Black Dragon Eighteen Hands

"Hiss--"

The demon python seemed to sense the arrival of a mortal crisis; its body writhed frantically, nearly throwing Qin Meng off.

"Die!" Qin Meng let out a low growl. His arm muscles knotted as he pinned the python's seven-inch mark firmly. He thrust his long blade in with all his might, burying the entire length of the steel into the beast's heart.

Red light swirled in his palm, flowing onto the blade and greedily devouring the essence and blood within the python. A thick, warm current surged into his body through the weapon.

The demon python shuddered violently. Its crimson slit pupils rapidly dimmed, and its massive body gradually went limp as every drop of its essence was drained dry.

[Life Source +16%]

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

[Talent: Environmental Integration - Low Tier, devoured origin, promoted to Mid Tier]

Environmental Integration - Mid Tier: Capable of deep aura concealment, precise body temperature regulation, and mimetic camouflage to alter body shape and facial features. Can simulate auras to achieve a high degree of harmony with the environment.

"No new talent?" Qin Meng murmured softly.

A profound method for utilizing the talent flooded into his mind, branded so deeply it would be difficult to forget. His mastery over this ability grew increasingly refined.

Qin Meng shifted his focus. As his blood and qi surged, his bones cracked and shifted. His height changed quietly, his facial contours reshaped, fine lines appeared on his forehead, and even his voice turned hoarse and weathered.

--This was a genuine physical transformation, not an illusion.

The disappointment of not gaining a new talent vanished, replaced by a surge of wild joy.

With this ability, despite the constant consumption of blood and qi, it was excellent for stealthy assassinations and escaping danger. It was a god-tier skill for killing and looting.

He looked at the massive python carcass on the ground, recalling that this had been his very first talent. Now, having promoted it through the python, he couldn't help but sigh.

"Snakes are great; it was fated to be mine!"

Qin Meng moved efficiently, bleeding the carcass into his water skin until it was full, then tilted his head back to take several large gulps. A warmth rose in his belly, washing away most of the fatigue from his long sprint and the intense battle.

The snow-white little fox was curled up in the grass, its hind leg stained with blood from a trap.

Qin Meng took out his medicinal supplies, cleaned the wound, applied powder, and bandaged it with crisp, practiced movements.

The little fox flinched at first, but seeing he had no ill intent, it remained quiet and let him tend to it, watching him all the while with clear, intelligent eyes.

"Once you're healed, leave on your own."

After finishing the bandage, Qin Meng spoke to the little fox before gently tucking it into his tunic. He then loaded the python carcass onto his sled and lashed it down securely.

The sled was becoming increasingly heavy, yet he dragged it with ease. The little fox in his arms was well-behaved, its steady breathing audible. It had no foul odor, and the cloth strips on its leg emitted a faint, medicinal scent.

[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 Arts: black dragon eighteen hands-entry (12/100), eight blade breaking techniques-minor accomplishment (395/1000), chain arrow-mastery (495/500)]

, black dragon eighteen hands, profound grade top-tier martial art, Special Effect-Killing Intent Concealment: Conceals aura before striking, reducing the probability of being predicted by enemies. When approaching while lurking, power is increased by 25%.

Special Status-Grappling: When fighting at night or in confined spaces, combat power is increased by 30%. When facing alien races or evil path martial artists, damage is increased by 20%.

"What a powerful black dragon eighteen hands!" Qin Meng immersed his mind into the panel to check the newly comprehended martial art, marveling at its grade and power.

Then, the smile on his face slowly faded as he noticed something wrong. Compared to his blade techniques and archery, the black dragon eighteen hands had no progress bar.

This indicated that this martial art had low growth potential, or perhaps none at all for the time being.

"Core cultivation method, martial art progress—I need to hurry."

Qin Meng looked at the other two martial arts, his sense of urgency deepening once more. He dragged his prey and picked up the pace, heading toward the direction of the market town.

The rest of the journey was uneventful.

By noon, Qin Meng had dragged his load of prey out of the outer perimeter of Luming Mountain.

Behind him, the deep mountains grew distant, and the howling of wolves was no longer audible.

Not long after descending the mountain, he heard someone humming a tune on the fork in the road ahead.

A dark-skinned youth of about fifteen or sixteen years old, carrying fishing gear and a fish creel, was none other than Wang Tieniu, the grandson of the hunter Wang from the same fort.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Wang Tieniu turned around, his eyes widening into saucers.

