19 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

A group of people together didn't seem too nervous; with two Foundation Establishment cultivators, one would be even more alert. However, with a large group, there were just two of them, making for a large target, and the rest seemed to be out for a leisurely stroll. While exploring, Bai Fan lagged leisurely at the back. The heavy mist in the gorge meant one couldn't see others even a short distance away. As a fierce beast, Bai Fan instinctively scouted the surroundings for potential dangers, her entire snake body bristling with vigilance. The distance between them gradually widened. Rarely out in the open, Bai Fan didn't want to stroll as if she were on a group tour, so she deliberately fell behind. This further increased the gap between Bai Fan and the Qingxu Sect disciples. With too many disciples to manage, Lian Sheng couldn't keep track of Bai Fan, and finally, they got separated—though one could also blame Bai Fan for not keeping up. Bai Fan stood around, scratching her head in exasperation, glancing at the dense surrounding mist. The heavy moisture left no traces of scent in the air. After pondering for a while, Bai Fan decided not to worry too much. Since she was lost, she might as well find a place to sleep until it was time to leave. She calculated with her fingers and realized there were still more than half a month left before it was time to go. Determined to find a comfortable spot, Bai Fan stepped into the grass, keeping her eyes on her feet as the visibility was poor. Observing closely, she noticed the grass here seemed different from elsewhere. She grabbed a handful and inspected it, finding the tips of the leaves were somewhat red. Surprisingly, almost all the grass around her was like this. Bai Fan habitually sniffed it but didn't detect anything unusual. She then put some in her mouth and chewed. It wasn't until she tasted it that she realized something was wrong—the ordinary grass had a spicy flavor. If only one type of grass showed this trait, it might have been nothing. But with all the grass around exhibiting this peculiar characteristic, there had to be a reason. Something in the area must be affecting the growth of the grass. Driven by curiosity, Bai Fan followed the trail of peculiar grass to a pile of scattered red rocks, which appeared as if they'd been soaked in blood or burned by fire. "What are these stones?" Bai Fan wondered, circling them. The aura emanating from the stones made her blood boil. Could these stones be the cause of the grass's strange growth? She pried one of the stones to find that it was ordinary inside but its surface had been soaked by something, causing the red color. Judging by the appearance, it seemed like blood—what kind of creature's blood could alter the grass’s growth and give it a spicy taste? Failing to deduce further from her limited knowledge, Bai Fan couldn’t help but be intrigued. She inspected the area and discovered similar red stains on other stones. Following this trail of stones, Bai Fan found a natural cave. It was pitch black inside, and she heard echoes when she tossed in a stone, indicating a sizable and deep space. Bai Fan speculated an injured beast might have taken refuge here. Judging by the age of the bloodstains, the beast had likely left long ago. She proceeded into the cave, where the air suddenly turned dry—a stark contrast to the damp gorge. In the darkness, Bai Fan's human pupils transformed into snake-like vertical slits, glowing eerily gold. Her pupils narrowed, and she ventured inside, pondering if she could contend with the beast if it still resided there. Having lived long among humans, she hadn’t seen other beasts, except for the black snake that underwent tribulation. And if the cave was empty, she could at least have a place to rest. Scattered bones littered the cave floor, suggesting a fearsome beast had indeed resided here. The skeletons, almost as large as Bai Fan’s original form, conveyed the size and strength of their owner. Feeling a bit apprehensive, Bai Fan hesitated, although her curiosity obliged her to continue. Finding a mystical beast would advance her cultivation substantially, sparing her from the trial-and-error approach that could lead to untimely death. Curiosity prevailing over fear, Bai Fan pressed on. The sulfuric smell grew stronger the deeper she ventured, a scent that her snake instincts abhorred. Thank goodness she was a beast now; a normal snake would have been suffocated. Covering her nose, she kicked away obstructing bones with her tiny feet, her nose scrunching up in distaste. As she approached the cave’s end, Bai Fan found the source of the sulfur smell—a lava pit, from which molten lava continuously spewed. Standing nearby, she felt waves of heat washing over, reddening her face. While surveying