Chapter 26: The Serpent's Bite
Xu Tian woke to the gentle sensation of something brushing against his face. Groaning, he swatted at it, only to feel a sharp nip on his finger.
"Argh! What the—oh, it's you."
The rainbow-scaled serpent he'd acquired from the system coiled innocently on his chest, flicking its tongue as if mocking him.
"Great, my pet's already turned against me," Xu Tian muttered.
Mei Lian, already awake and sharpening her dagger, chuckled. "Your 'ferocious beast' is a troublemaker. Matches its owner perfectly."
"It's loyal," Xu Tian retorted, lifting the serpent off him. "Just… unique."
The serpent hissed softly, almost like it was laughing.
[(Reminder: Host's new companion has untapped potential. Bonding with it will unlock additional skills.)]
"Oh, now I need to bond with it?" Xu Tian groaned. "Can't I just get a ready-made killing machine?"
After breakfast—or what Mei Lian called "a pitiful excuse for food"—Xu Tian decided to test his serpent's abilities.
"Alright, little guy," Xu Tian said, holding the serpent out in front of him. "Let's see what you can do."
The serpent tilted its head, unblinking.
"Attack that tree!" Xu Tian pointed dramatically.
The serpent stared.
"Maybe it doesn't understand you," Mei Lian suggested, suppressing a grin.
"It's a magical serpent! It should know!"
The serpent coiled itself tighter around Xu Tian's arm, refusing to budge.
[(Suggestion: Use Qi to communicate intentions. The serpent responds to spiritual commands.)]
"Of course, it's more complicated than just pointing," Xu Tian muttered. He channeled a small thread of Qi toward the serpent, focusing on the image of the tree.
The serpent perked up and slithered toward the tree with surprising speed. It coiled around the trunk, its scales glowing faintly before releasing a small pulse of energy that left a scorch mark on the bark.
"Whoa," Xu Tian said, impressed.
"Not bad," Mei Lian admitted. "But it's still just a glorified pest."
Before Xu Tian could celebrate his success, a rustling in the bushes caught his attention. Mei Lian was on her feet instantly, dagger drawn.
"Stay back," she whispered.
"Why? It's probably just a squirrel or something," Xu Tian said.
The bushes parted, revealing two men in tattered robes. Their eyes were wild, and their Qi radiated hostility.
"Hand over everything you've got," one of them growled.
"Really?" Xu Tian asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're trying to rob us? In the middle of nowhere?"
Mei Lian sighed. "Looks like they're desperate."
"Or stupid," Xu Tian added.
The bandits didn't wait for a response. One of them charged at Mei Lian, swinging a crude blade. She sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a swift strike that disarmed him.
The other turned to Xu Tian, who, to his credit, stood his ground.
"Alright, little guy," Xu Tian said, addressing his serpent. "Time to shine."
He directed his Qi toward the serpent, visualizing the bandit as its target. The serpent hissed, then launched itself at the man.
The bandit screamed as the serpent coiled around his arm, its glowing scales heating up.
"Call it off! Call it off!" he begged.
"Not until you apologize for being dumb enough to attack me," Xu Tian said smugly.
"Fine! I'm sorry!"
Xu Tian signaled the serpent to release, and it slithered back to him, looking rather pleased with itself.
As the bandits scrambled away, one of them dropped a pouch. Mei Lian picked it up, inspecting the contents.
"Hmm, spirit stones," she said, tossing one to Xu Tian.
"Finally, something useful," Xu Tian said, pocketing the stone.
[(New Resource Acquired: Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Use to enhance cultivation speed or trade for items.)]
"System, you really need to stop narrating my life," Xu Tian muttered.
"You're talking to yourself again," Mei Lian said, smirking.
"It's part of my charm," Xu Tian replied.
Back at their makeshift camp, Xu Tian decided to test the spirit stone's effect on his cultivation.
Sitting cross-legged, he held the stone in his palm, channeling his Qi into it. Almost immediately, he felt a surge of energy, like a dam breaking open.
The Qi flowed through him, filling his meridians and enhancing his control over the Heavenly Serpent Technique.
[(Progress: Host's mastery of the second layer has increased by 10%.)]
Xu Tian opened his eyes, grinning. "This is amazing!"
"Don't get too excited," Mei Lian said. "You'll need a lot more than that to catch up to real cultivators."
"Thanks for the pep talk," Xu Tian said dryly.
As the day went on, Xu Tian noticed something strange about his serpent. Its scales seemed brighter, and it moved with more confidence.
[(Update: The serpent familiar has absorbed excess Qi from the spirit stone. Its abilities have improved.)]
"Wait, you're telling me it can level up too?" Xu Tian asked.
[(Correct. The serpent now has the ability to release a defensive Qi barrier.)]
"Finally, a useful pet!" Xu Tian said, patting the serpent's head.
"Useful or not, it's still ridiculous," Mei Lian said, rolling her eyes.
With their newfound resources and growing strength, Xu Tian and Mei Lian decided to move on. The next leg of their journey would take them deeper into the Misty Forest, where danger—and opportunity—awaited.
"Ready for more trouble?" Mei Lian asked.
"Trouble follows me," Xu Tian replied. "Might as well embrace it."
The serpent hissed in agreement, coiling tightly around Xu Tian's arm.
As they walked, Xu Tian couldn't help but feel a strange mix of excitement and dread. Whatever lay ahead, he knew it wouldn't be boring.
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To Be Continued...
What challenges will Xu Tian and Mei Lian face in the Misty Forest? Will the serpent's new abilities prove useful, or will it cause more chaos? Find out in the next chapter of Ascension of the Cosmic Fool!