Chapter 136: Chapter 132: Pitch-Black Dark Pool

Seeing the giant snake was dead, Han Ning signaled for Egg Pancake to disperse the stone sphere.

’This giant snake’s Power wasn’t half-bad. Yin Yi has already used up nearly 60% of her Spiritual Energy...’

’Cyan Wood Radiance is powerful, but its Spiritual Energy consumption is terrifying. If there had been twice as many snakes, we would have been in trouble.’

Han Ning mused to himself. He tilted his head to listen and heard another wave of rustling, slithering sounds coming from inside the cave.

The other Tree Spirits and Tree Demons had also played a huge role, killing nearly 20% of the snake swarm.

Knowing there were still many large purple snakes left alive inside, Han Ning quickly said to Yin Yi and the others, "Clean up the area, fast! We need to leave now!"

The Soul Beasts, having cooperated with the Beast Masters many times, worked with practiced ease. They tore open the snake carcasses strewn across the ground, searching for any Crystal Stones that might be inside.

Yin Yi swung her green Light Saber, precisely slicing open the great snake’s head. From within, she dug out a Black Crystal Stone the size of a fist.

Han Ning raised his hand and took the Crystal Stone.

It was cold to the touch. A black mist swirled around his fingertips, and it felt as if countless living beings were roaring and screaming inside it, creating a sense of oppression and fear.

’A black Crystal Stone that carries negative Energy... could it be Darkness?’ Han Ning muttered to himself, using his Spiritual Power to dispel the screams in his mind.

Yin Yi, seeming to sense something, walked over to the great snake’s abdomen and swept her sword across it.

SQUELCH~

Foul-smelling organs spilled onto the ground, mixed with a dozen or so purple snake eggs the size of washbasins.

Han Ning let out a surprised "Huh?" "So it really was pregnant."

Even though the great snake was dead, a strange Power still lingered on the surface of the eggs, protecting them from the Wood Type Energy.

Soon, the Crystal Stone and snake eggs were wrapped up in vines. Without any hesitation, the group took the only path available and moved away from the cave entrance.

The group ran for several minutes along an unfamiliar, sparse forest path shrouded in Gray Mist before the sounds behind them finally faded.

The gloomy mountain loomed over them, and a dim light from an unknown source cast somber shadows everywhere.

"Let’s rest for a bit and get something to eat," Lü Xiuning said, letting out a long sigh of relief as he signaled for everyone to stop.

After taking out a few compressed biscuits and swallowing them with some water, and after allocating some Attribute Points to Yin Yi and Egg Pancake, Han Ning unfastened the pouch at his waist. He emptied it onto the ground, spilling out a dozen or so snake eggs covered in purple bloodstains and mucus.

"These purple snakes are quite powerful. If we raise them, their potential will definitely be higher than Silver Lotus Wood. And from what I can see, these dozen or so eggs are bigger than the ones we found in the cave. Should we take them back with us, or divide them now?" Han Ning asked.

"Let’s decide when we get back... I still have a big batch of bird eggs. We can distribute everything at once based on everyone’s needs," Lü Xiuning suggested.

"Mhm... even though these snakes seem very strong, I’ve always been afraid of them. If I had to choose, I’d still prefer a bird." Recalling the large purple snake’s unsettling gaze, Zhao Jingjing couldn’t help but frown.

"Alright." Hearing this, Han Ning gathered the snake eggs and put them away.

After resting for a while, everyone once again grew worried about their current situation.

"You two teachers, Han Ning, which way are we supposed to go?" He Yang asked, his expression troubled as he looked at the forked path stretching to the left and right, then up at the gloomy mountain above.

Han Ning looked up at the "sky." "We should still be in the valley. Some unknown Power is interfering with our senses. I suggest we do the opposite of what seems logical. The left path is closer to the mountain, so let’s go right."

Worried they might suddenly stumble into another dangerous area, he didn’t rashly ask Yin Yi to fly straight up.

They had tried that before; going up, their senses were also disrupted by the mist.

Lü Xiuning observed their surroundings and sighed softly. "Even Han Ning’s Spiritual Power can’t penetrate the mist here. I don’t have any ideas either."

"Let’s toss a stick," Teacher Zheng said. He casually picked up a branch from the ground, held it over the middle of the path, and let go.

The branch clattered to the ground, pointing to the right.

"Right it is, then," the group decided.

The Soul Beasts began to glow with a green light as they led the way.

The valley was no smooth path. One thick stone pillar after another divided their line of sight and carved up the space on the valley floor.

Ten minutes later, the surrounding scenery changed.

The low, sparse, withered trees disappeared, replaced by towering, pale skeletons.

They moved through a field of black and white interwoven skeletons. Above, it sounded as if many creatures were flapping their wings, making rustling noises.

A dozen or so small, avian Soul Beasts, pitch-black with pairs of scarlet pupils, perched on the skeletons of unknown Soul Beasts that were at least three meters tall. They stared down at Han Ning’s group with eyes that emanated a faint, eerie glow.

"Crows? Has everyone noticed that the Soul Beasts here all lean toward the grim and gloomy?" Teacher Zheng said in a low voice, glancing at the crows above.

"This place is probably an area rich in Death Energy," Han Ning conjectured, thinking of the Crystal Stone from the great snake’s body.

This flock of crows didn’t attack them. Instead, they remained silent and hidden within the Gray Mist.

The group traveled through the White Bone Forest for a while longer before Han Ning, who was at the front, suddenly stopped.

He flared his nostrils, catching the pungent stench of blood.

But there was only one path ahead. He had no choice but to signal for the others to keep moving forward.

After passing through a pile of rubble, the view suddenly opened up before them.

Compared to the other areas, the ground ahead was no longer rugged; it was as if a steamroller had flattened it several times over.

A pitch-black Dark Pool came into view.

In the center of the Dark Pool, a peculiar Soul Beast lay on its back. It was about five meters tall, with wolf-like facial features, but its fur was sparse. Its skin was the color of Obsidian, covered in purple markings.

A pair of bat-like wings grew from its back, and its black muscles bulged as if containing explosive Power. Its eyes were shut tight, and it was completely lifeless.

A verdant green light shone through the white mist, casting a bizarre and surreal glow upon the surroundings.

A dozen or so large Soul Beasts, also with bat-like wings and bearing a strong resemblance to the one in the pool, were gathered around it, tearing at the corpses of other Soul Beasts.

The thick, metallic smell of blood came from these carcasses.

They tore the body of a monkey-like Soul Beast apart, tossing its innards into the black pool. Then, they stuffed the other parts into their mouths in huge bites, chewing forcefully.

The unsettling sound of bones cracking echoed across the pool, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Seeing this, Han Ning and the others were about to retreat.

But suddenly, a huge splash erupted from the pool before them.

Two ugly monsters leaped out. They had wings on their backs, a bestial form, pale fur, and long fangs protruding from their faces.

"SKREEEE!!"

They swept their savage gazes toward Han Ning’s group and let out a unified, bloodcurdling shriek.