Chapter 526: A Species from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the Hujiao Appears!

What is that?

Temple Master Ning, there's something behind you!

Could it really be a dragon?!

The barrage of comments surged across the screen.

The sudden appearance of that scaled body took everyone completely by surprise.

The Yongle Dragon Hole was a semi-enclosed environment topped by a toxic layer of hydrogen sulfide. Logically, no large marine animals could possibly exist down here.

But then, what was that scale-covered monster?

The viewers peered closely at their screens.

Ning Fei's Live-stream Room currently commanded massive attention worldwide.

His broadcasts were no longer just simple entertainment.

They represented scientific research, exploration, the limits of humanity, and the undiscovered secrets of the Earth.

As a result, his viewer count kept climbing.

At that moment, Ning Fei also sensed the movement behind him.

He turned around, his expression shifting instantly.

Illuminated by the Bionic Fish, the viewers saw a long, sea-snake-like species loom before him.

The light caught the creature's tail, its pale silver scales reflecting a crystalline glimmer.

A collective chill ran down the viewers' spines.

At the bottom of the Yongle Dragon Hole, essentially a deep underwater cage, lived a creature like this!

How was this possible?!

Holy shit! A dragon! There's a dragon!

It's definitely a dragon! There really is a dragon at the bottom of the Yongle Dragon Hole!

Damn, this is way too intense!

Could it be some kind of sea monster?

Why does it look more like a snake to me!

The live chat absolutely exploded.

Faced with such an incredible sight, everyone's imaginations ran wild.

Ning Fei's expression flickered. Did dragons actually exist?

He already knew the Tengshe was a type of dragon.

But what was this long serpent in front of him?

Ning Fei was incredibly bold. After spotting the scales on its tail, he actually swam forward to get a better look at what this creature really was.

The scene looked exceptionally terrifying.

The serpent was nearly three meters long, its body covered in fish-like scales. It clearly wasn't an ordinary beast.

Sensing Ning Fei's presence, the serpent slowly turned to face him.

The two Bionic Fish hovered on either side of Ning Fei, bathing the scene in their lights.

In that instant, everyone was stunned by what they saw.

This scaly creature wasn't a dragon.

Its head resembled that of a Chinese sturgeon, but with distinct differences. Its eyes weren't positioned strictly on opposite sides; instead, they were placed more like a bird's.

Yet, its body was like that of a long snake, entirely covered in scales.

"So it's this!"

Ning Fei muttered softly.

The viewers remained steeped in confusion and shock.

Why does it have a fish head!

I thought it was a dragon!

This fish looks way too weird!

It looks terrifying, though. Such a long body.

Ning Fei offered a soft explanation:

"This is a Hujiao!"

"The Classic of Mountains and Seas states: 'From Daoguo Mountain flows the Yin River, which pours south into the sea. Within it dwells the Hujiao, shaped with a fish's body and a snake's tail.'"

"That refers to the Hujiao."

"According to legend, the Hujiao is a type of dragon. Jiao are the predecessors to dragons; before transforming into true dragons, they cannot fly and can only stir up wind and waves in the water."

"To think the descriptions in the Classic of Mountains and Seas were actually true."

Hearing Ning Fei's words, the outside world fell into an uproar!

What? This is a divine beast described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas?

A Hujiao! So it's a Hujiao!

It looks so fierce!

Everyone knows the Classic of Mountains and Seas is a popular science book, not a collection of myths!

Many of the divine beasts inside must be imaginary, but some of them truly exist!

Temple Master Ning actually found a divine beast. That's insane!

Good lord, a new marine species!

Looking at Ning Fei, the Hujiao seemed somewhat fearful, yet also a bit furious.

Ning Fei carefully observed the creature before him.

The Hujiao had several fins on its back to balance its body and reduce drag.

Its body was much thicker than an adult's thigh.

This thing looked genuinely terrifying!

"It seems it isn't very friendly toward humans!"

Ning Fei said, sensing the icy glint in the Hujiao's eyes.

Before he could even finish speaking, the Hujiao lunged straight at him!

Although Ning Fei had the Marine Life Friendly Card on him, such a system item had no effect on divine beasts.

Seeing this, Ning Fei had no choice but to wrestle the Hujiao.

He grabbed the Hujiao by the throat, and the two of them tumbled and thrashed across the sea floor.

The atmosphere in the live-stream room instantly grew incredibly tense.

This scene left the domestic onlookers dumbfounded and completely stupefied the foreign viewers.

Why did they suddenly start fighting?

Holy shit! Temple Master Ning is in danger!

Can Temple Master Ning win? That Hujiao looks ferocious!

You can always trust in Temple Master Ning!

It's an immortal fighting a divine beast this time. How thrilling!

The situation looked dire, but in reality, Ning Fei was exceptionally calm.

'If you keep thrashing around, I'll really have to hurt you. Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a divine beast!'

Ning Fei used his Thought Transmission skill to relay his intent to the Hujiao.

The Hujiao initially tried to resist, but upon realizing Ning Fei had it in an inescapable chokehold, it had no choice but to yield.

The thrashing of its tail finally began to slow.

Ning Fei realized that marine divine beasts didn't seem particularly friendly toward him.

Whether it was the Tengshe he encountered previously or the newly hatched Fuzhu, they had all been exceptionally fond of him. He could clearly feel their goodwill.

But this Hujiao was vicious, looking at him as if it wanted to swallow him whole.

Right at that moment, several more scaled figures appeared behind him.

The viewers felt their breath catch in their throats.

On the live-stream, they saw several smaller Hujiaos swimming out of the shadows.

There was more than one Hujiao!

Noticing them, Ning Fei muttered, "To think this narrow underwater sinkhole is actually a Hujiao nest!"

Then, he used Thought Transmission to attempt communicating with the Hujiao:

'Why are you all living down here? Doesn't it feel stifling?'

To the viewers, this scene looked rather bizarre.

Ning Fei floated at the bottom of the sea, hovering face-to-face with several strange marine creatures possessing fish bodies and snake tails.

It almost looked as if the two were having a conversation.

A change flickered in the Hujiao's eyes. It was too dark for the viewers to see, but Ning Fei caught it clearly.

There seemed to be emotion in its gaze.

All animals had spirits, let alone a rare species like the Hujiao.

Ning Fei could sense its sorrow.

"Forced down here, and you can't get out, huh."

Ning Fei let out a sympathetic sigh.

He looked up. The bottom of the Yongle Dragon Hole, excluding the toxic hydrogen sulfide layer above, was about fifty meters deep.

Its diameter was no more than forty meters.

Such a limited space was far too confined for marine life.

In other words, the Yongle Dragon Hole truly was the Hujiao's cage.