185: I'm taking it with me today, let's see who dares to stop me.
As an Eighth-Rank Peak Yao Beast,
possessing a Grade-A talent and exclusive access to the resources within the ruins,
although it had never directly faced these powerful humans, it didn't think it was that much weaker.
Even injured and facing three opponents, Little Black still did not shy away from the fight.
Seizing an opportunity, it lashed out with its tail. This time, it used its full strength; the powerful wind generated by the force was heavy enough to scatter the surrounding trees.
Facing Little Black's attack, the newly arrived seventh-grade Strength-type Ability User showed not a hint of fear.
Confronted with a tail thicker than an oil barrel, he neither dodged nor avoided it. Bending his knees and planting his feet, he embraced the tail like an old bear hugging a tree, relying on immense strength to block the lash head-on.
The seventh-grade Strength-type Ability User didn't stop there. His arms began to exert force, attempting to crush the snake's tail outright.
Little Black sensed danger, but by then, it was too late to retract its tail. The tail felt as if clamped by iron tongs, the pressure increasing, trying to snap it.
It hurriedly transformed its shape, shrinking to human size. The trapped tail quickly contracted, allowing it to narrowly escape this calamity.
Damn it, this person is even stronger than that human seventh-grade from before.
Why? They're both seventh-grade, so why is the gap in strength so vast?
I am an Eighth-Rank Peak Yao Beast!
..."Law Enforcer Xiong."
The injured seventh-grade from earlier approached the two men, bowing respectfully.
Although their strength was the same, it didn't mean their status was equal. His seventh-grade strength had reached a Bottleneck, unable to advance a single step further, which was why he had come to the ancestral land to lie low, seeking an opportunity to climb to the next level.
But the two before him were different—exceptionally talented individuals receiving offerings within the cult, their futures limitless.
Law Enforcer Xiong asked, "Have you found any trace of the Spirit Pearl these past few days?"
"No. After entering, I was trapped by an illusion technique and only just managed to escape by luck. Then I encountered this black snake and was fortunately saved by Law Enforcer Xiong."
Originally, Little Black was still thinking of ways to fight them to the death, but when it saw over twenty more people arriving, only a bitter smile remained at the corner of its mouth.
When it heard the news of thirty sixth-grades and ten seventh-grades, it had held onto a sliver of hope, thinking it could win relying on its Realm advantage.
But just dealing with one seventh-grade had been strenuous; where did it have any confidence left now?
Forget fighting; escaping from their grasp would be a miracle.
The current situation was a dead end, with no way out. It figured they already saw it as fish on a chopping block.
Over twenty people arrived one after another. One of them spoke first:
"Circled around and finally spotted an Exotic Beast."
"This snake's strength isn't bad. Its flesh and blood will be quite useful if preserved."
"The Beast Core is mine."
"Why should it be yours? First come, first served. Whoever kills it first gets the Beast Core..."
Surrounded by over twenty people who had already begun dividing up the valuable parts of its body, even it hadn't imagined it could escape this encirclement.
It felt regret and hatred for having killed all the Exotic Beasts in the Secret Realm.
If it had kept them for practice, allowing its strength to advance further, it wouldn't be suffering today.
Thinking of this, a self-mocking smile appeared at the corner of its mouth. An Eighth-Rank Peak Exotic Beast, yet now it couldn't handle a few seventh-grade humans.
"This one is mine."
At that moment, a woman dressed flamboyantly, with her hair braided into nine serpentine locks, stepped forward. Even her skin was tattooed with snake patterns, a testament to her devotion to serpents.
Once the woman spoke, the others stopped arguing. It wasn't worth offending someone over an Eighth-Rank Exotic Beast.
Law Enforcer She had loved all kinds of poisonous creatures since childhood.
Venomous snakes, spiders, centipedes, scorpions—she adored them, with a particular fondness for venomous snakes.
Although also a Law Enforcer, this woman's strength was not high, only sixth-grade. But her heart was malicious. They didn't want to offend her over a snake; retaliation would be absolute.
Law Enforcer She stepped forward, circling Little Black twice, completely disregarding its Eighth-Rank Peak strength.
"Little Black snake, if you obediently become my pet, I can spare your life."
As she spoke, Law Enforcer She couldn't resist licking her lips.
"How did you break the illusion technique?"
Hearing this, Law Enforcer She couldn't help but cover her mouth with a light laugh. "Illusion technique?
Illusion techniques aren't something only you know. Our Cult Master anticipated this long ago and had us prepare in advance.
The moment we entered, our Cult Master's Divine Soul acted and broke it for you."
Hearing this, Little Black's last hope shattered. Now, it only wished its younger sister could escape calamity and survive safely.
At this moment, it thought of Xia Weiyu.
Xia Weiyu was a guardian like itself; she would definitely not stand by and watch its sister die.
And Su Chen... it hoped he could escape safely... Just then, a water blade struck the ground, startling Law Enforcer She. She retreated over a dozen meters in alarm, her gaze fixed fiercely on the mysterious figure who had suddenly entered the fray.
"Sorry, this snake can't be your pet.
Well, not right now, at least. I still have a use for it."
A figure in a black robe and white mask appeared between the human and the snake.
'Ding, gained Little Black's favorability. lottery ticket +500.'
Su Chen!
Although the face of the person before it was unclear, the scent was unmistakable—it was Su Chen.
He actually came to save it.
But... when did his strength reach the sixth-grade?... I misjudged him.
The youth's attire instantly put the entire group on alert.
One man immediately recognized Su Chen as the one who had disrupted their plans at the Xingtai Mountain Range.
"That attire... you're from Gourd Mountain."
"What's your relationship with Gourd Mountain?"
Su Chen declared sternly, "Questions? The prerequisite is that you have the strength to ask them.
Black Snake, you're coming with me."
The Heavenly Fiend Cult members had no intention of letting them pass. Regardless of whether this person talked, he was their enemy. Moreover, letting him take their prey from under their noses—there was no such good fortune.
They were the Heavenly Fiend Cult's top combatants, figures who shook the Eight Desolates. If they backed down now because of a verbal warning, what face would they have to return and see the Cult Master?
The first to move was Law Enforcer She:
"Brat, you dare threaten me? Just wait until I skin you and drink your blood; you won't be talking like that then!
I'll give you one final warning too: stay away from this snake, and I can make your death quick!"
Su Chen scoffed, "I'm taking it away today. Let's see who dares to stop me!"
'Ding, gained Little Black's favorability. lottery ticket +500.'
Law Enforcer She's face turned icy. When had she ever been threatened like this?
In an instant, Law Enforcer She's form changed, transforming into the shape of a cobra.
Everyone understood Law Enforcer She was going all out. Her Ability was to transform into various poisonous creatures.
The most ferocious among them was the cobra. In this form, her speed was extreme; even a seventh-grade Strength-type would gain no advantage in a prolonged fight with her.
Law Enforcer She coiled her body and pounced towards Su Chen.
Just as she was about to reach Su Chen, he made his move.
Water Severing Wave.
A stream of water, thin as a thread, shot from Su Chen's fingertip. Before Law Enforcer She could react, the high-pressure water flow had already sliced across her neck.
"Thud!"
The cobra was cut in two by the high-pressure water flow, falling to the ground. Its body, not yet realizing it was dead, continued to twitch mechanically.
One of the Heavenly Fiend Cult's Law Enforcers had fallen. Even in death, she hadn't understood how she died.
Su Chen repeated his earlier words one last time:
"I'm taking it away today. Let's see who dares to stop me!"