From Swamp Dog to Crocodile Ancestor

The intermittent fighting continued until nightfall. As darkness enveloped the swamp, the green-scaled crocodiles remained huddled together, watching the battle unfold.

Bright red blood was everywhere, emitting a highly tempting aroma.

Both Li Yi and the mother crocodile were covered in wounds, with some of their scales broken, exposing flesh and blood.

In the protracted and highly explosive battle, both sides gradually exhausted their stamina and their movements became increasingly sluggish.

With the outcome imminent, the white python disregarded everything else and was ready to strike at any moment, delivering a fatal blow.

In the end, the two rolled around in the mud. Finally, Li Yi gained the upper hand, pinning the mother crocodile down and rendering her unable to move.

Despite feeling pain all over his body, Li Yi remained completely unfazed.

The pain caused by the fragments inside its body far surpassed that of any other form of suffering; it was constantly tormented and had long since grown accustomed to it.

The white python breathed a sigh of relief, watching Li Yi win, and then glanced at the green-scaled crocodiles surrounding the large willow tree.

Unexpectedly, the green-scaled crocodiles all turned around at once, pointing their tails toward the circular space. Some curious little crocodiles, however, were unaffected and continued to blink and watch.

What happened next caught the white python completely off guard.

Two enormous figures, one black and one green, actually began to reproduce, following their primal instincts, after regaining some of their strength.

Watching the splattered mud, the white python unconsciously opened its mouth wide, revealing the small yellow crystal sword inside, ready to strike.

The sharp flames on the small sword had long since died out. The white python had no idea what was going on, but it could also tell that there seemed to be no need to take action.

Things have somehow turned out this way without us even realizing it.

In fact, it did not understand the rules among crocodiles, and the only one it had close contact with was Li Yi, a unique black-scaled crocodile.

If today's battle goes to the end, it will only result in both sides being severely injured. The mother crocodile is proud and will not admit defeat so easily. In the end, it will simply be a battle of spells between the two sides.

Li Yi didn't want to fight it to the death, nor was he certain he could kill it. In addition, there were so many green-scaled crocodiles around, so he had to choose another method.

That is the most primitive form of possession and conquest among beasts.

As another great battle was about to break out before him, the white python, who had been observing, looked away with a hint of curiosity in its eyes.

When everything was over, Li Yi walked wearily to the big willow tree. The moonlight shone on the wounds on its body. The white python quietly looked around at the green-scaled crocodiles lying haphazardly, and then came to Li Yi's side.

It raised its long tail, which shimmered with crystal-clear water and flowed with a faint moonlight, flowing over Li Yi's wounds and causing them to heal quickly.

More importantly, it needs to suppress the purple fragment inside Li Yi's body. After such a long battle, the burning pain will inevitably intensify.

While suppressing its injuries, the white python curiously flicked its tongue and sniffed around Li Yi, trying to catch that strange scent.

Li Yi didn't even bother absorbing the moonlight anymore. He slowly closed his eyes and felt much more relaxed.

The mother crocodile slowly approached the big willow tree. After the battle, her hostility had largely dissipated, and she had become docile without realizing it.

"Only those strong enough to defeat me are qualified. You are the first."

A deep, magnetic voice rang in Li Yi's ears, but Li Yi couldn't care less about anything else; he just felt an indescribable, strange feeling.

After its primal instincts subsided, it once again sensed a strange conflict between its human soul and its body.

This is a common occurrence for crocodiles, but for Li Yi, it was still quite shocking.

After a long while, the mother crocodile exhaled a green wind that enveloped her and Li Yi. Instantly, Li Yi felt an itch on his wounds, and scales began to grow from them.

Swampy water phases have absolutely no healing ability; they are only completely corrosive and highly toxic. Swampy wood phases, on the other hand, are different and possess extremely strong restorative abilities.

It didn't take long for Li Yi to feel much better.

"Little snake, I think you seem to have the same idea. It's a pity you're not the same kind. However... once you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you can transform into human form, and then you'll have no more taboos."

The mother crocodile looked at the white python, seemingly seeing through some emotion flowing in its vertical pupils.

After a long pause, the white python nodded solemnly; today's events had indeed broadened its horizons.

Then, the white python suppressed its primal instincts, immersed its mind in the flowing moonlight, felt the gentle warmth, and raised its head to gaze at the moon.

The mother crocodile, witnessing this extraordinary scene, lay down beside Li Yi and said:

"I didn't expect your Black Scale Crocodile to be so cunning. All beings that can absorb moonlight are extraordinary. Once you and it both reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you might actually be able to give birth to offspring with special bloodlines."

"However, you are a strong person, and that's how a strong person should act."

Looking at the seemingly indifferent mother crocodile, Li Yi felt his worldview being slightly shaken.

Previously, it was a lone wolf, with no other members of the Crocodile genus around it. Only now has it come to understand the Crocodile genus' attitude towards reproduction.

Strength is everything.

This may also be the subconscious belief of most animals: the weak are not even qualified to have offspring.

Thinking of this, a strong sense of possessiveness arose in Li Yi's heart. After thinking it over and over, Li Yi pressed his head against the mother crocodile and began to communicate with her mentally.

It planned to leave the mother crocodile and her pack here.

After some conversation, Li Yi learned that the mother crocodile had led the clan to migrate because the Blue-Eyed Golden Toad clan was at war with the Flame Breath Fox clan in many territories. The war between these two large clans, both of which had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, forced them to leave their original territories.

Something has changed within the Flamebreath Fox Clan; it seems there was a problem with their Foundation Establishment, which led to a huge upheaval.

However, this place is peaceful enough to be one of the few places untouched by war, and it seems that a branch of the Flamebreath Fox Clan here has also come to escape the war.

It's obvious that the area near the big willow tree is a suitable place for the female crocodile to set up camp.

Moreover, the female crocodile is not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, and having already reproduced with him, she will likely have offspring. Although in the crocodile family, the female crocodile is responsible for conceiving and raising offspring, Li Yi clearly does not think so.

It's better to leave it here.

This exchange surprised the mother crocodile, but she obeyed the will of the strong and immediately decided to stay in this peaceful area for the time being.

Under the big willow tree, Li Yi slowly closed his eyes, pondering what would happen next.

The only trouble in this area is the Devil Tree, but that's at least a decade from now. The ancient monsters have already disappeared, making this a rare peaceful region.