Chapter 706: The Gold Weighing Assembly (Part 2)

"Hiss."

"Hiss-hiss?"

"Hiss-hiss-hiss!"

As the sun slowly sank below the horizon, the faint, dense hissing of snakes rustled through the endless rice fields, all moving slowly and in unison toward a certain direction.

By the time the sun had completely vanished from the horizon and the cold moonlight bathed the earth, a small altar in the center of the rice field had already become a serpent's paradise. Snakes of varying thickness and patterns coiled around the slender pillars surrounding the altar, gazing up with eager eyes at the black sculpture in the center of the altar.

'That purple-black venomous ball python must be the Shedesi Sect presiding over this audience.'

Raising its own snake tail to point at the only venomous ball python capable of coiling atop the snake-shaped sculpture, a spotted snake with six small blue dots on its forehead and a large red dot beneath its chin spoke to a bright red, fire-colored small snake beside it:

'Is this Divine Selection of yours real? Are you certain that as soon as the Shedesi Sect of that snake has a vacancy, you can directly and unconditionally fill the position?'

Hearing Tang Mu Senior's inquiry, Hearing Li Ang looked at the 【Weighing Gold Divine Selection (Devouring Wealth)】 gleaming in the slot, then nodded with firm determination.

'Alright then.'

Glancing at him with doubt, the spotted snake spoke:

'If you truly have confidence, then our actions will be much easier... In a moment, I'll tamper with things and try to kill that Shedesi Sect. You, amidst the chaos, go straight up, coil around that Snake Spirit sculpture, and transmit a danger signal to it, drawing it back.

As for the position, it's best at the tail end, or as far from the snake head as possible. Moreover, touch it briefly then release. After all, your Divine Selection is suspicious; a short contact is fine, but prolonged contact risks exposure.'

Nodding.

'Alright, move forward a bit and get ready!'

After giving these instructions, the spotted snake, which was Tang Mu Senior transformed, wriggled backward and silently slithered away through the gaps between the rice stalks. Meanwhile, Hearing Li Ang, following his request, drilled into the dense swarm of snakes and slowly squeezed his way toward the sculpture in the center of the altar.

"Hiss~"

Accompanied by an somewhat aged hissing sound, the purple-black venomous ball python coiled upon the Snake Spirit sculpture raised its triangular head slightly. Looking down from above at the venomous snakes below the altar, it strangely spoke in human words:

"Shed the scales of old life, hold the ring of the endless tail, the beast that hunts and devours wealth, lured by the forbidden fruit...

Brothers and sisters coming to pay homage to Lord Snake Spirit, I am the servant serving Lord Snake Spirit, and also the envoy executing Lord's decrees, shepherding the lambs in the human world. You may call me Boros."

After introducing his identity, the purple-black venomous ball python flicked its tongue. With a hoarse and sluggish old man's voice, it slowly spoke to those below the altar:

"When the guides brought you here, they must have already revealed to you that Lord Snake Spirit is descending in physical form this time.

Therefore, this time you will not only connect spiritually with Lord Snake Spirit, but even have the opportunity to witness Lord Snake Spirit's holy body with your own eyes, and touch Lord Snake Spirit's magnificent scales with your own hands. You are the luckiest batch of believers!"

"Hiss!"

"Hiss-hiss-hiss!"

After hearing the venomous ball python's words, the snakes climbing and coiling beneath the altar immediately hissed in a frenzy. One after another, they raised their heads, looking up at the platform with excited eyes, expecting to witness the descent of the Holy Spirit as he described. Some, even more excited, left the slender pillars and surged directly toward the altar.

"Silence!"

Raising its snake head slightly and hissing at those below to awe the overly excited believers, the purple-black python coiled on the black snake sculpture opened its massive mouth. Two rows of dense, sharp teeth popped out from its oral cavity, revealing a sinister expression that was half-smiling.

"Do not be impatient. Even if the wild flowers by the roadside bloom brilliantly, they cannot be planted in pure gold flower pots. Only the rare are precious.

This supreme grace of facing the Holy Spirit directly, if bestowed indiscriminately upon everyone, would neither highlight Lord Snake Spirit's benevolence nor align with my Lord's creed. So come! Show my Lord your devotion!"

Accompanied by the fervent speech, a small black-and-white crown quietly appeared atop the purple-black giant python's head... or rather, a three-headed pearl snake with black scales and white spots. It extended its forked, black-and-white mixed tongue toward the crowd of snakes below waiting expectantly.

"Offer wealth, grant you health."

After the white small snake head on the left spoke, it solemnly slowly opened its mouth toward those below.

"Offer beloved, grant position."

The black small snake head on the right grinned, then playfully opened its mouth wide.

