Chapter 538: Little Green Demon Snake

The egg glowed faintly, and the runes on its surface flickered with a mysterious light. The flickering was rhythmic—like the egg was breathing.

The runes on the ground responded in kind, glowing in the same rhythm.

Aksai walked closer. He crouched down near the edge of the runic circle, eyes shining with anticipation.

“Is it finally happening?” he whispered to himself. “The demon beast egg from Holy Land Torel. It is indeed about to hatch.”

He rubbed his hands together, grinning like a child seeing their favorite treat. “You’ve been soaking in all kinds of precious Spirit resources I have had for months… Come on, little one. Show me what you’ve got.”

As if answering his words, the egg gave off a faint crackling sound.

Aksai leaned in closer.

A fine crack appeared on the surface.

Then another.

The egg shuddered lightly, and the flickering light around it grew brighter, faster. The runes etched into the shell pulsed in waves now, reacting to the energy surge inside.

Aksai held his breath as the cracking continued. Thin lines spidered across the surface, glowing faintly. Bits of the shell began to shift and separate.

He didn’t know what sort of demon beast it would be. The caretaker of Holy Land Torel hadn’t told him. She had only said it was a rare, ancient species and that the egg would respond only to those who passed the highest threshold of their tests.

At this point, after months of careful care and Spirit nourishment, it was about to hatch. Aksai took a few steps back and stood tall, letting the pulsing light bathe his face.

The runes around the egg grew blinding for a brief moment—and then dimmed. A sharp, loud crack split the air.

A piece of the shell fell off, and a faint cry—soft, strange, but alive—escaped from inside. Aksai smiled wide.

“Welcome to the world,” he whispered, eyes locked on the egg. “Let’s see what you are.”

As if taking Aksai’s words as a cue, something moved inside the shell.

A tiny green head popped out.

It looked like a little snake. Its scales were shiny and smooth, with faint patterns that shimmered in the light of the formation. It blinked once, then twice, as if getting used to the world.

Then it opened its tiny mouth and let out a soundless yawn.

Aksai couldn’t help but chuckle.

The little snake looked around, tilting its head in different directions. Its tongue flicked out, tasting the air. After a few seconds, its eyes locked onto Aksai.

The connection was instant.

Thanks to the ritual Aksai had performed earlier, when he had offered his blood to the egg, the newborn demon beast recognized him right away. To the little snake, he was its parent—its master.

The demon snake’s eyes lit up, full of curiosity and warmth.

Then, without hesitation, it began to slither forward.

At first, its movements were clumsy. It stumbled a little as it dragged its small body forward. But it quickly found its rhythm. Each move was smoother than the last.

Aksai stayed still, not wanting to scare the creature.

In just a few moments, the little green snake reached him and slithered up his boot. Aksai watched with amusement as the snake climbed up his leg, then up his robe, and finally coiled itself around his shoulder.

It let out a soft sound—something between a hiss and a coo.

“Hmm. This little thing is quite active it seems,” Aksai said with a soft grin.

Just then, Yelia appeared behind him.

Her eyes widened the moment she saw the snake on his shoulder.

“Oh, it hatched?” she asked, stepping closer. “That was quick. Let me have a look—”

She reached out with her delicate fingers, trying to pick up the newborn beast.

But the demon snake darted away like a blur, slipping under Aksai’s collar and hiding inside his clothes. It reappeared near Aksai’s elbow, peeking out with its tongue flicking, watching Yelia with cautious eyes.

Yelia sighed and pulled her hand back, shaking her head with a helpless smile.

“It’s already gotten attached to you,” she said.

Aksai gently raised his arm so the snake could coil around it more comfortably. The little creature wrapped itself neatly, resting its head on the back of his hand.

“I guess it knows who its daddy is,” Aksai said with a smirk.

Aksai was still admiring the little green snake coiled on his arm when it suddenly moved.

Before he could react, the snake let out a sharp hiss and struck.

Its small fangs sank directly into the back of his hand.

Aksai’s eyes widened in shock. “Ow—what the—?”

He looked down and saw something that made him even more surprised. The snake had somehow bypassed both his Natural Spirit Defence Barrier and the Qi Shell barrier he had formed through his Spirit cultivation and Martial Arts cultivation. Both layers of protection had simply been ignored, like they weren’t even there.

The little demon beast didn’t just bite him—it was drinking his blood.

Its fangs stayed embedded in his skin as it drank, and though Aksai had expected pain, all he felt was a sharp sting that quickly faded into a strange warmth.

For a few minutes, the snake remained still, sucking a small amount of blood. Drop by drop. Aksai didn’t move. He watched, more curious than angry.

Yelia, standing nearby, took a step forward but stopped when Aksai raised his other hand slightly to signal her not to interfere.

Then, just as suddenly, the little snake let go.

Two tiny holes marked the spot on Aksai’s hand where the fangs had pierced his skin. A small trail of blood trickled down, but before he could wipe it off, a faint light flickered from the bite.

A circular runic formation appeared on the back of his hand, glowing softly with a pale green light. The symbols spun once, as if scanning him, and then slowly sank into his skin and vanished.

Aksai blinked and raised his hand.

“…Well. That’s new.”

He felt it almost immediately. A thread—a warm, pulsing connection—had formed between him and the demon snake.

He didn’t just feel the creature sitting on his arm anymore. He could feel its emotions. Its curiosity. Its playfulness. Even its hunger, which had now faded into a satisfied calm.

He tilted his head slightly, testing the bond.

The snake looked up at him at the same time, as if sensing his thoughts.

Yelia stepped closer, peering at the now calm demon beast. “It marked you,” she said softly. “That was a bond strengthening ritual. I thought it could only be initiated when the demon beast is a bit older.”

Yelia’s eyes fixed on the little green snake curled around his arm. Her expression wasn’t calm like usual—it was thoughtful, and a bit serious.

“Hmm? There’s definitely something about this demon beast,” she said softly.

Aksai raised an eyebrow and looked at her, then at the snake. The little creature was still coiled around him, its tongue flicking out now and then, completely relaxed.

Yelia continued. “It looks like a snake-type demon beast… but its life signatures… They’re strange. They’re not normal.”

“What do you mean?” Aksai asked, curious.

She pointed toward the snake.

“I’ve known about a lot of demon beasts, but this one—its life signature is far more powerful than it should be. It’s like it belongs to a higher-tier beast. But…” she paused, narrowing her eyes as she scanned the snake again with her Spirit sense, “…the signs are incomplete. It’s not awakened yet. Something’s missing. Some conditions haven’t been met. That’s why the beast’s bloodline hasn’t been triggered.”

Aksai frowned. “So you’re saying this little guy has a different form?”

“Exactly,” Yelia nodded. “Its current form is just the beginning. The real beast is hidden deep within. And only something very specific can draw it out.”

Aksai’s thoughts wandered for a moment. Then he asked, “Did your sister… Velia… ever mention this egg to you?”

Yelia shook her head slowly. “No. Velia was only the caretaker. She helped keep the legacy grounds operable, maintained formations, and handled logistics for the Holy Land Torel.

But this egg… it was one of the core legacies of the sect. A hidden treasure.”

She paused and turned to look directly at him.

“Not even Velia knew much about it. The egg was a secret only passed down to the Sect Master and his chosen successor.”

Aksai’s brows drew together in realization.

Snakes can “smell” with their tongues.

They flick their tongue to collect scent particles and bring them to a special organ in their mouth called the Jacobson’s organ.