Gods: Start with Goblins

.After a period of rest, Zhang Xiaoruo finally recovered.

Originally, she had been beaten so badly that she couldn't even move, but fortunately, she was strong and had a strong recovery ability.

Zhang Xiaoruo slowly opened her eyes and sat up. There was still a trace of fatigue in her eyes. She felt her head was very dizzy and her body was as heavy as if it was filled with lead. Every movement she made required a great deal of effort.

She moved her fingers slightly and could feel the soreness in her muscles.

However, the moment her eyes met Sheng Lian's, a strong sense of oppression came over her.

Sheng Lian stared at Zhang Xiaoruo fiercely, her eyes seemed to be able to spit fire, so hot that it made people tremble with fear.

He clenched his teeth, the muscles on his cheeks bulged slightly, and his angry look was chilling.

He gnashed his teeth and said, "You damned human woman, I will cut you into pieces to avenge my Fiery Chain Snake."

His voice exploded in the air like thunder, carrying endless hatred.

Zhang Xiaoruo's heart trembled. The strong feeling of oppression made her heartbeat accelerate instantly. She could even hear the sound of her heart beating violently in her chest.

But she was stubborn and did not back down, she responded with her chest held high.

"Don't be so fierce. The snake attacked me first and I was just defending myself."

She raised her chin slightly, trying to make herself look more determined.

Sheng Lian's eyes were wide open, filled with anger and sarcasm.

"Self-defense? You chopped my Fiery Chain Snake into several pieces. You also call this self-defense? My Fiery Chain Snake is my most precious treasure. You must pay a heavy price."

His voice made the leaves around him tremble slightly, and his angry breath made people breathless.

Zhang Xiaoruo frowned and was about to retort, but suddenly felt that there seemed to be a deeper pain hidden in Shenglian's emotions.

She suddenly felt that she had overlooked something and spoke tentatively.

"Why is that snake so important to you?"

A trace of sadness flashed across Shenglian's eyes. After a moment's silence, she spoke solemnly.

"That Fiery Chain Snake is a souvenir left to me by the previous heir. Ever since I got it, I have been taking good care of it. It has accompanied me through countless days and nights and is my only companion. Now, you have killed it by mistake. How can I not hate you?"

After hearing this, Zhang Xiaoruo felt a surge of guilt.

She lowered her head and looked at her hands, and could still see the blood of the Fiery Chain Snake on them.

But she really didn't expect things to be like this, and she apologized quietly.

"I'm sorry, I really didn't know that this snake meant so much to you. If possible, I'd like to find a way to make up for my mistake."

Sheng Lian snorted coldly.

"Make up for it? What can you do to make up for it? My Blazing Chain Snake is dead and will never come back."

Zhang Xiaoruo apologized anxiously.

"I can help you find other precious spirit beasts, or do something for you to compensate you, as long as you give me a chance."

She clenched her hands tightly, as if atonement for her mistakes.

Sheng Lian glared at Zhang Xiaoruo and flatly refused.

"I won't accept it! How can other spirit beasts replace my Blazing Chain Snake? Do you think you can make up for it by just finding something randomly?"

He was dismissive of Zhang Xiaoruo's proposal.

Zhang Xiaoruo was at a loss for what to do after hearing Sheng Lian's words.

She bit her lips so hard that they turned white, and her eyes were full of panic.

"Then...then what exactly do you want me to do? I really know I'm wrong."

She didn't know how to make up for her mistake and felt helpless.

Sheng Lian was silent for a moment, the anger in her eyes still unabated.

"How? You can never make up for the mistakes you made. My Fiery Chain Snake is dead. No matter what you do, you can't bring it back to life."

At this time, Luodan recovered his body and walked forward slowly.

He looked at the tense atmosphere between Shenglian and Zhang Xiaoruo, and knew in his heart that this conflict must be resolved as soon as possible.

"Shenglian, calm down first." Luo Dan spoke to comfort her.

His voice was calm and gentle, with a soothing power.

Sheng Lian glanced at Luo Dan.

"Calm down? How can you ask me to calm down? She killed my Blazing Chain Snake. That is my most precious wish. I will never give up so easily."

Luo Dan frowned slightly and continued to persuade.

"I know you are angry, but it has already happened. We should find a way to solve it instead of being deadlocked."

"Solve? How to solve it? My Blazing Chain Snake is already dead. This is a fact that cannot be changed."

Sheng Lian was still very excited. He clenched his fists tightly, as if he was venting his anger.

