Just as Zhang Chen was devouring the fruit from the tree, among those bewildered by the Ba Snake’s manipulation, more than a dozen regained their senses, and even the martial artists fighting against them began to seek new targets.
Those dozen people seized the opportunity, regained their clarity, and quickly rushed towards the Ba Snake. They saw more than a dozen snake eggs fall from the tree, and those on the ground rushed to grab them, coincidentally one in front of each person.
"Heh, you came up with such a plan, quite clever. But in front of me, they’re like ants. Are they worthy of seizing the snake eggs?" Zhang Chen was about to retract his proboscis to kill those dozen people and reclaim the snake eggs.
He’s not a fool; he can distinguish the importance between a dozen snake eggs and just one.
Zhang Chen wanted to retract his proboscis, but who would’ve thought at that moment the snake eggs seemed to move, emitting a tremendous pulling force, holding Zhang Chen in place.
Zhang Chen never expected the Ba Snake to have such a trick. In the time it took to hesitate, those dozen people swallowed the snake eggs without a word. The next moment, they flashed with red and blue light, followed by lightning and fire sparks, and they vanished into the crowd.
"What a Ba Snake, you’re really something," Zhang Chen said, devouring the essence, looking at the disappearing figures of those dozen people, the corner of his mouth curving upwards: "Can they really escape?"
The distance from here to the exit was a hundred li, plenty of time for Zhang Chen to finish devouring the essence of the eggs in front of him and catch up.
Zhang Chen retracted his proboscis, ignoring the fleeing dozen people, focusing solely on devouring the essence from the eggs. In half an hour, Zhang Chen had finished devouring the creations within the eggs, then retracted his proboscis, ready to chase after those dozen runners.
Even if he had Xie Lingyun on his back, those dozen mortals could never outrun him.
Just as he was about to step out, suddenly the ground shook, the Ba Snake’s soul used some technique on the distant earth, causing a several dozen-zhang high wall of dirt to rise from the ground, blocking Zhang Chen’s path.
Even ordinary Yin God Strong Persons can control material, and though the Ba Snake only had a thread of remnant thought, its power remained unfathomable.
The Ba Snake couldn’t inflict divine technique harm on Zhang Chen, but blocking his path to cause some inconvenience was feasible.
"Old thing, you’re asking for it, don’t blame me," Zhang Chen muttered, looking at the tall stone wall, his gaze turning icy. If he were alone, it wouldn’t matter; transforming into a Vampire Bat to escape was easy enough, but with Xie Lingyun tagging along, escaping was challenging.
Zhang Chen glanced at the Ba Snake’s body, then summoned his proboscis without a word, stabbing it toward the Ba Snake’s body.
The Ba Snake’s body, belonging to an Innate Spirit, naturally qualifies as one of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
Zhang Chen’s proboscis pierced into the Ba Snake’s body, beginning to voraciously devour the essence of its flesh. Even after countless millennia, the mysterious creation hidden in the Ba Snake’s body remained vast for Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen, having now advanced to the second level of Qi Cultivation, had increased his devouring speed by at least double.
As the essence qi entered his body, Zhang Chen converted some into points for reserve while using some to replenish his root foot.
The Ba Snake’s remnant soul became anxious, trying to control earth to form a giant hand to crush Zhang Chen, but the hand couldn’t get closer than ten zhang to Zhang Chen, blocked by an inexplicable barrier, no matter how much force it exerted, unable to harm Zhang Chen the slightest.
The power of the Law of Cause and Effect!
"Old thing, once I devour your flesh, let’s see if you remain so arrogant!" Zhang Chen grinned smugly.
The snake eggs are great, but how could they compare to the colossal creation within the Ba Snake’s body?
The Ba Snake’s remnant soul circled anxiously around Zhang Chen, unable to touch him. That was its own body, its very foundation, crucial for its soul’s storage, and necessary for its soul’s future resurrection. Therefore, it could not afford any losses to the body.
But despite its anxiety, it was incapable of harming Zhang Chen, only circling around him, and even deciding to take down the earth wall, indicating Zhang Chen could leave.
Zhang Chen, however, remained unmoved. Though the snake eggs were good, they couldn’t match the essence, qi, and spirit within the Ba Snake’s body, so Zhang Chen decided not to pursue, continuing to devour the essence within the Ba Snake’s body.
The essence, qi, and spirit within the Ba Snake’s body were like a vast ocean, and Zhang Chen resembled someone with a water pump trying to drain the sea dry.
Draining the sea with a water pump may take a long time, but if you keep pumping, you’ll eventually succeed.
"The Ba Snake’s body stretches for ten thousand li; what you see is merely the tip of its tail exposed in the earth. With your current speed, even if given ten thousand years, you could never drain the creation within its body. Your time is precious; don’t waste it here. You should rush to find the legendary Buzhou Mountain," the Great Freedom Celestial Demon hurriedly stepped forward to remind Zhang Chen, who was indulging in the pleasure of devouring essence qi: "Kid, the Ba Snake’s essence is good, but don’t delay the important matters."