10: Chapter 10 Green Snake and Its Kin
"Half of my Demonic Power is left."
"They're all just flashy, superficial Yao Beasts with no challenge at all. I could take on ten of them!"
Xu Qing wagged his tail excitedly.
"Ribbit!"
The sound of a Frog's croak rang out, and thick Demonic Qi spread from the very top of the hill across the entire peak.
The gloating Xu Qing trembled in fear.
It seemed the commotion from his battle with the Demon Tiger was too loud and had been noticed by that Toad Spirit.
This Demonic Qi brought back unpleasant memories.
It was a time of running under the sunset with a spider.
No, no, no, he couldn't get lost in memories right now; it was time to retreat.
Although his Dao Cultivation was nearly at a Breakthrough of sixty years, once he got entangled with the Toad Spirit, other demons would swarm him.
Considering this, Xu Qing decided to retreat.
It definitely wasn't because he couldn't beat this stinky toad or anything.
Xu Qing flicked his tongue, and every movement within three hundred meters appeared in his mind.
He controlled the water to reconsolidate from the surroundings, stored it in his Spatial Pupil, and then shot toward the river at the foot of the hill.
He also took a Tiger Strength Pill from the System and swallowed it like a jelly bean.
[Consumed Tiger Strength Pill]
[Divine Ability: Great Strength Lv2 upgraded to Great Strength Lv3]
Boundless power surged through his body, and his writhing tail snapped a small tree right in half.
Under the influence of such immense strength, his speed increased by several degrees.
The Toad Spirit could only eat his dust from behind.
Xu Qing could even turn his head and flick his tongue to taunt the Toad Spirit.
That's right, unlike a typical escape, his was a confident and effortless retreat, much more elegant and cool.
The surrounding scenery blurred past, and a wide river appeared before him.
Xu Qing sprang from the spot, tracing a graceful arc through the air before diving straight into the water without a single splash.
He could already imagine a diving judge holding up a ten-point sign.
"There will be plenty of time in the future; we'll meet again..."
He turned back to throw out some parting threats.
Xu Qing felt this scene was somewhat familiar, and a sense of unease radiated from his seven-inch mark.
It was as if he could feel Madam Bai lifting him by his little hand.
Dead memories were attacking him.
"Water Control!"
The current enveloped his body, propelling him downstream.
His tail swayed incessantly, churning the water like a propeller.
"Ribbit ribbit ribbit!!"
The Toad Spirit let out exasperated croaks from the shore.
Even without understanding the toad's foreign language, he could tell the fellow was definitely cursing him.
However, unlike the spider, this toad could swim.
After finishing its tirade, it jumped into the water without a second thought, chasing him across ten hills until it saw the distance widening, only then stopping while still grumbling.
"Chasing This Snake so far... I'll remember this grudge."
Xu Qing swam downstream for a long distance before stopping and going ashore.
He slipped into the grass; Concealment Lv2 activated. He flicked his tongue; Detection Lv2 activated. With a twist of his body, Agility Lv2 activated.
Don't ask why he was so skilled; it was the result of diligent practice.
He picked the nearest lucky hill and dashed toward it.
Halfway up the hill, he found a cave where the Demonic Qi wasn't particularly strong.
One sniff of this familiar Demonic Qi and he knew it belonged to a Snake Demon.
He skillfully dragged out the large Patterned Python sleeping inside and then slipped into the cave.
Sleeping in broad daylight—this dim-witted snake had no future.
The Patterned Python stared blankly at Xu Qing with its large eyes, seemingly not yet having processed what happened.
In passing, he gave the dazed python a slap across the face with his tail.
Sorry, but having high Dao Cultivation really does mean you can do whatever you want.
The Patterned Python snapped out of it, finally realizing its home was gone. It slapped its tail in anger and turned to leave with a look of shame and indignation; clearly, this python's intelligence was not low.
As a fellow snake, Xu Qing could sense the emotions expressed by his kind.
Probably.
The next day.
Just as Xu Qing poked his green head out of the cave, he saw a Patterned Python holding a large Frog in its mouth, waiting not far from the entrance.
It looked like it had been waiting for a long time but didn't dare approach the cave, so it just waited nearby.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss!"
Upon seeing Xu Qing, the Patterned Python's large eyes flashed, and it shook its head, approaching excitedly.
It placed the large Frog in front of Xu Qing, flicking its tongue while its large tail repeatedly slapped the ground.
The patterns on its large tail were like beautiful wreaths, quite striking and eye-catching.
And the Frog was big and fat, extremely tempting for a snake.
"Hmm?"
Xu Qing looked at the Patterned Python, then at the Frog, falling into thought.
Could it be...
This Patterned Python...
Wants to use a Frog to trade back its cave?
How could that be? There was no reason for a cave this Green Snake had set his eyes on to be given up.
Unless it gave him five more high-quality Frogs like this one—no, ten.
He bit into the Frog and slapped the dazed Patterned Python away with his tail.
He didn't use much force with that slap. The Patterned Python, landing nearby, squirmed its body and raised its head, its eyes showing a hint of resentment before it turned and slipped into the grass.
"Glaring at me won't help; the Frog is mine!"
Xu Qing swallowed the Frog in one gulp, a look of intoxication in his eyes.
Then he began exploring the surroundings.
Another day passed.
The Patterned Python brought another Frog, wearing a proud expression as if showing off its prey; it was even bigger and fatter than yesterday's.
Xu Qing's mouth watered uncontrollably.
No snake can refuse a Frog, none!
"Hiss, hiss, hiss~"
Seeing the Green Snake focused only on eating the Frog, the Patterned Python let out a few aggrieved cries, only to be slapped away by Xu Qing's tail.
Trying to trade the cave back with just two Frogs.
The cave had been finely renovated by him; the processing fee should be at least ten Frogs.
For the next three days, the Patterned Python brought a Frog every day, waiting for the large Green Snake to come out of the cave.
Every Frog was big and fat.
The Patterned Python had also learned its lesson, knowing that making noise would get it slapped away, so it huddled in the grass, poking its head out to watch Xu Qing eat the Frogs obediently.
Its large tail stuck out from the grass, swaying back and forth.
The patterns on its large tail were like beautiful wreaths, quite striking and eye-catching.
Xu Qing counted the number of Frogs, planning to give up the cave once he reached ten.
He was a Green Snake of principle, after all.
He wondered if this cave had some special meaning to the Patterned Python, since it seemed so important.
The next day.
Xu Qing crawled out of the cave but didn't see the Patterned Python.
He guessed that the python might not have caught a Frog this morning.
"Forget it, if it comes again, I'll just give the cave back. It's been quite hard on it."
Having just reached a Breakthrough of sixty years of Dao Cultivation last night, Xu Qing was in a good mood.
...
...
...
Before the Green Snake lay a section of a tail, discarded in the grass.
On the tail were beautiful wreath-like patterns...
Quite striking and eye-catching.