~Ah~
Ji Min sighed in pleasure as he looked down at the serpent still attached to his chest;
[Sensei?]
[I am just as surprised as you are, Young Lord.]
Sensei answered as Ji Min's face beamed with a smile, asking;
[Are you thinking what I am thinking?]
[Not sure what you are thinking but]
[Hehe, you are in my head; what do you mean you do not know what I am thinking?] Ji Min interrupted as he burst through the forest with renewed vigor.
[...But as for the current happening within your body, I have to say, even I am baffled.] Sensei continued his speech as if he was never interrupted him.
[Well, it means it is good news, right?] Ji Min continued as the serpent latched onto his chest began to realize that something was amiss.
Though it had just entered the Qi Sea Stage, the transformation that the venom within it just underwent was enough to paralyze Peak Qi Sea Stage experts on contact.
But no, here it was, flailing in the air left and right, attached to a youngster who was eyeing it like it was the most priceless treasure on the planet.
But the serpent was no mindless beast, and it could sense that the glint within Ji Min's gaze was not one of adoration but the same one it used to give its prey whenever they were struggling with its venom and about to be devoured.
Thus, out of desperation, the serpent lashed out with its other head, plunging its fangs into Ji Min's jugular.
Ahk!
Ji Min exclaimed in pain as the serpent breathed a sigh of relief, assuming that there must have been something wrong with the initial bite it gave Ji Min.
But just as it was expecting Ji Min to stumble around and fall to the ground, a euphoric moan suddenly floated out of his lips instead.
~Ah~
Haha!
Ji Min burst into a peal of delightful laughter as another wave of soothing feeling breezed through his body.
[It has been verified, young Lord. I think we greatly underestimated the potential of the Tranquil Toxin.
Initially, we had thought it would only make you immune to various poisons, but who would have thought it could transform venoms into pure Qi to recover your expended energy.] Sensei deduced in awe.
[Not only that, Sensei; it also seems to be doing wonders to this serpent.] Ji Min added as he gazed toward the reptile that suddenly stiffened like a worm that encountered a grain of salt.
The tranquil poison within Ji Min's body kept attacking the serpent's venom with the ferocity of a starved tiger.
It devoured the venom and sent the pure Qi held within it into Ji Min's body, gradually alleviating his exhaustion.
[What a reliable body constitution to have!]
Sensei voiced in wonder as Ji Min refrained from plucking off the serpent from his body; after all, who would want to get rid of such a potent energy source?
The serpent had expected its target to fall over but realized that its prey seemed to be gaining more strength instead, and in its bid to get its target to lose consciousness, it went all out and emptied its venom tank into Ji Min's bloodstream.
But instead of the pained and agonizing expression it was anticipating from its prey, it saw Ji Min grinning from ear to ear, looking at it like it was a sumptuous delicacy.
It did not take too long for the serpent to realize that its target was not only abnormal but also weirdly dangerous; it quickly released its fangs and leaped off Ji Min's body looking to bolt into the dense foliage and flee for its life.
"Hehe, trying to flee? Who gave you that permission?"
Ji Min chuckled to himself as he twitched his arm, allowing a little length of his pitch-black chain to roll out before constricting the serpent mid-air, and with a firm yank, he pulled the serpent back and caught it in his grasp.
He pressed the serpent's jaw tightly and stabbed it into his neck, but the reptile was too empty and paralyzed by fear to pump him with any juice.
But of displeasure and fury, Ji Min bit the snake with the strength of his Lord Stage cultivation; the serpent felt its middle half separate from the intensity of the bite as it hissed in agony.
[What a waste; perhaps if it had been a more powerful serpent beast, I might as well use it to return to my peak.] Ji Min mused.
[But will that not defeat the purpose of this training? It is already remarkable that we could discover this new ability of the Tranquil Poison.]
Sensei chipped in as Ji Min lamented internally before hearing Sensei's amused chuckle echo in his head.
[Perhaps, I should intentionally trash around a bit and try to find a stronger serpent with much stronger venom potency and yield; that way, we can check if this ability responds relatively as well.] Ji Min tried his luck.
[I think we both know the answer already.] Sensei made no compromises, so Ji Min could only grit his teeth and double his focus.
[Furthermore, if you had done that, you might attract a non-venomous beast which could make things a little difficult for you; also, you should think about the little girl; she does not have the Tranquil Poison, and might die.]
Sensei explained further as Ji Min released a frustrated sigh at his plight before looking ahead.
They had been running for about 33 hours now, and based on the changes in the terrain and the appearance of the trees and bushes around, he could figure that they were already about to arrive at the foot mountain.
But just after that thought ended, several rustling sounds of different volumes arrived around Ji Min, alerting him to the beasts of varying sizes that were about to pounce on him.
[Sensei, can you estimate how many there are?] Ji Min asked as he kept seeing several shadows fleet around the dimly lit forest surrounding him.
He wanted to get a mental estimate of how many beasts were around him and their ranks, so he could know how much energy he would have to burn if he had to choose between fight or flight; and if possible, battle flight.
[Young Lord, I do not think it would do you any good to know the answer to your question.
This training is not solely about building up your stamina and endurance but also your ability to think under pressure and willpower.]
Sensei whispered so as not to distract Ji Min's senses from his surroundings.