Luo Dan thought for a moment and said, "She also knows that she was wrong, and she has been trying to find a way to make amends. We can work together to find a way that will not only make you feel relieved, but also give her a chance to make amends."

Sheng Lian snorted disdainfully.

"I don't believe she can find any good way to make amends. She is just a human woman, selfish and cruel."

Zhang Xiaoruo listened to Shenglian's accusations against him, and saw Luodan's efforts to mediate but to no avail, and his heart was filled with regret.

She bit her lip and walked to Luodan, her eyes full of guilt and self-blame, hoping to get Luodan's help.

"I was wrong. I'm sorry." Zhang Xiaoruo lowered his head, his voice full of guilt. "I shouldn't have been so reckless and killed the sacred beasts without any respect. I shouldn't have ignored your advice. Now I know how wrong I was."

She couldn't hold back her tears anymore and they flowed down, dripping onto the ground.

Luo Dan looked at Zhang Xiaoruo and sighed slightly.

"It's a good thing that you can recognize your mistakes, but the key now is to calm Shenglian down."

He patted Zhang Xiaoruo's shoulder gently to give her some comfort.

Zhang Xiaoruo raised his head and looked at Sheng Lian who was still furious.

"I really know I was wrong. I shouldn't have killed your Fiery Chain Snake. I was too impulsive. I will pay attention to my behavior in the future and respect all the sacred beasts."

Luo Dan watched Zhang Xiaoruo sincerely admit his mistake, but Sheng Lian was still furious. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, feeling that his mediation seemed useless.

His eyes unconsciously looked at the several corpses of the Fiery Chain Snake beside him. The once majestic beast was now in such a miserable state that he felt a surge of regret in his heart.

"Alas, it's such a pity for this Fiery Chain Snake." Luodan said softly.

He felt regretful and helpless, and was saddened by the death of the snake.

He shook his head slightly, not sure how to solve this problem.

Zhang Xiaoruo followed Luo Dan's gaze and saw the body of the Fiery Chain Snake that he had chopped into several sections. Guilt surged in his heart again.

"I'm really sorry," she said with guilt, her eyes revealing deep self-blame, tears blurring her eyes again.

Pei Sheng had been watching the stalemate from the side and was very anxious.

He paced back and forth, his hands clenched tightly into fists, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. At this moment, he suddenly remembered the legend of the Fiery Chain Snake that he had heard before.

"Wait!" Pei Sheng said loudly, with a hint of anxiety and excitement in his voice.

"I've heard that the Blazing Chain Snake has four lives, and using the Ten Thousand Year Old Ice Blood Ganoderma can extend its life."

Everyone's eyes were instantly focused on Pei Sheng.

There was a glimmer of hope in Pei Sheng's eyes, as if he had found a life-saving straw.

A glimmer of hope ignited in Zhang Xiaoruo's eyes.

"Really? Then what is the life of this Fiery Chain Snake now?"

Her voice trembled slightly and her eyes were full of anticipation.

Pei Sheng turned to look at Sheng Lian and asked, "Sheng Lian, do you know which life of the Blazing Fire Chain Snake this is?"

Sheng Lian was slightly stunned, and the anger on her face subsided a little, but she was still full of doubts.

"I don't know, and I've never heard of it having four lives." Sheng Lian frowned, a trace of thought in her eyes.

Luo Dan thought for a moment and said, "Anyway, this may be a solution to the problem. We can go find the ten thousand year old ice blood ganoderma and try to extend the life of the Blazing Fire Chain Snake."

Zhang Xiaoruo nodded quickly.

"Yes, let's go find the Ten Thousand Year Old Ice Blood Ganoderma. As long as there is a glimmer of hope, I will make up for my mistake."

After listening to what everyone said, Shenglian frowned slightly, her tone full of suspicion and disdain.

"Humph, how can it be so easy to find the Ten Thousand Years Ice Blood Ganoderma? It is an extremely precious spiritual object. It is said to grow in extremely cold places with extremely harsh environments and is guarded by powerful guardian beasts. Do you think you can find it just by looking for it?"

After hearing Sheng Lian's words, Zhang Xiaoruo's eyes, which had been filled with hope, instantly dimmed.

She lowered her head, her heart filled with loss and self-blame.

Sheng Lian was right. The ten thousand year old Ice Blood Ganoderma lucidum was indeed not so easy to find. But when she thought of the mistakes she had made and Sheng Lian's anger, her heart was filled with guilt and self-blame.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaoruo suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest. She couldn't help but cover her chest, a painful expression on her face.

The pain was like a sharp needle, spreading throughout the body in an instant.

