Snake Venerable

Although the Myriad Snake Mountain Range is called Ten Thousand Snakes, it's not just full of snakes, but there are many snakes. The fat rabbit that Xiao Ming caught was quite heavy, and it was quickly dried and cleaned by Qing Lin, then placed on the fire.

Under the scorching heat of the fire, the bright red, succulent rabbit meat sizzled as the oil seeped out.

The enticing aroma wafted into Xiao Ming and the others' noses, bringing smiles to their faces.

Venerable Tian Huo spoke up, "I've been dead for many years, yet I never expected that the Soft Bone Charming Rabbit would still be alive. You must know that although this rabbit isn't of a high grade, its taste is absolutely superb. Even before I died, it had already attracted many people to hunt it extensively."

"Rabbit-type Magical Beasts can reproduce six to eight times a year, an astonishing reproductive capacity. Even with large-scale capture, it's difficult to eradicate them. However, these Soft Bone Charming Rabbits are indeed rare now."

Qing Lin, who was turning over a rabbit in her hands, looked up and picked up the conversation. Because the Green Snake Three Flower Eyes could control Snake Magical Beasts, Qing Lin had learned about Snake Magical Beasts and also knew a lot about other Magical Beasts.

It was Qing Lin who discovered the Soft Bone Charming Rabbit; otherwise, given Xiao Ming and the others' strength, they probably wouldn't have bothered to cook. The higher one's cultivation level, the lower one's need for food. In the later stages, food is simply a way to satisfy one's appetite.

"Alright, it's ready to eat." Qing Lin saw that the rabbit meat had turned golden brown, so she took out a small bottle from her Na Ring and poured some powder on the rabbit meat, making the aroma even more intense.

The contents of this bottle are items that Xiao Ming used to research on spices, which Qing Lin later learned from.

"Young Master, here." Qing Lin tore off a rabbit leg and handed it to Xiao Ming Xiao Ming then passed it to Xiao Yi Xian standing to the side.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled, took the food, and began to chew and eat slowly.

Qing Lin didn't mind, and instead tore off another rabbit leg for Xiao Ming.

"Qing Lin, don't bother, you eat it yourself." Xiao Ming waved his hand, pressing Qing Lin down so she could finish the rabbit leg in her hand.

Although Xiao Ming initially took Qing Lin in with a purpose, after spending these years together, he has come to regard her as a Qing Lin sister.

The Venerable Tian Huo, standing nearby, stroked his beard and chuckled as he observed this scene:

"Little Qing Lin, do you only have eyes for the young master? You've forgotten to prepare something for this old man."

"Ah, sorry..." Qing Lin said hurriedly as soon as she sat down. Xiao Ming had told her to sit down directly, so she hadn't had a chance to hand Venerable Tian Huo a piece of rabbit meat.

Qing Lin's panic made Venerable Tian Huo's smile widen. As he grew older, Venerable Tian Huo loved to tease the young.

Seeing the young people's flustered appearance always reminded him of his past.

"Old Yao, don't tease Qing Lin." Xiao Ming laughed as he threw a few pieces of firewood into the fire, then cut the remaining rabbit meat in half and handed it to Venerable Tian Huo.

After taking it, Venerable Tian Huo took a bite and exclaimed in praise.

For a moment, the atmosphere fell silent.

The place where Xiao Ming and his companions were now was a small clearing in the dense forest. The light from the campfire could only barely reach the edge of the clearing, while the rest of the forest was dark.

"Hiss~"

A hundred meters away, the green python and two gray-black giant pythons, smelling the fragrance in the air, couldn't help but let their saliva drip from their teeth, making a sound as they spoke.

Fortunately, Fourth Tier Magical Beast beasts are not too unintelligent; even though the aroma in the air was very tempting, they did not approach.

Although the green python did not make any rash moves, it did not mean that others had not noticed it.

A thoughtful look flashed in Xiao Ming's eyes as he stood by the campfire.

After finishing what he was holding, he didn't seem to make any further moves.

