Chapter 99: Luring the Jiaoshe

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Tang Ailian had many secrets, and White Advisor and his group had grown used to it. When they saw Tang Ailian following the snake, they naturally followed her.

As for the mysterious floating gem, Tang Ailian had advised them that it was dangerous, and they had no intention of touching it. Tang Ailian and White Advisor both emphasized its danger, and so the group decided not to interfere with it.

"Tang Xiaoyou, did your pet find something?" White Advisor asked, looking at the snake with a crown on its head. He was astonished because it seemed like this snake had become sentient.

"It seems something has happened with Director Zeng and the others," Tang Ailian replied.

The group of thirteen retraced their steps to the peripheral tomb chamber, and from there, they followed the narrow tomb passage on the left. Since Zhang Tianshi and his group had already triggered the mechanisms earlier, they were able to reach the tomb chamber without any hindrance.

Sure enough, Director Zeng and his group were in a standoff with a massive snake when Tang Ailian's group arrived.

Director Zeng, upon seeing Tang Ailian's group approaching, felt a glimmer of hope. Having more people would make it easier to deal with the snake. At least they could use them as cannon fodder while they escaped.

Zhang Tianshi sighed when he saw Tang Ailian approaching. He thought to himself, "What a pity that the little divine physician decided to come now. Perhaps they've already conquered the other tomb chamber?"

Hai Ying, seeing Tang Ailian, was a bit anxious. "Why have you come here? It's very dangerous. Please, go back!"

Director Zeng sneered internally. At this point, returning was not an option. If they went back, who would confront the snake for them? He shot Hai Ying an angry glare.

However, Tang Ailian was surprisingly good-natured and just smiled without saying a word.

Zhang Tianshi's group didn't notice a tiny detail – Tang Ailian's companion, a small white snake. They were too far away to see, and the snake was tiny enough to go unnoticed.

But the snake did not go unnoticed by the massive snake in the tomb. It suddenly grew tense, coiling its body and flicking its tongue nervously. It observed Tang Ailian's group with a wary expression.

Zhang Tianshi finally realized something was amiss. This snake had previously shown disdain toward his group, but as soon as Tang Ailian's group arrived, it adopted a defensive posture.

Could it be that there were experts among Tang Ailian's group?

No wonder they dared to come to their aid.

The snake harbored a grudge. It had been contracted by that evil cultivator and was forced to guard these treasures. It had watched as its previous companions fell to humans' treacherous weapons.

Tang Ailian suddenly communicated with the snake through her telepathy. It was the first time she had encountered an animal willing to communicate in this manner. It addressed her as a "woman" instead of a child, which surprised her. Could it recognize that she wasn't actually a child?

"It's spirit essence," she replied. Tang Ailian could sense that the snake was wary but not hostile. With her little white snake by her side, she felt safe.

The snake transmitted a message filled with disdain, "You gave me spirit essence earlier. Give me some more, and I'll let you choose an item from this chamber."

However, the little white snake, displeased that the snake dared to ask for its spirit essence, flared up with anger. Its crown turned red, and its body expanded, ready for confrontation. The jiaoshe (water dragon) saw the little white snake's anger but maintained its defensive posture.

A standoff ensued between the jiaoshe and the tiny white snake.

Tang Ailian immediately restrained her companion. "Don't provoke it. I might be able to make it your companion."

The little white snake was unhappy but complied. It didn't want to risk angering its master, who might withhold the spirit essence.

The jiaoshe, still cautious, sent a message to Tang Ailian, "Woman, give me your spirit essence, and I'll allow you to choose a treasure from the room behind me."

The jiaoshe was quite annoyed. It had severed its contract with the evil cultivator a long time ago and had stayed here because it had nowhere else to go.

In today's world, things had changed drastically from the past. This jiaoshe had cultivated here for thousands of years, hiding to survive, because if it ventured outside, it would have been killed long ago. Modern humans had access to powerful weapons and could easily eliminate creatures like it. Some of its friends had met a tragic end at the hands of humans.

Moreover, humans now possessed deadly weapons like explosives and advanced projectiles. It had witnessed one of its kind, a fellow dragon, struck by a colossal projectile that exploded, scattering its body into unrecognizable pieces.

Therefore, although it had previously severed its contract with the evil cultivator, it had remained here for safety.

Tang Ailian thought, "It's so sad that this creature has been confined here for so long."

She then communicated telepathically, "You used to be the contracted spirit of that evil cultivator, right? But I heard he died. How are you still alive, and why are you still guarding this place? Aren't you free to leave now?"

The bond between humans and their contracted spirits was cruel. When the human died, the spirit would also die. But the jiaoshe had managed to survive even after the evil cultivator's demise.

The jiaoshe responded with a touch of disdain, "I severed the contract with him when he became a ghost cultivator. I'm guarding this place because I have nowhere else to go."

Times had changed, and this jiaoshe had cultivated in secret for thousands of years to survive. Staying hidden was its only means of survival, as venturing outside would have led to its death.

Humans now possessed formidable weapons and tactics, making them lethal adversaries. Despite its severed contract with the evil cultivator, it had remained in this chamber for its own safety.

Tang Ailian empathized with the jiaoshe's situation. "This world can be cruel, but I might be able to help you. Would you like to be my companion?"

The jiaoshe's expression remained unreadable.

Meanwhile, Director Zeng and his group watched the silent exchange between Tang Ailian and the jiaoshe with astonishment. They had no idea that this young girl could communicate with the snake. In their eyes, she was just a child.

After a brief pause, the jiaoshe replied, "What can you offer in exchange for my companionship?"

Tang Ailian had a plan. "I won't give you spirit essence, but my little white snake can easily take all the treasures behind you into its spatial realm. We don't need to trade with you. We can simply take what we want."

The jiaoshe fell silent, weighing its options.

Zhang Tianshi and his group were puzzled by the interaction between Tang Ailian and the jiaoshe. They couldn't hear the telepathic communication but could see that something was happening.

Thank you for reading this chapter!