Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint-Chapter 156 - 110: Water Eye (2)

The deeper they went, the more treacherous the water currents became.

Whirlpools formed without a sound, tugging at the ship’s hull, while jagged black reefs loomed intermittently beneath the surface.

Song Ming focused his full attention on piloting the Water-Splitting Shuttle through the treacherous waters, its hull producing a harsh, grating sound as it scraped against the reefs.

After a pursuit lasting about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the waterway ahead suddenly widened, and the current grew much calmer.

They looked over and saw a cave entrance on the right-hand stone wall, worn exceptionally smooth by the current. Fresh bloodstains lingered at its edge.

"The lair!"

A glint flashed in Song Ming’s eyes as he brought the Water-Splitting Shuttle to a steady stop near the entrance. "It’s too heavily wounded. It fled back to its lair. We’re going in!"

A Black Python was worth a fortune—its Essence Blood, its flesh, its scales, its Snake Gallbladder...

The four of them were all experienced masters at the Embracing Pill Force Realm. Without another word, they each channeled their True Qi, disembarked, and stepped onto the slick rocks, entering the gloomy cave.

The cavern’s interior was far more spacious than its entrance. The air was damp and frigid, pervaded by the thick smell of blood and the unique, rank stench of a serpent.

The cavern walls were draped in moss, and the ground was strewn with bleached-white bones.

Dozens of yards deeper, the space suddenly opened up.

They saw the Black Python coiled in the deepest part of the cavern. Its massive body convulsed in agony. Foul blood gushed from the vital point Chen Qing had pierced. One of its eyes was now a dark, empty socket, while its other vertical pupil glared fixedly at Chen Qing and his companions.

"HISS—!"

Sensing a mortal threat, the Black Python let out a sharp, piercing hiss and flung open its cavernous maw. A thick, foul-smelling, dark-green cloud of venomous mist billowed out, instantly filling more than half of the cavern.

"Hold your breath! Activate Body Protection!"

Song Ming roared as his Li Huo True Qi flared to life, forming a wall of scorching energy before him.

The light from Wu Yuanhua’s sword formed a screen, and his Gui Water True Qi flowed out to repel the advancing venomous mist.

Lin Wei executed an agile Body Technique, shooting backward while simultaneously commanding her Profound Water Snake to spew a frosty breath, freezing a portion of the mist.

The instant the mist erupted, Chen Qing’s figure moved like a phantom, skimming low across the ground as his Cyan Wood True Qi flared, shielding him from the corrosive gas.

With a flick of his wrist, several Money Darts whistled sharply through the air, flying with pinpoint accuracy toward the Black Python’s uninjured eye and the inside of its mouth!

THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!

The Money Darts buried themselves deep in the Black Python’s flesh. Though not a fatal blow, the attack sent it into another frenzied struggle.

The Black Python’s head snapped up in agony!

Chen Qing launched himself from the side, the Cold Chiyi Spear in his hand transforming into a bolt of cyan lightning. Devoid of any flourish, propelled by pure speed and power, it ruthlessly plunged deep into the Black Python’s wound.

The entire spear shaft sank in, and a terrifying Power erupted within the Black Python’s body!

At the same time, Wu Yuanhua, Song Ming, and Lin Wei unleashed their own True Qi, blasting attacks toward the Black Python’s wounds and eyes.

The Black Python’s massive body arched violently upward. It let out one last, bloodcurdling shriek before crashing heavily to the ground. After a few twitches, it fell completely still.

Foul, dark blood streamed from its wounds like a small creek, dyeing the pile of glittering objects beneath its body red.

The only sound left in the cavern was that of the four of them breathing.

"That beast almost got away."

Song Ming wiped the sweat from his brow, but his gaze was immediately drawn to the glittering pile beneath the Black Python. An imperceptible flicker of eagerness crossed the depths of his eyes.

They all gathered around. The pile consisted mostly of loose gold and silver, pearls, and gemstones—all manner of shiny objects. This was clearly the Black Python’s hoard.

At the edge of the treasure pile lay two fist-sized eggs, their shells the color of dark green jade.

The shells radiated a faint pulse of life.

And in a drier spot, closer to the cavern wall, grew two plants of peculiar form.

One had long, sword-like leaves of a vibrant green, and at its tip grew a single, longan-sized crimson fruit. The other plant bore three small, bowl-shaped, ethereal blue flowers that gave off a cool, refreshing fragrance that soothed the soul.

"Jade Scale Fruit! Cold Pool Orchid!"

Song Ming, being the most knowledgeable, recognized them at a glance. His voice was laced with unconcealable delight. "Judging by their age, they must both be around ten years old! This is quite a haul!"

As he spoke, his gaze lingered for a moment on the crimson Jade Scale Fruit.

Although both were Treasure Medicines of roughly ten years, their values differed.

The Jade Scale Fruit’s market price was about thirty percent higher than that of the Cold Pool Orchid.

Lin Wei glanced over, her smile widening. "This Black Python certainly knew how to leave an inheritance for its offspring. These two eggs are of excellent quality. Their potential is even greater than that of my Profound Water Snake."

Though she said as much, she was rapidly weighing her options in her mind. ’My Profound Water Snake has already cost me a great deal of effort. I simply don’t have the energy to raise two more adult Black Pythons. I might as well use this as an easy way to grant a favor.’

The eagerness in Wu Yuanhua’s eyes was practically overflowing.

He had witnessed firsthand the wondrous effectiveness of Lin Wei’s Profound Water Snake in underwater reconnaissance, and his heart had long been set on raising an Exotic Beast of his own.

These Black Python eggs, with their higher potential, were undoubtedly the dream-come-true Exotic Beast embryos he had been hoping for.

He suppressed his excitement, cupped his hands toward the others, and said, "Senior Sister Lin, Brother Song, Brother Chen... these Black Python eggs... If I may be so bold, I’ve taken a real liking to them. If you are all willing to part with them, I am willing to renounce my claim on all the other spoils from this venture!"

He adopted a very humble posture, making him seem exceptionally sincere.

He knew full well that he was the most junior member of the group. By proactively renouncing his claim on the other treasures, he could forestall any objections and appear generous rather than greedy. In reality, his objective was clear: to take only the snake eggs, the prize most valuable and best suited for him.

Chen Qing said slowly, "I have no objections."

In any case, he had little interest in raising a Black Python.

Song Ming silently praised the young man’s savvy and was more than happy to Go with the Flow.

After all, the Jade Scale Fruit was what he truly wanted; he had no energy to spare for hatching and raising snake eggs.