Serpent Ancestor

”He’s the one holding a teacup on the shore, clearly targeting you!” Hei Huang explained.

Li Yuan’an, the chief steward of the Sea Commerce Guild, at the mid-stage of the Elemental Infant, has mastered the essence of tea, known as Mr. Li. His name is derived from the phrase ”tranquility leads to far-reaching, adapting to circumstances with ease.”

The Whale Hunting Gang was supported by him, bringing him considerable income every year.

”People like him usually don’t bother with the trivial matters of the Eight Great Powers unless it’s a massacre. Even if a family is wiped out, he can support another. How did you provoke him?” Hei Huang asked, puzzled.

Xu Hei’s mind raced with thoughts.

If he had offended him, it was indeed true.

Boss Liu was Li Yuan’an’s subordinate, and Xu Hei had killed him.

Moreover, Boss Liu had a storage ring, which was likely Li Yuan’an’s, and Xu Hei had sent it far away using a formation.

However, with the abilities of someone at the mid-stage of the Elemental Infant, retrieving it wouldn’t be difficult.

Later, two more people chased Xu Hei to the entrance of his cave dwelling, likely arranged by that man, only to be killed by Xu Hei in return.”That’s all, it’s not a big deal, no need to go to such lengths,” Xu Hei said helplessly.

”That’s not a big deal?” Hei Huang exclaimed, wide-eyed.

Xu Hei looked over, puzzled.

”Do you know where that storage ring ended up?” Hei Huang asked.

”What?” Xu Hei quickly inquired.

Hei Huang chuckled sinisterly, ”Heh, that storage ring was reportedly swept away by a sea tornado, picked up by a small sect. They couldn’t open it, so they handed it to a Core Formation cultivator. That cultivator also couldn’t open it and sold it to the local black market. After several twists and turns, it was bought by an Elemental Infant stage cultivator.”

”The green tea man went through a lot of trouble, offending many people to get it back. Do you think he wouldn’t come after you?”

”......”

Xu Hei was left speechless.

He hadn’t done anything, just sent away a storage ring, and ended up in such a mess. Who could have foreseen this?

”I was wondering why that man’s storage ring ended up so far away. Turns out it was you, kid!” Hei Huang said, somewhat gloating.

”Let’s get out of here, it’s not safe to stay!” Xu Hei didn’t want to linger here too long. This place was only a hundred miles from Star Island, and if the other side discovered him, they could catch up at any time.

Hearing this, Hei Huang took out an underwater submarine. Xu Hei jumped on board, and the vessel spewed exhaust, speeding off into the distance at an incredible pace.

Along the way, Hei Huang inquired about Xu Hei’s experiences, and Xu Hei recounted everything truthfully.

From being captured by the Nightmare Demon Lord to digging heavy oil in the Sea Eye, he left nothing out.

Hei Huang confirmed that Old Master and Lin Ziye were indeed led there by him, ostensibly to save Bai Qiushui, but in reality, also to rescue Xu Hei.

Hei Huang took out a jade plaque and began engraving on it.

”What’s this?” Xu Hei asked.

”These are the names of your enemies.”

Hei Huang wrote down: Xu Fu, Nightmare Demon Lord, Blood Vengeance, Ye Hai, Li Yuan’an, Xie Yunfei...

Unknowingly, Xu Hei had offended so many people, all eager to kill him.

Xu Hei felt a headache coming on.

Then, as if not satisfied, Hei Huang added Xu Qingzhi’s name, laughing, ”The head of the Snake Catchers Sect appeared on Twin Islands earlier, also to kill you.”

Xu Hei was completely dumbfounded.

What had he done to offend so many people?

Could he not just cultivate in peace?

Moreover, his appearance was now on the bounty list, and any rogue cultivator who saw him might be tempted to kill.

”Does this mean that as soon as I show my face, I could be chased down at any moment, just like today, endlessly on the run?” Xu Hei said with a bitter expression.

”You do understand your situation!” Hei Huang said, gloating.

Xu Hei was at a loss, asking, ”Is there any way out?”

At this, Hei Huang gave a meaningful smile.

”There is a way to break this situation!”

Saying this, he took out a token and slapped it onto the deck.

This token was different from ordinary jade, made from the scales of a certain sea beast, with a carving of a whale on it.

Xu Hei immediately looked over.

”This is a special recruitment token for the Penglai Sea. With this token, you can join the Penglai Sea. As long as you pass the assessment, you can choose any branch as your mentor. By then, with backing, no one will dare to provoke you, and the bounty will remove your name!” Hei Huang said.

Xu Hei stared at the scale, his eyes flickering as he fell into a long silence.

In his life, he had never joined any faction, always a rogue cultivator, free and unrestrained.

He was used to freedom, and if not for being targeted by so many people, he would never consider joining any sect.

But now, he had no better choice.

Having backing versus not having backing, Xu Hei deeply understood the difference. Just like that day, after getting off the whaling ship, Ye Hai dared to chase a stronger him but didn’t dare to touch Hai Meng and Boqi. That was the disparity!

”What kind of place is the Penglai Sea, and how is it related to Penglai Island?” Xu Hei asked.

Hei Huang began to speak at length.

…………

Time flew by.

The underwater vessel moved extremely fast, and Star Island had already disappeared into the distance. They were rapidly approaching a vast, unknown sea area.

The Penglai Sea, isolated from the world, shrouded in spiritual qi, possessed the concentration of spiritual qi only found in ancient times, a paradise for cultivators, a holy land for the cultivation of demonic beasts.

Without the guidance of an immortal, it was impossible to enter.

Even if someone passed by, they would be completely unaware.

On this day, outside the Penglai Sea.

On a reef, a seagull lay languidly, dozing off, drooling at the mouth, seemingly having a sweet dream.

Suddenly, the seagull opened its eyes, staring at the sea horizon. A horned serpent appeared from the sea, swimming towards this place.

The serpent was about twenty meters long, its upper body exposed above the sea, head held high, gazing at him.

The seagull frowned but still appeared lazy, saying, ”Who are you?”

”I’m here to participate in the Penglai Sea recruitment,” Xu Hei said respectfully.

”The recruitment period ended over a month ago. You’re late!” the seagull said.

Xu Hei, unhurried, spat out a token.

”A special recruitment token?”

The seagull squinted its eyes, grabbed the token from a distance, carefully examined Xu Hei, and muttered to itself, ”Mid-stage demon core, mediocre cultivation, doesn’t look like a sea serpent, strange!”

The special recruitment token could only be issued by elders, used to recruit promising talents, allowing them to join even outside the recruitment period, following the normal assessment procedures.

But Xu Hei didn’t seem like a promising talent.

After a brief contemplation, Xu Hei took out a potato-shaped spirit medicine and handed it over.

Seeing the potato, the seagull’s eyes lit up, immediately swallowing it whole, patting its belly, and smiling, ”You’re quite savvy, follow me!”

With a flap of its wings, the scenery ahead twisted, and a phantom door appeared centered on the reef, seemingly leading to another space, and it flew directly in.

Xu Hei took a deep breath and followed closely behind the seagull, entering the phantom door.