41: Teasing the Blackwater Serpent every day

For the past ten days, Jiang Donghua had spent almost all his time, apart from cultivating, teasing the Black Water Profound Serpent.

Every day, he would arrive punctually near the Black Water Pool, either throwing a few stones from a distance, or stirring the water with a branch, and sometimes even deliberately roasting fish on the bank, the aroma wafting out to provoke the giant python into a rage.

"Splash—!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent broke out of the water, its scarlet snake eyes fixed on Jiang Donghua, its forked tongue flicking wildly, letting out angry hisses.

"Hahaha, Big Long Worm, you still can't catch this young master today!"

Jiang Donghua laughed loudly, instantly activating Roaming Cloud Steps, his figure retreating like the wind.

The Black Water Profound Serpent angrily thrashed its tail against the water, stirring up black waves several feet high, but Jiang Donghua had already escaped its attack range, standing far away and waving at it triumphantly.

"If this beast could speak, it would definitely be cursing right now."

Jiang Donghua chuckled to himself.

Over the past ten days, he had almost completely figured out the Black Water Profound Serpent's temper.

As long as he didn't truly step into the pool's range, it wouldn't pursue him with full force, at most chasing a hundred zhang before returning disgruntled.

However, Jiang Donghua also noticed that in the past few days, there were almost no other Magical Beasts to be seen near the Black Water Pool.

"It seems this Big Long Worm's diet hasn't been very good lately; it can't even catch a few Magical Beasts with its 'fishing law enforcement'."

Jiang Donghua stroked his chin, lost in thought.

As a Second-Tier Magical Beast, the Black Water Profound Serpent usually ambushed and preyed on lower-tier Magical Beasts when they came to drink from the pool.

But ever since Jiang Donghua started harassing it daily, every time it chased in a rage, it would scare away nearby Magical Beasts, causing it to catch almost no prey in the past few days.

"Tsk tsk, how pitiful."

Jiang Donghua smiled without any sympathy.

"However, who told you to guard the qi nurturing fruit? You deserve it!"

He turned to leave, preparing to return to his cave to continue cultivating.

However, just as he had taken a few steps, he suddenly sensed something unusual.

"Hmm?"

He abruptly turned his head, discovering that the Black Water Profound Serpent had not retreated into the pool as usual, but was coiled on the bank, its cold snake eyes staring intently at him, as if brewing something.

"Something's not right!"

Jiang Donghua's heart tightened, and he instinctively became alert.

The next second, the Black Water Profound Serpent suddenly opened its gaping maw, and a jet of pitch-black poisonous mist spewed out, sweeping towards him like a tide!

"Poisonous mist?!"

Jiang Donghua's pupils contracted, and he unhesitatingly activated Roaming Cloud Steps, retreating frantically!

However, the poisonous mist spread extremely quickly, instantly enveloping an area of several tens of zhang, the surrounding vegetation withered instantly, and even the rocks were corroded with sizzling sounds!

"Damn it!"

Jiang Donghua's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly held his breath, while simultaneously circulating his Blazing Fire cultivation technique to form a layer of Dou Qi shield on his body to resist the poisonous mist's erosion.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp—"

The moment the poisonous mist came into contact with the Dou Qi shield, it began to corrode wildly; Jiang Donghua could clearly feel his Dou Qi rapidly depleting!

"This poisonous mist can actually corrode Dou Qi?!"

He was horrified, no longer daring to stay, he fully activated Roaming Cloud Steps, fleeing madly towards the distance!

Seeing this, the Black Water Profound Serpent, for the first time ever, chased after him, its massive body moving rapidly through the forest, trees collapsing and the ground shaking wherever it passed!

"Is this beast crazy?!"

Cold sweat trickled down Jiang Donghua's forehead; he hadn't expected the Black Water Profound Serpent to leave the pool to pursue him, and its speed was several times faster than before!

"Did it always hide its strength before?!"

He had no time to think, he could only desperately flee.

However, the Black Water Profound Serpent's speed was truly too fast, and the distance between them was rapidly closing!

The scene shifted.

