9: Liu Mei, daughter of the Snake King! The first snake demon wife!
"Clang..."
The emerald green body began to move, its scales grating and emitting a crisp, powerful sound.
Xu Qing executed the Divine Movement Technique, his form transforming into a streak of green shadow as he rushed toward the riverbank.
In just a moment.
He appeared in the dense forest by the riverbank.
The light within his vertical pupils flickered; several clusters of light not far away were also approaching the riverbank.
A rustling sound came from the jungle across the river, like some creature was fleeing in panic.
Before long.
Several snake demons appeared on the opposite bank of the river.
Under his Spirit Eyes, their Cultivation Levels were fully displayed to Xu Qing.
Xu Qing estimated that even combined, the snake demons across the river would not be his match.
The snake demon in the middle, entirely pale purple, was the strongest, possessing a Cultivation Level of over four hundred years, slightly weaker than the Wolf Demon.
The other snake demons all had Cultivation Levels of two or three hundred years, and they were all injured, meaning their strength was definitely weaker than normal.
What interested Xu Qing was that the one that was entirely pale purple was a Female Snake Demon.
He had considered this matter before, and now a Female Snake Demon had delivered herself to his doorstep.
At the same time.
The snake demons hurriedly crossed the river.
Just as they were preparing to enter the jungle and continue their escape.
The leading Female Snake Demon suddenly felt a chill sweep over her entire body.
The blood of snake demons is cold.
For them to perceive a chill, it meant they had encountered extreme danger!
Liu Mei's heart went cold.
She knew this was the territory of a Wolf Demon.
Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't be afraid; she and her companions would be enough to repel the Wolf Demon.
But they hadn't completely escaped Profound Yin Mountain yet, and if they wasted time fighting the Wolf Demon, they might fall into a deadly trap!
For a moment.
A deep sense of despair and indignation surged within Liu Mei's vertical pupils.
She turned around and spoke human language: "Wolf King, we are merely passing through. If you grant us passage, we will surely repay you handsomely in the future!"
After a demon's Cultivation Level reaches a certain Realm, they can refine a throat bone and speak human language.
Xu Qing's Cultivation Level had long been sufficient, but he had never spoken.
Firstly, living in these mountains and forests, he rarely encountered people.
Even if he did, he was too lazy to communicate with them.
Secondly, when encountering other Great Demons, like that Wolf Demon, it was immediately a life-and-death struggle, leaving no need for pleasantries.
Now, encountering this snake demon fleeing from the territory of Profound Yin Mountain, it was the first time Xu Qing had heard human speech since his Transmigration.
Xu Qing glanced at the opposite riverbank, then looked at the wounds on the snake demons before him, and the words spoken by the female demon. He roughly guessed the situation.
It was different from what he had previously guessed.
They weren't here to take advantage after realizing the Wolf Demon had died.
Instead, they were forced into his territory due to certain reasons.
Xu Qing dismissed his doubts.
Rustle.
The leaves rustled, and the Green Snake poked out its head, its golden vertical pupils calmly observing the uninvited guests before it.
When Liu Mei saw Xu Qing, her vertical pupils sharply contracted.
Wasn't the master of Taihang Mountains a Wolf Demon?
Where did this fellow snake demon before her come from?
She was familiar with the nearby snake demons, and she had no recollection of the Green Snake before her!
The most crucial point was the aura emanating from the Green Snake, which instilled in her an indescribable terror and fear!
She suddenly felt her body go weak, nearly collapsing into a full prostration!
What a terrifying aura!
What exactly is his background?!
Liu Mei stared at Xu Qing in shock, a string of doubts surfacing in her mind, completely bewildered.
Xu Qing slightly opened his mouth, his voice deep: "For what reason have you entered my Taihang Mountains?"
With just one sentence, Liu Mei immediately knew... Taihang Mountains had changed hands!
The Wolf Demon had died at some unknown time, and the fellow kin before her had become the new master of Taihang Mountains!
Instantly, thoughts raced through her mind, and she finally made her ultimate decision.
She spoke quickly, recounting the reasons without concealing anything.
Liu Mei was the daughter of the former Snake King of Profound Yin Mountain.
However, in recent years, the Snake King's lifespan was nearing its end, and his Cultivation Level had stagnated, naturally leading to disloyalty among his subordinates.
Just a few days ago, a snake demon initiated a challenge and killed the Old Snake King.
The New Snake King became the new master of Profound Yin Mountain and immediately set his sights on Liu Mei.
Facing her father's killer, Liu Mei refused to submit, fighting desperately and breaking out with a few loyal subordinates, fleeing toward the Taihang Mountains.
A very cliché plot, yet far too realistic and common.
In terms of greed and lust, demons and humans share common ground.
Xu Qing carefully examined Liu Mei.
From the perspective of the Serpent Race, Liu Mei was considered a top-tier beauty.
Whether it was her scales, waist, physique, or facial features, she could be called a 'Beautiful Snake'.
Of course, to Xu Qing, what was most special about Liu Mei was the Demonic Qi and Cultivation Level she possessed.
This set her apart from mortals; the Bloodline within her far surpassed that of an ordinary Female Snake.
Meaning... she would be better at bearing offspring.
Xu Qing's gaze gave Liu Mei a familiar feeling.
The New Snake King had looked at her with this kind of gaze.
The difference was that the New Snake King's eyes were filled with lust and greed.
In Xu Qing's eyes, however, there was an unusual calmness, completely devoid of any lewd color.
She was restless and uneasy, and her loyal subordinates beside her dared not breathe, fearing they might anger the terrifying existence before them.
Her intentions were already very clear.
They only needed a small place to settle in Taihang, and they were willing to acknowledge Xu Qing as their King and obey his commands.
This was a move of desperation for Liu Mei.
The territory of the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains was basically all carved up.
Going into the deeper areas was courting death; she only had the path toward the Taihang Mountains.
She had originally thought that the Wolf Demon's strength was average, and she could at least secure a piece of territory after arriving.
But now the Wolf Demon had been replaced by the Green Snake, a fellow kin, and his strength was unfathomable—even combined, they probably wouldn't be his match!
It was even more impossible to leave the Taihang Mountains and continue traveling.
Outside the Taihang Mountains lay human territory, and once they stepped in, the fellows from the Demon Slaying Division would arrive in the blink of an eye.
At that point, death wouldn't be the only issue.
Being skinned and having their tendons pulled out would be commonplace.
Worse still, they might be placed under a Restriction and used as playthings for certain high officials and noble lords.
Their only hope now was to beg the being before them to consider their shared kinship and allow them to stay.
"Staying... requires a price to be paid."
Xu Qing slowly spoke.
Liu Mei had no other choice and immediately said, "Great King, please speak your mind. We will gladly serve you as cattle or horses."
"No need to serve as cattle or horses. Just bear me a thousand or eight hundred children." Xu Qing said seriously.
"...Huh?" Liu Mei was stunned.
She had somewhat anticipated that he might want to be intimate with her; she was quite confident in herself.
She didn't feel much resistance in her heart. After all, becoming his mate meant a better chance of survival.
But bearing a thousand or eight hundred children?
Isn't that a bit much?
"If you are unwilling, I won't force you. You have two hours to disappear from the Taihang Mountains."
Xu Qing felt he was being very lenient.
Liu Mei was startled, ignoring everything else. Fearing Xu Qing might change his mind, she quickly nodded and agreed.
"I accept!"