Luo Zhen's world tilted. His breath caught in his throat as he stared at his own reflection. Sprouting from his ribs were two enormous, crystalline wings, shimmering as if carved from pure, transparent jade. They pulsed with a faint, inner light. He twisted his long body, feeling a strange tightness, and saw that he was covered in a thick, new layer of brilliant white scales. He'd shed his old skin entirely.
I've molted?
Just as the thought formed, a torrent of information slammed into his consciousness—raw, instinctual knowledge that wasn't learned, but simply known.
It took him a long moment to process the flood. When it finally receded, the truth settled over him with the weight of destiny. He had fully awakened his bloodline. He wasn't just a snake anymore. He was a Teng Snake.
The ancient knowledge echoed in his mind:
The Teng Snake: a legendary spirit-beast of old. A serpent that cultivates for a thousand years transcends its form. It grows wings to ride the clouds and command the skies, and is born with an innate mastery over the primal forces of fire and water.
The information was brief, but its implications were staggering. Luo Zhen was no longer a common demonic beast. He was a creature of legend, a spirit-beast who could fly and wield magic as easily as breathing.
He fought to suppress a wave of pure exhilaration. With a mere thought, the massive crystal wings folded inward, melting back into his body until he looked like an ordinary snake once more. He focused again, and they reappeared, emerging from his sides with an ethereal grace. The control was perfect, seamless.
He pulled up his internal status panel, the familiar interface appearing in his mind's eye.
Name: Luo Zhen
Race: Serpent (Ancient Spirit Species)
Species Name: Teng Snake
Bloodline: Teng Snake
Innate Abilities: Dual-Element Magic (Water, Fire), Winged Flight
Other Skills: Poison Dart, Constriction
Passive: Reinforced Scales
EXP: 19/500
Realm: Early-Stage Demonic Qi
System Note: Each major realm breakthrough offers a chance to awaken or evolve your bloodline.
A wide, serpentine grin spread across his face. "A Teng Snake with wings," he mused. "First things first, let's see how these things handle."
He shot out of the cave, his powerful body coiling. Then, with a mighty downstroke of his new wings, the world exploded into motion. A gale erupted around him, launching him into the sky with breathtaking force.
Whoosh!
He was airborne. High above the forest canopy, Luo Zhen made small, tentative flaps, testing his maneuverability as he reveled in the sheer joy of flight. He quickly realized he had to be gentle; a single, casual flap sent him rocketing hundreds of meters through the air. If he went all out, he'd cross a hundred li before he even knew it. And who knew what kind of trouble was waiting that far out?
Caution was still the name of the game. He might have this incredible new form, but he was still in the Demonic Qi realm—a novice. A powerful human martial artist or a high-level beast could still end him.
After soaring through the clouds and getting his fill of the sky, he positioned himself high above the swamp. Gazing down at the familiar landscape, an idea sparked. He opened his maw and unleashed a torrent of energy.
A blazing fireball, the size of a washbasin, screamed from his mouth. It slammed into the forest below, detonating with a concussive boom. The impact carved a massive crater in the earth and instantly set the surrounding trees ablaze. Panicked cries of beasts, both normal and demonic, echoed from below as they scrambled to escape the inferno.
Floating in the sky, Luo Zhen smiled. He opened his mouth again. This time, a powerful jet of water erupted, a miniature waterfall that crashed down onto the forest, dousing the flames in a cloud of steam. He'd wanted to test his control, and the results were better than he could have hoped.
He admired the blackened, smoking crater on the ground, a giddy sense of power rising within him. But as he prepared to try another spell, a wave of profound weakness washed over him. He felt utterly drained, hollowed out. A quick internal check confirmed it: his demonic qi was completely spent.
"Damn," he thought, a mix of awe and frustration. "The bloodline spells are incredible, but my qi reserves are pathetic. Two spells, and I'm running on empty." He did the mental math. "If I put everything into one big attack and my target is still standing, my only options are a weak poison dart or running like hell. Can't get cocky."
His situation was like a low-level video game character who'd just unlocked an ultimate ability but didn't have the mana to cast it more than once. It was frustratingly limiting.
Okay, priority one: get stronger. Everything else is a distraction until I level up.
Shaking off the thought, he focused on his next move. He was now the undisputed king of the Misty Swamp, and it was time to claim his predecessor's inheritance. When he'd first explored the Yellow-Patterned Python's cave, he'd found something incredible: a small mineral vein of essence qi stones. These stones were pure, crystallized energy, invaluable to cultivators of any kind. It was likely how the python had gotten so powerful in the first place, sleeping on a throne of raw energy.
He hadn't touched the vein then, his focus consumed by the maturing spirit herb. But now, it was time to cash in.
He dove back into the cave and began to dig, his hardened tail acting as a powerful excavator. It didn't take long. Soon, the glittering vein was exposed. He flicked his tail, prying a fist-sized, translucent stone from the rock. A faint white mist swirled within it. He took a tentative sniff and felt a wave of pure, invigorating energy wash through him.
