Serpent Ancestor

The Sea Commerce Guild was not a place he could go.

Although this neutral guild allowed anyone to enter, and it wasn’t uncommon for the Whale Hunting Gang to trade there, Xu Hei wasn’t willing to take any risks.

What if the bounty on Xu Hei was issued by the Sea Commerce Guild? Entering would be like walking into a trap.

”I’d better go somewhere else.”

Xu Hei turned and headed to another guild, the Immortal Pavilion under Penglai Island.

Due to the presence of Master Tianji, he didn’t want too much contact with Penglai Island, but it seemed to be the only choice.

Xu Hei suddenly thought about finding a backer; these days, relying on oneself alone was incredibly difficult.

...

Not long after Xu Hei left.

A refined and amiable middle-aged cultivator stepped out of the Sea Commerce Guild’s entrance, holding a cup of tea, smiling as he looked in the direction Xu Hei had left.Earlier, when the two from the Whale Hunting Gang went out, Xu Hei immediately hid to the side. Although his actions were subtle and quick, Ye Hai and his companion didn’t notice, but this refined middle-aged man sharply detected it.

Even more strangely, the cultivator who seemed to be heading to the Sea Commerce Guild turned around afterward and headed straight in another direction.

And that direction was towards another small guild, the Immortal Pavilion.

”Heh, interesting! Does my Sea Commerce Guild have some kind of monstrous beast?”

The refined cultivator’s lips curled up as he took a sip of tea.

...

On the bustling wide street, the crowd was lively and endless, with buildings lined up on both sides, high-rises standing tall, and the street bustling with activity.

Looking around, the street was filled with cultivators, while mortals were rare, living in remote, impoverished areas.

In the air, there was a faint scent of blood and sea, as hunting sea beasts was the main source of income for cultivators.

Xu Hei moved quickly, heading straight for the Immortal Pavilion.

He had a feeling that someone was watching him.

He had made a mistake earlier, encountering Ye Hai and his companion and failing to control his emotions, immediately hiding to the side.

Although this action prevented Ye Hai from discovering him, such abnormal behavior would surely not escape the notice of higher-level cultivators.

Having encountered the Nightmare Demon Lord, Xu Hei knew well how keen the spiritual perception of Elemental Infant cultivators was; nothing could escape their eyes.

Xu Hei made a decisive move, running away directly. This was an open strategy; he didn’t believe the other party would really chase him down the street over such a trivial matter.

...

Inside the Immortal Pavilion.

A young girl in her prime stood at the entrance, doing simple reception work.

Any guest entering, no matter the transaction, she would patiently guide them, not daring to stop.

Because if she stopped, the steward on the first floor would use it as an excuse to insult her.

Despite feeling countless grievances, she could only grit her teeth and persist.

”Wang Qin, you can’t drag your brother down, you can do it too!” The girl clenched her fists, encouraging herself inwardly.

This girl was none other than Wang Ding’s sister, Wang Qin.

She had come to Penglai Island with her brother, but her talent was lacking, with mixed spiritual roots, and she was only at the early stage of Qi Refining, so she was sent to the Immortal Pavilion to do simple reception work.

The main business of the Immortal Pavilion was selling resources from Penglai Island while also purchasing external materials, accepting all as long as the price was right.

Suddenly, she smelled a hint of corpse stench.

Wang Qin looked up to see a middle-aged, greasy man with a square face, large forehead, fat body, and small eyes standing in front of her. His arms were crossed over his chest, squinting as he looked her up and down.

”Ah.” Wang Qin was startled but still respectfully said, ”Senior, welcome to the Immortal Pavilion. What do you need?”

Xu Hei got straight to the point: ”I’m here to buy a cave dwelling.”

Wang Qin replied skillfully, ”May I ask what level of cave dwelling you wish to buy, Senior? We have first-tier cave dwellings here, with good lighting, close to the docks, and equipped with a small Gathering Spirit Array...”

”I want the best cave dwelling, the one with the strongest defense!”

Xu Hei said, having plenty of money now, he naturally wanted the best.

