15: Are the clues of the mastermind behind this incident beginning to emerge?

The massive corpse of the Black Scaled Python lay sprawled on the ground.

Next to its shattered head, foul-smelling blood mixed with brain matter, staining a large patch of dirt crimson.

The surroundings were a mess.

Broken trees lay haphazardly, crisscrossing the ground.

A thick, pervasive smell of blood hung in the air, refusing to dissipate.

There was also Demonic Qi that hadn't fully dispersed after the Yao Beast's death.

Li Dong stood in the center of the devastation.

His chest heaved violently, and he gasped for air in ragged breaths.

Sweat soaked his clothes, clinging to his skin and bringing a hint of coolness.

The battle just now had been truly heart-stopping.

Especially the final two strikes, where he fused his skills and forcefully activated the Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Suppression Seal, which had almost completely drained his Internal Energy.

At this moment, he felt waves of soreness spreading through his limbs and bones, and fatigue washed over him like a tide.

However, his eyes were exceptionally bright, gleaming with excitement.

He won!

With a cultivation at the Peak of Body Refinement Fifth Level, he had actually killed a genuine Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Demon Beast!

This achievement was almost unimaginable!

Just then, a series of clear and pleasant System notification sounds rang in his mind.

"Ding!"

"You have killed a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Demon Beast: Black Scaled Python, despite being at a lower Realm!"

"Congratulations, Host, you have gained Experience Points: 5000 points!"

"Detected special drop: Rare Skill Fragment — Black Scale Armor (Incomplete)!"

"Current total Experience Points: 570 (obtained from killing Jackals) - 200 (consumed by skill Fusion) + 5000 = 5370 points!"

"Current Realm: Body Refinement Fifth Level Peak (Experience Points: 5370 / 500, upgrade conditions met)."

"Do you wish to consume 500 Experience Points to advance your cultivation to Body Refinement Sixth Level?"

Five thousand points!

A full five thousand Experience Points!

Li Dong's heart pounded as he looked at the number on the System panel.

This was truly... seeking wealth in danger!

The Experience Points given by a Foundation Establishment Realm Demon Beast were indeed terrifyingly high!

The death trap "arranged" by Zhao Zhen now seemed to have benefited him instead.

He was practically a money-giving child—no, an Experience-giving child!

"Upgrade! Upgrade immediately!"

Li Dong decided at once.

He desperately needed to recover his strength now.

Moreover, an increase in strength would bring him peace of mind.

"Experience Points - 500!"

"Congratulations, Host, your cultivation has successfully Broken Through to Body Refinement Sixth Level!"

"Blood Qi limit +80! Total Spiritual Qi +150! Basic strength +50! Basic agility +30!"

"Current Realm: Body Refinement Sixth Level (Experience Points: 4870 / 1000)."

A sense of power, stronger and purer than before, instantly erupted from his limbs and bones, swiftly flowing through his entire body.

The exhaustion and soreness that had plagued him moments ago were quickly swept away by this new surge of power.

His bones crackled.

His muscles felt even more solid.

The Internal Energy in his Meridians surged, both its quantity and quality reaching a new level.

Li Dong felt the abundant power within his body, clenched his fists, and heard his knuckles crack.

Body Refinement Sixth Level!

His strength had increased again!

This gave him more confidence to face any potential dangers ahead.

His gaze fell on the Skill Fragment mentioned by the System.

"Rare Skill Fragment: Black Scale Armor (Incomplete)!"

"Description: Contains a portion of the Black Scaled Python's defensive Divine Ability. Can be mastered after repair."

"Do you wish to consume 200 Experience Points to repair it?"

Black Scale Armor?

From the name, it sounded like a defensive ability.

During his fight with the Black Scaled Python, its tough scales had left a deep impression on him.

If not for the Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Suppression Seal he conjured at the end, he feared that even the earlier Demon Suppression Seal wouldn't have been able to break through its defense.

Defensive methods were just as important to him.

"Repair!"

Li Dong confirmed again.

"Experience Points - 200!"

"Skill Fragment repair successful!"

"Congratulations, Host, you have acquired a new Skill: Black Scale Armor (Beginner)!"

"Black Scale Armor (Beginner): When activated, a layer of tough black scales can be condensed on the body's surface, greatly increasing physical defense and resistance to energy impacts. As proficiency increases, the defensive effect will strengthen."

"Current Experience Points: 4670 / 1000."

Li Dong's heart stirred, and he tried to use the Black Scale Armor.

He saw a faint black light, like snake scales, flash on his skin for a moment before disappearing.

It felt quite thick and sturdy.

Although it was only at the Beginner stage and the effect wasn't yet obvious, it certainly added a layer of protection.

He nodded in satisfaction.

His strength had increased, and he had gained a new Skill; the harvest from this trip to Black Wind Ridge was truly great.

However, as the initial excitement faded, Li Dong slowly calmed down, and his brow furrowed.

He began to recall the battle just now, and the anomalies in the entire mission.

Zhao Zhen's design of this "extremely dangerous" mission was clearly intended to kill him.

Those Bloodthirsty Jackals, including the Body Refinement Fifth Level leader, were probably just appetizers, meant to make him lower his guard.

The real killing blow was this Foundation Establishment Realm Black Scaled Python.

But, here came the problem.

Was a Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast so easy to "arrange"?

