Invincible Snake Emperor-Chapter 64: Arrogant
Seeing his master, He Zhennan, Tu Xiao’an was both moved and worried. For one, his master hadn’t Ascended the Mountain to catch snakes in ten years. For another, he was facing an Awakened Creature—a Mutated Bloodsucker Snake.
Worried that something might happen to his master, he focused his full attention, deciding to protect him from the shadows.
At the scene, the man and the snake faced off. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and the very air seemed to grow cold. On one side was the renowned Snake Catching Master of Bai Town; on the other, the legendary Mutated Bloodsucker Snake.
Whether the man would capture the Snake, or the Snake would take the man’s life, remained to be seen.
Just then, the Mutated Bloodsucker Snake shrieked. The fiery red stripes all over its body began to glow brilliantly, shimmering as if activated. With what seemed like divine speed, it shot toward He Zhennan like a bolt of lightning, its four sharp, shocking fangs on full display.
The greatest characteristic of the Vampire Snake, setting it apart from ordinary snakes, was its four fangs—two on top and two on the bottom, all sharp, deadly, and incredibly venomous.
But what kind of man was He Zhennan? He had spent his entire life dealing with snakes; his snake-catching experience was second to none. Unflustered, he adjusted his golden Snake Hook slightly and, with the force of a landslide, smashed it toward the incoming fiery red shadow.
CLANG...
The sound was like two hard objects colliding. The Mutated Bloodsucker Snake was sent flying, landing five or six meters away.
HSSS...
Another demonic shriek. The moment the fiery red shadow hit the ground, it launched itself at He Zhennan again, its ferocity absolute.
"You beast! You still want to harm people?"
He Zhennan roared in reply, his golden Snake Hook a blur of afterimages in the air as he continuously batted the Vampire Snake away.
This back-and-forth went on for more than a dozen rounds. The crowd of Snake Catchers watched, dumbfounded, as if they were witnessing a spectacular fight scene from a martial arts movie.
As they watched, they broke out in a nervous sweat, their hearts pounding in their chests. ’If that were us,’ they thought, ’we’d have died ten times over.’
This Mutated Bloodsucker Snake was just too savage. It fought as if it would not rest until one of them was dead, relentlessly lunging at He Zhennan. Its Snake Pupils were filled with a vicious light, so bright it was terrifying.
BANG! BANG! BANG!...
This was the sound of the Vampire Snake colliding with the Snake Hook. When the hook struck its Snake Skin, it produced a spray of golden sparks, a truly unbelievable sight.
"Master He, you can do it! Take down the Vampire Snake!"
"Master He, bring glory to us Snake Catchers! This abomination must be eliminated!"
Without realizing it, the spectating Snake Catchers had become a cheerleading squad, shouting encouragement for He Zhennan. If this Vampire Snake wasn’t dealt with, it would be a ticking time bomb left on She Mountain. Any ordinary Snake Catcher who ran into it would have absolutely no chance of survival; they would certainly lose their life.
To them, the Vampire Snake was no longer a potential payday, but had escalated into a murderous Fierce Beast, like a man-eating tiger. It was just too dangerous.
He Zhennan’s eyes flashed with a sharp light as he traded blows with the Vampire Snake. Inwardly, however, his heart was in turmoil. ’To think a Snake could be this powerful,’ he thought. ’No wonder my apprentice lost his life.’
’Get revenge. Kill it. For my apprentice, and for the Snake Catchers of Bai Town.’
Just as everyone’s attention was focused on the battle between the man and the Snake, a cunning glint flashed in Jiang Xingze’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved into a slight smile.
’Perfect, here’s my chance,’ he thought. ’Everyone’s eyes are on the man and the Snake, but they’ve forgotten there’s still a Supreme Profound Snake that hasn’t been captured.’
’Someone else is dealing with the Vampire Snake for me. Now is the perfect time to catch the Supreme Profound Snake.’
