Chapter 286

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

The pillar python was a good several dozen meters long, looking like a verdant green tree trunk without branches or leaves.

Strangely, when it rested it did not lie down; instead its lower half went straight into the ground while its upper half stood straight up, looking like a pillar both round and perfectly straight.

Its entire body of jade-green scales caught the sunlight, giving off a cold, dim glow.

The python's head was raised high; its skull was oval, slightly broad and flattened on the sides, and covered with protruding bony ridges, looking like an exoskeletal head armor.

At this moment, its turbid eye membranes gradually cleared, and it slowly opened a pair of vertical pupils the size of lanterns; within the pupils a grim green light flowed, like two clusters of ghost fire that would never go out.

Its massive skull slowly lowered, and its icy gaze instantly locked onto the person below.

In a split second its blood-stained maw gaped open, revealing four rows of gleaming fangs; each fang was as thick as an adult's finger, looking terrifying to the extreme, making one's hair stand on end.

In this instant the atmosphere turned tense; just as Xu Zhangqing thought the other party would attack, a human-like male baritone suddenly rang out: "What are you looking at?"

Xu Zhangqing froze for a moment, then countered: "Looking at you, so what?"

The pillar python said irritably: "Can't you see I'm sleeping?"

Xu Zhangqing breathed a sigh of relief in his heart and hurriedly waved his hands to explain: "Sorry, this is my first time at Spirit Beast Valley; I didn't know you were a living creature!"

Good fellow, I thought I'd run into a fellow townsman.

Didn't expect I was overthinking it.

However, any spirit beast that can speak human language is no simple matter.

At this time, Hu Bugui came galloping on a camel; before he even drew near, his voice rang out: "My apologies, Pillar Head; this is my friend, first time at Spirit Beast Valley and doesn't know the rules, please forgive him."

The pillar python glanced at Hu Bugui and said blandly: "For the sake of you kid often bringing me food, I'll let it slide today.

Remember, don't approach any snakes during the day, especially don't mess with me!"

Hu Bugui came up close, grabbed Xu Zhangqing and hauled him onto the camel, then said with an apologetic face: "Right, right, Pillar Head, you continue resting; next time I come I'll prepare more food for you."

The pillar python nodded slightly, quite satisfied with this.

It returned to its previous posture, continuing to stand straight and upright.

Hu Bugui then took Xu Zhangqing at extremely fast speed, galloping toward the other side of Spirit Beast Valley.

In a puff of smoke they ran out over a thousand meters, yet still showed no sign of stopping.

The pillar python looked at Xu Zhangqing's departing back, its gaze becoming as deep as a human's: "This person is interesting; his first reaction upon seeing me wasn't to flee, but to prepare for battle."

However, this scrutiny was only temporary.

It soon became lazy again, comfortably continuing to bask in the sun.

On the other side, Hu Bugui took Xu Zhangqing several kilometers in one breath, only stopping when they pulled up before a straight river.

Xu Zhangqing asked in surprise: "You seem pretty nervous?"

Hu Bugui rolled his eyes: "Nonsense, that's Pillar Head, the boss of all snakes in Spirit Beast Valley!"

Xu Zhangqing laughed lightly: "At first I thought it was a tree."

Hu Bugui said with slight self-reproach: "This is also my fault for not telling you clearly beforehand; luckily Pillar Head's temper has been okay lately, otherwise it really would have eaten someone."

Xu Zhangqing was surprised: "Spirit beasts eat people too?"

Hu Bugui nodded deeply in agreement: "People get eaten every year!"

Xu Zhangqing raised an eyebrow: "Does no one care?"

Hu Bugui cautiously scanned the surroundings, then said in a low voice: "Pillar Head has lived over a thousand years; back then the ancestors who managed Spirit Beast Valley hadn't even been born yet."

Xu Zhangqing grinned: "Fair enough."

Hu Bugui continued: "Pillar Head controls all the snakes in Spirit Beast Valley; whether in strength or status it's very high. What's more, the people it eats are all those who actively provoked it, so the Immortal Masters completely don't care."

"I see." Xu Zhangqing suddenly understood.

After the reminder, Hu Bugui didn't dwell on the matter further, pointing at a tree house ahead and saying: "Over there, that's the first Senior Brother I'm taking you to meet; his name is Xu Yuan.

He raises several dogs, all kinds of breeds and types."

Xu Zhangqing's eyes brightened: "Good, let's go over quickly!"

Immediately, the two walked over.

Not long after they arrived beneath the tree house.

Hu Bugui shouted upward: "Senior Brother Xu Yuan, I've brought the person!"

"Wait a moment." Soon a reply came from inside.

Not long after, a male disciple wearing Spirit Beast Valley Formal Disciple attire walked out.

Five dogs followed behind him.

The leader was a yellowish-brown short-haired village dog.

Four limbs sturdy, tail naturally curled.

A black birthmark above the left eye.

Judging by the looseness of its abdomen, it should have given birth several times.

And behind this female dog was a rather stout black dog.

Entire body pitch-black like ink jade, fur coarse, hard, and glossy; neck mane flourishing like a lion's.

Head bore a pair of mini flesh horns, pupils amber-colored, paw pads thick, walking silently.

The third was slender in build, fur snow-white like frost, ear tips and tail tip tinged with crimson, four limbs fine and covered with ice-crystal-like scales.

The fourth looked somewhat familiar; apricot-colored curly fur fluffy like clouds, eyes a rare golden-yellow, nose tip moist, a three-leaf clover growing at the tail's end.

The fifth one looked strange, with ears huge as palm fans, the inside covered in dense fine fur, brownish-yellow fur with black markings, small eyes narrowed into slits.

The five dogs were completely different in both breed and size.

Hu Bugui introduced them cheerfully: "Brother Xu Yuan, this is my friend Xu Changqing; we've already discussed the situation."

Xu Yuan sized up Xu Changqing, who shared his surname, then asked: "Where's your dog?"

Xu Changqing immediately produced the Spirit Beast Ring and summoned Dog out.

As soon as Wangwang, the size of a calf, appeared, it left Xu Yuan stunned.

After raising dogs for so many years, this was the first time he'd seen a village dog this big.

After coming out, facing an unfamiliar environment, Wangwang looked around blankly.

Upon seeing five unfamiliar dogs of the same kind, its eyes widened instantly and its gaze turned fierce at once.

Its body arched slightly, it bared its teeth at them, letting out short, low "woof woof" sounds, exuding a fierce aura.

Except for the second dog, pitch-black with fleshy horns.

The other four were all scared, tails tucked between their legs.

They crowded behind their master, poking their heads out to stare.

Xu Yuan recovered from his shock, eyes shining, and asked curiously: "Is this a purebred village dog?"

Xu Changqing nodded: "Yes."

Xu Yuan asked further: "Grown this big, what do you usually feed it?"

Xu Changqing grinned: "I'm a spirit farmer; whatever I eat, the dog eats—nothing more than spirit rice and such."

Xu Yuan couldn't help but give a thumbs-up: "Your dog-raising skills are truly awesome!"

He had many friends and acquaintances who raised dogs.

These people almost all had over ten or twenty years of dog-raising experience.

But as for being able to raise a village dog to this size and bearing, this was the only case so far!