Chapter 1587 (Raw 1569):
Xiao Chen and his companions stood at the cave entrance, looking at that gargantuan Jiao Snake's head. They did not dare to move at all, not even to breathe loudly.
The head of the Jiao Snake was like a small mountain blocking the entrance. Its scarlet eyes looked at Xiao Chen from up high.
There was a suffocatingly strong pressure.
Xiao Chen was still fine, but Luo Nan and Fei`er were both flushed red, their Qi and blood under a lot of pressure.
If this continued, they might suffer a stroke and even die.
At this moment, Xiao Chen felt like eating Little Yellow Feather.
If Xiao Chen had known that a Jiao Snake was guarding this ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy, he would not have taken this risk even if he was ten times as courageous.
Such a strong pressure from this Jiao Snake was not due to its massive body but its great strength. Xiao Chen estimated that this Jiao Snake had already reached the late-stage Major Primal Core Realm.
This Jiao Snake was very close to the Cloud Sea Realm, hence its horrifying strength.
A Cloud Sea cultivator could easily cultivate Soul Energy. Wherever they went, they would be considered an expert.
In the nearby great realms, Cloud Sea cultivators were peak experts. One great realm normally would not have more than three of such existences.
Even in the entire Purple Sun Region, there were not many Cloud Sea Realm experts, either.
This Jiao Snake before the group was an expert that was almost on par with a Cloud Sea cultivator.
Its strength went without saying.
Not to mention Xiao Chen, even the middle-stage Minor Primal Core Realm blue-clad old man would be like an ant before the Jiao Snake, someone easily killed.
This was an opponent on a totally different level. There was no means of resistance.
However, to everyone's surprise, the Jiao Snake seemed to fear something and did not immediately kill Xiao Chen's group.
When it glanced at Little Yellow Feather, rage immediately burned in its heart. It was this bird!
The Holy Beast Golden Crow!
The Jiao Snake in Profound Yin Mountain used to be the spirit pet of a major character. That major character had swept through the Starry Heavens and throughout the Martial Epoch, someone whose achievements had resounded everywhere.
Being a spirit pet by the side of this major character, this Jiao Snake naturally would not have poor judgment.
Back when Little Yellow Feather came over, the Jiao Snake immediately recognized it as the Holy Beast Golden Crow, a Holy Beast that had long since gone extinct.
Now, among the Great Desolate Hundred Races, there were no more pure-blooded Golden Crows in the Golden Crow Race.
At that time, the Jiao Snake immediately shrank back and talked with Little Yellow Feather. When it found out that Little Yellow Feather was not going to swallow the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy, it relaxed.
Wanting to make a connection with Little Yellow Feather, the Jiao Snake chatted with it.
Who would have imagined that the situation would change in the blink of an eye? Little Yellow Feather had brought a group of people over.
This was dreadful!
Snakes were of the Yin attribute. To the Jiao Snake, the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy was rare nourishment. The Jiao Snake had stood guard here, intending to wait another thousand years, to let the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy mature further before swallowing it and directly advancing to the Cloud Sea Realm.
However, the people that Little Yellow Feather brought were even more formidable.
The Jiao Snake's judgment was very good. With one look, it could tell that Xiao Chen's bloodline was extraordinary. It vaguely sensed that Xiao Chen had the bloodline of one of the Great Desolate Hundred Races.
However, after observing for a long time, the Jiao Snake could not figure out which of the Great Desolate Hundred Races he belonged to.
The Azure Dragon bloodline had been gone from the Dragon Race for too long. Furthermore, Xiao Chen was wearing the Buddhist jade pendant, which suppressed the aura of his bloodline.
As a result, this Jiao Snake could not make an accurate judgment.
However, no matter what, the bloodline that Xiao Chen had was definitely no weaker than the Great Desolate Hundred Races'.
Such a character normally would have major characters or factions with overwhelming means behind them.
No matter where such a person fell, the elders behind him would be able to find out very quickly. At that time, the Jiao Snake would have difficulty denying its involvement, and it undoubtedly would die.
The Jiao Snake had seen many things in its earlier years and was very clear that the means of those major characters were beyond its capabilities.
The Jiao Snake feared Little Yellow Feather and Xiao Chen's identity, so it could only watch as Xiao Chen entered the place.
Originally, the Jiao Snake was planning to use those Profound Yin Mountain ferocious beasts as scapegoats by calling them over.
