This time’s hunt for the Shadow Serpent could truly be deemed a meritorious feat.

The moods of the three Holy Clan warriors were excellent, even the usually reserved Qing Jiuye wore a relaxed expression.

The amount of Shadow Serpent skin harvested this time was considerable. The warriors had to find vines and bundle the skins into several large packs before they could gather them all. They understood better than anyone the immense reduction in hunting risk a single piece of Shadow Scale Garb could provide, given the perilous nature of their home.

This harvest was, in fact, the largest hunting yield the Holy Clan had seen in recent years.

Wu Quji’s research, it turned out, wasn’t entirely useless. His solution for the Shadow Serpent’s poison increased the window of tolerance during hunts. For the future of the Forest Sea Holy Clan, this meant a consistent supply of Shadow Scale Garb, its importance undeniable.

Of course, the exact benefits remained to be seen, depending on how he negotiated the price. He certainly wouldn’t trade it for another “Movement Technique.”

Only Su Qi remained more silent than before.

In the Divine Shade, Divine Dragonwood was ubiquitous. But in the outside world, the only Divine Dragonwood he had ever seen was this one.

Perhaps it was more accurate to say that all the Divine Dragonwood within the Divine Shade relied on this single, magnificent tree.

It stood tall and thick, a solitary branch reaching towards the heavens.

According to the legends of the Forest Sea Holy Clan, the world’s most ancient Divine Dragonwood was the very tree around which the Dragon God coiled during his infancy. Born from its divine companionship, it naturally possessed a sacred aura.

It was this aura that allowed it to receive divine power, creating the Divine Shade in its vicinity.

However, the Divine Shade where the Forest Sea Holy Clan now resided was not the one accompanied by the most ancient Divine Dragonwood. Throughout their long history, the Forest Sea Holy Clan had undergone numerous migrations, losing their ancestral land long ago.

Legend held that the Forest Sea Holy Clan were beings nurtured by the Divine Shade itself. Though outwardly no different from humans, they claimed the title of “Holy Clan” due to this “divine favor.”

Entering the Divine Shade, the Holy Clan warriors returned with their burdens, each holding their head high and chest puffed out.

The clan people were also enthusiastic in their welcome. Holy Clan maidens subtly cast admiring glances, the warriors who had remained behind took the prey, and the small children stared with wide, reverent eyes…

After all, they had successfully hunted the Shadow Serpent, breaking a long-standing drought for the Holy Clan in the Shadow Serpent’s domain.

Truly worthy of the appellation “warrior.”

The wounded Qing Qishu, though injured, looked even more spirited as he scanned the crowd: “At that moment, that Shadow Serpent was only a finger’s width away from me! Its fangs were practically touching my face! Was I afraid? Of course not! I let it bite! Bite with all its might! If I even so much as frowned, I wouldn’t be the Holy Clan’s foremost good man!”

Before anyone could question his sudden claim to being the “foremost good man” and the origin of this ranking, he was already spitting with excitement, turning to the crowd: “Look at my injuries, all of you! What are scars? Scars are the highest praise for a hero!”

Wu Quji offered a dry remark: “With your recovery ability, it seems you won’t be left with any scars.”

Qing Qishu glared at him, how utterly annoying!

But catching sight of a charming figure with a sweet smile out of the corner of his eye, his voice suddenly rose another notch: “The mere Shadow Serpent’s domain, what talk of forbidden ground or dangerous territory is this! Though the Shadow Serpent’s bite is painful, and its poison terrifying, how can I, Qing Qishu, fear such difficulties? You all don’t know, at that time, ah…”

“Qing Hua!” an excited voice interrupted.

Qing Bazhi directly pushed him aside, rushing forward, his face beaming with a bright smile: “I used the Shadow Serpent’s skin to weave you a hat! See if you like it!”

Qing Qishu: ???

So, this is what you’ve been secretly fiddling with all this time!

You with your thick braids and big eyes, playing these little tricks on me!

When I said I was going to give Qing Hua a hat, what did you say? Too ugly? In the blink of an eye, you stole your Grandpa Qishu’s idea, ah!