"Offer soul, gain peace."

After the gray snake head in the center spoke, it coldly opened its mouth, revealing a full set of densely packed, backward-growing sharp teeth.

"Come!"

After the three-headed snake crown above finished explaining the rules and successively opened their mouths, the purple-black venomous ball python also grinned, speaking cheerfully:

"Three paths to demonstrate loyalty to my Lord. You may choose one to make an offering, proceed in the direction they face, and present your sacrifice, and my Lord will grant you corresponding rewards.

Once everyone has completed their sacrifice, the person who offered the item of highest value in each path will obtain the quota to ascend and pay homage, directly facing Lord Snake Spirit's divine body and receiving its grace!"

This is... a variant auction? Finally, the three people with the highest "transaction amount" among the three types of transactions will pay homage to Lord Snake Spirit?

Watching the snakes around him rush forward one after another, holding coin after coin in their mouths and respectfully tossing them onto the altar, Hearing Li Ang, to avoid appearing too special, could only mimic the other snakes, standing before the white Wealth Snake Head.

"Ding!"

Accompanied by a slightly dull ringing sound, a violent wind reaching deep into the soul swept a black iron coin into Hearing Li Ang's mouth. The meaning represented by this coin also immediately surfaced in Hearing Li Ang's mind.

8 Gold Wheels, 5 Silver Wheels, 7 Copper Wheels.

This was all the property he had left after paying the rent for Happy Apartment, paying William and Melanie's tuition, buying supplements for Anna's health, and purchasing a pile of reserve supplies in the Mirror World. It was also the Sacrifice he could offer to the Wealth Snake Head. "..."

Looking at the other snakes who chose the Wealth Snake Head, tossing out their golden and silver shiny coins, then looking at the dull iron coin in his own mouth, Hearing Li Ang silently swallowed the iron coin back and began searching again for other coins available for offering.

Better to switch...

It wasn't that he couldn't bear to part with the money; mainly, since everyone else gave so much, giving so little himself would only make him stand out... Hmm, truly, it's not that I can't bear to part with the money, absolutely not!

Carefully stowing all his assets, Hearing Li Ang wriggled his crimson snake body, changed his offering target. A wind blowing straight into the soul passed through, and several brand new coins appeared again in his mouth.

Unlike the previous dark iron coins, the two coins that surfaced this time both shimmered with brilliant silver light, even faintly mixed with a thread of gold. The largest one was so bright it dazzled the eyes, golden like the noon sun.

William, Melanie, and Anna...

After the meanings of these three coins surfaced in his mind, Hearing Li Ang unhesitatingly tilted his head back, swallowed the coins in his mouth directly, turned away from the direction faced by the second Beloved Snake Head, and tried to swim toward the third Soul Snake Head.

However, as if a breeze blowing toward a mountain range passed through, Hearing Li Ang, standing before the third snake head, had a soul as solid as an iron mountain welded to the ground. No matter how the wind blew, there was not a shred of movement, and no coins appeared in his mouth either.

Hmm?

Sensing the sluggishness returning from the three-headed snake crown, the venomous ball python coiled on the black giant snake sculpture slightly twisted its body, looking toward a certain red small snake darting back and forth among the three directions.

Unable to extract any soul fragments at all... Neither relying on nor expecting anything from my Lord's greatness, and perhaps not even believing in any god at all?

After casting a dissatisfied glance, the Poison Ball Python, with its eerie green eyes blinking slightly, said nothing as it watched the little red snake, which had noticed its gaze, hurriedly retreat backward.

After all, neither the Lord of Snake Spirit nor Our God would force the sect members to offer faith; as long as one possessed sufficient wealth and was willing to conduct a transaction, they would be permitted to enter the Secret Shrine. Although that little red snake was disrespectful to the gods, it did not constitute a fault according to the Chengjin Sect's doctrine, so there was no reason for the python to take action and punish it.

However, even those steadfast non-believers, upon entering the gathering presided over by itself and witnessing the true god's might with their own eyes, would, even if they still insisted on not offering faith, feel some degree of awe.

Yet, within the soul of this little red snake, there seemed to be no awe at all; the Three-Headed Snake Crown spun several times within its soul, yet could not even condense a single cheapest tin foil. Such an ignorant and shallow soul was somewhat annoying.

Has it been targeted?

Upon noticing the gaze of the "Presiding Snake" on the altar, Li Ang's heart tightened slightly, and he instinctively retreated further into the pile of snakes.

Senior Tang Mu said he would kill that Presiding Snake, and then there was no further movement; no one knew where he had gone. To avoid disrupting the established plan, it was best for Li Ang to remain hidden and try not to attract attention.

