Chapter 53 - The Eldest Apprentice Brother

Chapter 53: Chapter 51: The Eldest Apprentice BrotherFollowing the people ahead, Ye Qiu and Chen Qingchi arrived at a valley where over a hundred Human Cultivators had gathered, and even some Transformation-stage demon beasts.

The demon beasts capable of transformation must at least be at the Divinity Transformation Stage, undeniably an insurmountable force for a small cultivator like Ye Qiu who had just reached the Golden Core stage. It seems the hope of treasure hunting was slim.

Ye Qiu focused his gaze, and in the center of the valley was a Cold Pond. In the middle of the Cold Pond was an Ice Lotus that had yet to blossom. Despite being kilometers away, an intense cold aura still wafted over their faces.

Guarding beside the Ice Lotus was a luminescent white Big Snake, which seemed to be warily respected by the Transformation-stage Demon Cultivators. This was undoubtedly a creature of extraordinary cultivation, and the reason why everyone was holding back.

They only waited for the Ice Lotus to mature, bloom, and bear seeds, then they would swarm upon it.

"This is a Spirit Plant capable of producing Tenth-rank Pills, even our Medicine Valley doesn’t have this!" Chen Qingchi looked longingly, but he knew that with their joint strength, rushing up would only make them cannon fodder. However, it was still possible to feast their eyes on it.

Compared to the young man, Little Wood Spirit was much less reserved. Despite its timid nature, seeing the Ice Lotus, it would have rushed forward if Ye Qiu hadn’t stopped it.

However, looking at the small thing in his hand, Ye Qiu felt there might be a glimmer of hope.

"You sneak over and negotiate with the Silver Snake; if it gives us a few Ice Lotus Seeds and lotus root, give it the Silver Snake Spirit Vine in exchange." For a creature capable of becoming a Jiao, it should be tempted, and Little Wood Spirit’s ability to conceal its presence is unparalleled. It shouldn’t have to worry about being discovered by others.

Little Wood Spirit’s eyes lit up, and with a whoosh, it vanished from sight.

At night, the Ice Lotus absorbs Spiritual Energy at an increasing pace under the moonlight, slowly unfolding two of its petals. Once the petals are fully open, it will bear seeds within a quarter of an hour, and if not collected in ten breaths, the seeds will fall into the Cold Pond, nourishing the lotus root.

Ye Qiu could clearly feel the tension in the air rising as the Spiritual Snake in the Cold Pond opened its fist-sized eyes, the vertical pupils fixedly staring at the covetous cultivators.

Then Ye Qiu saw the Silver Snake’s vertical pupils slightly contract, probably because Little Wood Spirit had already covertly approached it.

Making a deal with a strange demon beast like this is very dangerous. However, observing Little Wood Spirit and Chen Qingchi’s eager attitudes, they could only take a gamble.

The Silver Snake was a formidable power, and it was determined to get the Ice Lotus. However, for it to contend with so many Demon Cultivators and Human Cultivators alone was next to impossible. With the Silver Snake Spirit Vine, it could wager its chances on the path of dragon transformation, relying on the power of two Spirit Plants.

The moon had risen overhead, with the Silver Snake and the Ice Lotus absorbing the moonlight’s essence together. Their aura was becoming increasingly powerful, and even though Ye Qiu and his party had retreated three miles, the stimulation still caused their blood to churn.

They had underestimated it—the Silver Snake might not have transformed, but its cultivation was at least at the Late-stage Unification!

The lotus had blossomed its eighth petal, and the surrounding cultivators were becoming restless.

"Ding..." The Ice Lotus fully blossomed, releasing a crisp and refreshing scent that pervaded the entire valley, instantly invigorating Ye Qiu and Chen Qingchi.

As expected of a top-notch Spiritual Medicine, merely its fragrance was enough to soothe the mind.

After the white lotus bloomed fully, it quickly withered, and the green lotus pod slowly enlarged, encasing nine lotus seeds inside.

Everyone felt time becoming increasingly torturous, and as soon as they saw the seeds swell, someone couldn’t hold back any longer and finally sped toward the Cold Pond.

