Chapter 4, Striking it Rich

The forehead of the shaman was lined with deep wrinkles, and beads of sweat the size of soybeans dripped down. He thought to himself that he was indeed getting old, as he directed several strong men to take out large logs and ropes, preparing to carry this nearly 3,000-pound giant beast back to the village over the mountains and hills.

Is sealing the lingering soul intended for a soul sacrifice

The furious roar quickly formed enormous waves of impulse, crashing against Chen Xun's consciousness in successive surges

He also knows that the area along the Wild Horse Creek is within the activity range of the Black Mountain Tribe. Chen Xun needs to hurry back to report the news, as this black-scaled beast may have already been discovered by the members of the Black Mountain Tribe. However, he still finds it hard to imagine how the frail Chen Xun could drag this black-scaled beast for twenty to thirty miles in the water

Who would have thought that this cunning black-scaled beast would be struck down by lightning deep within Tushan, causing the flood to rush down the mountain

Zong Sang, accompanied by Zong Ya and three members of the clan's martial group, left the village and walked downstream along the mountain gorge. They intended to see if yesterday's flash flood had washed out any valuable items from the deep mountains. To their surprise, it was Chen Xun, who had not returned for a night, who had the greatest harvest.

The harsh living conditions, along with the relentless killings among the tribes over the years, have made them sufficiently wary of outsiders.

Though silent, in the depths of Chen Xun's mind, he could hear the defiant roar of the remnants of the cunning black-scaled spirit

The massive python-shaped light and shadow, towering nearly 10 meters high, exudes a menacing and terrifying aura

The nearby Zongya was also tensed with muscles, silently enduring the impact brought by the shrill wails of the dark and cunning remnants of souls

In the three years that Chen Xun has been taken in by Zongtu, it has been difficult to witness Zongtu demonstrate his shamanic and barbaric secret arts.

It is truly difficult to predict the will of heaven and the might of heaven

However, as the shaman, he found it difficult to go against the will of the majority. He thought to himself that he still needed to find a way to offer something else as compensation to A Xun

As the chanting of the *Zong* and *Tu* scriptures resonated, the serpentine shadows became increasingly solid, revealing the cold, glimmering scales of the serpent, and the emanating aura grew ever stronger, swirling around, quickly forming a howling gale that filled the air with a roaring wind

The term "乌鳞狡" does not have a direct translation in English as it appears to be a specific name or term. If it refers to a particular concept, character, or entity, please provide additional context for a more accurate translation.

Thirty years ago, you were still young and cannot remember. Back then, the Python Tribe held a beast feast and a soul sacrifice, during which they hunted a young green-scaled fox. This fox had lost half of its head, but its hooves, its teeth, and the naturally occurring unique patterns on its scales—do you think I could be mistaken about that

Chen Xun, like Zong Ya, calls Zong Tu "Grandfather Zong"; in reality, he has long regarded Zong Tu, Zong Sang, and Zong Ya as family in this world

However, Chen Xun never expected that the creature he dragged back would turn out to be a cunning beast!

"First, may the ancestors bless us, but do not show any disrespect towards the black fox," said the solemn figure of the religious leader. "It is said that wild beasts can cultivate for a thousand years, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and can form demon pills. This black fox has likely roamed the mountains and forests for three to five hundred years, and perhaps has already reached the most critical step, attempting to refine its body with lightning, only to be struck down by heavenly thunder. If it were not for the protection of our ancestral spirits, the Northern Ridge might have given rise to a fox demon... If it were not for the protection of our ancestral spirits, the Northern Ridge might have given rise to a fox demon..."

Chen Xun gritted his teeth and persevered, not knowing how long had passed, until he finally saw the corpse of the cunning beast gradually return to calm. The lingering wails of the remnant soul that had formed deep within his mind were now also silent, as if nothing had ever happened

Chen Xun, you have made a great contribution to the Wumang tribe this time. How should Grandpa thank you

Zongtu knew that Chen Xun was eager to learn the unique martial arts of the Wumang tribe, but seeing that the leaders of the tribe were not very willing to pass on the Wumang's martial arts to outsiders, he let out a soft sigh. No matter how valuable the two Wumang pills were, they could never compare to this cunning beast.

