Snake Spirit Fruit

Ling Tian naturally knew those rabbits had left, but he wasn't worried. He continued searching for the fruits on his own.

"Huh? What a nice smell, but why is there a faint fishy odor?" Ling Tian twitched his nose, catching a strong aroma, yet mixed with a hint of fishiness.

Ling Tian's curiosity piqued, and he followed the source of the scent. However, he was very cautious, gripping a wood-cutting knife in his hand, wary of any danger.

As Ling Tian approached, the fragrance grew stronger, but the fishy smell mixed within it also intensified. Ling Tian frowned slightly but wasn't overly concerned. He crouched low, his footsteps becoming lighter and lighter.

"Hiss hiss!"

Suddenly, Ling Tian heard a strange sound. It was rapid and filled with a warning tone.

"What could it be?" Ling Tian pondered.

Thinking, Ling Tian continued forward. After rounding a large boulder, Ling Tian suddenly stopped, his gaze unable to move.

He saw an ancient vine growing along the stone wall not far away, covering the entire surface. The vine was lush and verdant, its leaves dripping with dew. But this wasn't the most captivating sight. Hanging from the vine were over a dozen bright red fruits, not very large, only about the size of strawberries. These fruits emitted a faint red glow, and the strong aroma Ling Tian had smelled earlier was coming from them. The red fruits and green leaves contrasted sharply, making them very conspicuous.

"Snake Spirit Fruit!" Ling Tian exclaimed in surprise, then quickly recalled the information his father, Ling Yun, had told him about the Snake Spirit Fruit.

"Snake Spirit Fruit," born from the condensation of heaven and earth Spiritual Energy, possessing extraordinary Spiritual Energy. Ripe fruits are entirely red and emit a rich, fragrant aroma. Consuming Snake Spirit Fruit greatly benefits the physical body, significantly enhancing physical strength and speed. Furthermore, the fruit is rich in Spiritual Energy, greatly boosting Spiritual Energy cultivation. Snake Spirit Fruit is extremely rare in the cultivation world, often priceless.

"I can't believe I found a Snake Spirit Fruit, haha, it's perfect for me. Hmph, let's see if those rabbits dare to be arrogant anymore." Ling Tian was overjoyed, as if he could already see himself catching Swift Shadow Rabbits.

"Hiss hiss!"

A strange sound pulled Ling Tian out of his daydream. Ling Tian focused his gaze and saw a coiled, entirely crimson python at the base of the stone wall. Its body was thicker than a barrel, and when coiled, it stood about ten feet high. It was likely at least thirty feet long if straightened. The snake lightly flicked its tongue, emitting hissing sounds. Its pair of eyes were filled with sharp glints, carrying a strong warning.

Only then did Ling Tian understand where the faint fishy smell came from. It was from this large snake.

"Red Spirit Python!" Ling Tian gasped, his expression grave. "Father said Red Spirit Pythons guard Snake Spirit Fruits. It seems obtaining the Snake Spirit Fruit today will be a bit troublesome."

Ling Tian knew that Red Spirit Pythons were very difficult to deal with. Although not venomous, they possessed immense strength and loved to constrict their prey before swallowing them whole. Fortunately, since the Red Spirit Python was guarding the Snake Spirit Fruit, it wouldn't actively pursue Ling Tian.

"Should I go back and tell Father to help me get the fruit?" Ling Tian frowned, then thought, "This Red Spirit Python has already seen me discover it. If I go back, it will probably eat these fruits immediately. These fruits are already ripe and ready to eat."

"Alas, it seems I have no choice but to kill this great snake." Ling Tian tightened his grip on the wood-cutting knife, veins bulging slightly, clearly very nervous.

Thinking this, Ling Tian cautiously took two steps toward the Red Spirit Python. Seeing that its intimidation was useless, the Red Spirit Python's raised head shook violently, roaring, and a savage aura permeated the air. It was ready to attack.