"What's wrong with you?" Luo Dan realized his pain and asked immediately.

Pei Sheng also looked at Zhang Xiaoruo nervously: "Are you feeling uncomfortable somewhere?"

Zhang Xiaoruo was sweating from the pain and his face turned pale as paper in an instant.

She bit her lips tightly, trying to endure the sudden severe pain. The pain made it almost impossible for her to breathe and her body trembled slightly.

Sheng Lian sneered at the side.

Everyone was confused and turned to look at him.

Sheng Lian looked at everyone's puzzled eyes, with a hint of indifference on her face.

"Humph, she's been poisoned by the flaming chain snake's poison." Sheng Lian said slowly, with a hint of gloating in her voice.

Everyone was shocked, and Luo Dan asked hurriedly.

"What? Poisoned by the Fiery Chain Snake? What should I do?"

The corners of Shenglian's mouth slightly raised with a hint of sarcasm.

"This poison can only be cured by using a living Fiery Chain Snake and a secret recipe I know. But now the Fiery Chain Snake is dead. She can only wait for the poison to take effect and she will die."

Zhang Xiaoruo felt a sinking feeling in her heart after hearing Sheng Lian's words, and the pain made her voice tremble.

"You...how could you do this? So you're going to kill me anyway?"

Sheng Lian looked at Zhang Xiaoruo's painful expression with a cruel smile on her face.

"Humph, you are reaping what you sow. Who told you to kill my Blazing Fire Chain Snake? This is your retribution. I've already said it before, even if I can't do anything to others, you will definitely die, and you will be buried with my Blazing Fire Chain Snake!"

Shenglian's laughter echoed in the air, making people shudder.

Luo Dan could see that Sheng Lian was definitely not lying and really had a strong desire to kill Zhang Xiaoruo.

He frowned slightly, intending to calm Shenglian first.

"Aren't we trying to make up for your loss now? If you kill him, it will be of no benefit to you. Maybe we can find the herbs you need to revive the Blazing Chain Snake."

Pei Sheng also agreed very much with Luo Dan's statement.

Sheng Lian remained unmoved, and her voice became even colder.

"I told you, there is no antidote for this poison without a living Fiery Chain Snake. She killed my snake first, and this is the punishment she deserves. Now I am alone, and I definitely can't cure her poison."

Shenglian's attitude was firm, with no intention of compromising.

While everyone was arguing with Sheng Lian, strange changes occurred at the wound where Zhang Xiaoruo was attacked.

The wound that had already stopped bleeding suddenly began to heal rapidly, but then a strange snake venom mark appeared around the wound.

The mark was like a coiled snake, emitting a strange light.

Zhang Xiaoruo felt the pain suddenly intensify, as if countless sharp blades were stirring in her body. She couldn't help but groan in pain, and beads of sweat rolled down her forehead like beans.

The pain almost made her lose consciousness and her body was shaking.

Sheng Lian looked at Zhang Xiaoruo's miserable condition and burst into laughter.

“Hahahahahaha, this is the countdown for the poison to take effect. She killed my Blazing Chain Snake, and this is what happens to her.”

When everyone was becoming extremely anxious because of Zhang Xiaoruo's pain and Sheng Lian's cruelty, Luo Dan suddenly noticed that Sheng Lian's eyes were a little strange, and there seemed to be a hint of cunning in them.

Before Luo Dan could figure out what the special meaning of this look was, thick fog suddenly filled the surrounding forest.

"Not good!" Luo Dan shouted, "Everyone be careful!"

Pei Sheng asked cautiously: "What's wrong? What's going on with this fog?"

Luo Dan stared at the thick fog and spoke with a serious expression.

"I feel something is wrong. This fog came too suddenly."

His eyes were full of vigilance and he kept observing the situation around him.

Zhang Xiaoruo was in so much pain that he was about to lose consciousness, but he managed to look around.

The thick fog was like a huge net that enveloped them. The fog became thicker and thicker, making it almost impossible to see the surrounding scenery.

Everyone was on high alert, not knowing what would happen. The thick fog seemed to hide countless dangers, making people terrified.

After a while, the thick fog gradually dissipated and the expected danger did not appear.

When everyone's vision became clear again, they found that Sheng Lian had disappeared.

"Where is that Qilin?" Pei Sheng frowned and began to look around for Sheng Lian.

Luo Dan frowned in thought.

"It seems that he had planned this all along. He must have created this thick fog in order to take the opportunity to leave. It seems that there is no way to get the so-called secret recipe from him now." (End of this chapter)