Chapter 75: Elder Zhou’s Threat
The Blue Scale King Snake. The largest venomous snake in the cultivation world. Adult specimens usually exceed three zhang in length, with some even sighted at six to seven zhang, making them more terrifying than some pythons. This is the main reason it is called the “King Snake.” Due to its large size, its venom yield is also frighteningly high, making it impossible for even cultivators to withstand a single bite.
Of course, these are not the reasons for its fame. It is most well-known for its ability to produce “Blue Scale Stone.” This stone is an excellent raw material for weapon crafting due to its extreme hardness and its excellent conductivity and amplification effects for water True Qi, especially for female cultivators who primarily cultivate water True Qi.
However, although Blue Scale Stone is good, it is far too rare, so many people cannot obtain even a small piece in their entire lives. Just like Xu Mei, even though she is an elder of the HongHua Sect, the Blue Scale Stone contained in her sword is less than one-tenth.
Since these are not secrets in the cultivation world, when Senior Brother Ma mentioned them, Qi Huang and the two senior sisters were so shocked. They understood that with the existence of the Blue Scale King Snake, there was a high probability of Blue Scale Stone being nearby.
“Where is that Blue Scale King Snake?”
Ruan Lingyu’s voice trembled. After all, for a female cultivator like her who cultivated water True Qi, Blue Scale Stone was a treasure that could only be hoped for but not sought.
Qi Huang’s face also showed urgency. Although she didn’t need it, her main body did. Moreover, the weapons used by these senior sisters were indeed too shabby, unable to even break through defenses, which was why they always suffered setbacks in battles.
Senior Brother Ma, forced by circumstances, explained the whole story.
“More than half a year ago, someone came to the HeYi Sect for help, claiming to be from Panshan County in Huang Tian Prefecture. Their village had recently encountered strange events. Every few days, people would see a large, azure snake coiled in the clouds thousands of zhang in the sky. A single scale of this snake was as large as a carriage, and it was thousands of zhang long. When coiled, it was as terrifying as a mountain. Soon after, villagers were bitten and killed by the snake.
We in the HeYi Sect were curious, so we sent people to investigate. We discovered that the ones biting and killing people were actually young Blue Scale King Snakes, and the terrifying large snake in the clouds was also the same species. The high-level figures in our sect knew that where there is a Blue Scale King Snake, there is a high probability of Blue Scale Stone, so we wanted to investigate further.”
Senior Brother Ma covered his thigh and spoke concisely.
“What? Coiled in the clouds? Thousands of zhang long? How dare you have ideas about such a terrifying monster?”
Ruan Lingyu was horrified.
“If the situation is true, then this Blue Scale King Snake is definitely a great demon at the Huashen Realm or even Shentong Realm. Your HeYi Sect does not even have a Huashen Realm expert, how dare you have such ambitions?”
Yun Fei also voiced a soul-stirring question beside him.
“That’s why we planted this Ghost Tomato! The Blue Scale King Snake dearly loves to eat Ghost Tomatoes to keep its venom glands full. Therefore, the high-level figures of our HeYi Sect came up with an idea: to use Ghost Tomatoes to lure that giant snake out, confirm its lair, and then quietly steal the Blue Scale Stones.”
Senior Brother Ma revealed the HeYi Sect’s plan.
“Then why didn’t you lure it out directly after obtaining the Ghost Tomatoes, but instead planted them? As far as I know, a vine of Ghost Tomato can only bear one fruit, right? Isn’t this redundant?”
Qi Huang pressed.
“Because the majority of the Ghost Tomatoes we obtained were seeds, and only two or three were complete fruits. The scent emitted was not enough to lure out the giant Blue Scale King Snake.”
Senior Brother Ma hastily explained.
“So that’s how it is.”
Qi Huang suddenly realized.
“There’s one last question, why did you voluntarily come to Huang Tian Prefecture to subdue demons and eliminate monsters for the local people?”
Yun Fei asked the question that had been troubling her.
“I told you, can you let me go?”
Senior Brother Ma asked pitifully.
“If you tell me, I can consider it. If not, you will surely die. It’s up to you.”
Ruan Lingyu slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
“Because Ghost Tomatoes can only be planted in extremely yin places, so we need to use demons and monsters for positioning. Helping them was just to find suitable planting locations.”
Senior Brother Ma answered wisely.
“I knew your HeYi Sect wouldn’t be so kind. As expected, it was for selfish desires.”
Yun Fei cursed inwardly.
“What should we do with him now?”
Ruan Lingyu turned to ask for her two junior sisters’ opinions.
“Didn’t you plant ten Ghost Tomato plants? Where are the rest? Take us to find them!”
Qi Huang had not forgotten her purpose.
“Yes, yes, yes, we must find the remaining poisonous items, otherwise leaving them in place is too dangerous. The tragedy of Bajiao Village must not happen again.”
Ruan Lingyu reacted.
