Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, but Thunderbolt Taoist Sect

Chapter 190 Dealing with the Giant Serpent

"A mantis that can take human form but cannot distinguish between Yin and Yang, a coffin-born child with a frighteningly tough life, oh right, and you too, why are you, a water-elemental dragon, always arguing with lightning? Stop using lightning spells, you've offended both the Thunder God and the Lightning Goddess, and other lightning-elemental deities are even less likely to respond to you."

Peng Haiqiu felt that he hadn't seen enough before. Apart from the Taoist priest surnamed Li, any one of these people and demons could be described as "weird".

"Why are you, a dragon, so obsessed with thunder magic? With your talent for water, you could easily cultivate your skills, become a respected dragon king, and manage a region's rivers."

"What's so special about the Dragon King?"

The young man, whose hand seals had failed, stopped what he was doing. The rogue immortal in front of him had connections with the East Sea Dragon Palace, and in order to avoid being "reported" when he returned to the East Sea, he was relatively obedient to Peng Haiqiu.

"There are hundreds of officially recognized Dragon Kings in the world, and countless others who claim to be Dragon Kings by occupying a river. As long as you have enough bravado, even a fish can claim a lake and call itself Dragon King."

"..."

Peng Haiqiu really couldn't refute this, because he had indeed met many dragon kings over the years, dozens of them of all sizes, and they were indeed a mixed bag of species.

"Don't even mention the Dragon King, aren't you immortals the same? There are always people trying to rise to the ranks of immortals, and as the number of immortals increases, only a few can actually stand out in the end."

While Peng Haiqiu was choking, the little dragon took out another crookedly drawn thunder talisman, intending to try it again with the talisman paper.

"Do not play with fire or lightning in the mountains and forests."

Before he could even use it, Liu Qingyuan, who had walked up to him, snatched the lightning talisman away. This little dragon's lightning magic was a complete mess; if he really summoned lightning, it would most likely miss its mark, and then it would cause a wildfire, which would be troublesome.

"…When did you come?"

The little dragon whose thunder talisman was taken away wasn't angry; he was more surprised. He had been avoiding Peng Haiqiu when he took the thunder talisman, and Liu Qingyuan, a grown man dressed in all white, had walked right up to him without him noticing at all.

"You're new here, did you draw this talisman wrong?"

Liu Qingyuan glanced at the thunder talisman he had taken from the other party. The crooked strokes on it were secondary; the content also seemed a bit off. Fortunately, he had caught it quickly, otherwise a fire would have been inevitable today.

"Wrong? Impossible, I drew it according to the book."

"what book?"

"A book that taught people magic, obtained from a scholar."

"...Master Li, please come and take a look."

The answer that the book the dragon used to learn magic was given by the scholar is not very reliable. The identity of the "scholar" is indeed very valuable here, but at the same time, the upper and lower limits are also very high. Liu Qingyuan handed the thunder talisman to Li Daoshi Guan Songsheng, who was standing next to him. These two are legitimate Taoists and would not mistake the talisman.

"It is indeed wrong."

Master Li frowned after taking a look.

"This painting is clearly the work of some mediocre people trying to make money off ordinary people. It's a mix of genuine and fake, and whether it can be used in the end depends entirely on the luck and talent of the person who learns it."

"But that scholar was able to subdue evil spirits after studying for only a few months..."

"This can only mean that the scholar was exceptionally gifted."

Liu Qingyuan wasn't sure if the scholar who gave him the spell was truly a genius, but he was certain that the little dragon in front of him had no talent in lightning magic, but rather in lightning resistance. After all, he had been struck by lightning and was still alive and kicking when he woke up.

"Let's go and deal with the snake den in the back mountain."

Before Liu Qingyuan arrived, the giant snake in the snake pit remained the same, only peeking out of the well to observe visitors, or letting swarms of small venomous snakes attack it, refusing all communication.

Sometimes, Liu Qingyuan even suspected that someone had tampered with the snake's throat. After all, this was related to the system, and according to the cultivation rules of fairies in this world, learning to speak human language was the most basic requirement. They could be without a human form, but they had to be able to speak human language, even if it was just mimicking others to scare them.

If communication is impossible in the real world, some fairies will choose to communicate through dreams. In short, they will do everything they can to ensure that they can communicate with others. Such refusal to communicate is truly "oddball".

"Why are the formations here... such a mess?"

Looking at the intertwined vines at the cave entrance, Peng Haiqiu found it difficult to find the right words to describe everything here. As a carefree immortal who loved to wander and enjoy life, he rarely found himself at a loss for words.

But here, he was at a loss for words, there were just too many unusual examples, and even the normal ones seemed abnormal.

"The vines absorb spiritual energy, and then the formation dominates it, preventing the spirits in this mountain from cultivating properly. Shi Lang, are you sure your benefactor is a cultivator?"