How do I use this? Just… eat it? The system should handle it.
He opened his jaws wide and swallowed the stone whole.
The moment it entered his stomach, it dissolved into a rush of pure energy that flooded every cell of his body. Seconds later, the system's voice chimed in his mind.
Luo Zhen's eyes lit up. Jackpot.
If these stones were a reliable source of experience, he could level up far faster than by hunting the swamp's weaker beasts. In fact, since he'd broken through to the Demonic Qi Realm, the other creatures here were so far beneath him that they probably wouldn't give him any EXP anyway.
So began the grind. Day after day, Luo Zhen remained in his cave, systematically devouring the essence qi stones. As he refined one after another, his experience bar steadily climbed.
With a comfortable buffer of EXP, he started to browse the system's other features. There were minor skills he could unlock—like the ability to speak human language—but they cost experience points, a currency he had always hoarded for leveling up. His survival had depended on it.
But now, with no immediate threats, he could afford a little luxury.
"System," he projected, "unlock the ability to speak."
He winced at the cost, but confirmed it. "Pay it."
"Finally," Luo Zhen said aloud, the words feeling strange and wonderful as they left his mouth. He could finally speak normally.
He wasn't done. "System, unlock all available knowledge on cultivation realms." He was flying blind, piecing together information he'd overheard. It was time to learn the rules of the world.
"A bargain," he said, flicking his forked tongue. "Do it."
The words faded, and a schematic of the world's power structure unfolded in his mind. He finally had a clear picture.
For Demonic Beasts, the progression was: Demonic Qi, Demonic Yuan, Demonic Spirit, Demonic Core, and beyond.
For Human Martial Artists, it was: Qi Martial, Yuan Martial, Spirit Martial, Profound Core, and so on.
The first few tiers were direct parallels—Demonic Qi and Qi Martial were essentially the same level, just powered by different energy sources. The knowledge stretched to god-like levels far beyond his reach, like the Great Emperor and Saint Emperor realms, but he brushed those aside for now. They were lifetimes away.
But with his shopping spree over, he was nearly out of EXP again. Worse, he'd hit the bottom of the mineral vein. It was a small deposit to begin with, and he had sucked it completely dry.
He slithered out of the cave, a familiar sense of frustration washing over him. "Vein's tapped, and the local wildlife is worthless for EXP," he muttered. "Looks like I'm back to scrounging for wild herbs."
He plunged back into the dense jungle. For three days, he searched, the sun rising and falling on his fruitless hunt.
On the third day, his hunt was interrupted.
Swoosh!
An ice-blue arrow of water shot from the trees, pinning a massive, several-hundred-pound wild boar to a thick tree trunk. The boar let out a single, choked squeal before its lifeblood poured from its mouth.
Rustle…
Luo Zhen, a colossal black python, emerged slowly from the undergrowth.
"Of all the places to piss, you choose my front door?" he growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble. He glared at the dead boar. "You had a death wish, little pig. Fine. I guess I'm having roast pork for dinner."
As he spoke, he felt a flicker of movement nearby. He snapped his head to the side.
A moment later, two men in training uniforms stumbled out of the brush. They froze, their eyes widening in sheer terror as they took in the sight of the giant black serpent speaking over its kill.
"Holy crap!" one of them shrieked. "Look at the size of that thing!"
"Run! Just run!" the other screamed.
They scrambled backward, turning and fleeing for their lives, disappearing into the jungle in a frantic crash of breaking branches.
Luo Zhen watched them go, a thoughtful look in his reptilian eyes. Yellow Leaf Town martial artists, most likely. It was the only human settlement for a hundred li in any direction.
"Whatever," he decided, shaking his massive head. "If they want to start something, I'll finish it."
He coiled his body around the dead boar, effortlessly pulling it from the tree, and began to drag his dinner back to his lair.
Meanwhile, the two martial artists burst from the swamp, their faces pale with terror. They leaped onto their waiting horses and spurred them into a dead gallop, not stopping until they reached the Zhou family courtyard in Yellow Leaf Town an hour later.
"Young Master! Young Master!" one of them yelled, stumbling into the main courtyard. "We found it! We found the black snake!"
They skidded to a halt in the main hall, panting for breath. There, they saw the head of the family, Zhou Hong, calmly sipping tea with a stranger—a man in his thirties wearing a wide bamboo hat that shadowed his face.
Hearing their shouts, the swordsman slowly lifted his head, his gaze sweeping over them. A palpable pressure, cold and sharp, rolled off him in waves.
"A Qi Martial Realm expert," both men gasped in unison.
The two men were Zhou Hong's most trusted aides and had seen enough of the world to recognize true power when they felt it. They knew the aura of a Qi Martial master, and this man radiated it like a winter chill.
Zhou Hong set his cup down, his expression annoyed. "I sent you to the Misty Swamp to observe. Why are you back so soon?"