”…”

Wang Qin was momentarily stunned, thinking she had misheard.

”Is there a problem?” Xu Hei looked at Wang Qin.

For some reason, looking at the girl in front of him, he felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he was seeing Little Niu from his hometown.

”Of course, no problem, Senior, please wait a moment!”

Wang Qin quickly bowed her head and ran off.

From afar, Xu Hei heard a scolding voice and saw a girl with her head down being pointed at and cursed by an old man with a sharp face in a private room.

After the old man finished scolding, he snorted coldly and walked over to Xu Hei with a smile on his face.

”This esteemed guest, the cave dwellings are all in the back mountain. Please follow me to the back mountain for a detailed discussion!”

This was the steward of the Immortal Pavilion, named Mu Hou, dressed in a gilded robe and wearing a high hat, looking quite dignified.

Xu Hei nodded and followed Mu Hou towards the back mountain.

Just as Xu Hei stepped out the back door, two men in black rushed into the main entrance of the Immortal Pavilion.

These two had cold, stern faces, eyes full of frost, with no detectable spiritual power fluctuations, only a murderous aura, like two assassins.

”Dear guests, may I ask what you need?”

Wang Qin hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.

The two said nothing, their eyes simultaneously locking onto the direction Xu Hei had left, and they walked slowly in that direction.

”Hey? Dear guests...”

Wang Qin stepped forward but was glared at by one of them, who said, ”Little girl, we’re just here to have a look.”

”What, can’t we even take a look at the Immortal Pavilion?”

Their words left Wang Qin speechless.

After speaking, the two exchanged a glance and headed straight in the direction Xu Hei had left.

At that moment, Wang Qin suddenly let out a cry of ”ouch,” fell to the ground, and spat out blood.

”What happened?!”

The guards of the Immortal Pavilion rushed up, seeing no one else in the hall but the two strange men in black, they immediately surrounded them.

”They... hurt someone!” Wang Qin pointed at the two and said.

The two looked bewildered.

They had clearly seen Wang Qin run up and then suddenly fly back, spitting blood. What did it have to do with them?

”It wasn’t us!” the two quickly said.

”What’s going on?”

Mu Hou returned, glanced at the situation in the hall, then at the injured Wang Qin, and a cold gleam flashed in his eyes.

One of the men said, ”This girl flew out on her own, it has nothing to do with us.”

”You’re lying, you clearly knocked me away,” Wang Qin gritted her teeth and said.

Mu Hou scanned the situation in the hall, squinted his eyes, pondered for a moment, and then said to the two, ”Please leave, our shop didn’t serve you well today. Next time you come, I’ll personally apologize to you!”

Mu Hou cupped his hands and put on a smile.

Seeing the guards eyeing them like tigers, the two knew they couldn’t stay and could only snort coldly and leave.

The guards also retreated, disappearing without a trace.

In the hall, Mu Hou coldly glanced at Wang Qin and sternly said, ”Come here!”

Wang Qin shivered, walked over, and lowered her head, not daring to make a sound.

”Slap!”

Without a word, Mu Hou slapped Wang Qin, causing her nose to bleed.

Then, he stared at Wang Qin coldly and said, ”Give me an explanation!”

Wang Qin lowered her head, tears streaming down.

”I’ve made my choice!”

Suddenly, Xu Hei appeared behind them and said, ”I’ve already picked the cave dwelling. Here are the spirit stones, I want the third-tier A-grade.”

Xu Hei tossed over a storage bag.

Mu Hou took it, scanned it with his divine sense, and his face changed dramatically.

Inside the storage bag were 300,000 spirit stones!

This was the most expensive A-grade cave dwelling among the third-tier ones. Mu Hou hadn’t made such a big deal in two years; this single transaction was almost equivalent to half a year’s profit.

It’s worth noting that even the most expensive auction items rarely sold for this much.

”Alright, I’ll take you there right away!” Mu Hou said excitedly.

”No need, I’ll have her take me,” Xu Hei pointed to the injured Wang Qin.