Serpent Ancestor

After eating the watermelon, Wang Qin felt light and fell into a deep sleep. When she woke up, she had no idea how many days had passed.

”Oh no, I need to get back quickly.”

Panic set in for Wang Qin. She had been gone for so long, she was sure to be punished.

…………

An hour later.

Immortal Pavilion, conference hall.

Wang Qin knelt in the middle of the conference hall, head bowed, not daring to meet Mu Hou’s gaze.

Inside the hall, other maids stood silently by. They were older, more advanced in cultivation, and more experienced. Their eyes showed disdain and mockery, or sympathy, but they all remained silent.

”Five days, you disappeared for five whole days, Wang Qin, how dare you!”

Mu Hou squinted his eyes, his voice stern and cold, ”Speak, what did you do in those five days, what did you say to that guest, tell me everything in detail.”Wang Qin’s body trembled as she recounted the events, ”The guest gave me a watermelon, and after eating it, I fell asleep.”

Mu Hou had already investigated the matter in secret and knew the truth. He sneered, ”What I want to know is what you talked about on the way. Tell me everything, don’t leave out a single word!”

Wang Qin’s face turned pale.

How could she possibly tell others about those words?

Those were her secrets, and she even spoke ill of Mu Hou.

Biting her lip, Wang Qin shook her head, ”I’m sorry, I... I forgot!”

”Forgot?”

A maid immediately let out a cold laugh.

”Slap!”

A whip lashed across Wang Qin’s face, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth and knocking out a tooth.

This time, it wasn’t Mu Hou who acted, but another maid named Liu Hongmei, a trusted confidante trained by Mu Hou.

”Anything given to you by a guest must be handed over, even a steamed bun, you can’t keep it for yourself, did you forget?” Liu Hongmei said coldly.

”I was wrong, I’m sorry!” Wang Qin knelt on the ground, her body trembling.

There was never such a requirement before, only spirit stones needed to be handed over, but how could she argue? She could only admit her mistake.

”What if the guest poisoned you? Wang Qin, you’re still young and easily deceived. We’re doing this for your own good! Beating you is also out of concern for you!”

Another maid kindly reminded her, also one of Mu Hou’s people.

”Yes! You’re right!” Wang Qin lowered her head, tears falling.

Another whip struck, adding another scar to Wang Qin’s body.

”Don’t forget, it’s the Immortal Pavilion that took you in. Without it, you are nothing. Think more about what you’ve done for the Immortal Pavilion, not just what you can get!”

Liu Hongmei lectured, spittle flying.

The two of them, one playing the bad cop, the other the good cop, took turns scolding Wang Qin. It was clear they had been well-trained by Mu Hou in disciplining newcomers.

”I’m sorry, it’s all my fault!”

Wang Qin could only keep apologizing, tears streaming down like rain.

Seeing that the scolding was almost over, Mu Hou clapped his hands.

”Creak!”

At this moment, the door of the conference hall opened.

Two figures in black robes, exuding a chilling aura mixed with killing intent, walked in. They were the two black-clad cultivators who had barged into the hall last time.

Last time, Wang Qin had intercepted them, ruining their plans. Now, they were invited into the conference hall by Mu Hou.

Wang Qin was completely stunned.

One of them looked at Wang Qin, a mocking smile on his lips.

”You, lead the way!” The other said directly, pointing at Wang Qin.

Mu Hou, expressionless, explained, ”These two esteemed guests have purchased a new cave dwelling next to the third-tier A-class cave dwelling. You will lead them there.”

”Wang Qin, this is your chance to atone, don’t disappoint anyone.”

From Mu Hou’s tone, it was clear he had made some secret deal with these two and knew their intentions.

Last time, in front of many guards, he couldn’t openly reprimand Wang Qin to curry favor with outsiders and risk criticism.

But now, in front of his own people, he had no such concerns.

The Immortal Pavilion had three managers, and Mu Hou was just one of them, responsible for managing the reception on the first floor.

The other two managed logistics and security, and procurement of supplies, respectively.

Mu Hou didn’t want to leave any handle for the other two to catch.

Above the three managers was the Grand Elder, also known as the General Manager, an Elemental Infant cultivator, who was above everyone and had a fiery temper.

