Invincible Snake Emperor

Chapter 431: Chapter 427: Purple Divine Fruit

Tu Xiao’an wasn’t actually mad at the Tree Spirit, of course. He was just teaching it the ”rules”—not to attack recklessly. Now that it was time to level up and grind monsters, he didn’t want to slack off.

He wanted to try and gather all 100,000 Evolutionary Energy before they reached the Azure Bamboo Forest.

Continuing forward, Tu Xiao’an decided to call this area ”Hot Steam Lake.” The name was a bit rustic, but who could blame him? As an outsider, he didn’t know its real name.

Several thousand meters deeper into the Hot Steam Lake, a few figures materialized in the vast white mist. They were still wolf dogs, but interestingly enough, they were Rank Two Spirit Monsters. They were more ferocious than tigers, standing there imposingly—a truly intimidating sight.

There were three of them: one at Level 20 and two at Level 21. Tu Xiao’an used his Insight and calculated that the three of them could provide around two thousand Evolutionary Energy in total.

This time, the Tree Spirit had learned its lesson. It treated the three wolf dogs as if they were thin air. Even if they were to pounce, it wouldn’t move a single vine, pretending it didn’t see them.

The Bull Demon King completely retracted his aura, afraid that even the slightest wisp would leak out and scare away the three Spirit Monster wolf dogs.

”What manner of Demon dares to enter Wolf Mist Lake?”

One of the wolf dogs stood up like a man and spoke in human tongue, its eyes filled with Killing Intent and vigilance.

Wolf Mist Lake?

Tu Xiao’an paused. ’It sounds a bit classier than ”Hot Steam Lake,”’ he thought.

’Besides, why is a wolf dog calling someone else a Demon? Doesn’t it have any self-awareness?’

This time, Tu Xiao’an didn’t use his Thunder Power or any other Elemental Attribute. With a single thought, three Flying Knives, as thin as a cicada’s wings, shot out like bolts of light.

0.05 seconds later, the three Rank Two wolf dogs stood perfectly still, but their life force had already been extinguished. They had died silently.

”Hmph, you’re the Demons. Your whole family are Demons,” Tu Xiao’an snorted haughtily, patting the tree’s trunk.

The Tree Spirit was baffled. ’Does he really think I’m a horse? All he’s missing is shouting ”Giddy-up!”’

During this time, more wolf dogs emerged one after another to block their path. There were both Rank One and Rank Two, and in no small number. Tu Xiao’an finally realized they had truly stumbled into a wolf dog den. He could have guessed as much from the name ’Wolf Mist Lake,’ after all.

But no matter how many wolf dogs came to block their way, they all died by Tu Xiao’an’s Flying Knives in the end.

After a rough calculation, Tu Xiao’an was pleasantly surprised to find he had harvested nearly ten thousand points of Evolutionary Energy just from killing the wolf dogs. This was an even greater haul than killing a Rank Three Demon Spirit.

They walked for about another kilometer, but not a single wolf dog appeared to block their path. This left Tu Xiao’an with a sense of unease. ’Did I wipe out their entire clan? Were they really that weak?’

Soon, Tu Xiao’an’s gaze landed on something in the distance. Not far from the edge of Wolf Mist Lake, he saw a fruit tree glittering from top to bottom. Even with the sunlight filtered by the mist, nothing could hide its radiant splendor.

But on this entire tree hung only a single purple fruit. Just one.

Tu Xiao’an was a little disappointed to see just one fruit. ’This is pretty stingy, isn’t it? A whole tree for just one piece of fruit.’

At the same time, he saw four powerfully built wolf dogs lying beside the fruit tree. They were Rank Two Spirit Monsters, guarding it from the four cardinal directions.

What was even more interesting was that Tu Xiao’an also saw a small residence behind the fruit tree. However, its construction was very crude; calling it a residence was being generous.

”That’s the one! That’s the one!” The Tree Spirit had also spotted the glittering fruit tree and became instantly excited, its leaves rustling and falling from its branches.