Ling Tian's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly retreated two steps. Then, he suddenly accelerated, feigning an attack to the left, moving like the wind. The Red Spirit Python opened its mouth wide, revealing its hooked fangs, and lunged at Ling Tian like lightning. However, Ling Tian's lunge to the left was a feint. The snake's head lunged to the left, and as its movement became committed, Ling Tian suddenly dodged to the right. With the wood-cutting knife in his left hand, he slashed at the snake's head.

The Red Spirit Python let out a roar, its eyes flashing with fiercer malice, but it couldn't dodge the wood-cutting knife. Ling Tian's heart leaped with joy, and he put more strength into the swing, hacking down fiercely.

"Screech!"

The expected outcome of severing the snake's head did not occur. The wood-cutting knife only scraped off a few scales on the snake's head, leaving a shallow bloody mark.

"Not good." Ling Tian cursed inwardly but didn't dare to hesitate. He pushed off the ground and slid far away.

The snake's fangs shattered the rock where he had been standing. Ling Tian narrowly avoided this deadly "kiss."

"It could only inflict this much damage? Fortunately, my speed is a bit faster than its, or I would have become its meal today." Ling Tian felt a surge of relief, then his brow furrowed even tighter. "The scales have such strong defense. How am I supposed to kill it?"

The Red Spirit Python ignored Ling Tian's troubles, unfurling its body and roaring as it continued to attack Ling Tian. Ling Tian dodged left and right. Although he was in a state of disarray for a moment, he remained unharmed. However, Ling Tian failed to notice the fierce glint in the Red Spirit Python's eyes, and a hint of cunning.

"Father said every living creature has a weakness. What is its weakness?" Ling Tian's expression was solemn as he pondered.

The Red Spirit Python opened its mouth wide, a foul stench emanating from it. Saliva dripped from its mouth, a vivid red.

"Got it. There are no scales covering its mouth, so I can definitely cut through it. But how can I get close enough to strike?" Ling Tian's mind lit up, but then he dimmed again.

"Ah!"

Ling Tian's foot suddenly tripped on something, causing his body to tilt uncontrollably.

It turned out the Red Spirit Python's lunging attack was a ruse. It had been coiling and uncoiling for a long time, and its body was its greatest weapon. Ling Tian lost his balance, and the Red Spirit Python, seeing this opportune moment, didn't hesitate. It swept its tail out, quickly coiling around Ling Tian's body, leaving only his knife-wielding arm exposed.

"This is bad!" Ling Tian was in a panic, feeling a tightness in his chest. He could feel the Red Spirit Python constricting its body.

Seeing this, Ling Tian swung his wood-cutting knife, repeatedly striking one spot on the snake's body. In an instant, he had made over ten cuts in the same area. A large wound appeared on the snake's body, flesh and blood spilling out. The Red Spirit Python, in pain, went into a frenzy and opened its mouth, intending to swallow Ling Tian.

"Excellent!" Ling Tian was delighted rather than alarmed.

Ling Tian thrust his knife forward, and the snake's mouth instantly swallowed him. Ling Tian knew this was his final strike; it was either the snake's death or his own. He dared not hold back, unleashing the strength he had cultivated over the years.

"Ah!"

With a loud roar from Ling Tian, combined with the Red Spirit Python's biting force, a "thump" sounded. A section of the blade protruded from the Red Spirit Python's upper jaw, stained crimson with blood, spurting out in a beautiful yet deadly display.

Although beautiful, the damage was immense. The Red Spirit Python's upper jaw was pierced, and its brain was located there. It instantly lost control of its body. After a few twitches, it lay still.

"Cough cough!"

Ling Tian finally managed to pry open the snake's mouth. In that short time, he had expended a tremendous amount of energy and couldn't help but cough violently, spitting out a few mouthfuls of turbid air. As fresh air filled his lungs, he regained some strength.

"Whoosh whoosh!" Ling Tian felt a great sense of relief. "Fortunately, it bit me and exposed its weakness. Otherwise, I would have surely died today."

"I'm suffocating!" Ling Tian took deep breaths of fresh air. Being swallowed by the snake's mouth had been incredibly foul.

"Glad I killed it." Ling Tian weakly lifted his sore arm, intending to wipe the sticky sweat from his forehead, only to find his entire body covered in blood, thick and viscous, making him feel uncomfortable.

