Weakness Before the Enemy; Strength When They Strike

Another day passed amidst laughter and joy.

Gilded candlesticks cast flickering shadows in the banquet hall, while the serpent clan's specially made chilled plum juice bubbled in jade cups.

At the final banquet, it was Ji Xueruo who took the initiative to offer drinks, but Yu Xiaoran, thinking about the important matters that night, unusually restrained herself and took the initiative to refuse the request.

Yu Xiaoran ran his fingertips along the rim of the cup. He didn't like this kind of sweet water, but he thought the sour plum drink brewed by the snake clan had a unique flavor, even better than the fragrant tea that they bought at high prices from the human race.

He took a sip of his drink, his gaze sweeping across the hall, finally settling on the snake scales that were faintly visible behind the snake women's ears.

He couldn't help but grumble to himself. It was still hot today, but these snake women had been covered up so tightly for the past three days that they would rather sweat than show any of their fair skin, as if they were guarding against him.

But this itchy feeling vanished in an instant, because the thought of being able to freely peel off these clothes after tonight made him feel hot inside. He even thought that the snake women had done a good job of covering him up, turning all the pent-up desire from the snakes' molting into sweat, like plates of steaming and extremely tempting delicacies.

"I never expected the Holy Son to be so approachable, actually enjoying plum juice," Ji Xueruo said with a smile.

"The sour plum drink of the snake tribe is much sweeter than that of other places." Yu Xiaoran smiled, but her mind was already wandering. She even thought that the snake women deliberately dripped their fragrant sweat into the sour plum drink when they were cooking it, which made the ordinary sweet water so delicious.

"Since you like it, why not stay a few more days?" Ji Xueruo wiped the corner of her lips with a silk handkerchief, her tone tinged with reluctance.

Yu Xiaoran's smile deepened, "The gift has been delivered, yet I have troubled the Snake Clan for three days. I feel deeply ashamed and have no right to linger any longer. Besides, my father is concerned about me, and if I don't return soon, he will likely be worried sick again."

"The deep bond between the Holy Son and his father is truly enviable." Ji Xueruo's eyelashes drooped, but her tone betrayed her disappointment.

The matter of the snake clan's previous chieftain had caused quite a stir, and Yu Xiaoran was well aware of the source of the young woman's sorrow. He prided himself on being a man who cherished women, and how could he bear to see this beautiful chieftain so heartbroken? He couldn't help but offer his comfort:

"The bond between father and son is deep, but only my father helps me, while I can't do much to help the Golden Peng Clan. Yet, Clan Chief Xue Ruo, at such a young age, has managed to govern the Snake Clan to such an extent; the Snake Clan's ancestors must have been quite gratified."

"You are too modest, Holy Son." Ji Xueruo and smiled lightly, her gloomy expression indeed fading away.

Seeing this Yu Xiaoran's enthusiasm grew even stronger. "Speaking of governing the clan, I just remembered something. Before I left, my father told me that there was a vacancy on Star Zhao Divine Mountain this year."

"One seat?" Ji Xueruo's beautiful eyes widened slightly. "Are seats that scarce this year?"

"Yes, it's indeed quite difficult for so many Demon Race in Japan to compete for a single seat." Yu Xiaoran sighed softly, but then lowered her voice and said, "However, I can also secretly pass on some information to Clan Chief Xue Ruo."

Can you tell me...?

"Clan Chief Xue Ruo is my savior, why shouldn't I?" Yu Xiaoran patted his chest and said, "I have seen many Demon Race that have sent visiting cards to the Golden Peng Clan, but they are all second-rate. Only the Snake Clan is gaining momentum, so it is only natural for them to take this position."

"Really? That's wonderful!" Ji Xueruo breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Xiaoran Xue Ruo raised a slight eyebrow, "Clan Chief Xue Ruo, don't be too happy yet. This competition for a seat isn't entirely based on strength; cultivating relationships is also an essential part. After all, entering the Divine Mountain is nothing special; being able to stay there permanently is the real skill."

"Please enlighten me, Holy Son." Ji Xueruo raised her eyebrows, appearing ready to listen attentively.

"To cultivate good relations with the various tribes of Mount Shen, one must first have connections. The Serpent Clan has been absent from Mount Shen for a long time, and past relationships are probably no longer of any use. However, the Serpent Clan has done my Golden Peng Clan a favor, and my Golden Peng Clan cannot stand idly by. The Golden Peng Clan has extensive connections in Mount Shen; as long as our elders put in a good word for us..."

