He stopped and stepped on a dry branch. His heart raced. He looked around but didn't see the python, which calmed him down a little.
He continued walking when he suddenly felt a pang of fear, and heard a gust of wind. Oh no, he had been discovered.
He dared not linger and quickly ran out of the canyon. The darkness around him intensified, and his entire body turned black.
Xiao Li also moved. The snake was very fast and An couldn't handle it. She should dig up the tree herself instead of letting An do it.
The python, as thick as a bucket, was surprisingly agile. Though it hadn't transformed, it was already quite close. Its cold, vertical pupils were fixed on the dark figure, and within moments it had caught up.
Its long, slender tail rose high and swept towards An like lightning. With a thud, An was sent flying, still clutching the tree in his arms.
The python tightly coiled its body around Dark, then opened its mouth wide, trying to swallow Dark whole.
Xiao Li rushed over and saw this scene. She suddenly flew towards the python, spread her five fingers, and quickly transformed into a beast shape, with her claws growing longer.
With a swing of its arm, four deep scratches were immediately inflicted on the python's skin. It trembled violently, ignoring the darkness, and quickly retracted its body, coiling into a ball.
An was thrown out, and he lay on the ground, his eyes shining brightly.
Xiao Li helped An up and fed him a spiritual pill. Fortunately, it was just a minor internal injury and nothing serious was hurt.
"I don't want to hurt you. Leave quickly and let us go."
The python hissed and flicked its tongue, seemingly sensing Xiao Li's power. In the end, it chose to retreat and slowly swam back to its den.
Xiao Li breathed a sigh of relief. This python was powerful, and if they really fought, she would probably have to pay a heavy price.
Carrying the darkness on their backs, the two quickly left the canyon and returned to the peach grove they had just left.
"Third Sister, you saved my life again."
Xiao Li touched An's arm with self-reproach; it had just healed, and now it was broken again.
"It's all my fault, I shouldn't have let you go dig up the tree."
He shook his head slightly, not blaming Third Sister; it was all his own carelessness.
"From now on, you can call me 'older sister,' and I'll take good care of you."
Xiao Li made up her mind. She would accept this younger brother as her own, even if they were not related by blood. It was worth it for her to treat him well.
"elder sister."
She called out sweetly.
Xiao Li was overjoyed.
"Why!"
Xiao Li returned to Qingqiu City with An. When Hu Lie found out, he was happy for her, as the bloodline was unmistakable and this was very likely her younger brother.
"Back then, I found you by the stream in the peach grove. I searched the area and found signs of a struggle within about 50 meters, but unfortunately I didn't find anyone."
Xiao Li already knew all this, and he wasn't particularly regretful about it; he was already very content with having an older sister.
With no leads about her parents, Xiaoli could only take things one step at a time and leave everything to fate.
"From now on, my brother and I will live a good life together, and your sister will protect you."
"I will also cultivate diligently so that I can protect my sister in the future."
Xiaoli was very happy and pulled An to prepare a room for him. Hu Jiuniang and Hu Shisanlang also came to help. The four of them tidied up their things together, and their relationship became even more harmonious.
Hu Jiuniang hadn't seen Xiaoli for a long time and was very attached to her.
"Third Sister, I have a gift for you."
A while ago, Hu Lie returned from a secret realm and brought gifts for the three of them. Xiao Li received a protective jade pendant.
Hu Jiuniang received an unknown bead, its surface dark, but upon closer inspection, it occasionally emitted a luster.
Hu Shisanlang received a short sword, ancient and mysterious.
Hu Jiuniang played with it for a long time but still couldn't figure out its secret, so she decided to give the bead to Xiaoli.
Xiao Li took it; it was icy cold to the touch, very heavy, and looked extraordinary.
"Really? I don't have such a treasure to give you."
Hu Jiuniang said hesitantly, "I don't want your gift, I just want... I just want..."
Xiao Li suddenly realized that he had his eye on her things, no wonder he suddenly wanted to give her something.
"Tell me, what do you want? Even if you don't give me a gift, I'll still give it to you. You can take this back."
Hu Jiuniang shook her head like a rattle drum.
"No, no, this is really meant for you. I feel that it is destined for you, and only you can decipher its secret, so I am giving it to you."
Hu Jiuniang blushed, looking embarrassed, but finally resigned herself to speaking up.
"I just want some of the spirit fruit wine you brought back last time."
Xiao Li chuckled; it turned out she had her eye on the spirit fruit wine in her spatial storage.
Because it was difficult to say where the spirit fruit wine came from, Xiao Li lied to the three of them, saying that she had obtained it by chance, and each of them received a small jar.
Spiritual fruit wine is very beneficial for cultivation; drinking a little when advancing in rank can make the process twice as effective.
Now that Hu Jiuniang's wine is gone, she wants Xiaoli's, which is why she's embarrassed.
"Your cultivation is already consolidated, there's no need for you to drink spirit fruit wine. Are you just greedy?"
Hu Jiuniang waved her hands repeatedly, "It wasn't me, it was my mother. When she was advancing in rank last time, she was ambushed by her enemies, so she suffered old injuries."
After my last advancement, I had some spirit fruit wine left, so I gave it to my mother to try. I found it very helpful for her old injuries, but there was only a little left, not enough for her healing. So…”
Hu Shisanlang was also embarrassed. He couldn't help but finish the wine when he advanced, so there was none left.
Xiao Li nodded and handed over the wine jar from the room.
"I haven't drunk any of mine yet. You can take it and give it to your aunt. It was my oversight; I should have shared some with your uncle and aunt as well."
Hu Jiuniang happily took it and hugged it to her chest.
"Third Sister, how can we blame you? After all, you only got this little bit. You even generously shared it with me and Thirteen Lang for our advancement. We are so grateful to you."
Hu Shisanlang nodded his thanks.
Hu Jiuniang insisted on keeping the black bead, and left with Shisanlang, clutching the wine jar.
After settling in, Xiaoli returned to her room to rest.
Xiao Li examined the bead in her palm but couldn't tell the difference. She could only ask Xiao Jiu to take a look and see if she could figure it out.
Use your consciousness to enter the space, awaken Xiao Jiu, and let it study the black bead.
"What is this thing? It's all black and doesn't look special."
Xiao Jiu didn't recognize it either, but it liked it quite a bit. It placed the bead among the leaves on its head and felt a cool and comfortable sensation on its head.
"Give me this bead, it's really fun."
Xiao Li nodded before leaving the space.
Qingqiu is a mysterious place, where countless ancient monsters who have lived for many years are hidden. The space here must never be used; once discovered, it will lead to utter destruction.
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