Invincible Snake Emperor-Chapter 210 - 206: The Force Behind

The night was pitch-black. Gusts of cold, sinister wind swept across the stone steps of She Mountain. Unlike usual, this wind carried a hint of a wail, enough to make one's skin crawl.

At the foot of the mountain, on a large boulder, Tu Xiao'an used an arm as a pillow, comfortably enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

The ten-centimeter Silver Mosquito hovered before Tu Xiao'an's eyes, buzzing softly as if trying its best to curry favor with its new master.

"From now on, you're not allowed to bite people. Got it?"

Tu Xiao'an smiled faintly. The mosquito's proboscis was laced with a potent venom.

But having subdued this Awakener-class mosquito, Tu Xiao'an slowly began to understand why the hook-nosed man used it to harm people.

These mosquitos could suck a person's Essence Blood, which would then solidify into a type of crystal within their bodies called Blood Essence.

It seemed this Blood Essence was of great benefit to Cultivators.

However, using mosquitos to suck people's Essence Blood was clearly an Evil Technique. The most critical part was that these mosquitos' proboscises were highly venomous, unlike ordinary ones.

A bite from a normal one would, at most, raise a red welt that would fade shortly after.

From the stone steps of She Mountain, heart-wrenching screams echoed from time to time. A faint, wicked smile played on Tu Xiao'an's lips as he counted silently in his mind...

「Ten minutes later.」

A middle-aged man tumbled wretchedly down the stone steps. Who else could it be but the hook-nosed man.

He was covered in wounds, and several menacing vipers still clung to his body. Having sunk their fangs into his flesh, they held on with death-defying tenacity, refusing to let go as they frantically injected their Venom.

By the time the hook-nosed man rolled to a stop, he was already on the verge of death.

Tu Xiao'an sat up abruptly. He looked down at the man and said mockingly, "Decided to come down, have we?"

"Help... help me..."

The hook-nosed man was now poisoned by snake venom—and not just from one type of snake. His eyes were dim, and his breathing had become extremely labored.

If he were an ordinary person, he would have either died or fallen unconscious long ago.

"Help you?" Tu Xiao'an leaped down from the large boulder, landing gracefully in an arc before the hook-nosed man. He asked in a flat, emotionless tone, "You used the mosquitos to create Blood Essence. Was it for yourself or for someone else?"

The hook-nosed man's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected his opponent to know so much. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said, the denial weak.

"You don't know? Is that right?"

Tu Xiao'an crouched down. A venomous snake was still latched onto the man's body, but Tu Xiao'an ignored it. He rummaged through the man's clothes for a moment before his eyes lit up, having found an exquisite box.

"Don't touch my things!"

The hook-nosed man roared as if using the last of his strength.

Tu Xiao'an chuckled. "You're about to lose your life, and you're still worried about this?"

As he spoke, he opened the exquisite box. A bewitching light emanated from within, where small, diamond-like pieces of Blood Essence pulsed with the aura of life.

This Blood Essence was all formed from the Essence Blood of each poisoned victim.

"I'm from the Bai Family, a hidden Ancient Martial Cultivation Family! Even if you're a Snake Demon, you'll face dire consequences if you offend the Bai Family!" The hook-nosed man revealed his identity as a threat.

But Tu Xiao'an was a complete novice and knew nothing about such things. He replied coolly, "Never heard of them."

"You used an Evil Technique to create Blood Essence. Did the Bai Family order you to do this?"

What Tu Xiao'an wanted to know most was whether this man was acting alone or if he had a faction backing him.

Clearly, the Bai Family was his backer.

'An Ancient Martial Cultivation Family? This is turning out just like a martial arts fantasy world.'

'Then again, it makes sense. Wherever there are people, there is a Jianghu. He'd had too little exposure to these things, having basically been fighting alone to increase his strength.'

"Just confess everything. Otherwise, you'll die a miserable death."

A desire for life flickered in the hook-nosed man's eyes. "If I confess, will you let me go?"

