Serpent Ancestor

Ku Xuan remained calm, while Ah Yin showed no expression.

What kind of scene hasn’t the Chu Tian Alliance witnessed? They were much more composed, but the group of rogue cultivators were panicking, their faces pale.

Xu Hei felt that something was amiss.

They had just moved in and hadn’t even settled down when they were surrounded by corpse puppets, without any warning or sign. Were these people just sitting around doing nothing?

”No need to panic, they’re just a bunch of mindless zombies. I have a way to escape,” Xu Qingfeng declared loudly.

Hearing this, the rogue cultivators finally calmed down a bit.

”Are you going to use that move again? Can you handle it?” Zhang Tie said gravely. ”Why don’t we fight our way out? Maybe we can break through!”

”Absolutely not. The corpse puppets have no intelligence. If they are acting collectively, it means there’s a Corpse King-level existence among them. We mustn’t alert them!” Xu Qingfeng’s expression was serious.

The strength of these corpse puppets wasn’t great, and there were few with long hair. But breaking through would be easy; if they alerted the Red-haired Corpse King, it would be a big problem.

Xu Hei pondered, secretly transmitting, ”Do you think this is a natural disaster or a man-made one?”Xu Qingfeng didn’t answer the question, just gave him a meaningful look.

Xu Hei suddenly realized that if he could think of the problem, how could the other party not know? To stand in this position, one must not be simple.

”I understand,” Xu Hei nodded silently.

At this moment, Xu Qingfeng took out a scroll and slowly unfurled it.

In an instant, a terrifying and vast energy wave spread out, sweeping across a thousand feet. Within this range, Xu Hei saw countless mountains and rivers rising from the ground.

Green mountains, flowing rivers, vast clouds, and purple pavilions appeared, forming a magnificent landscape.

Any corpse puppet that approached was repelled by the terrifying power of the mountains and rivers, pushed back a thousand feet away, as if this place had become a forbidden zone.

The Mountain and River Diagram!

A domain-type magical treasure, unique in the history of the Chu Kingdom.

”Is this Xu Qingfeng’s trump card?”

Xu Hei was shocked. Under the cover of this mountain and river power, it felt as if they were isolated from the world.

Xu Qingfeng’s face was pale, and a trace of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Using this treasure came at a great cost to him.

”Boss!” Zhang Tie’s face showed a struggle.

”It’s fine.”

Xu Qingfeng’s voice was firm, but his aura was very weak. Holding the Mountain and River Diagram, he stepped towards the outside.

As he moved, the mountains and rivers of Chu Prefecture moved with him. Within a thousand feet, wherever the mountains and rivers passed, no evil could invade, and no yin energy could enter. This place was like a world apart.

Xu Hei’s mind was filled with thoughts.

”If it’s a natural disaster, this can be understood.”

”But if it’s man-made, the other party is clearly forcing you to use the Mountain and River Diagram, trying to exhaust you, making your injuries worse! From the conversation between the two from the Zhou Family, the Heavenly Puppet Sect knows he’s injured.”

”I also gave Xu Qingfeng a hint, so why is he still doing this?”

Xu Hei observed secretly, his Divine Sense scanning each person’s face, but he had no clue.

Xu Qingfeng was definitely no fool. He must have his reasons for doing this.

Xu Qingfeng activated the Mountain and River Diagram, leading the group to escape far away, quickly breaking through the encirclement of the corpse tide.

But soon, Xu Hei noticed something was wrong.

After breaking out of the encirclement, Xu Qingfeng’s speed was not fast, always maintaining a consistent distance with the pursuing corpse puppets behind.

Whenever a corpse puppet fell behind, he would deliberately wait for a moment before continuing forward.

”What is he trying to do?”

Xu Hei’s heart tightened.

Moreover, looking at Xu Qingfeng, although his face was always pale, with blood at the corner of his mouth, seemingly about to collapse from serious injury at any moment.

But he kept moving at a steady pace, never actually collapsing.

This ambiguous appearance made Xu Hei’s mind buzz.

”Is this guy acting?”

Xu Hei recalled earlier when he asked about the other’s injuries and had intended to offer pills, but Xu Qingfeng decisively refused.

