Douluo Continent: Long Live the Spirit Hall

Yan picked up the little thing in his hand, playing with it while lecturing it, "You little thing, you'd be great as a heater! You're round and chubby, very cute, but being this fat isn't good..."

"Waaaaah, waaaah..."

The little white tiger roared angrily and unwillingly, seemingly refuting Yan's opinion. However, tigers don't understand human language at all, or perhaps someone could understand but pretended not to. The little white tiger scratched Yan's body lightly with its paws in anger.

"If you tickle me again, I'll spank your little bottom."

As Yan spoke, he reached out and pinched the little white tiger's chubby bottom, while pulling the little white tiger's hind legs and dragging it out.

"Waaaa, waaaa... waaaa..."

The little white tiger stopped what it was doing, feeling utterly wronged, and gave a whimpering reply. It would remember this humiliation and make that human pay for it later.

"We're not far from the Misty Swamp. I have some errands to run. I'll find you a tree when I get there. Be smart and hide in a tree. Don't wander off before I get back."

Yan stroked the white tiger's fur, gave it some instructions, and after talking for a while, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

After he fell asleep, the little white tiger started rolling around in the blankets, moving along Yan's body to his left leg. It stretched out its paw and scratched at him for a while, then opened its little mouth and gently bit him, its icy blue eyes full of confusion.

Yan rolled over in his sleep, and the little tiger quickly rolled forward to Yan's pillow, found a comfortable spot, and also drifted off to sleep. However, it didn't notice that Yan's eyes were slightly closed, as if he hadn't been asleep at all.

"My left leg... the original power of the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger's soul bead? Could it be that the little guy was attracted by this thing? But I don't have any evil attributes, and even my space-time abilities were cultivated on my own..."

Yan thought about these things in his mind. The little white tiger's behavior just now gave him some guesses and solved some of his doubts. However, these things were not important. After thinking it through, he relaxed his mind, his breathing became calm again, and he entered a deep sleep.

……

The vast continent is vast, and the environments of different parts of the continent are naturally different. The northern lands are always mountainous and waterless, while the Paradise of Ten Thousand Beasts is a special fertile land. The Misty Swamp, located in the southwest of the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire, is also very special.

The Misty Swamp is located on the border between the Beast Empire and the Feli Empire. It is one of the dividing lines between the two countries and a forbidden area on the western edge of the continent.

This region has a dense network of waterways and a frigid climate; the damp, chilly air makes it even more unbearable than the depths of the Beast Empire. With its abundant water resources, development here should have been quite easy.

However, for some reason, the forest here is dense and shrouded in miasma, with white fog rising from time to time that obscures people's vision. In addition, the beasts that roam this place are mostly poisonous, making it even more dangerous. Therefore, not many people are willing to settle here.

Because the swamp is covered by endless mist, it is called the Misty Swamp. It is impossible to find your way in the Misty Swamp, and it is very difficult to cross the endless Misty Swamp. Not much specific information about it has been circulated.

However, orc tribes also exist within the Misty Swamp. Among the orcs is a branch of the Naga Serpent People. This damp and gloomy environment is actually suitable for their reproduction, and the serpent people themselves are resistant to poison, which gives them the means to reproduce and eventually bring the entire Misty Swamp under their control.

"This Misty Swamp is really chaotic. Do the Snake People only operate on the outskirts?"

Outside the Misty Swamp, many orcs were engaged in a fierce battle. Yan stood atop a large tree, looking down over the area while using his mental powers to perceive the surrounding situation.

With his current cultivation level, he can sense many things in an instant, and he can also 'see' the situation in the Misty Swamp clearly.

He discovered that there were indeed many snake people active in the Misty Swamp, but they weren't deep inside. Instead, they were only in a certain area on the outskirts. There was nothing there beyond that area, and even his mental energy was being suppressed. There was clearly something wrong there.

As Yan had this thought, his eyes scanned downwards, where he saw several snake-men surrounded and fighting frantically. The way they wielded their curved blades looked somewhat awkward, but their power was quite remarkable.

However, their opponents were much fiercer, with heads like large cats and lion manes. These were lion-men belonging to the orc royal family, not the sacred earth spirit lions, but ordinary lion-men. However, almost all of them were armored and were clearly much wealthier than the snake-men who only had scimitars.

Dozens of lion-men surrounded and attacked a dozen snake-men, with several incomplete snake-man corpses lying around.

"Hehe! You lowly servants, how dare you defy us, the great lion-men nobles? Why don't you obediently offer up your snake gallbladders? Maybe you won't die even if you have your core removed."

Beside several incomplete snake-man corpses, a lion-man crouched down and used a dagger to scrape across the bodies before reaching inside and pulling out a bloody, dark green object—the snake-man's gall bladder, also known as a medicinal ingredient.

The orcs of the Beast Empire all possess the bloodline of celestial beasts. Besides the celestial core, the fur of these celestial beasts can be used to cover the body, their flesh and bones can be used to satisfy hunger, and some special parts can be used as medicine.

