My health recovery is incredibly fast.

Mars handed over another file folder containing basic information about the snake den and details about the mercenaries responsible for collecting venom glands and feeding the snakes.

Xia Zuo read through the letter and the contents of the file, and listened to the other party's description of the snake pit. He felt that he could accept this mission.

You will receive 20 points once you find the reason for the anomaly in the snake pit.

If the abnormal situation can be resolved, another 20 points will be awarded.

"I'll take this task." Xia Zuo nodded, then pondered for a moment and said, "Senior, you were supposed to handle this today, right? Was it delayed because I came?"

"Um...no, no, no."

Mars thought for a moment, then shook his head and spread his hands, saying, "Your itinerary was sent to the resident mage a few days ago. Both you and the poison you brought are worth putting aside for the time being."

He took a ring from the tray.

"This ring is something our assistant has to wear when leaving the city."

Mars gestured with his left thumb, indicating to Shazo to put the ring on.

"It's called the Secret Message Ring."

Mars picked up another ring and put it on his left thumb.

The secret communication ring is a bit heavy, about half the width of a thumb.

The ring has many small mechanisms that can be activated with your fingertips; the surfaces of these mechanisms are engraved with fine patterns.

Xia Zuo raised his hand and examined the patterns closely, which seemed to be an encrypted language.

"This is the method for deciphering the code."

Mars handed over a manual, then adjusted the ring's orientation so that the single vertical line on the ring aligned with the thumbnail.

He started with the first line on the right side of the vertical line and explained the purpose of each small mechanism.

Xia Zuo's eyes gradually widened and brightened, amazed by this alchemical tool that could transmit secret messages over long distances.

Communication spells of this level have very limited uses; they can only be used indoors. If you try to use a communication spell to deliver a letter outdoors, a gust of wind will blow the letter off course.

Two people wearing secret communication rings can still communicate easily by relying on the mechanism on the rings, even if they are dozens of kilometers apart.

Mars explained the purpose of the secret communication ring, then stood up and walked half a circle around the table, moving slightly away from the round table. "You try it," he said, "activate your own [location] mechanism."

Xia Zuo fumbled on the ring with his right index finger and then flicked a small lever on a mechanism.

He felt his ring being drawn by an unseen force, the source of which was the ring on Mars's finger.

Xia Zuo raised his left hand, relaxed his palm, and used the suction of the ring to adjust his wrist, his thumb drawing an arc towards Mars at the other end of the room.

"I activated the [SOS] mechanism." Mars manipulated the ring.

"Click".

A very faint sound came from both rings at the same time.

Xia Zuo noticed that the mechanism on his ring that represented his companions' plea for help had changed.

“I’ll activate a few more mechanisms. Let’s assume there are two enemies…” Mars flicked his ring.

"Click".

“One is human, the other is a beast.” Mars activated the mechanism for the second time.

"Click".

"They didn't find me."

"Click".

"I reckon they'll be tough to deal with."

"Click".

"I need support."

"Click".

The ring on Xia Zuo's finger made a series of sounds, and eventually the patterns on the ring formed a secret message.

He translated the coded message according to the instructions in the decryption manual:

I face two enemies, one human, the other a beast. They haven't spotted me. I reckon they'll be tough to deal with. I need backup.

"Truly amazing." Xia Zuo gently stroked the patterns on the ring. "What kind of alchemical creation is this?"

"The study of wondrous objects." Mars smiled and walked back to the table to sit down. "However, at least an expert-level wondrous object alchemist is needed to create them."

Xia Zuo blinked. The other person's words reminded him that he had only learned poison alchemy and there were still three alchemy disciplines he hadn't learned. He would have to find time to catch up with his mentor when he got back.

"And this too, you can keep it."

Mars took the last item from the tray:

Search warrant.

The roll of parchment was contained in a sturdy metal cylinder.

The parchment listed the identity information of the person being searched, the reason for the search, and the kingdom's laws on which it was based, in neat handwriting.

Below the parchment scroll are several clearly marked bright red official seals.

"If it's confirmed that the anomaly at the snake pit was caused by those mercenaries—this is quite common—you can use this search warrant to summon the guards to search their residence."

Marston paused, scratching his short, light blond hair.

"If you can use the Wind Walk spell... you can go in and search directly. That would be more discreet than having the guards search. But you have to promise me you'll have a legitimate reason to do that."

“Yes, Senior Mars. If I intend to search their residence…” Xia Zuo raised his left hand and shook his left thumb, “I will contact you first using the communication ring.”

