I Tame Beasts by Feeding

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Fusion, Poisonous Spirit Python Carcass

"Ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones?"

Yu Changsheng froze, then frowned.

"The most valuable parts of this Poisonous Spirit Python are gone. All that’s left is worthless meat. You still dare to ask for ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones? Are you trying to swindle me just because I’m young?"

"I’m a disciple of the Wanxiang Sect." Yu Changsheng casually shifted his arm behind his back, making sure to reveal his Disciple Token as he stared intently at the stall owner.

’I have to use my status when it counts. Otherwise, people will look down on me for being only sixteen!’

As expected, the stall owner’s face paled when he heard this.

’I thought he was just some ignorant kid buying the Poisonous Spirit Python’s meat, but I didn’t expect him to know his stuff.’

And so, he could only say, "Then... seven Lower Grade Spirit Stones."

"The Poisonous Spirit Python’s head and poison sac are gone. It’s not worth that price."

Yu Changsheng countered, "Three Lower Grade Spirit Stones, tops."

"It took us a lot of effort to hunt this Poisonous Spirit Python! One of my companions even got hit by its venom. Three is way too low. Five!" the stall owner said, getting anxious.

"The head and poison sac are gone. Three!"

"Four! Any lower and I..."

"No head, no sac. Three!"

"Alright, alright! You win! Three it is!"

In the end, the stall owner compromised. Yu Changsheng bought the remains of the Poisonous Spirit Python for three hundred Spirit Coins.

They made the exchange, each secretly delighted with their own side of the bargain.

Yu Changsheng had spent over half a month’s wages, but the Poisonous Spirit Python he acquired would let him attempt an Ancestral Fusion.

It was easy to defend against a Demon Beast’s fire, but poison was a different story. It could seep through a Cultivator’s skin, even if they held their breath.

Yu Changsheng grew excited just imagining his Red Snake spitting out fiery poison.

He put the Poisonous Spirit Python’s corpse into his System Space, browsed some other stalls, and finally spent another fifty Spirit Coins on a Protective Talisman.

A Beast Master’s offensive power came entirely from their beasts, which made their personal safety paramount. An extra Protective Talisman meant more peace of mind.

Now completely broke and back to square one, Yu Changsheng didn’t buy anything else before meeting up with Zhuang Yan and the others to head back.

As they returned to the Outer Peak, they ran into someone unexpected.

"Well, well. Just got back from the market, did we?"

Huang Li swaggered over with three disciples in tow, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

The other servant disciples scurried aside in fear. Even Zhuang Yan was unwilling to get into a conflict with him.

"Junior Yu, you must have bought a lot of nice things. Why don’t you take them out and let me, your Senior Brother, have a look for you?"

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng stared at him, calm and composed, but his hand had already secretly formed the seal for the Magic Technique to summon his Red Snake.

"There’s no need to trouble Senior Brother Huang."

Just as he thought the other man was about to lose his patience and attack, Huang Li suddenly burst out laughing.

"Junior Yu, we’ve had some unpleasantness in the past. That was my fault. I apologize. From now on, let’s get along here on the Outer Peak."

After he finished laughing, Huang Li walked past Yu Changsheng and left with his three disciples.

"Did I hear that right? That Huang Li actually apologized!"

"A dream, I’m definitely dreaming!"

"Hahaha, Junior Yu is one of Steward Chang’s favorites now. Huang Li must be wary of that, which is why he bowed his head and apologized."

"With Steward Chang looking out for him, it’s only a matter of time before Junior Yu gets promoted to Outer Disciple!"

"Soon, we’ll probably have to start calling him Senior Brother Yu, haha."

Status was everything within the sect, so seeing Huang Li lower his head made the other servants both excited and happy for Yu Changsheng.

But Yu Changsheng didn’t let his guard down. He hadn’t believed a single word Huang Li said.

’Actions can be faked, but you can’t hide the look in your eyes when you want someone dead. The look in Huang Li’s eyes put him on high alert.’

Returning to the courtyard, the crowd dispersed.

Yu Changsheng formed a seal and summoned the Red Snake King.

