Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear: You Want Me to Drink Snake Venom?

In the outer reaches of the Star Dou Great Forest, twenty meters away.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear gripped the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's tail tightly and smashed it from side to side like a rag doll. Though the Jade Phosphorous Serpent possessed five thousand years of cultivation, it had encountered an evenly matched opponent.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear was all brute strength, especially those terrifying bear claws, which were capable of tearing through space.

After only a few exchanges, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's body had been broken in two. Half of its head had been crushed flat as well, and it lay at death's door, barely breathing.

Just then, a powerful pressure spread down from the sky.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear immediately stopped and looked up. A Spirit Beast with golden fur, dragon-claw-like limbs, and Golden Flames beneath each foot drifted down from the air.

The Spirit Beast landed beside them and let out a low roar.

Having received the command, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear released the Jade Phosphorous Serpent with extreme reluctance. It lowered its head, its massive body trembling slightly.

This was the Emperor Auspicious Beast, a being that could treat it as food at any time!

What it did not know was that this Auspicious Beast was merely Yao Yan's Simulation.

Given a chance to catch its breath, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent lay on the ground, barely alive. Yao Yan lightly tapped the ground with his toe, and countless crystalline green lights surrounded it, repairing its injuries.

Before long, the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's condition improved. Even its severed snake tail began to grow back. Once it could move again, it slowly slithered to the Emperor Auspicious Beast's side, assuming a docile posture.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear stared blankly. The Spirit Beast world had always followed the law of the jungle, and top-tier Spirit Beasts rarely interfered with the life and death of other Spirit Beasts.

That was also why Spirit Beasts had always been suppressed by humans.

Suppressing his discomfort toward snakes, Yao Yan tapped the ground with his toe and had Blue Silver Grass form a barrel-shaped structure one meter tall.

He let out another low roar.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent froze for a moment before understanding. It opened its mouth and sprayed a stream of thick, foul-smelling venom into the barrel, filling it to the brim in no time.

Yao Yan then let out a thunderous roar at the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, raised a forepaw, and pointed at the barrel of venom bubbling with green foam.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear understood. Its pupils suddenly contracted as it stared at the green, bubbling venom. It shook its head repeatedly and kept backing away.

Yao Yan wanted it to drink the venom and rely on its powerful body to withstand the snake venom and develop antibodies.

Later, blood could be drawn directly from its body to refine Detoxification Pills, specially made in preparation for claiming the immortal herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eye.

As for why he did not use Tang San's method, there was only one thing to say: could Realgar Wine really cure snake venom?

If it could, then Dugu Bo's son would not have died from a venom outbreak!

Tang San's detoxification methods could only be described as absurdly unreliable!

Seeing that the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear refused to obey, Yao Yan stomped both feet on the ground and let out an earth-shaking roar toward the heavens.

"ROAR—!!"

The Third Eye on his forehead slowly opened, releasing a terrifying bloodline pressure toward the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

Sensing the Emperor Auspicious Beast's aura, the surrounding Spirit Beasts responded with low roars and gathered around it, surrounding the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

Within the Star Dou Great Forest, the Emperor Auspicious Beast was the law!

If you dared defy it, there was only one path: death.

The Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear looked around at the ever-growing horde of Spirit Beasts, its enormous body shaking uncontrollably. No matter how strong it was individually, it would never dare make an enemy of an entire pack of Spirit Beasts.

In the end, it could only grab the barrel of venom, close its eyes, open its huge mouth, and swallow it down.

Not long afterward, its body swayed before crashing to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Its eyes rolled back, white foam spilling from its mouth as it let out pained groans.

Seeing its miserable state, the surrounding Spirit Beasts all showed fear. Some even fled in panic.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent, however, hissed excitedly. It even slithered onto the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's body, raised its head, and looked down proudly.

It did not dare take this opportunity for revenge and could only strut around arrogantly.

Yao Yan watched quietly. With the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's formidable vitality, it would surely endure such a small amount of venom.

Even if it could not, with his assistance at its side, he would certainly keep it alive.

Two hours later, the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear opened its eyes.

It raised a weakened arm, grabbed the snake that had been showing off atop its body, and flung it away, smashing several large trees apart.

Yao Yan tapped the ground with his toe, and crystalline green light surrounded it. Vast life force flowed into its body, repairing the flesh eroded by the venom.

Once the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear had recovered, it rose to its feet and stood quietly to one side.

Looks like it won't be long before it develops antibodies. Yao Yan nodded in satisfaction and let out a low roar at it.

Excitement flashed through the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear's eyes. With heavy steps, it grabbed the Jade Phosphorous Serpent by the tail and dragged it toward its territory.

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent hissed for help, but Yao Yan ignored it and rose into the air.

Before leaving, he had already given the order: as long as it was not killed, it could be tortured however they pleased.

Consider it compensation for making him drink venom.

Zhu Zhuqing hid behind a rock, occasionally raising her head to look toward the sky. She had also sensed the disturbance among the Spirit Beasts four hours earlier.

Seeing that Yao Yan had yet to return, she was filled with worry.

Though she dearly wanted to go out and look for him, she was also afraid that he would not be able to find her when he returned.

Besides, the Star Dou Great Forest was exceedingly dangerous. A ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast might just come out for a "stroll."

Just as she raised her head to look into the distance once more, a Spirit Beast with Golden Fur appeared in the air and landed before her.

Zhu Zhuqing was startled and immediately retreated five meters. Yet under her astonished gaze, the Spirit Beast's form gradually faded, transforming into Yao Yan.

"This..."

She quickly realized that this was Yao Yan's Simulation, but the lifelike aura of a Spirit Beast still secretly shocked her.

"Zhuqing, let's head back." Yao Yan stepped forward with a grin. Taking her hand, he led her toward the outskirts of the forest.

By the time they returned to the pharmacy, it was already close to evening.

Zhu Zhuqing busied herself in the kitchen for a while, casually preparing a few simple dishes for dinner.

The two sat at the table and ate. She placed a piece of eggplant into Yao Yan's bowl and softly asked, "When do you plan to leave for Heaven Dou City?"

"There's no rush for now." Yao Yan took a mouthful of rice.

The most urgent matter was getting that bear to develop antibodies as soon as possible, then refining Detoxification Pills. He feared that if he left for too long, that Jade Phosphorous Serpent might be "tempered" to death by the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear.

If that happened, finding another Jade Phosphorous Serpent would take who knew how long.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "Tell me before we leave. I'll pack in advance."

Yao Yan smiled faintly. With Zhu Zhuqing taking care of their daily affairs, he had far less to worry about.

After finishing their meal, they began preparing today's Medicinal Bath.

There were two bathrooms on the third floor, so they could soak separately. Yao Yan immersed himself in the medicinal broth, closed his eyes, and circulated the Inner Elixir Technique. Yet after a long while, his cultivation speed showed no improvement.

After several rounds of refinement, this Medicinal Bath's effects had far surpassed Tang San's Mysterious Heaven Skill, yet it now had no effect whatsoever.

"It seems absorbing the ten-thousand-year Soul Ring has pushed my body to its current limit." Yao Yan quickly reached a conclusion.

He had to improve the prescription again, or refine Body Tempering Pills!

As for the main ingredient... his thoughts raced, and he already had the answer.

"Whale Rubber!"