbed at the giant serpent. But ordinary iron swords could do nothing to the serpent. It twisted its massive body, slamming into the guards and sending them flying like rag dolls.