"I should collect these Snake Spirit Fruits first. If there's another Red Spirit Python, I'll be doomed." Ling Tian cautiously scanned his surroundings. Seeing no anomalies, he dragged his exhausted and aching body to pick the fruits.

There were over a dozen Snake Spirit Fruits. Fortunately, they weren't too high up, and Ling Tian finished collecting them quickly before swiftly leaving the area.

After traveling a considerable distance, Ling Tian finally began to relax. He found a small stream and meticulously washed his body. The stream water was cold, and after rinsing, Ling Tian felt much more invigorated. After cleaning himself, he changed into a new set of clothes and headed towards where the Swift Shadow Rabbits were.

Not long after, he arrived under a tree and took out the fruits. There were more than ten of them, a lovely bright red, emitting a faint glow, appearing to possess extraordinary Spiritual Energy.

Ling Tian picked up a Snake Spirit Fruit and sniffed it. A rich aroma rushed into his nose, and he immediately felt his limbs and bones relax, trembling slightly. Even his tired and sore body felt much better. He popped the fruit into his mouth and took a bite. Instantly, juice flowed out, and a warm current entered his abdomen. A powerful, rich aura permeated his limbs and bones, and he could clearly feel his physical body growing stronger.

"Wow, this feels so good," Ling Tian exclaimed comfortably.

Then, he ate several more in one go, feeling refreshed and invigorated. Although he wanted to eat a few more, he remembered that Snake Spirit Fruits were rare. He decided to save some for his Father and Mother, who had gone to great lengths for him. With this thought, he tossed the remaining fruits into his Storage Ring, planning to give them to Lingyun and his wife later.

After eating, he saw that the rabbits hadn't returned yet, so he wasn't in a hurry. Since Humei Mother had brought him here, this was likely the Swift Shadow Rabbits' lair, or at least their territory. As the rabbits weren't around, Ling Tian found a large tree. With a few leaps, he climbed up and lay down on a thick branch, starting to sleep.

He was exhausted. He hadn't had a proper rest since morning, and he had just fought the Red Spirit Python. Although he had eaten the Snake Spirit Fruit, he was still mentally drained.

He slept without knowing the time or how long had passed. Ling Tian was awakened by a series of squeaking sounds. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and stretched, yawning repeatedly. He clearly hadn't slept well. Just as he was about to find the source of the disturbance, several gray rabbit shadows appeared in his vision.

"You guys are something else, eating your fill and then continuing to tease me. Do you think I'm your toy, huh?" Ling Tian said, his voice lacking any warmth, filled with indignation.

It was understandable. After being teased for so long, anyone would be unhappy, especially when the "people" teasing them were rabbits, or rather, a whole group of them.

"Squeak squeak!" As if they could understand Ling Tian, the Swift Shadow Rabbits hopped around joyfully, seeming a bit impatient.

"Hmph, one day I'll tease you all," Ling Tian muttered to himself, feeling annoyed. He then leaped from the tree and continued his "rabbit hunt."

Even though he had eaten the Snake Spirit Fruit and his speed had greatly increased, he still couldn't catch these Swift Shadow Rabbits. He was quite indignant and persisted in his attempts to catch them.

Time slipped away with Ling Tian's repeated failures. In the blink of an eye, the sky began to darken. Remembering his Mother's instructions, Ling Tian sighed and said, "It looks like I won't be able to catch any of the ten rabbits today. Let's go back, or Mother and the others will worry. I'll try again tomorrow."

Seeing Ling Tian about to leave, the rabbits looked reluctant, as if a good toy was about to be taken away.

"Little ones, it's getting dark, and I have to go back. I'll continue tomorrow." Seeing the rabbits' reluctance, Ling Tian gave a wry smile. Without another word to the rabbits, he picked up the Black Gold Cold Silkworm Clothes and put them on, then ran off as if fleeing.

The rabbits were instantly overjoyed. Seeing Ling Tian flee, they became even more excited and jumped for joy. Then, they dispersed, waiting for dawn to come so they could continue playing with their "toy."