Most of the bear's flesh was devoured by the Green Snake Demoness, Qing Yao. Although she scorned regular wild boars, she would not pass up on the bear meat, rich in demonic energy. Once her appetite was awakened, her consumption was truly formidable.
In fact, within the demon race, mutual slaughter and consumption were commonplace. For Qing Yao, the chance to devour another demon beast of the same transformative level was a rare delicacy, not only hastening the recovery of her injuries and restoring her demonic power, but perhaps even enhancing it further.
"Master!"
The snake-woman Qing Yao suddenly called out to Li Xiaobai, who was roasting bear meat by the fire, absentmindedly drawing circles in the ashes as he cursed a certain demon.
He was brooding, irritated by the fact that although humans, being the spirit of all living things, couldn't be directly consumed, once entangled by such a demon, their souls would be tormented eternally. It was a fate worse than death.
"Hmm? What is it?" Li Xiaobai grunted, not noticing her approach. Before he could react, the snake-woman closed in and silenced him with something warm pressed against his lips, forcing him to roll his eyes in disbelief.
This demoness, her conscience was utterly rotten!
"Pah! What was that?" He spat forcefully, managing to swallow the bitter substance, only to realize that his mouth was filled with a strange bitterness, so intense that his tongue was numb. However, it was quickly replaced by an odd, sweetish scent that washed away the bitterness, leaving a peculiar fragrance.
"Master, bear bile is a precious treasure. I have offered you the finest part, please accept it!" Qing Yao said mischievously, her smile wicked as always. Li Xiaobai could only feel a surge of fury—he almost wished to roast her on the fire.
"Bear bile?"
Li Xiaobai, rinsing his mouth with water in disbelief, shot her a bewildered glance. Among the most valuable parts of a bear, two items stood above the rest: its paws and its bile, with the latter being the rarest and most coveted.
But what did she mean by having him swallow it whole?
Although bear bile was known for its medicinal properties—cooling the blood, clearing toxins, improving vision, and even stopping bleeding—it was of no use to him. Could it have been prepared as some sort of tonic to enhance his vitality, the infamous Imperial Essence? Most likely... this demoness had such a sinister mind, and Li Xiaobai couldn't help but think the worst.
"I have made a great sacrifice in offering you this bear bile, Master. It's incredibly nourishing!" Qing Yao said, blinking innocently, as though she had done something truly noble, eagerly awaiting his praise.
Praise you, my foot!
"You demoness! I'm still young, and I'm not lacking anything! I don't need your so-called nourishment!" Li Xiaobai finally snapped, casting aside the usual respectful address and directly calling her a "demoness."
Her smile only deepened, and for some reason, it made him feel the weight of the world's malice.
But just as his words left his mouth, his expression faltered, his face flushed, veins bulging on his skin, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans erupted from his forehead. A heat surged within him, like a blazing inferno, flowing through his internal organs. His body was drenched in sweat, as if about to catch fire.
Could it be the bear bile? Its potency was overwhelming, just as expected from the bile of a bear demon.
How could a mere mortal withstand the concentrated energy of a bear demon in its transformative stage?
Before he could groan in pain, a strange shift occurred in his mind. The mystical flower bud within him stirred, its slender roots lengthening as they shot out from his heart. His body trembled as they entered his limbs and bones without resistance, swiftly draining the burning heat from his body, replacing it with an indescribable coolness that left him almost moaning in relief.
The sudden change in the flower within him even caused Li Xiaobai to momentarily forget the strange sensation of cooling after the intense heat. He paused, lost in thought.
Without a doubt, he wasn't a fool. He quickly recalled the moment when the grey bear demon was mysteriously slain, realizing that the glowing flower petal might be connected to the sword light that had struck it.
"Xi…"
The word that had appeared in his mind was on the verge of leaving his lips when he abruptly swallowed it, sensing a strange tremor in the flower petal as he did so. It seemed as though some hidden power was awakening within it. The word, like a spell, might unleash a powerful, lethal sword light.