Yao Beasts, especially those that had reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, had their own territories and a certain level of intelligence; they weren't wild beasts that could be commanded at will.

Zhao Zhen, how could he make this Black Scaled Python appear precisely on his mission path?

And attack at just that moment?

It was too coincidental.

So coincidental that it was a bit strange.

Li Dong remembered Zhang Wu's earlier warning to him.

And the oppressive, uneasy atmosphere he had felt after arriving at Mu Shi County.

And his father, Li Shanyue's, admonition: the human heart in the Demon Suppression Division is unfathomable.

Demonic activity in Mu Shi County recently did seem to be more frequent than before.

Could there be a connection?

Li Dong vaguely felt that things were probably not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Zhao Zhen wanted to get rid of him; that motive was clear.

But did Zhao Zhen truly have the ability, or the connections, to influence or even control a Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast?

Li Dong was very skeptical about this.

Zhao Zhen might have power and influence within the Demon Suppression Division outpost.

But Li Dong felt that Zhao Zhen's strength was at most high-level Body Refining.

He might even be weaker than himself.

How could such a person make a Foundation Establishment Yao Beast obey?

And how could he command it to carry out a murder plot?

Unless... Zhao Zhen had someone behind him?

Or, was Zhao Zhen just a small player in a larger conspiracy?

Did he use this mission not just to get rid of himself, but also for some other scheme?

Or, was the appearance of this Black Scaled Python related to the recent frequent demonic activity in Mu Shi County?

Did Zhao Zhen merely take advantage of the situation?

Li Dong carefully recalled every moment of his fight with the Black Scaled Python.

The giant python fought fiercely, but its target seemed too clear.

From the moment it hid, to when it lunged and attacked, it had been relentlessly targeting him.

This was not like a wild beast getting provoked and biting wildly when it encountered a human.

It was more like it was executing an order—to kill the intruder.

This feeling was very strange, but Li Dong's intuition was sharp, and he seized upon this point.

This didn't feel like pure beastly instinct.

With this question in mind, Li Dong, dragging his exhausted body, began to examine the large, mangled corpse of the Black Scaled Python.

He wanted to find some clues.

Most of the giant python's scales were shattered.

Especially its head, which had been struck by the Heavenly Pill Sky-Rending Demon Seal, was beyond recognition.

Li Dong circled the corpse, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, not missing any small detail.

Suddenly, in the middle of the giant python's body, in the seam of a relatively intact scale, he smelled a very faint, very peculiar scent.

The scent was very light, almost imperceptible.

It wasn't the foul odor of a Yao Beast, nor was it the smell of blood.

It was a... faint, somewhat spice-like scent.

This scent was unfamiliar.

But he vaguely felt as if he had smelled something similar somewhere before... That's right!

Li Dong suddenly remembered.

When he registered at the Demon Suppression Division outpost and received his identification token, the deacon in charge of registration seemed to have a similar fragrance on him!

However, the scent on that deacon was stronger!

At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, simply assuming it was a peculiar habit of some people.

But thinking about it now, how could a Yao Beast that lived deep in the mountains all year round have such a distinct human-used, possibly even refined, spice-like scent on its body?

Could it be... that someone had been here recently?

And had contact with this Black Scaled Python?

Or even... used something carrying this scent to lure or control this giant python?

This discovery made Li Dong's heart skip a beat!

This almost confirmed his suspicion!

Encountering the giant python this time was absolutely not a coincidence!

Someone was indeed behind the appearance of this Foundation Establishment Realm Yao Beast!

Zhao Zhen himself might not have the ability to directly control Yao Beasts.

But he definitely couldn't be unrelated!

It might even involve other people within the Demon Suppression Division!

Like that deacon with the similar spice-like scent on him?

A chill slowly crept up Li Dong's spine.

He felt as if he had fallen into an invisible net.

This net might be more complex and dangerous than he had initially thought.

Zhao Zhen might only be a small part exposed above the water.

Beneath the surface, there might be deeper conspiracies and more powerful hidden forces.

He must become stronger as quickly as possible!

Only by being strong enough could he gain a foothold in such a dangerous place.

Only then could he deal with all the schemes and tricks.

Only then could he protect himself and his sister!

Li Dong took a deep breath, his eyes becoming exceptionally firm.

He glanced at the corpse of the Black Scaled Python on the ground.

This large creature was valuable all over; its scales, snake gall, venomous fangs, and so on, were all valuable Materials.

However, he didn't have time to deal with these now.

The most urgent thing was to quickly leave this dangerous place and return to the Demon Suppression Division outpost.

Moreover, he had to tell Zhang Wu about his discoveries and thoughts.

Zhang Wu was one of the selection Person in charge, and also an old friend of his father; he seemed trustworthy.

Perhaps, from Zhang Wu, he could learn about the internal situation of the Demon Suppression Division and news of recent demonic activity.

At the very least, he had to let Zhang Wu know what Zhao Zhen had done, so they could be prepared.

Having made up his mind, Li Dong did not linger.

He fixed his direction and, dragging his somewhat tired but still internally energetic body, quickly left this bloody battlefield.

He hurried towards Mu Shi County.

In the depths of Black Wind Ridge's dense forest, only the huge snake corpse remained.

And the lingering smell of blood and that strange scent in the air, which would not dissipate for a long time.