CHAPTER 186: CHAPTER 182: SO FRAGRANT!

In the side chamber.

Chen Xuan didn’t immediately enter a state of cultivation but as usual opened the panel.

[Name: Chen Xuan]

[Lifespan: 19/1400]

[Divine Techniques: Evolution (Mastered), Divine Foot Technique (Minor Success (8200/60000))]

[Fortune: 10 (Weakened 5)]

[Realm: Martial Cultivator: First Grade (Five Layers of Purity), Spirit Cultivator: Second Tier]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine Revolutions Secret Technique (Primordial Realm), Myriad Manifestation Skill (Fourth Layer (3100/64000)), Cloud Soaring Technique (Mastered (0/8000))]

...

[Skill Points: 75813]

"Hmm?"

With a slight furrow of his brows, what does this ’Weakened 5’ mean after the fortune stat?

It wasn’t there yesterday!

"Could it be...?"

After pondering for a long while, he thought of one possibility.

It was due to absorbing the last wave of Spiritual Rain that this finally appeared, and all this was because of the benevolence bestowed by Great Zhou, but now he was in the territory of Great Xia.

That’s why this weakening situation appeared.

But—

This is troublesome, during this period of cultivation, he felt that these 10 points of fortune could approximately increase his cultivation speed by ten percent.

Don’t underestimate this ten percent.

He was already at the power of the Five Layers of Purity, and that ten percent was indeed significant.

"Forget it, let’s not bother about it for now, let’s first see how effective it is now. If it doesn’t work, I’ll run to Great Zhou’s territory and test it out."

Then,

His gaze fell on the panel again.

Over 70,000 skill points, only enough to upgrade either Myriad Manifestation Skill or Divine Foot Technique.

These two were the most important to him.

After a moment of thought, he ultimately chose the Divine Foot Technique because even if Myriad Manifestation Skill was upgraded, his spirit cultivation couldn’t advance to the first tier.

The Divine Foot Technique seemed more economical.

....

In a flash, three days had passed since returning to Youlan Mansion.

After two days of cultivation, Chen Xuan discovered that the weakening of fortune by 5 points corresponded to a reduction of almost half in cultivation enhancement.

And earlier today,

Chen Xuan went to Celestial Water Commandery to verify it, and indeed, once in Great Zhou’s territory, the weakening after fortune on the system disappeared.

Standing in the back courtyard, he was now truly confounded.

What should he do?

Moreover, there’s another issue, how to acquire more fortune?

After reaching the Five Layers of Purity, his cultivation speed had significantly decreased, not even reaching thirty percent of what it was.

This was partly due to the cultivation technique, and also because it indeed became much more challenging as it progressed.

This was also why Xuan Er had no confidence at all in the layers beyond Purity back in the day.

"Rumble, rumble...."

Suddenly, the entire ground began to shake, directly interrupting his thoughts!

"Brother Xuan, Brother Xuan....."

Su Yun’s figure instantly appeared in the back courtyard, with a look of surprise on her face, "What’s happening?"

"Stay at home, I’ll go check it out, don’t go out no matter what!"

"Okay, I got it, be careful!"

Chen Xuan slightly nodded, then stepped into the air and left, feeling three powerful auras.

One of them was very strong!

At least comparable to a Martial Artist of the first grade.

"That red snake at Xiaozhu’s place!" Standing mid-air, Chen Xuan spotted it at once.

A thousand meters away from the South City Gate, in mid-air, that red figure dozens of meters long was exuding a terrifying aura.

"Second Elder, it’s that blood python, later cut it down for me, I want to use its gall for wine! Damn, it nearly whipped me to death that day."

Ye Yilan and Xuan Er had now arrived by his side.

And the Mansion Master who had been whipped countless times by the blood python now had eyes almost blazing with fire.

It was clear how violently the blood python had whipped him back then.

"Lord Mansion Master, long time no see, it seems your injury is all right now!" Chen Xuan turned around, smiling as he greeted.

This was the first time the two had met since he returned to Youlan Mansion.

"Hmph! You brat, knowing I was injured and you didn’t come to see me, after all I did for you, where’s your conscience?" He was very dissatisfied, extremely dissatisfied.

In the past, he would have beaten him up thoroughly, but now... forget it, forget it.

Truly an extraordinary talent.

"Alright, enough with the fuss, stop being so sentimental!" Xuan Er gave him a glare, then locked his gaze onto the blood python, asking, "Is it this python?"

"Yes, it’s that one, kill it for me!"

With Xuan Er, and Chen Xuan around, he felt quite confident, with these two first-grade experts, one couldn’t help but raise their voice.

"Not weaker than first grade."

"Hmm, indeed."

"What? So strong!"

Just moments ago he was shouting for Xuan Er to kill it, not noticing.

At this moment, his expression also became serious as he carefully sensed it.

"It has indeed grown much stronger!"

Immediately, a chill ran down his back.

If it weren’t for Xuan Er and them returning to Youlan Mansion, he really would have to escape.

"And those two," Xuan Er pointed to the demon beasts beside the blood python, a blue giant bird and a black-and-white-striped tiger demon beast, "are not weaker than the peak of second grade!"

