Chapter 306: Hitman

By the low-lying shore, Yaya saw Zhou Yuan staring wide-eyed at her. She stretched her arms, yawning languidly, her graceful figure outlining perfect curves.

However, Zhou Yuan was not in the mood to appreciate her beauty; he simply gazed at Yaya, full of doubt and surprise.

"The water beasts here are formed from the Dragon Qi emanating from the Origin Dragon Vein," Yaya explained. "Though they lack intelligence, they are still driven by instinct." She gently wiggled her jade-like feet, and crystal clear water droplets slid down, glistening in the sunlight.

"The Universal Azure Serpent Qi in your body originated from the Ancestral Dragon Scripture. To a certain extent, it also contains Dragon Qi, and of the most primordial kind."

"That's why the Heaven and Earth power, which others find unbearable when entering the Origin Pool, has little effect on you."

"It's because of the Universal Azure Serpent Qi. And the reason these water beasts are hunting you now is the same. In their eyes, you are the most delicious food. If they devour you, they might even gain intelligence and truly become living beings, rather than mere instinct-driven entities."

Yaya looked at Zhou Yuan with a hint of playful amusement. "So, while you're trying to get the Dragon Origin Marrow from their bodies, they are constantly trying to eat you."

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment. Although he had dimly suspected something before, it was only after hearing Yaya's explanation that he fully understood the reason.

So, the Ancestral Dragon Scripture was the culprit.

"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Zhou Yuan asked, annoyed.

Yaya had clearly known all along but hadn't warned him, evidently wanting to see him make a fool of himself.

Yaya gently rested her jade-like hand on her delicate, pale chin, her beautiful eyes curving slightly. "If you knew everything, it would be so boring."

Zhou Yuan rolled his eyes, plopped down, and said gloomily, "So what now? As soon as I enter the Origin Pool, a large number of water beasts will be drawn to me."

The problem was that the water beasts were growing stronger and more numerous, and with his current strength, he clearly couldn't withstand them.

Zhou Yuan sighed, taking out a jade bottle filled with Dragon Origin Marrow Crystals. These were the fruits of his previous arduous battles, enough to allow him a Four-Dragon level Origin Marrow baptism.

But Zhou Yuan was clearly not content with just that.

He wasn't a Purple Sash disciple yet, and if he missed this opportunity, he might have to wait a while to return to the Origin Pool. So, for this first attempt, he wanted to maximize his gains.

Just as Zhou Yuan was staring blankly at the glittering golden Dragon Origin Marrow Crystals in the jade bottle, a shadow suddenly darted past. Then Zhou Yuan felt his hand lighten; the jade bottle had simply vanished.

Zhou Yuan froze, quickly turned his head, and then watched in astonishment as Tun Tun held the jade bottle in its mouth, opened wide, and swallowed it whole. Finally, it smacked its lips in satisfaction.

"Ah!"

A piercing roar echoed through the valley.

Zhou Yuan rushed forward, grabbed Tun Tun by the neck, shook it vigorously, and roared, "You bastard, spit it out!"

That was the fruit of his half-day's hard work, now swallowed in one gulp by Tun Tun! It utterly infuriated him.

However, no matter how much he shook it, Tun Tun kept its mouth tightly shut, even extending its claws to scratch a bloody mark on Zhou Yuan's face.

The man and beast wrestled fiercely, the scene quite chaotic.

Yaya sighed, covering her eyes. They were truly like two fools.

The man and beast wrestled for a long time. In the end, Zhou Yuan only managed to rescue a single thumb-sized Dragon Origin Marrow Crystal from Tun Tun's mouth. The price for this was a body covered in bloody scratches, all inflicted by Tun Tun.

"Humph, humph."

Even though only one crystal was retrieved, Tun Tun was clearly very displeased. After all, for something that had already entered its mouth to be snatched back was simply an insult.

"You goddamn beast!"

Zhou Yuan looked at the pitiful single Dragon Origin Marrow Crystal and couldn't help but curse through gritted teeth. Now, forget a Four-Dragon baptism, he couldn't even manage a One-Dragon baptism!

*Thwack!*

A small stone hit Zhou Yuan's forehead.

Yaya shot him a glare. "Don't curse Tun Tun."

Seeing this, Tun Tun's beast eyes immediately showed schadenfreude, and it happily scurried over to Yaya.

But Yaya gave it a stern look. Tun Tun quickly stopped, whimpered a few times in grievance, and lay down on the ground.

Zhou Yuan wiped his face and said lamentingly, "Looks like I'll just have to keep fighting."

In this situation, there was no turning back. He could only continue venturing into the Origin Pool to hunt water beasts, though he had no idea how many times he would be chased.

Zhou Yuan shot Tun Tun a harsh glare, then stood up, ready to continue.

"The Dragon Origin Marrow here is formed from the Origin Dragon Vein," Yaya said. "It's quite beneficial for Tun Tun, which is why it eagerly ate it."

Zhou Yuan paused. So that was it. In truth, he wasn't genuinely angry about Tun Tun snatching the Dragon Origin Marrow Crystals; mostly, he was just playing around with Tun Tun.

"Then, I'll share some of the Dragon Origin Marrow Crystals I get later," Zhou Yuan shrugged. If Tun Tun's strength could improve, it would be good for him too.

Yaya thought for a moment, then waved her hand at Tun Tun.

Tun Tun immediately trotted and hopped over, only to be picked up by Yaya and tossed towards Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan quickly caught it, and he and Tun Tun stared at each other, eyes wide.

"Take Tun Tun with you," Yaya said, ignoring their antics. "Since it wants benefits, it should do some work too. With Tun Tun accompanying you, you won't have to worry about being surrounded by those water beasts anymore."

"With Tun Tun's strength, it can certainly keep you safe."

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan was overjoyed. With Tun Tun as a powerful helper, wouldn't those water beasts trying to eat him just be walking into a trap? He could literally kill as many as came.

"Let me tell you, if you want to eat that Dragon Origin Marrow, you'd better work hard and not be lazy," Zhou Yuan admonished Tun Tun, staring at it. "Of the Dragon Origin Marrow we get, I get eighty percent, you get twenty."

He held up his fingers to illustrate.

However, Tun Tun was incredibly intelligent and quick-witted. It immediately understood what he meant, promptly extended a paw, and gestured "I seven, you three."

Zhou Yuan chuckled in exasperation at the sight. This little rascal was actually bargaining with him, did it think he was a mere laborer?!

So, the man and beast began to argue again, using hand and paw gestures.

Yaya, standing nearby, got a headache from their bickering and couldn't stand it anymore. She casually flicked out an Origin Pattern, which transformed into bolts of lightning that struck fiercely towards the man and beast.

"You two, half each, now get down there immediately!"

As soon as Yaya finished speaking, the man and beast instantly quieted down.

Tun Tun grumbled twice. Though it didn't feel like engaging with him, it still hopped onto Zhou Yuan's shoulder.

Zhou Yuan also pouted, dodging the incoming lightning. Then, his eyes burning with eagerness, he gazed at the boundless Origin Pool before him. With Tun Tun protecting him, the water beasts here posed no threat.

"You wanted to hunt me down? Try it now!" Zhou Yuan sneered, his confidence surging.

*Splash!*

He waved at Yaya, then without another word, plunged headfirst back into the Origin Pool.

Yaya rubbed her forehead. Finally, some peace and quiet.

Even a quiet soak was so difficult...