EP.13
The Central Plains are indeed vast.
Even in this expansive area, do you know which region can be described as particularly closed off?
That’s right. It is Sichuan.
Whether this is due to geographical characteristics or the manipulations of the Tang Family’s authors, no one knows for certain.
Of course, every year, there are those who venture to uncover its secrets.
Strangely enough, however, the lives of these individuals tend to be rather short.
With their bodies turning blue and gasping for breath, who would dare to pry into the affairs of the Tang Family?
Only someone experienced like me can manage it.
I successfully infiltrated Sichuan.
I have noted down the information regarding the poisons and techniques they use separately.
Additionally, I have gathered a few more bits of information.
Normally, I would require an advance payment, but given the circumstances, I’ll send this message first.
You are aware that poison can also serve as medicine, right?
These people from the Tang Family inject themselves with poison to attain enlightenment.
Don’t think of trying to imitate them. If someone from Namgung like you attempted to follow the Tang Family’s practices and ended up dead, what a disgrace that would be.
While I acknowledge that you are not tied to the notion of enlightenment, I want to mention that a master from the Demon Cult has infiltrated this Tang Family Tao.
It’s a significant incident. However, the rumors will likely not leak outside.
They couldn’t even capture the intruding Demon Cultist, and they lost important items to the Tang Family as well.
That’s right. The reason they infiltrated was to steal something.
That something is a spider—a spider with the potential to become a human-faced spirit creature.
Whether it will be used as materials for Solitude or for enhancing internal power, it will certainly have a considerable impact. Losing a spirit creature is akin to losing a vital asset.
And while investigating the incident, I also heard stories about spirit creatures in Sichuan.
I believe you wouldn’t think I’m trying to show off with something so obvious.
The name was something I hadn’t heard before, even myself.
Dalopo (狚露暴)
Dew as fierce as a wolf.
For the Tang Family, dew translates directly to poison.
It means fierce poison.
This spirit creature measures over two yards in length and weighs as much as 70 kilograms.
It is said to have a large flower-like organ on its neck that can spew out ten thousand kinds of poison. Moreover, rumors suggest that the spirit creature has attained the level of a poison master.
Do you understand what I mean?
The situation is critical.
Just like the spirit of the volcano, it seems there is a similar entity within the Tang Family.
(The rest omitted)
The story has grown long.
I managed to get a bottle of the rare Pufferfish Wine, so let’s share it together when I return.
【Excerpt from “The Last Secret Letter of Cheongmurin” (Translation)】
*
My whole body felt as if it were being torn apart.
The pain from the ant venom was on an entirely different level.
The destructive power wasn’t overwhelmingly greater.
The decrease in HP was similar to what I had experienced before.
When I was hit by ant venom, I was in the midst of battle.
With adrenaline surging, I had no time to feel the pain.
Now, however, I was completely sober.
Moreover, I was aware that venom was entering my system.
The agony of flesh being ripped apart and venom injected was beyond imagination.
What if things go wrong?
Right now, I could sever my tail to solve the problem.
The poison hadn’t spread throughout my body yet.
I raised my hand.
I gently pressed down on the head of the spider trying to extract its venomous fangs embedded in my tail.
“Kieeek!”
With a crunch.
I could feel additional venom being injected from the already embedded fangs.
If I couldn’t endure this much, what could I possibly do?
It was hard to even breathe.
Yet, paradoxically, I felt my mind becoming clearer.
My body grew warm.
Something was flowing out from what I could consider my Lower Dantian.
This sensation, I had felt it once before.
It was the same feeling I experienced when I coughed up blood after being disturbed by a turtle.
In other words, it was the sensation I had when I almost succeeded in Breath Control.
I removed the spider attached to my tail and settled into a lotus position.
Perhaps due to the poisoning, my body felt sharper than usual.
The body of the Green Basilisk.
I knew how this body was formed.
At the moment of evolution, the bones reshaped, and flesh and skin attached over them.
I recalled how each and every cell was structured.
A hot energy spread throughout my body.
From the Lower Dantian to the Middle Dantian.
From the Middle Dantian to the Upper Dantian.
And back down to the Lower Dantian.
Yes.
This is Breath Control.
Once more.
Again.
I continued to circulate the energy.
A total of twelve cycles were completed.
[You have acquired “Small Zhu Tian.”]
[Your level has increased.]
Countless messages appeared before me.
[You have acquired “Poison Resistance LV1.”]
The skill I initially aimed for was finally obtained.
But it didn’t stop there.
[“Paralysis Resistance LV2” reacts with “Poison Resistance LV1.”]
[“Mountain Resistance LV4” reacts with “Poison Resistance LV1.”]
[“Poison Resistance LV1” evolves into “Ten Poison Immunity.”]
Just like how the Swamp Step evolved into the Rising Dragon Step, my resistance to poison had evolved.
[Your level has increased.]
Is this what it feels like when blocked meridians are finally opened?