The organs of celestial beasts can be used in medicine, and as beastmen who inherit their bloodline, they naturally possess similar properties, as seen in the gallbladders of snake-men. However, this practice of killing people for their gallbladders has long been explicitly prohibited, but some clandestine practices cannot be completely eradicated.

This is the situation Yan is facing now: a group of lion-men have their eyes on these snake-men, and they want to profit from their snake gallbladders.

Such behavior is not permitted by law in any country, but within the Beast Empire, there are numerous tribal conflicts, such as between wolves and sheep, cats and rats. Many tribes claim to be from the same country, but they are actually blood enemies.

Therefore, the security situation within the Beast Empire is the worst among all the countries. If you travel as a merchant without a guard, you won't even find your corpse long after leaving the settlement.

"Hahaha, we've made a fortune again this time. Humans love this kind of stuff the most."

A moment later, the lion-man came back with a huge pile of bloody things and said to the lions who were still fighting, "Hurry up and kill them to get their gallbladders while they're still fresh. If you take too long and they lose their energy, they won't look as good."

These words from the lion-man intensified the grief and anger of the trapped snake-men, who brandished their scimitars and fought desperately to carve out a way to survive.

At this moment, another lion-man who was standing nearby came over and scolded, "You bastard, keep your voice down! If the snake-men hear this, they'll fight us to the death with their entire tribe. This stuff is very nutritious, and it tastes best when it's fresh."

As he spoke, he reached into the bloody pile, picked one up, weighed it in his hand, and then swallowed it directly into his mouth. He squinted his eyes, his face full of enjoyment, and sucked the traces of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Roar~~~"

Just then, the little white tiger in Yan's arms suddenly moved. With a sudden burst of strength from its four tiny, still pink and tender paws, it leaped out of the air.

The little white tiger's chubby body swelled as if caught in the wind in mid-air. The little thing, which was originally only four feet long, suddenly became much larger. When its four limbs landed silently, it had transformed into a fierce tiger with white forehead and slanted eyes, about three meters long and one and a half meters tall at the shoulder.

Its dark blue stripes emanated a hazy glow, and it raised its head, letting out angry tiger roars that echoed throughout the mountains and forests. An incomparably powerful kingly aura instantly swept across the chaotic scene.

The sudden appearance of the white tiger had already thrown the lion-men into a panic, but the angry roar only made them more frightened, their eyes filled with fear.

The white tiger's eyes suddenly turned a crystalline white, and two thick beams of white light shot out from them, illuminating the two lion-men who were talking. The fur on their bodies instantly exploded, and a large cloud of blood mist vanished along with the pile of snake gallbladders.

The skeleton raised a massive tiger paw and walked forward, continuously emitting deep, muffled growls as if it were speaking. After a series of growls, the lion-men became even more terrified, trembling and unable to move.

The white tiger's genitals turned snow blue again, its gaze gradually turned cold, and a strong aura of killing intent swept out from its body.

Yan's voice came from above, "We're all beastmen, even if we're enemies, killing each other is one thing, but to desecrate corpses is another. Are you animals?"

Chapter 540 The Nine-Headed Sacred Serpent

On the outskirts of the Misty Swamp, accompanied by the roar of the little white tiger Tian'er, all the orcs fighting on the scene dared not continue to fight. The lion-men, who were the main targets, could not even stand up, and they were all trembling with fear.

"My lord, spare me! Spare my life!"

The lion-man who had swallowed the snake's gall was closest to Tian'er. Lions and tigers are somewhat related by blood, so those of lower bloodlines are suppressed more severely. Looking at the white tiger's angry eyes, he trembled and begged for mercy.

"I spared you, but who spared these dead snake people?"

A deep growl escaped the white tiger's lips, filled with boundless rage. Tian'er, who had always lived in the Paradise of Beasts, had been taught from a young age that she was the future ruler of Snow God Mountain and even the Beast Empire, and that all beastmen and celestial beasts were her subjects.

She never expected to see such a scene. It was one thing for the orcs to kill each other, since all living beings do similar things, but she simply could not accept the behavior of these lion-men who killed people for their gall and even carried out this slaughter specifically for this purpose.

"Why waste so much breath talking to them? There are all kinds of creatures in the world, and there are always some beasts who cross the line. No matter how much you talk to them, they will never repent. Just kill them all."

Yan's voice came again, and fear appeared on the faces of the orcs. However, before they could react again, the flames that swept out instantly engulfed all the lionmen and the few remaining snakemen corpses.

With the screams abruptly cut off, everything that had happened here came to an end, leaving no trace, as if nothing had ever occurred.

Yan casually opened and closed his palms to retract the flames, as if he had done something insignificant. The flames were extinguished, leaving not even ashes behind.

"Thank you for your help, human guest from afar."

While Yan was talking to Tian'er, the group of snake people, all of whom were injured, had their wounds treated. One of them, the leader, walked up to Yan and thanked him, saying, "I wonder what business you have in our Misty Swamp? If there is anything we can do to help, we will do our best."

Yan Yao gazed into the depths of the Misty Swamp, his tone becoming somewhat elusive, "I've heard that there's a legend of a nine-headed holy serpent in the Misty Swamp, is that right?"

