18: Snakefish acquired

Shen Xiaochuan stared at the wet footprints on the ground and said in a low voice, "The footprints are very shallow, as if someone crawled across while dragging their legs."

He turned back and said to Chen Yan, "Take two men and follow me. The rest of you, guard the main hall."

Chen Yan nodded, grabbed his war spear, and left, with two warriors following closely behind.

The four of them followed the footprints, passing through a long, dark corridor and entering a side room. The door was slightly ajar, and a pool of blood on the floor had not yet dried.

Further inside, a hidden door was slightly open, with a faint light peeking through the crack.

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand to signal a stop, crouched down to touch the blood on the floor, and frowned slightly. "The blood isn't dry yet; someone is inside."

Chen Yan gripped his war spear tightly. "Should we break down the door?"

"Don't be in such a hurry."

Shen Xiaochuan shook his head. "Let's see what they're doing first."

He gently pushed open a crack in the door and peered inside.

The room wasn't large, with a stone table in the center. One Japanese Gods was kneeling on the floor with his hands pressed together, chanting something; another person had his back to the door and was stuffing a jade plaque into a crack in the wall.

On the table sat an open wooden box containing a black fish—its skeletal spines were exposed, and its eyes were blood-red. Even in death, it seemed to be staring furiously.

"snake bone fish," Shen Xiaochuan whispered.

Just then, the kneeling man suddenly looked up, his gaze darting straight toward the door.

"Someone's there!"

The person with his back turned spun around instantly, a cold light flashing in his hand as a short sword was unsheathed. Both of them lunged toward the table at the same time, intending to seize the wooden box.

Shen Xiaochuan kicked open the hidden door and rushed inside.

"Trying to run?"

He stepped forward quickly, grabbing the wooden box with one hand while drawing his war blade and sweeping it out with the other.

The one with the blade couldn't block in time; a bloody gash was sliced into his arm, and he let out a muffled groan as he retreated two steps.

"You've already lost."

Shen Xiaochuan tucked the wooden box into his robes. "Surrender everything now, and you might live."

"Huaxia dog!"

The kneeling man roared, "Lord Yamata will never let you off!"

Before his voice could fade, he slammed both palms onto the ground, and scarlet patterns suddenly appeared on his body. His muscles bulged, his nails grew long, his ears became pointed, and his entire body began to twist and deform.

"He's transforming?" Shen Xiaochuan frowned.

"Watch out!" Chen Yan shouted.

The monster leaped into the air, its sharp claws aiming directly for Shen Xiaochuan's face.

Shen Xiaochuan sidestepped to dodge, his war blade following through with an upward slash that cut into the opponent's ribs.

The werewolf paused from the pain but lunged forward again without hesitation.

Shen Xiaochuan stopped meeting the attack head-on. He took a step back, took out a bottle of [Enhancement Talisman Fluid] from the Faith Mall, and downed it.

combat power increased: 128→145.

The werewolf's offensive grew even more ferocious. As it closed in, Shen Xiaochuan suddenly crouched low and swung his war blade upward with a powerful strike.

The blade sliced into the neck, and blood gushed out.

The werewolf's body stiffened, a gurgling sound coming from its throat. Its knees buckled, and it crashed to the ground, no longer moving.

The other Japanese Gods's face turned pale as he gripped his short sword with trembling hands.

"I... I surrender! I'm willing to sign a contract and offer my Godhead Mark!"

He tremblingly pulled out a talisman paper and held it high above his head.

Shen Xiaochuan stood in place, not moving an inch.

He sneered, "Weren't you quite tough just now when you were hiding the jade plaque? Why are you scared now?"

The prisoner trembled all over, his voice tearful. "My Lord... I only did it to survive! Spare my life, and I'll give you everything!"

Shen Xiaochuan took a step forward.

At the very moment they were about to touch the talisman paper—

A cold light flashed in the man's eyes, and the talisman paper suddenly ignited, a line of fire shooting straight toward Shen Xiaochuan's chest like a snake!

Shen Xiaochuan was already prepared; he raised his left hand, and a light shield appeared.

The fire line slammed into the light shield, exploding into a burst of red light.

"I said it before."

His voice was cold. "I didn't hunt you down because there was no need."

He kicked out fiercely, striking the opponent square in the chest.

The man flew backward, slamming heavily against the wall and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Shen Xiaochuan walked over slowly, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him up.

"When you were dealing with Zhang Heng, did you ever think about begging for mercy?"

"I... I was just following orders... I was wrong... Please spare my life!" The prisoner kowtowed desperately.

Shen Xiaochuan stared at him and slowly let go.

The man collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Shen Xiaochuan drew his war blade and rested it against the man's neck.

"I'll ask one last time. Besides this snake bone fish, are there any other blueprints?"

"Yes... there's also the [Red Flame Spear Blueprint], it's... it's in Zhang Heng's hands."

"He's still alive?"