Jiang Donghua slumped in the cave, panting heavily, the cold sweat on his forehead still not dry, and the clothes on his back were already soaked with cold sweat.

"Damn it, I almost ended up in that beast's mouth!"

He wiped his face, his heart still pounding; that thousand-zhang desperate dash just now was even more thrilling than fighting for his life against a strong opponent.

The Black Water Profound Serpent's last few hisses made his eardrums ache, and he could even feel its foul breath spraying on the back of his head; if it weren't for the beast's lack of stamina, he would probably be snake dung by now.

"Hoo—!"

He let out a long breath, calmed himself down, and then grinned.

"But, that Big Long Worm's agitated look was really damn interesting!"

Thinking of the Black Water Profound Serpent furiously chasing for a thousand zhang, only to end up hissing unwillingly and returning disgruntled, Jiang Donghua couldn't help but laugh.

"It seems that snakes really don't have good stamina; chasing for a thousand zhang makes them exhausted."

He stroked his chin, a cunning glint in his eyes.

"Next time... hmm, I need to stay further away, can't let it get this close again."

Although he almost overdid it this time, Jiang Donghua had no intention of stopping.

"You scared me like that, doesn't this young master have any face?"

He snorted, patted his chest, and bolstered his courage.

"Teasing is still necessary, but I need to find a safer way!"

The next day, Jiang Donghua appeared near the Black Water Pool again.

However, this time, he learned his lesson, standing directly a hundred zhang away, holding a long branch in his hand, with a piece of fresh beast meat tied to the tip of the branch, and a layer of special seasoning applied to the meat, the aroma wafting out.

"Hehe, Big Long Worm, today this young master invites you to eat roasted meat!"

He stood at a safe distance, holding the meat with the branch, dangling it far above the Black Water Pool.

"Splash—!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent instantly broke out of the water, its scarlet snake eyes fixed on the meat, its forked tongue flicking wildly, obviously stirred by the aroma.

But it didn't rush over immediately, instead, it vigilantly scanned its surroundings, as if judging whether this was a trap.

"Oh? Getting smarter?"

Jiang Donghua raised an eyebrow, continuing to dangle the branch.

"Come on, don't be shy, this young master invites you to eat!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent stared at the meat for a long time, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation, suddenly darting out of the water and pouncing towards the meat!

"Whoosh—!"

Jiang Donghua was quick-witted, instantly pulling back the branch, and the Black Water Profound Serpent missed, its huge body crashing heavily onto the water, stirring up waves several feet high.

"Hahahaha! Stupid snake! You fell for it, didn't you!"

Jiang Donghua laughed loudly, triumphantly shaking the branch.

"Want to eat? Catch this young master first!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent was enraged, letting out a hiss, and chased again!

But Jiang Donghua was already prepared, turning and running, while also provocatively looking back as he ran.

"Come on! Try chasing another thousand zhang? Let's see who collapses first!"

Just like that, the daily interaction between Jiang Donghua and the Black Water Profound Serpent began again.

However, this time, he was smarter, always maintaining a safe distance, ensuring that the Black Water Profound Serpent couldn't catch him.

And the Black Water Profound Serpent also seemed to gradually get used to this game; although it would be infuriated every time, after chasing for a thousand zhang, it would stop and no longer pursue desperately.

One person and one snake, in this strange tacit understanding, actually reached a certain balance.

"This beast is quite interesting."

One evening, Jiang Donghua sat on a huge rock, gazing at the Black Water Pool from afar, a smile on his lips.

"If I could subdue it as a mount, that would be incredibly cool!"

He narrowed his eyes, a scene flashing in his mind of himself riding the Black Water Profound Serpent, traversing the mountain range.

"Hmm, once this young master breaks through to Dou Master, maybe I can really try!"

He chuckled, stood up, and stretched.

"I'll come play with you again tomorrow!"

With that, he turned and left, his figure gradually disappearing into the twilight.

And in the Black Water Pool, the Black Water Profound Serpent slowly surfaced, looking in the direction he left, and in its scarlet snake eyes, a hint of human-like complex emotion actually flickered.