Upon Ji Xueruo pursed her lips, "Holy Son, you jest. The Serpent Clan is now merely a small clan living in a remote corner; how could we dare to aspire to a seat on the Divine Mountain? The reason we sought the Lotus Root Heart that day was simply because we couldn't bear to see the Holy Son suffer."

Yu Wanyue had been silently sipping her tea, not interrupting the conversation between the two. However, upon hearing this, she slightly raised her gaze and focused on Ji Xueruo.

She knew perfectly well that the girl was being hypocritical. While feigning weakness and politely refusing, she didn't forget to remind the Holy Son of her life-saving grace, clearly hoping that the Holy Son would lower his demands out of pity.

She is truly a clever woman who knows how to utilize her strengths.

The thought of this woman's impending doom filled her with a sense of pity, and she spoke before her own holy son could:

"Chief Xue Ruo, there's no need to belittle yourself. Every woman in the snake clan is exceptional; just in terms of snake control alone, they surpass half of the Demon Race of the Divine Mountain."

Yu Xiaoran echoed, "Indeed, indeed. However, the position on Mount Shen is of great importance. Although our Golden Peng Clan is willing to lend a helping hand to the Snake Clan, we should also let the other clans of Mount Shen see the Snake Clan's sincerity."

Ji Xueruo: "How much is enough to show sincerity?"

Yu Xiaoran took in her subtle movements and feigned generosity, saying, "Just the seven major Demon Race of Divine Mountain alone would require seven thousand high-grade Spirit Stone to bribe. My Golden Peng Clan not only refuses to accept them, but can also provide three thousand for the Snake Clan."

Ji Xueruo's expression tightened. "Even three thousand high-grade Spirit Stone are not a small sum for my snake clan."

"The snake clan's main source of income is the Fire Essence Ore beneath Snake Mountain. If the clan leader can't afford Spirit Stone, Fire Essence Ore will suffice."

"To be honest, the Fire Essence Ore has long been exhausted; otherwise, why would we have abandoned Snake Mountain?" Ji Xueruo sighed, a troubled expression on her face.

"Clan Chief Xue Ruo, there's no need to worry! You are my savior, Yu Xiaoran! I'm determined to help you with this!" Yu Xiaoran suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, declaring confidently, "We can ignore the other Demon Race, but we must take good care of these seven major Demon Race. They are not short of money; they just want to see our sincerity. Clan Chief Xue Ruo, do you know what they are most interested in about the snake clan?"

Ji Xueruo's expression faltered slightly. "What is it?"

"Naturally, it is the blood of the Serpent Ancestor."

When Demon Race reach adulthood, they need to undergo a baptism to awaken their bloodline, but the baptism through ancestral blood is a step that most Demon Race do not have, and the propagation through ancestral blood is unique among Demon Race.

To dispel other races' covetousness of the Serpent Ancestor's blood, the Serpent Clan generously distributed it to some Demon Race, only to discover that the Serpent Ancestor's blood was useless to demons other than the Serpent Clan.

What even Ji Xueruo herself didn't know was that after the battle on the South China Sea Immortal Island, a rumor quietly spread among these great Demon Race —that the blood of the Serpent Ancestor contained Dragon Blood.

The Golden Peng Clan's main purpose in sending Yu Xiaoran to the Snake Clan was to verify what the Snake Blood Pool was, followed by the Fire Essence Ore beneath the volcano, and finally the Demon Core of these snake women.

However, the Snake Blood Pool was, after all, the most important sacred place for the Serpent Clan. Even if Yu Xiaoran was foolish, he wouldn't be so stupid as to ask the other party to take him to see the Snake Blood Pool, and the Serpent Clan would never agree to that. So they only saw the outline of the rebuilt Serpent Ancestor Palace from afar, unaware that there was no longer any Serpent Blood in the Serpent Ancestor Palace.

"What do they want the blood of the Serpent Ancestor for? The blood of the Serpent Ancestor has no effect on demons who are not of the Serpent Clan," Ji Xueruo asked blankly.

"Whether it's useful or not has nothing to do with whether they're interested or not," Yu Xiaoran said with a smile. "They just want to see the snake clan's sincerity, and that's enough for them."

Ji Xueruo's fingers tightened suddenly, but a bitter smile appeared on her face. "Allow me to discuss this with the elders..."

