yready #324 - Bragging Toad
#324 - Bragging Toad
Li Chengfeng's divine sense casually swept through the restaurant, but he unexpectedly discovered a shocking scene.
Among those spirit beasts being slaughtered, there were actually spirit snakes, spirit turtles, Mangshan beasts, and even serrated thunder eagles, all valuable creatures, yet here they had become food on the cultivators' tables.
This scene gave Li Chengfeng a deeper understanding of Qingyun City's strength, and he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
However, what made him even more curious was an inconspicuous toad. This toad was the size of a millstone, its entire body was dark black, and tears were actually flowing from its pair of large, shiny eyes, as it lay on the ground croaking incessantly.
“I am a Divine King, as long as someone buys me as a divine beast, I will definitely be able to help them ascend to the Immortal Realm.”
Such remarks naturally didn't attract the attention of the busy waiter Zhao Yue; they only regarded it as the toad's nonsense.
But Li Chengfeng sensed an unusual aura from this toad.
The faint power of the Heavenly Dao, and the trace of thunder power contained within, made him, who cultivated the Heavenly Thunder Great Art, exceptionally sensitive.
He realized that although this toad was only a first-order demon beast, it must have some kind of special secret.
Perhaps it had experienced thunder tribulations before, or perhaps it was guarding some kind of thunder-attribute treasure, which allowed it to awaken its intelligence and absorb thunder power.
Thinking of this, Li Chengfeng decided to help. He stepped forward and said to the waiter, "This toad is quite magical; it would be a pity to kill it for cooking. Why not sell it to me as a spirit beast?"
When the waiter Zhao Yue saw that Li Chengfeng had an extraordinary temperament and his cultivation was much higher than his own, he immediately became amiable.
But he still advised, "Senior, although this toad can talk, it doesn't have any demonic power or spells. Besides talking, it's useless.
I once released its blood for testing, and the demonic power inside is extremely low, and the spiritual energy is also extremely complex. It's not useful for cultivators to eat it at all. You should reconsider."
When the toad heard the waiter Zhao Yue's words, its eyes immediately widened, and it croaked loudly, "Damn waiter, how dare you slander me!
This deity is the Nine Heavens Thunder God from the heavens, and I accidentally fell into the mortal realm. How dare you treat me like this!
Quickly place Lord Thunder on the altar and offer incense, otherwise Lord Thunder will use a heavenly thunderbolt to raze not only you but even this entire Qinghai City to the ground!"
The waiter Zhao Yue sneered disdainfully upon hearing this and slapped the toad hard with the knife board in his hand, scolding, "Shut up! If you keep babbling, I'll cut off your mouth first!"
The toad fell silent after being slapped, but its eyes were still unruly and full of defiance, obviously an ordinary toad who loved to brag and was stubborn.
Seeing this, the waiter Zhao Yue turned to Li Chengfeng and said with a smile, "Senior, you see this toad. Besides bragging, it's useless. Wouldn't it be degrading to you to take it as a spirit beast?
With Senior's strength, you should naturally use those spirit beasts with special bloodlines."
However, Li Chengfeng smiled slightly and said, "I think this little guy is quite useful. It wouldn't be bad to have him read books to me and relieve my boredom."
When the toad heard this, it immediately raised its head and looked at Li Chengfeng contemptuously, saying, "You overestimate yourself! You actually want me to read books to you?
What are you? How dare you ask Lord Frog to read books to you? It should be you reading books to Lord Frog, that's more like it!"
Li Chengfeng was not angry when he heard this, but just smiled slightly, and then a surge of righteous energy rose from his body.
He raised his hand and pointed, and shouted softly, "Righteous Thunder, fall for me!"
A mass of righteous energy condensed in the air like a cloud, and then streaks of lightning like rain fell down.
Gleaming with a crystal-clear blue light, it struck the toad, causing it to scream strangely and become stiff all over.
In the end, the toad spat out a puff of black smoke, flipped over, its belly facing the sky, stuck out its tongue, and finally revealed a look of fear in its eyes.
