Dimensional Strike, One Stone, Three Birds (Part 2)

This giant crocodile did not die peacefully. Su He had torn off three of its four legs, and Green Snake had constricted it to death. By the time it died, not a single intact bone could be found.

Once the giant crocodile was dead, killing the other green crocodiles became much easier. Above, the giant pythons and Green Snake strangled them; below, Su He fiercely blocked the tunnel.

Only seventy percent of Snake Valley's giant pythons had died, yet nearly twenty green crocodiles had been slaughtered clean.

Su He leisurely surfaced. The thick fog had already dispersed, and Green Snake no longer attacked with water arrows. Even the most polite turtle could not compare to showing its fangs just once.

Tearing off three of the giant crocodile's limbs before Green Snake, then standing guard at the tunnel entrance—one turtle holding the pass, ten thousand crocodiles unable to break through. That bloody, exhilarating battle made Green Snake truly recognize Su He's combat strength.

This was not a turtle that had come carrying a rabbit to submit, hoping to hide in a corner and spy on its Demon Transformation Fruit.

This was a giant turtle unmatched in battle.

When dealing with beasts, baring one's fangs worked far faster than currying favor.

Su He and Green Snake stared at one another for a moment. Then he turned and crawled from the valley entrance toward Crocodile Beach.

"Roar~"

There are still crocodiles. Follow me! Green Snake hesitated for a moment, then twisted its body and followed. At the same time, it hissed out an order, bringing along the few remaining giant pythons of Snake Valley.

They crawled out of Snake Valley and entered Listening Sea Lake. Crocodile Beach lay in the distance.

Green Snake refused to go any farther. It even wanted to take the giant pythons back to Snake Valley. It was a local snake born and raised here, and it knew there were countless crocodile packs ahead.

This turtle wanted it to kill those crocodiles?

How could that be possible? This was suicide!

Green Snake cowered and refused to advance, only to see the turtle floating in the water and roaring at Crocodile Beach.

Roar~ Little ones, follow me to hunt!

Hearing their king's voice, the Su Family Crocodiles howled excitedly, greedily turning their eyes toward the giant pythons of Snake Valley.

Su He slapped a crocodile into the water. "Roar!"

Idiot, those are allies! The crocodiles did not understand what allies were, but they knew their king would not allow them to hunt these long worms. Perhaps these long worms were the king's prey?

Green Snake: "!!!"

This turtle was the king of the crocodile pack! He had a pack of slaughter machines of his own! Having eaten the Demon Transformation Fruit for Two Months, it had developed some, though not much, intelligence—and it was utterly shaken.

Turtle. Crocodile. King.

Something seemed wrong somewhere, yet it also seemed perfectly natural.

It cautiously followed the crocodile pack led by Su He toward the inner lake. The farther it swam, the more alarmed it became. These crocodiles were heading straight for the Snake Valley tunnel entrance.

Just as Green Snake wondered whether Su He had lured it out to seize Snake Valley with the crocodiles, the foul stench of green crocodiles entered its mind through its Snake Tongue and nasal cavity.

There truly were green crocodiles ahead, though not many. One giant crocodile led six ordinary green crocodiles. They were the group that had earlier taken a detour to block Su He's return to Crocodile Beach.

Su He led the crocodiles beneath the water, swimming at the very front. The Green Giant Crocodile's belly was visible in the distance. Su He suddenly accelerated and rammed upward, flipping the Green Giant Crocodile over, then tore away a great slab of flesh from beneath its foreleg.

The hunt was triggered in an instant.

Taking the Su Family Crocodiles to face a green crocodile pack led by two Green Giant Crocodiles would have been war, and the Su Family Crocodiles might not have obeyed orders. But there was only one Green Giant Crocodile and six ordinary green crocodiles on the other side. This was hunting!

The Green Giant Crocodile was suddenly attacked and hurriedly twisted around, its enormous tail lashing out with a smack!

The tremendous force sent Su He flying, bouncing across the lake surface like a skipping stone.

As the world spun, Su He only saw a green blur flash before his eyes, followed by the Green Giant Crocodile's terrified, furious roar. Then came the Su Family Crocodiles' bellows and the green crocodiles' panicked splashing as they fled.

The hunt had erupted in an instant and ended moments later.

There were simply too many Su Family Crocodiles. The green crocodiles numbered only seven, and the Green Giant Crocodile had been caught and constricted by Green Snake.

The green crocodiles that had run wild across Crocodile Beach the day before were wiped out completely after Su He used a small trick.

