Chapter 3: Please Treat You to a Meal

As Xu Qing observed the arena environment, the surrounding stands roared with noise. Suddenly, the large wooden door through which Xu Qing and his group had just entered slammed shut, hitting the ground heavily and raising a cloud of dust. This sound seemed to blow a horn, making the surrounding scavengers even more excited. Xu Qing also noticed that on the high platform directly in front, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe, accompanied by a group of people, sat in the most prominent position. Due to the distance, his appearance was somewhat blurred. However, it was clear that this person's identity was extraordinary.

Even from this distance, Xu Qing could feel an incredibly dense spiritual energy emanating from the man, surpassing anyone he had ever encountered. While this made Xu Qing wary, he also surmised that this person was likely the camp master. He saw the man with the three-pronged beard from yesterday bowing beside him, seemingly reporting cautiously. As the camp master took his seat, the man with the three-pronged beard stood on the high platform and gestured downwards.

Soon, another wooden door opened at the edge of the arena, and the roars and growls of fierce beasts, no longer muffled by the door, echoed more clearly. Following the sounds, a group of scavengers entered. They were divided into four teams of three, each slowly carrying a massive iron cage. Inside the cages, the beasts roared and lunged, seemingly trying to tear their enclosures apart. Xu Qing quickly scanned the four iron cages. He saw two giant wolves inside, one large and one small, both with sharp teeth, black fur, and blood-red eyes. Much saliva dripped from their mouths, and they regarded Xu Qing and his four companions with fierce intent.

There was also a red-furred bear with arms thicker than an adult's thigh, its expression filled with aggression as it constantly shook the iron cage. The three scavengers carrying it clearly struggled. The beast in the last cage was noticeably weaker in presence. It was a gibbon, covered in pustules that looked as if they would burst at the slightest touch. It appeared to be in great pain, repeatedly slamming itself against the cage, causing the pustules to rupture, a truly shocking sight.

Their appearance caused the surrounding audience to erupt once more. The two boys beside Xu Qing immediately turned pale, and the little girl's eyes were filled with extreme terror. Even the young man, who was already a scavenger, visibly tensed up. "Why are there four?" Xu Qing asked in surprise, looking towards the open wooden door.

Just as he looked, the four roaring and struggling beasts suddenly fell silent, as if stunned. At the same time, a massive iron cage, almost twice the size of the others, was slowly carried out through the wooden door by six scavengers. As this cage appeared, gasps immediately rippled through the audience. "A Horned Python!" someone exclaimed. "The camp master even got a Horned Python this time, but then again, in his eyes, it's probably not worth much." "For these youngsters, whoever draws this will die. Even if we encountered it in the wild, it would take two people fighting desperately to kill it."

The beast inside the iron cage was a massive python. Its body was as thick as an adult's waist, grey-black with dark patterns that, upon closer inspection, resembled horned mountain peaks. It lay coiled motionless in the cage, its huge head slightly raised, its yellow vertical pupils fixed on the outside with a chilling gaze. Under its stare, both the giant wolves and the gibbon trembled. Only the red bear emitted a low growl of provocation, seemingly defiant, but in reality, its body slowly retreated to the edge of its own cage.

"Please, don't let me draw it, please don't let me draw it…" The two boys behind Xu Qing trembled, whispering prayers, but a glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. He knew about the Horned Python. Back in the slums, he had seen hunters bring back its carcass from the city. He had also heard experienced people say that this python was immensely strong; if it coiled around something, even a large tree would be crushed. Its skin was also very thick. However, its body was clumsy, and its speed was relatively slow. Its gallbladder had excellent medicinal properties, capable of somewhat neutralizing body contamination, and its meat was very nourishing.

Thinking of this, Xu Qing recalled Team Lei mentioning his fondness for snake meat. Having caught many snakes in his childhood, Xu Qing licked his lips. Moreover, his mutation points had grown darker with cultivation, even causing a faint stinging sensation during his practice yesterday. Xu Qing mused that if he could eat the python's gallbladder, it would likely resolve much of this issue.

As he stared at the Horned Python, the drawing of lots began. Scavengers arranged by the man with the three-pronged beard approached with five bamboo slips, each inscribed with the name of a beast to be fought. The young man went first, drew a slip, and visibly exhaled in relief. Next were the two boys and the little girl. Both boys drew their slips with a somewhat bitter expression despite their prayers, but the little girl looked at her bamboo slip with utter despair. She had drawn the Horned Python, and the last remaining slip was for the small wolf, which was clearly the weakest of the five beasts.