The Silver Snake let out an angry roar, its massive tail fiercely striking the person.

With the Ice Lotus matured and a trailblazer making a move, the rest no longer hesitated and surged forward.

The Silver Snake erupted in an angry roar, swallowing the Ice Lotus in one gulp. Its scales were like a tough Magic Treasure, repelling dozens of spells from outside.

"Kill! Slay the snake to get the lotus; it definitely hasn’t digested it in such a short time."

"This snake skin is top-notch material, I’ll skin it to forge a vestment robe."

"I’m taking the snake fangs!"

"The gallbladder is mine!"

Provoked by the cultivators’ talk of divvying up the spoils, the Silver Snake became enraged. Opening its mouth, it spat out an icicle, encasing several cultivators within, then with a forceful strike of its tail, shattered the icicle into pieces, extinguishing the lives of the cultivators inside.

The ruthless means of the Silver Snake did not deter the crowd; what those few had said was true. Even without the Ice Lotus, the Silver Snake was a treasure trove in itself, and to miss out would be a pity indeed.

There’s strength in numbers; even with the Silver Snake’s high cultivation, could it withstand the attacks of so many?

Little Wood Spirit had not yet returned, and Ye Qiu, with Chen Qingchi in tow, retreated a few more miles. In such a chaotic scene, if their lower level of cultivation were to be inadvertently involved, it would be disastrous.

As time passed, the number of human cultivators and demon cultivators dwindled, yet the injuries on the Silver Snake grew more severe. Its luminously white skin was riddled with wounds, and near its vital seven-inch section, there was a deep cut exposing the bone underneath.

Seeing the Silver Snake growing more fatigued, the crowd’s attacks intensified.

The Silver Snake, upon noticing this, slightly moved its mouth; soundless, it seemed to be conversing with someone.

After three breaths, the Silver Snake spat out several Ice Lotus Seeds and a segment of lotus root toward an empty space, followed by the appearance of a small snake-shaped Spirit Plant.

This scene took everyone by surprise, then immediately incited a frenzy.

However, someone hidden in the darkness did not give them a chance; as soon as the Ice Lotus Seeds and lotus root appeared, they vanished without a trace, without even leaving behind a scent. And the Silver Snake, took this opportunity to swallow the Silver Snake Spirit Vine.

The higher the rank of a demon cultivator, the more difficult the Transformation process becomes. Hence, even though it was already in the late stage of Unification, the Silver Snake was always seeking an opportunity to transform.

The Silver Snake Spirit Vine was that opportunity. Together with the abundant Spiritual Energy provided by the Ice Lotus, contending in the Transformation tribulation was possible, and it could even possibly transform into a Jiao.

"Rumble rumble..." The clouds slowly gathered, with silver-violet Thunder carrying within, its heavenly might almost suffocating everyone present.

"Is it trying to Transform?" one cultivator asked with an ugly expression.

"No, it wants to transform into a Jiao. That Spirit Plant just now must be the Silver Snake Spirit Vine," a young man with a sinister face answered gravely.

"Who is it? Who’s sabotaging from the shadows?" another cultivator roared furiously, his gaze fiercely scanning the surroundings.

The situation just now must have been a transaction between the person in the shadows and the Silver Snake; how careless, much too careless!

In the midst of the Cold Pond, wounds on the body of the Silver Snake, which had swallowed the Silver Snake Spirit Vine, were visibly healing at a speed noticeable to the naked eye. The surface of its skin seemed to have fluorescent light flickering, becoming even more immaculately white.

The first bolt of tribulation Thunder struck down, the Silver Snake raised its head to the sky and howled. Ye Qiu, pulling the just-returned Little Wood Spirit along with Chen Qingchi, secretly left. They decided not to get involved in what was to follow.

Three days later, Ye Qiu and Chen Qingchi faintly heard a dragon’s roar; all the spiritual beasts around were prostrating on the ground, trembling with fear.

The Silver Snake’s transformation into a Jiao was successful!