"He's alive, but he's barely hanging on."

Shen Xiaochuan sheathed his blade.

"Lead the way."

The prisoner struggled to his feet and led them back to the main hall.

Zhang Heng lay in a corner, covered by a ragged cloth. His face was pale, and his breathing was faint.

Shen Xiaochuan crouched down and peeled back his eyelids to check for a moment.

"He's still alive."

He took out a bottle of [Recovery Potion] and pried open Zhang Heng's mouth to pour it in.

A few seconds later, Zhang Heng coughed twice and slowly opened his eyes.

After a period of blurred vision, he finally focused on Shen Xiaochuan's face.

"It's you?"

His voice was raspy. "The one... who traded the wind wolf meat... Shen Xiaochuan?"

"It's me."

Zhang Heng's lips twitched slightly. "I didn't expect... that you would come to save me."

"You trusted me, so I came."

Zhang Heng raised his hand, his voice weak. "Take it... this is the [Red Flame Spear Blueprint]... and... the snake bone fish can be used to forge weapons, use it well..."

Shen Xiaochuan took the scroll and nodded solemnly. "Thanks. I'll make good use of it."

"Can you do one thing for me?"

"Speak."

A glimmer of light flashed in Zhang Heng's eyes, and his voice dropped even lower. "I drew a town distribution map... hidden in the third level of my Divine Realm's cellar... Take it... It will be... useful... for building your Divine Kingdom..."

Shen Xiaochuan's gaze was firm. "I'll go find it. Don't worry."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Heng's head slumped to the side, and he passed out.

Chen Yan checked his breathing. "He's still alive, just extremely weak."

"Send him to the medical tent."

Shen Xiaochuan stood up. "Dispatch five hundred men to guard him strictly. No one is allowed to approach."

"Yes, sir."

Shen Xiaochuan turned to the prisoner. "Where's the jade plaque you mentioned?"

The prisoner lowered his head. "In the wall... behind the mechanism."

"Take it out."

The prisoner complied, digging out the jade plaque from the crack in the wall and offering it with both hands.

Shen Xiaochuan took it and immediately tossed it into the Faith Mall. System prompt: Exchangeable for Basic Resource Pack ×1.

He ignored the man and turned to walk out the door.

Dawn was breaking, and a gray light fell upon the ruins. Three thousand Believers stood in an orderly formation, silent and solemn.

Shen Xiaochuan walked to the front and held up the wooden box and the scroll.

"We have obtained the snake bone fish and the [Red Flame Spear Blueprint]."

Everyone looked up in unison.

"In this battle, we saved our own, killed the enemy, and reclaimed what belongs to us."

No one spoke, but everyone's back was as straight as a poker.

"Next."

Shen Xiaochuan put the items away and looked toward the east. "We are going to Yuling Lake."

Chen Yan asked, "Three giant bears, each with a combat power of 403. A direct confrontation will cost many lives."

"I know."

Shen Xiaochuan replied, "But we must take it. A Level 3 Treasure Land cannot be given up to others."

"So, a frontal assault?"

"No."

He shook his head. "We'll use strategy. First, send a Scouting Spirit to Scout the way, then split into three teams. You take one team and circle around from the northern slope, while I lead the main force in a frontal advance."

"What if they join forces?"

"Then we force them apart."

Shen Xiaochuan gripped his war spear. "Kill them one by one."

After the team had marched for half an hour, a Scout hurried back with a tense expression.

"Lord God, something has happened by the lake."

"Speak."

"One giant bear is dead. The other two are feasting on its corpse."

Shen Xiaochuan's eyes narrowed.

"How did it die?"

"There are no visible external injuries. But its eyes have turned black, as if it was poisoned."

Shen Xiaochuan's brow furrowed, a trace of unease crossing his heart. He immediately opened the Faith Mall to check the properties of the snake bone fish.

[snake bone fish · Rare Materials]

Use: Can be used to forge poison-type weapons. Releases a neurotoxin upon contact with water, lasting for 3 hours.

He understood instantly.

"Someone beat us to it."

Chen Yan leaned in, his voice tense. "Lord God, should we retreat for now? Wait for the poison to dissipate before attacking?"

Shen Xiaochuan sneered. "No need. The poison is now our advantage. Tell everyone to wear gas masks, move to the upwind side, and proceed as planned."

The team quickened their pace, moving quietly along the mountain ridge.

Two hours later, they arrived at the western shore of Yuling Lake.

The lake surface was calm, and the water had a greenish tint. The two giant bears were still devouring their companion, their movements sluggish and their eyes clouded.

Shen Xiaochuan raised his war spear, pointing toward the high ground in the center of the lake.

"The target is the altar on the high ground. Whoever gets it first becomes the master of the lake."

Chen Yan asked, "Do we act now?"

Shen Xiaochuan nodded.

"Let's move."

Just as he was about to order the charge, he suddenly caught sight of a dark shadow rising from the center of the lake.