Shameless!!!

Looking at Qing Bazhi’s head topped with eight braids, Qing Qishu ached to smash him with his Qing Wood Shield.

The Shadow Serpent’s skin was naturally grey, but it could change with the environment, complementing its innate concealment ability.

This, unfortunately, destined the hat to a rather drab, grey appearance.

Coupled with Qing Bazhi’s craftsmanship…

Frankly speaking, he was skilled at stabbing Forest Bears in the backside with a spear, but his leather crafting was utterly amateur.

The word “ugly” wasn’t even sufficient to describe it.

Qing Hua accepted the leather hat and, besides smiling her thanks, showed no other reaction.

But that smile alone was enough to satisfy Qing Bazhi, his mouth splitting into a grin he couldn’t close: “You like it, good, good! I still have plenty! I’ll make you a vest next!”

Qing Jiuye’s slightly upturned lips also unconsciously flattened. His temperament was not as lively as Qing Qishu and Qing Bazhi’s, he wasn’t as expressive, nor was he as proactive. This time, he was inevitably left feeling a little down and wounded.

Qing Qishu’s heart was brimming with such sourness and hate, his formerly endless chatter abruptly silenced.

He turned his head and gave Jiang Wang a pitiful look, the plea for help clear.

What to do, Mister Zhang, someone stole my gift idea!

Jiang Wang returned a calm, placid gaze.

Don’t panic.

As for why he wasn’t panicking… he hadn’t quite figured it out yet, he’d come up with something later.

For now, getting his hands on the Shadow Scale Garb was the priority.

Besides, he himself truly wasn’t panicked. Who Qing Hua liked, what did that matter to him anyway?

The technique for tanning Shadow Scale Garb was a Holy Clan secret, known only to the old priestess.

Having harvested so much Shadow Serpent skin, she was also very satisfied. She kindly comforted the three envoys of the Dragon God, and noticing Wu Quji’s injuries, showed genuine concern.

“Fetch three drops of Source Water,” she instructed Qing Hua.

Only from Qing Qishu’s expression could the preciousness of this substance be seen.

When three small wooden bottles were presented on a tray, Jiang Wang could feel a surging vitality emanating through the wood.

“Drink the drop of Source Water in this bottle, your hand will recover today, stronger than before,” the old priestess took one bottle and handed it to Wu Quji: “The three envoys of the Dragon God were willing to brave strange dangers to deal with Yan Xiao. Our clan has no means to repay you. This water is our clan’s treasure, and each drop used is one less. Drinking it can restore injuries, as long as you are not dead, you can recover. If you have no injury, it can also enhance your origin and aid in cultivation.”

She said kindly: “Three envoys, one drop each. Please accept.”

Jiang Wang naturally wasn’t going to be polite; it wasn’t easy to get this old woman to part with something good. It was likely the harvest from the Shadow Serpent’s domain had satisfied her, coupled with the need for Wu Quji to remain at his peak state to deal with Yan Xiao.

Since the matter concerned the rapid recovery of his own arm, Wu Quji wouldn’t hesitate further. However, as a cultivator of the medical path, he still needed to examine it with his own methods before taking it.

When Qing Hua handed the tray to Su Qi, he still refused.

“I don’t want this drop of Source Water.”

He looked at the old priestess and said: “I only want to know exactly why the ‘Night Invasion’ occurred? I want all your Holy Clan’s records concerning this matter. Tell me everything you know.”

Su Qi had a very important person who died in the “Night Invasion,” the old priestess already knew this through Qing Qishu. Thus, she was not surprised by Su Qi’s reaction.

“You should still accept the Source Water, it is beneficial for you to become strong, which I believe you need.”

The old priestess said very openly: “As for the ‘Night Invasion,’ we who live year-round in this fear desire to solve this matter more than you do. You can go directly to the library in a moment, all related records will be openly available to you without reservation. There is no need for any exchange, because just like eliminating Yan Xiao, this is our common goal.”

Su Qi was silent for a while, then reached out and took the wooden bottle.

It was evident that only at this moment did he harbor a trace of recognition for the Forest Sea Holy Clan.