White Snake

Cracks spread across the blood-red stone, which was as large as a water vat, and stone shards began to flake off.

Xu Xian gripped Qieman, holding his breath in concentration...

Though the giant snake was dead and its body shattered, the snake core had survived, transforming into a snake egg.

It was somewhat absurd.

In a moment, the snake core cracked open completely, revealing an opening. Black baleful qi drifted out from within, followed by a snake as thick as a human thigh crawling out.

The snake was pure white, several meters long, and covered in white scales. Its head was fierce and majestic, save for its crimson eyes.

It slithered forward slowly, and after emerging from the snake core, it raised its head and flicked its tongue, ending up face-to-face with Xu Xian.

They stared at each other.

Xu Xian looked on blankly...

The white snake's eyes were filled with arrogance, like a monarch looking down upon the world. Then it froze, as if seeing a natural predator. Its entire body trembled, and the expression in its eyes changed instantly.

Xu Xian tilted his head, still sizing it up.

"Hmm?"

With a whoosh, the white snake darted away, turning tail and fleeing at incredible speed.

Xu Xian was momentarily stunned.

"Holy crap?"

The moment he snapped back to his senses, he threw Qieman. The heavy sword soared through the air and landed firmly right in front of the white snake.

Caught off guard, the white snake slammed its head hard against the blade...

Startled, the snake frantically tried to change direction.

Xu Xian took the opportunity to close in.

The white snake felt itself enveloped by a dark shadow. Looking up, it saw the youth looking down at it. Before it could react, Xu Xian stepped down.

Without missing a beat, he stepped right on its seven-inch mark.

The white snake opened its mouth and hissed.

"Hiss!"

Like a lamb to the slaughter, it lay meekly on the ground, not daring to move an inch.

In that instant, even its blood-red eyes became exceptionally clear, even showing a hint of ignorance.

It did not struggle.

However, Xu Xian could feel its body trembling.

Xu Xian applied a bit more pressure with his foot.

"Hiss~"

"Still trying to run? Where do you think you're going?"

Xu Xian casually pulled out the heavy sword from the ground. Raising the blade high, he prepared to end the snake's life.

"You vile beast, you've killed so many people. I won't be satisfied until I've slaughtered you."

Seeing the blade descending, the white snake's eyes were filled with panic. To his surprise, it actually spoke in human tongue, pleading loudly for its life.

"Hero, spare me!"

"Hold your sword!"

"Hold your sword!!"

Whirr—

The heavy sword stopped abruptly, just half an inch from the snake's head. Xu Xian was stunned, his brow furrowing as he subconsciously blurted out,

"Damn, it really is a beast?"

Speaking in human tongue was not unheard of.

Mountain spirits, beasts, demons, and spirits—all things could cultivate. Let alone speaking, it wouldn't even be strange if it transformed into a human.

But this was the first time Xu Xian had ever heard an animal other than a parrot speak human language.

Beyond the novelty, it was quite shocking.

With its seven-inch mark pinned and a sword hanging over its head, the white snake was scared out of its wits. It hurriedly pleaded:

"I'm not a beast! I am a Xiushe, of an ancient beast bloodline. Please don't kill me."

Xu Xian held the sword in one hand, resting it on his shoulder, but the pressure from his foot didn't lessen one bit. He asked abruptly, "Tell me... what exactly is going on?"

"What is going on with what?" The white snake was confused and extremely nervous.

Xu Xian applied more pressure and turned the edge of the blade, letting out a cold snort.

"Hmm?"

The white snake winced in pain and confessed immediately.

"I'll talk, I'll talk! I was originally killed by someone, and only a shred of obsession remained in the world. Later, I met a moron who wanted to resurrect me so I would serve him. I played along and used his help to revive myself. Last night, you all destroyed the blood pool and that idiot died. I had no choice but to take possession of him first and forcibly manifest a physical body..."

"Afterward, Hero, you were brilliant and valiant, and you shattered my body. My divine soul was nurtured within the snake core, and I luckily survived. That's how it happened."

Xu Xian understood, looking thoughtful.

