144: Chapter 144 The Green Snake's Fame Spreads Far and Wide

By the West River.

A green figure walked along the river.

With a cloth strip over their eyes and dressed in green robes, their gait showed no sign of blindness at all.

As for their appearance, it could only be described as ordinary.

Beside the green figure was a man in gray robes.

"...Why dress up like this?"

"Haven't you heard? The West River Maiden of this West River usually dresses like this when she goes out."

"She's one of the newly named four great beauties!"

"I think her style must be the new trend in the Cultivation World!"

The male Cultivator stopped speaking.

Recently, a major event had occurred in the Xia Dynasty's Cultivation World—or rather, the entire Cultivation World.

That was the news that the Xuanji Sect's Soul Transformation Old Ancestor's passing was a ruse; that Venerable Xuanji had even used it to Breakthrough to the Soul Transformation Middle Stage, causing a stir in the Cultivation World.

As for what secrets lay within, it wasn't something someone of his Realm could know.

And that Venerable Xuanji was said to have an ambiguous relationship with the West River Maiden, sparking much speculation.

At the same time, this West River Maiden was also a Genius demon Cultivator.

Her true form was a green snake of unknown species but extraordinary Bloodline.

Skilled in the Dao of Artifact Refining with fierce Divine Abilities, she had easily defeated the many Prodigies of the Xuanyun Sect during her Foundation Establishment Stage and even slain a Golden Core.

Furthermore, she brewed a type of immortal wine called green snake saliva wine.

It was known as the Southern Immortal Medicine, the Fourth Greatest Immortal Medicine in the Cultivation World.

Her appearance had also earned her the title of the fourth among the four great beauties of the Cultivation World.

With so many attributes combined, this West River Maiden was a true star in the current Cultivation World.

Countless Cultivators went to the West River Maiden Temple every day under the guise of offering incense, hoping to see the Maiden.

Many more were there to seek the immortal wine.

"Tell me, with this outfit, how much of the Green Snake Goddess's beauty do I have?"

The man did not speak.

Finally, his mouth twitched, and he replied with a squint.

"...Ten out of ten."

'I've told a monstrous lie; I hope the Maiden doesn't take offense.'

"Boom!"

A tremor shook the earth, causing huge waves to rise on the West River. Several fishing boats capsized, and fishermen fell one after another into the churning river water.

"We're doomed, the Maiden is truly angry!"

The male Cultivator turned pale with fright.

In the blink of an eye, he noticed something was wrong.

He was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator after all, and he quickly sensed that the source of the tremor was not the West River.

It was further north.

At that place where Spiritual Qi surged and clouds churned—the Secret Realm.

At this moment, at the bottom of the River God Temple, Xu Qing slightly opened his eyes. His snake eyes seemed to span across space, looking down upon that section of the river.

"As the day the Secret Realm opens draws closer, it's no longer peaceful here."

Xu Qing flew out of the cave and toward that section of the river.

With a human torso and a snake tail, eyes wrapped in silver cloth, and surrounded by auspicious clouds.

He gently waved his hand, and the fallen fishermen and capsized boats floated up and drifted toward the riverbank.

Seeing Xu Qing appear, several streaks of golden light flew out and hovered beside him.

Without exception, they were all Golden Core Cultivators, bowing to Xu Qing with cupped hands.

"We pay our respects to the Maiden."

Xu Qing returned the greeting, and at this moment, everyone's gaze turned toward the north.

To that Secret Realm.

"The Secret Realm is about to open. With such a huge commotion today, there must be some unusual activity within."

"Is the Maiden willing to go with us to investigate?"

Xu Qing thought for a moment and didn't refuse. He set off in an Escape Light with the group of Cultivators, sweeping toward the north.

Along the way, they encountered many other Cultivators gathering.

The Secret Realm was located deep within a mountain ravine.

Currently, the ravine was filled with clear water, flooding the entire space, yet it remained strictly within the ravine without leaking out at all.

"The Secret Realm is overflowing with water."

"There must be treasures overflowing along with this water. I shall go down to the bottom to investigate first!"

One of the Cultivators who came along, dressed in black, dove into the water.

Let's call him Black One for now.

