Serpent Ancestor

Before anyone realized it, winter had passed, and the temperature began to rise.

This winter, there was no snow, and since Xu Hei had already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, his body temperature remained constant, so he didn’t even notice winter’s arrival.

In the Myriad Serpent Valley, the snakes that had been hibernating began to awaken and gradually went out to hunt.

The grass and trees sprouted new buds, and at the burial site of the Old Snake King, a man-high Serpent Fruit tree was quietly growing. This tree had been transplanted several times and had now returned to its original spot.

At this moment, two Serpent Fruits were growing on the tree, and in another year, it would reach the three-year maturity cycle.

However, now the Serpent Fruit held little value for Xu Hei. On his recent trip to the human city, he had purchased enough resources, any one of which far exceeded the value of the Serpent Fruit tree.

This tree was just a memento.

”Xu Bai’s cave dwelling even has a shielding formation. Let’s see what she’s up to.”

Xu Hei’s figure flickered as he dove underground, arriving at the entrance of Xu Bai’s cave dwelling, and knocked on the door with his tail.

Based on his guess, Xu Bai should have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. He wondered what kind of pills she would refine after reaching this stage.”Come in.”

Xu Bai’s response came from inside.

Xu Hei entered, and the space suddenly opened up.

The area was vast, equivalent to an underground plaza, with bottles and jars lined up on both sides, along with some large transparent containers.

The first container in front of him was filled with liquid, soaking a cat.

However, this cat looked very strange; its back half was actually a dog.

A dog’s head!

The front was a cat’s head, the back a dog’s head, with no rear, as if the front halves of two animals were joined together.

The second container held a snake.

However, the snake’s face was a woman’s ghastly white face.

The third container contained a dog with a woman’s long hair.

Further back, there was a black cat covered in eyes, and as Xu Hei passed by, all the eyes looked over.

”What on earth is this?”

Xu Hei was startled. This was definitely not a normal mutation after a beast became demonic; this was extremely abnormal!

These strange beasts, soaking in the liquid, were motionless, seemingly lifeless, yet there was a faint trace of vitality.

Looking around, there were dozens of such monsters, each more terrifying than the last.

”I’m researching the Transformation Pill. These are the results after taking the pill,” Xu Bai explained.

”Transformation Pill?”

Xu Hei was taken aback.

The Transformation Pill, as the name suggests, is a pill that allows one to transform into a human form after consumption, but this thing only exists in legends.

For a demonic beast to transform, it must cultivate for a thousand years, attain profound Dao, and use great divine abilities to transform.

Xu Hei’s Ever-changing Fish and Dragon technique, when mastered, could also transform into a human, but that was merely a visual illusion, not real.

”I’ve only had some preliminary success. It’s still far from transforming into a human,” Xu Bai said with a bitter smile.

”Preliminary success...”

Xu Hei swallowed. Observing these beasts, they were far from transforming into humans! They were evolving into monsters.

This wasn’t a beast transforming into a human, but a human transforming into a beast, a beast into a monster.

To dare to research the Transformation Pill right after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, she might just ascend to the heavens!

”Xu Bai, I think you could change your research direction. There’s no need to be fixated on the Transformation Pill,” Xu Hei said with an awkward smile.

”But humans are the spirits of all things, controlling most of the resources in this world. If demonic beasts want to obtain them, they can only transform into humans. For example, in the art of pill refining, humans are the best,” Xu Bai replied.

Xu Hei really didn’t know how to explain.

Saying too much might discourage her, but saying nothing might lead to an uncontrollable situation.

Not to mention, just one of these monsters in the container would be deemed a demonic creature by cultivators, who would surely come to punish the one who created it.

As expected of the Heavenly Demon Technique.

He had thought Xu Bai’s pills were safe and harmless, but that was before she broke through. Now that she had reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, her pills had also leveled up.

”Actually, the Transformation Pill is quite complex. It’s not too late to research it after you reach the Qi Condensation stage,” Xu Hei said with a bitter smile, using a delaying tactic.

Xu Bai nodded thoughtfully, ”Makes sense. So what should I research now?”

Xu Hei hesitated for a moment and then said seriously, ”A healer, with a heart to save the world and benefit all living beings.”

The reason he said this wasn’t because he thought saving people was particularly good.

It was just that this seemed to be the best choice for Xu Bai.

As long as the general direction was right, no matter how off it went, it wouldn’t go too far astray.

”Benefit all living beings...”

Xu Bai’s eyes lit up as she stared at the creatures in the containers excitedly, ”Then let’s save them first; they might survive.”

”Forget it, forget it, pretend I didn’t say anything.”

Xu Hei was completely speechless, no longer trying to persuade her, and crawled away.

There’s no saving her, absolutely no saving her. He could only find a time to destroy these monsters so they wouldn’t be discovered.

”By the way, where did you catch these experimental subjects?”

Xu Hei glanced around and asked curiously. There were quite a few demonic beasts here, and there were over three hundred that hadn’t even been experimented on, kept in a separate room.

”I caught them from the Purple Mist Sect. The spirit beasts there were unguarded and had become a disaster, eating several mountains bare, so I caught them all,” Xu Bai replied.

”......”

Xu Hei was silent.

No wonder these cats and dogs looked so familiar; they were raised by the Purple Mist Sect.

He suddenly felt that Xu Bai creating these monsters wasn’t such a big deal. In comparison, humans allowing these spirit beasts to run rampant and destroy the ecosystem was the real disaster.

He had been too harsh on Xu Bai.

Xu Hei pondered for a moment, then took out a storage bag full of medicinal herbs and placed it on the ground.

These were specially bought for Xu Bai.

Then he took out an iron pot and placed it beside her.

This was the remnant of an ancient pill furnace.

The pill furnace had mostly melted, leaving only a base resembling an iron pot, which should still have some use.

”Xu Bai, no matter what you research, I support you,” Xu Hei said seriously.

”Really?”

Xu Bai’s eyes lit up.

”Of course!” Xu Hei nodded.

”Great! These are my latest pills, labeled with their names. Help me test their effects; I need someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage... Hey? Where are you going? Don’t leave!”

Xu Bai called out excitedly, but Xu Hei slipped away without looking back.

…………

A moment later.

Xu Hei still ended up with some bottles and jars on him.

These were forcibly given to him by Xu Bai when she caught up.

Among them was the infamous Transformation Pill.

”Xu Hei, don’t underestimate the snake. I’ve improved this Transformation Pill. No matter what you turn into, you’ll return to normal once the time is up, with no side effects!” Xu Bai said confidently. ”Those spirit beasts can’t recover because their cultivation is too low to expel the drug’s power. You can definitely do it.”

Xu Hei felt quite helpless.

He definitely wouldn’t dare to take it himself, so he could only find someone else to try it.

He planned to visit the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe, deliver the food he promised before, and see if any brave souls were willing to volunteer to test the pill.