Chapter 139: Serpent Slab
The transaction item brought out by the Wild Growth was truly unexpected. Just as Su Xiao was about to speak, the presence of the Wild Growth vanished, clearly having already left, leaving behind a tree root nearly half a meter long.
Of the 10 pages of "Treeborn Pages" Su Xiao had obtained, only 4 remained. Most had been consumed in dealings with the Wild Growth. Although they were already "old friends," Su Xiao still maintained appropriate caution toward the Wild Growth. The reason was that if he came into contact with the Wild Growth's tree roots, there would be no immunity or anything similar—he would still be invaded by those roots.
Su Xiao had seen many enemies invaded by these tree roots. The roots would spread to every corner of the body, causing agony beyond description. Even the most terrible torture could not compare.
Picking up the black pottery shard on the coffee table, Su Xiao noticed it was different from before. That inexplicable sense of palpitation had vanished, as if this shard had been severed from its connection to the main body of the Abyssal Jar.
This reminded Su Xiao of his previous transaction with Wood. The payment had been a section of the Wild Growth's tree root. After the Painting World Battle for Supremacy ended, Wood had likely found a place and tossed the Wild Growth's tree root into the newly restored Abyssal Jar. If properly prepared and unafraid of death, with Wood's personal ability, this was still achievable.
After that, the Wild Growth and the Abyssal Jar had engaged in a second round of confrontation. The outcome was unclear. Earlier, Su Xiao hadn't noticed any change in the Wild Growth, who had consumed two pages of "Treeborn Pages."
Assuming the connection between this black pottery shard and its main body was severed, the value of this item was extraordinary. Given how sinister the Abyssal Jar was, Su Xiao decided to proceed with caution.
How to test whether this black pottery shard was dangerous? That went without saying—use the Ouroboros Serpent Slab.
Su Xiao took out the Ouroboros Serpent Slab from the team storage space. As soon as text appeared on the slab, Su Xiao retrieved the "Container Shell" obtained from the Dark Star and touched it to the slab.
The "Container Shell" vanished instantly. Su Xiao examined the Ouroboros Serpent Slab. There was no change; it was still disc-shaped, about 25 centimeters in diameter, with a ring of black Ouroboros serpent carvings around the edge. The inner surface was slightly thinner, a stone-white color.
A line of text appeared on the slab:
'Do not touch the shard.'
Ignoring the words, Su Xiao picked up the black pottery shard and pressed it against the Ouroboros Serpent Slab. The slab began writing a small essay:
'Do not let it touch me. It will bring danger to you.'
'Stop!'
'You will surely suffer the Serpent's Curse.'
'My great holder, you need my help.'
'You will die a miserable death.'
'Trust me, I can help you.'
Disregarding these, Su Xiao touched the black pottery shard to the Ouroboros Serpent Slab.
Crack, crack, crack...
Dense cracks appeared on the slab. Though it didn't shatter immediately, it looked half-dead, trembling incessantly. Black, ominous light surged within the cracks. The black pottery shard that had touched it had vanished, merging into the slab.
Su Xiao wasn't worried about the Ouroboros Serpent Slab mutating and threatening him. This was inside his exclusive room, an absolutely safe environment.
Letting Baha watch over the changes in the Ouroboros Serpent Slab, Su Xiao walked into the Alchemy Laboratory. He needed to use the "Eye Ritual" to cultivate several Dark Eyes and continue transplanting them onto the Devourer: Black A. Ever since catching Black A at the No. 6 Sanctuary City on the seabed, Black A had been less than cooperative.
As the first-generation Devourer, Black A wasn't the best in all aspects, but its growth potential was unmatched. The second-generation Devourer: Boiling Red had been cultivated and modified from samples extracted from Black A.
This time, Su Xiao planned to implant 5 more Dark Eyes into Black A and then extract samples from Black A to cultivate a third-generation Devourer.
Su Xiao's plan was: if the next world wasn't the Treeborn World, he would see if there was an opportunity to release the Devourers. If the timing was right, he would release both the second-generation Devourer: Boiling Red and the third-generation Devourer, letting the hosts of these two generations fight. This would both collect data on the Devourers and reveal which generation was superior. The host that ultimately won could be entrusted with important tasks.