Under the oppression of the Zongtu Python's barbaric soul, Chen Xun's consciousness was subjected to intense shock, stirring up towering waves of fury. However, just as the python-shaped shadow lunged at the Wulin Jiao like lightning, the long-extinct Wulin Jiao began to tremble violently.

If we could hunt a live fox, that would be even better. Thirty years ago, wasn't there a live young fox captured by the Umpang tribe? Zongsang felt that it was still somewhat lacking, licking his thick lips as he spoke

Chen Xun seemed to be under immense pressure, his mind felt as if it were about to burst, and he was on the verge of being overwhelmed by the continuous waves of impact.

However, on the other hand, the flesh and blood of the savage alien species are indeed precious tonic materials. If this black-scaled cunning creature has reached the level of attracting lightning to temper its body, how pure will its muscles, bones, and flesh be?

The majority of the barbarian warriors in the U-Mang tribe are physically strong Li-Mang, while the Wu-Gong sect is represented by the rare Wu-Mang, which is one in a hundred.

Nan Liao held a sleek black steel spear in his hand, his entire being radiating strength, as if he could launch the steel spear like lightning at any moment

After a moment, the man named Wu, who had just returned to deliver the message, brought along six or seven people.

How could this cunning crow be struck dead by heavenly thunder? Did this beast think it could defy heavenly thunder and run to the ridge during a storm to seek its own demise?

The "Western Wilderness Classic" records that the cunning beast has a "head of an ox and body of a horse, with blue-gray scales, and strength like that of a dragon" simple numbers

In its youth, the cunning beast's scales are blue, and as the years go by, the color of the scales deepens. However, very few have ever seen a cunning beast with pitch-black scales, and it is truly unknown how many years it has lived deep within the Mongoose Tooth Ridge

Even three years ago, Chen Xun appeared to be only around ten years old and harmless, but the Python tribe could not even afford to feed their own offspring, let alone have the capacity to adopt outsiders

What should I use to repay or express gratitude for this kindness

"Is it really the Wulin cunning?" Zong Sang just speculated that it might be a cunning beast, but upon hearing what Father Zong Tu said, he became somewhat hesitant and asked, "Does this mean that our Wumang tribe can hold another beast feast and worship our ancestors again?"

You spent the entire night without seeing anyone, just to bring this thing back? Couldn't you have returned earlier to report? Zongya was worried all night because Chen Xun had not returned, only to find out that he had delayed outside for an entire night because of this dead beast

Zongya and Agong Zongtu have come over, both of whom are important figures in the village, further confirming that the black-scaled exotic beast brought back by Chen Xun is not an ordinary species

The members of the Umpang tribe have lived among the mountains since childhood, and their well-trained martial skills allow them to traverse the hills and valleys with a swiftness that surpasses even that of monkeys

Indeed, it is a cunning beast

Zongya zha ba spent a long time hesitating, and finally said, "You really are reckless with your life"

At that time, the majority of the members of the Python tribe advocated for expelling Chen Xun, allowing him to fend for himself. It was Wu Gongzong Tuli who, against the consensus, took him in.

The other leader-level figures of the Python tribe who arrived with Zongtu still have vivid memories of the soul ritual held for capturing the young cunning beast back in the day. Although this cunning beast on the shore, with half of its skull struck off by heavenly thunder, can still be confirmed as a cunning beast without a doubt, they are all unable to suppress the ecstasy in their hearts

Nan Liao is the chieftain elected by the U Mang tribe, a giant of a man slightly taller than Zong Sang

Chen Xun, feeling a bit embarrassed, scratched his head and smiled as he waved the two black python pills in his hand, saying, "This is enough!"

Is the remnant soul sealed like this?

Hearing what Zongtu said, everyone felt a lingering fear.