The surrounding woods rustled with the sound of branches, and moments later, the tall trees beside the clearing collapsed with a crash, and three large snakes, each seven or eight zhang long, were dragged through the gap to the campfire.

Meanwhile, Venerable Tian Huo and the others had already finished their rabbit meat. Looking at the giant snake controlled by Xiao Ming's Soul Power, they were somewhat puzzled. Was Xiao Ming still hungry and wanted to have another meal?

However, the experienced Venerable Tian Huo quickly realized what was happening.

"These must be spies from the Snake Family of the Myriad Snake Mountain Range, right?" Venerable Tian Huo had long sensed the hidden Aura of the Myriad Snake Mountain Range.

"That should be the case. Qing Lin, go and communicate with them," Xiao Ming said.

Qing Lin nodded upon hearing this, walked up to the three pythons, a green light flashed in his eyes, and then the area was filled with the hissing sound unique to snakes.

"Young Master, there are indeed spies from the Snake Family in this area." After a moment, Qing Lin turned his head.

"This Myriad Snake Mountain Range is teeming with snakes, all of them henchmen of this family. To sneak past them and approach the Ancient Heavenly Serpent's Tomb undetected is no easy feat."

Xiao Ming was not surprised to find spies from the Snake Family. When he entered the mountains, he did not take many measures to conceal their whereabouts, firstly because it was difficult to conceal them, and secondly because it was unnecessary.

The strength of the Snake Family in the Myriad Snake Mountain Range is at most on par with the Ice River Valley among the Three Valleys. He has nothing to fear. To be honest, with Xiao Ming's current power, he can already easily wipe out many sects in the Central Plains.

In the Simulator, he didn't suffer any losses in the Myriad Snake Mountain Range. At most, Xiao Ming would just be on guard against the so-called Snake Venerable mentioned in the Simulator, who might launch a sneak attack.

The three of them Xiao Yi Xian, did not have a deep understanding of the Myriad Snake Mountain Range, nor did they know much about the reclusive Snake Family, so they all frowned.

"Xiao Ming, do you think they might have already discovered the tomb of the Ancient Heavenly Serpent?"

"Probably not. But the map shows the final location is in the heart of the mountains. Whether they're discovered or not, a conflict is bound to break out. Hopefully, they'll be sensible then, otherwise, Qing Lin's Green Snake Three Flower Eyes will be in for a lot of trouble."

Unless Xiao Ming and his group withdraw from the Myriad Snake Mountain Range, or the Snake Family voluntarily yields, conflict is only a matter of time.

Xiao Ming didn't want to get into a fight; after all, they had no grudges against each other, so why bother?

Xia Ran, who went to inform the elder, was unaware that the spies she sent out hadn't been keeping watch for long before being captured by Xiao Ming and his group.

He traveled day and night without stopping, and finally arrived at the central area, the core territory of the Snake Family, seven days later.

This was a huge rock cave, tens of meters high. A giant snake was coiled at the entrance. Upon seeing Xia Ran's bright red body, it exclaimed in surprise.

"Xia Ran, weren't you guarding the outer edge of the mountain range? The sacrificial ceremony is still a few days away, why did you come back early?"

"A human at the Dou Zong has entered the mountains; I've come to report this."

Xia Ran replied and then went directly into the cave.

A moment later, Xia Ran's enormous body appeared in a canyon, which was densely covered with small snakes. In the center of these snakes, an ugly-faced white-haired old man opened his eyes.

"Xia Ran, I am preparing for the sacrificial ceremony. What brings you to disturb me?"

"Reporting to the Third Elder, a human Dou Zong has entered the mountains, heading towards the central area. I am concerned that it may be from the Beast Taming Sect or some other force, so I have returned to report ahead of schedule."

"A human Dou Zong? Are you sure?"

"It shouldn't be wrong."

"Don't worry about it for now. Snake Venerable is currently in seclusion in the Blood Pool. We'll discuss it after this ceremony."