Xu Qing held his bamboo slip, his brow slightly furrowed in thought. Soon, after the scavengers retreated and the trial participants were briefly corralled into a corner, the first trial began amidst the cheers of the onlookers. One of the two boys was chosen to enter. He walked out, trembling, to face the burly red bear. The battle was swift; the boy was no match for the red bear. After a few futile clashes, he was knocked down, and in despair, his body was torn apart. Blood splattered, igniting a frenzy in the crowd, accompanied by curses of regret.

This sight caused the other boy, who was supposed to be the second participant, to tremble uncontrollably. He suddenly cried out, declaring he would abandon the trial. Amidst boos, Xu Qing watched as the scavengers led the boy away, his fate obvious. The third participant was the young man who was already a scavenger. He had drawn the larger black wolf. His experience as a scavenger made him more ruthless than ordinary people. After a thrilling life-or-death struggle, he, wounded and breathless, slew the wolf, becoming the first successful participant in this trial. The gate opened, and clutching his chest, he walked away to freedom.

The fourth participant was the little girl. When the iron cage containing the Horned Python was opened, the girl trembled and bit her lip, about to walk past Xu Qing to face her doom in despair. But just then, Xu Qing suddenly spoke. "Let's switch." The little girl froze, and before she could react, Xu Qing had already swapped his bamboo slip with hers. After taking the slip inscribed with the Horned Python's name, he paid no attention to the girl's grateful gaze and walked towards the giant python.

As he stepped inside, the surrounding scavengers, having clearly seen the sequence, immediately started jeering. However, apart from those who had placed bets on him and the little girl, no one else cared about such a swap. Neither they nor the camp master would intervene; it was a matter of survival of the fittest. Inside the arena, Xu Qing calmly walked towards the iron cage. The Horned Python inside watched Xu Qing coldly as it slowly crawled out. As its thick body extended from the cage, its scales scraped against the iron bars, producing a harsh grating sound. Its animal instincts told it that the boy before it was somehow different from the prey it usually encountered. Thus, after emerging, the Horned Python did not immediately attack. Instead, it coiled itself outside the cage, its head held high, vigilantly staring at the approaching Xu Qing.

This scene piqued the audience's interest, and the jeering subsided slightly. Xu Qing maintained a calm expression as he drew closer. Perhaps it was his entry into its attack range, or perhaps it was his aura, but the coldness in the Horned Python's vertical yellow pupils intensified instantly. It slammed its tail forcefully on the ground, producing a booming sound. Using the momentum from this impact, its body suddenly lunged forward. In mid-air, its maw gaped open, revealing menacing fangs and emitting a foul, fishy odor, as it hurtled towards Xu Qing, intending to swallow him whole.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed as he coldly watched the rapidly approaching Horned Python. The moment it drew near, he swayed his body to dodge, choosing not to seize the opportunity to strike. He ignored the massive python head that passed him by, instead focusing his sharp gaze, like a hunter, on the python's underbelly. As he observed, the Horned Python missed its target and let out a low growl. Its body twisted, and its tail suddenly whipped forward from behind, creating another piercing hiss as it lashed fiercely towards Xu Qing. Its hunting instincts caused its head to forcibly turn, moving in tandem with its tail, forming a near-circle that lunged straight at Xu Qing, as if to coil around him.

Xu Qing remained silent, his gaze still fixed on the Horned Python's belly. As the snake's tail approached, he suddenly clenched his right fist and struck it the moment it lashed out. Thump. Although he had only cultivated the first layer of the Sea Mountain Art, the physical enhancement it provided Xu Qing was still considerable. The python's tail recoiled directly from the impact, preventing its head and tail from connecting. The Horned Python was clearly in some pain, but this non-fatal injury only intensified its ferocity. With red eyes, its head violently lunged, attempting to bite Xu Qing.