Who knew, this group of ferocious beasts delayed for so long. By the time they took action, Xiao Chen had already completely drained the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy, not even leaving scraps.
What was the point of them coming then? What was even more frustrating was that even when facing just one, the three still cowered and did not dare to attack.
The Jiao Snake was full of rage but had nowhere to vent it, so he could only take it out on those three ferocious beasts.
At this moment, the Jiao Snake stared at the group of three and Little Yellow Feather, which was hiding behind Xiao Chen.
The Jiao Snake's scarlet eyes flickered with faint light as a cold killing intent spread out, making everyone's feet go numb and deterring them from doing anything overboard.
The Jiao Snake hesitated on whether to give up or go all the way by directly swallowing up this group of people and the Golden Crow Holy Beast.
However, after thinking of the terrifying consequences, it trembled in fear.
Finally, between its life and rage, it chose the former and roared, Scram!
The berserk roar appeared in the minds of Xiao Chen's group, shocking the three and causing them to vomit a mouthful of blood. Then, their bodies went flying uncontrollably.
A gale screamed past Xiao Chen's ears as a constant hail of rocks fell above his head.
Xiao Chen was the first to land. Then, he stabilized himself and caught Luo Nan and Fei`er before taking another step back.
"You're fine, right?" Xiao Chen asked.
When the two landed, they panted endlessly. After resting for a long time, they gradually recovered their normal complexion.
Luo Nan said with lingering fear in his heart, "What a scary Jiao Snake! It is even stronger than our Sect Master. Why did it appear here?"
Fei`er whispered, "Let's leave quickly. Who knows if that Jiao Snake will change its mind?"
That Jiao Snake terrified the two. They would probably remember this incident for life. Even now, their bodies were still trembling.
Xiao Chen swept his gaze over the place. There were many good-quality Yin Essence Stones near where the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy had been.
Yin Essence Stones were also categorized into various qualities. The ones near the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy were clearly top quality.
It would be such a waste to ignore so many peak Yin Essence Stones.
"Go first. I'll come after a while."
"Big Brother Xiao Chen, let's leave together," Fei`er urged somewhat worriedly.
Xiao Chen shook his head, indicating that it was fine.
He had a feeling that the Jiao Snake did not dare attack the three of them. It was like the Jiao Snake was worried about something; otherwise, they would not have survived this long.
Now that he understood that, his anxious heart calmed down.
The two could not dissuade Xiao Chen, so they eventually left first to wait for him to rejoin them later.
Without wasting any time, Xiao Chen quickly dug out the nearby Yin Essence Stones.
Soon, he had harvested more than ten thousand pieces of Yin Essence Stones. The cold Qi in the cave vanished, and the air became much drier.
The value of Yin Essence Stones was quite unusual. Cultivators with rather high cultivations would not care about this thing.
However, sects would always buy such treasures in bulk to nurture their disciples. Some refiners and alchemists had special requirements for Yin Essence Stones as well.
Xiao Chen did not have to worry about not being able to sell the large number of peak Yin Essence Stones he held. Furthermore, they were extraordinarily valuable.
When he finished putting everything in order and left the cave, he felt a pair of eyes on him.
"Could it be that the Jiao Snake has not left yet?"
Xiao Chen entered deep thought and did not rush to move forward.
"Young man, you are truly inordinately greedy!"
Suddenly, the Jiao Snake rose from the river, revealing half its body. Then, it lowered its head and looked at Xiao Chen.
Even though only half its body was out of the water, this Jiao Snake was already several hundred meters tall, looking like a mountain.
Unflustered, Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute. "Thank you, Senior, for granting me this. If we meet again in the future, I will definitely repay this favor."
His being able to absorb the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy and obtain such a fortuitous encounter was all due to this Jiao Snake letting him have it. This was no exaggeration at all.
"Humph! If not for me following Lord Pan Huang when I was young, which diminished my ferocity significantly, I really would not have cared about your Great Desolate Hundred Races' bloodline. Not all ferocious beasts are as good-tempered as I am!"
Clearly, the Jiao Snake was still upset. Even though Xiao Chen was very polite, it did not give him much face when it spoke.
Lord Pan Huang!
Xiao Chen felt shocked. As he looked at the other party, he revealed a doubtful expression. "The Pan Huang you mentioned…is he a bladesman who used a saber?"
"The Spring Snow Bladesman, the Kunlun Realm's Pan Huang. Could there be a second Pan Huang in this Great Thousand Realms?"
