The Nine-Jointed Jade was the most exceptional among the Bamboo Leaf Green Snakes. It had nine tough, scale-like plates on its body, each one sharp-blade resistant. Its venom was notoriously potent. It was said that even a Titled Douluo would dissolve into a puddle of pus within two hours if bitten and untrained in toxicology or pharmacology.
Tang San never expected to encounter one here. In his previous life, in the novel Douluo Dalu, it seemed only Dugu Bo had ever raised such a creature.
However, the Soul Beasts Encyclopedia stated that the Nine-Jointed Jade was a strange beast—it wouldn't drop a soul ring upon death. Because of that, no one dared to provoke it. Its extreme toxicity and lack of cultivation benefit made it a monster best avoided.
That was likely the reason the Wood Spirit Mushroom had survived long enough to reach a thousand years of cultivation—it had the Nine-Jointed Jade as its terrifying guardian.
However, Tang San could sense clear soul power fluctuations coming from the Nine-Jointed Jade. It had clearly started transforming into a soul beast.
"What kind of snake is that? It's so short... and its tail is red. Looks more like a scorpion's hook," Xiao Wu asked in a low voice, wary.
"That's a Nine-Jointed Jade. It's an extremely venomous snake and a strange variant species. Under normal circumstances, it shouldn't even be able to become a soul beast." Tang San frowned. "But this one probably absorbed the spores from the Wood Spirit Mushroom over time, mutating and starting to transform into a soul beast."
"It's only transforming towards a soul beast? Then it must be weak, right?" Xiao Wu sounded relieved.
"Strength isn't only about soul power. This snake's venom can kill a Titled Douluo." Tang San's tone grew serious. He hadn't inherited any antidote knowledge from his past life in the Tang Sect. If he got bitten, he could only rely on his first soul skill's life force to resist the poison—and that might not be enough.
To be safe, he had to deal with the Nine-Jointed Jade first.
Tang San immediately released his Blue Silver Grass Field, wrapping multiple layers of Blue Silver Grass tightly around both himself and Xiao Wu. Only their eyes and noses remained exposed. They looked like two plant-covered mummies.
Xiao Wu blinked, speechless. "Do we have to be this cautious?"
"I don't know how to detoxify poison. Better to be safe than sorry." Tang San said as he controlled the field, causing countless Blue Silver Grass leaves to surge up from the ground and bind the Demonic Eye Demon Tree, the Wood Spirit Mushroom, and the Nine-Jointed Jade all at once.
The snake sensed danger and immediately coiled into a tight ring. Its nine scales spun rapidly, forming a circular shield as it leapt away from the mushroom.
Unfortunately, it jumped in the exact direction where Tang San and Xiao Wu were hiding in the underbrush.
"Did it sense us?" Tang San's mind raced. His eyes flashed with purple light—Purple Demon Eye activated. He clearly locked onto the Nine-Jointed Jade's figure midair, and with a sharp motion, a Blue Silver Grass strand shot out and wrapped around the snake. He bound it into a tight Blue Silver Ball, exposing only its head.
Tang San lifted it with care. "It hasn't fully become a soul beast, but its body is tough, fast, and hard to detect. If my vision weren't so sharp… It probably sensed our body heat, not our presence. Snakes don't rely on eyesight to hunt—they detect thermal signatures."
Xiao Wu walked over and peered curiously at the snake. "It doesn't look that strong."
Tang San smiled, then gently brought the Nine-Jointed Jade's mouth close to the Seven-Star Ladybug in Xiao Wu's hand.
The snake immediately bit down.
In an instant, the ladybug died without a struggle. Its shell visibly shriveled, and it melted like wax under a flame. Xiao Wu yelped and flung the bug away.
Slap!
The bug hit the ground and burst apart—turning into a puddle of greenish-black pus.
"See? The Nine-Jointed Jade's venom is that dangerous. If either of us were bitten, we wouldn't last long." Tang San tied the Blue Silver Ball to a tree trunk. "Keep an eye on it and don't let it escape."
"Why are we even keeping this thing? Let's just kill it!" Xiao Wu still hadn't recovered from the horrific death of the ladybug. She shivered at the thought of being bitten.
But to her surprise, the Nine-Jointed Jade's expression changed. It looked wronged. It stared at them with bright, wet eyes—pleading, as if begging them not to kill it.
"It… it understands us?!" Xiao Wu was stunned.
"That's what makes it a strange beast. Even though it hasn't become a full soul beast, it already has intelligence on par with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. It can sense emotions and understand intent," Tang San observed, eyes narrowing in thought. "Originally, I planned to kill it—but now I have a new idea."
"You're not seriously thinking of raising it, right?" Xiao Wu backed away slightly, clearly disturbed.
"Exactly. The Nine-Jointed Jade can be tamed. If we raise it properly, it could become a powerful trump card—something that catches enemies off guard." Tang San stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Plus, it probably absorbed the vitality from the Wood Spirit Mushroom to begin its transformation. My Blue Silver Grass has an endless supply of life force—I can support its evolution. In return, it can serve me."
He didn't know how Dugu Bo had tamed his Nine-Jointed Jade, but Tang San believed his martial soul's vitality was the key.
With that, Tang San activated Endless Life and directed the energy into the restrained Nine-Jointed Jade.
Instantly, the snake relaxed and showed a blissful expression. Its eyes sparkled with life, and its little face was capable of surprisingly human-like emotions.
But the moment Tang San cut off the skill, the snake's eyes widened—it stared at Tang San, clearly unhappy that the pleasant flow of vitality had ended.
"If you obey me in the future, I'll keep supplying you with life energy. Deal?" Tang San asked.
The Nine-Jointed Jade stared at him for a long moment. Then, slowly and deliberately, it nodded.
"Wow! It really understands human speech. It's not just sensing our intent—it actually comprehends us." Xiao Wu marveled. "It's even smarter than most ten-thousand-year soul beasts."
The Nine-Jointed Jade seemed proud and nodded again, as if accepting the praise.
"What nonsense! How could a little snake like that be better than a ten-thousand-year soul beast like me? It can't even talk!" Xiao Wu scoffed, crossing her arms in mock defiance.
Hiss—
The Nine-Jointed Jade flicked its tongue and glared at her, as if to say: I'm stronger than you, rabbit.
Although Xiao Wu couldn't understand its beast-language, she could feel its mocking tone—and she laughed in disbelief. "You dare to mock Sister Xiao Wu?! When we get back, I'll stew you in a pot!"
The Nine-Jointed Jade casually turned its head, as if it couldn't be bothered to deal with a simple-minded rabbit.
Tang San ignored their bickering. He simply told Xiao Wu to keep watch over the snake and turned back to examine the Demonic Eye Demon Tree and the Wood Spirit Mushroom, still bound by his Blue Silver Grass.
Upon close inspection, he noticed something odd: the stalk of the Wood Spirit Mushroom had faint patterns resembling the demonic eye seen on the Demon Tree's trunk.
Was the Wood Spirit Mushroom absorbing the origin of the Demonic Eye Demon Tree?
Author's Note: For visual reference, the Nine-Jointed Jade is depicted in the manga.