Chapter 4: Shadow Snake

"Since you didn't refuse, I'll call you Aixi. Aixi, please take care of me!" As he spoke, Li Zhangsheng extended his right hand.

Looking at this large hand, Aixi looked at Li Zhangsheng in confusion; it did not understand human customs, so it subconsciously stuck out its tongue and licked Li Zhangsheng's right hand.

Li Zhangsheng shook his head helplessly and, under Aixi's puzzled gaze, placed its tiger paw on his right hand and shook it up and down a few times.

After teasing Aixi for a while, Li Zhangsheng did not linger, for even though this was the outskirts of the mountain forest, it did not mean there was no danger.

However, Li Zhangsheng did not put Aixi away, but instead held it as he stepped onto the road home.

Along the way, Li Zhangsheng did not let his guard down and remained vigilant, as a large number of wild Spirit Beasts lived in the wilderness.

Although Aixi's potential was great, before that potential was converted into strength, any random wild Spirit Beast could likely defeat it.

Time passed slowly, and just as he was about to leave the mountain forest, Li Zhangsheng suddenly stopped his pace; his left ear twitched slightly, and he faintly heard something unusual.

After becoming a Monster Tamer, his five senses had improved significantly, making it easier to detect the arrival of danger in advance.

Roar-woo~

At the same time, Aixi seemed to have sensed something and let out a childish sound toward the bushes not far away.

Swish~

Suddenly, the branches and leaves of the bushes swayed, and immediately after, a sound like a sharp arrow piercing the air rang out; a thin, long black shadow suddenly rushed out and pounced toward Li Zhangsheng's face.

In the nick of time, Li Zhangsheng subconsciously squatted down, and the black shadow flew past, almost grazing his scalp.

As soon as he avoided the sneak attack, Li Zhangsheng hurriedly turned around and immediately locked onto the opponent.

This was a three-foot-long snake, pitch-black all over, with a triangular head and cold snake eyes filled with rich killing intent.

After the sneak attack failed, the black snake did not flee; instead, it coiled its long, slender body, its forked tongue flicking in and out, and four sharp Poison Fangs were vaguely visible.

At the first opportunity, Li Zhangsheng projected his Mental Power and instantly obtained the black snake's data.

【Spirit Beast Name】: Shadow Snake

【Spirit Beast Realm】: Lower Rank 2

【Spirit Beast Race】: Low-level Servant

【Spirit Beast Quality】: Low Grade

【Spirit Beast Bloodline】: None

【Spirit Beast Attribute】: Dark

【Spirit Beast Status】: Healthy

【Spirit Beast Weakness】: Light

Shadow Snake, contains potent poison, walks in darkness year-round, specializes in sneak attacks.

Roar-woo~

At this moment, Aixi let out a childish sound at the Shadow Snake, its four limbs bent as it prepared to pounce.

"Aixi, don't move around, let me deal with it!"

Li Zhangsheng shook his head; Aixi was too young and had not undergone training, so it was naturally no match for the Shadow Snake, and if it were accidentally poisoned, it would be very troublesome.

Aixi was unwilling, but it still obeyed Li Zhangsheng's order and retreated a short distance.

Clang~

Li Zhangsheng drew the dagger he carried with him, took small, quick steps, and began to circle around the Shadow Snake, waiting for an opening.

Although Monster Tamers primarily rely on commanding Demon Pets, it does not mean they lack the power to protect themselves; after becoming a Monster Tamer, not only had his Mental Power undergone a transformation, but his five senses and body had also been enhanced to a certain extent.

Additionally, the Shadow Snake excelled at sneak attacks; if it were hiding in the dark, Li Zhangsheng would find it a headache, but a Shadow Snake out in the open had essentially abandoned its greatest advantage, making it undoubtedly much easier to deal with.

However, Li Zhangsheng did not dare to let his guard down; even though his physique was far superior to an ordinary person's, he would still be in mortal danger if he were poisoned by the Shadow Snake.

