The clingy intimacy between Big Snake Snake and Little Snake Snake made the several young maidens all bid their farewells one after another.
Yin Luan this fellow truly judges people by their chests—as long as it’s a “big” beauty, she’ll obey her every word…
That scoundrel who forgets friends for lust, hmph!
“How is your body shaped like this?” She Mei playfully poked and prodded Little Snake Demon with her hands and feet in the Sacred Pond, unable to help but sigh in admiration. “It’s so soft, just like dough. The big parts are so huge, the slim parts are so slender—your transformation is far too perfect, isn’t it?”
When demons undergo transformation, they can indeed decide their appearance to a certain extent, usually turning into handsome men or beautiful women. However, the degree of control and aesthetic perfection is also tied to one’s talent.
Beautiful women are easy enough to become, but ones that can overthrow kingdoms and cities, outshine the moon and shame flowers, captivate the masses—such appearances are rare even among demons.
“Don’t touch, don’t touch,” Little Snake Demon twisted her body as she was tickled, giggling. “I’m ticklish…”
“Alright, no more teasing you,” She Mei withdrew her hand and got down to business. “I sent those girls away precisely to give you this thing.”
She fished a wooden box out from the water and opened it. In an instant, a strange, alluring fragrance filled the cave, and upon smelling it, Yin Luan felt her entire body heat up.
“What is this thing?”
Little Snake Demon wiped the drool from her mouth and asked.
A round pellet lay in the wooden box. At first glance, it resembled a medicinal pill, but upon closer inspection, it was a seamless whole with no traces of refinement.
“An Inner Core,” She Mei laughed. “Mine, and it contains deadly poison.”
“What? An Inner Core!”
Yin Luan was utterly shocked.
Demons with profound cultivation bases have a chance of forming something within their bodies—a condensed essence of power resembling a dan pellet—which is known as an “Inner Core.”
This is essentially the demons’ second heart, of utmost importance to them.
Inner Cores are great supplements for many demons and evil cultivators, offering immense benefits to their cultivation after consumption.
She Mei had truly dug out her very “heart” and given it to Little Snake Demon.
“No way, I absolutely cannot accept this,” Yin Luan waved her hands repeatedly. “No matter how gluttonous I am, I wouldn’t go so far as to lose all reason.”
“I’m not finished,” She Mei burst into laughter. “It’s a discarded Inner Core of mine.”
“A discarded Inner Core?”
Little Snake Demon looked utterly puzzled.
“We snake demons differ from other demons in that we periodically ‘molt’,” Big Snake Demon explained. “Through continual molting, we maintain our body’s vitality and preserve our eternal youth. I researched and developed this Snake Clan trait into the divine ability known as ‘Molting Core’.”
The benefits of Molting Core are somewhat similar to those of molting skin; it allows one to eliminate both overt and hidden injuries in the Inner Core through this renewal process.
Even if, like during this tribulation, the Inner Core is scorched on the outside and tender within from the lightning strikes, it doesn’t matter—just replace it entirely.
Moreover, this molted waste core is a true treasure.
“The deadly poison contained within the Inner Core is enough to fell most beings below the Treading the Void Realm,” Big Snake Snake explained slowly. “And aside from me, there’s basically no antidote for it.”
“A poison, huh…”
Little Snake Demon nodded.
“But using it that way feels like such a waste,” She Mei said. “During the tribulation, I saw that you were completely immune to the poison in my blood, so I thought perhaps this discarded Inner Core could stimulate your Snake Clan bloodline.”
She paused, her expression turning serious as she continued.
“I believe the root of all these problems on your body lies in your bloodline.”
Unable to transform, restricted at every turn when using Snake Clan divine abilities—Little Snake Demon’s issues were far more troublesome than they appeared.
If it truly was a “curse” at work, then stimulating it with external forces just might prove effective.
“Alright then, I’ll eat it right now!”
As Yin Luan spoke, she picked up the Inner Core and moved to pop it into her mouth.
“Wait,” She Mei shook her head and stopped her, placing the Inner Core back in the box and securely closing the lid. “The energy contained within the Inner Core is vast, violent, chaotic—swallowing it down means you can’t predict if it’ll bring fortune or disaster. I’m merely giving you this as an option; unless you’re at your absolute wits’ end, don’t lightly attempt such an unknown method.”
“But it’s so fragrant…”
“No.”
Little Snake Demon reluctantly put the Inner Core away, her face full of regret.
After delivering the gift, Big Snake Snake seemed to have unburdened herself of a long-held worry. She floated atop the pond water, her body fully relaxing.
“If only every day could be as comfortable as this moment—wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Living in constant fear and anxiety day after day, enduring the dual torment of mind and body just to survive under the Heavenly Tribulation—it’s too grueling, too agonizing.
If I could become the one who formulates the Heavenly Path’s rules, my very first decree would be to abolish all nine tribulations weighing upon demons, so that the demons of the world no longer live in fear.”
“You said you understood, right? That these nine tribulations were imposed by the Heavenly Path on demons to maintain balance in the world?”
Yin Luan imitated her, floating on the water as she spoke.
“Understanding is one thing,” the Great Demon sighed. “But when you’re truly facing the Heavenly Tribulation head-on, that’s when you realize just how terrifying the danger really is. Tests are tests, and ordeals are ordeals—but forcing someone down the path to death? That’s just not right.”
“Indeed…”
Little Snake mulled it over and realized the Great Demon had a point.
If She Mei hadn’t prepared that formation, if the Snake of Snake Valley hadn’t put in all their effort, if they hadn’t run into her and the others—how many demons could actually survive the Spirit Opening Tribulation?
Was this really about maintaining balance?
Even if it had been once upon a time, could it still be called that now?
“We want fairness!”
“Fairness!”
“We want freedom!”
“Freedom!”
“We want kisses!”
“Kiss— you’re tricking me, aren’t you? You little rascal, fooling even your own kind!”
The two snake demons bantered and played in the cave, chattering idly back and forth. Meanwhile, up in the sky, those dark clouds hadn’t fully dispersed. They had simply retreated deeper, lying in wait for the perfect moment to reemerge.
~~~
Having collected their payment for the job, the cargo that had been “seized” earlier was delivered back to Snake as well.
“For safety’s sake, I’m planning to abandon this Snake Valley,” She Mei announced to the group. “We can’t risk the Demon Subduing Division tracking the scent right to our door.”
She could keep the snake demons from wandering off recklessly, but she had no control over those Evil Spirits—and those could draw the most terrifying hunters from the Great Zhou Kingdom straight to them.
“We’re getting ready to head back ourselves.”
Yin Luan said.
They had spent some time in Snake Valley by now, and during that period, they had sent word home through other channels.
Everything was fine on that end. Preparations were proceeding steadily, and they had gathered plenty of intelligence from Luo City.
If four words could sum up the situation in the Royal Capital, they would be “undercurrents surging.”
“I don’t have much of a presence in Luo City,” She Mei said, as if she were already aware of these matters. “After all, it’s the most prosperous and powerful city in the Great Zhou Kingdom. It’s tough for the Snake to hide there, but we do have a few members stationed in the area.”
She tossed over several Snake Whistles with a smile.
“We’re all in the same boat now. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Don’t worry, we won’t stand on ceremony!”
Yin Luan assured her.
“I don’t have any fancy blessings to offer,” She Mei said, looking at each of them in turn. Seeing the young maidens holding hands, she let out a heartfelt sigh. “I just hope this friendship between humans and demons can endure forever…”
