On Lingganhu, a Demon Python Blocks the Path

Lingganhu.

Lu Changsheng followed the system's treasure-hunting function all the way here.

Upon reaching his destination, Lu Changsheng swept his gaze across the surroundings.

A layer of hazy mist shrouded the entire surface of Lingganhu.

This was no ordinary mist—it was formed from Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy.

But Lu Changsheng's gaze did not linger on the mist for long; it pierced straight through the layers of fog, landing on the center of the lake.

There, a pale yellow flower bloomed.

Yet what truly drew Lu Changsheng's attention was the fruit atop that flower.

The fruit was not very large, only the size of an infant's fist, and its entire body was a light purple.

So this is the Xuanling Fruit?

Just as Lu Changsheng voiced this question inwardly, a transparent light screen materialized above the flower and fruit.

[Xuanlinghua: Has the effect of clearing distracting thoughts, calming the mind, and settling the spirit.]

[Xuanling Fruit (one quarter-hour until ripening): Can increase cultivation by ten thousand years and enhance cultivation insights.]

This is...

Lu Changsheng was taken aback. A built-in manual?

No, this is the system's Insight?!

After a moment of surprise and doubt, Lu Changsheng came to his senses.

In truth, when he first unlocked the system's permissions, his attention had been focused on treasure hunting, and he hadn't placed much value on Insight.

He had originally thought Insight was just about learning some information about others.

But for him, a transmigrator, most of the famous cultivators in Honghuang—their cultivation levels, magic treasures, trump cards, and methods—were hardly secrets.

Now, however, it seemed he had underestimated this Insight function of the system.

If used well in the future, it might yield remarkable results!

Soon after, Lu Changsheng's attention returned to the Xuanling Fruit.

Less than a quarter-hour until it ripens—it seems I arrived just in time.

Now all I need to do is wait for the Xuanling Fruit to mature, pick it, and return to my cave mansion to cultivate.

If things go smoothly, I might even be able to break through to True Immortal.

As he waited, the Xuanling Fruit gradually began to change.

It started absorbing the mist from the lake's surface.

With the continuous influx of mist, the purple hue on the Xuanling Fruit deepened.

In a short while, the mist that had originally shrouded the lake vanished completely.

And the purple light on the Xuanling Fruit grew increasingly dazzling, like a sparkling crystal.

The Xuanling Fruit had ripened!

Lu Changsheng stepped forward, crossing the lake in an instant and arriving at its center.

But just as he reached out to pick the Xuanling Fruit, a sense of danger surged within him.

Driven by instinct, Lu Changsheng immediately channeled his magic power and leaped into the sky.

The very next moment after he left the lake's surface.

The once-calm lake suddenly churned into a raging storm of waves.

Lu Changsheng's pupils contracted.

He saw a colossal creature manifest from within the towering waves.

It was a giant python, its body covered in black scales that gleamed with a chilling light under the sun's reflection, and a pair of crimson eyes that sent a shiver down one's spine.

"Scram!"

A cold, harsh voice echoed across Lingganhu.

The corner of Lu Changsheng's mouth twitched.

Although most Natural Treasures in novels had guardians, the system hadn't mentioned anything like this before.

"System, why didn't you give me a heads-up about something like this?"

[With the Host's current permissions, the treasure-hunting function is insufficient to probe the specific conditions of the opportunity's location.]

That one sentence left Lu Changsheng speechless.

Forget it, now's not the time to dwell on this.

Even if there's a guardian, so what? I'll just take it down.

Though he was only at the Heavenly Immortal realm, with the Nine Heavens Thunder Eyes as his trump card, catching a True Immortal off guard was definitely within his reach.

If it really comes down to it, he could even pull out the Ling Yun Jian, that Xiantian Lingbao, and take down even a Mysterious Immortal.

As he thought this, Lu Changsheng activated the system's Insight Function on the Black Python.

[Xuan Sha Mang: Golden Immortal (Weakened)]

After seeing the basic information on this Xuan Sha Mang, Lu Changsheng nearly cursed out loud.

How was he supposed to fight this Golden Immortal? Could he really have to give up?

But what was his purpose in coming here?

No!

The gap between a Heavenly Immortal and a Golden Immortal was indeed vast, but this Xuan Sha Mang was in a weakened state.

It might not be impossible to fight.

Besides, he didn't need to truly defeat the Xuan Sha Mang—just grab the Xuanling Fruit and leave.

Having made his decision, Lu Changsheng immediately turned around.

"I'll take my leave, then."

Seeing that Lu Changsheng was about to leave, the chill in the Xuan Sha Mang's eyes lessened slightly.

Its body beside him gradually sank, as if to return to the lake bottom.

But just as it was fully submerged, Lu Changsheng, who had been about to leave, suddenly spun around.

His Heavenly Immortal-level magic power erupted fully, his speed surging to its absolute peak in that instant.

His entire form turned into a streak of light, shooting straight toward the Xuanling Fruit.

Unfortunately, the gap between a Heavenly Immortal and a Golden Immortal was simply too great.

Before he could even reach the Xuanling Fruit, a thunderous roar erupted from the lake bottom.

The next moment, a thick python tail lashed out like lightning, sweeping horizontally toward Lu Changsheng.

Though the Xuanling Fruit was now within arm's reach, instinct told him he had to dodge this strike!

Lu Changsheng retreated at top speed, but he was still caught by the shockwave of the blow.

His entire body was sent flying backward as if struck by lightning, a tidal wave of excruciating pain spreading through him.

In that moment, Lu Changsheng felt a wave of lingering fear.

Good thing he had dodged somewhat.

Otherwise, that single strike alone would have cost him half his life.

The gap between a Heavenly Immortal and a Golden Immortal was simply too enormous.

If he had already cultivated the Indestructible Thunder God Body, things might have been a bit better.

But unfortunately, he hadn't yet had time to train in that divine ability.

What now?

The Xuan Sha Mang gave Lu Changsheng no time to think.

Its gaping maw lunged straight at him, fangs bared.

In desperation, he could only dodge left and right, barely managing to stay out of reach.

After a few breaths, Lu Changsheng fully realized the gap between himself and the Xuan Sha Mang.

For now, he had no choice but to bring out the Ling Yun Jian, that magic treasure.

But with his current Heavenly Immortal cultivation, he likely couldn't unleash the full power of a Xiantian Lingbao.

So he had to wait for the perfect moment.

To maximize the power of that single strike.

Just as Lu Changsheng was about to first use the Nine Heavens Thunder Eyes...

The Xuan Sha Mang, which had been attacking him, seemed to sense something and paused mid-motion.

The next moment, Lu Changsheng's pupils contracted.

In front of the Xuanling Fruit at the center of the lake, a person had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.