At this moment, everyone in the restaurant was shocked by Li Chengfeng's strength, and the toad finally realized that it was facing a true powerhouse.
It was no longer arrogant, but looked at Li Chengfeng pitifully with its big, shiny eyes, as if begging for mercy.
Li Chengfeng curled the corners of his mouth into a faint smile and said leisurely, "There's no need to bluff anymore. The 'Thunder Technique' I just used is actually ordinary and unremarkable, only enough to paralyze your body and make you suffer.
If you sincerely wish to submit to me, quickly turn over and show your attitude; otherwise, I will use thunderous means again to let you personally experience what true thunder power is."
Upon hearing this, the toad trembled all over. Although it was unwilling to brag, it couldn't help but exaggerate its words, and only now did it suddenly realize.
It leaped to Li Chengfeng's side, bowed and stuck out its butt, and begged in fear and trepidation, "Master, please take me in! My fear of death is very strong, and there may be a disaster here."
After saying this, it looked confused and muttered to itself, "I'm clearly extremely afraid, so why can't I restrain myself from exaggerating in my words, falling into this vortex of bragging?"
Li Chengfeng smiled with a hint of profoundness: "This is due to your nature, just like a frog at the bottom of a well, with limited vision. Come with me."
After speaking, he flicked his fingertip, and a magic seal accurately landed on the toad's head, and then his fingers moved nimbly, as if weaving an invisible contract.
The toad instantly felt a shackle deep in its soul, realizing that if it did not obey Li Chengfeng, it would suffer devastating consequences.
From then on, its every move was guided by Li Chengfeng's will, and it dared not slack off in the slightest, let alone brag.
"From now on, you will be my mount, follow me in cultivation, and increase your knowledge."
Li Chengfeng announced, "After returning, you must diligently read books and cultivate your mind. When you are full of righteousness, we will travel around together and preach."
The toad quickly responded, "Obey Master's orders, I will never fail."
Then, Li Chengfeng turned to ask the waiter Zhao Yue, "What is the price of this toad? Just name it, and I will not bargain."
The waiter Zhao Yue smiled slightly embarrassedly: "This kind of spirit beast is only worth a few low-grade spirit stones in Qinghai City."
When Li Chengfeng heard this, he waved his hand, and a middle-grade spirit stone steadily landed in the waiter's hand, and said, "The rest will be your reward, go back and report to the shopkeeper."
The waiter Zhao Yue immediately showed joy, thanked him repeatedly, praised Li Chengfeng for his unique vision, and his words were full of respect.
Finally, Li Chengfeng leaped lightly and sat firmly on the toad's back, and the toad soared into the air, its speed so fast that it had traveled hundreds of meters in an instant, and disappeared from everyone's sight in a few jumps.
The waiter Zhao Yue looked at their departing backs and couldn't help but sigh: "The world is so big, there are really all kinds of wonders. This senior seems smart, but he's foolish when choosing spirit beasts."
Li Chengfeng sat on the toad's broad back, feeling the weak power of thunder tribulation occasionally transmitted from the toad's body, and a trace of understanding arose in his heart.
He thought to himself that although this toad seemed ordinary, the power of thunder tribulation contained in its body was extraordinary. Obviously, it was not inherent in its bloodline, but was obtained by being with a certain treasure for many years.
Thinking of this, Li Chengfeng became very interested in the toad's lair.
He was not in a hurry to ask, but waited for the opportunity with a calm attitude.
He believed that if it was destined, the treasure would naturally fall into his hands; if it was not destined, it would be useless to force it.
However, he was more inclined to believe that the place where such a toad that once possessed the power of thunder tribulation lived must be extraordinary.
So, he casually asked, "Where is your lair?"
When the toad heard this, it quickly replied, "My lair is in the Blackwater Swamp, 30,000 miles outside Qinghai City.
I am a hegemon there. No matter the size of the monsters, they have to call me Ancestor respectfully when they see me."
After speaking, it seemed to remember something and quickly added, "But Master, I didn't brag on purpose, it's just that sometimes I can't control myself when the words come to my mouth."