As Lin Xiao Tian arrived at Black Mountain, he noticed that Little White Snake had grown significantly. Thanks to Lin Xiao Tian’s recent feeding, the snake had fattened up, its strength now at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Condensation.
Beasts in Black Mountain occupied different territories based on their strength. Generally, the stronger a beast, the deeper it resided, a rule that seemed ironclad. Take the zombies Lin Xiao Tian had encountered previously; despite being at the Foundation Establishment stage, they never ventured beyond the outer reaches of Black Mountain. Lin Xiao Tian speculated that some kind of restriction within Black Mountain limited the movement of these demonic beasts, much like the flood dragon in the Kunlun Valley, which could not leave its territory.
However, Little White Snake was an anomaly. As a demonic beast at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Condensation, it should also be affected by Black Mountain’s restrictions, unable to appear in the outer areas. Yet, every time Lin Xiao Tian entered the mountain, Little White Snake would appear immediately. He couldn't fathom the secrets this little creature held. Could an ordinary white viper achieve such a feat?
With a conflicted heart, Lin Xiao Tian ventured into the mountain again. Having learned from his previous experience, Lin Xiao Tian was no longer hesitant as he journeyed deeper into Black Mountain. Wherever Little White Snake dared to go, Lin Xiao Tian would try to follow. He wanted to know just how powerful a demonic beast Little White Snake could subdue.
Not long after, Lin Xiao Tian encountered a fox demon. The fox demon possessed nine tails and, apart from them, bore no difference to a human woman. If not for the tails, Lin Xiao Tian might not have recognized it as a demonic beast. Little White Snake bared its fangs at the Nine-Tailed Fox, acting like a petty hoodlum, filling Lin Xiao Tian’s heart with mixed emotions.
According to the Shen Nong Medical Canon, a fox's cultivation was primarily determined by its tails. A fox was born with one tail, and its lifespan ranged from 10 to 25 years. If it gained sentience before its lifespan expired, it could acquire powerful spiritual energy. By the age of fifty, a fox could transform into a woman, and at one hundred, into a beauty. For every subsequent 100 years, it grew a new tail. Upon reaching 900 years of age, it would have nine tails, becoming a Nine-Tailed Fox, known for its enchantments that could bewilder and confuse minds. If a fox were fortunate enough to live for a thousand years, it could transform into a Celestial Fox, whose strength would be at least at the Soul Transformation stage.
The fox demon before him had nine tails, indicating it had lived for at least 900 years, translating to a cultivation level of at least late Nascent Soul stage. Demonic beasts at the Nascent Soul stage could be described as capable of destroying the world. Faced with a powerhouse of this caliber, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but feel nervous. Fortunately, the Nine-Tailed Fox showed no hostility, and Lin Xiao Tian left its vicinity unharmed.
The man and snake journeyed further. During this time, Lin Xiao Tian managed to collect many precious herbs. While these herbs were not considered valuable to the beasts residing there, they were immensely significant to Lin Xiao Tian. As a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, even thousand-year-old herbs were exceedingly rare, let alone the ten-thousand-year-old ones abundant in this area. Little White Snake, however, showed little interest in these herbs, its focus fixed on what lay ahead. Lin Xiao Tian, emboldened, followed Little White Snake deeper into the mountain.
After an unknown duration, Lin Xiao Tian slowed his pace as Little White Snake finally became still. The surrounding area was beyond the reach of his spiritual sense, and Little White Snake seemed to have lost its way.
"Little fellow, I remember the way back. How about we call it a day?" Lin Xiao Tian said to Little White Snake, which, though able to understand human speech, could not yet speak.
However, Little White Snake was clearly unwilling and tried to move forward on its own. Thankfully, Lin Xiao Tian managed to restrain it. If the little creature ran off, how would he face the surrounding demonic beasts alone?
The man and the snake remained in a stalemate for a while until, in the next moment, a gleam of light flashed ahead. Little White Snake became instantly agitated, urging Lin Xiao Tian to follow. Lin Xiao Tian gritted his teeth and finally walked forward. The deeper they went, the more pronounced the light became.
As Lin Xiao Tian approached, he was stunned by the sight before him.
"A Lightning Pool?"
Legends spoke of it as a celestial artifact, yet here it was, appearing in this place. Little White Snake was extremely excited upon seeing the Lightning Pool, its interest piqued more than by anything except a demonic core. Lin Xiao Tian knew that white vipers evolved through lightning, but a Lightning Pool was an excessive requirement. It served as a barrier between the celestial realm and the outside world; anyone below the Soul Transformation stage who entered would surely perish, and even immortals would emerge severely injured. Could Little White Snake, a demonic beast at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Condensation, dare to enter the Lightning Pool?
Lin Xiao Tian tentatively released Little White Snake, but the creature visibly faltered, slithering back into Lin Xiao Tian's embrace. Lin Xiao Tian couldn't help but roll his eyes. However, since Little White Snake was also afraid of the Lightning Pool, and it wouldn't be safe for him to remain there, Lin Xiao Tian decided to leave.
Unexpectedly, after taking only two steps, Little White Snake blocked his path.
"Little fellow, what do you want?" Little White Snake couldn't speak human language and could only throw a tantrum.
Lin Xiao Tian paused and thought carefully. "You want to stay around here? If so, nod your head."
Little White Snake immediately nodded.
"Then, go back with me first, and then you can come back. Otherwise, I can't get out of here. Is that okay? If it is, nod your head." Lin Xiao Tian continued.
Upon hearing Lin Xiao Tian's words, Little White Snake became agitated again, clearly displeased with his decision. Lin Xiao Tian was at a loss. He definitely had to go back. But if he forced Little White Snake to return, and the creature threw a fit along the way, potentially inciting the surrounding demonic beasts against him, he would be done for. He had to find a solution that benefited both of them.
"How about this? I'll accompany you here during the day, but we must return before sunset. If that's acceptable, nod your head," Lin Xiao Tian said with a pleading look.
Little White Snake was clearly unhappy but, seeing Lin Xiao Tian's expression, it eventually relented, and an agreement was reached between the man and the snake. Lin Xiao Tian found a spot near the Lightning Pool, and Little White Snake coiled on his body. They quietly guarded the Lightning Pool.
Seizing this opportunity, Lin Xiao Tian activated his Shen Nong Heart Technique and entered a state of cultivation. The surrounding spiritual energy was incredibly dense, far beyond anything outside. His Shen Nong Heart Technique could absorb spiritual energy to its maximum potential, making this place ideal for cultivation. Little White Snake was also not idle; Lin Xiao Tian could sense spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from it, indicating it was also engaged in something.
After cultivating for a while, Lin Xiao Tian suddenly felt a tingling sensation. He opened his eyes and saw that a small wisp of electric arc had appeared on Little White Snake's body at some point. The arc was minuscule, barely visible to the naked eye, but the energy contained within was terrifying. Lin Xiao Tian was taken aback. Wasn't this the electric arc from the Lightning Pool? Why was it on Little White Snake? Upon closer inspection, the electric arc seemed to coexist with Little White Snake, suggesting it was something it possessed naturally.
Lin Xiao Tian suddenly understood. Little White Snake's innate element was the lightning from the Lightning Pool. No wonder the demonic beasts of Black Mountain feared it so much. The pressure exuded by the electric arcs from the Lightning Pool was a bane to all living creatures.
However, there was one thing Lin Xiao Tian couldn't comprehend. Previously, he had set up surveillance in Little White Snake's cave, and the recordings showed it venturing out only once every three to four days. If it needed to come to the Lightning Pool so frequently, why had it been staying in its cave all this time?