Chapter 119: Clues to the Heavenly Origin Fruit (Third Update)

Realgar is a substance with a wide range of applications. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is a significant herb known for its excellent efficacy in dispelling wind, exterminating parasites, detoxifying, treating shingles, soothing bites from snakes, insects, or crabs, alleviating bromhidrosis, and healing persistent ulcers. It is documented in numerous pharmacological texts.

Since Liu Yiyi’s master had sent a bottle of realgar, the possibility of it being a threat to force him away was naturally ruled out. It was clear from the master’s words that some kind of danger posed a threat to life, and the realgar was the specific means to avoid that danger.

"Why give me realgar?" Xiao Cheng asked, puzzled.

Liu Yiyi’s expression suddenly dimmed. She sighed and explained, "Three years ago, a giant python appeared here... In any case, it is very ferocious. My master asked me to give this to you because she was worried you would refuse to leave and wanted to prevent this giant python from eating you. Sprinkling realgar on your body will have a certain effect."

A giant python? Looking at Liu Yiyi, who wore a worried expression, Xiao Cheng realized that the "mortal danger" her master spoke of was due to this beast. In that light, her master sending Liu Yiyi was entirely out of good intentions, even if her words were harsh.

From Liu Yiyi’s description, it was easy to deduce that this was no ordinary python; it was likely a demonic beast. After all, Liu Yiyi had already reached the fifth stage of Condensation, meaning her master was at least a master of the Innate realm. If it were a mere snake, her master would have surely eradicated it long ago. Could a master of the Innate realm really fail to kill an ordinary python?

"What kind of python is it?" Xiao Cheng asked.

Before arriving, Liu Yiyi had never intended to disclose such important matters of her sect. However, because Xiao Cheng had gifted her a tablet and she felt he was a decent person, she spoke of it. Having already started, she no longer felt the need to hide anything.

"This python is very thick and long. It’s about as thick as that tree over there, and about thirty meters long. It’s terrifying and could easily swallow a person whole. This python is no match for my master, but because its body is so massive, my master has no way to kill it. There used to be a cableway on the mountain, but it was destroyed by this python. Now, we have to rely on sky lanterns to travel up and down the mountain."

Hearing her description and looking at the giant tree she pointed to, Xiao Cheng’s expression tightened. It was as tall as a seven or eight-story building and as thick as three or four people embracing it. If someone claimed this was an ordinary python, he would never believe it. This was undoubtedly a demonic python—one that had yet to form a demonic core.

At this thought, Xiao Cheng’s eyes flickered. Wasn't he at Mount Shenfeng to search for the Creation Heavenly Origin Fruit? It was not uncommon for exotic treasures to be guarded by demonic or spirit beasts. Perhaps he could find the fruit through this very python.

"Brother Xiao, I think you should stay away from this lake. My master speculates that the python usually resides in the water. After all, you are just an ordinary person; if the python decides to eat you, you wouldn't be able to escape," Liu Yiyi advised with concern.

***

Xiao Cheng nodded, feeling a touch of gratitude toward Liu Yiyi and a newfound favorability toward her master.

"Oh no, my master is calling me. I must return immediately. Thank you for the big phone!" Liu Yiyi’s expression suddenly tightened. After hastily speaking to Xiao Cheng, she turned and headed toward the sky lantern.

Xiao Cheng was bewildered by her panicked tone. The peak of Mount Shenfeng was at least a kilometer away; how could she have known her master was calling her? Even if her master were a Golden Core cultivator, her spiritual sense could not possibly reach a kilometer. Yet, Liu Yiyi was incredibly innocent and would not lie. Xiao Cheng could not fathom it; perhaps the Zhongling Sect possessed some method of long-distance communication.

As twilight descended, the sky was filled with starlight and a bright moon hung high above. The vast sky seemed even wider. Liu Yiyi drifted further and further away on the large sky lantern, looking like a lantern gradually vanishing into the mist.

Watching her leave, Xiao Cheng found himself feeling a bit worried about whether she would be punished upon returning to her sect. Thinking of how she had repeatedly and earnestly urged him to use the realgar before she left, Xiao Cheng smiled. She was truly an innocent and kind-hearted girl.

In the past, he might have tried every means to possess her, but things were different now. After experiencing the vicissitudes of life, he no longer possessed the reckless impulses of his youth. He cared only for the safety of his four sisters-in-law, his great-grandmother, and Zhuo Qinglian. His feelings for Liu Yiyi were merely an appreciation for something purely beautiful—nothing more.

After Liu Yiyi left, Xiao Cheng did not move his tent away from the lake as she had suggested. He never slept anyway, and he wanted to encounter this demonic python tonight. Perhaps he could deduce the exact location of the Creation Heavenly Origin Fruit by observing the beast's behavioral patterns. As long as the python had not reached the strength of a Golden Core, he had nothing to fear. Even if he couldn't defeat it, he wouldn't be eaten.

That night, in addition to his cultivation, Xiao Cheng sorted through the knowledge from the Sansheng Jade Slip. He had previously seen a technique for subduing demonic beasts in those records, and now that he had encountered one, it would certainly come in handy. After some searching, he finally found the "Momentary Beast-Taming Art."

Xiao Cheng browsed through it and smiled. This technique was indeed a heaven-defying method. As the name implied, it was not a technique for killing beasts, but for controlling them—a guide on how to make a demonic beast serve its master. The literal meaning of the technique was to bring a beast under one’s command in an extremely short amount of time. The prospect of subjugating a demonic python as tall as an eight-story building was truly exhilarating.

In his past life, Xiao Cheng had seen specialized beast tamers who relied on beasts they had raised over years to enhance their strength. But this Momentary Beast-Taming Art was different; it used spiritual sense to form a kind of shackle on the beast, compelling it to obey without needing the years or even decades required to raise one from infancy.

However, the requirements for this technique were quite high, demanding a spiritual sense at least at the Golden Core level, though it placed no specific requirements on Qi cultivation. Xiao Cheng didn't know if the creator of this art hadn't considered that someone's spiritual sense and Qi might not be at the same level, or if the technique simply didn't require high Qi. Regardless, he intended to try it once he advanced to the Condensation stage.

This approach seemed risky, but risk and reward coexist. His enemies, the Fangtian Sect, were extremely powerful, and he was currently alone. If he could tame this demonic beast, it would be a massive boost to his strength. Fortune favors the bold, as they say.

There was, however, a difficulty. He had planned to first obtain the Creation Heavenly Origin Fruit to advance to the Condensation stage, as only then would he possess the Golden Core-level spiritual sense required to use the technique. Yet, he suspected the python was likely lurking there precisely because of the fruit, meaning obtaining it would not be easy.

The night passed without incident. To Xiao Cheng's surprise, it was exceptionally calm. Not even a small wild animal appeared, let alone a giant python, which left him somewhat disappointed.

At dawn, after washing up, Xiao Cheng went to the lakeside to jog, keeping his spiritual sense projected to monitor his surroundings. The lake was about two kilometers in diameter, and his spiritual sense could not cover the entire area. If the python were hiding in the center, he wouldn't be able to detect it. Thus, he had to resort to a crude method: luring the snake out of its den. He didn't believe the python would remain indifferent with someone constantly pacing by the lake.

Of course, that was assuming the python wasn't hibernating.

After jogging half a circle around the lake, Xiao Cheng suddenly stopped. He sensed something unusual. He sniffed the air and caught a foul, fishy stench drifting from the center of the lake.