Levels that I hadn’t been able to rise until now surged all at once.
[You have acquired “White Orchid Heart Technique.”]
With that last message, I completed Breath Control.
【Green Basilisk LV5】
HP: 70/70
MP: 32/32
【Title】
“Beloved by Spiders”
The spiders stood by my side, striking peculiar poses.
Were they standing guard for me? I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Thank you, my little friends.
“Kekek!”
With that, I moved my body.
My field of vision expanded.
I had definitely grown larger.
Where I had been sitting, three of my old skins were shed.
I nudged them aside with my tail.
“Kieeek!”
The spiders cheered and rushed towards my discarded skins.
They looked like fans receiving a player’s uniform.
Sure, take what you can’t use anyway.
The little ones were munching away at my old skins.
I had a task ahead of me.
One of the top three most exhilarating things for a Green Basilisk.
Checking the newly acquired skills.
__________________________
【Skills】
“Tail Severing LV9,” “Cold Blood LV1,” “Devour LV1,” “Wild Eyes LV2,” “Tail Severing LV1,” “Paralysis Resistance LV2,” “Mountain Resistance LV4,” “Rising Dragon Step,” “Small Zhu Tian,” “Ten Poison Immunity,” “White Orchid Heart Technique”…
__________________________
No, they should be called martial techniques instead of skills.
Savoring each one, I read the effects of the martial techniques one by one.
“Small Zhu Tian”
It circulates energy through the six meridians excluding the Ren and Du meridians. It heals internal injuries and accumulates internal power.
Small Zhu Tian.
It’s a form of Breath Control.
To be precise, it is termed Breath Control when combining Small Zhu Tian and Large Zhu Tian.
Even with just Small Zhu Tian, I could confidently declare that I could perform Breath Control elsewhere.
Successfully achieving Small Zhu Tian for the first time could be considered an accomplishment.
It was certainly no small feat.
Compared to Large Zhu Tian, it’s somewhat lacking.
“Ten Poison Immunity”
Ten different poisons cannot dare to invade my body. I possess a strong resistance to toxins.
It’s probably the degraded version of the ultimate “Immune to All Poisons.”
Still, this is something. It was ten times better than Poison Resistance LV1.
“White Orchid Heart Technique”
It is a very basic internal technique. It has the potential to evolve into any other technique.
I had obtained a heart technique as well.
I am no longer the same as before.
No longer just a lizard using footwork, but a creature that practices martial arts.
The toad and the turtle.
Quite the match.
*
Before hunting the Stellar Turtles and the Demon Toads, I undertook the task of relocating my dwelling.
Now that I have the body with Ten Poison Immunity, I should be able to resist the toad’s poison and somehow break the turtle’s tough shell.
However, they tend to live in groups.
At the very least, I saw three of each when I last encountered them.
Moreover, the strangely amicable relationship between the turtles and toads worried me.
It seemed like they fought, yet they never truly settled their differences.
Surely they must have developed some grudging affection through their skirmishes.
Thus, hunting them head-on would mean facing six foes of my own caliber.
One-on-one might be doable, but a group assault would be a challenge.
In other words, relocating was part of my strategy to wipe out the turtle-toad menace.
“Kekek!”
The dream of securing a home that I failed to achieve in my previous life.
I had finally accomplished it here.
A truly upscale modern house.
Equipped with an ocean view—no, a swamp view, to boot.
A natural fortress crafted by entangling spider silk and leaves around a moderately grown tree stump.
To be honest, it looked a bit shabby, but it was certainly enough for a cozy abode.
First advantage:
The color was a vibrant green.
If it’s green, then it’s the color of the Green Basilisk.
Being at a moderately high position allowed me to conceal my presence and rest peacefully.
Hanging from leaves while waiting for prey beneath would also be quite easy.
Second advantage:
Right below was a puddle of water.
This means a favorable environment for me to traverse between trees and water. The abundance of prey was another benefit.
Third advantage:
There were no noisy neighbors.
This was the biggest one.
Having moved to avoid the toad and turtle, this could be considered my greatest advantage.
There was no one to interrupt my Breath Control practice.
On top of that, during my Breath Control sessions, these little spiders provided a sort of protection, which made me feel at ease.
“Kieeek…”
They lay belly up.
…I had worn them out.
I had summoned spiders to inaccessible spots and pulled webs all over.
“Kekek!”
I tossed a freshly prepared water bug to them.
Still, I ensured their welfare, right?
You all good?
“Keeng…”
For some reason, they seemed less pleased.
They glanced at the water bug I threw, as if uncertain, and then rolled around.
“Keeeeeeng…”
Has their taste become more sophisticated?
Oh dear, these creatures that used to be satisfied with just a water bug.
Should I catch them some fish?
I’m feeling a bit hungry myself.
Sigh. But just eating piranhas gets monotonous after a while.
Hmm, is there any decent prey around?
“Quaaack!”
Tusk!
Pus!
Let’s get ready to eat.
Delivery has arrived.
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