When Yan mentioned the Nine-Headed Sacred Serpent, the snake-people couldn't help but show expressions of fear, as if it were some terrifying being.

"The guest is looking for the Nine-Headed Sacred Serpent."

The snake-man who was leading the group, though he was asking a question, used a confident tone, clearly indicating that he had guessed some of Yan's intentions.

Yan's expression remained calm. "You know to tell me roughly where the legendary altar is located. You don't need to worry about the rest, you don't need to lead the way, and you won't break the rules of the snake people."

"My lord, thank you for your help. This is a map of our tribe, and some antidote herbs. I hope they will be of assistance to you."

The snake-man who was leading the group showed a hint of struggle on his face, then subtly pointed to a certain point on the map and a certain direction of the swamp behind him. After putting the things down, he clasped his hands in a salute and slowly retreated.

"Your injuries are quite serious. Go and reunite with your people as soon as possible!"

Yan glanced at the Misty Swamp, checked the map to confirm the direction, then put the items into his storage device and waved goodbye to the group of snake people.

"I hope you return safely, sir."

The group of snake people paid their special respects to Yan, and then, relying on each other, began their arduous journey home.

"Life is hard for everyone!"

After Yan uttered a sigh, he beckoned to the enlarged white tiger Tian'er beside him. A hint of hesitation flashed in the white tiger's icy blue eyes, and then it suddenly pounced on Yan with a kick of its four paws.

The enormous white tiger suddenly shrank in mid-air, and soon became a four-inch kitten again. It landed lightly on Yan's shoulder, then slid down gently, slipping into his clothes and finding a warm spot.

"This little thing, it managed to get away with it just like that?"

Yan looked down and saw that the little white tiger had closed its eyes and relaxed its limbs, with only half of its head sticking out in his arms. It had fallen asleep immediately, clearly not wanting to discuss the matter of it growing bigger earlier and just wanting to let it go.

Yan reached out and poked the little white tiger's round head. It was so chubby and boneless that when it was bothered, it would just stretch out its little paws and pat the tiger with its paw pads. It looked incredibly cute.

"Little brat, you'll get what's coming to you sooner or later. You're not getting away with your mount."

Yan pinched the little white tiger's chubby face, then uttered a harsh remark. He then looked up at the mist again, determined a direction, and began to tread on the waves, running swiftly through the muddy, damp swamp.

Deep within the misty swamp, amidst the endless white fog, the outline of a lake-like building appeared in Yan's sight. It was a city-like architectural ruin, entirely made of stone, standing out starkly in the swamp.

Yan moved and arrived above the ruins. Looking down from above, it appeared to be a huge building resembling a plaza, said to be the site of an altar in the legends of the ancient snake people. Even now, there are still legends of snake people sacrificing units in the Misty Swamp.

This tiered altar, resembling a plaza, rises at least ten feet above the murky swamp water. Its overall size is comparable to that of a small town. The most peculiar thing is that the building is surrounded by water on all sides, with lush greenery and abundant forests all around.

Although places with water are usually lush with vegetation, in swamps, the greenery is mostly aquatic plants rather than trees. The clear water contrasts sharply with the murky water in the distance, making it look quite eerie.

Yan Meng landed on the altar and took a few steps to the very center of the altar ruins. There was a huge pool there, the water was clear but the bottom was hard to see, and the dark blue bottomless pool made it hard to estimate the depth of the pool.

"Peng!!!"

Yan tossed in a spare ration he had stored in his storage container, then his left hand twisted with yellow light and crashed into the turbulent pool. Instantly, the entire pool began to spin wildly, and in the deepest part of the pool, an ancient aura awakened.

"Roar~~~"

A deafening roar erupted from the depths of the water, causing the already swirling surface to ripple violently. The once tranquil swamp was thrown into chaos as countless creatures scrambled to escape.

The water trembled more and more violently, gradually turning from ripples into waves that jumped more than ten feet high. Yan quickly leaped up, and instantly a huge wave crashed down and submerged the entire altar. An enormous snake head shot out of the water and straight into the sky towards Yan.

"Boom!"

Flaming wings suddenly rose behind Yan, and the already blazing sun seemed to expand by a large circle. Golden-red solar fire surrounded Yan's fist and suddenly burst downwards, instantly evaporating the towering waves that submerged the enormous snake head.

"Roar roar roar roar..."

A raging sea of ​​fire descended from the sky, but an even larger wave erupted from the depths of the earth. Yan sensed multiple different forces attacking at once, so he had no choice but to dodge and leave the spot.

He was suspended in mid-air, looking down at the water below, which was constantly boiling and bubbling up huge bubbles. At the same time, nine huge snake heads emerged, each with a neck as thick as a person's embrace.

"You have finally appeared, Nine-Headed Holy Serpent."

Yan looked down at the enormous creature beneath him. Nine heads emerged from the altar, while more of them were hidden underwater. It was hard to be sure if it was a nine-headed serpent, but in legends, it was indeed said to have nine heads.

Although its body cannot be seen, the enormous size of this hydra is imaginable. Its nine heads have special colors and strange abilities. When its glowing snake eyes stare at you, you feel suffocated and your movements are somewhat affected.

"What a troublesome guy!"