Chapter 84: The Naive Gluttonous Great Rock Python
[Recent Turn of Events]: Three days later, at the hilltop near the Thunder Crystal Mine, a transaction of money and people is planned between the Heavy Weapon Sect's Wu Leng and others. However, Wu Leng has prepared a beast-attracting powder to lure the dormant Great Rock Python beneath the hill to attack the Qingxuan Sect's team. In the end, Elder Li and others die in battle, while Shen Mo is captured by the Heavy Weapon Sect.
Shen Mo looked at Elder Li and the others.
Sure enough, their recent turn of events was similar. They all died fighting to protect themselves.
Shen Mo's gaze gradually turned cold. He had guessed correctly.
The other party never intended to properly ransom the captives.
"Wu Leng… I have an impression of him; he's the son of Wu Gangfei, the head of the Heavy Weapon Sect."
"Wu Gangfei is known for his violent temper, but his son Wu Leng is reputed for his wisdom. It seems this plan was also his doing."
Seeing that Shen Mo had no reaction, Elder Li asked, "Young Sect Master, are you worried about the Heavy Weapon Sect setting an ambush? Don't worry, the area around that hill is empty, with hardly any trees. They have no opportunity to set an ambush."
Shen Mo thought to himself, indeed, they didn't set an ambush; they lured the giant python from underground.
"Elder Li, are there any fourth-tier beasts around?" he asked.
Elder Li paused, looking at the elder with dark circles.
The dark-circled elder shook his head, "No, the area near the Thunder Crystal Mine has been cleared of especially powerful and clustered beasts."
"The remaining ones are solitary or in pairs without groups."
He suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, half a year ago, there was a giant python near the Thunder Crystal Mine. It reached the fourth tier of great success, ate quite a few thunder crystals, but was severely injured by the elders of the Heavy Weapon Sect and escaped."
"Is the Young Sect Master worried they might lure this python to attack us?"
He waved his hand, "The Young Sect Master need not worry. Although the python is fourth-tier, it was seriously injured. Unlike human cultivators, beasts don't have elixirs to heal. In six months, it's unlikely to have fully recovered."
"It might have even become prey to other beasts."
"Even if it's still nearby, it wouldn't dare to attack human cultivators."
Shen Mo nodded slightly.
It seems this python survived, not only survived but became stronger.
The Heavy Weapon Sect probably didn't kill it but found a way to control it for their use.
The Great Rock Python likes to eat thunder crystals, and the Heavy Weapon Sect controls the Thunder Crystal Mine.
They likely used the thunder crystals to temporarily control the python.
This method of using beasts to attack human cultivators is too vicious.
But now that he knew what was coming, Shen Mo could prepare.
Just thunder crystals? I have plenty!
Feed this python until it's full beforehand, and it won't listen to you anymore.
"Alright, you all can go back and wait for the exchange in three days." Shen Mo nodded, dismissing the others.
...
Night fell upon the land.
Shen Mo used the Eight Directions Thunder Movement, silently leaving the Thunder Crystal Mine, arriving near the hill.
He scouted around, finding a concealed entrance.
The entrance was covered with vines, hard to detect by ordinary people.
"This should be where the Great Rock Python sleeps."
Shen Mo immediately delved in. Soon, he found a huge, dark space deep underground.
A massive creature lay coiled, asleep. Even just a glimpse of the gigantic python head was utterly awe-inspiring.
"Oh, this guy has a panel too."
Shen Mo focused, looking at the creature's life panel.
[Name: Ao Huang's Fifth Incarnation.]
[Realm: Fourth Tier, Perfected.]
{Note: Equivalent to peak core formation realm in terms of human cultivation}
[Life Attributes: Oviparous Beast, Prone to Mutations, Immensely Powerful, Great Beast Incarnation, Golden Python Bloodline.]
[Destiny: Ultimately stops at the sixth tier, great success, devoured by the third incarnation.]
[Recent Fortunes: Three days later, awakened by beast-attracting powder, attacks the Qingxuan Sect's team, then receives a top-grade profound stone from Wu Leng and falls back into slumber.]
Shen Mo's heart stirred as he carefully examined its attributes.
[Oviparous Beast: White attribute. You are not viviparous but oviparous, not different from most oviparous beasts.]
[Prone to Mutations: Blue attribute. After consuming minerals, you are prone to mutations, but the direction of mutations is uncontrollable, possibly beneficial, but more likely harmful.]
[Immensely Powerful: Blue attribute. Your strength is boundless; any attempt to wrestle with you is a death wish.]
[Great Beast Incarnation: Orange attribute. You are the reincarnation of a peak sixth-tier great beast, containing a wisp of great beast soul. Unfortunately, the great beast has ten incarnations that will inevitably compete for dominance.]
[Golden Python Bloodline: Purple attribute. Through multiple mutations, you possess the Golden Python bloodline, with a metal spiritual root far surpassing ordinary beasts, absorbing metal spiritual energy at a faster rate.]
Shen Mo pondered.
A great beast incarnation?
Interesting.
Shen Mo knew about the fate attribute "Reincarnation of a Great Being." Xiao Fan, for instance, was the reincarnation of a deity-level cultivator.
It seemed that the great beast was also a reincarnation.
However, the reincarnation method for beasts and human cultivators was quite different.
Condensing ten incarnations, making them grow, fight, and eventually determining the strongest one was clearly more brutal, but the strongest one produced this way would be much more powerful.
"This creature might be useful to me in the future."
With this thought, Shen Mo took out numerous thunder crystals from his storage ring.
These thunder crystals were mined from the Thunder Crystal Mine, and there were plenty.
As the Young Sect Master, taking away dozens of pounds casually wouldn't attract any complaints.
Now, taking out some to lure this naive giant python wouldn't be a problem.
Sure enough, the Great Rock Python, which was sleeping, seemed to smell the scent and gradually woke up.
The next moment, its massive vertical pupils suddenly opened, reflecting Shen Mo's figure with a fierce look.
However, upon seeing the large pile of thunder crystals beside Shen Mo, its gaze instantly softened.
With a gulp, it devoured all the thunder crystals in one bite.
It completely ignored Shen Mo, the living human.
After swallowing the dozen or so pieces of minerals, it closed its eyes contentedly, seemingly enjoying itself.
Shen Mo reached out his hand and gently patted its head. The python quivered slightly but did not reject him.
Shen Mo chuckled. This creature was indeed a naive glutton.
As long as there was food, it could be petted at will!
"Want more thunder crystals? I have more here," Shen Mo said with a smile.
The Great Rock Python opened its eyes and nodded.
Shen Mo threw a few more thunder crystals over.
After eating them, the python showed a look of yearning.
Shen Mo became even more generous, taking out more today than Wu Leng would in a month.
Naturally, it was willing to listen to Shen Mo.
"Want more? I'll go find some for you and bring them in a few days," Shen Mo smiled.
The python nodded humanely.
Then, its head drooped down, and it fell asleep again.
Shen Mo clapped his hands and walked out of the cave with large strides.
There were still quite a few thunder crystals in his storage ring.
But he didn't plan to take them out now.
Taming a beast couldn't be too generous or too stingy.
Especially when taming a beast that was one major realm stronger than oneself.
It had to understand the difference between a full meal and regular meals.
"I've already gained quite a bit of favor. Wu Leng can never use it against me now," Shen Mo thought confidently.
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