C3 The Gallbladder of a Snake

Qin Biao was fated not to be able to take everything with him; he could only choose a few important items to carry away.

He yanked the dagger from the python's back, where the flesh had been nearly turned to mush by his efforts. Upon closer inspection, Qin Biao realized he was quite fortunate. Though not the python's vital spot, he was close to it. Had he not stumbled upon this spot by chance, it was uncertain who would be standing here now.

Following the incision, Qin Biao extracted the python's gallbladder.

Wow, it was surprisingly large.

The gallbladder was as big as Qin Biao's head, which quickly dispelled his idea of consuming it on the spot. He decided it was best to take it with him.

After securing the gallbladder, Song Rui took only enough snake skin to fashion a breastplate for himself, then set out to find a safe place to recover from his injuries.

He didn't take the snake fangs, not for lack of desire, but because they were difficult to remove.

Well, he thought, let the remaining treasures be left for someone else who is destined to find them.

Clutching the gallbladder, Qin Biao hobbled towards the heart of the forest.

He hadn't gone far when he discovered a cave entrance hidden behind a boulder, cleverly concealed by a tree.

As expected, it was the python's lair. The moment he entered, he was hit by a pungent, fishy odor.

Though the smell was nearly unbearable, Qin Biao chose to stay. It seemed unlikely he'd find a better place to tend to his wounds in the vicinity.

And then there was the plant...

It looked quite remarkable!

Without a doubt, anything that thrived in a snake's nest and was well-guarded by a python was no ordinary plant.

But that wasn't all. At the top of the plant, a deep red fruit hung tantalizingly!

Its crimson hue stood out eerily in the dimness of the cave, and the fruit seemed to beckon to Qin Biao with an inexplicable allure.

Yet, a sense of reason within him knew the fruit wasn't ripe; he would have to wait a bit longer.

Perhaps, he mused, the python had refrained from eating the fruit for the very same reason...

Observing the condition of the fruit and the subtle scent it was giving off, Qin Biao surmised that it would be ripe within the next two or three days.

He hoped to himself that he could harvest the fruit without incident and quickly leave this place of danger. The last thing he needed was more trouble...

Yet, contrary to his wishes, as he tended to his wounds, Qin Biao sensed wild beasts prowling near the cave, some with presences as formidable as the python's.

They might not have found the cave, but that seemed unlikely. It was more probable that they were on the lookout. And what they were watching for was certainly the python.

But since Qin Biao had already slain the python, it would no longer be making an appearance.

With his injuries so severe, Qin Biao knew that even if he wanted to seize an opportunity amidst the chaos, he lacked the means to do so.

Out of options, his gaze fell upon the python's gallbladder.

An inner voice urged Qin Biao: "Eat it!"

After much internal debate, Qin Biao resolved to consume the gallbladder, driven by the sheer will to survive.

Ah! His body felt like a balloon on the verge of bursting, with an overwhelming amount of spiritual force rampaging through his small frame.

The pain was so intense it seemed to penetrate the very core of his being.

One thought dominated Qin Biao's mind: the gallbladder must be poisoned!

However, the true cause of Qin Biao's distress was not poison but the excessive spiritual force within the gallbladder. Moreover, consuming it in his weakened state only exacerbated his inability to control the spiritual force.

Having only practiced cultivation for three years, Qin Biao had already experienced significant transformation. It was unclear how long the python had been cultivating in the wilderness.

The bulk of its spiritual force was stored in the gallbladder, and Qin Biao had ingested it all in one go. Such a surge of power, surpassing all the spiritual force he had accumulated over his lifetime, was bound to make Qin Biao feel as though he was on the brink of bursting.

Am I destined to die here?

I miraculously survived the clutches of that massive python, only to face death now, at the moment of triumph, all because of my own gluttony. The irony of being killed by a creature I thought was dead is not lost on me.

Qin Biao felt a deep sense of frustration, yet he was powerless to change his fate.

He lacked knowledge of any cultivation techniques. Had it been a minor amount of spiritual force, he might have been able to harness it to fortify his body. But overwhelmed by such an immense surge of spiritual force, he had no choice but to let it rampage unchecked within him.

Squeak!

Qin Biao's cry, infused with spiritual force, echoed throughout the forest, sending wild animals scattering in panic and birds abandoning their nests in haste.

The creatures outside the cave, startled by the noise, hesitated, unsure of the situation within. They withdrew to a safe distance, too wary to approach.

Is this really the end?

A phrase flashed through Qin Biao's mind: In the journey of cultivation, humans refine their souls, while beasts strengthen their physiques.

The ancient text, "Cloud Dust Seven Strips," states, "The divine is the soul, ascending to the heavens; the ghostly is the physical essence, traversing the earth. Thus, the divine can harness energy, and the physical can savor flavors. When energy is pure, the divine is invigorated; when the body is weary, the essence is muddled. Those who harness energy will persist unceasingly, their bodies soaring to the heavens. Those who indulge in flavors will perish in confusion, their bodies returning to the earth. Such is the natural order."

Qin Biao, however, was not like other beasts. Though he possessed a Beast Body, his soul was human. No one could guide him on his unique path of cultivation.

He was unaware of this, but the notion that had emerged in his mind was not a message from another. It was an intrinsic part of his bloodline, perhaps a legacy from his ancestors. With each generation, this ancestral wisdom was passed down, ensuring his descendants would receive the same guidance.

The reason for this reminder became clear...

Qin Biao had truly unlocked the gateway to cultivation; he was now genuinely embarking on the cultivator's path.

The bloodlines of Divine Beasts were highly prized because they carried the ancestral methods of cultivation, sometimes even divine powers or magical spells.

Inside Qin Biao, the spiritual force raged on uncontrollably.

Invisible to the eye, yet Qin Biao could sense that his body was being torn asunder by the relentless spiritual force.

Fortunately, amidst the misfortune, the python had been cultivating for only about twelve to twenty years. Just when Qin Biao was on the verge of losing consciousness, the chaotic spiritual force had been completely depleted in the cycle of destruction and subsequent repair of his limbs and bones.

Once the tumultuous spiritual force had vanished, only the refined spiritual force remained. This force persistently mended Qin Biao's injured body and meridians. His dantian was incessantly cleansed by the spiritual force, yet none remained within it.