Chapter 649: A Big Score

「Several days later.」

「Early morning.」

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the sky above Lake Heart Island. The commotion was earth-shattering!

The many Demon Beasts hidden throughout the island all trembled in fear, silent as winter cicadas, cowering in the deepest corners of their territories.

One or two Demon Beasts that occasionally considered venturing out to forage would just cast a fearful glance toward the cliff where the lightning was striking before abandoning the idea.

Demon Beasts instinctively followed the law of the jungle and were experts at seeking fortune while avoiding disaster.

This was especially true for the Demon Beasts that dared to inhabit Lake Heart Island. They enjoyed the dense Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi and were the strongest creatures for a hundred li in any direction, possessing the sharpest sense of danger.

The continuous commotion on Lake Heart Island over the past few days had terrified them. If they weren’t so accustomed to the island’s rich Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, they would have all fled long ago.

On a jagged Stone Mountain in the outer region, a Tier Five Demon Python cautiously poked half its head out from a crevice in the rock.

Its crimson eyes glanced warily at the sky before it quickly pulled its head back in.

Its territory bordered that of the Tier Five Demon Crocodile that Chen Cheng had killed. It had fought that Demon Crocodile for many years, but neither had ever been able to gain an advantage over the other.

When Chen Cheng had first arrived, his aura wasn’t particularly powerful. The Demon Python had assumed he was just some mediocre Two-legged Beast who had recklessly stumbled upon the island.

Just like the Tier Five Demon Crocodile, it had wanted to be the first to devour Chen Cheng as a meal.

Fortunately, Chen Cheng had been closer to the Demon Crocodile back then, so it had attacked him first.

Then, a scene that struck terror into the Tier Five Demon Python’s heart unfolded: Chen Cheng had killed the Demon Crocodile on the spot with a single strike of his hammer.

Then, he had nonchalantly slung the Demon Crocodile’s massive body over his shoulder and swaggered away.

The Demon Python still vividly remembered the look in Chen Cheng’s eyes as he left—it was indifferent, contemptuous, dangerous, and terrifying. It was precisely the gaze a powerful predator reserves for insignificant prey.

That gaze alone had sent the Demon Python scrambling back to its lair in the Stone Mountain, where it had remained hidden for days, not daring to move an inch.

Luckily, over the next few days, Chen Cheng had occasionally passed by without stopping, apparently not even noticing it.

Only then did the Demon Python gradually regain some of its courage.

It desperately wanted to flee Lake Heart Island, but it had a reason it was forced to stay.

It had guarded the Dragon Blood Vine at the foot of the Stone Mountain for several hundred years before it finally bore a fruit, and that fruit was now on the verge of ripening.

If it ate the Dragon Blood Vine’s fruit, it could advance further, fully condense its Demon Heart, and become a Pseudo Tier Six Demon Beast. Its power would skyrocket, and it could even challenge the Three-headed Demon Python from the Cold Pool.

The desire to advance and grow stronger was a Demon Beast’s instinct, one the Demon Python was utterly powerless to resist.

Given the current situation, it normally wouldn’t have dared to venture out. But with the Dragon Blood Vine fruit about to ripen, it had no choice.

After a while, the Demon Python once again cautiously poked its head out. It flicked its tongue, tasting the air for the scent of the nearby Dragon Blood Vine fruit, and then waited silently.

SNAP!

Suddenly, a faint tremor was heard as the Dragon Blood Vine fruit bloomed with a dark red light, releasing a rich, medicinal fragrance.

The entire Dragon Blood Vine plant withered rapidly, and the fragrance from the fruit intensified to its absolute peak.

This was the sign that the Dragon Blood Vine fruit was fully ripe!

Once ripe, most of the fruit’s medicinal power would slowly dissipate into the air, while a small portion would recede into the pit to form a new seed.

The Demon Python flicked its crimson tongue rapidly, letting out an excited HISS. It then shot out from the rock crevice, lunging toward the Dragon Blood Vine fruit.

Its body was pitch-black, as thick as a bowl, and over thirty feet long. Its lightning-fast movement kicked up a vicious, stinking wind!

While still in mid-air, it eagerly opened its massive jaws, planning to swallow the Dragon Blood Vine fruit whole and then immediately flee.

Just then, disaster struck! In that split second, a peerlessly sharp sword light flashed out from the side!

The Demon Python never expected someone to be lying in ambush. Before it could even react, the sword light struck its vital spot. It fell to the ground with a THUD and died instantly.

Dressed in simple green robes, Xiao Yingluo appeared beside the Dragon Blood Vine. With a graceful movement, she plucked the fruit and carefully placed it inside a Jade Box.

“Hehe!” A smile blossomed on Xiao Yingluo’s exquisite face. She chuckled and said with delight,

“This Dragon Blood Vine grew in a place rich with Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi. It must be at least six or seven hundred years old.

Its fruit has an Organ Refining effect that’s no less potent than a Low Grade Organ Refining Pill. I’ve really struck it rich this time!”

After stowing the Jade Box, Xiao Yingluo made a light incision on the Demon Python’s belly with her longsword and pulled out its Demon Heart.

The Demon Heart was about the size of an egg, glowed with an amber luster, and contained an extremely dense Qi Blood Power.

“It hasn’t condensed Demonic Power and become a true Pseudo Tier Six Demon Beast’s heart yet, but it’s very close. You could call it half a Demon Heart.

Not bad at all!”

After taking the Demon Heart, Xiao Yingluo hoisted the Demon Python’s carcass onto her shoulder and headed toward the cave.

Over the past few days, she had meticulously explored the entire Lake Heart Island and the surrounding hundred-li radius, harvesting a large quantity of top-tier Organ Refining Medicinal Materials and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects.

She had truly made a fortune!

Compared to this haul, the one Low Grade Organ Refining Pill and two Source Crystal Jades that Chen Cheng had robbed her of were completely insignificant!

In truth, she had considered sneaking away. There were several times she had ventured dozens of li from Lake Heart Island and had a real chance to escape.

But for some reason, as if possessed, Xiao Yingluo had chosen to stay.

As for why she made that choice, she couldn’t quite put her finger on the reason.

But one always needs reasons to justify a decision. Pondering it in the dead of night, Xiao Yingluo had eventually managed to come up with a few.