"No rush, no rush!" Yu Xiaoran and Yu Wanyue exchanged a glance, then gracefully turned and sat back down. "With such fine wine and delicious food before us, let's not talk about these tedious matters. I'm more curious about the recipe for the Snake Clan's plum juice; it just keeps getting better and better!"

Ji Xueruo was taken aback, and could only raise her glass and force a smile.

Inside Yu Xiaoran's bedchamber, Yu Wanyue gazed at the Golden Feather Talisman shimmering in her palm and whispered:

"Two hundred Golden Peng Guards are already lying in ambush outside the ancestral land, and will make their move at three-quarters past midnight."

Yu Xiaoran nodded slightly, not worried at all that the Golden Feather Talisman might be discovered, because it was one of the most powerful secret treasures of their Golden Peng Clan.

Humans can forge a life tablet from the Heart's Blood of an infant, allowing them to know the life or death of someone thousands of miles away. The first feather that grows in the Golden Peng Clan is called the Natal Golden Feather. If someone's Natal Golden Feather is plucked, their cultivation will no longer advance, but they can still communicate with the original person through a Golden Feather Talisman made from that Natal Golden Feather, and no one, including gods and ghosts, will notice.

While this method is cruel, it brings greater benefits to the Golden Peng Clan at the cost of sacrificing the future of a few members of the clan.

"Remember, don't kill them if you can avoid it. The snake clan is already so poor, we can't afford to lose any more people." Yu Xiaoran looked out at the deep twilight outside the hall, an uncontrollable smile curving her lips.

"Actually... I do find it a bit strange," Yu Wanyue suddenly said, pursing her lips.

"How?"

"At the banquet, the Holy Son tested the Serpent Clan Chief, but the Serpent Clan not only couldn't extract Spirit Stone, but their Fire Essence Ore were also depleted. So how did the Serpent Clan grow strong?"

"Stupid." Yu Xiaoran spat, seemingly quite pleased with his superior intelligence compared to this arrogant woman. "Naturally, it's because Ji Xueruo, in her desperate attempt to prove her abilities, drained the pond to catch all the fish. Not only did she overdraw the clan's reserves, but she also mined out all the Fire Essence Ore to enhance the clan's strength. Otherwise, how could she have broken through to the next realm so quickly? Didn't you notice it when you passed by her sister's courtyard? Even her sister is about to break through to the Water Condensation Realm. How could that be possible without using extraordinary means? Now that they've forced their own growth, it's no wonder we've harvested them ahead of time."

Yu Wanyue remained silent upon hearing this. Although her subconscious thoughts were similar to the Holy Son's, something still felt amiss. While Ji Xueruo was a promising talent in her eyes, she couldn't be sure if she would make such a decision. Based on her understanding of Fellow Daoist Liu, would she allow her Lineage to exploit the situation to the point of exhaustion? Or... did she also feel that the Serpent Clan had reached a point where a desperate gamble was necessary?

But now that things have come to this, continuing to hesitate would only make one appear indecisive.

Why should the Golden Peng Clan be so cautious about annexing a Demon Race that hasn't even reached the peak of the Feather Transformation stage?

The night wind lifted the copper bells on the eaves, their tinkling sounds mingling with the smell of sulfur as they drifted into the palace.

At three-quarters past midnight, the waning moon hung like a hook.

Yu Xiaoran leaned against a vermilion pillar in the sleeping quarters, her fingertips tracing the Golden Feather Token. The Golden Peng Guards's voice transmissions continuously came through the Golden Feather Token:

"Elder Wanyue's feng shui analysis was accurate; the snake clan's restriction has been successfully broken."

"We've reached the heart of the Serpent Clan's territory, but they haven't noticed the night raid."

"The second barrier has been broken; the snake clan's defenses are as flimsy as paper..."

He looked out the window at the heart of the snake tribe's territory, where more and more houses lit up, a confident smile playing on his lips.

The entire snake clan suddenly became agitated. Yu Xiaoran found the woman's screams outside the window pleasant and planned to make them even louder later.

Suddenly, a sharp sound pierced the night, and the voice coming from the Golden Feather Token trembled violently. "No! They... they are—"

Yu Wanyue's expression changed instantly, alarm bells ringing in her mind. When she looked up, she saw a ghostly blue poisonous mist rising from the firelight, moving through the night like phosphorescent will-o'-the-wisps, and she could vaguely hear a man's screams.

But where did this snake-like man come from?

