A Cat Spirit like this, so good and beautiful, was incredibly rare. After listening to the whole story, Tu Xiao'an even felt inclined to help it.

If the Snake King Stone could really help Haitang become a Rank Three Creature, Tu Xiao'an would have been happy to let it happen.

But it was a shame this was a Snake King Stone, left behind by a Snake King, not some Cat King Stone. Their natures were simply incompatible.

A snake and a cat were two completely different creatures.

Therefore, Haitang could do nothing with the Snake King Stone.

Even if she swallowed the Snake King Stone, she wouldn't be able to assimilate it. Instead, she would be controlled by the stone and lose her mind.

At this moment, Tu Xiao'an said in a sincere, heartfelt tone, "Haitang, listen to me. This method of yours won't work. You'll only end up getting hurt by it. You have to think of another way."

A Level 29 Cat Spirit just needed to consume a good Heavenly and Earthly Treasure to take that final step.

"I know I'm only fooling myself, but I really have no other choice," Haitang said, forlorn and helpless, looking exactly like a pitiful little kitten.

If any woman were to see such a sight, her heart would melt in an instant.

Tu Xiao'an pondered for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "How much longer do you have to live?"

"One year. I only have one year left to live."

This was why Haitang was willing to risk everything on a single gamble.

For a Cat Spirit like her who had lived for one hundred and sixty-two years, one year was far too short.

"How about this: let's make a deal. Within this year, I will help you find a Heavenly and Earthly Treasure that will advance your Cultivation and allow you to break through to become a Rank Three Creature. This Snake King Stone is useless to you, so give it to me."

The Cat Spirit was stunned. How could Heavenly and Earthly Treasures be so easy to find? Besides, at her Level, ordinary Spirit Medicine was useless.

Haitang shook her head. "Actually, I know that even if I manage to take that step, with my current strength, I won't be able to withstand the Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire."

"I will help you. I will definitely make sure you become a Rank Three Creature."

This was a bold claim for Tu Xiao'an to make. He wasn't even a Rank Three Creature himself, yet he was offering to help another creature become one.

It was almost laughable.

Moreover, his words carried no conviction.

"Thank you for your kind intentions. Since you're Brother Gaoyang's friend, I'll just give you this stone. But you have to promise me one other thing."

Haitang had thought it through. Since this Snake King Stone couldn't help her and would only harm her, what was the point in keeping it?

If it really came to it, she still had one year. One year to accompany and protect him.

"Name it. If it's within my power, I'll do it."

The Snake King Stone was useless to the Cat Spirit, but it was of great use to Tu Xiao'an.

"In one year, if I die, I want you to take out my cat's eyes and put them in Brother Gaoyang's eye sockets. That way, he'll be able to see."

How could a cat's eyes be used by a human? If a scientist heard such a thing, they would surely scoff.

But the world is full of strange things. As a Peak second Rank Cat Spirit, her eyes were peerless and extremely valuable; they could absolutely be used in a human.

It would just take a special technique to implant them.

What a good cat, thinking of Chen Gaoyang even after her own death.

Tu Xiao'an should have agreed to her last wish, but instead, he shook his head. "I won't let you die. I told you I would help you become a Rank Three Creature."

"And you don't need to worry about the Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire. I can help you fight against that, too."

As he spoke, Tu Xiao'an's aura turned domineering. Two Attribute phenomena, Thunder and Flame, erupted from his body at the same time.

Flames coiled around his entire body as sparks of lightning flashed. The snake looked as if he were about to ascend to the heavens.

"This..."

The Cat Spirit shot to her feet, staring dumbfounded. Attribute element power! This was the most powerful type of force in the world.

For this Snake Spirit to possess two types of Attribute Power was simply monstrous.

In the entire world, perhaps only Tu Xiao'an had no fear of Crossing the Tribulation, since he himself possessed Thunder and Flame.

