"Did the Poison Empress really stir up a hornet's nest?"
"I think she offended the Snake King!" Xiang Jian's expression was priceless. He watched as the Poison Empress streaked past like the wind, a massive bamboo-jointed snake following her. This snake was likely the king of its kind, an ancestor-level creature!
"The key is, where is she leading this giant bamboo-jointed snake?" Qi Hong asked in surprise. "Isn't this the same path we came from?"
"She's leading the bamboo-jointed snake to the Sect Master!" Xi Wen exclaimed, panicking. "We need to go back and provide support quickly. Such a large bamboo-jointed snake, even the Sect Master might struggle to handle it."
Hearing this, everyone quickly followed, cursing the Poison Empress as they ran. "You brought back a bamboo-jointed snake, and you brought back a king snake! And in such a way! This is clearly trying to take the Sect Master's life!"
Xiao Man was picking medicinal herbs. Yangming Valley was a natural pharmacy, possessing countless precious medicinal ingredients. Xiao Man, unfamiliar with the Cangxuan Continent, needed trump cards, and the poisons of Yangming Valley were her trump cards. Her Qiankun bag was already filled with all sorts of poisons, some that could kill in an instant, and others that could make life worse than death. She had come to Yangming Valley in advance to prepare for her trip to Wuji City.
When Xiao Man sensed the disturbance, the Poison Empress had already appeared in her field of vision. The surrounding poisonous creatures scattered, as if something they feared had arrived.
Xiao Man straightened up and faced the Poison Empress. Upon seeing Xiao Man, the Poison Empress acted as if she had found a savior. "Sect Master, a bamboo-jointed snake! Your subordinate has brought it back for you!"
The Poison Empress rushed towards Xiao Man, leaped into the air, passed over Xiao Man, and quickly fled and hid. Xiao Man watched the colossal bamboo-jointed snake charging towards her, her pupils contracting slightly. She quickly dodged, but the bamboo-jointed snake, having lost sight of the Poison Empress, locked onto Xiao Man and lunged at her with its gaping maw.
Xiao Man had intended to use her dagger, but after a moment's thought, she sheathed it. If she could subdue this bamboo-jointed snake, they could take as much Dragon Spirit Bamboo as they wished. Other poisonous creatures might fear the praying mantis, but the bamboo-jointed snake did not.
"Sect Master, we're here to help you." Xiang Jian and the others had returned and, seeing Xiao Man struggling with the bamboo-jointed snake, immediately prepared to assist.
"Find a place to hide and don't get in the way," Xiao Man commanded calmly. The bamboo-jointed snake's venom was extremely potent. If others were poisoned during the fight, she might not have time to rescue them. She had brought these people to Yangming Valley not for them to die.
"But..."
"No buts, this is an order." Xiao Man carefully dodged the bamboo-jointed snake's attacks. She could not reveal the secret of her Myriad Poisons Golden Body. Even though the people present were currently trustworthy, greed could sway hearts. The temptation of the Myriad Poisons Golden Body was too great, and she dared not gamble with her own life!
Xiao Man took out a pair of specially prepared gloves. These gloves were secretly made and impervious to blades and spears. Although she didn't want to kill this bamboo-jointed snake, she had to have the ability to protect herself.
Xiao Man eventually gripped her dagger. Her movements were swift, and even though the bamboo-jointed snake was very agile, it couldn't keep up with Xiao Man. Xiao Man subtly cut her own hand. The bamboo-jointed snake's movements clearly slowed, appearing hesitant.
Xiao Man thought to herself, "This creature has truly cultivated into a spirit. Although it fears the scent of her blood, the pride of being the king of bamboo-jointed snakes does not allow it to yield. Therefore, it merely hesitates and does not flee without question, like other poisonous creatures, out of fear of her bloodline."
"Even if you are the most venomous in the world, before me, you are nothing," Xiao Man whispered. Her words were soft, but the body of the king of bamboo-jointed snakes trembled, as if it had a natural fear of her bloodline. However, its kingly pride would not allow it to retreat.
"Tell me, who is more poisonous, you or I?" Xiao Man's figure flickered, and she was already on the bamboo-jointed snake. She stomped fiercely on its head, driving it to the ground. Then, she leaped into the air and descended again. The dagger in her hand flew out, piercing its tail. The dagger was smeared with Xiao Man's blood. The moment it pierced the bamboo-jointed snake's tail, the snake writhed in pain, as if the wound had struck a vital spot. It actually turned its head and bit off its own impaled tail!
Shedding its tail to survive!
Xiao Man mused, "This snake is truly a spirit, incredibly cunning and decisive."
"This is the first time I've seen a snake so intelligent," Xiao Man said as she picked up her dagger. "Since I arrived here, I've killed quite a few snakes. The first snake I killed was a large black one."
Fear appeared in the bamboo-jointed snake's eyes. Then, shamelessly, it turned and fled, even fleeing in a panicked, unthinking manner. But how could Xiao Man let it escape? She immediately gave chase.
"My god, the most venomous one is indeed our Sect Master!" Xiang Jian exclaimed in disbelief. "That King Bamboo-Jointed Snake is actually afraid of her! Wasn't the King Bamboo-Jointed Snake so powerful just now? Why is it scared now?"
"Don't you think the dagger in the Sect Master's hand is very powerful?" Qi Hong said cautiously. "Earlier, when the Sect Master was fighting the King Bamboo-Jointed Snake, the king was fierce. But as soon as it was injured, it became afraid!"
"I've said it before, the Sect Master's dagger is a divine weapon!" Xiang Jian hooked Qi Hong's neck. "Do you know where the Sect Master's dagger came from?"
Qi Hong shook his head. "She used this dagger to kill the snake god our tribe worshipped back then."
"I knew the Sect Master wasn't from the Honghuang Tribe!" Xiang Jian said with certainty. "Do you know where the Sect Master is from?"
"I don't know. The first person to see the Sect Master was Shan Yun." Qi Hong looked at Shan Yun. Shan Yun was at the altar at the time, and they were all praying with their eyes closed, so they had no idea when or how Xiao Man appeared. The only one who knew remained silent.
Everyone looked at Shan Yun. Shan Yun shrugged innocently. "Don't look at me, I don't know either. When I opened my eyes, the Sect Master was already fighting the snake god. And the Sect Master never talks about herself, so I don't know anything."
"The Sect Master has gone after the King Bamboo-Jointed Snake. Should we follow?"
"Following would be useless. Not only can we not help, but we'll also be a burden," Xiang Jian said with a sigh, his eyes filled with a complex light. He looked in the direction Xiao Man had disappeared. What kind of person could make the King Bamboo-Jointed Snake fearful?
"Speaking of which, don't you think that King Bamboo-Jointed Snake has become a spirit? It actually knew to shed its tail to survive."
"Whether the King Bamboo-Jointed Snake has become a spirit, I don't know. But I know the Poison Empress is going to be unlucky!" Zhou Yan looked at the Poison Empress. "You're truly amazing, bringing back a spirit King Bamboo-Jointed Snake for the Sect Master. After the Sect Master subdues it, do you think she'll let it bite off your head?"