The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 773: Stockpile

Stockpile . . .

As Erhuo contemplated the daunting task of removing the scales from all the snakes, it couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. [I can't do this.]

[Well, it's good to have a master to consider this. Things I can't do, he'll do for me.]

[He can help me clean myself, prepare my food, cook my snakes, and more. I can simply focus on eating...]

[It's not so bad to have a master!]

[Just... leave some good pieces for him.]

[Although he wouldn't recognize the truly valuable ones...]

[All he wants are the inner cores!]

[Humph. Foolish. He doesn't understand that the pure essence is far superior to the inner core. Inner cores... I really don't like them. They're useless!]

The snakes had disappeared, and with their departure, the battle had come to an end.

It had come as abruptly as it had gone, leaving behind a field of death. They had fought fiercely, enduring hardship that was difficult to put into words.

Now, they were all emerging from a waking nightmare.

"What's going on?"

"Why did the snakes leave?"

"We were on the brink of losing it. If they had held on for a few more hours, we would have been defeated. Why would they just withdraw like that?"

"It's strange. It doesn't make sense!"

In the air, the lingering scent of snakes and the poisonous fog remained. The poison levels were limited, so it posed no harm to the survivors.

However, they were all left bewildered by the recent turn of events, struggling to comprehend what had just occurred. They were now safe, but they couldn't fathom the surreal nature of the situation.

"We don't have time for this. Gather your belongings and get out of this cursed forest," Xiao Mufei ordered. "As long as the snake king lives, they can return at any moment!"

The men heeded his words, banding together and making haste.

They were genuinely terrified of the snakes and knew how precarious their situation had been. They had narrowly escaped, but the fear still lingered.

"I mean... those snake skins are incredibly durable. What if we take them and fashion armor out of them? Wouldn't that be marvelous?" Cha Eun Xiao suggested. "Are we just going to leave them here? It seems like such a waste."

"We're still not out of the woods. There's no time for that," Xiao Mufei replied. "Besides, the Silver-scaled Golden-caruncle Snakes are native to this area, and they have a strong sense of territory. If we take their dead kin, it might enrage them, potentially leading to our deaths. Let's focus on our safety and forget the rest."

[These snake bodies are indeed valuable materials. It's a shame to leave them behind,] Xiao Mufei thought.

"Why don't we take a few?" Cha Eun Xiao suggested. "If the snakes return, we can toss the snake bodies elsewhere to draw them away. If they don't come back, we've gained something. It's a win-win strategy."

"That makes sense. Alright, let's do it," Xiao Mufei agreed. "Everyone, grab two of the largest snake bodies you can find and store them in your spatial rings. Do it quickly, and then we'll depart immediately."

The men eagerly moved to collect the snake corpses.

Xiao Mufei himself didn't hesitate. He grabbed four of the larger snake bodies, taking a deep breath of relief.

The burden had weighed heavily on him. He had overseen the battle, given orders, watched over Cha Eun Xiao, and finally battled the large snakes alone. Despite his Dao Origin Stage prowess, it had been an incredibly taxing ordeal. Had the fight not taken such a bizarre turn, he might not have survived. Now he could finally relax a bit.

Beside him, Cha Eun Xiao remained passive.

"Why aren't you taking any?" Xiao Mufei asked, surprised.

Cha Eun Xiao smiled humbly. "I don't have a spatial ring... Such a marvel is beyond my reach. I'll just leave the snake bodies. It's fine. At least our comrades will have better armor in the future, which might save lives."

For those from the lower realm, spatial rings were a wondrous marvel. However, Xiao Mufei didn't hold them in the same awe. He gazed at Cha Eun Xiao with a thoughtful expression for a long moment before sighing and saying, "You truly uphold the principles of friendship. You don't even want such precious things... You're an honest, modest, and honorable man."

Cha Eun Xiao responded with a humble smile.

Of course, his previous actions didn't exactly paint him as honest, modest, or honorable...

"I do want to take more snakes too. My Space already has over a hundred of the largest snakes... the best ones..."

"Those snake skins are all in my place... I don't want the ones you guys are picking..."

"You think they're precious? They're not for me. I don't want them. I didn't give them up because of any virtue you mentioned!"

"Don't worry. When we return safely to our sect, you'll have your snake skin armor!" Xiao Mufei assured him.

With the snake collection complete, they hurriedly left the forest.

Cha Eun Xiao followed the group of men and did not engage in any further activities. Erhuo, on the other hand, had other plans. It scampered away from Cha Eun Xiao toward the pile of snakes...

The snakes were a sumptuous feast for it, and not even a wealthy landowner could boast such a vast food supply. Erhuo began hoarding as many as it could.

After a while, Cha Eun Xiao felt like there was a heavy downpour within the Space. The lifeless snake bodies continuously tumbled into the Space, forming a small mountain...

Erhuo was stockpiling its food supply within the Space...

Cha Eun Xiao was left speechless.

"Erhuo, you glutton. You're so greedy. Do you have to be so selfish?" he muttered. "Is there really any need to do this?"

It continued to "rain" within the Space...

Cha Eun Xiao was baffled. There were indeed numerous deceased snakes, but this many?

He entered the Space to investigate, and what he witnessed nearly caused him to faint.

Some of the snakes were still alive...

Including some of those level seven giant snakes!

He couldn't comprehend how Erhuo had managed it, but it had somehow transported numerous living snakes into the Space.

"What on earth are you doing? Are you planning to relocate an entire snake clan into our Space?"

"Do you intend to consume them all and lead to their extinction?"

"Can't you stop being so ruthless?"

Cha Eun Xiao didn't genuinely mind Erhuo's actions, but he was utterly bewildered. How had Erhuo managed to defeat such enormous creatures with its tiny frame?

He was aware that Erhuo was far from ordinary, and he understood it possessed significant power. Even during its time as Brother Egg, it had accomplished incredible feats. But capturing and preserving these snakes alive within the Space? That was entirely beyond his expectations!