’Is it time to eat again?’

The Red Snake King stared at its master in surprise.

It had a rather large appetite and usually needed to eat twice a day. Back in the Beast Garden, it had always eaten Tier One Demon Flesh mixed with other meat. But since following Yu Changsheng, it hadn’t had a single bite of Demon Flesh, only ordinary pork.

But the snake understood. It wasn’t that its master was stingy; he was just genuinely poor. How could he afford Demon Flesh on a monthly wage of four hundred Spirit Coins? So it never complained, and even ate the pork sparingly to make it last.

Facing the Red Snake King’s surprise, Yu Changsheng spread a cloth on the ground, took out the Poisonous Spirit Python’s corpse from his System Space, and smiled.

"A special treat for you today!"

The Red Snake King’s eyes lit up at the sight of the Demon Flesh. It slithered closer and flicked its tongue against the meat, sensing the toxins within.

It raised its head, questioning Yu Changsheng with its eyes.

’Can I really eat this?’

’I’m only at the Tier One Fourth Layer. I don’t think I can digest the toxins in this meat!’

’We’re both snakes, but a Tier One Seventh Layer Poisonous Spirit Python is much stronger than me. Even with its head and poison sac removed, and after several days of its Demon Power fading, the toxins in the flesh are still potent.’

’Any other Spirit Beast would be foaming at the mouth from the corrosive poison after just one lick. Feeling its own tongue go numb was why the Red Snake King was asking Yu Changsheng so uncertainly.’

’In its eyes, its master had to be an incredibly experienced Beast Master. Otherwise, how could a single touch have made it evolve?!’

"Don’t worry, it’s no problem." The reason Yu Changsheng was so sure was because the system’s message had already popped up.

[Ancestral Fusion]

[Success Rate: Red Snake King + Poisonous Spirit Python Corpse = 99%]

[Cost: 1300 Essence]

’A 99% success rate? This is basically a sure thing!’

’Of course, there was always the chance he could have terrible luck and hit that 1% chance of failure, which would mean the Red Snake King getting poisoned to death.’

Yu Changsheng considered himself a fairly lucky person. He couldn’t be *that* unlucky, so he initiated the fusion.

Hearing its master’s confident words, the Red Snake King steeled itself, opened its great maw, and began to swallow the Poisonous Spirit Python’s corpse.

GULP... GULP...

The swallowing process was slow, as the corpse was quite long. ƒrēewebnovel.com

Meanwhile, the Red Snake King had to struggle desperately to digest the toxins within.

An hour later, the Red Snake King finally closed its strained jaws, having swallowed the entire corpse. Its body had swollen significantly.

The terrifying poison seeped into its flesh, and its dark red scales took on a bluish tint.

That was the exact color of the Poisonous Spirit Python’s scales!

Yu Changsheng stroked the Red Snake King’s head, feeling nervous.

’The Poisonous Spirit Python’s defenses are terrible. I don’t need that weakness. Please don’t let that get fused in.’

[Fusion Complete]

[Result: The Red Snake King’s poison sac has absorbed the Poisonous Spirit Python’s toxins. Its attacks now carry a corrosive venom. The stronger an enemy’s resistance, the more potent the venom becomes. However, excessive use of the venom will cause the Red Snake King’s scales to become brittle, lowering its defense.]

Seeing the system’s message, Yu Changsheng immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The result was well within an acceptable range. As long as he managed the amount of poison used, the Red Snake King’s defense would remain unchanged.

At the same time, the Red Snake King’s belly gradually flattened.

It was amazed to discover that its poison sac had turned blue.

And it contained the very same Poisonous Spirit Python toxins it recognized!

’I’ve gained the Poisonous Spirit Python’s power?’

’H-how is this possible?!’

The Red Snake King opened its mouth wide, staring at Yu Changsheng’s palm in utter shock.

’Just what else can these hands do?’

Meanwhile, Yu Changsheng received another system message.

[You have successfully fed one Red Snake King. Consumed: Incomplete Poisonous Spirit Python Corpse x1. Reward: 150 Essence.]