Tu Xiao'an's bewitching eyes glinted. He smiled and said, "You're dead either way. Don't you realize you've been poisoned by snakes? The venom has already seeped into your bones. You're beyond saving."

"Hmph... If I'm going to die anyway, why should I tell you anything?"

Tu Xiao'an said hauntingly, "If you tell me, you might get to die with some dignity. If you don't, I guarantee that in the next second, you'll be swarmed by countless vipers. Every scrap of your flesh will be torn apart by their fangs."

"You... you..." The image of the swarm of snakes attacking him in the forest surfaced in the hook-nosed man's mind, making him feel as if he had been plunged into Abyssal Hell.

The mere mention of venomous snakes made him tremble all over. He, a dignified Awakener, had been defeated by a pack of vipers.

It's impossible to imagine what a terrifying scene it is to be surrounded by vipers. Even if you're an Awakener, you're still just flesh and blood.

"Start talking. What's the deal with the Bai Family?"

As he spoke, Tu Xiao'an took a piece of Blood Essence from the exquisite box and placed it in his mouth. It dissolved instantly, and a stream of pure Energy flowed through him, bringing a wave of comfort.

This Blood Essence was like a heavenly treasure. Consuming it could greatly boost one's Cultivation. Of course, a significant boost in Cultivation would require a large amount of Blood Essence.

The hook-nosed man looked in terror at the refined yet demonic-looking youth before him, as if he were looking at a Demon.

"Our Young Master is about to achieve a breakthrough in his Cultivation and needs this Blood Essence to succeed. My mission this time was to bring one thousand pieces of Blood Essence back for him."

In the end, the hook-nosed man had no choice but to tell the truth.

'One thousand pieces of Blood Essence?'

The moment these words were spoken, Tu Xiao'an froze for a second. Then, an explosive Killing Intent erupted from him, blasting out like a hurricane.

The hundred or so pieces of Blood Essence in the box corresponded to the hundred or so people in the temple.

If he needed one thousand pieces of Blood Essence, then over a thousand people would have to fall.

"As Awakeners, you stand above mortals. Instead of giving back to society, you treat human lives like ants for your own selfish gain. You deserve to die, and that Young Master of yours deserves to die even more."

Tu Xiao'an's expression turned grim. He stared at the hook-nosed man with a flat, emotionless gaze as a sinister, cold aura radiated from his body. Throughout the mountain forest, countless vipers shivered in fear and awe.

They could feel that their king was angry.

Humans can be good or evil, and snakes can be righteous or wicked.

In that instant, Tu Xiao'an branded the Bai Family as an evil one.

"PFFT..."

The hook-nosed man coughed out a mouthful of blood as his Life Force plummeted to its lowest point. He knew that even if the other man chose to spare him, he wouldn't survive.

"You've taken my life and stolen my Blood Essence! The Bai Family will not let you go! Even if you are a Snake Demon, you will die!"

The hook-nosed man's eyes flew wide in anger, as if in a final burst of life.

Tu Xiao'an now had a general understanding of the situation. This man was from the Bai Family and had used an Evil Technique to acquire Blood Essence for the Bai Family's Young Master.

Ugh... Argh... Urk...

Suddenly, the hook-nosed man's entire body began to convulse violently. He foamed at the mouth as the snake venom in his system fully flared up.

Agony. He was in absolute agony, a state worse than death.

"Seeing as you confessed honestly, I'll give you a hand."

Tu Xiao'an extended a hand, and in an instant, a ball of Flame erupted forth—a raging Blazing Fire.

The man's eyes reflected the Flame as the shadow of death fell over him. He watched as the ball of fire was about to fall upon him, but suddenly, Tu Xiao'an paused. Seeing the few vipers still inextricably latched onto the man, he said, "Alright, my darlings, head back up the mountain."

HISS... HISS...

Receiving the command, the few vipers slithered off the hook-nosed man's body and vanished into the night.

WHOOSH...

A searing ball of flame landed on the hook-nosed man, and in an instant, he was engulfed in fire.