When strength was not too far apart, Su He, with human intelligence, dealing with these beasts was absolutely a Dimensional Strike.

The Su Family Crocodiles had suffered not a scratch. By borrowing Snake Valley, he had wiped out the green crocodiles, consumed seventy percent of Snake Valley's giant pythons, and greatly reduced Green Snake's hostility toward him.

One Stone, Three Birds.

It was not honorable—indeed, it was even despicable—but it was useful.

Su He bore Green Snake no hostility. They were both beings seeking transformation into demons, and they would live alongside one another for more than a century. There was no need to make enemies, but Su He still hoped his neighbor would be weaker. Weaker still.

Best of all, it could become his vassal.

If Green Snake's intelligence opened fully in the future and it recalled everything from today—so what? Those had all been ignorant acts from their days as beasts. Was it really going to hold a grudge? It couldn't possibly be that I, a turtle, had plotted against you, could it? Back then, I was only a beast without awakened intelligence too.

Crocodile Beach returned to the peace of past days.

Eating. Sleeping.

Su He no longer beat the crocodiles. They were all obedient now, so there was no need. Of course, occasionally giving them some cordial and friendly instruction did not count.

Snake Valley opened itself to Su He.

At the very least, whenever Su He went again, a water arrow would no longer greet him head-on. Su He often lay beneath the willow tree to sleep, while Green Snake coiled in the branches above. Sometimes its tail even dangled down and brushed back and forth over Su He's shell, making it itch.

Green Snake was a female snake.

Su He often lingered in its Snake Valley, but he never discovered how Green Snake obtained its inheritance.

Day after day passed, and Su He grew fonder of basking in the sun.

Listening Sea Lake's water level began returning to normal. The crocodiles moved farther into the lake with the receding water, and Su He's private sunning rock disappeared. Most of the time, he tossed himself onto the water's surface like a crocodile and remained perfectly still.

As the water level fell, another rock emerged, but Su He did not like it. It had no slope, only a tall vertical platform that was somewhat difficult to climb.

During this time, he had grown another stretch, but there had been no breakthrough growth. Fish of ordinary triple quality could no longer make him fall into Deep Sleep, while even quadruple quality made him sleep only two or three days at most. His growth rate was also slower than it had been in the previous Two Months.

The energy needed for growth had increased.

Two streaks of sword light crossed the sky, circled once, and descended onto the high platform in the water, becoming two young men dressed in Azure Origin Sect robes.

"Junior Brother Yu Lin, this place is not bad. No one is around, just a pack of old crocodiles. It is perfect for you to practice your lesson."

The young man called Yu Lin looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

Both were Azure Origin Disciples. It was already autumn, and in at most another month, the first snow should come. The Azure Origin Sect had a custom: when the first snow fell, lessons for that year's new disciples would begin.

Yu Lin was this year's talisman instructor. This was his first time teaching. Over these past days, as the leaves yellowed and the temperature dropped, he had grown nervous beyond measure.

At the thought of facing dozens of pairs of eyes below the platform, his face turned pale.

It was even more frightening than hunting the same number of strange beasts.

With no other choice, he had gone to seek advice from his Senior Brother, who had brought him here.

"Junior Brother Yu Lin, do you see those old crocodiles below? Treat them as newly inducted junior brothers and sisters. Speak however you want, say whatever you want. Once you get used to it, you can treat your junior brothers the same way—as old crocodiles. Then you will not be nervous while teaching."

"Your Senior Brother got through it this way back then." He patted his junior brother's shoulder. "Do not worry. Your Senior Brother will not peek. Teach as you please. If there is anything you cannot reason through or explain, remember it. We can discuss it after we return."

Yu Lin's eyes filled with gratitude.

His Senior Brother departed with Sword Control.

Yu Lin licked his dry lips, took a deep breath, and addressed the crocodile pack with all the emotion he could muster. "Junior brothers and sisters, I am Yu Lin from the Scripture Hall. You may call me Senior Sister Yu Lin—no... Senior Brother Yu Lin. I will explain talismans to everyone..."

Even facing a pack of crocodiles, he was still nervous beyond measure.

Su He's turtle eyes widened to their limit. With a low roar, he made the crocodile pack stay quiet, then silently moved a little closer to Yu Lin and quietly dived beneath the water.

Thank heavens for this gift. He was going to attend a lesson!

A die fell from the sky and landed atop Yu Lin's head, spinning round and round.

Four points!

Snatching food was an unexpected windfall, so was stealing knowledge not one too? But how would the die calculate things here? Would it create four Yu Lins to teach? Would that not frighten this young man unconscious on the spot?