The silver codfish took the spirit stones and, without ceremony, slapped the secret manual into Luo Zhen's metaphorical hands. He then gestured with his fin toward the tank of supplementary materials.
"Brother Serpent," he said, his voice serious, "if I were you, I'd start cultivating the Molten Gold Body right now."
"Oh? What's the rush?" Luo Zhen asked.
"The key to the whole process is the spirit liquid from these Gold Marrow Worms," the codfish explained. "But they've been sealed in that tank for decades. Frankly, they're half-dead. They could all kick the bucket at any moment. You need to get started before they're worthless."
Luo Zhen silently cursed. So that's why he was so eager to sell. The damn worms were on their last legs, and the codfish had unloaded the problem on him.
Pushing down his annoyance, Luo Zhen focused and began the cultivation.
A moment later, a familiar voice echoed in his mind.
[You have begun cultivating the Silver Codfish clan's Molten Gold Body Tempering Art!]
[This technique requires opening thirty-six internal acupoints. You may cultivate them slowly over time or unlock them instantly with experience points.]
[Unlock all acupoints now for 2,000 EXP?]
I'll pay, Luo Zhen thought without hesitation. He was swimming in experience points; two thousand was nothing.
[2,000 EXP deducted.]
[Opening acupoints...]
[All thirty-six acupoints are now open!]
A strange energy flooded Luo Zhen's body. He could feel thirty-six new vortexes of power swirling within him, each the size of a fist, radiating a gentle warmth.
With the acupoints open, it was time to prepare the concoction. Following the manual's instructions, he used his demonic energy to squeeze every last drop of spirit liquid from the Gold Marrow Worms. He mixed it with the other ingredients, creating a brilliant, shimmering golden fluid.
The silver codfish spotted what he was doing and cried out, "Brother Serpent, what in the world are you doing?!"
"Preparing the spirit liquid," Luo Zhen replied, his voice calm.
"Are you insane?" the codfish shrieked. "Once it's mixed, the Molten Gold liquid is only potent for an hour! You have to open the thirty-six acupoints before you even think about using them!" He shook his head in disbelief. "The greatest genius our clan ever produced took three years—three years!—to open all his acupoints before he could use the liquid. You haven't even opened one! What are you doing?"
He looked at Luo Zhen with an expression of profound disappointment, as if scolding a child.
Luo Zhen just smiled faintly. The codfish couldn't possibly understand the power of his system, which had accomplished in seconds what had taken others years.
"Fine," the codfish grumbled, turning away. "It's your manual, your liquid. Not my problem." He and the seahorse finished stripping the area of anything valuable, destroyed the remaining roots, and left.
Silence descended upon the vast, empty cavern.
Finally alone, Luo Zhen guided the golden liquid, pouring it all over his body. It wasn't meant to be drunk, but to coat his scales. The fluid was incredibly elastic; despite his enormous size, it stretched to cover every inch of him. He looked down and saw he'd been transformed into a magnificent golden serpent.
[You have applied the body-tempering supplement: Molten Gold Spirit Liquid!]
[You may absorb it slowly through cultivation or instantly for 1,000 EXP.]
Instantly. There was no reason to wait.
[1,000 EXP deducted.]
[Absorbing Molten Gold Spirit Liquid...]
The moment the notification vanished, Luo Zhen felt the golden film begin to seep past his scales, merging with his flesh and blood. A deep, searing heat spread through him. It grew more intense by the second, but instead of pain, it felt incredible—like soaking in a volcanic hot spring.
The absorption took fifteen minutes. When the heat finally subsided, the system chimed in again.
[Congratulations! You have successfully cultivated the Molten Gold Body!]
[System analysis: Waterlight Shield and Molten Gold Body are both defensive skills. Synthesize these two skills?]
Synthesize, Luo Zhen commanded.
[Synthesizing Waterlight Shield and Molten Gold Body...]
[Synthesis complete!]
[Congratulations! You have acquired the skill: Dark-Gold Serpent Body!]
