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Gu Xiaoxi gripped Quan Shaoqing’s hand tightly, staring at the surface of the lake where the fox was just about to enter the water.

The calm blue water suddenly boiled, and several small fish even began tumbling on the surface.

Gu Xiaoxi and Quan Shaoqing were mesmerized as they suddenly felt someone approaching from behind.

Without guessing, it was Jing Rui and Jing Haoran.

Gu Xiaoxi hurriedly appeared in their line of sight, grabbed them both, and also climbed up to a tree branch.

"Shush!" Gu Xiaoxi gestured for them to be silent.

Jing Haoran and Jing Rui, realizing that Quan Shaoqing was also there, knew that Gu Xiaoxi was safe.

Both breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, they all followed Gu Xiaoxi’s gaze toward the lake.

Suddenly from the churning lake bottom, a python thick as a water barrel burst out.

Half of its body was still in the water, but the half that was exposed was covered with thick black scales, and its bright red forked tongue was enough to make one’s scalp tingle in fear.

At that moment, it opened its gaping maw, lunging directly at the fox that had transformed into a handsome man.

Gu Xiaoxi watched with a heart full of dread.

The fox’s reaction was incredibly swift; in the blink of an eye, he had already distanced himself ten meters from the python.

At the same time, a sword appeared in his palm.

The python instantly burst out of the water, causing countless splashes.

At the same time, the eagles flying in the sky also attacked the python.

The scene suddenly turned bloody and cruel.

With a sweep of its tail, the python smashed the approaching eagles into mush, but it could not withstand the fox’s sword.

The scales were brutally torn apart, leaving a foot-long gash that oozed blood profusely.

Gu Xiaoxi clutched Quan Shaoqing’s hand, at a loss for what to do.

"Is that Spiritual Energy emanating from the python’s body? That shouldn’t be right," Jing Rui said, puzzled. "With such thick Spiritual Energy, it shouldn’t be this weak, not even able to defeat the Black Fox."

Quan Shaoqing also couldn’t see what was happening clearly and obviously, this was not the time for them to intervene.

"Let’s keep watching!" said Gu Xiaoxi.

Jing Haoran rubbed his eyes vigorously, his gaze fixed intently on the distant battle.

Soon the python could not withstand the attacks of the eagles or the Black Fox, sustaining severe injuries, with its blood dyeing the azure blue water red.

Afterward, it suddenly leapt ashore and began to flee into the woods.

And the direction of its escape was right under the tree where Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi were.

"This is bad!" Jing Rui immediately became alert. "It’s going to lead the eagles and the fox right to us."

Quan Shaoqing furrowed his brows and looked back, saying, "Everyone, hold hands, hold tight. Be ready to leave at any moment."

Recognizing that the fox had noteworthy Cultivation and that even the python rich in Spiritual Energy couldn’t defeat it, let alone these many eagles.

They would do well to keep their distance.

As for the treasure!

Up to now, they were all still in the dark, clueless as to where the treasure was.

Gu Xiaoxi speculated that it might be the inner core of the python that the Black Fox wanted.

Very soon, the python reached the tree where Gu Xiaoxi was; obviously, it had long sensed their presence.

The python quickly transformed into a human shape, turning out to be a woman with scales covering her face.

"Please save me!" Her voice was very weak. The fox was already charging over with the eagles.

Without a second thought, Quan Shaoqing grabbed Gu Xiaoxi and vanished from the spot in a flash.

When they appeared at another location, Jing Haoran finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately for Quan Shaoqing’s swift action, otherwise they would have been discovered by the fox.

But before he could fully relax, he suddenly felt a chill on his back.

The Snake Spirit that they had ignored earlier was standing right beside him!

Clearly, Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi had also noticed it.

"Why follow us? We are not good people," Quan Shaoqing said coldly, looking at the python now in human form. She was fast, managing to grab Jing Haoran’s hand at the crucial moment.

The giant python immediately knelt down, its voice full of helplessness and frailty.

She instantly transformed back into her snake form, her body as large as a millstone, instantly occupying the entire clearing.

Quan Shaoqing instinctively pulled Gu Xiaoxi back a step.

To their astonishment, the giant python laid an egg that twinkled with golden light right before their eyes.

As soon as the egg appeared, a rich Spiritual Energy spread out, instantly making the languishing flowers around bloom with unmatched vibrancy.

"This is probably the treasure you were looking for," the python transformed into a woman again, but her face was covered with thicker black scales, looking very horrifying.

Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi were both stupefied, clueless about what was happening.

