Chapter 1432: Fortune

Xiuzhe sneered and said, "The Dongyi people just had to fabricate a lie, claiming I emerged to harm the local populace, and that's why Yi was sent to slay me. It was clearly a struggle between two factions, and my side simply lost. Yet they made it out as if I had lost my mind. Am I, the revered totem of the Miaoman, a demon god nurtured by heaven and earth, really that worthless?"

The group looked at each other with strange expressions. It seemed what angered it most wasn't being slain back then, but being labeled as a mere beast of misfortune wreaking havoc among humans.

Yu Yanluo asked, somewhat surprised, "The legend that Yi slew you—was that an exaggeration? Did you find a way to escape back then?"

The Xiuzhe's head flushed slightly. "Ahem, Yi was indeed formidable back then. I really couldn't defeat him. And... I didn't manage to escape. He cut me into several pieces."

It seemed a bit ashamed at first when speaking, but by the end, it was quite open about it.

Zu An could even vaguely sense a hint of pride in its tone.

What the hell? Is it an honor to die by Yi's hand?

The Xiuzhe continued, "The mountain range you are currently standing on, which local people call Baling, is actually formed from my remains from back then."

The group was truly astonished this time. They had noticed before that the undulating and winding mountain range indeed resembled a giant snake. However, Zu An and the others had thoroughly investigated it at the time, and finding it to be inanimate, they hadn't given it any deeper thought.

They never imagined this mountain was actually the Xiuzhe, merely transformed from its corpse.

To have its corpse form an unbroken mountain range, just how enormous must the Xiuzhe's body have been back then?

At this point, Yu Yanluo looked at it with concern, saying, "Then you now..."

Her unspoken meaning was simple: If you were already dead, what state are you in now?

Zu An had also carefully observed it just now. He noticed that although its appearance was fierce, there was no dark aura about it. He knew that ever since he started cultivating the Primordial Chaos Sutra and learned to purify evil spirits, he had become extremely sensitive to such things.

But the Xiuzhe before them clearly didn't fall into that category.

The Xiuzhe sighed. "Back then, I failed in my duty, losing to Yi, which led to the defeat of the Miaoman tribe. However, they didn't blame me. On the contrary, they wept bitterly, one by one, and spontaneously built a Xiuzhe temple in my memory, offering sacrifices day and night, with incense burning continuously. Then, I don't know on what day, I suddenly revived."

"Actually, it's not really 'revived.' I don't even know what state this is now." The Xiuzhe's expression was clearly a bit confused as well.

"The power of faith," Zu An said gravely. All those novels and movies from his previous life weren't for nothing; the power of human faith could coalesce into deities. The Xiuzhe clearly belonged to this category, because the local people truly believed in it, and even after its death, incense never ceased. That's why it was "reborn" at its burial place.

The Xiuzhe's eyes lit up. "As expected of a friend of the Nüwa descendant, such insight is truly admirable! So that's it, so that's it! Haha, hahahaha..."

Its laughter started with excitement, then turned to a hint of sorrow, and finally, deep emotion. One could even see clear tear stains in its eyes.

The Xiuzhe came to the window, looking out at the scattered islands in the vast Dongting Lake. "Back then, I simply saw their reverence for me, and that their offerings always suited my taste. That's why I stayed here, acting as this so-called guardian god. In truth, I was laughing at their foolishness in my heart back then, thinking I would float away whenever I got tired of it. I never imagined that in the end, I would be revived by these very people I used to mock."

Its expression was extremely complex as it spoke, truly difficult to describe with words.

Yu Yanluo said softly, "These people love and respect you, and how could you not love them in return? If you truly didn't care at all, as you said, why would you have resolutely joined the battle back then when they clashed with the Dongyi people, fighting against a being like Yi, and even sacrificing your life?"

Zu An and the others nodded secretly. With the Xiuzhe's power, if it weren't for the Miaoman people, it could have roamed freely between heaven and earth. How could it have been slain here?

The Xiuzhe seemed somewhat dazed. "I'm not as great as you say..."

As it spoke, its voice trailed off, and no one knew what it was truly thinking.

