Invincible Snake Emperor

Chapter 433: Chapter 429: Monkey Mountain

After leaving Wolf Mist Lake, Tu Xiao’an couldn’t help but ponder. ’Although these so-called Spirit Fruits are categorized by rank, there’s an even greater distinction in their quality. This Purple Divine Fruit, for instance, is a First rank Fruit, but its effects are even better than some Second class Fruits. The Vermilion Spirit Fruit from the Charlie Tree, for example, was just rich in Energy and had no special effects when consumed. But the Purple Divine Fruit is different. It can regenerate severed limbs, so its value is on another level. That’s why it’s considered a First rank, High Grade item. You could say this fruit is far superior to the Vermilion Spirit Fruit from the Tree Spirit, almost as if it has a superpower.’

However, in terms of the Energy contained within the fruit itself, this Purple Divine Fruit only yielded three hundred points of Evolutionary Energy when Tu Xiao’an absorbed it.

If he had eaten it himself, it would have been a complete waste. Giving it to someone with a disability like Dr. Snake was the way to make the most of the fruit’s potential.

The Bull Demon King continued to lead the way, their target the Ape Demon Spirit’s mountain. During their journey, the Tree Spirit discovered several more Spirit Fruits. All of them, without exception, came from First rank Spirit Trees, and the fruits themselves had no special properties. They did, however, provide Tu Xiao’an with a good amount of Evolutionary Energy.

Meanwhile, the Tree Spirit absorbed the nutrients from each Spirit Tree, strengthening itself and living off the land wherever it went.

The Yaoling Mountain Range was vast and bountiful, but Spirit Fruits weren’t a dime a dozen. They weren’t like boxed lunches, with one for everyone when the time was right.

But the mountain forests were full of wild fruits and herbs. They might have looked ordinary, but they contained Spiritual Qi. They were refreshing and tasty, juicy and sweet. Though some herbs were occasionally pungent, astringent, and slightly bitter, swallowing them released waves of fragrance that lingered in the mouth. The lasting aroma and unending aftertaste held a unique allure.

They could also provide Tu Xiao’an with a small amount of Evolutionary Energy.

Wild fruits are nature’s gift to all living creatures, the very foundation of their survival and growth. Thus, they grew in conspicuous places, easy for animals to pick. In a great forest like this, you could find them everywhere.

But Spiritual Objects, true Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, were an extra blessing from nature that required some effort to find. The Tree Spirit, acting as a treasure detector, was an exception to this rule.

Along the way, Tu Xiao’an also came across traces of human Martial Cultivators from time to time. However, he adhered to the principle of minding his own business. As long as they didn’t provoke him, he had no desire to start trouble; there was no point.

「A day later.」

Sunlight pierced through the dense canopy, casting beams of light onto the forest floor. The dappled light was a beautiful sight amidst the vast shadows of the trees.

Data displayed.

Host: Tu Xiao’an.

Identity: Pseudo Snake King.

Level: Level 29.

Evolutionary Energy: 61200/100000.

Faith Points: 352000.

.......

Although Tu Xiao’an hadn’t been frantically grinding levels and killing monsters, his progress was still rapid. His Evolutionary Energy had broken the sixty-thousand mark.

He believed he would reach one hundred thousand in just a few more days.

”Master, do you see that main peak three kilometers away? That’s called Monkey Mountain. It’s the territory of the Monkey Race,” the Bull Demon King said, pointing. He seemed to be quite familiar with that part of the forest.

Tu Xiao’an looked into the distance. The main peak soared into the clouds like a pyramid, with crimson cliffs, strange rock formations, and sheer, peculiar peaks. It was incredibly conspicuous.

”The Ape Demon Spirit you mentioned is on that peak, right?”

The Bull Demon King said, ”That’s right. That great Ape rules over the entire Monkey Race. Although he lords over the area, he never leaves it. He won’t budge an inch for centuries, as if he’s afraid someone will come and steal his clan’s Monkey Wine.”