After a brief standoff, the Shadow Snake showed an impatient look; it did not continue to wait, and its long, slender body shrank and sprang on the ground, as if transforming into a black arrow, shooting toward Li Zhangsheng once again.

During the launch, the Shadow Snake opened its mouth, revealing its four sharp Poison Fangs.

Li Zhangsheng narrowed his eyes, his body reacting immediately; he twisted his body with force and easily avoided the Shadow Snake's bite.

In the instant he brushed past it, Li Zhangsheng took the opportunity to turn around; his eyes were like an eagle's, and the moment his wrist flipped, he swung the dagger in his hand with force.

This was a combination of physical fitness, eyesight, and wrist strength; if there was even a slight deviation, he might fall short of success.

The Shadow Snake seemed to sense danger, but it was in mid-air and had no leverage; in the end, the dagger precisely cut into the Shadow Snake's waist, nearly cutting it in two.

After the strike succeeded, Li Zhangsheng took the opportunity to retreat a distance, not giving the Shadow Snake a chance for a death-throe counterattack.

The Shadow Snake fell to the ground; its vitality was quite tenacious, and it did not die immediately, rolling continuously on the ground and making painful hissing sounds.

Soon, the snake's tail went limp, and it stopped moving.

Even so, Li Zhangsheng did not relax his vigilance; instead, he picked up a stone and threw it at the Shadow Snake.

Bang~

A dull sound rang out; the moment the stone hit the Shadow Snake, the snake, which had stopped moving, suddenly moved, fiercely biting the stone and refusing to let go, while foul-smelling venom sprayed out, making a sizzling, corrosive sound.

Whether it is a snake-type animal or a snake-type Spirit Beast, as long as the sensory organs in the head are not destroyed, there will be a conditioned reflex after death; if one relaxes their vigilance and approaches or touches it, the consequences can be imagined.

Li Zhangsheng threw a few more stones, and after confirming the Shadow Snake was completely dead, he grabbed the snake carcass, shook the body straight, then took a bamboo tube out of his pack; he used his right hand to squeeze firmly from the snake's tail downward, and black-red snake blood flowed out, streaming straight into the bamboo tube.

The corpses of Spirit Beasts mostly possess a certain value; the blood of the Shadow Snake contains Yin-evil energy and is an auxiliary material for making certain Yin-attribute Alchemical Pills.

After collecting the blood, Li Zhangsheng turned his dagger and cut open the Shadow Snake's body, finding a fingernail-sized Demon Core and a snake gallbladder.

The snake gallbladder goes without saying, as it can also be used as medicine, while the Demon Core is the source of a Spirit Beast's energy; if devoured by a Spirit Beast of the same attribute, it can accelerate the Spirit Beast's growth rate.

Due to the difference in attributes, the Shadow Snake's Demon Core held no attraction for Aixi.

After finishing up, Li Zhangsheng held Aixi again, walking along the overgrown forest path; the gentle breeze blew, causing Li Zhangsheng's clothes to rustle.

It took about half an hour for Li Zhangsheng to finally leave the mountain forest; facing the setting sun, he looked into the distance and saw a city standing more than ten miles away.

The city was not very large, surrounded by a two-zhang-high city wall and encircled by a moat; this was Luo City, located within the territory of Heluo Prefecture, not prosperous, but it was the base of the Li Family.

Li Zhangsheng's family was not very strong, and at most, they could only be considered a Local Power; if one were to look at the prefecture level, his family could only be considered a third-rate force, but in the small territory of Luo City, they held a high degree of authority.

Because there were many clansmen, the Li Family's base was established in the suburbs; after more than ten generations of management, it occupied an area of over a hundred mu and was also known as the Li Family Manor.

Li Zhangsheng took a deep breath and, following the familiar path, quickly headed in the direction of the Li Family Manor.

(End of this chapter)