The face-blind Green Snake's despair-inducing naming talent had appeared again.

The remaining few looked at each other, but none of them went down.

It seemed they were all landlubbers.

Let's call them Top-tier Duck, Second-tier Duck, Entry-tier Duck, No-tier Duck, and Temporary Duck for now.

Forget about these ducks.

Xu Qing had once been a Green Water Snake and was now the West River God; how could he be afraid of water? He also plunged into the depths.

The water was excessively cool.

Like ice water in the middle of winter.

Xu Qing continued to dive toward the bottom. The closer he got to the floor, the colder the water became.

Soon, the current was so cold that even Xu Qing felt uncomfortable.

Yet even so, the water still didn't freeze and continued to flow normally.

At this depth, Xu Qing also saw Black One, who had jumped in earlier.

His face was pale from the cold as he turned to look at Xu Qing.

"Maiden, it is bone-chillingly cold here. I can't hold on any longer, so I'll retreat first."

Black One swam back toward the surface dejectedly.

Xu Qing shook his head. Humans were so fragile, unable to withstand even a bit of hardship.

Yao Beasts were better.

Xu Qing continued to dive downward for a while.

Chunks of ice began to appear in the current, striking Xu Qing's body.

They couldn't break through his scales, but they covered the surface with a layer of frost.

The icy chill seeped through the frosted scales into his body, making him cold all over.

His movements also became a bit sluggish.

"What stupid ice blocks!"

Xu Qing grew impatient from being hit and swung his tail to smash an ice block.

To his surprise, a golden Ore fell out of the shattered ice.

The Ore was none other than the relatively rare Forging Gold Stone.

The Forging Gold Stone was frozen inside the ice, and Xu Qing hadn't sensed anything unusual at all.

These ice blocks not only blocked Divine Sense but also distorted vision, making it impossible to see what was frozen inside.

"A business opportunity."

"It's the scent of a business opportunity!"

Xu Qing took a deep breath with a look of intoxication; the scent of opportunity was wafting toward him!

He continued to swim toward the depths.

Xu Qing finally reached the bottom.

The entire floor was frozen into a massive block of ice that was slowly melting.

At this rate, it would take about four or five months to melt completely.

That would be when the Secret Realm fully opened.

But Xu Qing wasn't interested in that; he only wanted to make money right now.

Those drifting ice blocks could totally be sold like gambling stones!

Neither Divine Sense nor vision could penetrate the ice.

Xu Qing had an idea. He grabbed an ice block and flew out of the water.

The ice block was filled with icy energy; it wouldn't melt easily even if placed under the sun.

"Wonderful, wonderful!"

"Fellow Daoists, let's meet again another day. This Snake has business and will take his leave first!"

Xu Qing flew all the way back to Green Snake Town and into the Green Treasure Pavilion.

He found his lovely Elder Li.

To be precise, the one here was just Elder Li's Clone.

Xu Qing really wanted to learn Elder Li's cloning technique.

Also that Decree Technique for Spiritual Artifact Transformation—Xu Qing really wanted to learn that too.

But Xu Qing's Rank wasn't high enough.

"Elder Li! There's been a change in the Secret Realm, and I have a great idea!"

"It can make the Xuanyun Sect a lot of money!"

Xu Qing said excitedly.

He took out the ice block he brought and explained his ice gambling plan.

As long as the Xuanyun Sect was willing to send people to salvage the ice blocks and then promote it through the Green Treasure Pavilion.

Then hire a few shills to 'discover' top-tier treasures.

When that time comes, how could ice gambling not become a hit!

"Once it's successful, we'll split the profits thirty-seventy."

Elder Li happily agreed.

Xu Qing was also very happy.

"Jie jie jie!"

The air around them was filled with joy.

Xu Qing conveniently poured a cup of green snake wine for Elder Li.

"It truly lives up to the name of green snake saliva wine."

Elder Li took a sip, her eyes lighting up. She had tasted countless immortal wines.

This wine was definitely among the best!

"I didn't expect your saliva to be so valuable."

"...No, don't talk nonsense!"

Xu Qing felt resentful.

Maybe in the future, people would have strange misunderstandings about his saliva. Damn it!