"Are you still angry, Master?"
Unaware of his internal struggle, Qing Yao teasingly inquired, as though she believed he was simply frightened.
It seemed that toying with him was more enjoyable than devouring him outright.
"Hmph! Demoness, I have a trump card now. Surrender quickly, or I'll make you regret it!"
Having grasped some of the tricks, Li Xiaobai discarded the roasted meat and raised his sword finger, pointing it at the snake demon, though he refrained from striking immediately.
He suspected that he might only have one shot. If he unleashed his sword light, he might deplete all his energy once again, leaving him unable to move.
Qing Yao's expression shifted as she took several steps back, feigning fear. Her voice, laced with desperation, cried out, "Master, spare me! I am just a poor little green snake, struggling to reach the transformative stage. I am oppressed by powerful demons. Please, Master, have mercy. Spare my life!"
Her face was pale, trembling like a delicate maiden, her tone sorrowful, akin to a nightingale in distress. Li Xiaobai couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine. The predator demon feasted on lesser demons, and demons devoured each other. The thought of such a world filled with devouring hunger made him second-guess his instincts.
Yet, just as he lowered his sword in hesitation, a brilliant green light burst forth, and his vision was overwhelmed by the sight of shimmering emerald scales. When he finally regained his senses, he found himself bound tightly by a massive green serpent, unable to move.
"Master, please, spare me!"
The serpent's voice was still thick with mock-pleading as the tables had turned completely.
Her body, adorned with shattered rags and remnants of medicinal paste, was covered in soft new scales. Despite the earlier battle, Qing Yao had recovered completely within a single day and night. Truly, the saying "Strike not the snake or it will bite back" had never been more apt.
"You… you demoness! You dare deceive me!"
Li Xiaobai seethed with fury. How could he have been so foolish to believe her lies? His hands and feet bound, he was now helpless.
Her acting was so flawless that she could win an Oscar for Best Actress.
"Hehe! I didn't deceive you, Master!"
With a series of triumphant giggles, Qing Yao gently flicked her cold serpent tongue across Li Xiaobai's cheek.
She continued, "How would you understand the hardships of us lesser demons? In the Demon Realm, it is survival of the fittest. We are ordered and controlled by stronger demons, and if we do not please them, we are killed and devoured. Do you know how rare it is for a demon like me to reach the transformative stage? I am but a pitiful creature!"
She adopted a pitiful, helpless expression, but Li Xiaobai was creeped out. He was no fool, and this demoness was a master manipulator.
"Miss, are you planning to eat me?"
It seemed that being good-hearted was a fatal flaw in this world. Seeing his imminent demise, Li Xiaobai was already mentally prepared for the worst.
"Of course! Didn't I say so? A little bite every day, and I can survive for many years!"
The green serpent's mouth opened, revealing two rows of snowy white, venomous fangs. Li Xiaobai's face turned ashen, his blood drained from his face, leaving him pale and weak.
Is this a threat? It seemed that he couldn't escape his fate after all.
To his surprise, the serpent suddenly loosened its grip and released him.
"You… what is this?"
Li Xiaobai couldn't comprehend why she had let him go so easily.
"You saved my life, Master. I must repay you!"
Qing Yao was enveloped in a soft, radiant light, and her seductive form reappeared before him.
Repay him? Li Xiaobai stared, dumbfounded, at the snake woman. Was she playing another trick on him?
"You're deceiving me! You must be! Hmph, demons are always deceivers! The more beautiful they are, the more they trick you."
Having been tricked once, Li Xiaobai was not about to fall for it again. This demoness was too crafty—one wrong move, and he'd be sold out without even knowing it.
How could a noble human like him be so humiliated by a demoness?
"I'm truly grateful to you, Master. If you don't believe me, feel my heart and see if it's true," Qing Yao suddenly said, grabbing Li Xiaobai's hand and pressing it against her chest, as if to prove her sincerity.
The softness and warmth almost made him lose his mind. Li Xiaobai instinctively recoiled, his face flushed with embarrassment