Zong He, after calming down from the shock, opened his mouth to reveal several missing black teeth, and smiled as he said to his son Zong Sang

But as one gazes upon the seemingly unremarkable bone staff, amidst the gradually rising chant of the Zongtu, it appears that a mysterious force is gathering the morning light that envelops the earth at dawn, forming a faint serpentine shadow behind the frail figure of Zongtu

Even though he deeply yearned to practice the barbaric martial arts of the Python Sect, he would not leverage his achievements to make things difficult for Zong Tu

Zong Tu said: "This black fox has just died for a day, and its residual soul has not yet dissipated. You all stay on guard around it. Once I seal the residual soul within the black fox, we will hold a soul sacrifice feast for the beast in three days, which will yield even more remarkable effects..."

This thing is called a mountain flood that has swept over to the Wild Horse Creek. Chen Xun gradually regained his composure and struggled to sit up.

At this moment, he called Zongya to carry him to the distant riverbank, of course not missing this opportunity, disregarding his numerous injuries, and crouched in the grass to observe how Zongtu performed the secret sorcery of the witchcraft.

Chen Xun even witnessed a scaled giant bird in Mangya Ridge, which tore a four to five thousand jin heavy wild bull into pieces with a single claw

"If you want to hunt a live fox, wait until you become a heavenly barbarian to speak of it." Zong Tu observed Zong Sang's insatiable greed and grinned unpleasantly.

... ...

Zong Tu turned his head again, took out two black python pills from his pocket, and handed them to Chen Xun, saying

Chen Xun was filled with too many questions, and at the same time, he did not expect that the cunning beast, even in its residual spirit, still possessed such great power that it required the utmost effort of the Wu Gong Sect to seal it. If it were alive, how astonishing would it be

Zong Tu instructed his grandson Zong Ya to carry Chen Xun further away, and then he raised the bone staff in his hand and began to chant strange and enigmatic syllables.

Unlike the imposing and robust python tribe, Zongtu, the shaman of the tribe, is merely a gaunt and shriveled old man. Normally composed, upon seeing the strange beast with scales on the riverbank, his voice became somewhat distorted. With his withered hand resembling a chicken's claw, he grasped a bone staff that had developed a patina, trembling slightly with excitement.

Although a cunning beast is formidable, if it dares to emerge from the mountains, the upper-tier warriors of the surrounding tribes, even the celestial warriors, can unite to defeat it. However, if a cunning demon truly emerges from the depths of Python Tooth Ridge, it is likely that no one will be able to inhabit the area surrounding Python Tooth Ridge any longer

Hearing the words of the shaman, the clans of Zong Sang, Nan Liao, and other fierce warriors dispersed to guard the four directions

His cheeks were adorned with the totem of a python's head, marked by dark bruises, revealing robust shoulders that were thicker than those of a black python by a third. His right arm was wrapped in greenish veins, extending all the way to his bare chest, which was covered in black hair, resembling a layer of snake scales from a distance

Is this the serpent spirit of Wu Gongzong's enlightenment?

Surrounding Mangya Ridge, there are hundreds of tribes, yet only a few Tianman?" Nan Liao said with deep emotion, "This time, it is truly the blessing of the Xianman

He glanced at Chen Xun, remaining silent, yet overwhelmed with uncontrollable joy as he pondered the cause of this cunning black-scaled creature's death

Although the Umpang tribe is not a cannibalistic savage, it will not casually take in outsiders of unknown origin

There are very few terrestrial animals of the scale-covered class on Earth, but in this region, there are numerous exotic creatures of the scale-covered class

Oh my, it is truly a head of black-scaled cunning. The black python is fiercely protecting us

In the past three years, apart from being limited by ancestral teachings, Zongtu has not only transmitted martial skills but has also devoted great effort to teaching him to read and write in the barbarian script, as well as to identify medicinal herbs.

This creature, known as the black-scaled beast, weighs approximately 3,000 jin. After emerging from the water, it is quite inconvenient to carry and walk, not to mention that it must traverse several mountain ridges to return to the village. Zongsang instructed one of the warriors to hurry back to the village and call for some assistance.