9: Chapter 9 She was pretending to be a consumptive, and they actually said they'd eat her?

"It's the people from the Spirit Snake Tribe, we've been discovered."

Xuan Li looked at Feng Yange, his snake body shrinking even smaller.

"Long Ze, I will go draw them away. You protect Mistress."

Long Ze had not hatched from his shell yet, and Xuan Li could not transform, so they could only continue to flee.

Hopefully, once he left and his aura dissipated, he wouldn't drag them down.

"Didn't you say that marrying Mistress would mask your aura? Why were we still discovered?"

Long Ze also hadn't expected to be pursued, and judging by the sounds, quite a few of them were coming.

"I'm not sure either. Perhaps some of my aura remained from when I was fleeing earlier." He hadn't expected the pursuers to arrive so quickly; he should have taken Mistress and the others away from here sooner.

Feng Yange opened her eyes. Just as Xuan Li was about to leave, she pinched him.

"No need to run. They won't find us."

With a wave of her hand, Feng Yange directly hid Xuan Li and Long Ze inside her storage space. She stood up and stumbled toward the source of the sound.

"Stop right there!"

Feng Yange was blocked by a group of people. The middle-aged man leading them had a rugged appearance and a treacherous face. His green eyes were exceptionally striking, along with his snake-shaped ornaments representing the Spirit Snake Tribe.

"Everyone... cough cough... pfft..." Feng Yange raised her eyes, her face as pale as paper. She spat out a mouthful of blood, took out a handkerchief to cover her mouth, coughed violently, and gasped weakly. "S-Sorry, my body is fragile. I've made a fool of myself in front of you all."

The members of the Spirit Snake Tribe stepped back, their eyes filled with utter disgust.

"She's actually a weak, dying human. Why don't we just eat her?"

Feng Yange's brows furrowed. She had even pretended to be a consumptive ghost, yet they actually said they wanted to eat her?

Feng Yange wiped the blood from the corner of her lips and threw the handkerchief away.

No more pretending, time to show her cards!

"Are you sure you want to eat me? My mother is Matriarch Feng, Phoenix, the head of the Ten Great Families of the Profound Spirit Continent."

The face of the leading Spirit Snake Tribe Elder changed slightly. Looking at this human girl who had appeared here alone—for someone to dare to appear deep within the Monster Forest alone, could she really be Phoenix's daughter?

But even if she was the daughter of Phoenix, this was deep within the Monster Forest. She had violated the agreement first. If they ate her here, there would be no proof. What could Phoenix possibly do to his Spirit Snake Tribe?

"A mere mid-stage Spirit Master Realm human woman dares to impersonate the daughter of Phoenix? If I eat you, who would ever know?"

"[Host, kick their asses! How dare they bully you! Spirit King Realm Trial Card successfully used. Wipe them all out!]"

The System's irritable voice rang out. Feng Yange felt her aura surge. She hadn't even been willing to use this damn, familiar Spirit King Realm Trial Card, yet this System was simply too impatient.

The next second, a whip lashed out. Just as the people of the Spirit Snake Tribe realized something was wrong, the whip landed on them.

"Not good, she's a Peak Spirit King Realm powerhouse! Run!"

"Too late!"

The whip in Feng Yange's hand lashed directly toward their seven-inch marks. They tried to flee in panic but were bound. With a loop and a swing of the whip, they were instantly killed.

Although the leading middle-aged man was at the early-stage Spirit King Realm, facing a Peak Spirit King Realm powerhouse, he had absolutely no room to fight back.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, over a dozen members of the Spirit Snake Tribe were instantly killed by Feng Yange.

"[Congratulations to Host for slaying a group of the Spirit Snake Tribe and protecting your husband Xuan Li. Reward: One Spirit Emperor Realm Trial Card.]"

"Spirit Emperor Realm?" Feng Yange's eyes lit up, and the slight heartache she felt instantly vanished.

"System, if protecting my husband from harm gets me rewards, wouldn't avenging him get me even more rewards?"

"[Yes, Host. Any quest related to your husband will yield rewards. Please keep up the good work.]"

