Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Iron Wire Python

The next day, the Cultivators who had gone out to deal with the Demon returned to Huashan County. A group of able-bodied youths carried a massive, fifty-foot-long python into the county seat using poles and ropes.

The massive python’s scales were a deep, dark black, its body covered in somber patterns as if cast from iron. Its midsection was as thick as a water vat, only tapering abruptly at the tail. A bloody, basin-sized hole was punched through its head. Its long, forked tongue lolled out of its mouth, and its yellowish-brown vertical pupils were already clouding over.

The Python Demon was incredibly heavy. Even with twenty able-bodied youths working together, they struggled and panted, the ropes digging deep into their flesh.

“An Iron Wire Python.”

Someone recognized the type of Demon.

An adult Iron Wire Python is a Tier One Upper Grade Demon. They grow to be a hundred feet long, with tough Scale Armor and immense strength. Though they possess no powerful Demon Techniques or special Talents, they can still fight off three or four Independent Cultivators at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation. This particular Iron Wire Python was not yet an adult, but its Power was still impressive. The three Cultivators who managed to take it down unharmed were quite proud of themselves. Even an immature Iron Wire Python is a treasure trove; its Demon Scales, Demon Bones, and Demon Tendons can be used for refining rope-type Magical Artifacts. The python’s meat, once cooked, can also be consumed to strengthen one’s qi and blood, but its rather strong, gamey stench means it won’t fetch a high price.

The three Cultivators cheerfully piled the Demon Python’s corpse in the courtyard, preparing to wait for a traveling merchant to come and exchange it for Spirit Stones.

A Demon Python like this was worth around thirty to forty Spirit Stones, which was no small sum for an Independent Cultivator. A profit like that was enough to make the other Independent Cultivators green with envy. How could the looks of a mortal woman ever compare to those of a Female Cultivator? Thirty Spirit Stones was enough to spend half a month lying comfortably in the Cave Mansion of a prostitute in Huangyuan Marketplace.

Once the spectacle was over, the crowd of onlookers at the city gate gradually dispersed. Only the twenty able-bodied youths who had carried the Iron Wire Python remained, standing anxiously by the gate. They had been about to return to their village when a voice suddenly whispered in their ears, telling them to wait at the gate or face a bloody calamity.

These words frightened the leader of the youths out of his wits, leaving him no choice but to wait with his fellow villagers, his mind in a turmoil. Though he was just a country man, he knew many Immortals had come to the city. Anyone who could whisper words directly into one’s ear was definitely no mortal.

Once most of the crowd had dispersed, Yang Jing approached the group of youths who had been press-ganged into service. He took out a Purity Talisman and activated it with his Magical Power. The Purity Talisman instantly whipped up a refreshing breeze that swept over the men. The youths felt a warm, soothing energy seep into their bodies. A moment later, their throats began to itch, and they started coughing up a continuous stream of blackish-green sludge. The same foul substance even began to ooze from their pores.

Though the Demon Python was dead, it still continuously emitted Demon Qi. As mortals, carrying the corpse all the way from their village had left them corroded by this Demon Qi. Even if their vigorous constitutions allowed them to survive, they would have been left with lasting internal injuries and fallen gravely ill. The weaker among them might have even dropped dead on the spot.

The youths were terrified out of their wits by the bizarre things happening to their bodies. Once the Demon Qi had mostly dissipated, they dropped to their knees and began to kowtow repeatedly.

Yang Jing turned and walked away. He had helped because he could see that each of these young men was the pillar of his family. If they had died, countless families would have been shattered. It was a simple act of compassion.

Song Min had used her fearsome reputation to force an Independent Cultivator into swapping residences, moving her right next to the County Yamen. The new place was only about two hundred feet away, a distance a Cultivator could cross in the blink of an eye. When Yang Jing knocked and entered the courtyard, Song Min was sitting on a stone stool, brewing a pot of Spirit Tea.

She was wearing the same gauze dress from the other day. Her jet-black hair was tied back simply, cascading down her back like a waterfall.

Seeing Yang Jing arrive, she poured another cup of Spirit Tea and placed it on the table.

Yang Jing sat down without ceremony. He silently activated his Bright Qi Talent, and only after confirming the Spirit Tea contained nothing but rich Spiritual Mechanism did he down it in one gulp.

