Chapter 72

"Brother Ning Chuan, Brother Ning Chuan, did you bring something delicious this time?"

"Or do you want to hear me tell stories? Let me tell you, I've recently remembered quite a few fun things!"

He was clearly very happy at Brother Ning Chuan's appearance.

Brother Ning Chuan looked at the string of questions Zhou Botong fired off like a machine gun.

He was somewhat at a loss for words, half laughing and half crying.

This Old Pervert's curiosity and energy were simply at their peak.

From a small storage sachet he carried with him,

he took out some pastries and wild fruits that Huang Rong had prepared for him on a daily basis.

Using them to "bribe" this Old Pervert, who had been trapped for many days, could not have been better.

"Old Pervert, you must be hungry after being trapped here."

"Eat these to tide you over for now."

Brother Ning Chuan pushed the food in front of Zhou Botong.

Seeing the pastries emitting an enticing aroma and the juicy wild fruits,

Zhou Botong's eyes immediately went straight.

Although he was locked here by Huang Yaoshi and didn't worry about food or drink,

the food Huang Yaoshi provided was mostly bland and tasteless; how could it compare to these exquisite snacks?

He had been craving these for a long time.

"Wow! It smells so good! Thank you, Brother Ning Chuan!"

Zhou Botong didn't even bother with politeness; he grabbed a piece of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into his mouth.

While eating, he mumbled unclearly:

"You are truly a good snake! Much better than that Huang Laoxie!"

"He just forces me to memorize that broken scripture every day and won't give me anything delicious!"

"I, Old Pervert, am about to go crazy from being cooped up!"

Watching Zhou Botong wolf down the food,

Brother Ning Chuan smiled inwardly.

This Old Pervert indeed still had a childlike heart.

Just a little bit of delicious food could make him beam with joy.

After Zhou Botong had swept the food clean and let out a satisfied burp,

his eyes rolled, and he suddenly grabbed Brother Ning Chuan's snake tail, saying hopefully:

"Brother Ning Chuan, Brother Ning Chuan, you are so powerful; can you take me out to play for a bit?"

"I promise, we'll just go out for a short while and definitely return before dawn!"

"That way, it won't count as me breaking the bet with Huang Laoxie, right?"

He was clearly bored to death from being locked here for too long.

Hearing this, Brother Ning Chuan smiled inwardly.

This Old Pervert knew how to find loopholes.

He pretended to ponder, then said:

"Taking you out to play isn't impossible."

"However, you must give me some benefit, right?"

"How about you tell me the upper volume and the general outline of the Nine Yin Manual?"

"Then I will find a way to take you out for some fresh air."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Botong's small face immediately drooped.

He shook his head vigorously, like a rattle drum:

"No, no! That won't do!"

"I promised my senior brother that I cannot tell anyone the contents of the Nine Yin Manual!"

"Although I, Old Pervert, love to play, I keep my word!"

His face was resolute, as if there was no room for negotiation.

Seeing this, Brother Ning Chuan felt a bit more admiration for Zhou Botong's integrity.

However, he naturally would not give up just like that.

He feigned disappointment, sighed, and said:

"In that case, let it be."

"I originally wanted to take you outside Taohuadao to see the vast ocean and taste a seafood feast."

"Since you are unwilling, I will just go play by myself."

Having said that, he turned around and pretended to leave the cave.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't go! Brother Ning Chuan! Let's negotiate!"

Seeing Brother Ning Chuan about to leave, Zhou Botong immediately panicked.

He hurried forward, grabbed Brother Ning Chuan's tail, and wouldn't let him leave.

His eyeballs rolled around a few times, flashing a glimmer of cunning.

Then, he patted his chest and said:

"How about this! Brother Ning Chuan!"

"You can know the Nine Yin Manual, but you must get it by your own skill!"

"Let's fight! If you can defeat me, Old Fool, I'll tell you everything I know about the Nine Yin Manual!"

"If you can't beat me, hehe, then you must obediently take me out to play, and you're not allowed to tell Huang Laoxie!"

"How about that? Isn't this wager fair?"

Zhou Botong wore a look of triumph, as if he had just thought of a brilliant idea.

Hearing this, Ning Chuan smiled inwardly.

Exactly what he wanted!

This was the result he sought.

Sparring with Zhou Botong would not only allow him to legitimately "obtain" clues to the Nine Yin Manual.

It would also let him test his current strength, to see exactly how large the gap was between him and this renowned master who had been famous for a long time.

"Good! It's a deal!"

Ning Chuan agreed cheerfully.

Inside the cave, the space was not particularly large, but it was sufficient for two people to move freely.

One man and one snake stood facing each other.

The atmosphere instantly grew somewhat Solemn.

"Old Fool is about to strike! Be careful!"

Zhou Botong shouted loudly and launched the attack first.

His figure swayed, and both hands struck out simultaneously.

The left hand drew a circle while the right hand threw a punch.

It was his self-created supreme art—the Dual-Handed Combat Technique!

And the seemingly ordinary, yet actually containing the ultimate Daoist truths, the Empty and Bright Fist!

In an instant, fist shadows flew everywhere within the cave, and the force of the wind roared!

Zhou Botong's fist technique appeared soft and slow, yet it concealed internal power within, with changes that were Mo Ce.

At times it was like spring rain nourishing things silently; at other times it was like a surging, turbulent wave.

Coupled with the boost from the Dual-Handed Combat Technique, it was as if two people were attacking Ning Chuan simultaneously.

However, Ning Chuan felt no fear whatsoever!

He let out a low roar, and the Heavenly Snake Body Refining Art instantly activated!

His snake body suddenly swelled!

In the blink of an eye, it had transformed into a massive creature twelve meters long!

The pitch-black scales shimmered with a cold, dark luster under the light of the night pearl!

A terrifying aura instantly filled the entire cave!