Chapter 11: Giant Python's Shedding (Please Collect)

"Drip—"

A drop of plentiful rainwater fell on the dry turtle's back.

It burst out splashing water.

The ensuing pattering rain covered the whole lake surface with a thin layer of mist.

Soon after.

A torrential downpour poured down, accompanied by rumbling thunder and the surging blue lightning within the dark clouds.

Yunhe, bathed in the rain, lifted his head, glanced at the overcast sky, and pursed his lips.

"This rain came a bit suddenly."

I was comfortably basking in the sun, and the rain came as soon as it was said.

He pushed himself up.

"Forget it, let's just treat it as mealtime."

With that thought, he stepped forward steadily, walking step by step toward the lake.

"Huh?"

Just halfway there, he suddenly froze, turned his head, and looked behind.

The lingering mist not only made the lake surface illusory, but also reduced visibility of Huanhu Dao beneath him and the lush forest behind the island.

But for some reason, he felt as if a sudden urge had come over him, sensing that something was happening in that forest.

He had this feeling before when he found the not-yet-fully-formed Trace Blood Lotus.

For this inexplicable feeling, Yunhe called it 'beast's intuition.'

"Could it be that another spiritual plant has been born? Or perhaps a treasure?"

He stood there, hesitating for a moment.

He still turned and walked toward the dense forest he had never entered.

"Dangerous, but should be within controllable limits."

By always keeping his monster power restrained, he avoided being too conspicuous.

A First Stage Early turtle-type monster beast, and a turtle that merely looks like a large ordinary turtle, would definitely attract attention as a monster turtle and provoke hostility.

"Just take a distant glance, don't get involved in the struggle, leave if there's danger, and don't stray too far from the water surface."

Step by step along the winding path, he slowly climbed to the other side of Huanhu Dao, into the vast unknown forest.

Every step Yunhe took was careful.

If he sensed something wrong or encountered something unexpected, he would retract into his shell and then try to hide in the water.

As long as he could hide in the water, most land-dwelling creatures, even a Middle Stage or Late Stage monster beast, might not be able to find him.

This is also one of his sources of confidence.

"Thud—thud—thud—"

When Yunhe left Huanhu Dao and arrived before the forest, he faintly heard a muffled sound coming from afar.

"Is this the sound of a fight? No, it's more like something striking the ground or some hard object."

There was movement.

This suggests that a monster beast may have already arrived first.

Yunhe instantly felt a urge to retreat.

"Whoosh—"

But the next moment, a figure flashed from the thicket not far from him.

Although the opponent was very fast, Yunhe still made out their appearance.

"A badger? With no concealment of its monster power, it's a First Stage Early badger-type monster beast."

Because his own monster power was restrained, that badger did not notice him.

"It seems that not only I have noticed the anomaly here."

Since that badger-type monster beast didn't notice him, it's likely other monster beasts wouldn't pay attention to a turtle of considerable size but no threat.

Moreover, most importantly.

Having a badger scout ahead, even if something went wrong, it could cover his retreat.

Gradually, Yunhe finally made out the source of the sound.

He saw that in the dense forest there was a dark cave.

And outside the cave, under the sudden rain.

A huge python, its body covered in dense dark brown scales, was fiercely whipping its body against the ground and rock walls.

While bursting out large amounts of rock fragments, it also produced a muffled sound.

"So it's a giant python shedding its skin."

But soon Yunhe's pupils narrowed slightly.

"No, it's advancing! It's the critical moment of a First Stage Early breakthrough to First Stage Middle!"

And furthermore.

He also noticed.

Around the giant python, many much smaller snakes were gathered.

They flicked their tongues, vigilant of the surroundings.

Following the gaze of these ordinary snakes, Yunhe also spotted several figures.

"The earlier badger, a red-tailed fox, and a feathered falcon?"

"Three First Stage Early monster beasts are all staring at this giant python about to advance to First Stage Middle. They seem ready to take advantage of its weakened state right after its breakthrough."

Such situations are not uncommon in the Yao Shou Shijie.

In fact, it's not only in the demon beasts' world; the Immortal Cultivation Realm is the same.

Therefore, whenever a cultivation base breakthrough occurs, most cultivators or demon beasts will hide in a relatively safe place to undergo it.

However, low-level demon beasts may not have such high intelligence.

Or perhaps this python's breakthrough was relatively sudden.

But no matter how you say it, the current situation is not favorable for it.

Yunhe, hiding beneath the dense foliage of the shrubs, quietly watched the scene before him.

The rising water vapor and the spreading earthy scent effectively concealed his whereabouts.

His concealed demonic power also ensured he attracted no notice from any demon beast or even snakes.

Rip—

Like the sound of silk tearing.

A nearly transparent snakeskin peeled off from the giant python's body.

The bloodstains clinging between the new scales were washed clean by the rain, becoming more glossy and vivid.

But it also became more fragile.

Success.

Yunhe, hiding beneath the shrubs, tucked his head in.

However, for the giant python, success was merely the beginning of this tribulation.

As expected.

As the old skin shed, the giant python's aura surged sharply, but after only three breaths it plummeted to a low ebb.

Hiss——!!

The giant python obviously understood its own state, and facing these three neighbors eyeing it, it let out a roar that was fierce on the outside but weak within.

Accompanied by its hiss, a rising and falling chorus of 'hiss' sounds erupted.