“Yes, yes, yes, I will definitely take you to find them. We have already searched five places when we came. Two of them are missing, two have been picked by you, and one is this Bajiao Village. There are five remaining.”
Senior Brother Ma had learned to answer quickly just to survive.
“Missing?”
Qi Huang felt a pang of pain. Two Ghost Tomatoes were a huge loss for her.
“Yes, they are missing. I dare not lie to you. They were planted in the wilderness, and I cannot guarantee that there won’t be any accidents.”
Senior Brother Ma thought Qi Huang didn’t believe him and explained desperately.
Next, Qi Huang and the two senior sisters escorted Senior Brother Ma back to their residence and had Li Shi briefly bandage him, as he was still useful.
Ruan Lingyu used the “Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device” to report what happened in Bajiao Village.
“This ‘Thousand Li Sound Transmission Device’ is so useful. When those outer sect forces pressured you back then, didn’t Master contact you?”
Qi Huang asked curiously.
“He did! But you were missing at the time, and we couldn’t find you.”
Ruan Lingyu explained.
“I see.”
Qi Huang was relieved. When she was summoned back to HongHua by her main body, she realized she had been missing for four to five days. She didn’t know what that Spiritual Wisdom was trying to do.
After receiving the news, the entire high-level leadership of the HongHua Sect was shaken. Firstly, they were angry at the bottomless pit of the HeYi Sect, and secondly, they were shocked by the appearance of the Blue Scale King Snake within their domain.
“The matter of the Blue Scale King Snake needs to be discussed in detail. You should first follow that Senior Brother Ma to find all the Ghost Tomatoes and bring them back to the HongHua Sect. You must ensure his safety during the journey. He is an important witness. The HeYi Sect cannot get away with such actions.”
Xu Mei conveyed Sect Leader Qin’s order.
Qi Huang was a bit speechless. She had initially planned to keep the remaining Ghost Tomatoes for herself, but now it seemed they had to be handed over. After all, the thousand-zhang long Blue Scale King Snake was too powerful to deal with, and they could only lure it.
“No, I now have the Spiritual Sense of the Huashen Realm, plus the strength of the sixth layer of the Guiyi Realm from my main body. Even if it is truly a demon snake at the Huashen Realm, it’s not impossible to snatch food from a tiger’s mouth!”
Qi Huang suddenly realized. Luring it out didn’t necessarily mean letting the snake eat it, as long as it could be drawn out. Moreover, whether the snake was as terrifying as rumored was still debatable.
Thinking this way, Qi Huang felt much more relaxed. The prey she had ‘caught’ should absolutely not be given to others, even if it was wild, and snakes were no exception.
The next day, the HongHua Sect disciples arrived with medicine to support Bajiao Village. Qi Huang and a few senior sisters finally had free time and escorted Senior Brother Ma on their way.
In five days, Qi Huang and the senior sisters accompanied Senior Brother Ma to the remaining five planting locations and found four more Ghost Tomatoes.
“Can four Ghost Tomatoes lure out that snake?”
Ruan Lingyu asked subconsciously.
“The scent emitted by four is too faint. To lure out the giant snake, unless its lair is confirmed first, and someone risks taking it to a close enough location and then tries to escape, it would be no different from suicide for cultivators below the Huashen Realm who cannot fly. Even Heaven could not save them.”
Senior Brother Ma said directly.
‘Fly? Isn’t this a tailor-made mission for me?’
Qi Huang suddenly became happy. It seemed these Ghost Tomatoes were destined to be hers.
A few days later, Qi Huang and the senior sisters escorted Senior Brother Ma back to the HongHua Sect. Before she could even sit down, she received a mission: to reject Elder Zhou of the HuXiao Sect.
“Remember my words, no matter what conditions they offer, you must not yield.”
Cheng Hong Ling repeatedly cautioned.
“My integrity can be fully trusted.”
Qi Huang confidently assured, and then went to meet the so-called Elder Zhou with the expectations of the entire HongHua Sect.
“A true genius disciple! You actually made this old man wait so many days! Do you really think my HuXiao Sect needs you so badly?”
Elder Zhou immediately put on a show of power upon meeting her.
“Elder Zhou is joking. If you don’t want to wait, you can leave.”
Qi Huang said calmly.
“Are you sure? With your talent, staying in the HongHua Sect is just tying your own hands. Conversely, if you come to the HuXiao Sect, within ten years, you will definitely be able to participate in the world-class Evergreen Convention, and achieving immortality will not be impossible.”
Elder Zhou reminded her.
“Thank you for your concern, Elder Zhou! Even without going to the HuXiao Sect, I can participate in the world-class Evergreen Convention within ten years.”
Qi Huang replied with great confidence. After all, the resources she needed were not overlapping with others, so why should she be afraid of competitors?
“What will you use to do it? Do you remember how you lost in the last Evergreen Convention? Aren’t you afraid the Immortal Alliance will increase the team battle participants to ten people? You couldn’t even handle five people, how can you handle ten?”
Elder Zhou threatened with a smile.
