The cultivation world divides cultivation realms into major stages, each further segmented into early, middle, late, and great perfection.
For instance, Xiao Fei, currently at the sixth level of Qi Refining, is in the middle stage of Qi Refining, while Zhu Yu, at the seventh level, has just entered the late stage of Qi Refining.
The black snake before them is a first-tier high-grade beast, equivalent to the late stage of Qi Refining, but its strength far surpasses Zhu Yu's.
Notably, the snake occasionally spews a stream of black venom that can corrode large pits into the ground's rocks.
A few drops accidentally splashed onto Xiao Fei, corroding large holes in his magic robe. The soft armor beneath sizzled as it was corroded, but fortunately, the armor was sturdy enough to temporarily withstand the venom's erosion.
At this moment, Xiao Fei unleashed a Binding Spell. The black snake flicked its tail, attempting to shake off the Iron Thorns that had just extended.
However, the Iron Thorns coiled around the snake's tail.
This was Xiao Fei's first time using the Binding Spell in combat, and he discovered a problem.
The Binding Spell is primarily used to trap and impede enemies. However, this snake had no feet. Although he had ensnared its tail, it seemed to have little effect. The black snake, dragging a cluster of Iron Thorns, moved with the speed of wind.
"Why are you binding its tail? Bind its head."
Seeing Xiao Fei's Binding Spell prove ineffective, Zhu Yu couldn't resist chiding him.
Simultaneously, his flying sword struck, slashing at the snake's head, but it only managed to chip a scale.
"Zhu Yu, have you not eaten? What's the use of just breaking the skin?"
Seeing Zhu Yu's flying sword was ineffective, Xiao Fei didn't hesitate to retort.
Despite their bickering, they fought without holding back; their lives were at stake.
Xiao Fei simultaneously employed a Body-Lightening Spell to evade the black snake's attacks, while continuously casting Binding Spells with his hands.
He launched Iron Thorn seeds one after another, all of which ensnared the black snake.
The black snake dragged several clusters of Iron Thorns on its body. These thorny branches also snagged on branches, rocks, and other debris on the ground, finally slowing its speed.
"Zhu Yu, you useless fop, can you put some strength into it! Don't be so soft like a woman!"
Xiao Fei's taunt seemed to hit a nerve with Zhu Yu. Fury surged, and his eyes turned bloodshot.
Zhu Yu spat a mouthful of blood onto his flying sword. After absorbing the blood, the sword blazed with light and slashed down at the black snake.
With a single strike, it carved a wound deep into the snake's body, exposing bone.
The black snake, in pain, tried to whip its tail at the flying sword, but its tail was entangled by a large number of Iron Thorns, which were further connected to the surrounding trees and earth, as if fused together.
The black snake could only watch helplessly as the second, third, and fourth swords struck...
Zhu Yu, as if injected with chicken blood, emotionally hacked at the snake repeatedly.
"Hey! It's already dead."
It was then that Zhu Yu realized he had lost some composure. He finally raised his flying sword and walked towards the black snake's corpse.
Xiao Fei secretly clutched a Fireball Talisman in his hand and also approached the black snake.
"We killed this black snake together. I won't bully you today. How about we split it half and half?"
With the formidable enemy gone, Zhu Yu was now wary of Xiao Fei, as they were adversaries rather than friends.
"Half of the black snake is fine, but I want to know why this snake was chasing you!
I don't want to help you fight a battle for nothing, only for you to reap all the benefits."
Xiao Fei had been wandering around Lion Peak Ridge for several days. He had discovered that while the demonic beasts here had low intelligence, they generally weren't foolish enough to relentlessly pursue someone to their death without reason.
Some demonic beasts would guard rare spiritual herbs, waiting for them to mature before consuming them.
He suspected that Zhu Yu had likely stolen something from the black snake.
Although Zhu Yu's cultivation was one level higher than his, he had expended a lot of energy during the battle, significantly reducing his strength.
In contrast, Xiao Fei's use of the Binding Spell primarily activated the vitality within the seeds, consuming little spiritual power. He could still maintain some combat effectiveness.
"I won't hide this from you. I did indeed obtain a Black Leaf Datura in the black snake's lair."
"But this spiritual herb is of great use to me. I won't give it to you even if it means fighting to the death."
With this thought, Zhu Yu summoned his flying sword and positioned himself, ready to fight to the death.
Upon hearing the name Black Leaf Datura, Xiao Fei took out the peach wood sword he had stored in his spatial ring and also adopted a stance of readiness to fight.
The Black Leaf Datura was a notorious poison in the cultivation world.
Its toxicity increased with age.
When a Black Leaf Datura reached a certain age and its rank advanced from first to second grade, it could poison cultivators in the Foundation Establishment stage.
Furthermore, this poison was colorless and odorless. Many people were poisoned without realizing it, and by the time the toxicity fully manifested, there was no cure.
Xiao Fei summoned his flying sword and adopted a stance of readiness to fight.
"Since we joined forces to kill the black snake, I should have half of the Black Leaf Datura. I'm not asking for much, you can give me some seeds!"
"The Black Leaf Datura is of great use to me. I can compromise further and give you the entire corpse of this black snake."
Zhu Yu seemed to intend to use the Datura for something significant and feared that dividing even a portion of the seeds would affect its efficacy. He was willing to give up half the black snake for it.
"Also, in the black snake's lair, there was another Black Leaf Datura that was ten years old. I didn't have time to harvest it then, but I can give that to you."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
"Believe it or not, I bid you farewell!"
Zhu Yu uttered these words and turned to flee.
Xiao Fei was left standing alone. He glanced at Zhu Yu's retreating back, then at the black snake's corpse on the ground. Ultimately, he chose the snake's corpse and did not pursue.
After Zhu Yu's figure disappeared, Xiao Fei collected the snake's corpse into his spatial ring and followed the tracks left by the black snake towards the mountaintop.
He continued until he reached the entrance of a dark, black mountain cave.
Xiao Fei first lit a torch and tossed it inside. After a long while, there was no reaction from within, so he cautiously approached the cave.
Zhu Yu had indeed not lied to him this time. At the end of the cave, there was a plant about a foot tall, with leaves as black as ink – the Black Leaf Datura, feared by cultivators.
At the top of the plant stood several red flowers resembling bellflowers. Their petals were a vibrant, alluring color, making them appear lovely, yet they were deadly poisons.
The flowers of the Black Leaf Datura could induce unconsciousness, while its fruits could cause death.
The seemingly dark and frightening leaves, however, could counteract this poison, making one marvel at the wonders of creation.
When a Black Leaf Datura reaches ten years of age, it flowers and fruits for the first time, and the fruits take another ten years to mature.
Once the fruits ripen, the plant on the ground withers and dies, and then sprouts a second time from its roots, flowering and fruiting again.
Xiao Fei plucked a black leaf and placed it in his mouth to prevent himself from being poisoned by the floral scent.
The plant before him appeared to be flowering for the first time, and its toxicity was not yet overwhelming, but it was still useful for someone of his cultivation level.
He wondered what stage Zhu Yu's plant was at.
Xiao Fei took out his herb hoe and carefully dug out the Black Leaf Datura, transferring it to his spatial ring and planting it.