Chapter 23

The legend of the treasure had always been stimulating for Xiao Hai. The next day, as the sky was just beginning to brighten, he checked out of his room and set off on the treasure hunt.

He only made a simple replenishment of food and water. Compass? No need, what compass could be more reliable than the animals in the primeval forest? Self-defense weapon? Not necessary, Xiao Hai believed he himself was the best weapon.

The Dragon Spirit Pearl had evolved into the "Heart Pearl," and there were almost no animals that could defeat Xiao Hai.

The only thing he was curious about was the nine dragon scales on his chest. He had been exploring them for two nights, summoning them and hiding them, but apart from their incredible hardness, he had not discovered any other uses.

When he entered the primeval forest for the second time, his mindset was quite different from before. He summoned a sparrow and had it immediately notify the Lion General, Wolf Vanguard, and Turtle Chancellor that he was almost there.

Yes, this feeling was quite nice. Who in the world could command a large group of wild animals to obey their orders?

Not long after entering the forest, Xiao Hai saw Xiaosen running over from a distance: "Wolf Vanguard Xiaosen pays respects to the King."

The feeling was good, really good. Wait, a wolf paying respects to the King? What had he become? A monster from "Journey to the West"?

Xiaosen led the way, and the wolf soldiers, lion generals, and turtle chancellors were already waiting. As soon as they saw Xiao Hai, they all sent out their thoughts in unison:

"Pay respects to the King!"

Impressive, very impressive. Even if he were to become a demon king, it would be quite a good position.

The bag lion also came. In just two or three days, as an ancient creature, it had recovered a considerable amount of its strength. Upon seeing Xiao Hai, it let out a long roar, and the sky and wind changed. This was the bag lion's way of expressing its welcome.

But this roar frightened the birds and made all the animals disappear. Even the forest wolves, though they knew the general would not eat them, could not help but tremble. Even Xiao Qi felt a faint sense of fear.

Although the bag lion had been drained of its essence, its imposing presence had not diminished at all.

The Turtle Chancellor, Guilin, seeing the King again, could not wait to show off his literary talent in front of all the animals to prove that no one else was more suitable for the position of chancellor: "It has been several years since the King last visited, and it is a joy to see you again, looking as splendid as ever."

What was this? What was he talking about? Several years? It had only been a few days. The old turtle must have learned a lot of human words from TV, and with its intelligence, they kept pouring out, but it didn't know when to use them.

But Xiao Hai thought this, while the other animals were greatly impressed. The chancellor was indeed the chancellor; what he said was always good. If it were them, they would have said something like, "You've gotten fatter, you can be eaten"...

Seeing the attention, the Turtle Chancellor was very pleased: "When the King left, he instructed us to find rare herbs and valuable species. Although I am not very capable, I have found something that I believe will please the King."

Xiao Hai immediately became interested. As a turtle that had lived in this forest for over a hundred years, what it brought out must be extraordinary.

The Turtle Chancellor slowly returned to its leafy home, waited a bit, and then slowly crawled out, carrying something in its mouth. It was clear that the Turtle Chancellor was using great willpower to keep from swallowing it.

As it approached, the Turtle Chancellor placed the item on the ground: "Please accept it, King."

What was this? This... Xiao Hai saw a snail! Yes, a snail, much larger than other snails, but that was all.

Why bring out a snail? The Turtle Chancellor said proudly: "King, this is a carnelian snail, the largest snail in the world. Ordinary snails only live for 3 years, but this snail has lived for 5 years, making its meat the most succulent. The old turtle occasionally catches one and dares not enjoy it alone. Please, King, enjoy it while it's fresh."

After saying this, it swallowed a large mouthful of saliva. It had taken great effort to catch this snail, and at the time, it had only wanted to offer it to the King. Turtles love snails, and to resist such a succulent snail required great determination.

This... Xiao Hai knew snails could be eaten, but definitely not like this... But thinking about it, animals are animals. He had said "valuable species," but in the old turtle's ears, it had been interpreted as the thing it liked most.

Indeed, a 5-year-old snail was a valuable species to the old turtle.

Xiao Hai didn't want to discourage the Turtle Chancellor: "Chancellor, you are efficient, very good. I, the King, am eating vegetarian today... Yes, vegetarian..."

"Ah, the King is eating vegetarian? I will go find some mushrooms for the King. The snail, the old turtle will keep it, and offer it to the King tomorrow."

