Chapter 693 No Loyalty
"What proposition?"
The voice was still as stable and filled with vigor as it had been before, but now it had another connotation within it, which was intrigue.
Yang Qing's eyes glittered when he detected interest showing on the mountain jade serpent.
"How about I give your nature jade stone an upgrade in exchange for a small favor?" said Yang Qing.
Immediately Yang Qing finished the sentence, the mountain trembled aggressively almost as if it was beset by multiple earthquakes. It wasn't only the mountain that reacted to the air around the mountain that seemed to shake along with it, and the earth essence veil that had enveloped the entire mountain as a fog stirred bringing with it many changes.
The movement of the earth essence caused the gravity within the mountain and five kilometers around it experienced a steep increase to the point that the ground and the vegetation around the mountain started caving in under the gigantic force bearing down on them.
Numerous trees suddenly started exploding into splinters from the crown to the stem slowly extending to the ground below, the protruding rocks surrounding the place were ground into dust, while the ground itself was instantly filled with crevices and craters.
The intensity of the damage only seemed to be increasing with the boiling up of the earth essence surrounding the mountain.
"You better leave, Yang Qing. I can tell you are more powerful than I am, and ideally, I am not one prone to engage in fights, especially in ones that are stacked against it, but that doesn't mean that I wouldn't do it if pushed to a corner.
Please do not push me.." said the mountain jade snake with its voice still maintaining the same stability and vigor.
Even with the increase in gravity and Yang Qing being within the sphere of influence, his posture and demeanor were just as relaxed as he had been when he stepped into the area, almost as if the increase in gravity had no effects on him whatsoever.
"This pressure should match the 200th..no it doesn't have that quality yet it should be just below it, at the 190 thereabouts. Aah, this reminds me of the good old days of scaling up the Spirit Howling Mountain, trying to outdo one another on the Spirit Howling tablet.
Since I stepped onto the palace realm, I haven't been there. I should make a point of visiting it and harvest more rewards and probably leave Huilang and the rest in the dust, maybe I could even overtake Dai Chen.." muttered Yang Qing with a gleeful smile as he held his chin in contemplation.
"What is it you want?"
Earlier, while it did not think its odds of victory were high, it thought that at least with the assistance of the nature jade stone it could maybe drag things out to the point that both parties would come to an understanding and forego further hostilities, but now, the nature jade stone would likely betray it without a second thought. The mountain jade snake no longer had the heart to fight and by the look of things it seemed like the human had been telling the truth about not needing the nature jade stone. He could already feel the subservience of the nature jade stone towards the presence of Yang Qing.
Hearing the mountain jade snake's words, Yang Qing dispelled his aura, once again looking like a charming cheeky handsome youth taking a casual stroll in the forest.
"Just so you know, if the request is for me to attack other spirit beasts or something close to it, I will have to refuse you. I am already okay with nature jade stone as is.." added the mountain jade snake.
"I would not ask you to do something like that. If you were the type to agree to do something like that I would not have come here in the first place, nor would I trade with you.." Yang Qing solemnly said.
"So, what is it?"
"It's something small. I'll be leaving soon, and I have a few friends here that I'd like you to check on now and then and confirm they're okay.."
With a confused look on its face, the mountain jade snake asked,
"You want me to check on your fellow humans? Why don't you do it yourself or let others from the Order do it? I've heard other spirit beasts who ventured outside mention how powerful you lot are. Surely you can do a better job than I.."
"My friends are not humans.." said Yang Qing as he went on to describe the restoration oak tree, the aurora azalea, and the verdant glow firefly he had left at the territory of the now defunct Clear Sword River Sect.
After hearing the description of the three figures mentioned especially their abilities, the mountain jade snake couldn't help but look suspiciously at Yang Qing as it said,
"Why do you want me there? By the look of things that place is valuable and we are not that familiar with each other.."
"The parasitic purple flower spore sycamore tree said you could be trusted, and I feel the nature jade stone would benefit much from the three of them just as much as they would benefit from it. The three figures are filled with my aura, and while their strengths are too low to support your cultivation base, it won't always be that way.." Yang Qing said with a smile.
"You know Adler's sister? She's not one to talk to strangers but if she did...."the mountain jade snake paused for a moment and then its body instantly transformed into that of a handsome man in his early forties with a robust build, smooth brown skin, long brown hair and amber eyes that had a tinge of green in them. His aura was one of stability.
"I, Mu Fen, agree.." said the middle-aged man as he extended his hand toward Yang Qing for a handshake.
"Thank you, Mu Fen.." answered Yang Qing as he stretched out his hand for the handshake.