As for the three small snake heads atop the "Presiding Snake," one seemed to want money, one wanted love, and one wanted life; upon careful consideration, it seemed that only the price demanded by the snake head representing wealth was barely acceptable to him.

No choice; it seems this time I can only lose money!

Having made up his mind, Li Ang, disregarding the pain of losing his money, quickly changed position and swam toward the white wealth snake head.

However, during the time he continuously switched between three different snake heads and then hurried back toward the first one, the vast majority of the "believer snakes" had already completed their offerings, looking expectantly at the sculpture in the center of the altar, which made this single little red snake swimming horizontally stand out even more.

Watching that little red snake, which showed no reverence for the gods, actually holding a pitiful iron coin and throwing it toward the direction of the wealth snake head, the "Presiding Snake," already full of displeasure, finally could not hold back.

Sliding down from the sculpture of the Snake Spirit, using its purple-black snake tongue to pick up that inferior iron coin, the Snake Spirit Presiding Snake, now transformed into a Poison Ball Python, stared at the little red snake and said in a indifferent tone:

"Generosity is a virtue. The Lord of Snake Spirit is not a stingy god. After you generously offer your wealth, he will only generously give you more."

Rolling that iron coin, worth 8 gold, 5 silver, and 7 copper, which already contained all of Li Ang's assets, back into its mouth, it bit it into fragments with a crack! Looking at the little red snake trembling violently in "fear" before it, the giant purple-black python raised its head slightly and spoke coldly from above:

"Our Chengjin Sect's doctrine does not advocate forcing others into transactions, but using something of such inferior value as an offering is an insult to the Lord of Snake Spirit.

Foolish one who disrespects the gods, I hope you can think carefully and make a more rational judgment, offering the Lord of Snake Spirit an item of greater value, such as your beloved..."

"Pfft!"

A large mass of brilliant silver liquid metal exploded violently between the two... two snakes. The purple-black giant python, thicker than a tree trunk, was pierced with countless holes by the liquid metal as fine as needle points; even the Three-Headed Snake Crown on its head did not escape, being split in half by the suddenly solidified cursed silver blades!

You damn... if you don't want the money, give it back! Why did you bite it to pieces?!

Seeing the mottled snake that had quietly appeared in the center of the altar, knowing that Senior Tang Mu was ready, Li Ang, furious at the loss of all his assets, struck out, controlling the cursed silver formed from Senior Piony's buttocks to instantly tear that damn Poison Ball Python before him into pieces!

"Wrong! You are not a believer!"

Having resurrected in the center of the altar by consuming stored lifespan, the "Presiding Snake," sensing something was wrong, let out a sharp shout. The Three-Headed Snake Crown on its head, which had also restored, emitted a chilling snake hiss, and an invisible soul storm suddenly surged up.

"Help!"

"No! I'm not!"

"Presiding Lord!"

The storm reaching the depths of the soul swept through, and the snake believers standing between Li Ang and the "Presiding Snake" fell down together like wheat under a scythe.

Having been separated from the snake bodies bestowed by the Secret Shrine, the original human souls of the snake believers were directly scraped out of their physical forms, enduring tearing comparable to being sliced by a thousand knives in the biting, sharp storm, emitting soul-shattering, miserable screams.

However, just as the soul storm spat out by the Snake Crown hit Li Ang, about to tear his soul from his body, a sound like a rooster crowing came from above the altar. The terrifying storm, carrying hundreds of souls, instantly vanished with this crowing!

What is going on... what is that thing?!

Watching the snake eagle that suddenly appeared amidst the crowing sound, seizing the white snake head on the Snake Crown, the Poison Ball Python transformed from the Presiding Snake was greatly alarmed.

However, before it could react, a gray-brown honey badger skillfully climbed onto its head and precisely bit the black snake head, while a small, thin yellow weasel with a pointed head and short fur stealthily climbed up from its back, grabbing the remaining gray snake head and yanking it hard!

"Crack!"

Under the hunting of three inexplicably appearing natural enemies, the supernatural Three-Headed Snake Crown on the Presiding Snake's head was torn apart without even a sound, and was cleanly and swiftly devoured by the three predators, leaving not even a crumb behind.

"Damn it!"

Reacting, the Presiding Snake roared, forcibly shedding the snake body bestowed by the Secret Shrine, growing human arms, and lunged at the slowest-to-dodge snake eagle, wanting to snatch back the swallowed Snake Crown.

But that snake eagle, with a wingspan of over one meter, instantly exploded and vanished without a trace, leaving only a few broken gray feathers, while a massive chicken beak, over thirty meters wide, pierced through the fake clouds at the top of the Secret Shrine and pecked down at the strange python with human arms below!

(End of this chapter)