Serpent Ancestor

Three years later.

With the widespread use of mechanism techniques, Xu Hei no longer needed to manually weed; using a weeding machine, he could easily clear all the weeds.

The free farm vehicle could automatically fertilize and water the fields, saving a lot of effort. There was even a mechanical dog to help drive away wild boars.

This gave Xu Hei more free time.

”Xu Hei, since you don’t want to study, how about practicing martial arts? I see the martial arts school is recruiting young people. As long as you pass the test, you can be selected.”

During dinner, Xu Daniu suggested at the table.

Xu Hei’s mother also agreed.

The technology in Wuyou City was becoming increasingly advanced, freeing up manpower to do what they wanted.

”Alright, I can give it a try,” Xu Hei nodded.

That night, Xu Hei returned to his bedroom and said to a black snake by the window, ”Xiao Hei, I’m going to the martial arts school tomorrow. I won’t be taking you this time, so you don’t end up like Xiao Huang last time.”The black snake seemed to understand and nodded its head.

This was a pet snake Xu Daniu had bought for Xu Hei three years ago.

The death of Hei Huang had been a big blow to Xu Hei, and his father thought of this way to comfort him.

Although Xiao Hei was a snake, it was soft all over, had no teeth, and even its bones were soft, more like a big earthworm.

It was a new breed cultivated in the environment of Wuyou City, gentle in temperament and completely non-aggressive.

The next day.

Xu Hei arrived at the martial arts school and queued up for a physical test.

When it was Xu Hei’s turn, the master at the martial arts school checked him over and was instantly shocked, quickly running into the school.

Soon, a white-bearded elder came out, holding a crystal ball.

”Quick, place your hand on it!” the white-bearded elder urged.

Xu Hei placed his palm on it, and the crystal ball immediately emitted a dazzling brown light.

”An exceptional Earth Spiritual Root, a candidate for cultivation!” the white-bearded elder exclaimed.

”Cultivation!”

Everyone showed expressions of shock and envy.

Most of Wuyou City’s population were mortals, but there were also many cultivation candidates. The advanced mechanism techniques were created by those cultivators.

An hour later.

Xu Hei was taken to the City Lord’s mansion to meet the legendary City Lord.

This person appeared middle-aged, with a gentle and amiable demeanor, a kind smile, clearly a benevolent person. His name was Gongshu Wuyou.

”Xu Hei, you are the thirtieth person in a thousand years in Wuyou City to have an exceptional spiritual root,” Gongshu Wuyou said with a smile.

Xu Hei lowered his head, silent.

”I now offer you two choices: one, become my disciple, learn the Puppet Mechanism Technique from me, and become a master.”

”The previous twenty-nine all chose this path, and now each of them is outstanding.”

”Two...” Gongshu Wuyou paused here, ”return to the martial arts school and train in martial arts with Mr. Bai, since it was he who sent you here.”

”I choose the second!” Xu Hei made his choice without hesitation.

Gongshu Wuyou was stunned, staring at Xu Hei for a long while, incredulous, ”Why?”

He couldn’t believe that a disciple with an exceptional spiritual root would choose traditional martial arts over cultivation, which was for mortals to temper their bodies!

A promising cultivation candidate choosing to refine the physical body seemed like a waste of talent.

”I don’t want to adapt to Wuyou City’s environment; I want to forge my own path,” Xu Hei answered after a long silence.

Gongshu Wuyou’s gaze fixed on him, and after several breaths, he nodded, ”Alright, it’s your choice. I hope you don’t regret it.”

A moment later.

Xu Hei returned to the martial arts school and met Mr. Bai.

Mr. Bai was over sixty, with white hair, showing no trace of an immortal’s aura, more like an elderly mortal who enjoyed exercising.

”Xu Hei, since you’ve returned to the martial arts school, let me make it clear: you will be treated the same as other students, with no special privileges. Do you understand?” Mr. Bai said sternly.

”I understand!” Xu Hei nodded.

”Very well! Today’s lesson is to temper your physical body, clear your meridians, and harden your bones!” Mr. Bai said harshly.

Tempering the physical body meant taking a beating!

Xu Hei was hit with various sticks, his bones fractured, and he was half-dead, only barely recovering after soaking in a medicinal bath.

The second day, the third day, this continued for a year, every day the same.

Initially, ten strikes were enough to knock Xu Hei down. Later, it took twenty, fifty, a hundred...

Now, no amount of sticks could make Xu Hei fall.

Not only had his physical body and bones been tempered to an extraordinary degree, but his willpower also far surpassed that of ordinary people.

Afterward, there were various harsh trials.

The children who started with Xu Hei had long given up, with more than half eliminated, but Xu Hei endured it all without even frowning.

Xu Hei vaguely felt that even though he hadn’t practiced breathing exercises, his strength was advancing rapidly, not at all inferior to an immortal.

Five years later.

Xu Hei was now sixteen, considered an adult in Wuyou City.

”Xu Hei, in a thousand years, you are the first with an exceptional spiritual root to join the martial arts school and the first to endure so long without falling.”

Mr. Bai stood before him, unchanged from years ago, with no signs of aging, time leaving no mark.

He looked at Xu Hei, his expression serious, ”Now, I will teach you a cultivation technique.”

”A cultivation technique?” Xu Hei was taken aback, puzzled, ”Isn’t that something only immortals learn?”

”Hehe, who says only immortals can learn it?”

Mr. Bai smiled meaningfully, ”This technique is known as the strongest body cultivation technique, called... Diamond Suppression Technique!”

Xu Hei was stunned, murmuring to himself, ”Diamond Suppression Technique.”

”This technique has a unique aspect; it tests not the physical body, not the spiritual root, nor talent, but willpower!” Mr. Bai said.

”As long as your willpower is strong enough, your True Qi can be compressed infinitely!”

”Do you know what infinite compression means?”

Mr. Bai smiled at him.

Xu Hei shook his head, bewildered.

”Infinite means invincible!”

…………

Bai Qiushui lay on the ground, his blood drained, and the halo of inheritance emerged from his body.

Bai Luo raised his hand and absorbed the halo.

He shook his head and was about to turn away.

Suddenly, Bai Qiushui’s fingertip twitched.

It was just a small movement, then nothing more, even his life force vanished.

”Dead?”

Bai Luo frowned slightly, ignoring it.

But at that moment, he noticed a tiny black particle shooting out from Bai Qiushui’s fingertip.

The particle was so small, less than dust, moving slowly into the air.

Where it passed, the light dimmed, and the space slightly twisted towards the center, as if a strange force field was present.

”What is this...”

Bai Luo’s pupils contracted, his Divine Sense unable to detect any energy, yet an indescribable fear surged from his spine to his head.