If It's Not Poisonous, What Are You So Arrogant About?

While Lin Li was observing the Black Snake Exotic Beast, the Black Snake Exotic Beast was also observing Lin Li.

The prey before it looked quite delicious. It had traveled several kilometers from the wilderness to find prey here, and this long journey had definitely not been a waste.

"Hiss..."

The Black Snake Exotic Beast, its stomach already aching with hunger, hissed at Lin Li. First, its eyes glowed with Pale Gold Spiritual Light, and then its entire body followed suit, radiating the same Pale Gold Spiritual Light.

Its pitch-black scales were wrapped in Pale Gold Spiritual Light, making this massive Black Snake Exotic Beast, already imposing in presence, even more awe-inspiring.

"Here it comes." Seeing the Black Snake Exotic Beast take its stance, Lin Li immediately knew the exotic beast was about to launch an attack on him.

"Hiss..."

The Black Snake Exotic Beast swayed its head, its cold snake eyes glowing with Pale Gold Spiritual Light fixed squarely on Lin Li. After it hissed, its coiled upper body shot out like a compressed spring suddenly released.

The massive snake head of the Black Snake Exotic Beast flew toward Lin Li like lightning. In the process, it also opened its mouth wide, its sharp teeth glinting coldly—it intended to swallow its prey whole in one bite.

Lin Li, fully alert, had already prepared to dodge the moment he sensed the Black Snake Exotic Beast's intent to attack.

The instant the Black Snake Exotic Beast's head shot forward, Lin Li had already braced himself to leap to the right.

The Black Snake Exotic Beast's attack speed was extremely fast; there could be no hesitation. Even half a second of delay might let the attack succeed.

"Thud."

Lin Li's decisive choice to dodge was correct. The Black Snake Exotic Beast's attack missed, and its massive snake head slammed heavily into the grass, producing a dull sound.

"Whew..."

Having narrowly evaded the Black Snake Exotic Beast's preemptive strike, Lin Li looked at the small dent left where the snake head had hit the ground.

He let out a long breath while feeling his heart's pounding rate seem to quicken for a moment.

"Don't panic. This Black Snake Exotic Beast looks fierce and scary, but I can clearly keep up with its attack speed just now.

As long as I maintain a good mindset and rely on my own reflexes, it'll still be tough for it to bite me."

After giving himself a little mental encouragement, Lin Li felt his heart, which had been thumping wildly from tension, calm down considerably.

"Hiss..."

The Black Snake Exotic Beast was deeply dissatisfied with its failed strike, and it was also somewhat surprised that this prey had managed to dodge that lethal pounce.

As an experienced predator on the wilderness, the Black Snake Exotic Beast was no fool.

Its confident preemptive attack had been dodged by the prey, which meant that this prey, which it had seen as a delicious feast, was not as easy to deal with as it had initially thought.

But that didn't matter. It had encountered difficult prey before. With its massive body, this little thing would eventually be taken down.

The Black Snake Exotic Beast twisted its body, slowly closing in on Lin Li, occasionally flicking its bright red forked tongue. The hair-raising hissing sound spread outward, filling the small area.

In the dense grass around them, ordinary small creatures like snakes, insects, rats, and ants trembled in fear at the terrifying hisses the Black Snake Exotic Beast let out from time to time, until they could no longer bear it and began fleeing into the distance.

"Hiss..."

A sharp hiss suddenly erupted—this was the Black Snake Exotic Beast's signal to attack.

Hearing the sudden change in the Black Snake Exotic Beast's hiss, Lin Li immediately realized it was about to launch a fierce assault.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle..."

This time, the Black Snake Exotic Beast didn't use its earlier spring-loaded attack method. Instead, it slithered quickly toward Lin Li, trying to close the distance for close combat.

As an experienced predator, the Black Snake Exotic Beast reasoned that since the prey had dodged its attack from that range, it would close in and attack up close—how would the prey dodge then?

Having just evaded the Black Snake Exotic Beast's preemptive strike, Lin Li had also obtained the information he wanted: he judged that this Black Snake Exotic Beast was non-venomous.

Because when it had opened its mouth wide and lunged at him earlier, it hadn't spat any venom.

Since you're not a venomous snake, I can fight you without worry.

"Whoosh."

Lin Li raised his left hand, wrapped in medical gauze. Spiritual Light bloomed at his fingertips. As the Pale Gold Spiritual Light flashed, a Small Fireball the size of an egg materialized in the air above his fingertip.

"Hiss...?"

The Black Snake Exotic Beast, charging at Lin Li with fierce momentum, saw a Small Fireball suddenly appear in its prey's hand, which slowed its slithering speed slightly.

But in its view, a Small Fireball the size of an egg couldn't cause it any real harm. So it briefly slowed down, then abruptly sped up again.

Yet in the next second, the egg-sized Small Fireball hovering above Lin Li's fingertip suddenly expanded, becoming the size of an apple.

The volume of the Small Fireball had increased several times, and its power had naturally multiplied as well.

"You black bastard, what are you so cocky about without venom? Take this..." Lin Li silently cursed the Black Snake Exotic Beast charging at him, then swung his hand and hurled the Small Fireball he had conjured.

"Whoosh..."

The apple-sized Small Fireball shot out at incredible speed.

The Black Snake Exotic Beast, rushing straight at Lin Li, was moving too fast. When it saw the egg-sized Small Fireball suddenly expand several times and fly toward it, it was too late to dodge.

But as an experienced predator, when faced with such a crisis, it could still make moves to minimize damage.

The Black Snake Exotic Beast's slippery body suddenly tensed, and its head jerked upward.

The Small Fireball Lin Li had thrown was originally aimed at the Black Snake Exotic Beast's head, but now it missed its target and struck the snake's body, covered in black scales.

"Boom."

The small, orange-red fireball slammed into the Black Snake Exotic Beast's body and exploded instantly.

In a flash, the exploding fireball blasted the Black Snake Exotic Beast's flesh into flying shreds.

The scorching flames from the fireball's explosion also charred the torn wound black.

"Hiss..."

The intense pain made the Black Snake Exotic Beast writhe continuously, its massive body slamming against the ground again and again, kicking up clouds of dust.

PS: Thanks to "08a" for the 600-point tip.