At the time, Xu Hei didn’t think much of it, but now, he suddenly understood.

As time passed, the corpse tide not only didn’t decrease but continued to grow. Whenever a corpse puppet appeared nearby, it would follow and join the army of the corpse tide.

The Chu Tian Alliance was in front, the corpse tide behind, moving all the way through.

...

At this moment, in a certain stronghold in Wuyou City.

The area was vast, the terrain flat, surrounded by towering city walls. In ancient times, this place was a martial arena, now occupied by the Heavenly Puppet Sect.

Hundreds of people from the four sects of the Southern Region were stationed here.

Unlike the Zhou Family and Bai Family, as sects of a defeated nation, they could only comply with arrangements.

However, they had gained many benefits from this trip, and many had even made breakthroughs.

Especially the Thirteenth Ancestor of the Snake Catchers Sect, who was beaming with joy. Just now, he had received a Longevity Pill, a reward from Lei He.

But he didn’t rush to consume it. The pill was quite peculiar, and from its appearance, it didn’t seem to be from ancient times.

Lei He obviously noticed this too. Although he said it was a reward, he actually intended for him to test the pill.

The Thirteenth Ancestor, having absorbed yin energy for years, had become neither human nor ghost, but his mind was still sharp, and he could see through Lei He’s little scheme.

”Want me to test the pill, huh? Why don’t you try it yourself?”

The Thirteenth Ancestor sneered inwardly. Out of caution, he planned to take it back for identification before consuming it.

Additionally, he thought of that snake.

”That snake is definitely a rare treasure. If I can capture it, consume its blood, and swallow its snake pill, I can surely break through to the late Core Formation stage, or even Great Perfection! Coupled with the Longevity Pill, I might have a chance to reach the Elemental Infant stage in the future!”

The Thirteenth Ancestor’s eyes gleamed.

They said that snake killed Zhou Qing and was hard to deal with, but as the ancestor of the Snake Catchers Sect, he feared no snake. He had ten thousand ways to kill a snake!

Besides, who knew who really killed Zhou Qing? No one saw it happen.

”This is my great opportunity, my great fortune! It must be mine!” The Thirteenth Ancestor grew more excited, sitting alone in his room, unable to suppress a sinister laugh.

”Everyone, retreat immediately!”

Suddenly, a roar came from outside, the voice of Lei He.

In an instant, figures rushed out from every room. The Snake Catchers Sect, Tai Xuan Sect, Carefree Sect, Purple Mist Sect, and some cultivators recruited by the Heavenly Puppet Sect all appeared in the open square.

At this moment, dark clouds loomed in the distance, and a massive, oppressive shadow charged forward with terrifying speed. The air was filled with murderous intent. As everyone focused their gaze, they saw it was a massive corpse tide!

This corpse tide was being drawn by the Mountain and River Diagram, sweeping towards the Heavenly Puppet Sect’s people!

Everyone was stunned, their expressions terrified, as if they had seen a ghost.

”How is this possible?”

”Quick... run!”

No reminder was needed; everyone scattered in all directions, only to be horrified to find that the Mountain and River Diagram was faster, and the corpse tide was accelerating.

It was about to catch up with them!

”Xu Qingfeng, are you courting death? Have you lost your mind?”

Lei He roared in anger, staring at the pale, shaky figure of the middle-aged scholar within the Mountain and River Diagram.

In response, Xu Qingfeng merely smiled calmly and said, ”That’s right, I’m almost done for, just holding on by a thread. You can try a bit harder.”

He increased his speed, carrying the Mountain and River Diagram and the Chu Tian Alliance members, quickly passing through the Heavenly Puppet Sect’s stronghold.

The corpse tide behind them rushed directly into the stronghold, and the army of corpse puppets immediately changed direction, pursuing the scattered cultivators.

The scene descended into chaos, turning into a multi-sided massacre.

Screams and cries for help filled the air.

At this point, how could Lei He not realize he had been played? His fury erupted, and he gritted his teeth, cursing, ”Xu Qingfeng, I never thought a righteous person like you could act so despicably!”

”Despicable? You planted so many spies in my Chu Tian Alliance, and you have the nerve to talk about despicability!” Xu Qingfeng retorted.