"I……"

Shi Lang's impression of his family's benefactor was only hearsay. So many years had passed, and the mantis that had received the favor and guarded the formation back then was long dead, making it impossible to verify.

"Immortal Master, could this be something like that jade?"

Seeing the appearance here, Peng Haiqiu recalled the strange jade material that Wei Niangzi had handed over, so he turned to ask Liu Qingyuan.

“We also had our doubts, which is why we mobilized our resources to ensure that the temple and the people living down the mountain would not be affected in the event of an accident. Judging from the size of the giant snake in the cave, there must be an even larger cave below.”

Jian Feidao's eyes could be used to see through formations, but they weren't true "X-ray vision." No one knew how much space lay below, or how many poisonous snakes were hidden inside.

At first, everyone thought it would be better to repair the seal that was accidentally damaged. However, the seal of the snake cave was a complete shoddy job, with Buddhist and Taoist formations mixed together and patches forced on everywhere. It could be used, but it was a one-time thing. Not to mention that Cang could not repair it, even if you brought over the person who originally repaired the formation, he might not be able to fix it.

Since the destruction of the formation is inevitable, the focus naturally shifts to what is sealed. Once the creature inside is dealt with, there's no need to worry about the seal outside.

The snake cave itself wasn't very big, and too many people going in would restrict their movements, so only Liu Qingyuan, Peng Haiqiu, and Xiao Chilong went in first, while Jian Feidao and Ren Pingsheng, along with Guan Songsheng and others, guarded the entrance. If any poisonous snakes tried to escape, they could stop them.

"Immortal Master, you were absolutely right when you said there were many snakes inside."

Upon entering, I was astonished to see so many venomous snakes, completely filling the floor and walls. Based on previous experience, the snakes would usually attack, but this time was different; all of them lay still, completely motionless.

"Just a bunch of mortals that haven't even developed any intelligence."

The little dragon kicked away the snake blocking its path. Because of the dragon's dominance over the snake, the usually ferocious venomous snakes dared not move. This one in front of them was a real tough opponent.

Further ahead lies the well where the giant snake dwells. The snake's behavior has become unusual. At first, it stares at the intruder, but when the little dragon kicks the snake on the ground and walks to the front, the two make eye contact and hear the low roar unique to dragons. The giant snake then retracts its head back into the well.

"Hey?"

The little dragon's cries just now were mainly meant to urge the other party to come out of the well. It was already strange to have a well in a dimly lit cave, and for such a large snake head to stick out was even more incongruous. It just didn't look right no matter how you looked at it.

He figured the snake must have undergone a long period of cultivation to grow so big, so he respectfully let it come out on its own. But the snake actually crawled back inside!

"Fine, you won't come out, huh? Then I'll drag you out myself!"

What kind of composed person would someone be to fight a thunder-attribute deity just to cultivate thunder magic? Seeing that the other side was unwilling to cooperate properly, the little dragon immediately rolled up its sleeves, transformed into a dragon, and flew into the well, with no one around to stop it.

The main surprise was that he transformed into a dragon and flew forward. The little dragon was thinner than the giant snake, and it didn't have any horns on its head. Its movement through the well was unimpeded, and it darted in like a mudfish.

Can't stop it, can't stop it at all.

"...Brother Peng, have you ever heard of the Well Dragon King?"

Because the little dragon's drilling movements were so smooth and graceful, it seemed to have a sense of ease in returning home. Liu Qingyuan couldn't help but let her thoughts wander and think that since dragons don't have horns, living in wells seemed quite suitable, and there was no need to worry about getting stuck at the doorstep.

"If you're going to tell any lame jokes, please refrain from doing so."

He didn't know who the Well Dragon King was, but considering the little dragon's drilling behavior just now, Peng Haiqiu could easily guess what this statement meant.

"boom!"

A violent tremor came from the well, and the small snakes around began to scurry about. However, the dragon's might from before was still there, and the giant snake below seemed to be calling to its offspring. So, although the cave was in chaos, no venomous snake ran out of the cave.

The commotion below was quite loud, making people worry that it might trigger an earthquake.

"Seniors! Are you alright?"

Feeling the ground tremble, Jian Feidao worried that the cave was about to collapse, so he quickly looked inside to inquire about the situation of the people inside.

"Nothing, just that a certain belligerent individual has been making a bit too much noise."

Judging from the noise, a fight has probably broken out. Are they willing to fight the dragon rather than cooperate? This makes them seem even more like the villains.

……

Looking up from the foot of the mountain towards the mountainside, Cang had just vaguely felt a slight tremor in the ground. It wasn't strong enough to be considered an earthquake or flash flood, but it was definitely not a normal phenomenon. He wondered what the people in the mountains were doing.