"Meng, Brother Mengzi?" He stared at the four sturdy stags on the sled, especially the demonic python, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"Th-these... did you hunt these?"

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

Wang Tieniu dropped his fishing gear and rushed over, circling the sled, wanting to touch the prey but not daring to use any force. "Tsk tsk, such big spotted deer!

My grandfather said that they haven't been seen in Luming Mountain for decades; they've all been hiding in the deep mountains. And this rock viper, it must be a variant.

Brother Mengzi, you... did you cross Eagle Beak Peak?"

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

The hunter's code: never ask where the game was caught.

But Wang Tieniu was young and straightforward, and Qin Meng didn't intend to hide it from him. He told the truth: "I didn't go deep into the mountains. I ran into the herd near Eagle Beak Peak."

"Really?" Wang Tieniu's eyes lit up, his tone turning excited. "There are deer herds on the outskirts of Luming Mountain? Then I want to go up the mountain too..."

"Tieniu," Qin Meng interrupted, his expression turning serious. "The mountain is becoming increasingly unsafe. This giant python was hunting on the outskirts.

I even nearly ran into a wolf pack. You heard those howls, didn't you? Your grandfather must have warned you—don't be foolish and head up there."

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

But seeing the way his eyes darted around, Qin Meng knew the kid hadn't taken it all to heart.

He sighed inwardly but didn't say anything more.

Some things cannot be stopped by mere words; he would just have to keep an eye on him later.

The two walked toward the market town together.

Fearing the demon snake and the four deer would be too eye-catching, Qin Meng packed the snake into a cloth bag, hid it in the middle of the sled, and covered it with cut grass and branches.

By the time they reached the market town, it was already afternoon.

The market was bustling with people coming and going.

Wang Tieniu, familiar with the routine, called out his wares and quickly sold his catch. After earning a few dozen copper coins, he excitedly ran back to follow Qin Meng.

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

He told Wang Tieniu to watch the sled outside while he shouldered two of the deer to sell.

After a waiter went to inform the owner, the plump Shopkeeper Hu hurried out. The moment he saw the two sturdy stags—especially the pair of antlers that hadn't fully ossified and were covered in fine velvet—his eyes lit up.

"Mengzi, you're really something!" Shopkeeper Hu rubbed his hands together, circling the deer twice to carefully inspect the antlers and fur. "To bag such a big catch... Look at these horns. At this time of year, they haven't fully hardened yet; they're the finest velvet antlers, full of medicinal potency! How about thirty-five taels for the pair?"

Qin Meng shook his head with a smile. "Shopkeeper Hu, don't try to pull a fast one on me. These autumn velvet antlers haven't hardened and are full of blood; each pair weighs at least ten-plus catties.

Martial artists use them to soak in wine or boil into tonics to nourish their blood and qi. You'll sell them for at least seventy or eighty taels after you flip them. One price: one hundred taels for both pairs of antlers."

Shopkeeper Hu wasn't embarrassed at being called out; instead, he laughed heartily. "Fine, you've got a sharp mind. Deal, one hundred taels it is!"

Next came the venison.

Venison was also a premium commodity. Rich in blood and qi, it was excellent for nourishing the muscles and bones. Martial artists and wealthy families loved it, and the deer pizzle was even more highly sought after by many.

Shopkeeper Hu had his assistant bring out the scale. The net weight of the two deer came to over three hundred jin. Qin Meng kept the deer hearts and hides, selling the rest of the meat and bones together.

After some haggling, the deer meat and bones fetched another seventy-plus taels of silver.

Adding in the few taels of loose silver from the miscellaneous game he had sold earlier, Qin Meng had brought in one hundred and eighty taels from this trip.

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

Qin Meng bid farewell to Shopkeeper Hu and strode away.

Just as Qin Meng was in the back courtyard of the restaurant selling the deer, a thick, pungent smell of blood began to waft from the sled hidden under rough thatch and branches in the alley behind the back door, drawing curious gazes from passersby.

At first, it was just a few idlers passing by who sniffed the air and leaned in close. When they peered through the gaps and caught a glimpse of the massive, indistinct outline of the antlers, they couldn't help but let out low gasps of surprise.

"Good heavens, just how fierce of a hunter could bag a haul like this?"

"Look at those antlers. I don't think I've seen anything like that at the market in years..."

The whispering drew more people to stop and stare.

The gathering crowd soon attracted a few more significant gazes.