Even though Mu Hou sold a cave dwelling for three hundred thousand spirit stones, he could only keep twenty percent of the profit, with most of it going to the treasury. But this time, through the backdoor deal, he pocketed a full one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones.

Wang Qin’s face turned as white as paper.

”Little girl, lead the way, or do you need me to invite you?” One of the black-clad men sneered.

Seeing Wang Qin unmoved, the other snorted coldly, using the Gravity Technique to lift her into the air and control her towards the back mountain.

…………

Immortal Pavilion, back mountain.

Inside Xu Hei’s cave dwelling, thunder roared, and fierce winds blew. The Spiritual Qi from the ground surged like a flood, being devoured into his body, causing his Golden Core to swell continuously.

Beside Xu Hei, there were thirty empty oil barrels, completely drained of heavy oil.

It wasn’t just him absorbing; Ji Ying was also absorbing, and this guy consumed even more than Xu Hei.

At this moment, the Golden Core in his abdomen was covered in cracks, with black light flickering between the gaps. The energy from the ground was being frantically devoured, mixed with a small amount of starlight, pushing the Golden Core to a critical point.

”Break for me!”

Xu Hei shouted.

In an instant, the thunder and wind could no longer be contained, exploding between heaven and earth. The formation of the cave dwelling couldn’t hold back such a phenomenon, spreading wildly to the outside world.

At this moment, at the entrance of Xu Hei’s cave dwelling.

Two black-clad men stood on either side, their eyes fixed on the cave entrance, a cold smile on their lips.

Only now did they reveal their true identities.

One of them was none other than Ye Lu, the deputy leader of the Whale Hunting Gang.

The other was Xie Yunfei, a bounty hunter and guest elder of the Whale Hunting Gang.

Both were at the late Core Formation stage, with Ye Lu having been at this stage for fifty years, already at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core. However, compared to the leader, his combat ability was slightly inferior.

It was certain that either of these two was stronger than anyone on the whaling ship!

For them to come here, they must have spent a considerable amount of spirit stones.

Mu Hou, being a shrewd person, upon learning of their intentions, immediately opened a new cave dwelling next to Xu Hei’s and sold it to them at a high price.

Did Mu Hou break any rules? Not at all, he merely sold a cave dwelling.

Even if someone eavesdropped on their conversation, they wouldn’t find any clues. Everything was in compliance with the rules.

As for Wang Qin, she was just an add-on, not worth mentioning.

”Little girl, thank you for leading the way.”

Ye Lu looked at Wang Qin, smiling slightly, as a bolt of lightning appeared at his fingertip.

Wang Qin’s face turned pale. She said nothing, only closed her eyes in despair.

”Brother Ye, isn’t this girl trying to cover for that person? Let’s not kill her yet. Let’s kill that cultivator in front of her, then kill her,” Xie Yunfei suggested.

Ye Lu thought it made sense, nodded, and smiled, ”Good idea.”

Their purpose here was to kill Xu Hei, as per Mr. Li’s orders.

”However...”

At this point, Ye Lu changed his tone and said, ”I can’t tolerate sand in my eyes, better to kill her now to avoid future troubles.”

With that, he pointed at Wang Qin, and lightning shot towards her forehead.

Wang Qin was only at the early Qi Refining stage, and for the opponent to kill her was as easy as crushing an ant. The opponent even deliberately slowed the lightning, making her watch her own death.

In her final moments, many thoughts flashed through Wang Qin’s mind.

Did she regret it?

No, not at all.

In the Immortal Pavilion, she couldn’t find her own worth. Rather than being oppressed all her life, she’d rather meet her parents. Before dying, being able to confide in a senior, she was already very satisfied.

”Boom!!”

Suddenly, a gentle glow emanated from her body, blocking the lightning outside, dispersing it without even scratching her skin.

”What?”

Ye Lu squinted his eyes, thinking he must have seen wrong.

”Boom!!!”

Suddenly, a terrifying thunderous sound came from the cave dwelling ahead, with fierce winds, thunder, and lightning. The ground shook, the sun and moon dimmed, and various phenomena of heaven and earth emanated from the cave, shaking the earth and alarming the heavens.