True Goal

"Squeak!"

As if sensing that such an impact would harm Gu Sheng, the azure light and shadow that had been rapidly approaching him suddenly halted in the air before him. The transition between extreme motion and stillness was almost perfectly seamless, without the slightest hint of distortion.

"Boom~"

A sonic boom rang in Gu Sheng's ears. The azure light and shadow stopped a few centimeters in front of Gu Sheng, finally revealing its form to the two of them.

Gu Sheng looked at the creature before him, his face flashing with surprise and joy, a rather fascinating expression. Chu Xin behind him, her small eyes already sparkling, boldly darted forward, reaching out her small hand to touch it.

The creature that appeared before them was a slender little snake, only about three inches long. Its entire body was covered with tiny azure scales, with light golden serpentine eyes and a silver horn about an inch long on its forehead, faintly crackling with electricity. A sense of both strange and noble emanated from it.

"Jade Azure Serpent! Qing Ling!"

Even with just a glance, Gu Sheng recognized the little fellow's origins. Jade Azure Serpent, a Green Azure Python that grows to ten zhang long and then undergoes a transformation, successfully becoming a 'Jade Azure Serpent' that is only three chi long.

The Jade Azure Serpent, a top-tier demon beast born after completing the transformation from python to jiao dragon, posed a threat no less than the Violet Light Flood Dragon in the Azure Cold Pool of Mount Dayan. Although it was small, its body was as hard as a divine weapon, capable of killing people!

Furthermore, the Jade Azure Serpent was incredibly venomous, possessing a poison that even Xiantian Golden Core experts would steer clear of. Its venom spread with alarming speed. Even Internal Fist grandmasters, capable of controlling their Blood Essence flow, would be helpless against the serpent's poison without preparation and would succumb within moments.

"So this is what Qing Ling looks like after its transformation, so beautiful!"

Chu Xin, after hearing Gu Sheng's words, was no longer timid. A pair of bright eyes sparkled as she poked Qing Ling's small belly with a little finger, then grabbed it whole in her hands, gently rubbing her little face against the dragon's head, constantly murmuring.

"Ah! So cute! So cute!"

"Qing Ling is so cute!"

The Jade Azure Serpent's appearance didn't seem fierce at all, but rather beautiful to an excessive degree. Such a beautiful creature, unless someone had deep psychological trauma, would likely forget their fear and disgust of snakes.

Chu Xin was a clear example. The way this girl was 'cat-napping' it was exactly like Tu Shan Su Su from the Southern Kingdom arc of 'Fox Spirit Matchmaker' when she met 'White Moon Chicken' again, rubbing against it while saying how cute it was, practically identical.

"Hey! That, Qing Ling should be returned to me!"

Gu Sheng was speechless. This little girl's endless abuse of the Jade Azure Serpent was challenging Qing Ling's bottom line as a dragon, truly courting death! However, since the little girl had already been internally designated as a member of his 'Crystal Palace,' he generously represented his Jade Azure Serpent in 'forgiving' her rudeness.

"What! When did Qing Ling become yours alone? It clearly belongs to both of us."

Chu Xin protected the Jade Azure Serpent in her arms, preventing Gu Sheng's potential 'sneak attack.'

"Are you sure? Little Xin'er! Qing Ling! Come back!"

Gu Sheng's lips curled slightly as he crooked a finger at the Jade Azure Serpent. With a "Swoosh!" a green shadow flashed.

The Jade Azure Serpent appeared in Gu Sheng's hand as if teleporting. It lowered its tiny dragon head slightly and gently licked Gu Sheng's palm a few times, then looked up, its clear golden eyes sparkling with excitement and dependence.

Gu Sheng's heart was filled with joy. He focused his thoughts, carefully reaching out and gently stroking the delicate dragon's body, his fingers tracing over the scales that were no less warm than jade, and finally touching the small dragon horn.

Gu Sheng's actions did not provoke the Jade Azure Serpent's hostility. It wiggled its body slightly, without any evasive movements, instead twisting its little head and lazily rubbing its horn against Gu Sheng's palm.

"Hahahaha~~~~"

Gu Sheng burst out laughing, an excited loss of composure that Chu Xin had never seen before. But seeing Gu Sheng like this, she also laughed along. She could feel that a large stone seemed to have been lifted from Gu Sheng's heart.

On a cliff halfway up Iron Arm Ape Mountain, Gu Sheng and Chu Xin lay low at the edge of a platform, the platform covered with vines and weeds. Below the platform, nearly a thousand Iron-Arm Apes were chattering noisily. This was the Iron-Arm Apes' lair, and the Ape King Cave was located below the platform they were on.

Inside the Ape King Cave, a tall Iron-Arm Ape leader carefully held two Vermillion Fruits, constantly moving forward in the cave. It walked very slowly, very nervous about the two Vermillion Fruits in its hand.

It couldn't help but be careful. This month, the Vermillion Fruits of Iron Arm Ape Mountain had been looted by a group of demon beasts. The Iron-Arm Ape tribe's Vermillion Fruit Wine had no income, and they were completely living off their savings.

The once-every-few-days drinking party had only happened twice this month, and even it only got a small cup each time. The Iron-Arm Apes were very dissatisfied.

The Iron-Arm Ape leader went around three times and two times, and came to an empty mountain belly. There was a square pit on the ground of the mountain belly. Inside the square pit, there was a lot of light red liquid, and a strong aroma of wine was scattered. The tall Iron-Arm Ape sniffed its nose and couldn't help licking its lips.

Next to the square pit, there was an Iron-Arm Ape with the same physique as an ordinary Iron-Arm Ape, but... its entire body's fur was silver! Its pupils were golden! In front of this golden-eyed, silver-haired Iron-Arm Ape, the tall Iron-Arm Ape was very well-behaved.

"Gu Sheng, how much longer do we have to wait!"

At the edge of the platform, Chu Xin glanced around, and many demon beasts had already gathered.

"We're waiting for the Ape King to come out. During this period, because of us, the Iron-Arm Apes' Vermillion Fruit Wine has been rationed. Now that they've finally gotten mature Vermillion Fruits, they'll definitely drink freely."

Gu Sheng looked at the increasing number of demon beasts around him, a hint of triumph flashing in his eyes. "These demon beasts around us, plus the ones we attracted, already rival the Iron-Arm Ape tribe in terms of numbers. When the Vermillion Fruit Wine appears, the scene will definitely be chaotic. Then, our opportunity will come. Vermillion Fruit Wine is my real goal all along."

Gu Sheng's real goal has always been the Vermillion Fruit Wine here, and he has prepared a plan with a theoretically high success rate for this purpose. The matter of the Jade Azure Serpent Qing Ling was just an accident. If the Jade Azure Serpent had not appeared, he might have already started implementing the plan. However, with the addition of the Jade Azure Serpent, his plan is even more complete.

Gu Sheng turned his head and looked at the steep cliff behind him. The cliff behind him went straight into the mountain, and there were faint things swimming on the mountain wall amidst the clouds and mist.

"It's out!"

Chu Xin whispered. Gu Sheng turned his head to look, and the tall Iron-Arm Ape came out of the cave, waving its arms and making "A-a-a" cries. The cries were excited and high-pitched, echoing in the sky above the apes' lair.