Chapter 99: System Retrieval

Li Xuan groped forward along the Stone Wall for a full four or five hours, until the sun set; with no light in the Poison Fog, he finally stopped.

Visibility in the Poison Fog is already poor, and without the sun it's literally pitch black; Li Xuan has to keep the Filthy Flame clinging to his body, and he's weary, so he doesn't want to stay up fighting.

All day Li Xuan didn't find a path to the Bing Huo Liang Yi Yan; the Stone Wall seemed like a solid whole, with no cracks, which left him feeling quite depressed.

Li Xuan's current state is that he knows the treasure is only a few hundred meters away, yet he can't touch it and can only circle around it.

Since he has decided to rest, Li Xuan thought about finding a place that would be a bit more comfortable.

Li Xuan wandered nearby, found a spot where the Poison Fog was relatively thin, dug a den, laid a thick layer of cloth inside, covered the top with wire mesh, and then placed the Filthy Flame Lotus Platform on the mesh.

The Filthy Flame Yin Lotus platform can store soul power, keep the Filthy Flame burning, and act like a torch; Li Xuan had never used this function before, thought it useless, but now it is extremely useful, able to completely block Poison Fog from entering the den.

Li Xuan slowly infused soul power into the platform, felt it fill with soul power, snapped his fingers, and a layer of Filthy Flame instantly ignited on the platform.

The platform instantly filled with Filthy Flame, which rose quickly, scorching the Poison Fog; after the burning, the fog turned into air saturated with soul power— not fresh, but at least non‑poisonous.

Li Xuan can barely lie in the den to rest.

However it was still early, so Li Xuan packed up the platform, crawled out of the den, and took the Giant Snake's corpse out of the Void Pearl.

He doesn't know what bloodline the Giant Snake soul beast belongs to, but the creature lived in Poison Fog for years, its toxins have permeated every inch of its flesh, so its meat is inedible.

Yet its scales and the soul bone possibly formed in the corpse are still very attractive to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan thought for a moment, drew his dagger, and began dissecting the Giant Snake.

The Giant Snake's poison sacs and snake gallbladder are valuable; even if he abandons the meat, he must take these two items.

Li Xuan first found an easy spot near the snake's lower jaw, carefully cut the skin, then peeled muscle and tissue piece by piece, finally obtaining two basketball‑sized poison sacs.

The toxicity of these two poison sacs is extremely domineering; Li Xuan took out two Jade Boxes, carefully placed the poison sacs inside, sealed them, and put them into the Void Pearl, fearing they might burst.

Li Xuan has already experienced the Giant Snake's Poison Liquid—highly corrosive, extremely toxic, and its taste can be used to concoct poisons.

After securing the poison sacs, Li Xuan located the Giant Snake's seven‑cun, sliced the Snakeskin with little effort, then struck hard, instantly carving a half‑meter‑long tunnel in the snake's belly.

A foul, putrid smell rose as the internal organs in the belly slid out onto the ground.

Looking at the foul organs, Li Xuan shook his head helplessly, grabbed a wooden stick, turned the organs over, and finally found the snake gallbladder.

The Giant Snake's toxicity is domineering, and the gallbladder's medicinal effect is also extremely fierce—a good thing indeed.

But out in the wilderness, Li Xuan can't use the gallbladder; although its effect is strong, it needs processing to reach its full potential, and swallowing it raw would waste its power and it's too foul‑smelling for him to even consider eating.

Apart from the gallbladder, the snake's viscera have little use, so Li Xuan plans to burn the viscera to ash.

Just as Li Xuan was about to light a fire to dry the viscera, he suddenly noticed a faint green glow at the spot of the intestines.

Using a small stick to part the surrounding intestines, Li Xuan was surprised to find a pigeon‑egg‑sized green bead.

Li Xuan pried the bead out of the viscera with his dagger, rinsed it with water, then picked it up, holding it carefully for inspection.

"Could this snake have cultivated an Inner Core?" Li Xuan scratched his head and muttered to himself.

【Detected absorbable item, offer to System for absorption; upon agreement, this System will grant reward to Host】 A system prompt sounded in Li Xuan's ear, startling him; it was the first time the System asked him for something, and he didn't know what it wanted.

"System, what is this? Let me see its attributes," Li Xuan thought and said to the System.

If this thing truly is a treasure, Li Xuan also considered keeping it in his hands.

As Li Xuan finished speaking, a Light Screen projected from the bead, displaying its attributes.

【Item: Viper Pearl】

【Quality: Red】

【Description: This pearl originates from a thirty‑thousand‑year‑old mutated ghost viper; the soul‑beast bloodline's power is pure, potential immense; due to mutation it produced the Viper Pearl, which takes ten thousand years to form, is immune to all poisons, and repels all insects】

"Its main function is pest removal and detoxification, and it looks like its effect is obvious," Li Xuan read the text on the Light Screen, his eyes brightening; this truly is a treasure.

Moreover, this pearl's function is even more valuable in the Sunset Forest.

"System, I'd like to keep this for myself; can I give it to you after I leave the Sunset Forest?" Li Xuan scratched his head and asked the System.

【In 24 hours, the bloodline power inside the Viper Pearl will completely dissipate; thereafter the pearl is useless to this System, please Host decide promptly】

"Hmm…" Li Xuan frowned, stroked his chin, and began to contemplate.

The Viper Pearl is indeed precious and its effect clear, but Li Xuan already has Filthy Flame for detox and sulfur for pest control, enough for the poisonous insects in the Sunset Forest, so the pearl is optional for him.

Moreover, it seems the System wants the bloodline power inside the Viper Pearl; this is an important discovery—henceforth, for any treasure related to bloodline power, Li Xuan should focus on acquiring them.

"What can you exchange me for?" Li Xuan asked the System.

【Please Host specify the type of exchange item; the exchange item will appear in the System Mall's special offer area after tomorrow's update, priced at one point】

"I feel you're just pulling your pants down and farting; just give it to me directly, isn't that simpler?" Li Xuan said irritably.

"Fine, fine, here you go." Li Xuan pondered briefly and then said.

As Li Xuan finished speaking, the Viper Pearl in his hand instantly dimmed, turning into a pile of white powder that scattered from his hand.

【Please Host confirm exchange item direction】

Li Xuan hesitated, thinking of another issue: he's no longer afraid of Poison Fog or poisonous insects, but he lacks a decisive finishing move or a desperate escape ability.

"System, exchange me an escape‑type treasure!" Li Xuan said without hesitation.

If there are too many enemies, a finishing move can only be used once, but an escape‑type treasure can solve the problem no matter how many foes there are.

【Host confirm exchange item as escape‑type, selection confirmed, exchange item will appear after tomorrow's mall update.】

Dear readers, tomorrow is the Mid‑Autumn short holiday, hehe, wishing all of you a happy holiday.

(End of chapter)