Blood Bead! . . .
Erhuo mulled it over for a moment and scrunched up its furry face. It pondered the past few days when its diet had mainly consisted of fish. While there was an array of delectable fish types, it had grown weary of the repetitive meals.
Erhuo had initially believed that it would never tire of fish, given the wide variety at its disposal. However, the extended fish diet had indeed left it feeling fatigued. Even the mere scent of fish now caused it to retch, much like the reaction it had toward the dead snakes.
Wise creatures harbored a natural aversion to things they no longer enjoyed. Erhuo was undoubtedly an astute feline, and with its newfound disdain for the snake diet, it sought a solution.
It shook its whiskers and ambled about the lifeless snake pile, contemplating how to address the issue. Seating itself on the ground, it propped up its jaw with a single paw, lost in thought.
Erhuo couldn't help but agree with Cha Eun Xiao. The longer it gazed upon the snake carcasses, the stronger its revulsion grew. This called for a prompt resolution. However, Erhuo faced a dilemma. It couldn't merely discard the snakes; that would be an unforgivable waste.
Thus, a pondering cat found itself in an introspective mood.
Cha Eun Xiao observed this unfolding scene in surprise. His curiosity about the snake corpses was momentarily eclipsed by Erhuo's peculiar behavior. Then, as if struck by a sudden revelation, Erhuo let out a triumphant shout.
It subsequently seized a few dead snakes with its paw, rubbing them vigorously. Cha Eun Xiao stared, his eyes wide, a look of astonishment etched across his face.
Erhuo's actions left him dumbfounded.
In a matter of seconds, Erhuo managed to transform the snake carcasses into small, red beads. Erhuo appeared pleased with the result, nudging one of the beads with its paw. It then used its hindquarters to push the bead toward Cha Eun Xiao.
Cha Eun Xiao accepted the bead, intrigued by its soft and rubbery texture. It differed significantly from any medicinal substance he had encountered before, resembling a small rubber ball. Upon Erhuo's explanation, he realized that the bead contained the essence of the snake, with all impurities removed to create a condensed form.
The bead was primarily composed of snake's blood, which emitted a pleasant scent rather than the anticipated stench. Erhuo had honed this skill while feasting on fish, reducing the food into smaller, more manageable portions.
Without pausing, Erhuo continued to produce these beads with great efficiency, generating multiple blood beads in succession. Gradually, the mountain of dead snakes began to diminish.
Meanwhile, the large living snakes observed Erhuo's actions with profound trepidation, their eyes locked onto the proceedings. They trembled in fear, hesitant to even flick their tongues.
Evidently, they grasped the significance of those blood beads.
"Oh heavens... So many snake carcasses... and yet, the cat effortlessly transforms them into Blood Essence," Cha Eun Xiao marveled.
Observing Erhuo's proficiency at converting snake blood into blood essence, a sentiment of astonishment permeated the onlookers, echoing their mutual disbelief at the cat's formidable abilities.
Cha Eun Xiao was equally astounded, struggling to comprehend the true extent of Erhuo's power. What he had witnessed was enough to leave the large snakes stunned, their foreheads dotted with perspiration.
In a remarkable reversal, the formidable snakes appeared far from cold-blooded, a clear contradiction to the traditional belief about their nature. They trembled in genuine fear, their reptilian hearts racing in dread.
Cha Eun Xiao, on the other hand, found himself questioning the stereotypical view of cold-blooded reptiles.
"Perhaps these snakes are an exception," he mused. "Under certain circumstances, fear knows no distinction."
Erhuo's relentless efforts began to take a toll on its energy. After creating numerous blood beads, Erhuo seemed drained, prompting it to sample a bead itself.
As Erhuo regained its vitality, it displayed renewed vigor and was ready to produce more.
Cha Eun Xiao, however, hesitated to consume the blood bead, finding it somewhat repulsive. He grappled with conflicting emotions, reluctant to partake in the peculiar fare.
Erhuo, unrelenting in its mission, decided to take matters into its own paws. In a swift, unexpected move, it thrust a blood bead into Cha Eun Xiao's mouth, catching him off guard.
Stunned by Erhuo's remarkable speed, Cha Eun Xiao couldn't react in time to prevent the bead from entering his mouth. The initial revulsion was quickly replaced by a peculiar warmth surging through his throat, invigorating his body. He sensed his dantian swirling with energy, a heightened spiritual qi filling the space.
The blood bead, Cha Eun Xiao realized, was an extraordinary restorative medicine capable of enhancing both his physical state and cultivation.
In awe, Cha Eun Xiao marveled, [This blood bead is a wondrous healing remedy, perhaps the most potent I've ever encountered.]
Meanwhile, Erhuo adopted a nonchalant stance, wandering casually, basking in its moment of pride. It seemed to imply, [You didn't want it? I told you so!]
Nonetheless, Erhuo was taken aback when Cha Eun Xiao suddenly grabbed a handful of blood beads and devoured them without hesitation. Astonished by his boldness, Erhuo couldn't fathom the abrupt shift.
[Wait, what? Weren't you the one grossed out a moment ago? What's with this sudden change of heart? Aren't you snatching my treasure now?]
[Meow... Make up your mind, you picky eater!]