The emotions of the surrounding snakes were unusually agitated.

However, facing the giant python's roar, the three demon beasts were not frightened away.

As neighbors, they instinctively knew that if the giant python smoothly survived today, their territories afterward might not be secure.

Territory represents resources, and this battle is destined to erupt as the giant python breaks through.

This is both an opportunity to scavenge and a means of self-preservation.

So, rather than hesitate, let's take advantage of its current weakness and kill it!

Moreover, the giant python now is a bona fide First Stage Middle demon beast; if one could bite off a large chunk of its flesh or even swallow its snake gallbladder, the benefits for any First Stage Early demon beast would be obvious.

Here they come!

Following Yunhe's low shout from his heart.

The first to unable to hold back was indeed the badger that had just flashed past him earlier.

One saw that the badger, whose body was gray-brown with only a white stripe on its back, was the first to charge out of the thicket.

The badger itself is a wild animal that regards snakes as food, and after becoming a demon beast, this is even more so.

Therefore, it has the greatest conflict with the snake swarm and most dislikes seeing the giant python break through.

It bit down on a small snake lunging at it and snapped it in half directly.

Its tongue precisely and skillfully extracted the snake's gallbladder and swallowed it.

Its claws slapped repeatedly, sending two snakes that tried to block it flying away.

Seeing the badger's move, the other two demon beasts could no longer restrain themselves.

Cry——!!

A loud, long cry.

The feathered falcon perched on the treetop folded its wings, like an arrow piercing the sky, and flew straight toward the giant python.

Launched later but arrived first!

Bang! Bang!!

In the blink of an eye, the feathered falcon's extremely sharp beak collided with the giant python's sturdy body.

Close behind, the badger's attack angle was even more cunning, aiming for the giant python's tail.

One bite down, skin split and flesh tore!

Hiss!!!

The pained giant python's muscles tensed all over, like a thick whip lashing out sideways.

While the badger was swatted away, the feathered falcon momentarily could not get close.

This guy

But Yunhe's attention at this moment was focused on the red-tailed fox.

This red-tailed fox is indeed cunning.

Its clamor was no less than that of the badger and feathered falcon, yet it exerted hardly any effort.

It merely prowled around the giant python's periphery, occasionally dealing with a few inconspicuous small snakes.

It had no intention of joining the fight at all.

At most, it would run up to the giant python's face, show off its presence, and provoke the badger and feathered falcon.

Quite obvious.

This guy was preparing to reap the benefits when the three demon beasts exhausted themselves in their struggle.

At worst, one can still guarantee one's own state, adapt to the situation, either flee or throw stones into the well.

Among low-level demon beasts, there are also clever ones.

But.

"You damn, if you don't join the fight, are you sure you can win with just those two?"

Most importantly.

It wants to be the fisherman, what about Yunhe?

So, Yunhe's eyes, fixed on the red-tailed fox, spun around in a circle.

He spotted the moment when the red-haired fox, feigning an attack while muddying the waters, was about to strike.

Just as the red-tailed fox trotted up to the giant python, bared its teeth to show off its presence, and at the same time created an opening to lure the badger and the feathered falcon into attacking.

Whoosh—

In the pouring rain, an arrow wholly condensed from water flow shot from behind the red-tailed fox.

Grazing the edge of its fur, it struck the giant python's body with precision.

Originally, the giant python, having broken through to First Stage Middle and with its spiritual intelligence grown again, could more or less see the red-tailed fox's intention.

It was also pleased about that.

The three demon beasts besieging it were outwardly united but inwardly divided; that was its chance.

Who would have thought, this red-tailed fox that had been paddling water all day would actually launch a hidden arrow!

A surge of anger rapidly rose from the giant python's heart.

What is actually most infuriating is not the enemies that have been besieging it all along.

Because the giant python knew their purpose from the start, it's a life-or-death struggle between them.

The giant python, having grown to First Stage Middle demon beast, was already well versed in this way of survival.

What truly makes one feel indignant is this red-tailed fox, a petty person.

Whether to fight or not, they thought it wouldn't strike, yet it launched a sneak attack.

Originally the giant python might still have had a chance to survive, but lost it because of the red-tailed fox's 'entering the fray' and 'sneak attack'.

Weak as it was, how could it face the three demon beasts?

The giant python, freed from anger, locked its fierce vertical pupils tightly onto the red-tailed fox.

Even if it is doomed this time, it must drag someone down with it!

Before, it might have considered the feathered falcon or the badger.

Now, well...

Red-tailed fox!

But actually, the red-tailed fox is an even more bewildered existence than the giant python.

It stared with its narrow, elongated eyes, its depths full of disbelief.

What's going on?

It just wanted to paddle in the water, never expecting to jump into the fray right now.

Before it could figure it out, it met the giant python's furious, fierce serpentine gaze.

Suddenly, a shiver ran through it, and the fur on its back stood up.

Wuu!!!

It's not me!

Really not me!

No matter how cunning or smart it is, a single fox couldn't possibly control the water flow.

The problem is behind it!

But it didn't have a chance to look behind.

Actually, even if it turned its head to look, it would only see dense shrubs, misty water vapor, and turned-over soil, and wouldn't find Yunhe's trace.

Because Yunhe at this moment had already hidden underground.

Sss!!!

Bang!!

(End of chapter)