Wu Yuan watched in silence as the Cat Demon leisurely finished consuming a spider leg.

Seeing the creature pause, seemingly satiated, Wu Yuan seized the opportunity.

“Great Cat King,” he spoke, his tone dripping with practiced reverence. “We will continue to offer such tributes in the future. We only hope you might spare our humble lives.”

The Cat Demon licked its paw, casting a languid glance at Wu Yuan. It raised a claw and casually swiped it across its collar.

Flash.

A piece of jade instantly appeared in its paw.

Wu Yuan’s pupils constricted, his gaze locking onto the silver collar. A storage Magical Artifact?

This cat’s background is truly extraordinary. I’ve only ever heard of such treasures through my bloodline inheritance!

While Wu Yuan was still reeling from the shock of the demon’s wealth, the cat weighed the jade in its paw for a moment before tossing it through the air.

Wu Yuan scrambled forward, extending his paws to catch it.

“Consider this technique payment for the meal,” the Cat Demon said, a hint of amusement in its voice. “That Poison Orb of yours should prove useful with it.”

Wu Yuan stiffened. The Poison Orb had been discovered.

However, this was a calculated risk. He had intentionally revealed it, signaling to the predator that he was not toothless. He had ordered One Ear to hold the orb nearby; if the Cat Demon made a hostile move, One Ear would launch a suicidal strike, contaminating the meat with toxin and leaving the cat with nothing but a poisoned carcass.

Feigning ignorance and overwhelming gratitude, Wu Yuan bowed low. “Thank you, Great Cat King!”

The Cat Demon merely flicked its paw and yawned, bored.

Wu Yuan knew the audience was over.

“Great Cat King, we reside in the neighboring valley,” Wu Yuan said, backing away respectfully. “If you require anything, please summon us at any time.”

Deep within the ore vein tunnels.

Wu Yuan sat examining the jade slip in his claws. He slowly infused his Demon Power into the stone.

Moments later, the jade began to emit a soft, milky-white glow. Information flooded directly into his mind.

Technique: [Poison Guiding Art]

Effect: Grants control over toxins, enhances their potency, and allows the user to nurture poison within the body.

Crucial Note: The user does not need to generate their own poison; external sources can be utilized.

Wu Yuan’s whiskers twitched. The Poison Orb meets this condition perfectly.

According to the transmission, with profound cultivation, one could even refine the Poison Orb into a semi-Magical Artifact.

“The Cat Demon possesses a truly deep background,” Wu Yuan mused. “If it weren’t for its current destitute state, a lowly rat like me wouldn’t even have the qualification to meet it.”

No wonder the Karma Pearl rated it as Blue Intelligence.

He gripped the jade tightly. “If I manage this relationship well, there might be other gains. So what if I have to act like a grandson? Who hasn’t humbled themselves for power before?”

Pragmatism won out over pride. He immediately summoned his lieutenant.

“Big Old Black!”

The massive black rat scurried over.

“From now on, focus on monitoring other beasts that possess Demon Power,” Wu Yuan commanded. “I will personally hunt them. We must serve the Great Cat King well!”

Big Old Black nodded vigorously. “Boss, I know a place! Snake Valley. I used to go there often to catch snakes for snacks.”

“Some time ago,” the lieutenant continued, “I found traces of demon snakes appearing there. They should have been born recently. If you take action personally, Boss, it will be a breeze.”

Wu Yuan’s eyes lit up. Excellent. I can collect snake venom to practice this new technique.

Suddenly, a notification floated in his vision.

[Green Intelligence: Snake Valley contains Snake Tooth Rice, which contains Spiritual Qi.]

Wu Yuan stared at the floating text, falling into deep thought.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Green Intelligence.

Although this implies almost no danger to my current strength, the potential harvest might also be relatively small. This Snake Tooth Rice probably has a minimal effect on my cultivation… but why not take it since it’s there?

Wu Yuan turned to Big Old Black. “Focus on training the Rat Swarm for now. We will need their strength to clear Snake Valley.”

“We move out in a few days. I need to familiarize myself with the new technique first.”

Wu Yuan preferred to be cautious. A new weapon needed testing before the war.

Days later, inside the cavern.