the surroundings, the lava beneath began bubbling more fiercely, causing the ground to tremble. Bai Fan clung to the cave wall, fearing she’d encountered an imminent lava eruption. Just as she contemplated a quick escape, a roar emanated from the magma below. If Bai Fan could speak, she would’ve screamed, "Oh my god! A monster!” “Stop right there, little snake!” Bai Fan’s mind burst with shock as the entity within the lava spoke directly into her brain. Trembling, she turned to see a massive head emerging from the lava. Bai Fan nearly passed out from fright—it was the first time in her life she’d been so terrified. She finally understood the fear she induced in others upon first sight. The creature had eyes like large lanterns, a pair of forked antlers, ears resembling a donkey's, and an entirely red-scaled body with fiery hooves. Its mane resembled a lion’s—an absolute chimera. Watching the chimera emerge from the lava—molten rocks sliding off its body like water—Bai Fan realized this was no ordinary beast. She was doomed. Seeing the bones around her, Bai Fan bitterly regretted her curiosity, now acutely aware of its perilous consequences. The chimeric beast approached, and Bai Fan’s legs felt rooted in place. As it lowered its head, Bai Fan squeezed her eyes shut and lifted her head, hoping for a better reincarnation in her next life. However, what she anticipated didn't occur. A hot breath sighed beside her ear. Bai Fan opened her eyes to see the chimera sniffing her, its lantern-like eyes scrutinizing her as if trying to pierce through her. “Why does your aura seem so strange? You have the scent of a beast, mixed with the aura of a dragon, and the essence of a true dragon. Are you some kind of hybrid?” At this, Bai Fan’s brain exploded with rage. How dare it call her a hybrid! Anger overwhelmed her reason, and she uttered her first curse in a shrill voice. “Well, you’re the hybrid! Your whole family are hybrids! You’re the mutt here, not me!” The lava monster was equally enraged by her outburst. “ROAR!” A thunderous roar from the beast sent Bai Fan sprawling, a hoof pressing down onto her back as it began speaking in slow, deliberate human words. “You ungrateful wretch, this sovereign is a naturally born spirit beast. No one in this world could be my parent. Were it not for the aura of spirit beasts on you, I’d have eaten you long ago.” Bai Fan’s head was spinning from the roar, her vision swarming with stars. Regaining her senses, she reverted to her original form—a massive white snake over ten meters long, sprawling in the cave, letting out a ferocious roar. Indeed, she seemed larger than the chimera. But the chimera wasn't fazed. It opened its mouth and spewed a stream of lava-like flames, turning the cave into an oven and scorching the walls red. The innate disparity left Bai Fan at a great disadvantage. Among average beasts, size meant power, but at this level, other factors mattered more. The lava nearly cooked Bai Fan, filling the air with the scent of charred meat. Bai Fan’s fierce spirit vanished, leaving her lying on the ground, barely clinging to life. She lay still, her scales shattered and loose, breathing heavily. “Can you calm down now? Starting a fight out of nowhere—it’s undignified for a spirit beast, behaving like a wild animal.” The lava monster moved with surprising grace despite its fiery hooves, even tossing its mane stylishly. Bai Fan lay there in a daze, completely outmatched before she could even strike. Now facing the powerful chimera, she thought it might be even stronger than the elders of Qingxu Sect. Escaping seemed impossible. At this moment, she longed for Lian Sheng and the others. Yet, in such a remote location, who could come to her rescue? Bai Fan felt utterly abandoned by both heaven and earth, unable to muster even a futile struggle. "What are you thinking about, little snake?" the Lava Monster asked curiously, eyeing Bai Fan. Bai Fan felt like she was on the brink of death, blood gushing from her back as if she were soaked in acid, unable even to flick her snake tongue. "I'm thinking about when exactly I'll die. If you're going to kill or torment me, just get it over with," she said, lying on the ground in defeat. Surrender seemed preferable to prolonged agony—her current state was like being roasted alive, unbearably painful. "Who said I was going to kill you?" replied the Lava Monster. "If you weren't going to kill me, why did you roast me? I can almost smell my own cooked flesh," Bai Fan retorted. "That's because you didn’t behave. You attacked first," the creature calmly responded. Bai Fan replayed the events in her mind, realizing the monster was right. But then she remembered being called a hybrid—that didn’t seem right. As she thought more about it, a crucial revelation struck her. She had spoken out loud! She could speak!