The snake had been frightened by the Vampire Snake earlier and had been lying obediently on the ground, not daring to move.
"Haha, you’re mine!"
Jiang Xingze suddenly appeared before the Supreme Profound Snake, a triumphant smile on his face.
SISS...
The Supreme Profound Snake sensed the young man’s ill intentions. It immediately raised its head, its Snake Pupils flashing with a vicious light as it prepared to strike.
"Hmph. You think you can resist?"
Jiang Xingze sneered. ’It’s always Xu Xian who triumphs over the White Snake, no matter her thousand years of cultivation. First, I’ll catch the Supreme Profound Snake, then I’ll find a chance to take down the Vampire Snake.’
As he spoke, Jiang Xingze waved his hand lightly toward the coiled Supreme Profound Snake. Instantly, the air filled with a white powder that rustled as it settled onto the snake’s crystalline Snake Skin.
In an instant, the Supreme Profound Snake let out a miserable shriek, its body writhing on the ground in what was clearly immense pain.
"You little beast. If I don’t make you suffer a little, you’ll never learn how formidable I am."
The Supreme Profound Snake’s pained cries brought a happy laugh to Jiang Xingze’s lips, and he watched it as if admiring a work of art.
The Supreme Profound Snake’s cries drew the attention of the Snake Catchers on scene back to it. They were instantly alarmed, shouting out that something was wrong—someone was taking advantage of the chaos.
But it all happened in a flash. By the time they noticed, it was too late. Jiang Xingze’s hand was already clamped around the Supreme Profound Snake’s vital spot, and he lifted it high, waving it triumphantly at the crowd as if showing off a war trophy.
"You damn brat, do you have any respect for the rules? Taking advantage of the chaos like that!"
Everyone had been focused on the fight between He Zhennan and the Vampire Snake, but this guy had taken advantage of their inattention to snatch the Supreme Profound Snake. It was a dirty move.
"What do you mean, ’taking advantage of the chaos’? You were all too incompetent to catch the Supreme Profound Snake. Who can you blame for that?"
Jiang Xingze said with disdain.
"Who are you? You’re not one of our Bai Town Snake Catchers," someone demanded, their face filled with fury.
Jiang Xingze, still holding the Supreme Profound Snake, wore a victorious smile as he retorted, "What, are the Snake Catchers from Bai Town the only ones allowed to catch snakes on She Mountain?"
"You..."
The crowd was left speechless by his question, huffing in anger.
"The Supreme Profound Snake is in my hands now, which means it’s mine. You can stare all you want with your jealous eyes, but don’t tell me you’re actually thinking of stealing it?"
Jiang Xingze said this deliberately. He wasn’t afraid of someone trying to steal it. According to the rules of Snake Catchers, once a snake is in your hands, no one else can make a move on it.
No matter what you do, you have to use your brain, use strategy. Snake catching is no different.
Jiang Xingze had taken advantage of He Zhennan dealing with the Vampire Snake and the other Snake Catchers being distracted to effortlessly seize the Supreme Profound Snake.
’Come to think of it, I have the Vampire Snake to thank,’ he mused. ’Its appearance scared the Supreme Profound Snake half to death. And the Snake Powder Master gave me is truly useful. Sprinkling it on a snake produces a powerful burning effect that causes them immense pain.’
"You damn brat, playing dirty with us, are you? Watch out, or you might not make it off She Mountain alive."
The crowd watched Jiang Xingze’s arrogant display, clenching their fists and grinding their teeth in a show of intimidation.
"Don’t be jealous just because you’re incompetent. So many of you teamed up to catch the Supreme Profound Snake before, and I didn’t see you succeed. Now that I’ve caught it, you threaten me? It seems the Snake Catchers of Bai Town aren’t all they’re cracked up to be."
A mocking, not-quite-a-smile played on Jiang Xingze’s lips. He deliberately brandished the Supreme Profound Snake in his hand at the crowd, his arrogance boundless.