"Oh, right," Zu An asked, puzzled, "we just saw you swallow an elephant in the lake. Was that you?" Since it was reborn by the power of faith, it shouldn't still have the carnal desires of a predator, right?

The Xiuzhe paused, then chuckled wryly after hearing the details. "What you saw was likely a residual image from back then. This Dongting Lake area is quite special. Coupled with the fact that you are outsiders, especially with her Nüwa bloodline, it caused the environment to resonate and replay a scene from the past."

Only then did the group understand. No wonder Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue couldn't harm the giant snake, no matter how they attacked it.

They had even worried that the giant snake was a powerful spatial-type being, and were extremely anxious. They never expected this to be the explanation.

"Oh, right," the Xiuzhe suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "Why are you here?"

The group's expressions were a bit awkward. Yu Yanluo still tactfully explained the reason for their journey.

"I see," the Xiuzhe chuckled wryly. "This is easy. Since you are a Nüwa descendant, and we are kindred spirits, I will guide you out shortly. Back then, to protect the local people, I cast a spell over this Dongting Lake area. It is indeed very difficult for ordinary people to leave."

The group exchanged glances. They never expected a problem they thought would be difficult to be resolved in such a manner.

"Oh, right, you just mentioned that the great battle back then was between you and the Dongyi people. Wasn't it the Yanhuang tribe?" Zu An suddenly recalled something and asked.

"Yanhuang tribe?" The Xiuzhe frowned. "They were mortal enemies back then. When did they form one tribe? The ones we fought against were indeed the Dongyi people. They worshipped phoenixes and profound birds." Zu An's heart stirred. Shun had previously mentioned that the White Emperor lineage worshipped phoenixes. So, it seemed the White Emperor lineage was connected to the Dongyi?

Yi's crimson bow was given by Emperor Jun, and the task of slaying various fierce gods was assigned by Emperor Yao. Both Emperor Jun and Emperor Yao were from the White Emperor lineage...

At this moment, the Xiuzhe looked at Yu Yanluo. "Since you are a Nüwa descendant, it's fate that we've met. I see your cultivation is decent, but you haven't nearly unleashed the power of your bloodline. I will impart to you a set of techniques called the 'Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent.' It can help you unleash your potential and more flexibly utilize the power of the Sacred Spirit Pearl in the future."

Yu Yanluo was somewhat surprised, but she also understood this was a great opportunity. Being with Yan Xuehen and Yun Jianyue for a while had put a lot of pressure on her. "Then I thank you, Senior," she said.

"The Nüwa clan showed me kindness back then, so consider this settling a karmic debt," the Xiuzhe smiled. Immediately after, its pair of vertical pupils lit up. A point of light slowly drifted towards Yu Yanluo, imbued with an ancient and profound dao rhythm.

Yun Jianyue moved closer to Zu An, and quietly transmitted a message: "Be careful of a trick."

Zu An nodded. After all, they had learned along the way that these fierce gods were not only ruthless and domineering, but also very cunning.

He remained on full alert, while discreetly informing Yu Yanluo.

"Don't worry, I can feel that it bears no ill will," Yu Yanluo said, giving him a reassuring look. She then closed her eyes and accepted the point of light.

Her body suddenly lit up; it was the radiance of the Sacred Spirit Pearl.

Seeing that the Sacred Spirit Pearl had acknowledged it, Zu An breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he had been overly nervous.

Since this Xiuzhe could gain the sincere affection of the local people and be reborn through the power of faith, how could it possibly be an evil god?

After imparting the 'Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent,' the Xiuzhe's form dimmed slightly. "Alas, my body is not what it used to be. I need to sleep for a while. You may proceed."

With that, its form flickered, and it returned to the giant snake statue in the temple.

Yun Jianyue was instantly dumbfounded. "Didn't it just say it would guide us out? What do we do now?"

Yu Yanluo smiled faintly. "Sister Yun, it just told me everything I need to know. I should be able to lead everyone out."

After speaking, she bowed to the giant snake statue, then led the group out of the temple.

"Are you feeling anything unusual?" Zu An still asked, a bit worried.

"No, I'm fine," Yu Yanluo replied. "This great snake is indeed a good person... err, no, a good snake. It also warned us to be careful of the fierce beast Zuochi in the Choushua wilderness ahead."