"System, if you put it that way, I'm not tired anymore. But can't the System's rewards be a bit more practical? For instance, Medicinal Pills that boost strength, or perhaps divine weapons and Sharp Weapons?"

While chatting with the System, Feng Yange did not forget to loot all the storage rings of the Spirit Snake Tribe. Looting should be done properly.

What if there was something good?

"[Rest assured, Host, I will immediately apply to add these rewards for you!]"

"System, I really didn't misjudge you. You are indeed the best System in the Universe!"

After Feng Yange finished praising it, the System slipped away. Feng Yange released Xuan Li and Long Ze. Looking at the bloody scene before them, the snake and the egg stared in utter bewilderment.

After finishing her looting and tossing everything into her storage ring, Feng Yange said calmly without even raising her head, "I've killed them all. This place isn't safe, we need to move."

Xuan Li swallowed hard, looking at the blood splattered on Feng Yange's face. This place was indeed unsafe.

"I will listen to Mistress."

Long Ze's voice was gentle. Mistress now had the aura of the Spirit King Realm; it seemed she had used the same method as last time.

"Mistress, I have dragged you into this. I hope Mistress will forgive me."

Xuan Li looked up at Feng Yange, his gratitude far outweighing his guilt. He never expected Mistress to kill these people for him. Besides, wasn't she only in the Spirit Practitioner Realm?

Why did she suddenly have the strength of the Peak Spirit King Realm?

"You are my husband. It is only right that I protect you. As long as you don't blame me for killing them all."

Feng Yange wiped the blood off her body. She needed to find a place to buy a couple of outfits from the System; she smelled awful.

"I cannot thank Mistress enough, so how could I possibly blame you? Let us leave this place first. The smell of blood is too strong."

Feng Yange nodded, wiping off the blood on her body with disgust, and carried Long Ze as they hurried along.

Xuan Li coiled around Feng Yange's arm, staring ahead with high spirits.

"Now that we have the ice soul grass, as for the flame grass..."

Sitting by the lake after changing into clean clothes, Feng Yange was currently quite melancholic.

Inside the storage rings of the Spirit Snake Tribe, there were indeed quite a few stalks of ice soul grass and top-grade spiritual plants, along with various miscellaneous items, but there was no sign of the flame grass.

"Mistress, I know the whereabouts of the flame grass."

Xuan Li crawled up Feng Yange's arm. "When I went to visit a friend from the Spirit Wolf Clan in the past, I saw the flame grass there. I can go ask him for it on your behalf."

Feng Yange's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Xuan Li's tiny body. "Are you sure you can get it?"

As long as they got the flame grass, Long Ze could neutralize his poison and transform.

"Of course! He's my brother. A mere stalk of flame grass is a piece of cake."

Xuan Li's tone was very proud. Feng Yange immediately stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's leave right away and get the flame grass as soon as possible."

The distance between the Spirit Wolf Clan and their current location was about fifty to sixty li. According to Xuan Li's introduction, the area where the Spirit Wolf Clan resided was relatively hot, and they primarily cultivated flame grass. The Spirit Wolf Clan were pack animals and local overlords.

However, the Spirit Wolf Clan had encountered some issues in recent years, setting up a Barrier to avoid communication with the outside world.

"Mistress, the Spirit Wolf Clan is just ahead. However, the Spirit Wolf Clan dislikes outsiders entering, especially humans. I will call him out to meet you." Xuan Li explained seriously, fearing she might misunderstand.

"It's fine. I only want a stalk of flame grass for Long Ze. As long as we can get it, that's all that matters."

As a human of only the mid-stage Spirit Master Realm, she didn't want to make enemies with any Spirit Beast clan either.

Xuan Li brought Feng Yange to a cave near the Spirit Wolf Clan territory to wait for him while he went to the Spirit Wolf Clan himself.

"[New quest issued: Please rescue the Young Lord of the Spirit Wolf Clan.]"

Feng Yange walked out of the cave when suddenly, a black shadow plummeted from the sky with a loud crash, landing right at her feet.