Chapter 12: Twin-Stem Thunder Juice Fruit (Please Collect!)

"Hiss, truly vicious."

Yunhe, hiding underground with only his eyes exposed, bared his teeth.

Originally, the red-tailed fox, sneaky and slippery, was swimming, and its condition was at its best.

No, it should be said that it hardly consumed anything at all.

If the feather falcon and the badger really fought the giant python to the bitter end, it would also have the highest chance to scoop up the leftovers.

Well then.

After being stared down by the utterly enraged giant python, the red-tailed fox instantly became the most miserable one.

The giant python not only completely ignored the attacks of the feather falcon and the badger, but also commanded its subordinate ordinary snakes to jointly besiege the red-tailed fox.

In no time, the red-tailed fox was covered in wounds, even losing a leg; under the rain's lashing, its fur hung limp and soaked, looking as miserable as possible.

"Wuu—"

The red-tailed fox, enduring the pain, let out a low whimper.

Full of lingering fear, it glanced at the giant python, then lowered its head and slowly retreated.

But the giant python, having already been tricked once, had no intention of letting it go at all.

Its sinuous body darted forward at extreme speed and caught up.

Seizing the moment the red-tailed fox failed to react in time, it tightly coiled and bound it.

"Scrape scrape scrape—"

Muscles continuously contracted and tightened; the sound of scales rubbing against scales made one's teeth feel sore.

"Wuuu!!"

And the bound red-tailed fox finally realized that the giant python, even if it itself did not want to live, would drag it down with it.

The ferocity inherent to beasts was finally fully unleashed.

It bit down fiercely on the giant python's body.

"Hiss!!!"

Sharp fangs pierced layer after layer of scales, blood flowing freely; the pained giant python roared.

Pain brought about even tighter muscle contraction.

"Crack!"

Accompanied by a crisp crack, the struggling red-tailed fox had its spine twisted and broken, losing all vitality.

"Cree!!"

"Roar!!"

Seeing this, the feather falcon and the badger were intimidated by the giant python's ferocity, yet the bloody smell mingling with rain and earth thoroughly stirred their ferocity.

"Whoosh—"

The feather falcon swooped down swiftly, its sharp beak leaving a deep bloody wound on the giant python, but soon it was slapped away by the python.

The badger seized the opportunity to sneak-attack the giant python's relatively vulnerable belly, biting off a large chunk of skin and flesh.

However, due to being overly rash, it was flung away violently by the python's tail.

For a moment, the three monster beasts fought in a chaotic tangle.

This was the bloodiest slaughter, and also the law of survival among monster beasts.

The fit survive, the unfit perish!

Finally.

When the scarred giant python swung its tail, its most relied-upon weapon, again, because its injuries were too severe and its wounds too numerous, it failed to strike the feather falcon accurately; instead, the falcon precisely pecked it at the seven-inch spot, hitting its soft ribs!

"Hiss—"

The giant python weakly let out a whimper, its body heavily crashing to the ground.

"Hiss hiss—hiss hiss—"

The surrounding wild snakes seemed to sense their leader's condition, all letting out mournful cries.

The feather falcon perched on the giant python's body suddenly spread its wings, crying out excitedly like a victor.

Likewise, the badger, seeing this, understood it was time to share the spoils of victory; it dragged its lame body toward the giant python.

The giant python had just completed a breakthrough in its monster power; every inch of its muscle was delicious food.

But if we're speaking truly, its snake gallbladder is absolutely the most precious.

Just.

When the badger bared its teeth at the feather falcon, revealing its craving for the snake gallbladder while approaching the giant python,

The motionless giant python lying on the ground suddenly snapped its eyes open, its ferocious jaws flying open, and, with the badger completely unprepared, bit into its waist.

Sharp fangs pierced through its body.

"Wuu—"

The sudden change left the badger no time to dodge.

After merely struggling twice, it, covered in wounds, also lost all movement in the python's mouth.

"Flap—"

The feather falcon, breaking out in a cold sweat from fright, flapped its wings and rose into the air, tightly watching the giant python now calm again on the ground with a hint of fear.

Really dead or feigning death?

At the same time, Yunhe, hiding in the mud cavern, let out a light sigh.

"Now it should be completely dead."

Snakes have strong vitality; even after death, some muscle memory and reflexes could still inflict heavy damage on an opponent.

Three first-stage early monster beasts besieged a first-stage middle monster beast that had just broken through and was in its weak period; two died and one was seriously injured—how tragic.

Almost done.

With that thought, Yunhe, who was digging in the dirt, slowly crawled out..

The mud clinging to his body was quickly washed clean by the rain.

Demonic power stirred, he gathered the water flow, encircling his body.

Yunhe held his breath, his gaze suddenly turning sharp.

He flicked his tail.

Water Arrow Technique!

Whoosh——

The piercing water arrow shot straight toward the startled feathered falcon in midair.

Bang!!

The feathered falcon, already weakened from a fierce battle, plus the rain's cover, couldn't react in time and was directly hit by the 'Water Arrow Technique'.

