"Unexpected Alliances and Transcendent Evolution"

Just before reaching the corpse of the big flowered python, the Spirit Devouring Purple Monkey leaped onto the python's body and swiftly struck it with both claws, creating a bloody hole and retrieving a small brown bead. Huang Xiaolong's eyes widened as he recognized it as a Monster Core. Typically, the probability of a middle-level Monster Beast condensing a Monster Core is extremely low, with only Level 7 and above high-level Monster Beasts having a hundred percent chance. Yet, even this Level 4 big flowered python possessed one!

A Level 4 Monster Core, if sold in the market, would be worth at least 200-300 gold coins. Meanwhile, the Spirit Devouring Purple Monkey arrived at the belly of the big flowered python and extracted two thumb-sized, green, and somewhat repulsive-looking objects: snake guts. Huang Xiaolong's eyes brightened as he recognized their value. The snake guts of this Level 4 Monster Beast were highly sought-after for their benefits in cultivation. Consuming them not only enhanced one's Battle Qi but also strengthened the body.

The Spirit Devouring Purple Monkey handed the snake guts to Huang Xiaolong, squeaking with a grin before promptly swallowing the Level 4 Monster Core without any issues. Huang Xiaolong was astonished. Monster Beast Monster Cores contained condensed Monster Yuan energy, but this energy was not suitable for direct consumption by humans. It was too violent and could cause the body to explode. Yet, the little monkey had managed to swallow it effortlessly.

Huang Xiaolong shook his head in speechlessness. After a moment's thought, he decided to leave the several hundred jin (0.5 kg) corpse of the big flower python as it was and returned to Huang Family Manor with the Spirit Devouring Purple Monkey. Once back, Huang Xiaolong asked the guard in the village to buy some liquor and broke open the snake guts, mixing them with the alcohol. As he consumed it, he initially felt a cold sensation, followed by a constant emergence of warmth.

Huang Xiaolong quickly activated his Asura Arts to refine the efficacy of the snake guts. The night passed, and when Huang Xiaolong woke up, he couldn't help but feel delighted. His Battle Qi had significantly improved during that night's practice. The snake guts alone provided benefits equivalent to half a month of self-torture. Huang Xiaolong had a strong sense that he was on the verge of breaking through to Rank 4 in these upcoming days. As he got up from the cold jade bed and put it back into his Asura Ring, he heard his younger sister, Huang Min, calling him from outside the small courtyard, "Big Brother, Big Brother!"

Huang Xiaolong was slightly surprised. It was still early in the morning, and he wondered why his sister was looking for him. He walked out of the room to meet her. "Big Brother, father and mother want you to go to the main hall," Huang Min said as she approached him.

"To the main hall?" Huang Xiaolong questioned, puzzled. Family matters were usually discussed there.

Leaving the small courtyard, Huang Xiaolong followed behind Huang Min and entered the main hall. He saw his parents already present, along with his uncle Huang Ming, Huang Wei, and other family elders. As Huang Xiaolong entered, all eyes turned towards him with various expressions. Huang Wei's gaze, in particular, was filled with venomous hatred.

Huang Xiaolong joined his parents at their side and took a seat. Huang Peng and Su Yan nodded at their son, their faces filled with joy. At that moment, Huang Qide and Li Mu entered the hall. Li Mu was accompanied by his granddaughter, Li Lu. Huang Xiaolong had a faint suspicion about the purpose of their visit.

Sure enough, after Huang Qide took his seat, he glanced at everyone in the main hall and spoke with a smile, "Today, I've gathered everyone here to share some news. Our Huang Family Manor and Li Family will form a marital alliance."

The words "marital alliance" caused a small commotion in the main hall, though most people were not surprised, as rumors about this had already circulated. Huang Wei's face lit up with joy. Then, Huang Qide continued with a smile, "Indeed, it is our Huang Family Manor's Huang Wei who will be engaged to Li Lu from the Li Family."

The elders in the hall immediately stood up and congratulated the Old Manor Lord. However, a sudden voice interrupted the atmosphere. The voice was forceful, causing everyone to fall into silence. It was Li Lu, sitting beside Li Mu, who had spoken up.

"Grandfather, I don't agree!" Li Lu's declaration stunned the crowd. They looked at her, and their expressions turned complicated. Li Mu was about to scold her, but Li Lu spoke again, "No, Grandfather, I don't like Huang Wei!" She pointed directly at Huang Xiaolong and continued, "I like him. If there's an engagement, I want it to be with him!"

Silence descended upon the main hall. People's expressions became even more varied. However, Huang Wei's smile froze on his face, and his father, Huang Ming, wore an increasingly ugly expression. Huang Wei's face turned flushed, and he stared at Huang Xiaolong with eyes full of murderous hatred.

Huang Xiaolong calmly sat there, indifferent to Huang Wei's hatred. He was well aware of the enmity directed towards him. After a while, the crowd dispersed.

Huang Xiaolong left the main hall and separated from his parents. He returned to his small courtyard and continued his cultivation. He eagerly anticipated discovering the Spirit Skill that his Martial Spirit would manifest after reaching Rank 4. Five days swiftly passed.

That night, Huang Xiaolong sat cross-legged on the cold jade bed. Asura Arts circulated within him, and Nine Nether Qi continuously emanated from the void. Suddenly, his Double-Headed Snake Martial Spirit surged forward, swallowing it. Battle Qi filled Huang Xiaolong's meridians, roaring as it repeatedly attacked the barrier of Rank 4.

Just like when he broke through to Rank 2 and Rank 3, Huang Xiaolong relentlessly bombarded the barrier with Battle Qi. Eventually, the barrier cracked, expanded, and finally broke open. Huang Xiaolong had broken through to Rank 4!

However, as Huang Xiaolong broke through, something unexpected happened. The rays of light behind his Double-Headed Snake Martial Spirit suddenly intensified, shooting up into the sky in a combination of blue and black. It sounded like a Dragon's Roar but carried an eerie, unfamiliar howl. Astonishingly, the Double-Headed Snake Martial Spirit split into two, revealing a blue snake and a black snake. Or rather, not just snakes, as they now had four claws on their lower bodies, and their scales had transformed into dragon-like scales!