Chen Xiao, if he wasn't mistaken, this irregularly shaped bead was a sarira.
Sarira referred to the pearl-like objects formed after the cremation of the remains of eminent Buddhist monks.
Legend had it that sarira possessed the Dharma power of the eminent monks during their lives, capable of dispelling disasters and turning misfortune into fortune.
They were treasures highly sought after by many powerful and wealthy individuals.
Of course, there was another theory about sarira.
That is, sarira were merely kidney stones from the bodies of eminent monks during their lives—a symptom of illness, completely unrelated to turning misfortune into fortune.
And the one before Chen Xiao was clearly extraordinary.
The fact that it had perfectly survived the great fire alone spoke volumes.
Moreover, it was highly unlikely that this was something the stinking dog had grown or cultivated itself.
As Chen Xiao pondered this question, he suddenly noticed a large green snake slithering away on the ground, looking dejected.
Chen Xiao sneered and threw out the Yitian Sword in his hand.
The green snake had thought it was escaping to safety until a golden jade sword was embedded in front of it.
It was only a few millimeters away from its head.
It understood that this slight deviation was intentional on Chen Xiao's part.
This also indicated that, at least for now, Chen Xiao did not intend to take its life.
With this thought, the green snake transformed.
It once again assumed the appearance of a charming and beautiful human, Mizukawako.
She deliberately lowered her neckline further, revealing more of her cleavage.
Then, with a splash, she knelt on the ground and wagged her tail pleadingly towards Chen Xiao.
"Please, sir, show mercy and spare this humble one's life!"
Chen Xiao landed back on the ground, retracted his wings, and they merged into his body.
After gazing at her cleavage for a while, his eyes full, Chen Xiao adopted a serious expression.
He spread the sarira in his palm and asked Mizukawako, "Little snake spirit, do you recognize this object?"
Mizukawako replied without hesitation, "Reporting to you, sir, this object is a sarira."
"Nonsense, don't you think I know it's a sarira?"
Chen Xiao glared at her impatiently and said, "I'm asking you about this sarira. Why can a dog demon absorb the power of human faith? Is it related to this sarira?"
"Sir is indeed formidable! You guessed it right!"
Mizukawako immediately praised him and then explained,
"This sarira is a Buddha bone sarira refined by the eminent Japanese monk Master Guangye. The reason the Dog General could absorb the power of faith was that it abandoned its physical body and merged its demon soul with the sarira!"
"There's such a thing?"
Chen Xiao was greatly surprised. "Tell me in detail, and perhaps I can consider sparing your life."
Mizukawako saw a glimmer of hope for survival and immediately said, "Reporting to you, sir, after transforming, the Dog General became a demon cultivator. However, due to poor aptitude, it remained stuck at the Dao Entry stage."
"Demon cultivators at the Dao Entry stage have limited lifespans, only two hundred years. As its lifespan neared its end, it abandoned its physical body, merged its demon soul with the sarira, and became a Great Oonagami to guard the North Sea Shrine, enjoying the worship and incense power of the world, in the hope of transforming into a deity!"
Hearing this, Chen Xiao roughly understood what was going on.
That Dog General was originally just a minor demon cultivator. To pursue longevity, it abandoned its physical body and merged with the sarira.
It had become a peculiar entity, neither human, nor ghost, nor demon.
As for becoming a deity, that was pure nonsense.
It wasn't that demon cultivators couldn't become deities, but trying to achieve godhood through such a shortcut was akin to a fantasy.
It could absorb the power of human faith through the sarira.
And due to its demon soul, it could directly increase its strength by consuming humans.
However, this kind of mixed power-up would ultimately be neither here nor there, making it difficult to achieve greatness.
Thus, after hundreds of years, its strength had only reached this level.
With this thought, Chen Xiao asked again, "I heard that each shrine has a Great Oonagami guarding it. Are the Great Oonagamis of the other shrines in a similar situation?"
"Generally so."
Mizukawako nodded.
"Then, does each shrine have a demon cultivator like you?"
Chen Xiao asked again.
Mizukawako shook her head. "Not necessarily. The chief priests of the other shrines are all human. In this era, demon cultivators have long since declined. I have lived for several hundred years, and I know no more than five of my kind."
As she spoke these words, a hint of loneliness, the loneliness of having no peers, flickered in Mizukawako's eyes.
Chen Xiao nodded. This snake spirit likely wasn't lying.
And her strength was merely at the Golden Core stage of demon cultivation. Although much stronger than a human cultivator at the Golden Core stage.
She was ultimately an insignificant existence before Chen Xiao.
As for her background, Chen Xiao had no interest in delving into it.
The world was vast, and its creations were myriad.
Even if demon cultivators had declined, there would still be a few small fish that could achieve true results.
Clearly, this Mizukawako was one of them.
Her ability to cultivate to this level was even rarer than one in ten thousand.
If she hadn't provoked Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao wouldn't have minded letting her continue to grow within this creation.
However, fate played its hand, and she had provoked Chen Xiao.
Moreover, Chen Xiao recalled the earthworm he had encountered at the foot of the mountain earlier.
That earthworm was, in all likelihood, related to this snake spirit.
The fact that it could produce such disgusting things was enough reason for Chen Xiao not to spare it.
"Sir... you, you didn't say you could consider sparing my life?"
Mizukawako was exceptionally sensitive. The moment Chen Xiao harbored killing intent, she had sensed it.
"I did indeed consider it carefully."
Chen Xiao said with a serious expression, "And the result of my consideration is that I cannot keep you!"
This time, Chen Xiao wasn't lying. The earthworm was what ultimately decided him to kill Mizukawako, so he had thought it through.
"Sir, spare my life! I have cultivated diligently for several hundred years to reach this point. I don't want to die, sir. As long as you spare me, I will do anything you ask!"
"Sir, I can also acknowledge you as my master, just like Aragi Mikiko, and be your dog!"
As she spoke, Mizukawako squeezed the cleavage between her breasts again.
"..."
Chen Xiao was speechless.
"Are you trying to disgust me? Don't forget, you're just a stinking snake!"
Chen Xiao was indeed interested in women, but only if they were human! The species absolutely could not be compromised!
You, a snake, want to be my dog? Can you bark? How ridiculous!
"Alas, so be it... Sir, as long as you don't kill me, I can take you to a place. I guarantee you will be very interested in it!"
Mizukawako said with great certainty.
"Oh? Tell me about it!"
Chen Xiao stroked his chin with interest.
Mizukawako licked her lips and said softly, "Sir, do you know that a dragon vein in Kyushu was stolen by the Japanese?"