Pretending To Be A Boss

Tang Xian gave her an unamused glance. It was just like how ancient people enjoyed eating pig intestines but couldn't stand anyone mentioning that it carried poop.

Anyway, once it was served on the table, it all tasted great.

As a doctor, Qiao Shanshan was used to seeing gore. She was treating Akasi's calf wound from afar, and his astonishing self-healing speed amazed her.

Akasi was also equally impressed with Qiao Shanshan's healing abilities. After all, a pierced calf would normally take several hours to heal, but with Qiao Shanshan's help, the pain disappeared within minutes.

After a lot of effort, Tang Xian, covered in blood as if he was obsessed with flesh, actually just struggled because the Soul Crystal within the Nvwa Snake's skull was buried too deep.

After exerting a lot of energy, Tang Xian finally extracted it.

The huge Nvwa Snake had a Soul Crystal the size of a night pearl, the same as those from the previously perfect-rated elite creatures.

Tang Xian threw the Soul Crystal to Akasi,

"The spoils of war. Find a place to clean it and pack it up."

Akasi nodded, and Dong Ran, curious, said, "Tang, this Soul Crystal has a purplish luster! Could this be the Soul Crystal of a calamity-level boss creature?"

Everyone was startled, especially Qiao Shanshan. The Nvwa Snake had changed too much since the last time she saw it.

She wouldn't have doubted if someone said it evolved into a white-scaled snake.

The Soul Crystals of perfect-rated creatures and perfect-rated boss creatures were green, with the only difference being the intensity of their glow.

However, the Soul Crystals of calamity-level creatures were blue, and those of calamity-level boss creatures were purple.

This Soul Crystal clearly had a hint of purple, albeit very faint.

After looking at it for a long time, Tang Xian shook his head and said,

"I wish I could pick up such a bargain, but it's only close to a boss form, and it hasn't finished evolving. If it had, it would have suddenly shed its weakened state, and its power would've surged sixfold. We wouldn't have survived the encounter."

The terror of a calamity-level creature had already been witnessed once by Qiao Shanshan. Tang Xian was right. Although the Nvwa Snake had changed drastically and could even use the breath of a boss form,

its strength had significantly diminished due to its evolutionary phase.

Even so, when it showed its true form, it was still overwhelmingly powerful.

"It's a pity, its body covered tightly with scales, and the flesh around its eye sockets isn't tasty—not fit to make snake soup."

Tang Xian's focus was elsewhere. He frowned, slowly digesting the battle of the day.

[Killed an adult Nvwa Snake, acquired combat skill·Snake Stance]

[Killing more Nvwa Snakes will increase the attack speed and power of Snake Stance]

He got a drop.

The near team wipe in combat brought results. Tang Xian, though battered, had finally gained something.

However, while the enhanced smell was described as a skill, this time it was described as a combat skill.

The two, of course, were different.

Tang Xian, having no knowledge of combat, was therefore not very satisfied with this "combat skill."

[Snake Stance] came with no explanation, and he was unclear about what it actually was.

It just seemed to him that if his opponent were human, he probably wouldn't need to use combat skills.

If it were creatures from the Mining Continent… As someone without any innate talent, other than being tough and enduring, he had no other advantage.

"Kind of a mixed blessing, but since there's no description, it might come in handy later. Better than nothing."

Thinking this way, Tang Xian turned to the rest of the group,

"We'll have another formidable enemy soon. Based on its approaching speed, it'll arrive in about ten minutes. Qiao Shanshan, you, Dong Ran, and Tang Suoye, along with Tang Xiaojiu should all head back."

"Wait, aren't you going back?" Qiao Shanshan asked, confused.

"Of course, we're going back too. Akasi and I will deal with the snake's corpse. We'll head back shortly after."

"Then be careful," Qiao Shanshan didn't doubt Tang Xian's judgment.

Dong Ran had no doubts at all. Only Tang Xiaojiu was reluctant to go.

"Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang are still in the tents outside the White Bone Mountain Range. Tang Xian, I don't want to go. You promised to look for Qing Auntie," she said.

Tang Xian wanted to pat the little girl's head but restrained himself, mindful of the bloody stench on him.

He bent down and said,

"I keep my word, but you need to go back first. Tang Gazi and Tang Bingxiang won't be in any danger, but it's different for you. Be good."

Tang Xiaojiu didn't understand why she would be in danger, but since Tang Xian was serious, she obediently nodded her head.

At Tang Xian's urging, Qiao Shanshan took Tang Suoye, Dong Ran took Tang Xiaojiu, and they each used the teleportation fissure to return to the Pyramid.

Akasi said, "Another hunt?"

Tang Xian shook his head and replied, "Not this time, this is too troublesome, so I can only leave you behind. There are some things I will eventually tell them, but it's more troublesome to explain to women, you're more convenient."

Akasi gave a wry smile and said, "I suppose it's something that's hard to believe. Just tell me, and I'll believe what you say."

"That's why I'm leaving you here."

After a pause, Tang Xian continued:

"In a few minutes, we're going to meet a human. But this human is not simple… You're likely to see the data on her."

"A mining continent creature in human form?"

"You know?"

"The Nvwa Snake we just killed was like that. Those two girls must also be surprised by this."

Tang Xian nodded and said:

"The conclusion I've come to now is that calamity-level and boss-level creatures above calamity-level can transform into human form, but their strength will be greatly reduced. However, why this is, I'm not sure. The last one who told me this only said it was because it looks better."

Although Qing JiuYu was very open at that time, Tang Xian still believed she had hidden a lot.

Sometimes when women lie, they're not even aware that they're lying.

"The last one? It must have been the nine-tailed fox."

The forest sea turned into a red zone because of the nine-tailed fox, and though the nine-tailed fox wasn't in the forest sea, there was now one more human.

Thinking back to his first meeting with Tang Xian, both Tang Xian and Tang Xiaojiu showed signs of revulsion toward eating fox.

Akasi deduced that Tang Xian must have met one of the strongest creatures in the entire Mining Continent.

Tang Xian found talking to Akasi comfortable, without the need for much explanation.

Dong Ran is one thing, being legally brainless after all. And Qiao Shanshan, despite being only a 'C', doesn't like to think too hard either.

"These are some of the unsolved mysteries. But the nine-tailed fox is now my friend. The one who is coming next is not as powerful as the nine-tailed fox, but still not someone we can deal with at the moment."

The scent in his nose was getting clearer, Tang Xian thought it must be the large swampland that had been frozen over, alerting that creature.

It was rapidly approaching.

"So what should we do?"

"Just follow my lead and act. I've done this once before and have some experience."

...

...

Bai Mansheng transformed from her huge white-scaled snake form into a human, her snake tail turning into a long skirt as she moved with graceful steps. Yet, in just a short ten minutes, she had crossed the entire White Bone Mountain Range and arrived at the edge of the swamp.

She furrowed her brows.

There was a strong stench of blood in the air. From a distance, she saw a corpse of her own kind, smaller in size than her true form but stronger than ordinary Nvwa Snakes.

Parts of the snake's eyes had been gouged out, and the thick blood, due to the cold, was not flowing.

Underneath the snake's body was a blood-covered human, baring his white teeth at her.

There was also a person with silver hair next to him, his face showing no emotion.

With a light leap, Bai Mansheng instantly arrived in front of the two men.

She did not notice the fleeting surprise in the silver-haired man's eyes because her gaze was fixed on the individual covered in the blood of her kin, wielding a kitchen knife.

"I'll be honest, I killed the snake. But this human can testify that it attacked me first. According to the court's rules, this counts as self-defense, right?"

Tang Xian wasn't sure if the court of beasts adjudicates disputes among beasts.

Nor was he certain if they even had the concept of self-defense.

But if they did… probably more people would think that Tang Xian's situation now resembled excessive self-defense.

Bai Mansheng said in a deep voice:

"I am Bai Mansheng, leader of the Bai Family. You have killed my kin, and it falls to me to pass judgment."

Even in human form, the pressure and aura emanating from Bai Mansheng instinctively made Akasi feel endangered.

If it weren't for Tang Xian's previous instructions, he might have instinctively assumed a defensive stance. Explore more at empire

As if completely unaffected, Tang Xian said earnestly:

"Bai, it's nice to meet you, I'm Xu Xian. About this matter, let me explain it to you."