Verdant Python Mutation

"Aya~"

Two Iron-Arm Apes were frantically fleeing. Behind them, all the Iron-Arm Apes around the crevice had fallen. A Verdant Python, its body over ten zhang long, was rapidly gaining on them.

"Aya aya~~"

After a brief exchange, the two Iron-Arm Apes suddenly split up and fled in different directions. One of them seemed to be trying to draw the Verdant Python's attention, deliberately running back towards it for a while before darting off against the wind.

"Roar~"

Unexpectedly, the Verdant Python didn't chase the one that was closer. Its shattered-gold eyes glanced at the monkey running against the wind, then it sped up and chased after the other Iron-Arm Ape that was almost out of reach.

"Aya~"

The Iron-Arm Ape didn't know why it had been abandoned, but it was naturally happier to be alive. "Aya aya!" it cried, preparing to escape in this direction.

Just as it leaped across a strangely burning pile of fire, "Clang!" A flash of snow-white light suddenly appeared below it.

"Aya~~"

A phantom image crossed paths with it from behind, and a white light flashed across its body. The Iron-Arm Ape only had time to let out a cry before it was split in two and fell to the ground.

"This Iron-Arm Ape is really hard to kill!"

Gu Sheng landed safely, took out a fiery red monkey skin, and wiped the blood of the Iron-Arm Ape from his blade. That strike was his full power, with over ten thousand jin of force combined with a sneak attack, and even with the Iron-Arm Ape poisoned and in poor condition. Killing such an ordinary Iron-Arm Ape still felt difficult to him.

"Hey tiger, what's wrong? Are you unhappy?"

Chu Xin, dressed in what looked like camouflage, emerged from the bushes, standing prettily in front of Gu Sheng, and waved her small hand to greet him.

"It's nothing!"

Gu Sheng waved his hand. Chu Xin's strength was insufficient, and knowing too much wouldn't help. He was used to shouldering, thinking about, and solving some things alone. However, after really testing the strength of the Iron-Arm Ape, he felt a bit more pressure in his heart.

Although he had already entered the ranks of First-Rate Experts in the martial world, his combat power was probably no less than that of an Inner Force expert with thirty thousand jin of force. However, if he faced an ordinary Iron-Arm Ape one-on-one, he still wasn't confident that he could kill it without taking damage.

A hundred thousand jin of attack power, even among humans, not all Earth Ranking experts could achieve that. But in the Iron-Arm Ape tribe, this was just a normal feat that any adult Iron-Arm Ape could accomplish.

While the two were talking, the Verdant Python Qing Ling had finished off the last Iron-Arm Ape. The two humans and the beast arrived before the Vermillion Fruit sapling. Gu Sheng took two steps forward to the edge of the crevice. Waves of hot air rushed out from within, and he could vaguely see a red glow flashing in the depths.

"It's so deep in here. I wonder what it's like down there?"

Chu Xin walked to Gu Sheng's side, peered in with her beautiful head, and her little face was full of curiosity.

"Hey tiger, we have time anyway, why don't we let Qing Ling take us down to see if we can find any treasures!"

The little girl had been with Gu Sheng for a long time, and she had become bolder. Now her personality was a bit wild, and she yearned for adventure and excitement.

"Down there, maybe it's a lava lake!"

Gu Sheng squinted his eyes and looked for a while, then turned his head, picked two Vermillion Fruits, and took Chu Xin's small hand, saying, "Let's go! Don't look. There's probably nothing down there. The Iron-Arm Apes have been here for so long, even if there were any treasures, they would have taken them long ago."

Gu Sheng wasn't very interested in the secrets below the crevice. In The Nine Cauldrons world, there were indeed many treasures in volcanic lava.

The Black Fire Spirit Fruit of Flame Mountain in Xuyang County and the Flame Guren of the Flame Territory in the North Sea Continent were both of great help to 'gods' and had a great effect on breaking through to the Innate realm. Especially the Flame Guren, one lotus seed could basically create an Innate expert.

Iron Arm Ape Mountain had hot springs, and the medicinal effects of Vermillion Fruit, a fire-attribute treasure medicine, were similar to those of the Black Fire Spirit Root. Plus, there was this place that resembled a fissure in the earth's core. All indications suggested that Iron Arm Ape Mountain might be an inactive volcano. And this crevice was very likely to lead to the depths of the earth's core.

On the surface of Iron Arm Ape Mountain, extraordinary treasures like Vermillion Fruit had grown. The concentration of heaven and earth spiritual energy was even higher underground, and there might be even rarer treasures, but Gu Sheng had no desire to explore.

Gu Sheng was very clear that ambition should be matched with corresponding strength. Whether it was the Black Fire Spirit Root or the Flame Guren, they both grew in lava, and the temperature of the environment was frighteningly high. Martial artists below the Innate realm would be burned to death before they even got close.

This crevice had waves of hot air. If it really led directly to lava as he thought, even if there were treasures inside, it wasn't something that he and Chu Xin could get their hands on. Rather than becoming greedy and risking their lives, it was better to cut off everything at the source.

"Oh!"

Chu Xin pouted her little mouth, suppressed her curiosity, and followed Gu Sheng as he turned to leave.

"Roar~"

The Verdant Python Qing Ling was very excited to see the two 'red apples' in Gu Sheng's hand. It was affectionate with Gu Sheng and Chu Xin again, then used its tail to put them on its back, and then disappeared quickly into this place with a gust of breeze.

"Aya aya~"

An hour later, a patrolling Iron-Arm Ape discovered the anomaly here, and 'Aya aya' screamed wildly to call its companions.

At the foot of Iron Arm Ape Mountain, Gu Sheng got off the Verdant Python Qing Ling's back. This big guy had undergone more than ten molts in a row after this period of 'Vermillion Fruit baptism'. Its body had grown a circle, its strength had become much stronger, and the bulge on its head was growing bigger and bigger. It looked like it was very close to the critical point of transforming from a python into a dragon.

After Gu Sheng came down, the Verdant Python's big head immediately came over, lowered its head and rubbed gently to show intimacy, its big mouth slightly open and hissing, as if saying, "Master! Master! Quickly give me the Vermillion Fruit!"

"Here you go, why are you in such a hurry!"

Gu Sheng smiled and spread out his hand. This big guy's appetite was really extraordinary. During this period, Gu Sheng took it and Chu Xin, plus this time, to attack four Iron-Arm Ape strongholds where Vermillion Fruit grew. The Vermillion Fruit seized, plus the first ambush, added up to ten Vermillion Fruit that had entered its belly.

"Whoosh~"

The Verdant Python Qing Ling rolled its tongue, and a Vermillion Fruit disappeared from Gu Sheng's hand.

"Hiss hiss~ Hiss hiss~"

The Verdant Python's shattered-gold pupils lit up and dimmed, its body trembled violently, its eyes were very strange, and suddenly it opened its mouth and hissed at Gu Sheng, as if it wanted to say something to him.

"Hmm~"

Gu Sheng lowered his head in confusion. A Vermillion Fruit still remained in his palm. According to the Verdant Python's usual appetite, two at a time would not be a problem for it, but now...

Gu Sheng raised his head. The Verdant Python's physical abnormality was becoming more and more obvious. The green scales on its body seemed to be shining from the inside out, and the bulge on its head was constantly fluctuating as if something was about to come out.

"Let's go first!"

Gu Sheng had a guess in his mind, grabbed the confused Chu Xin next to him, and quickly left the spot.