As the tea went down, it transformed into a cool stream of energy that suffused his mind. Yang Jing felt his thoughts clear, and his Divine Sense strengthened by a fraction. Most Spirit Teas weren’t very effective for increasing Magical Power, but they often had other wondrous effects. Even so, any Spirit Tea capable of strengthening one’s Divine Sense was considered the most precious of all.

He had a discerning eye and recognized it as Awakening Tea. A single tael cost at least three hundred Spirit Stones; an ordinary Independent Cultivator wouldn’t have even heard of it.

“Amazing tea! It can actually strengthen Divine Sense!”

Yang Jing put on the air of a country bumpkin who’d never seen anything so grand.

Song Min took a sip:

“I discovered the Spirit Tea Tree in the Huangyuan Mountain Range and transplanted it to my Spirit Field. A pity it strengthens Divine Sense by such a small amount. The total gain after all this time has been minimal.”

As she spoke, she poured another cup for Yang Jing.

Yang Jing, like an ox chewing a peony, didn’t bother savoring it. He swallowed the entire cup of Spirit Tea in one gulp and closed his eyes to feel the change in his Divine Sense. Because he had drunk too much of the potent tea at once, and his own Divine Sense wasn’t strong enough to handle it, he found himself getting a little ’tea drunk.’ He felt pleasantly tipsy, and a faint blush rose to his cheeks.

He said, slightly embarrassed:

“My apologies, Fellow Daoist Song. I’ve made a fool of myself.”

“Don’t worry, that’s normal for one’s first time drinking this Spirit Tea. You’ll be fine after a few more cups.”

As she spoke, she refilled Yang Jing’s cup.

“Speaking of which, it seems there’s some fate between us, Fellow Daoist Yang. I also cultivate the Five Talisman Scripture.”

Yang Jing asked in feigned shock:

“In that case, Fellow Daoist Song, why didn’t you participate in the Five Elements True Spirit Sect’s entrance selection?”

Song Min covered her mouth and chuckled lightly:

“I’m already forty-six years old. There’s no way I could pass the entrance selection.”

She seemed quite pleased with her Youthful Appearance Skill.

Yang Jing wasn’t very good at dealing with women, so he just lowered his head and silently drank his tea. His greatest weakness was his Divine Sense, so being able to supplement it even a little with this Awakening Tea was a boon.

“I do have some small insights into the Five Talisman Scripture.”

Song Min adopted the air of a senior preparing to guide Yang Jing in the Five Talisman Scripture.

Yang Jing could only feign a look of being overwhelmed by the favor, asking a few questions about some of the more basic, common difficulties with the Five Talisman Scripture that Independent Cultivators often face.

Song Min’s mastery of the Five Talisman Scripture was clearly profound. She answered his questions by explaining complex matters in simple terms, and even offered a few key pointers on breaking through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation. After giving him some guidance, she discovered that Yang Jing’s aptitude for comprehension was quite good—high-level, even. So, she went on to teach him a few knacks for controlling the Five Elements Techniques.

She seemed eager to continue, but Yang Jing was already starting to sweat. He quickly made an excuse, claiming to have had a sudden insight, and leaped onto the roof to practice his Qi Cultivation and increase his Magical Power.

In the early hours of the morning, Li Yuanqing slipped quietly into the courtyard, the cloying scent of women’s perfume and makeup clinging to him. He had pretended to lower his guard and joined a banquet, behaving wantonly and casting off all restraint. Then, feigning that the night was still young, he had gone to other Independent Cultivators’ residences to continue drinking, using it all as an opportunity to observe the various Cultivators and any other suspicious individuals in Huashan County.

He cast a Cleaning Spell, removing the wine and rouge stains from his Daoist Robe.

“I’ve been watching all day, and I honestly can’t see anyone who looks suspicious.”

Li Yuanqing prided himself on being experienced and worldly, having developed a keen eye for judging character, but he truly couldn’t spot anyone suspicious among the Independent Cultivators in San Yuanli.

“Patience, Brother Li. The autumn defenses have only just begun. Not many Demons have broken into the Chen Kingdom yet, and there are still plenty of forces that can be mobilized from all over. The enemy certainly won’t choose to make their move now. We still have time.”

Yang Jing comforted him.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep