The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 774: Another Ambush!

Another Ambush! . . .

Even Cha Eun Xiao, who couldn't put living creatures into the Space, was astounded by Erhuo's ability to do so. It had effortlessly deposited numerous living snakes into the Space, without any apparent limitations. This development left Cha Eun Xiao in disbelief.

Shortly after, Erhuo quietly entered the Space, and Cha Eun Xiao began to comprehend how Erhuo managed this feat.

Erhuo was intrinsically connected to the Space. Born alongside it, Erhuo had unrestricted access to this unique dimension, even more so than Cha Eun Xiao himself. During its time as Brother Egg, it couldn't traverse the Space's boundaries due to the constraints of the eggshell. Only Cha Eun Xiao could take it in and out. Even when Brother Egg had the intention to assist, it remained confined within the Space. But now, as Erhuo, it had the freedom to enter the Space and bring items with it.

The ownership of the Space still rested with Cha Eun Xiao. If he closed the Space, Erhuo would be unable to enter.

At this point, Cha Eun Xiao contemplated closing the Space. He couldn't fathom why Erhuo had brought back not just the deceased snakes but also the living ones. He wondered if living fish would be next.

Erhuo, however, was unperturbed by Cha Eun Xiao's puzzlement. After returning hundreds of living snakes into the Space, it entered the dimension and began organizing them.

The snakes lay still on the ground, trembling in fear. Not a single one dared to make a move.

Erhuo moved about the snakes, occasionally emitting meows. Dozens of snakes responded to its commands, standing, curling, forming lines, crawling, and moving at various paces. Erhuo was training them as if they were soldiers, seemingly relishing in the process.

Cha Eun Xiao was bewildered by this unexpected spectacle.

"What in the world is happening?" he wondered.

After some time, Erhuo grew tired of the exercise. It waved a claw, allowing the snakes to finally rest. Although it had only been a short duration, the snakes appeared utterly exhausted. They hissed and made their way to the Wood Space to rest beneath the Tree of Cultivating Tea.

Cha Eun Xiao was irritated by this display.

"Little rascal, where do you think you are? A pet store? How can you raise your pets here? You're a pet yourself!"

Surprisingly, the snakes appeared obedient to Erhuo's commands, so Cha Eun Xiao refrained from commenting. However, he couldn't help but consider the potential uses of these living snakes.

"Maybe one day, these snakes can fight for me? Yes, living snakes can be taken into the Boundless Space. What about a living person? I should conduct some experiments."

Meanwhile, the hundreds of men continued to march swiftly through the Dark Pine Forest. They had been concerned about a possible snake resurgence, but nothing had occurred. Their anxiety finally began to wane.

Some of them even indulged in a bit of gloating.

With numerous dead snakes stored in their space rings, they were pleased with their acquisitions. Xiao Mufei had instructed them to take only two snakes, but they had chosen to disregard his advice. The chance to acquire such valuable materials was too good to pass up. These snake skins could potentially save their lives in the future, as wearing armor crafted from these materials would make them nearly invulnerable.

Xiao Mufei had suggested taking only two, but he himself had taken four large snakes. This made the others more inclined to seize extra snakes.

In the end, each person carried approximately four dead snakes in their space ring. Even Fang Dalong, who held his master in the highest regard, had taken three!

While they had lost many comrades in the battle, the unexpected abundance of dead snakes felt like a blessing in the aftermath of the catastrophe. They had only ever heard about the Silver-scaled Golden-caruncle Snakes, and very few had dared to take their skins. Possessing these snake skins was typically viewed as too risky, as doing so might provoke the surviving snakes into seeking vengeance. But now they had taken so many, and still, no snakes had pursued them.

It was nothing short of a miracle, and the men felt emboldened and energized.

Cha Eun Xiao and his group had traversed half of the ominous Dark Pine Forest without encountering any danger. No snakes, no other adversaries crossed their path. It appeared that the other sects had vanished, presuming Cha Eun Xiao and his comrades must have succumbed to the snake onslaught.

Their journey remained uneventful, and the sense of relief among the group intensified. Even Xiao Mufei, who had maintained vigilance, began to ease after six days of relative safety.

However, he started to experience a throbbing pain in his temples, a common side effect of expending too much spiritual power. He understood the potential long-term consequences and decided not to push himself further. Since they were currently safe, he believed there was no need to overexert himself. Therefore, he instructed everyone to slow down and take a break to replenish their energy.

They reached a flat area within the Dark Pine Forest where the density of pine trees lessened. Here, sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a beautiful scene that uplifted their spirits.

One of the men couldn't help but comment, "This place appears perfect for a person seeking seclusion. It's ideal for cultivating one's inner self."

Another added, "Indeed. When we have no pressing matters, perhaps we should consider finding a place like this to spend the rest of our lives. It would be a tranquil existence."

While this small hill might not hold any special significance elsewhere, in the vast and foreboding forest, it felt like a haven.

During their break, the group was captivated by this serene spot and decided to ascend the hill in pairs.

Even Xiao Mufei managed to crack a smile for the first time since entering the forest.

However, in the midst of this newfound serenity, an abrupt incident occurred. Smoke began to emanate from the hill's summit, and several holes appeared in the ground. Like specters, dozens of black-clad men emerged from the holes, shrouding the sky with an eerie darkness.

The sky grew darker than the night as these black-clad individuals released a multitude of cold, star-like projectiles into the firmament, casting a foreboding shadow of impending doom.