”And that Ape has a terrible temper. He’s claimed the entire mountain as his territory and won’t let any other animals live there. It’s monkeys, and only monkeys. Even a bird wouldn’t dare to land there for a rest.”

”That tyrannical?” Tu Xiao’an said with surprise.

’A whole mountain inhabited by just one type of animal? That’s got to be rare. It sounds almost impossible. How does he manage it?’

”Then according to you, won’t we be discovered the moment we set foot inside?” Tu Xiao’an asked.

The Bull Demon King replied, ”In theory, yes. The mountain is crawling with monkeys, and many of them are awakened Monkey Spirits. With so many eyes and ears, it’s impossible for an outsider to get in without being spotted.”

”So what if we are? It doesn’t matter,” Tu Xiao’an shrugged.

’The more awakened Demons, the better.’ Tu Xiao’an was actually happy about it. He’d just treat this as a dungeon run before heading to the Azure Bamboo Forest.

”Let’s go!”

Tu Xiao’an lay comfortably on the Tree Spirit’s branches, enjoying the scenery. For some unknown reason, the Bull Demon King seemed subtly excited.

The bull didn’t just want to drink Monkey Wine; he also wanted revenge. He had once been brutally beaten by the Ape King.

He had held onto that grudge ever since. For a bull, he was incredibly vengeful.

「Three kilometers later.」

A bull and a large tree arrived at Monkey Mountain. The forest was dense, with cascading waterfalls and peculiar rock formations. The scenery was stunning. Trees stood in neat rows, and Tu Xiao’an noticed that every single one bore a special kind of wild fruit, many of which he had never seen before.

Tu Xiao’an casually plucked one and took a bite. It actually increased his Evolutionary Energy by a single-digit amount.

Strangely, however, after they entered Monkey Mountain, the surroundings were completely silent. There were none of the chattering screeches of monkeys he had expected.

”Where are the monkeys? Why haven’t I seen a single one?”

Tu Xiao’an asked, scanning the surrounding environment. He had thought that the moment they entered Monkey Mountain, they would be spotted by countless monkeys in the trees, who would then start chattering and throwing wild fruit at them. At the very least, he expected a group of awakened monkeys to leap out and block their path, just like at Wolf Mist Lake.

”Huh? That’s strange. Why aren’t there any Monkey Spirits guarding the entrance?” Since this wasn’t the Bull Demon King’s first visit, he was even more bewildered than Tu Xiao’an.

”Maybe we scared them off?”

But the thing was, neither Tu Xiao’an nor the Bull Demon King had released their fearsome auras.

”Let’s head in deeper and take a look.” ’Something’s definitely not right here.’ But Tu Xiao’an’s skill made him bold, and he wasn’t afraid of any surprises.

But strangely, the Tree Spirit had stopped moving, as if it had literally taken root in the soil.

”Giddy-up...”

Tree Spirit: ”...”

”Master, these wild fruit trees are pretty good. They’re full of nutrients. Although they’re not as good as Spirit Trees, if Charlie absorbs a few hundred of them, I reckon I can gain a level,” the Tree Spirit said greedily, its gaze fixed on the deeply-rooted, leafy trees laden with fruit.

’A few hundred?’

Tu Xiao’an was speechless. Now he understood. ’No wonder the tree won’t move. It has its eyes on these fruit trees.’

”Then you can stay here. I can’t hold back your progress.”

The faster the Tree Spirit leveled up, the more helpful it would be to Tu Xiao’an. ’Just imagine if it starts dropping Third grade Spirit Fruits in the future. Those would be priceless.’

In any case, Tu Xiao’an was going in to deal with the Rank 3 Ape Demon Spirit. The tree wouldn’t be much help in there anyway.

If anything were to happen to the Tree Spirit, Tu Xiao’an would be devastated. This tree was even more valuable than the Super level Creatures he possessed.