He might even be able to absorb the Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire from the tribulation, greatly increasing his own strength.

Back then, the Ancient Ba Snake had taken a fancy to Tu Xiao'an's Thunder Power and ceased hostilities with him, on the condition that Tu Xiao'an would help it resist the baptism of Celestial Thunder.

"So powerful..."

The thunder and flame reflected in Haitang's eyes. She looked at Tu Xiao'an, this snake, as if he were a celestial serpent.

"So please, believe me. I have the ability to help you."

This was a good cat, one who knew how to repay kindness. Tu Xiao'an genuinely wanted to help her.

Every family has its own troubles, as the saying goes, and Tu Xiao'an was willing to be this cat's benefactor.

First, Tu Xiao'an wanted the Snake King Stone inside Haitang's body, and he had to pay some price for it.

Second, he was also moved by Haitang's story.

She had guarded the Chen Family for four generations, never leaving or abandoning them, and he was especially moved by her final plea to have her eyes put in for Brother Gaoyang after her death.

Before, Tu Xiao'an had felt some sympathy for Chen Gaoyang's plight—to be born unable to see the splendor of this world.

Now, however, he felt that Chen Gaoyang was lucky. Incredibly lucky.

"I believe you. I believe you!"

Haitang was not stupid. If the other party truly wanted her Snake King Stone, he could have just taken it by force. There was no need for him to make such a promise.

He could have even threatened her using Chen Gaoyang, and she would have had no choice but to obediently spit out the Snake King Stone.

But he had done none of that, instead making a solemn promise.

'In human vernacular: you're a good person.'

With things out in the open between the snake and the cat, the rest was simple. Tu Xiao'an had already made his promise; all Haitang had to do was spit out the Snake King Stone.

But a difficult expression appeared on Haitang's face. "The Snake King Stone inside me... I'm afraid you'll have to take it out yourself. I have no way of controlling it."

If she could control it, she wouldn't have had her mind thrown into chaos and been controlled by it in turn.

Tu Xiao'an smiled faintly. "Just open your mouth and don't resist."

Haitang heard this and obediently did as she was told.

At the same time, two terrifyingly powerful serpentine auras erupted from Tu Xiao'an, the Purple Gold Snake, instantly enveloping Haitang.

"Snake King Stone, come out now!" Tu Xiao'an bellowed after a long moment.

Following this great shout, Haitang's eyes flew wide. She could clearly feel the Snake King Stone she had swallowed stirring restlessly within her body.

Before long, an object shining as brightly as a Luminous Pearl bizarrely floated out of her mouth.

Its entire body was filled with a terrifying serpentine aura.

This was an aura that could make every snake in the world submit and bow down in worship.

A sharp light gleamed in Tu Xiao'an's eyes. He used his Consciousness Power to control the Snake King Stone, making it hover in front of him.

Meanwhile, Haitang stared blankly at the glowing Snake King Stone, her heart filled with complex emotions.

She had thought she could rely on this stone to break through and become a Rank Three Creature, but she couldn't even control this single, tiny rock.

In contrast, Tu Xiao'an was thrilled. This Snake King Stone was even more extraordinary than he had imagined, containing a dense concentration of Energy.

It was useless for Haitang to swallow it; she was only harmed by it. But if Tu Xiao'an himself swallowed this stone, the result would be completely different—his power would soar.

Tu Xiao'an even felt that this Snake King Stone was tailor-made for him.

Suddenly, the Snake King Stone, held by Tu Xiao'an's Consciousness Power, burst with a dazzling light as if it were struggling.

'Still trying to cause trouble?'

Tu Xiao'an's Snake Gaze narrowed. He pressed down hard with his Consciousness Power, pinning the Snake King Stone in place and rendering it immobile.

But... but then, the Snake King Stone, still bursting with dazzling light, seemed to shed its outer layer.

It revealed its true form. A unique serpentine aura exploded outward, and the entire cave began to tremble violently.

This...