"Hero, please give me a way to live. As long as you don't kill me, I'll do anything you want."

Xu Xian asked with interest, "Then give me a reason not to kill you?"

The white snake quickly pledged its loyalty. "I can serve you. I am an ancient Xiushe, a great calamity. Given time, I can recover my cultivation level. When that time comes, with me by your side, the entire mortal world will bow at your feet..."

It understood human nature.

Mortal women desired love, and mortal men wanted to be invincible and rule the world.

But Xu Xian seemed uninterested, only saying flatly:

"Is that all?"

The white snake continued, "I have many powerful divine abilities and techniques. I can teach them all to you."

Xu Xian picked his ear, saying nonchalantly, "Anything else?"

The white snake grumbled inwardly. Humans truly are insatiable.

But to stay alive, enduring humiliation was nothing.

Gritting its teeth and hardening its heart, it said sincerely, "I am a female snake."

Xu Xian was stunned. "..." Is being a female snake that impressive?

The white snake said shyly, "After I transform, I can serve you. I am very skilled; I guarantee I'll make you feel so good you'll be in paradise..."

The white snake thought that no man could refuse such an offer.

After hearing this, the corners of Xu Xian's mouth couldn't stop twitching.

'I spare your life, and you lust after my body?'

A certain scene naturally played out in his mind, and he immediately broke out in goosebumps.

Snakes were naturally lewd; he admitted he almost wavered.

But...

Xu Xian wasn't that kind of person.

Inter-species relations?

That was where he drew the line.

The heavy sword descended from his shoulder once again as he said grimly, "You can die now!"

The white snake was stunned and panicked. Even that didn't work?

Seeing the heavy sword about to fall and its life about to end, it squeezed its eyes shut and blurted out in a frenzy, "Don't kill me, don't kill me! I'll give you money, spirit stones, lots of spirit stones..."

Xu Xian's eyes lit up.

Seeing that the heavy sword had not fallen for a long time, the white snake fearfully opened one eye and peeked.

What it saw was a smiling face.

A smile as gentle as a spring breeze.

For some reason, it became even more terrified.

Xu Xian asked warmly, "You have spirit stones?"

"Yes."

"How many?"

The white snake swallowed hard and said tentatively, "A few hundred thousand?"

Xu Xian's brow furrowed.

"A few hundred thousand?"

The white snake hurriedly changed its tune. "Millions." It paused, then didn't forget to emphasize, "All top-grade spirit stones."

Xu Xian took a deep breath.

Millions?

Didn't that mean...

The matter of building his Sword Tower was settled?

The white snake was in a daze.

With a flick of his sleeve, Xu Xian put away the heavy sword, released his foot, and squatted down with a smile.

"I think there's been a bit of a misunderstanding between us..."

The white snake was completely lost...

Xu Xian asked with a smile, "You're a snake, you shouldn't hold grudges, right?"

The white snake shook its head like a rattle...

Xu Xian chuckled and said, "That's good. Actually, I was just playing with you just now, testing you. I'm a very kind person who never kills living things. Besides, I love making friends. Just give me all those spirit stones, and we'll be best friends from now on."

The white snake let out an 'uh,' observing the youth. Its snake eyes flickered...

So fake.

Yet so sincere.

If it had amnesia, it might have actually believed his nonsense.

Seeing the white snake staring blankly without speaking, Xu Xian raised his hand and gave its head a slap.

Smack!

The white snake's head rang.

Xu Xian said with a grin, "Is that a yes or no? Give me an answer."

The white snake hesitated for a moment and said aggrievedly, "Yes!"

Xu Xian raised his hand and slapped it again.

The white snake's head continued to ring...

Xu Xian said with a stern face, "Do you not believe me?"

The white snake said urgently, "I believe you!"

Xu Xian grinned. "Then it's settled."

This time, the white snake didn't dare to hesitate for even half a second and nodded vigorously.

"Okay!"

Satisfied, Xu Xian stood up.

The white snake lay on the ground, staring at the sky...

The sunlight was faint, the morning breeze was cool, its eyes were moist, and its nose felt sour. It suddenly felt like having a good cry...