"Hmm, that's good." Mars smiled with satisfaction.

He took out several potions from his pocket and handed them over, saying, "You don't have the Life Alchemy Stone yet, do you? Then keep these potions; you'll need them sometime."

Xia Zuo took the glass bottle and examined its effects. Then he put the secret message ring, decryption manual, search warrant, file folder, and letter into his alchemy pouch, raised his glass, and lightly clinked it with the other person's.

The two ate, drank, and chatted until late at night before Xia Zuo returned to his room to rest.

Chapter 17 Dramatic Turn of Events

The next morning.

After washing and grooming himself, Xia Zuo approached Mars, who was tending to herbs in the castle's backyard. After greeting him, he transformed into a cloud and drifted out of the city.

The snake den we're going to today is in a remote, uninhabited area. Without a map, no one would normally be able to find it.

After drifting for over an hour after leaving the city, Xia Zuo stopped on a low hill. He circled around the hillside for a while, found his bearings, and disappeared into the depths of the dense undergrowth.

There is a clearing in the woods that clearly shows signs of human activity.

Xia Zuo first searched the open space several times, then walked along the mountain path he had trodden out on foot for a while.

After confirming that there was no one, no ambush, and no elemental light, he returned to the open space and revealed himself.

Xia Zuo reached under the cloak, adjusted the position of the air valve in the leather bag, took out a black potion, and poured it into his mouth.

Three seconds later, the originally colorful scene in front of me turned into a monotonous scene of black, white and gray.

The message from the cheat system came to my mind:

"Successfully ingested Night Vision Potion (Proficient Level), gaining 1 stack of Night Vision effect, lasting for 1 hour. Each stack of Night Vision effect increases the field of vision by 2 meters in complete darkness and 10 meters in low light. Experience is calculated when the Night Vision effect ends."

Night vision potions are essential for this mission. Since snakes are afraid of light, using fire spells to illuminate them will frighten them.

After adjusting to the night vision, Xia Zuo transformed back into his cloud form and drifted towards the cave not far away.

The burrow was hidden under the bushes at the edge of the open space, concealed by a layer of camouflage made of leaves and turf.

Xia Zuo tested the grass camouflage, maintaining his cloud-like form and ignoring the camouflage's obstruction, passing directly through the loose gaps in the camouflage.

A pitch-black cave appeared before them, the stench of earth mixed with a damp, gloomy atmosphere permeating the narrow cavern.

On the left-hand side just inside the cave entrance, there is a metal plaque on the mud wall.

The sign had obvious rust marks, but that didn't prevent Xia Zuo from recognizing the words on it and confirming that he hadn't gone to the wrong place.

The cloud of gas drifted diagonally downwards along the winding tunnel at the speed of a normal person walking.

About a minute later, the sound of water droplets splashing came from deep within the cave.

After turning a right-angle bend that was carved and reinforced by hand, the slope becomes flat ground, and the muddy ground becomes a stone ground covered with water stains.

The main part of this snake pit is a dark underground lake.

On the smooth ground by the lake, dozens of slender black shadows were curled up, completely unaware of the clouds of mist drifting overhead.

Xia Zuo floated to the surface of the underground lake in the center. He stared at the dark lake for a while, then looked around, searching for any suspicious signs.

This underground lake is very shallow, and its bottom has been modified by the resident mages of West City.

The point where the lakebed connects to the underground river is blocked by a two-meter-high metal wall, with only a small, special opening allowing the water on either side of the wall to flow between them. Venomous snakes would never venture through that spot.

If the problem really lies with the underground metal walls, then all the venomous snakes here should have fled long ago.

Xia Zuo circled the walls of the cave, confirming that there were no other secret passages besides the one he had come from.

He focused his gaze on the iron cage on the shore.

The cage contained snake food—a large pile of meat, with quite a bit left untouched.

He floated over, crawled into the iron cage, and carefully examined the quality of the feed, gaining a clear clue in his mind.

Snakes can be fed meat, such as chicken, duck, frog, or mouse.

Venomous snakes generally do not like to eat eggs.

The same applies to the venomous snakes here.

However, there was no egg residue in the feed. This indicates that the maker was not careless enough to add eggs.

The problem lies with the meat.

Snakes prefer to eat the meat of roosters and male ducks. If the meat of hens and female ducks is consumed, it will severely suppress the snake's appetite.

Xia Zuo cast a detection spell on the feed.