The Snake Lady continued to explain, "I don’t have much time left. This is my child. If it is hatched, it will become a Flying Dragon. You should be able to feel that its Spiritual Energy is richer than mine."

Everyone was silent, and the Snake Lady went on, "I have cultivated for ten thousand years, sensed my life’s catastrophic limit was imminent.

Using all my Mana, I gave life to this being.

With my own inner core I changed its fate against heaven’s will, hoping it to have a noble birth, no longer despised by others.

Now, as I am about to die alone, I have no choice but to entrust it to you. "

"Why entrust it to us?" Gu Xiaoxi asked cautiously.

"If this thing falls into the hands of Black Fox, it will only have its Spiritual Energy drained and eventually die." The Snake Lady clutched the egg tightly, reluctant to let go. She had traded ten thousand years of life for a child of noble lineage.

How could she just accept it being killed?

"Although you are cultivating humans, your abilities aren’t that strong. The Spiritual Energy it emits is enough for you to absorb and evolve. All you need to do is find it a quiet place and wait for it to hatch," she explained.

Gu Xiaoxi nodded in understanding, essentially.

Seeing that their capabilities were insufficient to absorb the Spiritual Energy from the egg, the Snake Lady felt reassured to entrust it to them.

But the Black Fox lurking behind them was glaring covetously. Wouldn’t taking it make her an enemy of Black Fox?

"Shaoqing, what do you think?" Gu Xiaoxi said, puzzled.

Quan Shaoqing looked at the gleaming golden egg, indeed an extraordinary object.

Especially since the python was struggling near death, and Black Fox was already his enemy.

Since it wanted the egg to evolve, he simply couldn’t just hand it over.

"Take it!" Quan Shaoqing’s tone was detached, then he looked at the Snake Lady, "Black Fox will likely be here soon. I’m leading too many people. We can’t move quickly. I hope you can stop him."

Upon hearing Quan Shaoqing’s agreement to take her child away, out of harm’s way, the Snake Lady immediately nodded, "Then you must go quickly! He’ll probably catch up soon."

Gu Xiaoxi went over and took the egg from the Snake Lady’s hands.

After that, Quan Shaoqing led everyone away through a spatial portal.

After three or four transfers, they finally made it out of the forest interior.

Quan Shaoqing couldn’t help but lament, "With so many people, each portal could only be opened for a short distance."

Gu Xiaoxi handed the golden egg to Quan Shaoqing, "Just to avoid any long, drawn-out complications, you take this and hurry back."

"What about you guys if I leave?" Quan Shaoqing asked worriedly. "It would be troublesome if we encountered Black Fox."

"He didn’t see us, so what’s there to fear? Besides, he’s not looking for something that’s with us. Just go! If we don’t leave now, and Black Fox catches up, we’ll be in serious trouble," Gu Xiaoxi urged.

Quan Shaoqing took the golden egg from Gu Xiaoxi’s hands, big as a bowl, shining brightly under sunlight. Just holding it in hand, one could feel the dense Spiritual Energy within.

"Then be careful, Xiao Xi, what plans do you have next?" Quan Shaoqing asked.

Gu Xiaoxi looked at Jing Yuan and smiled, "Naturally, it’s to head over to the International Alliance first. I won’t be returning after that."

Quan Shaoqing affectionately touched her face, "Alright then, remember to call me."

Just like today, having encountered a situation, she dialed him immediately.

He was very pleased.

Gu Xiaoxi hastily waved her hands to hurry him, "Go on, hurry!"

After Quan Shaoqing left with the egg, Gu Xiaoxi and the others felt much more relieved.

Jing Haoran stroked his chin, his mind full of wonder, "I never imagined that in this world, so many animals practice cultivation!"

"Don’t underestimate the animals. Humans have destroyed precious cultivation manuals during wars, but animals have preserved the most complete Cultivation Techniques. Although their cultivation is slow, they are patient and can become spirits too," Jing Rui explained.

"That Snake Lady said the Golden Egg could transform into a dragon, is that true or false?" Gu Xiaoxi wasn’t doubting, she was just incredulous.

Even if a snake evolved, it couldn’t possibly become a dragon, right?

To transform her child into a divine fetus with ten thousand years of cultivation, if it were true, she would be somewhat impressed by the Snake Lady.

Chapter 57

Although their exchange was fleeting, it was evident that the golden egg was her life’s work.

"Hard to say, we’ll know once it hatches," Jing Haoran rubbed his hands together, somewhat eager. What exactly does a dragon look like?