Seeing the Tree Spirit so happy made Tu Xiao’an happy as well, and he stood at the ready, looking expectant.

But after waiting for a long moment, no Vermilion Spirit Fruit dropped from the Tree Spirit. He sighed in silent disappointment. ’I got my hopes up for nothing.’

The Bull Demon King was still clearing the path. Upon seeing the Spirit Tree, he suddenly flashed forward, startling the four Rank Two wolf dogs.

They were just about to furiously attack when the Bull Demon King’s savage aura erupted, scaring the wolf dogs so badly they dropped to the ground, not daring to move a muscle.

Tu Xiao’an jumped down from the Tree Spirit. Looking at the glittering fruit tree, he cast his Conscious Insight.

”Ding... First-rank, High Grade Purple Divine Fruit. Bears fruit once every three hundred years. Possesses the miraculous ability to regenerate severed limbs.”

’A First-rank, High Grade Spirit Fruit?’

This was a much higher rank than Tu Xiao’an’s Snakeberry. Even though there was only one, it took three hundred years to produce a single fruit, making it incredibly precious.

And its most precious quality was its miraculous effect: the ability to regenerate severed limbs. What did that mean? It meant that if you were disabled with a severed hand or foot, this fruit could make you whole again.

’A good fruit, a very good fruit. Even if there’s only one, quality over quantity.’

When the Bull Demon King saw that there was only one fruit on the Spirit Tree, his heart filled with despair. This meant there would be no share for him.

The Tree Spirit, on the other hand, had no such worries. It only needed the nutrients from the Spirit Tree itself.

”Get lost.”

Tu Xiao’an glanced coolly at the four guardian wolf dogs, his gaze disdainful and domineering.

WHIMPER...

Under his absolute aura, the four wolf dogs were terrified. Even though they were Rank Two, they didn’t dare to resist. Instead, they turned their gazes toward the shoddy residence behind the Spirit Tree.

From the way the four wolf dogs were acting, it seemed their leader was inside.

CREAK...

The door to the residence opened, instantly drawing Tu Xiao’an’s attention.

A Half-beastman with a human’s body and a wolf’s face walked out. He stood over two meters tall and was powerfully built, but his entire body was covered in thick fur. He was like a half-finished product of evolution into a human, as his face was still that of a wolf dog.

Tu Xiao’an had seen this form before. Back before he subdued the Bull Demon King, one of the king’s own subordinates had been a Half-beastman.

It was the result of a forced evolution, which meant it had lost its chance to truly attain the Dao.

This Wolf Demon was at the Peak of the Second Rank and was the king of the wolf dog pack.

”This humble one was unaware of Your Excellencies’ arrival. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner,” the Wolf Demon said as soon as he stepped out of the residence. He glanced at the Bull Demon King, then at Tu Xiao’an, and immediately put on a welcoming smile, adopting a very humble posture.

After a glance, Tu Xiao’an asked, ”Is this Purple Divine Fruit yours?”

”It was originally guarded by our Wolf Dog Race, but now it belongs to you, Your Excellency,” the Wolf Demon said, bowing and scraping before Tu Xiao’an like a servant.

Tu Xiao’an was amused. ”Well, you certainly know your place.”

The Wolf Demon pursed his lips. ’How could I not? A mere First-rank Spirit Fruit somehow attracted two Transformed Demon Spirits. If I don’t want to die, my only choice is to offer it up obediently.’

It had to be said that this Wolf Demon’s years of Cultivation hadn’t been for nothing. He understood the ways of the world very well and didn’t just declare war like some brainless fool.

As the saying goes, you don’t hit a man who’s smiling. The Wolf Demon’s attitude caught Tu Xiao’an a bit off guard.

’I still prefer the wolf dogs from before, the ones that would pounce at the slightest disagreement,’ he thought. ’They were simple and naive, but the key was that they weren’t cunning.’

’This Wolf Demon, on the other hand, is shrewd. The moment he stepped out, he made his position clear: take the Purple Divine Fruit, but don’t kill us.’