Black Dragon Eighteen Hands

"Hiss—"

The demon python seemed to sense death closing in. Its body thrashed wildly, nearly throwing Qin Meng off.

"Die!" Qin Meng growled. The muscles in his arms bulged as he pinned the demon python firmly at its seven-inch spot and drove his long blade down with all his strength. The blade sank in completely, piercing straight through its heart.

Red light flowed across his palm and onto the blade, greedily devouring the demon python's blood essence. A warm, mellow current surged into his body along the blade.

The demon python shuddered violently. Its crimson, slit-pupiled eyes quickly dimmed, and its massive body gradually went limp as all its blood essence was drained away.

[Life Source +16%]

[Stripped the Rock Spirit Demon Python's bloodline origin power]

[Talent: Environmental Integration—Low Tier; devoured origin power, advanced to Mid Tier]

Environmental Integration—Mid Tier: Can deeply suppress one's aura, precisely regulate body temperature, alter body shape and appearance through mimetic disguise, imitate auras, and blend closely with the surroundings.

"No new talent?" Qin Meng murmured.

A profound method for using the talent surged into his mind, branded there so deeply that he could never forget it. His control over the talent also grew increasingly proficient.

With a mere thought, his blood and qi stirred, and his bones immediately crackled. His height subtly changed, the contours of his face reshaped, fine lines appeared on his forehead, and even his voice turned hoarse and weathered.

—These were real changes to his body, not an illusion.

His disappointment at gaining no new talent vanished, swept away by a surge of joy.

Though this ability constantly consumed his blood and qi, it was ideal for concealing himself, assassinating targets, and escaping danger. It was an incredible tool for killing and looting.

Looking at the massive demon python carcass on the ground, Qin Meng recalled how it had given him his first talent. Now, the same kind of creature had helped him advance it again. He couldn't help but marvel.

"Pythons are great. No wonder we were destined to meet!"

Qin Meng worked swiftly, bleeding the python into a waterskin until it was full, then tipping his head back and drinking several gulps. Warmth rose in his belly, dispelling most of his exhaustion from the long run and fierce battle.

The little snow-white fox was curled up in the grass. Blood stained its hind leg, which had been injured by a trap.

Qin Meng took out the wound medicine he carried, cleaned the injury, sprinkled it with powder, and bandaged it with brisk efficiency.

At first, the little fox shrank away. But when it realized he meant no harm, it quietly let him tend to it, watching him all the while with clear, lively eyes.

"Once your wound heals, go wherever you like."

After bandaging it, Qin Meng told the little fox this, then gently tucked it into his clothes. He loaded the python carcass onto the drag sled and tied it down securely again.

The sled had grown heavier, but he still pulled it with ease. The little fox nestled obediently against him, its breathing steady. It had no unpleasant odor at all, and the bandage on its leg carried a faint scent of medicine.

[Name: Qin Meng]

[Realm: Mortal Body.]

[Innate Talent: Divine Valor]

[Talents: Wild Instinct—High Tier (3%), Environmental Integration—Mid Tier (11%), Iron Back—Mid Tier (3%), Thick Skin and Fleshy—Low Tier (5%)]

[Core Cultivation Method: None]

[Martial Skills: Black Dragon Eighteen Hands—Beginner (12/100) Eight Blade Breaking Techniques—Minor Accomplishment (395/1000) Chain Arrow—Proficient (495/500)]

Black Dragon Eighteen Hands, top-grade Mystic-tier martial skill.

Special Effect—Killing Intent Suppression: Conceals one's aura before an attack, reducing the chance of an enemy anticipating it. While approaching in stealth, increases power by 25%.

Special State—Grappling: Increases combat strength by 30% during night battles or in enclosed spaces. Increases damage by 20% against foreign races and unorthodox martial artists.

"What a powerful martial skill!" Qin Meng focused on the panel and admired the rank and power of the newly acquired skill.

Then the smile slowly faded from his face as he sensed something amiss. Unlike his blade techniques and archery, Black Dragon Eighteen Hands had no progress bar.

That meant the skill had little potential for growth—perhaps none at all for now.

"I need to hurry up and get a core cultivation method and make progress with my martial skills."

Qin Meng glanced at his other two martial skills, and his sense of urgency deepened. He pulled his prey faster, heading toward the market town.

The rest of the journey passed without incident.

By midday, Qin Meng had dragged his haul out of the outer reaches of Luming Mountain.

Behind him, the deep mountains receded into the distance, and the wolves' howls had long since faded.

Not far down the mountain, a boy's humming drifted over from a fork in the road.

A dark-skinned boy of about fifteen or sixteen carried fishing gear and wore a fish basket on his back. He was Wang Tieniu, grandson of the Wang hunter from the same fort.

Hearing movement behind him, Wang Tieniu looked back—and his eyes instantly went wide.