"Second Young Master," one of the men stammered, "we found the demonic python! You know the one—it's unbelievably smart. Once it spotted us, there was no point in staying. We had to retreat." As he spoke, he risked a glance at the silent swordsman. Their young master had promised to hire an expert to deal with the swamp's apex predator. This had to be him.
As if on cue, Zhou Hong gestured to the man. "This is Mr. Han Ying, a master I've brought from the city. His swordsmanship is unparalleled, and he has already reached the mid-stage of the Qi Martial Realm."
He then turned to the swordsman. "Mr. Han, these are my men. They've been monitoring the swamp for me. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
Han Ying said nothing. He stared into his teacup for a long, quiet moment before letting out a cold, humorless laugh. "Young Master Zhou, let's not forget our agreement. You promised me five three-hundred-year-old spirit herbs for my services. I am here to solve your problem." He looked up, his eyes like chips of ice. "Where is my payment?"
Zhou Hong forced a苦笑. "Mr. Han, as I explained, the black spirit snake from the swamp stole and devoured the herbs we had prepared for you."
In their minds, a serpent that could understand language and even write characters, as Luo Zhen had, could only be a legendary spirit beast.
"A spirit snake?" Han Ying scoffed, slamming his cup down. "Don't insult my intelligence with fairy tales. Young Master Zhou, do you have any idea what the 'spirit' designation actually means for a beast?"
"Of course, of course," Zhou Hong said quickly, trying to placate him. "It signifies a spirit beast, a creature of immense value. I've heard the stories."
"No," Han Ying said, shaking his head with condescending slowness. "You've heard whispers. You don't know. To earn that title, a beast must meet two criteria: a bloodline of noble, ancient power, and an intelligence equal to that of a human. And that is merely the baseline. The true value of a spirit beast is beyond your comprehension. To own one is to have a peerless ally, a living mountain of gold."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping. "Forget everything else. Its blood—spirit blood is a treasure that can't be bought. When it appears on the market, kingdoms go to war over it. It can be used in divine alchemy, to forge legendary elixirs, or even be consumed directly to grant a martial artist decades of progress in an instant."
"It has such power?" Zhou Hong was captivated, his eyes wide with wonder.
"And that's not all," Han Ying continued with a sneer. "Do you know what a fully grown spirit beast is equivalent to in terms of power?"
"What?" Zhou Hong asked, leaning in.
"A Spirit Martial Realm master."
"What? The Spirit Martial Realm?!" Zhou Hong shot to his feet, his face a mask of disbelief. He'd only heard of such beings in legends—warriors so powerful they could alter the weather with a single strike. In the hierarchy of power, he knew—Qi Martial, Yuan Martial, Spirit Martial—they were practically gods.
"A spirit beast is that terrifying?" he whispered, sinking back into his chair.
"Now you understand," Han Ying said coolly. "And you expect me to believe a creature like that is lurking in this backwater swamp of yours? Don't be ridiculous. This town, this entire county, hasn't seen a spirit beast in a hundred years. You'd have to travel to a major provincial capital to even have a chance of seeing one."
Zhou Hong was silent for a long moment, his mind racing. Finally, he looked up and said slowly, "Mr. Han, I swear to you, we are not lying."
"You're still pushing this fantasy?" Han Ying's voice turned dangerously cold. "I've told you how powerful they are. If a true spirit beast were here, this town would be a crater in the ground." He leveled a deadly glare at Zhou Hong. "Young Master, if it weren't for the respect I have for your father, I would have already crippled you for wasting my time. Do you think a Qi Martial expert is someone to be trifled with?"
A vein pulsed in Han Ying's temple. His patience was gone.
But in the face of his killing intent, Zhou Hong asked a simple, disarming question. "Mr. Han... they aren't born that powerful, are they? Don't they have to start young?"
Han Ying froze.
Zhou Hong pressed his advantage, his voice quick and urgent. "The snake we saw wasn't impossibly large. Its aura wasn't overwhelming. It was strong, yes, but not god-like. All signs point to it being in its infancy!"
He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a shared greed. "An infant spirit beast, Mr. Han. Think of it. If you could capture and tame it, you would be securing a future Spirit Martial Realm ally for yourself. And even if you just sold it…"
He didn't need to finish. Han Ying's composure finally cracked. His eyes, sharp and cold moments before, now blazed with a raw, calculating avarice. His breath hitched. He knew the value of a spirit beast better than anyone, and the value of a young, impressionable one was incalculable. It was a king-making treasure.
After a moment, Han Ying reined in his emotions, though a feverish intensity remained in his eyes. "This all hinges on the fantasy being real," he said, his voice raspy. "That there actually is a spirit snake in that swamp."
Zhou Hong smiled, knowing he had won. "Then you'll have to go see for yourself, won't you? If we're wrong, my men and I will gladly accept any punishment for wasting your time. But if we're right…" He let the words hang in the air. "Well, Mr. Han, then you've just hit the biggest jackpot of your life."