Chapter 39 - 38: Earth Spirit Snake

"What kind of technique is this?"

Standing at the ferry crossing, Chen Xuan watched the scene unfold.

He was utterly shocked.

The old man merely slapped his palm in the air towards the burly man.

There was no physical contact at all,

yet the burly man was slapped hard into the water by that palm.

Judging by the height of the splash, one could tell how powerful the slap was.

"Kid, why are you just standing there? Get up here!"

"Oh~~ coming!"

Chen Xuan snapped out of it and quickly responded.

Carrying the big black snake, he stepped onto the bow of the boat.

Immediately,

the small boat tilted all of a sudden,

"Oh no!"

Chen Xuan thought to himself.

Just as he was about to pull his foot back, the old man shouted, "Hey!"

In an instant,

the tilted boat regained its balance.

"Get up here!"

"Ah~~"

"Get up here!"

"Oh! Okay!"

Chen Xuan was utterly bewildered.

Cautiously,

he slowly placed his other foot onto the boat,

Steady!

The small boat was very steady!

But the boat’s draft deepened considerably; it was nearly level with the water surface.

"Old man... this won’t flip, will it?"

After glancing around the small boat, Chen Xuan asked worriedly.

"Nonsense, can my boat flip!"

The old man rolled his eyes.

With his strength!

If it flipped, that would be a joke.

"Let’s go!"

The old man at the bow began to row.

The small boat, bearing the weight of the massive black snake, started to move slowly.

"Kid, where’s the old man’s wine?"

"Uh!"

At that question, Chen Xuan suddenly felt awkward.

He had forgotten about that, and he hadn’t even entered the town; where was he supposed to buy wine?

Then, gently placing the big black snake on his shoulder onto the deck of the small boat, he apologized, "Sorry, old man, I really didn’t have time this time. Next time, next time I’ll definitely bring it for you."

"Hmph! Next time, really next time?"

The old man grunted, very dissatisfied.

However, he didn’t pursue it further and instead asked, "To what extent have you cultivated the Nine Revolutions Secret Technique?"

"Just a bit more to go."

"A bit more?"

The old man frowned slightly, not quite understanding, but the next moment, his hand stopped mid-stroke, seemingly realizing something but still unsure, so he asked hesitantly, "Almost complete?"

"Yes, old man!"

Chen Xuan answered honestly.

"Impossible, how could this be possible, it’s only been so long, how could you have completed it....."

The old man kept muttering to himself.

He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

Chen Xuan also found it strange that he was reacting this way.

Was it so unusual to have reached mastery?

Besides,

even without the black snake gallbladder, he could have finished within the old man’s set time.

Suddenly,

The old man’s figure appeared at his side from the bow, his aged left hand resting on his forehead.

In that instant,

Chen Xuan didn’t react at all.

However,

for some reason, he felt a sense of closeness towards this old man, believing he wouldn’t harm him.

Thus,

he just sat there quietly, allowing the old man’s hand to rest on his forehead.

After a long while,

The old man withdrew his hand.

"You’re really close to completion!"

But,

he still had a look of disbelief.

After a long while, he glanced at the big black snake beside him and said:

"No wonder, the Sixth Grade, coupled with the cultivation of the Nine Revolutions Secret Technique, you being able to kill this Earth Spirit Snake makes sense!"

"Earth Spirit Snake? It?"

Chen Xuan pointed at the big black snake beside him.

"You didn’t know it’s called an Earth Spirit Snake? Normally, a Sixth Grade should avoid it, but because you’ve cultivated the Nine Revolutions Secret Technique, with such a strong body, you could fight it!"

"Damn!"

The old man’s words made Chen Xuan curse immediately.

His back felt a chill.

A Sixth Grade encountering this Earth Spirit Snake should avoid it!

He was only a Seventh Grade at the time!

It’s fortunate he encountered it while it was laying eggs; otherwise, it would have been like a mouse licking a cat’s rear, courting death!

The old man, seeing his somewhat fearful expression, asked, "What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"Old man, I was a Seventh Grade when I killed it!"

Chen Xuan said with a wry smile.

"What? What did you say? Seventh Grade!"

The old man’s voice unconsciously rose several octaves.

"Impossible!"

He then shook his head in disbelief.

A Seventh Grade killing this Earth Spirit Snake?

What a joke!

Chen Xuan, seeing his disbelief, recounted the experience to him.

"You... kid! Should I say you’re lucky or foolish!"

Really,

he shook his head at him.

This brainless kid almost managed to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Secret Technique to completion.

There’s no justice in the world.

"Sigh!"

The old man sighed wearily.

Then returned to the bow and continued rowing.

As for Chen Xuan,

sitting there, in retrospect, he really was.... sigh!

Too bold!

After that,

the two of them engaged in some idle chatter.

The small boat sailed across the lake, creating ripples upon ripples on the water’s surface.

But,

Chen Xuan soon realized something was off,

This.... wasn’t the direction to the black market.

Where was the old man taking him?

"To my home!"

Seemingly noticing his doubt, the old man said.

"To your home?"

"Yeah! Why are you going to the black market? To sell this Earth Spirit Snake?"

"Yeah!"

As soon as he said that, the old man turned his head and looked at him as if he was an idiot.

Seeing this, he couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong, old man, is there a problem?"

"What problem?"

The old man really wanted to slap him but eventually held back, asking somewhat helplessly, "Are you short on money? Didn’t you get quite a sum for that tiger you sold last time? It’s only been so long, have you spent it all?"

"Do you not know the value of this Earth Spirit Snake? Selling it? That’s just nonsense!"

Yet despite his scolding, Chen Xuan, though confused, didn’t get angry and instead asked humbly, "Old man, I really don’t know what use this Earth Spirit Snake has!"

"You...."

The old man was almost speechless with anger.

Ignorant!

How did he even cultivate to the Sixth Grade?

He’s completely lacking in common sense!

He sighed.

Although exhausted, he still explained, "The Earth Spirit Snake, although still a low-level demon beast, is considered one of the best among low-level demon beasts. Martial artists, by consuming the flesh of demon beasts, can greatly enhance their cultivation, and its flesh is effective for cultivation for martial artists of the Sixth Grade and below."

"Demon beasts, aside from hunting them down in the deep mountains, are also bred by powerful forces, but none of these methods are easy for you to come by!"

"Moreover, compared to those bred demon beasts, the Earth Spirit Snake is a bit more effective."

"This creature!"

The old man pointed to the Earth Spirit Snake beside him, "You said you wanted to sell it, are you out of your mind."

Now it all made sense!

Chen Xuan finally understood.

No wonder after consuming the Earth Spirit Snake’s gallbladder, he jumped from the Seventh Grade Realm directly to the Sixth Grade Realm.

Even his Nine Revolutions Secret Technique improved so much.

Such a treasure,

he actually planned to sell it!

He was truly a total fool.

"Thank you, old man. I really didn’t know about this, and if it weren’t for you clarifying things for me, I truly...."

Chen Xuan felt extremely grateful to this old man.

"Haha~~~~"

The old man, too, felt an immense sense of helplessness. Is this truly what’s known as a fool’s luck!