Profound Pool Ice Serpent

Profound Pool Ice Serpent

"Grandpa Ma Xiuno, what kind of soul beast is that? It looks really powerful."

Yin Hao looked at Ma Xiuno and asked softly. Su Yuntao also cast a curious look his way.

Hearing Yin Hao's question, Ma Xiuno spoke.

"It's called a Profound Pool Ice Serpent. It's a draconic soul beast, and one of the strongest among draconic soul beasts. It is naturally attuned to the ice element and can control ice. Even at four or five hundred years old, it is no weaker than an ordinary thousand-year soul beast. This Ice Serpent is already over twenty meters long, so it has likely reached two thousand years of cultivation. And it has already noticed us. It won't be easy for us to leave today..."

Su Yuntao voiced his own question.

"Then if it has already noticed us, why hasn't it attacked us?"

Ma Xiuno shook his head, indicating that he did not know either.

Just then, the surface of the water rippled again. A smaller Profound Pool Ice Serpent emerged from the water and moved toward the larger Ice Serpent.

But before it could get close, the larger Ice Serpent roared and drove it back. The smaller Ice Serpent did not dare resist and could only retreat unwillingly into the pool.

Seeing the smaller Ice Serpent, Yin Hao's eyes lit up. He hurriedly asked, "Grandpa Ma Xiuno, how many years of cultivation does that smaller Profound Pool Ice Serpent have?"

Ma Xiuno thought for a moment before replying.

"That little Ice Serpent is about four meters long. It should be a four-hundred-year soul beast."

Yin Hao's gaze grew firmer. He had his eye on that little Ice Serpent...

But... dealing with the larger Ice Serpent was the problem...

Whenever there was no solution, ask the System. How could he not use a cheat when he had one?

"System, is there any way to deal with this big Ice Serpent?"

Items suitable for dealing with the Profound Pool Ice Serpent have been found for the Host:

Dragon Luring Grass: Greatly attracts the attention of soul beasts with draconic bloodlines.

Price: 1,000 Gold Soul Coins.

Reverse Dragon Oil: Causes soul beasts with draconic bloodlines to feel extreme disgust.

Price: 2,000 Gold Soul Coins.

Soul Power Bomb: Can inflict a certain amount of damage on soul beasts and slow them down.

Price: 100 Gold Soul Coins.

"Dragon Luring Grass? Reverse Dragon Oil? Soul Power Bomb?"

Seeing those three items, a fairly thorough plan formed in Yin Hao's mind. But... he had no money!

"Um... Big Brother System, I really don't have any money! My pockets are cleaner than my face! That damned Profound Pool Ice Serpent has already got its eyes on me. If I don't do something, I'm done for today. And if I'm done for, you won't have a Host anymore. Then wouldn't you be done for too..."

Yin Hao rattled off a whole string of words before the System finally responded.

It has been detected that the Host is in a dangerous situation. An emergency loan plan has now been activated and can provide the Host with a loan.

Maximum limit: 100,000

Monthly interest rate: 10%

"Ten percent monthly interest? You're even more ruthless than those 'banks'! At least they calculate interest annually, but you're charging it by the month!"

The Host may refuse the loan.

Yin Hao nearly crushed his molars. What a scammer System.

"I'll borrow it..."

Please select the loan amount.

"5,000 Gold Soul Coins."

The loan has been issued. Current Host assets: 5,001 Gold Soul Coins. Debt: 5,500.

"Interest starts accruing right away?"

Yin Hao was practically exploding with rage at the scammer System, but this was clearly not the time to argue with it. He hurriedly operated the System Shop and spent every last one of the 5,000 Gold Soul Coins he had just borrowed.

Congratulations to the Host for exchanging for Dragon Luring Grass. Gold Soul Coins consumed: 1,000.

Congratulations to the Host for exchanging for Reverse Dragon Oil. Gold Soul Coins consumed: 2,000.

Congratulations to the Host for exchanging for 20 Soul Power Bombs. Gold Soul Coins consumed: 2,000.

In one go, Yin Hao spent five thousand Gold Soul Coins and instantly became penniless, while also owing 5,500 Gold Soul Coins.

Then Yin Hao retrieved the items he had exchanged from the System and placed them into the backpack beside him. He tugged at the two men in front of him, who were still sweating coldly.

"Kid! What are you doing? You scared the hell out of me!"

Su Yuntao was startled by Yin Hao's sudden movement. His nerves were stretched to the limit as he stared without pause at the Profound Pool Ice Serpent in the distance, barely even daring to breathe. He feared that any movement too big would draw it over, but he also dared not turn around and run, afraid that would attract it as well.

Su Yuntao regretted it to death now. What had he been thinking back then? Why had he agreed to come to the Soul Hunting Forest and help this kid obtain a soul ring? Now, if things went badly, he might lose his life here too.

Ma Xiuno rapped Su Yuntao on the forehead.

"Why are you yelling at him? He's still a child!"

Su Yuntao gave him a resentful look like an aggrieved young wife, but said nothing.

"Little Yin Hao, what is it?"

Yin Hao nodded, took out the backpack beside him, and said, "Grandpa Ma Xiuno, Brother Su Yuntao, there are a few things in this backpack that can help us deal with the Profound Pool Ice Serpent."

That statement left both Ma Xiuno and Su Yuntao stunned. Half-believing and half-doubting, they asked, "What things?"

Yin Hao then unzipped the backpack and briefly explained the effects of the Dragon Luring Grass, Reverse Dragon Oil, and Soul Power Bombs. After that, he told them his plan.

The general idea was for one person to use the Dragon Luring Grass to draw the Profound Pool Ice Serpent's attention and lure it away. To keep it from catching up, that person could throw Soul Power Bombs behind them while running. The goal was not to kill it, only to hinder it and prevent it from catching up. Then they would stall for as much time as possible, allowing the people who stayed behind to deal with the little Profound Pool Ice Serpent. Once the Soul Power Bombs ran out, they would quickly take out the Reverse Dragon Oil and smear it on themselves, making the Profound Pool Ice Serpent stop pursuing them. The two groups would then meet at the forest exit.

After hearing Yin Hao's entire plan, Ma Xiuno's first response was not to give his opinion. Instead, he looked at Yin Hao with a serious expression and asked, "Little Yin Hao, tell Grandpa, who gave you these things?"

Yin Hao had long prepared an excuse.

"A mysterious expert gave them to me. He stopped me, handed me these things, and said that I would definitely find a use for them. And it turned out... I really did."

After hearing Yin Hao's explanation, Ma Xiuno became extremely excited. He grabbed Yin Hao's arm and urgently asked, "What did he look like? Did he also have blue hair, stand around one meter eighty tall, and look... somewhat like you...?"

Although Yin Hao did not know why Ma Xiuno was asking this, it at least gave him a more convincing excuse. He hurriedly nodded. "He did have blue hair, and he was... around one meter eighty tall too. But his face was covered, so I couldn't see what he looked like clearly."

Then Ma Xiuno seemed possessed as he muttered to himself, "It was him. It really was him. Benefactor... he came back?"

"Grandpa Ma Xiuno, what benefactor?"

Yin Hao asked in confusion.

Ma Xiuno shook his head with a kindly expression and did not answer Yin Hao's question.