"B-Brother Mengzi?" He stared at the four magnificent stags on the sled, especially the demon python. His mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Th-these... you hunted them?"

"That's right." Qin Meng stopped and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead.

Still carrying his fishing gear, Wang Tieniu dashed over and circled the sled. He wanted to touch the animals but didn't dare press too hard. "Tsk, tsk! Such huge spotted deer!

"My grandpa said it's been decades since anyone saw deer like these on Luming Mountain. They all hide deep in the mountains. And this Rock Viper—must be a rare variant.

"Brother Mengzi, did you... did you go past Eagle Beak Peak?"

He touched the cold antlers, his eyes gleaming with envy.

Hunters followed the rule: never ask where the prey was caught.

But Wang Tieniu was young and straightforward, and Qin Meng had no intention of hiding the truth from him. "I didn't go into the deep mountains. I came across a herd of deer near Eagle Beak Peak."

"Really?" Wang Tieniu's eyes lit up, and his voice grew excited. "There's a herd on the outskirts of Luming Mountain? Then I want to go up there too..."

"Tieniu," Qin Meng cut him off, his expression turning serious. "The mountain's getting more and more dangerous. I hunted that giant python right on the outskirts.

"I nearly ran into a pack of wolves, too. You heard those howls, didn't you? Your grandpa must've warned you. Don't go doing anything foolish and head up there."

Under Qin Meng's stern gaze, Wang Tieniu shrank his neck and readily agreed. "Got it, Brother Mengzi. I won't go."

But from the way the boy's eyes darted around, Qin Meng knew he hadn't taken it all to heart.

He sighed inwardly, but said no more.

Some things couldn't be stopped by talking. All he could do was keep a closer eye on the boy from now on.

The two walked toward the market town together.

Worried that the demon snake and four deer would attract too much attention, Qin Meng packed the snake into a cloth sack along the way and hid it in the middle of the sled, then covered it with some chopped reeds and branches.

They reached the market town in the early afternoon.

The market was bustling with people coming and going.

Wang Tieniu knew his way around and called out to passersby as he went. He quickly sold his fish for dozens of copper coins, then ran back excitedly to join Qin Meng.

Qin Meng led him around to the back entrance of Kexianju Restaurant.

He asked Wang Tieniu to keep an eye on the sled outside, then carried two of the deer inside to sell.

After a server announced him, the plump Shopkeeper Hu soon came out to greet him. At the sight of the two sturdy stags, especially their antlers, which were not yet fully hardened and still covered in dense velvet, his eyes immediately lit up.

"Mengzi, you've really done it this time!" Shopkeeper Hu rubbed his hands and circled the deer twice, carefully examining their antlers and pelts. "You managed to hunt such fine game.

"Look at these antlers. They haven't fully hardened at this time of year, so they're prime velvet antlers, packed with medicinal potency! I'll give you thirty-five taels for the pair. How does that sound?"

Qin Meng smiled and shook his head. "Shopkeeper Hu, don't try to fool me. These are autumn antlers—still soft, with plump velvet. The pair must weigh at least ten jin.

"Martial artists use them to make medicinal wine and ointments. They're a great tonic for blood and qi. You could sell them for at least seventy or eighty taels. One price: one hundred taels for the two pairs of antlers."

Shopkeeper Hu wasn't embarrassed to be called out. Instead, he laughed heartily. "All right, you know your stuff. Fine, one hundred taels!"

Then there was the venison.

Venison was good stuff, too—rich in blood and qi, nourishing to the sinews and bones. Martial artists and wealthy households all loved it, and the deer penises were especially popular.

Shopkeeper Hu had his men put the meat on the scale. The two deer yielded more than three hundred jin of meat. Qin Meng kept the hearts and hides, and sold the rest of the meat and bones.

After some haggling, the venison and bones fetched another seventy-odd taels of silver.

Adding the few taels he got from selling some other game, Qin Meng brought in a total of one hundred and eighty taels from this trip.

With a hundred-tael banknote and a bag of loose silver tucked against his chest, he felt much more at ease.

Qin Meng bade Shopkeeper Hu farewell and strode away.

Just as Qin Meng entered the restaurant's back courtyard to sell the deer, the heavy smell of blood drifted from the sled, which had been roughly covered with reeds and branches in the alley by the rear entrance, drawing curious glances from passersby.

At first, only a few idle fellows passing by sniffed the air and edged closer, peeking through the gaps. When they glimpsed the vague outline of enormous antlers, they couldn't help letting out quiet exclamations.

"Good heavens, what kind of hunter could bring in game like that?"

"Look at those antlers. It's been ages since anything like that showed up at the market..."

Their whispers drew more people to stop and stare.

The growing crowd soon attracted several gazes with far greater weight.