"No, no." Xiao Hai quickly stopped the Turtle Chancellor: "I, the King, will be eating vegetarian for the next few days, and I have brought my own. As for this snail... Chancellor, you are loyal and efficient, and I, the King, am very pleased. I, the King, will reward you with this snail."

"Thank you, King, thank you, King." The Turtle Chancellor cheered.

A snail that had lived for over 5 years was something the old turtle had only eaten once in over a hundred years. If it weren't to please the King, it would never have offered it. But the King was the King, and so generous, giving back this most delicious thing to the Turtle Chancellor.

Seeing the Turtle Chancellor gain the King's favor, the wolf clan was not about to be left out. As the leader of the wolf clan, Xiaosen had to maintain the clan's dignity: "King, the wolf clan offers the King our most precious treasure!"

The most precious treasure? Good, good, this was exactly what Xiao Hai wanted to hear. Many humans had entered the primeval forest, and who knew if they had left any treasures that ended up in the wolf clan's possession.

Xiaosen let out a few howls, and soon, a huge forest wolf ran over, also carrying something in its mouth. It placed the item in front of Xiao Hai and said proudly: "The wolf clan offers the King our treasure!"

Xiao Hai was about to spit blood, really about to spit blood.

Yes, this thing was indeed a "treasure" for the wolf clan... But for humans, this thing... This thing...

A big bone! A very big bone! It was covered in dirt, and it looked like it had been buried for many years. Wolves and dogs are close relatives, and they share similar habits, including the habit of hiding bones.

Seeing the bone, Xiao Qi's eyes immediately lit up... What a big bone!

"This is a trophy from decades ago, when our wolf king led the pack to kill a lion. Unfortunately, the wolf king also died in that battle." Xiaosen was proud at first, then his expression darkened: "Every time a new wolf king ascended, they would lick this bone. The last wolf king died a few days ago. Before a new wolf king could be chosen, the King arrived and appointed Xiaosen as the leader of the wolf clan. Xiaosen dares not act rashly, and asks the King to taste it first before he dares to lick it."

"Ah, I, the King, have already said I am eating vegetarian for the next few days... I appreciate your good intentions, but you can lick it, you can lick it." Xiao Hai was almost ready to die.

The Turtle Chancellor offered a snail, and the wolf clan offered a bone from decades ago. Was he supposed to gnaw on this bone, which had no expiration date, for half a day? He had asked them to find rare treasures, not these old things!

Only then did Xiaosen dare to solemnly lick the bone, and the pack of wolves immediately raised their heads and howled, confirming Xiaosen's position as the wolf king. It was quite a spectacular sight. Xiao Qi was very unhappy, why didn't they invite him to taste it? That was a tiger's bone!

The bag lion had not said anything until the old turtle and the wolf pack had finished offering their treasures. Then it lazily looked at its subordinates: "King, I have also found something."

"Ah, what is it?" Xiao Hai asked lazily.

He absolutely did not expect the bag lion to bring out anything good. Was it a piece of rotten meat it had been hiding?

But when the bag lion offered the item, Xiao Hai immediately became excited. The lid of the incense burner! The lid of that incense burner!

Xiao Hai grabbed it and examined it carefully. Yes, it was indeed the lid of that Ming dynasty incense burner!

"Where did you find it?" Xiao Hai asked impatiently.

The bag lion's thoughts quickly came: "King, after you saw that urinal... Ah, no, the incense burner, I have been searching for the missing lid by the stream. Yesterday, I really found it, in a not very noticeable place by the stream. I think it must have been washed down from upstream and landed on the shore."

Upstream! There must be something upstream, Xiao Hai was now very certain of this.

He had come to the primeval forest this time to see if he could find the treasure of Senggelinqin. If this incense burner was part of the treasure, it would prove that the legend of the treasure was true.

The last time his treasure hunt was blocked by the underbrush, and his determination was not strong, so he gave up quickly. This time was different. With so many animal subordinates to assist, he might discover something.

"Bag lion, take all the wolves to your garden." Xiao Hai issued his first command.

The wolves, hearing they would be used, were all eager to try. They also had their own selfish reasons; they might get to see where the Lion General lived.

The bag lion, though not very willing to bring the wolves into its den, had to comply with the King's command.

The bag lion lowered its body, and Xiao Hai picked up the old turtle, Guilin, and sat on the bag lion's back.

With a roar, the bag lion took off, and the forest wolves followed closely behind.

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