Cry!!

The mournful cry accompanied feathers scattering down.

Seeing this, Yunhe did not stop.

He flicked his tail again.

The Water Arrow Technique was unleashed again!

That is, only because it's pouring rain now; otherwise the Water Arrow Technique wouldn't be cast this fast.

Bang! Bang!

Without bothering to check if it was completely killed, Yunhe rushed forward at his fastest speed and bit the giant python's corpse with his beak-like mouth.

He dragged that heavy, huge body back.

No way, although the four demon beasts from the earlier battle—some dead, some wounded—no longer posed any threat to him.

But who knows how many demon beasts still lurk in this forest, and how many have sensed the commotion here?

That is, the bloody smell has been largely washed away by the rain and earth's scent; otherwise other demon beasts might have already approached.

Wanting to reap the benefits of the fisherman's gain isn't that simple, because you must ensure only one fisherman; if the struggle drags on, this fisherman could also become the clam in the snipe-and-clam scenario for other demon beasts.

As for that feathered falcon, even if killed, it couldn't be taken back.

So merely wounding or driving it off is enough.

Of course, killing it is best.

Dragging the heavy body left a deep trench in the ground.

Huh?

Yunhe, who had just taken two steps, suddenly paused.

His nose twitched slightly.

This smell

He set down the serpent's body, turned his head, and looked behind.

He saw that in the corner of the snake's den, piled with rubble.

A faint, strange aura drifted out.

After a brief hesitation, Yunhe set down the giant python and hurried over.

Clatter——

He brushed away the chaotic rubble.

He saw a plant with three light-blue leaves, a dark-purple stem, and a dark-blue fruit the size of an eyeball.

Spiritual Plant!

At the same time, Yunhe noticed that the ground around the spiritual plant was scorched black, and even under the rain's washing, a faint heat rose.

Most importantly, this is a twin-stemmed spiritual plant!

Except that one of its fruits has already disappeared.

Twin-stemmed Thunder Juice Fruit!

Back when he searched for information on the 'Reverse Blood Lotus' in the market, he had glimpsed data about this spiritual plant.

He immediately understood.

'Under normal circumstances, the twin-stemmed thunder juice fruit will, before maturity, draw nutrients from one fruit to the other to ensure efficacy. But if encountering thunderstorm weather, it will likely draw the thunder attribute energy from the air to mature itself. Then both fruits can be retained, and their effects greatly increase!'

'So, coincidentally today's thunderstorm caused one fruit of the twin-stemmed thunder juice fruit to mature. To prevent the scent from spreading and attracting unnecessary trouble, the giant python swallowed one of the fruits. This, however, caused its demonic power to surge, breaking through and shedding its skin, then entering a weakened state where it was ambushed by three demon beasts.'

No wonder the giant python didn't hide when breaking through; it turned out to be a hasty response to battle.

'Good stuff.'

Although one fruit has been eaten, the remaining one likely can continue growing.

It can help the giant python complete the breakthrough from a First Stage Early demon beast to a First Stage Middle, and likewise could possibly help him achieve a breakthrough.

It's absolutely a good thing!

But Yunhe is now troubled.

Originally, a group of snakes dwelled here, their serpentine aura concealing it; as long as it remained immature, it wouldn't be discovered.

But now the giant python is dead, the remaining snakes have scattered, leaving this 'Twin-stemmed Thunder Juice Fruit' here will inevitably attract other demon beasts' covetousness.

Why not transplant it?

'It's not that we can't try.'

Even if it rots in hand, gambling on the transplant success rate is better than having it snatched by other demon beasts.

Thinking this, Yunhe no longer hesitated.

He lightly dug open the ground with his double claws, trying to preserve as much as possible the roots of the "Twin-stem Thunder Juice Fruit".

Fortunately, because it had rained, the soil was moist, and with his assistance in controlling water flow, after a while he finally managed to pull it out completely.

It was wrapped in some soil.

He carefully held it in his mouth and walked toward the giant python's corpse.

This corpse was obviously too big to carry back all at once; by the time he returns after making a round, those few monster carcasses might already have been dragged away by other monsters.

It's a pity that he is currently in turtle form; if he were in human form, he might be able to get both.

"Take the snake gallbladder."

However, Yunhe had already thought it through.

Monster meat is good, but it cannot bring him a qualitative change.

It's merely a few meals with higher nutritional value.

Taking the most precious snake gallbladder with him, even if they are gone when he returns, the loss would at least not be great.

From the wound left by the feathered falcon, he extracted a black snake gallbladder the size of a fist from the giant python.

He held it in his mouth.

He also held the "Twin-stem Thunder Juice Fruit" in his mouth.

He hurried toward Huanhu Dao.

Before he had gone far, Yunhe faintly heard movement behind him.

A few roars, a few collisions.

"Looks like another monster has arrived."

Having completely given up the idea of making another trip, he quickened his pace a bit more.

Anyway, the truly valuable things are now in his hands.

(End of chapter)