Chapter 72, 8th Layer

Translator: Tamon

 

When Xu Hei woke up, all he could think about was that vivid dream.

 

“Defiance? What’s that?

 

“How cryptic. Why do Seniors always talk in riddles?” Xu Hei shook his head at the impossible problem.

 

Looking within, the Demon God Cauldron was in the same place, with the Spiritual Energy water ball expanding to the size of a pond. He got to the 8th layer without even knowing.

 

His mind was still hazy even after all this time, the side effects of overdosing on the Divine Surge Pill.

 

However, there was one upside, his Divine Sense was far stronger, reaching an impressive two hundred meters.

 

And to think that Hua Yuntian, a true Foundation Establishment cultivator, only had it as far as three hundred meters.

 

Looking around, he found himself in his familiar cave, hearing Xu Bai busying herself with pill-making next door.

 

Hu~

 

Xu Hei eased a breath. [I’m back.]

 

He shifted his body and only found it a bit stiff.

 

What took him by surprise was his tail, now sporting the scales he had thrown on top of doubling in number, covering half his tail.

 

“My advancement grew that many scales?” Xu Hei was stunned.

 

His experience told him that the scales would speed up their growth only when he tempered his body to the very pinnacle.

 

Mystery aside, it was good news nonetheless. The special dark golden scales had gone through thorough testing, convincing Xu Hei of their power. Nothing beneath Golden Core Stage could take them on.

 

While they couldn’t even scratch a Golden Core cultivator.

 

The three flying swords ended up chipped here and there as well but not broken through. It helped reveal the limit of the scales’ sharpness.

 

Though Xu Hei was happy they worked in the Foundation Establishment Stage. Not that he’d go out of his way to challenge such a cultivator, since in a head-on fight, he’d be crushed before the scales even reached the enemy.

 

Cultivators were glass cannons, easy to break but packed a hell of a punch. To make up for their abysmal defense, they decked themselves in magic treasures.

 

Demons focused on their bodies, tough enough to take the heavies of blows.

 

Xu Hei had the body, the magical arts, and the magic treasures, as well as many advantages, but even with all of this, skipping stages proved challenging.

 

“Where did that stray go this time? I have some questions about flawed cultivation methods.” Xu Hei muttered.

 

Recalling the very close brush with death he’d just had, he went to cuss the black dog.

 

[You call that ninety percent? Like I’d ever believe that again!]

 

He’d almost got himself flattened by a Golden Core cultivator.

 

Xu Hei took out his haul from the Augury Sect.

 

There were a dozen gourds of all kinds of pills, at least mid-level, and even 2nd-grade pills for Foundation Establishment cultivators’ use.

 

As for ingredients, there were five boxes of them.

 

Followed by seeds, furnaces, alchemy jade slips, records, and so on.

 

Augury Sect specialized in alchemy, and the haul did not disappoint.

 

“I have enough pills to reach Foundation Establishment, with more to spare for Xu Bai.”

 

Minor Boost Pill, Divine Surge Pill, Qi Recovery Pill, Yang Sand, and two of the most precious Foundation Establishment Pills.

 

The risk of death brought with it an equally rewarding loot.

 

Then it hit him. [I don’t recall being like this before Hei Huang.]

 

He’d never steal chickens without Hei Huang’s urging, go to River Town, learn puppet art, or rob the Augury Sect.

 

[What would’ve become of me with no risks to take?]

 

He might’ve been a mid-Awareness demon snake, cowering in a hole somewhere. He didn’t bother anyone, and no one bothered him, or posting bounties.

 

His life would run its course in a decade and return to the earth.

 

Xu Hei sighed. “A snake’s life is brief. Without fighting the heavens, the earth, and the humans, how could I live for long?”

 

Xu Hei pondered, no longer bothered by dangers. Since it passed, it was totally worth it.

 

Hei Huang did help him, in his deceitful and pushy way.

 

…

 

Xu Hei visited Xu Bai’s cave next door.

 

It turned out the constant cave collapse had an upside after all; it was much wider, like a public square. It also sported an extra array to toughen it out for subsequent blowouts.

 

Xu Bai had run through all the furnaces he gave her and was working with a totally new one.

 

“Xu Hei, you’re up!” Xu Bai perked up.

 

Xu Hei scanned the cave, the soil spread about to help grow the planted spiritual herbs and plants with the Snake Fruit Tree in the middle.

 

In the corner was a pigpen holding the much-needed test subjects for her pills.

 

“How long was I out of it?”

 

“Not long, only two weeks.”

 

Xu Hei gapped. [Two weeks?]

 

Didn’t that mean winter was coming? He should look for a place to hibernate. Though unclear if hibernation was needed given his 8th layer of Awareness Stage cultivation.

 

“Your alchemy cave sure is well made.”

 

Xu Hei chuckled, lining up furnaces, ingredients, and alchemy jade slips.

 

He’d looked them over and they were of no use to him. But one snake’s trash was another one’s treasure. A certain alchemy-obsessed snake was sure to find tremendous value in them.

 

Xu Bai beamed with joy upon such a haul. “Are these for me?”

 

“Yep, I don’t need them. Do your best in learning how to use them.” Xu Hei encouraged.

 

Xu Bai was too excited to speak, shaking all over.

 

She took out a couple of pill gourds and said, “Xu Hei, these pills are for you. Your reward.”

 

“No, no, I could never appreciate them.” Xu Hei shook his head.

 

“Don’t be a patronizing snake. I’ve gotten so good at refining; even the dog praised me!”

 

Xu Bai held her head high, not taking no for an answer.

 

Xu Hei cursed. [Isn’t that dog just Ergou?]

 

Xu Bai did have the talent to brew pills, so they couldn’t always end up as toxic as before, no?

 

Xu Hei opened the first gourd and gave it a sniff. A strong medicine smell assaulted him.

 

Xu Hei had taken his fair share of tempering pills to recognize them at a whiff.

 

[Better test them on the pigs first.]

 

Xu Hei crawled over to the pigpen and scanned the few fat pigs Xu Hei was raising.

 

“Are these pigs for pill tests?” Xu Hei asked

 

“Pigs?” Xu Bai cocked her head. “Look closer; they’re rats, not pigs.”

 

“Rats?”

 

Xu Hei shuddered and looked again.

 

The fat, glossy, white creatures were indeed oversized rats.

 

Due to their insane heft and how fattened they were, Xu Hei never bothered to look closer.

 

Xu Hei backed away with a shaky voice. “U-uhm, w-well…”

 

---

---