However, Xu Qing's eyes narrowed, a sharp glint appearing. He had finally found the spot he was looking for. He stepped forward, not retreating, and moved directly to the upper-middle section of the Horned Python's body. He powerfully struck with his right fist, once, twice, thrice… His fists landed with full force. The impact from Xu Qing's blows caused the Horned Python to continuously recoil, its roars growing fiercer as it tried to coil around him. Yet, the power contained in Xu Qing's fists prevented its head and tail from connecting. As for the area of its belly being struck, its scales were relatively weaker there, and after several punches, they began to crack, bleeding slightly, and losing their resilience.

Seeing this, a cold glint flashed in Xu Qing's eyes before the Horned Python could change its posture. He immediately drew the dagger strapped to his calf. The cold blade flashed as he swiftly and directly plunged it into the Horned Python's flesh. It pierced through instantly, then sliced open. Blood splattered as the Horned Python emitted a shrill hiss. A horrifying wound gaped in its belly, exposing the gallbladder within its body cavity. Although the snake was large, its gallbladder, seemingly mutated, was very small, like an egg.

Without a moment's hesitation, Xu Qing reached his right hand deep into the cavity, grabbed the gallbladder, and pulled it out forcefully amidst the Horned Python's agonizing shrieks. Blood sprayed, splattering onto the sand. Ignoring the bloodstains, Xu Qing held the gallbladder, his eyes gleaming with an unusual light, and in front of the scavengers whose expressions varied greatly, he put it directly into his mouth and swallowed it whole.

As Xu Qing calmly swallowed, the Horned Python, disemboweled alive, thrashed wildly in agony, letting out piercing shrieks. It slammed its body against the ground, raising dust, as if to vent its intense pain. Its head violently lunged towards Xu Qing, its red eyes showing madness, its mouth opened to its widest extent, as if to completely devour Xu Qing. Xu Qing watched coldly. The instant the python approached, his body suddenly leaped up, once again dodging the incoming head. While still in mid-air, he waved his right hand, and a black iron spike appeared. Looking down, a flash of killing intent gleamed in his eyes. He powerfully lowered his body, using his strength, speed, and body weight to maximize the spike's impact. He thrust it fiercely into the snake's heart region. It shattered the scales and penetrated with unstoppable force, piercing through in a single strike. With a boom, the Horned Python's entire body trembled violently, as if all strength had left it. Its head and tail crashed heavily to the ground, and its agonizing hiss abruptly ceased at that very moment. Only the sound of its tail weakly thumping the ground echoed throughout the arena.

A moment later… as the dust settled, the scavengers who had watched the battle were all astonished. Many stood up, each gravely watching the boy in the arena, who was now extracting the iron spike from the snake's carcass. If an adult had killed the Horned Python in such a manner, it would not have caused them such expressions. But for a seemingly small, thin child to so cleanly extract the gallbladder from a living snake, swallow it, and then kill it with a single strike, all while maintaining a cold, unchanging expression from beginning to end—this was extremely rare in the camp. The small wolf and the red bear in the nearby cages were clearly terrified, trembling where they stood. This seemed less like a trial and more like a hunt.

Under the watchful eyes of those around him, the boy put away the iron spike, placed one hand over the Horned Python's wound, and walked towards the arena gate. Behind him, a shocking red trail of blood from the Horned Python was dragged across the ground. Beside the still-closed gate, Xu Qing turned his head to look at the high platform. Not long after, the man with the three-pronged beard on the platform, still visibly shaken, reacted and quickly made a gesture. Soon… the gate rumbled open. Outside stood Team Lei, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, having waited for some time.

He smiled as he looked at Xu Qing. "Can I stay with you now?" Xu Qing asked, dragging the snake carcass and looking up at Team Lei. "Yes," Team Lei chuckled. Xu Qing nodded and threw the snake carcass towards him. "You like to eat snakes. This is for you." Team Lei paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. He took the Horned Python carcass, and amidst his laughter, he and Xu Qing slowly walked away into the distance.

Only after they had walked far away did a clamor erupt within the arena. Amidst the hubbub, in a corner of the crowd, sat an old man in a purple robe, accompanied by an expressionless middle-aged man who resembled a servant and bore a five-pointed star tattoo on his forehead. They sat there, their attire and demeanor completely out of place with the surroundings, yet no one seemed to notice their presence. Not even the camp master saw them. The old man had a ruddy complexion, and his eyes seemed to contain lightning that could destroy everything if unleashed; he was clearly an extraordinary individual. As he sat there, watching Xu Qing's retreating figure, he couldn't help but smile. "This boy is interesting," he murmured.