Jiang Wen scrutinized the large snake that Bai Jing held in her hand, which, despite its struggles, couldn't escape her jade-like grip.
This snake was no ordinary creature; its scales faintly shimmered with a cyan light. Above its head were two bulges, and its eyes were framed with cyan scales.
Such an appearance was beyond that of a mere snake; it was on the verge of transforming into a dragon.
This kind of snake possessed the potential of a dragon but struggled to truly become one. Even to become a Flood Dragon required enduring hardship and a stroke of great fortune.
But a dragon snake, bearing the word 'dragon,' was naturally different from ordinary snakes.
It could be born with some of the supernatural powers of a dragon, capable of summoning wind and rain, ascending to the heavens, and diving into the earth. Ordinary snakes feared it, and even the king of snakes would submit. Therefore, the dragon snake could be considered an emperor among snakes.
The large snake before them had absorbed dragon blood and transformed into a dragon snake.
Unfortunately, its mind had been eroded by the dragon blood, making it inherently violent and lustful. The three young men who came to explore and seek treasure were likely killed by this dragon snake, losing their lives in vain.
"Quite a dragon snake," Jiang Wen said with a smile.
Upon hearing this, the large snake tried to writhe its body, but it couldn't escape Bai Jing's grasp.
"I wonder where you imbibed this dragon blood? Was the cat demon you sent out as well?" Jiang Wen stroked his chin, questioning the large snake. The large snake was stunned for a moment, then feigned a ferocious and mad demeanor.
Jiang Wen found its act amusing. He knew from its eyes that the large snake possessed intelligence and wasn't stupid. Otherwise, it wouldn't have hidden in the house, concealing its aura and observing his and Bai Jing's movements.
If the large snake hadn't been somewhat impatient, Jiang Wen might not have discovered it.
After all, the Joyful Abode was filled with dense demonic energy, even giving rise to a demonic mist. Hidden within it, even a Dao Palace True Person would have difficulty finding it.
"Don't pretend. I know your true nature," Jiang Wen said calmly, looking at the large snake. He extended his hand, and a Samadhi True Fire appeared in his palm. The firelight blazed, as if containing great terror.
"Tell me what you know, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, even if you're a dragon snake, I'll reduce you to ashes."
Half threatening, half persuading, the large snake stopped struggling. It simply looked at Jiang Wen, a thoughtful expression on its face.
"Human, you want, know, what?" the large snake stuttered.
"Just the two questions from before. First, where did you imbibe the dragon blood? Second, did you send the cat demon to the town?" Jiang Wen said calmly.
"…" The large snake was silent for a moment, then nodded. "That demon, is I."
"My, dragon blood, is, drank from, underground True Dragon."
Underground True Dragon? Jiang Wen was stunned. Then, his divine sense spread out, probing beneath the canyon. Hundreds of meters into the earth, it suddenly reached an open space. His spirit trembled, and he momentarily lost his focus.
It was at this moment that the large snake suddenly erupted. Its body swelled more than ten times, and its arms transformed into dragon claws. It broke free from Bai Jing's grasp amidst her surprised expression, then attacked Jiang Wen.
"How dare you!" Bai Jing was furious when she saw the large snake erupt and break free. Seeing that it even wanted to attack Jiang Wen, her anger surged.
Disregarding her ladylike image, she immediately transformed into a hundred-meter-tall fox.
Her body was like a small mountain, and her seven tails surged. Majestic like a divine beast, she was truly awe-inspiring.
"Courting death!" Bai Jing snorted coldly, raising her paw to pin down the large snake. It was like a cat pinning a worm, unable to escape no matter how it struggled.
The large snake was pinned to the ground, looking at Bai Jing in shock. It had never imagined that such a delicate person could transform into such a huge demon.
Its heart was shattered, and its spirit terrified. Looking at Jiang Wen again, it knew that these two were not simple. Realizing that it had caused a great disaster, the large snake immediately begged Bai Jing for mercy.
"Spare me, spare me."
"Spare you? Do you really think you're some kind of treasure?" Bai Jing sneered, looking at the ignorant large snake. After its behavior just now, it was already a dead snake in her heart. If not for considering Jiang Wen, she would have slapped this ungrateful beast to death long ago.
Ignoring the large snake's pleas for mercy, Bai Jing looked at Jiang Wen, who was standing in place. Seeing his vacant eyes, as if something had happened, she felt somewhat anxious.
After all, the Abbot's supernatural powers were extraordinary, almost omnipotent. It was rare to encounter something that would make him look like this.
What exactly was beneath this Joyful Abode that could make him so distraught?
Before long, Jiang Wen came back to his senses. He looked at Bai Jing, who had transformed into her original white fox form, and then at the struggling large snake pinned to the ground, realizing what had happened while he was lost in thought.
He nodded to Bai Jing and said, "Let it go."
"But…" Bai Jing hesitated.
"I promised it before that I would let it go as long as it answered my questions," Jiang Wen said frankly. "Since I've already made a promise, I will naturally keep my word."
"Yes, this servant understands," Bai Jing moved her paw and released the large snake.
The large snake first looked at Jiang Wen warily, and after observing the situation for a while, it realized that he really intended to let it go.
It immediately fled into the depths of the Joyful Abode without stopping.
Bai Jing watched the large snake's disappearing figure and then looked at Jiang Wen. After transforming into human form, she asked puzzledly, "Benefactor, this beast kills people wantonly and even tried to kill you. Why did you still let it go?"
"I said I would let it go," Jiang Wen said with a smile. "Since I said it, I naturally have to keep my promise."
"But…" Bai Jing wanted to say something, but Jiang Wen stopped her.
"I know what you want to say, but it doesn't matter," Jiang Wen said again. "I only said I'd spare its life, but I didn't say that Heaven would spare its life."
Looking up at the sky, Jiang Wen smiled calmly.
A bolt of lightning flashed across the clouds, striking somewhere in the Joyful Abode.
Boom—!
Thunder roared, illuminating the entire valley.
A scream was heard, and then there was no more movement.
"You see, isn't that retribution?" Jiang Wen said, looking not far away.
Bai Jing followed behind him, looking in that direction, her expression returning to normal. Her heart was turbulent, truly amazed. She recognized the Abbot's strength even more and became even more awed.
She hadn't even felt the source of the lightning just now, as if it had appeared out of nowhere. Such a spell was truly like the means of an immortal, making people have to fear it.
After all, cultivators' spells always had a source, always allowing people to glimpse the fluctuations of their power. If a spell came and went without a trace, even the greatest ability would suffer. Such a spell was impossible to defend against, and no one could withstand it.
"Let's go, let's go in and take a look," Jiang Wen said, gently patting Bai Jing's head. He took the lead and walked into the dilapidated palace.
Looking inside, they found dozens of cat demons on their last breaths.
Their skin color was the same as the previous cat demon, and their spirits were all listless. It seemed that the large snake had tormented them, using them to control them.
Looking around, there were scattered limbs and broken arms. They were all cat demon limbs, truly tragic.
This group of cat demons had fortunately survived when the Joyful Abode fell into this place. Who knew that there would be a large snake that had imbibed dragon blood in the Abode, and it had kept them captive as food.
Although he didn't know why it didn't eat the corpses of the demons outside, Jiang Wen was still disgusted by its actions.
Bai Jing had told him about the cat demons. Although they were mischievous, they were also kind-hearted. Unless forced to the extreme, they would be timid on ordinary days.
If the large snake hadn't held the cat demon's clansmen hostage, the cat demon who went to the village probably wouldn't have violently injured people.
