Volume One, Chapter 14: The Little Snake Named Tenglong

After an indeterminate amount of time, Yun Qianbai felt as if something inside him shattered with a sharp crack, and an unprecedented surge of power flooded his entire body.

“Ding! Congratulations, Host. Your toxin resistance has reached 18%, and your strength has ascended to the third level of the Innate Realm!”

The system’s notification chimed in his mind. Yun Qianbai slowly opened his eyes; a gleam of sharp light flashed through his pupils, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a faint smile.

“Third level of the Innate Realm... this feeling is truly remarkable!” He clenched his fist, savoring the overwhelming power coursing through him, feeling invigorated from head to toe.

He rose slowly and stretched, the crisp crackling sounds of his bones echoing, as if they were cheering with joy.

At that moment, a rustling came from his pocket. The little black snake had awakened. It poked out its head, its tiny green eyes rolling about as it surveyed the surroundings.

Only then did Yun Qianbai notice that the little creature had undergone some changes: the small horn atop its head was more pronounced, and its scales had grown even darker and shinier, shimmering faintly under the dim light like tiny obsidian gems.

“Hey there, little guy, how did you end up here?” Yun Qianbai asked, curiosity piqued about the snake’s origins.

The little black snake tilted its head, thought for a moment, and shook it. “I don’t know. I was already here when I woke up.”

“What’s your name?” Yun Qianbai asked again.

The snake shook its head once more. “I don’t know.”

“You don’t even know your own name? What a confused snake,” Yun Qianbai chuckled. After a moment, he said, “How about I give you a name?”

The snake said nothing, seeming to accept the suggestion.

“Hmm... you’re entirely black. How about I call you ‘Little Black’?” Yun Qianbai tentatively proposed.

No response.

“Then how about Black Pearl? Black Rose? Black Peony?” Yun Qianbai rattled off a few more names, increasingly absurd, making the little snake’s scales bristle in irritation.

“Stop, stop, stop!” The snake finally lost patience and shot out of Yun Qianbai’s pocket. It coiled once around his arm, lifting its head defiantly. “I am male! Male! Can you give me a more masculine name?”

“Male?” Yun Qianbai blinked, then burst out laughing. “You’re so small, I thought you were female!”

“You’re the female! Your whole family is female!” The snake fumed, hopping with anger. If it weren’t outmatched, it would have bitten this loose-tongued man on the spot.

“Alright, alright, you’re male, fine, male it is,” Yun Qianbai stifled his laughter and cleared his throat. “Since you’re male, I’ll give you a powerful name. You share my surname Yun, so from now on, you’re Yun Tenglong. How does that sound?”

Yun Tenglong paused, the name seeming quite fitting.

“Yun Tenglong... Yun Tenglong...” it murmured softly, a peculiar light flickering in its small eyes. “Alright, from now on, I am Yun Tenglong!”

“Ha ha, great. Tenglong, we’re brothers from now on!” Yun Qianbai grinned, secretly thinking this little snake was surprisingly easy to coax.

Yun Tenglong lifted its head high. Though it did not understand the word “brother,” it sensed the sincerity in Yun Qianbai’s tone, and a strange warmth stirred within—a feeling it had never experienced before.

...

How long he cultivated afterward, he was unsure. Ever since entering the Innate Realm, fasting had become as effortless as play. Absorbing the energy of heaven and earth sustained his body, and hunger was a thing of the past.

“It’s time to return to the city.” Yun Qianbai stood, dusting himself off with determination in his eyes.

He was eager to uncover everything about the Hidden Sect—a mysterious organization brazen enough to set their sights on his sister. Such arrogance was intolerable!

And that damned fat merchant—he wanted to see just how much this money-grubbing fellow knew about the Hidden Sect’s secrets.

Yun Qianbai stretched his limbs and prepared to leave, but suddenly remembered something.

“Tenglong, let’s go,” he called out, but received no reply.

“Huh? Where did that little guy run off to?” Yun Qianbai looked around puzzled, then found the little snake curled up in his arms, asleep soundly without a hint of waking.

“Hey, you really can sleep!” Yun Qianbai smiled helplessly, gently placing Yun Tenglong back into his pocket, then strode resolutely toward the city.

Along the way, Yun Qianbai pondered his next steps. He knew that to take on the Hidden Sect, his current strength was far from sufficient. But first, he needed to gather intelligence inside the city before making any moves.

After completing his mission for the Mercenary Guild, he swiftly returned to the city. This time, when the city gate guards demanded a bribe, he showed no compromise.

“Stop! City entry fee: five hundred green stone coins!” The guard’s greedy expression was unmistakable, eyes slanting as he extended his hand arrogantly.

Yun Qianbai gave him a cold glance but said nothing. Suddenly, a terrifying aura burst forth from him, as tangible as a killing intent, enveloping the entire city gate in an instant.

The guard’s body bristled with chills from head to toe, hair standing on end, legs trembling uncontrollably, as if a prehistoric beast was stalking him, ready to shred him to pieces at any moment.

“What... what do you want?” The guard’s voice faltered, his previous arrogance utterly gone.

“Get out of my way!” Yun Qianbai’s voice was icy and devoid of emotion.

The guard, as if granted a great pardon, hastily stepped aside, not daring to breathe until Yun Qianbai’s figure vanished inside the gate. Only then did he slump to the ground, soaked in cold sweat.

“Good heavens, that scared me to death... This kid... suddenly became so terrifying...” He patted his chest with lingering fear, grateful to have narrowly escaped with his life.

After all, guards caught accepting bribes were in deep trouble with their superiors.

Once inside, Yun Qianbai went straight to the Mercenary Guild to submit his mission, then began searching for the fat merchant within.

He searched everywhere but found no sign of him. The guild hall bustled with mercenaries shouting and haggling, yet that familiar figure was nowhere to be seen.

“Strange, where did that fat guy disappear to?” Yun Qianbai frowned, puzzled.

He had expected the merchant to be sitting behind the counter as usual, smiling at every customer. But it seemed matters were not so simple.

The next day, Yun Qianbai returned to the Mercenary Guild. Upon entering, he immediately spotted the fat merchant’s chubby face, smiling knowingly at him, eyes glinting with amusement, as if he had long anticipated Yun Qianbai’s return.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Brother Yun. So, have you come to your senses so quickly?” The merchant swayed his hefty frame lazily toward him, the flesh on his face quivering like a pig spirit come to life.

Yun Qianbai met his gaze silently, quickly calculating his approach.

He knew this fat merchant was no ordinary man; extracting information about the Hidden Sect from him would require considerable effort.

“Looking for me?” Yun Qianbai asked bluntly.

“Heh, Brother Yun, you’re straightforward,” the merchant said with a sly smile. “I do have some information, but... information like this doesn’t come cheap.”