Wu Yuan manipulated the Poison Orb with his mind. It danced through the air, tracing streaks of sickly green light. Whenever it brushed against the cavern rocks, it emitted a harsh chi-chi sound, the stone dissolving into sizzling sludge.

After practicing for a while, Wu Yuan opened his mouth and swallowed the Poison Orb whole.

He patted his stomach, satisfied.

“The [Poison Guiding Art], when empowered by the Poison Orb, is far more lethal than the [Dark Spirit Thorn]. The spider venom can corrode flesh and blood, making it perfect for crowd control. Plus, I can carry it internally and continuously nurture it with my Demon Power!”

The Cat Demon had been generous indeed.

“I wonder if the Great Cat King is hungry,” Wu Yuan sneered. “Today, we deal with the snakes.”

The next day.

Wu Yuan led a tidal wave of rats through the underground tunnels toward Snake Valley.

They moved through a passage half a meter wide and roughly one zhang (3.3 meters) below the surface. Wu Yuan had ordered Big Old Black to excavate this route in advance.

Now, aside from the territories of truly terrifying monsters—which Wu Yuan dared not approach—the rest of Little Green Mountain was connected by a complex labyrinth of rat holes. It made travel and intelligence gathering incredibly convenient.

Moments later, they breached the surface.

Wu Yuan stood atop a high rock, overlooking Snake Valley.

The valley was a lush, grim depression in the earth. Shrubs grew wild and thick, creating a dark, damp environment perfectly suited for serpents.

Located in the fissure between two small hills, the valley’s steep rock walls reflected a cold, greenish-gray hue under the sunlight. Deep inside lay a pitch-black crevice, bottomless and terrifying. Mist shrouded the valley floor, making it look as if black waves were churning beneath.

The boulder Wu Yuan stood upon was the only high vantage point at the valley entrance. Its surface was marred with dark brown patterns, resembling the ancient shedding marks of a giant serpent.

From here, he finally saw the truth of the “churning waves” below.

It was a “Snake River.”

Tens of thousands of young snakes writhed together, a living, scaling flood. Hundreds of pythons of varying sizes swam through the mass of hatchlings like driftwood bobbing in a current.

Wu Yuan flared his nostrils, activating his keen sense of smell.

A damp wind hit him, heavy with a fishy, rank odor.

It was the specific, nauseating musk of snakes—a scent that reminded him of his old “good brother,” Little Black the brocade snake.

Mixed with the fishy stench was a toxic miasma that made the average rat dizzy.

“This must be the Snake Demon’s toxin,” Wu Yuan analyzed.

He had long since developed immunity to ordinary snake venom. Only a demon’s poison could affect him now. Moreover, after absorbing so much Spirit Copper, his constitution was robust; his bones were iron-hard, his skin tough as leather. Even if they bit him, their fangs might snap.

Tracing the scent of the poison, Wu Yuan detected a faint, distinct ripple of Demon Power.

His nose was his greatest asset, a radar that had saved him from countless deaths.

“More than one Snake Demon!”

Wu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat.

It seems new demons were born just these past few days.

Instead of fear, a grotesque expression of excitement twisted Wu Yuan’s furry face.

“The more, the better. The bigger the harvest!”

He rose to his hind legs, looking back at Big Old Black and the endless sea of rats behind him. A cruel smile revealed his sharp incisors.

“Go. Leave not a single snake alive!”

He opened his mouth, and a strange, high-frequency screech erupted from his throat.

[Voice of Berserk]

The effect was instantaneous.

The eyes of the rats turned blood-red. Their expressions twisted into masks of ferocious madness as they poured into Snake Valley like a gray landslide.

Even elites like Big Old Black, who had cultivated Demon Power, could not resist the influence. Roaring with bloodlust, they charged the snake herd.

The [Voice of Berserk] was not a technique in the traditional sense. It was an improved version of the sonic command Big Old Black used, amplified by Wu Yuan’s Demon Power. Its function was simple: destroy the rationality of the swarm.

Do not be fooled by the numbers. The snakes far outnumbered the rats, making it appear as though Wu Yuan was at a disadvantage.

But Wu Yuan commanded Rat Demons. These were not prey; they were monsters. Ordinary snakes stood no chance.

Wu Yuan stood at the highest point of the valley, looking down like a general, admiring the slaughter unfolding below.