There is only one temple on this mountain, and very few spirits, all because of the seal on the snake cave. However, this only limits the concentration of spiritual energy, and the lives of ordinary people at the foot of the mountain are basically unaffected. But if the snake cave is gone, it could very likely cause other troubles. There are already enough innate beings in the mountain, so Cang came down the mountain to prevent other "accidents" from happening.

The slight tremor disappeared, and the surroundings returned to calm. Cang saw that no one was around and was about to go to another direction to take a look, but he soon heard some sounds, indicating that someone was coming this way.

There were two footsteps, one heavy and one light, indicating that the people coming were one big and one small. There were also many sounds of branches and leaves being rubbed or pulled, suggesting that they might be carrying a large amount of luggage.

"Father, I feel the ground shaking. Let's find another place to practice our immortal arts."

"Why is it shaking all of a sudden? There are fewer people here, so we can practice here without others stealing our techniques."

The visitors were a father and son. The father carried a heavy bamboo box on his back and held his son, who was only half his height, by the hand. He did not believe his son's claim that the earth would shake.

"As long as we learn how to 'steal peaches,' we'll receive good rewards during the Spring Festival this year, and life will be much better from now on."

Seeing that they were just two ordinary people, Cang didn't pay much attention and let them come this way. The area was relatively open and deserted, with only trees and grass around. The father and son might not even run into Cang.

Judging from the father's words, he was probably looking for a place to practice some kind of technique. Strictly speaking, Cang's location was not suitable, and it was more likely that the two would "pass each other by" in the future.

"String Head!"

If it weren't for that shout, and the swallow swooping down from above...

"Whoosh!"

The swallow swooped down towards Cang at an extraordinary speed, passing right over the heads of the father and son, passing through layers of branches and leaves, its body gradually expanding and growing larger, until it landed in front of Cang, having transformed into a complete human.

It was Guan Songsheng. Apart from the demons, only the bird he transformed into could have such speed. Judging from the direction he flew from, it was very likely that he sought a high place and rushed down in pursuit of efficiency.

Because their size increases as they approach the ground, the dense foliage that obstructs their view is forcefully knocked open, creating a large hole that allows both sides to see people not far away.

"Immortal Sword Master sent me to find you. Brother Yu has already pulled out the giant serpent; all that's needed next is..."

"Father! There's a monster!"

The child's distinctive shrill voice pierced through the woods, revealing large gaps in the branches and leaves that had previously concealed Cang's figure. Guan Songsheng's entrance was also quite eye-catching. The father and son's gazes followed the strange swallow, and they witnessed the swallow transform into a human, with an "exaggerated" appearance standing in front of it.

This isn't Laoshan Mountain, and the person opposite isn't a well-informed Taoist priest. To ordinary people, Cang's hair color and clothing are still conspicuous. Coupled with Guan Songsheng's sudden transformation, the person opposite would naturally think they've encountered two monsters.

"A monster...me?"

Guan Songsheng pointed to himself, then turned to look at Cang. Because of his various special circumstances, he was already used to being mistaken for someone else and had no reaction to the child's screams, except that they were a bit jarring to his ears.

Cang didn't think anything of it. The father and son were indeed ordinary people, and it was normal for them to be scared. They thought they had encountered a monster, screamed, and turned to run away. But the foot of the mountain was not a flat area. In his panic, the man carrying the bamboo box tripped over a tree root on the ground, and the contents of the box fell out.

A large wad of hemp rope, a few peaches, and... a pile of mangled human body parts?!

The bamboo box the man was carrying was very large. Apart from snake charmers who performed snake tricks and people carrying luggage on long journeys, few people carried such a bamboo box, which would be quite cumbersome when climbing mountains. Cang had been puzzled at first, but the man said he was bringing his son out to practice special techniques. If it was something exaggerated, it was normal to have more props.

But aren't these severed limbs and remains a bit exaggerated?

"Wait, what's that in your box?"

Guan Songsheng naturally saw what fell out of the bamboo box. It was not only a body torn to pieces, but it was also clearly a child's. This guy was suspicious!

"Young friend Guan, first..."

Cang squinted and carefully examined the wreckage on the ground. He wanted to say something more, but Guan Songsheng saw that the suspicious father and son were still running away. He was convinced that they were guilty and immediately rushed up to stop them.

Watching Guan Songsheng transform into another ferocious beast and charge forward, Cang sighed helplessly. He remembered that although this young Taoist priest was lively at first, he was not the type to rush forward so easily. Moreover, he was a proper Taoist priest who knew magic. Instead of using talismans and spells to capture people, he transformed into a ferocious beast and charged forward. Who taught him to be so bad?

Helpless as he was, Cang couldn't really let Guan Songsheng rush through. He waved his whisk, and the whisk bristles quickly extended, easily passing Guan Songsheng and blocking him between him and the father and son. Then, with another turn, the end of the whisk curled up an arm on the ground before quickly retracting and finally falling into Cang's hand.

"String Master, why are you stopping me..."

"This is false."

"Eh?"