The first-generation Devourer: Black A could not be dispatched during this period. With its 6A panel, it needed to know its place. Counting the newly transplanted 5 Dark Eyes, Black A would be a 12-Eye Devourer. It couldn't go down to bully the little ones.
After another transplant of Dark Eyes, Black A would definitely reach that level of strength. It was absolutely uncontrollable and could only be used as a base template, cultivating subsequent generations of Devourers from it.
A few hours later, using inert anesthesia, Su Xiao implanted the newly cultivated Dark Eyes into Black A. This weakness of Black A had to be preserved by any means; otherwise, Black A would inevitably lose control one day. At that point, Black A would have to be completely killed.
Su Xiao could easily do this, but it would be a pity. Devourers were replaced generation after generation. He believed that one day, he could cultivate the ideal Devourer.
"Boss, come quick."
Baha's shout came from the Alchemy Laboratory. Su Xiao strode out of the lab and saw the Ouroboros Serpent Slab floating in midair, with a line of text appearing on it:
'Greetings, my esteemed master.'
Seeing this line, Su Xiao smiled and lit a cigarette. This was the most exaggerated acting he had ever seen. Seeing this, Baha beside him said:
"Serpent Slab, stop pretending. Get yourself together. I still prefer your original rebellious and untamed look."
'Feathered mongrel bird, shut up.'
Text appeared on the Ouroboros Serpent Slab. Seeing this, Baha's eyes widened, ready to start cursing, but remembering being shocked by this slab last time, it calmed down. As a seasoned keyboard pianist and team battle chatterbox, it chose to act cautiously toward something that could actually hit it.
"Speak. What new ability did you gain?"
'Refuse to answer.'
The Ouroboros Serpent Slab could now refuse to answer. That meant the method of asking it what Reincarnation Paradise was and then crashing it was no longer effective.
Did this mean Su Xiao had no way to deal with the Ouroboros Serpent Slab? No. He could sell this slab to Reincarnation Paradise. After all, neither the slab nor the black pottery shard was a good thing. He could just bundle them and sell them off.
As for whether this transaction with the Wild Growth was a loss, Su Xiao didn't feel that way. Ever since he obtained the "Alchemy Codex" from the Wild Growth, no matter how he traded afterward, he wouldn't lose. The value of the "Alchemy Codex" was too high.
Su Xiao certainly knew the black pottery shard had great value, but he also knew how badly the Devil Clan had been dealt with. He didn't believe that if he actively used this shard to enhance himself, Reincarnation Paradise would interfere. That was absolutely impossible. Using something was a personal choice, and the consequences were also borne personally.
Su Xiao began consulting the relevant permissions on how to sell the Ouroboros Serpent Slab for the highest price. Suddenly, he had a better idea. Why not temporarily hand this slab over to Kaiser? All profits uncovered during that time would be split fifty-fifty.
This slab often seemed to yield, but it was actually neither soft nor hard, and it could turn traitor at any moment. Since that was the case, let Kaiser handle it. That guy Kaiser even dared to mess with notarization issues.
After receiving Su Xiao's message, Kaiser rushed over. He arrived at the door of Su Xiao's exclusive room in 4 minutes and 23 seconds. The door opened, and he strode in.
"What gift is it this time for Kaiser? Bai Ye, Kaiser is so moved. Today is Kaiser's birthday."
Hearing this, Baha immediately said: "Cut it out. This is your sixth birthday this year."
Baha had been fooled by Kaiser in this regard before. Once, Kaiser pitifully said he hadn't celebrated his birthday in a long time. Baha thought, since they often cooperated and Kaiser's expression was truly pitiful, Baha took Kaiser out for a feast. Since then, Kaiser frequently had birthdays.
"That's not important. Let me see the goods. Is this it? Leave it to me."
Kaiser's eyes seemed to be glowing. The next second, the Ouroboros Serpent Slab fell to the ground.
Kaiser stepped forward, picked it up, and directly spat a glob of phlegm onto it. Then he wiped it with his sleeve, intending to polish the slab until it was shinier.
Before Kaiser left, Su Xiao vaguely saw on the Ouroboros Serpent Slab: 'Law Destroyer, save me!'