A brilliant light enveloped him. When it faded, Luo Zhen looked down. His scales were no longer pure black but a deep, metallic dark gold. He pulled up the system to check the details.
[Name: Dark-Gold Serpent Body]
[Type: Defensive Body Tempering]
[Tier: Demon Core Realm (Demon General)]
[Description: A unique skill synthesized for the host, Luo Zhen.]
A Demon Core-tier body? Luo Zhen was ecstatic. This meant his physical defense was now on par with a Demon General. Any beast that formed a Demon Core was automatically granted that rank. The next step, forming a Demon Infant, would make him a Demon King.
He flicked his tongue in excitement and reviewed his full status.
[Host: Luo Zhen]
[Race: Serpent (Peak-Grade Mutated Spirit Species)]
[Species Name: Thunder Lotus Serpent]
[Bloodline: Thunder Lotus]
[Innate Abilities: Water, Fire, Ice, & Lightning spells; Flight]
[Attack Skills: Blue Light Thunder Drill, Thunder Lotus Fire (Tier 3 Beast Fire)]
[Defense Skill: Dark-Gold Serpent Body (Demon Core Tier)]
[Support Skill: Stealth]
[Other Skills: Poison Dart, Constriction]
[EXP: 8,750 / 20,000]
[Baleful Qi: 4,500]
[Realm: Early Earth Profound]
[System Note: Each major realm breakthrough offers a chance for bloodline evolution!]
As expected, Waterlight Shield was gone, replaced by his powerful new defensive body.
Closing the menu, Luo Zhen coiled his powerful tail and shot out of the cavern. The rocky pit outside was a wreck, littered with shredded seaweed. The seahorse and codfish were long gone.
They must have been really pissed, Luo Zhen thought, amused, to do this much angry landscaping on their way out.
He shook his head and set off toward his den in the Chaotic Waters.
As he neared his territory in the Chaotic Waters, a sense of dread washed over Luo Zhen. The metallic tang of blood, thick and heavy, drifted from the direction of his den.
Something's wrong. His heart sank as he surged forward.
The scene that greeted him was a massacre. The entrance to his den was choked with the bodies of his followers. They were everywhere, a gruesome carpet of scales and fins. In the center of the carnage lay the massive form of his largest subordinate, a seal demon beast.
"Ah Bao!" Luo Zhen roared, rushing to his side.
The seal was drenched in blood, his breathing shallow and ragged. He was suffering from devastating internal injuries, his consciousness flickering like a dying flame. Nearby, the bodies of the Great Green Fish and the Carp Demon drifted lifelessly in the current.
"Young... Master..." Ah Bao rasped.
"Don't talk. Save your strength," Luo Zhen commanded. He coughed up a small, square jade box and opened it to reveal five shimmering silver pills. "These are for emergencies. Eat them. Now."
He carefully fed all five pills to Ah Bao. He'd paid a fortune for them, and they were worth every coin for their life-saving potency. A bit of color returned to Ah Bao's face, and the bleeding from his wounds began to slow.
"Who did this?" Luo Zhen's voice was low and cold, simmering with rage. He had been gone for mere hours, and his entire operation had been annihilated. Besides Ah Bao, every loyal subordinate he had was dead.
"It was... Tie..."
Before he could finish, a flicker of movement caught Luo Zhen's eye. He snapped his head toward a decorative rockery nearby. A pale green, crocodile-like demon beast emerged from behind it. It was a bizarre creature—built like a crocodile, but with the subtle, unsettling features of a salamander.
"So," the creature drawled, sizing Luo Zhen up, "you're the black serpent who took out the Six-Eyed Flying Fish."
"Who are you?" Luo Zhen demanded, already running a system scan.
[Name: Iron-Armored Berserk Crocodile]
[Race: Crocodile]
[Strength: Early Heaven Profound Realm]
[Skills: Unknown (Target's realm is too high to view)]
[Affiliation: Blackwater Lake Salamander Demon General]
"You're the Iron-Armored Berserk Crocodile?" Luo Zhen confirmed.