Yu Xiaoran also realized something was wrong and immediately rushed out of the hall, but the scene before him made his pupils shrink.

The gentle and charming snake women he remembered now had cold, scaly lips and venomous fangs that gleamed with a chilling light. Where was the trace of the flirtatious demeanor he had seen before?

Meanwhile, the Golden Peng Guards lying on the ground were melting away along with their armor, their skin festering like pus.

Three snake clan elders stood in the center of the poisonous fog, their wide sleeves billowing with countless snake shadows, and they were actually engaged in a fierce battle with the three Golden Peng Guards leaders who were at the Feather Transformation Realm.

The few surviving Golden Peng Guards huddled together, trembling with fear, deeply terrified of these snake women who spewed deadly venom.

"How could this be...?"

Yu Xiaoran muttered to herself, the expected one-sided massacre did not occur; in fact, the opposite happened.

He watched the snake woman dancing gracefully in the poisonous fog and finally realized that those snake women, whom he had regarded as "weak," were far more ruthless than he had imagined.

In a daze, the peerless beauty emerged from the poisonous fog, her black wide sleeves tinged with a ghostly blue phosphorescence, her smile still faint, but now tinged with a chilling coldness.

Yu Xiaoran gritted his teeth upon seeing this, the Golden Feather Token he gripped tightly leaving bloodstains on his palm. At this moment, he understood that everything he had seen and heard over the past three days was an illusion prepared for him by the girl in front of him!

"How dare you set a trap for me!"

"A trap?" Ji Xueruo chuckled, her gaze sweeping over the mess on the ground. "It's just a case of turning the tables. The Golden Peng Clan wanted to devour my Snake Clan, but little did they know that snakes are all venomous?"

"They all took top-grade Poison Dispelling Pill and aren't even afraid of the poison of the Colored Spider Clan, how could they be poisoned like this by you!" Yu Xiaoran roared. Even if they could defeat the Snake Clan now, they couldn't make up for such a huge loss.

"Yes, it's precisely because we knew the Golden Peng Clan had planned this all along that we dared not harbor even the slightest bit of wishful thinking. I deliberately took you on a three-day tour, showing you all the Snake Clan's territory. We really had no defenses at all, didn't we?" Ji Xueruo smiled freely, her long hair flowing as if she were a celestial being. "The Snake Ancestor's Poison is a poison that can only be used once in a lifetime. Today, from top to bottom, not a single member of the Snake Clan held back."

Yu Wanyue stared at the certainty in Ji Xueruo's eyes and suddenly realized that the "barrenness" and "weakness" she had seen over the past three days were just wounds deliberately torn open by the snake clan to reveal the most tempting flesh and blood, luring them to take a fatal bite.

"No wonder the snake clan, despite their weakness, has managed to survive for a thousand years without being devoured; it turns out they rely on this poison." Yu Wanyue's voice remained nonchalant, yet she even offered her commentary, "It seems this poison has many limitations; otherwise, after drinking so much tea, we would have died several times over."

"It is precisely because of the many restrictions that it has been kept so well hidden, and fortunately, this secret has been preserved all this time." Ji Xueruo stood tall and proud, not at all inferior. Back then, in the Jade Ring Pool, she relied on the Snake Ancestor's Poison to kill the eldest son of the Water Condensation Perfection Realm while only at the Spirit Platform Middle Stage Realm.

Yu Wanyue couldn't help but think more highly of her. She was impressed by the girl's hidden talents, but she didn't believe she would fail.

"This isn't a matter of life or death; it's a matter of the serpent clan's inevitable demise. You've exhausted all the Snake Ancestor's Poison, thinking you could fight the Golden Peng Clan to the death, but little did you know you've only scratched the surface. You can't bear the Golden Peng Clan's wrath that follows."

Ji Xueruo burst out laughing as if she had heard a funny joke, causing the moon and flowers to tremble. "Elder Wanyue, do you think you can leave?"

"Of course I can walk." Yu Wanyue pondered for a moment, and the pressure of her perfected Feather Transformation suddenly rose. Her golden wings appeared and disappeared behind her, and the poisonous mist disappeared into the sea as soon as it approached her.

Ji Xueruo's smile remained unchanged, "Last night, Elder Wanyue wanted to go up Snake Mountain but couldn't. How about I invite you to go today?"

She turned to look towards the volcano, where a crimson plume of smoke was faintly visible in the night, and her wide sleeves billowed in the night wind like a snake's tongue.