"Hmm! But where did these demon beasts come from?"

Brother Xuan was quite puzzled; such high-level demon beasts couldn’t hide even if they wanted to, let alone with so many middle and low-level demon beasts around.

He’s been at Youlan Mansion for almost two years now, right? If there were really this many demon beasts nearby, he wouldn’t be unaware of it.

"I don’t know!"

Xuan Er shook his head; this was also a point he didn’t understand.

It feels like they appeared out of nowhere, too eerie.

"Has there been any imperial news in the past few days?" Xuan Er turned his head and glanced at Ye Yilan beside him.

He spread his hands, looking very helpless, "Not a damn thing! Last time they just sent a message, telling me to protect Youlan Mansion at all costs, and if we guard it, they’ll reward me generously afterward. But apart from that, they haven’t mentioned a damn thing."

Talking about this made him annoyed.

Damn it, and reward? This promise is as big and round as ever.

A bunch of bastards!

"Maybe they have no choice! After all, demon beasts have appeared in all five provinces, plus natural disasters, it’s enough to give them a headache."

Even Brother Xuan rarely spoke up for the imperial court.

After all, all five provinces of Great Xia are in chaos, what manpower could they possibly still have now?

"Enough, let’s not talk about this anymore. You go, or should I go?"

"Forget it, I’ll go. No way I’ll ask Master to make a move!"

"You brat!"

Xuan Er cursed with a smile, then instructed Ye Yilan, "Take care of the other middle and low-level ones yourself; I’ll keep an eye on things!"

"Damn!"

Ye Yilan was displeased; in the end, Old Er was the most comfortable.

But he quickly flew towards the South City Gate.

"I’ll head out too, good opportunity to test the difference between demon beasts and martial artists!"

He, too, was itching to try.

Xuan Er reminded him, "Don’t be careless; the demon beast’s physical body far surpasses a martial artist’s. At equal strength, the victor is usually the demon beast."

"Got it!"

After responding, the figure vanished, and seeing this, Xuan Er quickly followed.

"Roar~~"

The sound of the blood python faintly carried a hint of a dragon’s roar.

Brother Xuan watched it with great interest.

At that moment,

The blood python raised its enormous head high; its barrel-sized eyes fixed on the patrol camp at the city gate, showing a longing gaze, while a nauseating slime dripped from its giant mouth.

Last time, it swallowed these people and completed its evolution.

It wants to eat!

It wants to eat everyone; it wants to get stronger!

But when it saw Brother Xuan, its gaze suddenly became excited.

"So... strong! So... strong!"

"So... tasty, so... tasty!"

Suddenly, the blood python actually uttered human words. Although it sounded awkward, it was indeed human speech.

"High-level demon beasts already have intelligence. This blood python is no weaker than rank one; speaking isn’t surprising!" Seeing him puzzled, Xuan Er explained.

"Moreover, it’s said that demon beasts become smarter when they devour humans, especially high-level martial artists, who are the ultimate food in their eyes."

"Is it trying to eat me? That’s why it’s so excited!"

Damn, I’ve become the food. It’s quite uncomfortable!

"Hmm!" Xuan Er nodded slightly, without any change in expression.

Martial artists kill demon beasts and eat their meat to cultivate, while demon beasts eat humans to evolve.

It’s only natural!

"You want to eat me?" Brother Xuan looked at the blood python and asked.

Unexpectedly, the blood python’s enormous head nodded in response, "Fragrant... so... fragrant!"

Even the two high-level demon beasts beside it began roaring, displaying the same expression.

At this moment,

The blood python was displeased.

In its eyes, Brother Xuan was its food, and no one—no, no demon beast—could touch it.

"Roar~~" With a sound, its massive body twisted, hitting the huge blue bird and the black-and-white tiger with its tail.

"Bang, bang!"

The two high-level demon beasts were seriously slammed to the ground.

But the blood python still seemed dissatisfied. It roared at the two beasts, exuding a terrifying aura, eyes glaring at them, warning them against stealing its food.

The two demon beasts instantly showed fear in their eyes and quickly lowered their heads.

"Heh heh~~"

Seeing this, Brother Xuan couldn’t help but laugh.

The blood python was like the big boss, with the two demon beasts like its underlings.

Moreover, he felt the blood python’s mind was akin to a child’s.

"Tsk tsk... Interesting, interesting!"

Brother Xuan couldn’t help but exclaim.

Upon hearing his voice, the blood python again looked at him, drool from its maw flowing like a stream below. The stench made Brother Xuan feel nauseous, even from afar.

His eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

"Eat... eat..." The blood python uttered impatiently. It couldn’t wait; Brother Xuan smelled too good, and it sensed that devouring him would make it even stronger!

"Eat, eat your horny grandpa!"

Damn it! Instantly transformed into a dark shadow and charged at the blood python.

Did it really think he was its food? He’s just curious, wanting to take a closer look to understand.

Unexpectedly, it only thought of eating!

A beast is a beast!

In that case, no more looking; act directly.

This time, Brother Xuan didn’t use any spiritual power. He knew that the demon beast’s physical body was strong, but his physical body was also formidable. He wanted to see who was more monstrous!