"The one and only," the crocodile sneered. "And you're supposed to be my subordinate, yet you don't even recognize your boss. Pathetic. I only heard about you recently. Quite the little empire you've built here in the Chaotic Waters."
Luo Zhen knew of him by reputation, but this was the first time they'd met.
At the sight of him, Ah Bao struggled to speak, his voice choked with fury. "Young Master... it was him! He's the one who attacked us!"
"What?" The fury in Luo Zhen's chest exploded into pure, unadulterated killing intent.
This reptile had butchered his followers and invaded his home. There were lines you just didn't cross.
"Hmph. You worthless dogs," the crocodile snarled, his face twisting into a mask of contempt. "You carve out a territory and think you can keep it for yourselves instead of handing it over? Did you really believe you could hide from me here? You belong to me for life. You're my property."
He bared his teeth. "And this is what happens to property that disobeys."
"Go to hell!" Luo Zhen roared. He unleashed a lotus flower of pure fire, crackling with arcs of blue lightning. With a mental command, the lotus unfurled in mid-air, transforming into a massive, flaming net of electricity that soared toward the crocodile.
"Not bad," the crocodile remarked, unimpressed. He was a full realm stronger than Luo Zhen and clearly felt invincible. "You've got a few tricks. I can see how you made a name for yourself." He casually spat a ball of concentrated, azure water to intercept the attack. "But you're not nearly strong enough to kill me. Now, burst!"
With a deafening BOOM, the water ball exploded. But it did nothing. Luo Zhen's flaming net passed through the watery blast without even slowing down, continuing its relentless path.
"How is this possible?!" the crocodile stammered, his arrogance finally cracking. He hadn't held back with that attack; he'd expected it to obliterate the net.
It was too late. The net slammed down, wrapping around him.
"Tighten!" Luo Zhen commanded.
The net constricted instantly, digging into the crocodile's flesh.
"AAAAAHHH!"
A horrifying, pig-like squeal tore from the crocodile's throat. His famously tough, iron-like hide offered no protection. Wherever the flaming net touched, his flesh and scales sizzled and turned to ash. Within seconds, a huge chunk of his body had been incinerated. Only his advanced cultivation and immense life force were keeping him alive.
The bravado was gone, replaced by pure terror. "Don't kill me! Please, don't kill me!" he shrieked. He had finally realized his mistake. He had picked a fight with something far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.
"I was wrong! I shouldn't have come after you! Please, just let me go!" he begged, his voice strained with agony.
"Let you go?" Luo Zhen's killing intent was a physical force in the water. "You came to my home, slaughtered my people, and now you want mercy?"
"You can't kill me!" the crocodile screamed, switching from begging to threats. "My father will avenge me! You've heard of the Salamander General, right? I'm his illegitimate son! He adores me! We have a bloodline connection—if you kill me, he'll hunt you down. You'll be finished!"
The Salamander General? Luo Zhen paused. That explained the creature's hybrid appearance.
Seeing Luo Zhen hesitate, the crocodile's hope surged into triumphant arrogance. "That's right! Now you understand who you're dealing with! Kill me, and my father will tear you apart!" he gloated. "I'm warning you, get this damn net off me right now, or I swear, the second I'm free, I'm going to smash your head into a pulp!"
"You're still threatening me?" The crocodile's stupidity was astounding. Luo Zhen had been weighing the consequences of angering a Demon General, but this... this was too much. His temper snapped.
"Die, you miserable mutt!"
With a final, deadly command, Luo Zhen constricted the net completely.
"Ah—!"
The crocodile's final scream was cut short as the Thunder Lotus Fire consumed him, leaving nothing behind but a slowly dissolving pile of ash.
Luo Zhen drew the fire back into his body and let out a long, slow breath, the grim satisfaction of vengeance settling over him. He looked around at the bodies of his fallen comrades. With heavy movements, he began to dig a large grave, a silent promise of remembrance and a prelude to the storm that was surely to come.