Serpent Ancestor

A month had passed since the end of the grand meeting.

With the help of the time-accelerated cultivation chamber, Xu Hei had managed to forge twelve flying swords, barely enough to set up the first layer of the Star Sword Formation, the Twelve Celestial Spirits.

The ten venomous insects he had been raising were now plump and well-fed.

Xu Hei had acquired a variety of good medicinal herbs from Xu Bai. Although they couldn’t compare to his Blood-drinking Wood, their diverse toxins could produce unexpected effects when combined.

Xu Hei wanted to find someone to test them on, but he didn’t know who.

If the person was too weak, they might accidentally die from the poison. If they were too strong, he couldn’t persuade them to help.

”Forget it, I’ll test it on myself.”

In the end, Xu Hei decided to test the poison on himself.

With the Demon God Cauldron at his disposal, even if he was poisoned, he could quickly refine it away.

Xu Hei went deep into his cave dwelling and released Ji Ying, explaining his plan.Ji Ying was stunned for a long time before finally saying, ”I’ve never heard such a request.”

”Stop talking nonsense! Hurry up!”

”Xu Hei, if you don’t need your brain, you can donate it.”

”What do you know!” Xu Hei scolded.

Ji Ying couldn’t understand why he would want to poison himself, but she complied.

The ten venomous insects were released, quickly approaching Xu Hei. Their mouths opened, spraying venom all over him, causing smoke to rise from his body.

”It’s over, it’s over, I’m getting dizzy!”

Xu Hei felt the world spinning around him, as if he were drunk or caught in the Five Elements Reversal Formation.

He quickly activated the Demon God Cauldron to refine the invading poison.

It turned out that these venomous insects were indeed effective, their impact was undeniable.

”Stop, stop, stop!”

Another wave of toxic mist sprayed over, and Xu Hei hurriedly shouted, ”Stop it!”

However, Ji Ying showed no intention of stopping. Instead, she signaled for more venomous insects to swarm out of their nests, launching a frenzied attack on Xu Hei.

”Ding ding ding...”

The insects bit Xu Hei, producing a clanging sound. They couldn’t penetrate his dragon scales, but the poison seeped through the gaps, causing direct harm to Xu Hei.

”Stop it!”

Xu Hei, feeling dizzy, used the Demon God Cauldron to refine the poison while rushing out of the cave dwelling.

Ji Ying intercepted him.

”Boom!!”

Ji Ying collided head-on with Xu Hei, knocking him back, plowing the ground for thirty meters and leaving a deep trench.

”Are you rebelling?”

Xu Hei’s eyes widened in anger.

”You asked for the experiment!”

Ji Ying responded, continuously signaling more venomous insects to attack, forming a whirlwind of insects around Xu Hei, buzzing incessantly.

Various toxic mists and liquids covered Xu Hei, filling the entire cave with a foul atmosphere.

Xu Hei wanted to escape, but his vision blurred, and the poison paralyzed his body, making it unresponsive and preventing him from mobilizing his true essence.

Although the Demon God Cauldron protected him from harm, the dizziness was unavoidable, like a badger bitten by a venomous snake.

If this continued, he would really pass out!

”Xu Hei, can’t handle it already? This is Xu Bai’s poison. If you can’t even withstand her poison, how will you manage in the future?”

Ji Ying taunted from the side, her tone inexplicably sour.

Xu Hei, infuriated, pulled out a Minor Annihilation Talisman.

”Stop!”

Only then did Ji Ying command the insects to halt.

The venomous insects stopped nearby, densely packed, surrounding Xu Hei completely.

Xu Hei let out a long sigh of relief, finally saved.

He sat cross-legged on the spot, using the Demon God Cauldron to fully refine the poison. After a while, he gradually regained clarity.

”Are you rebelling, damn it?!” Xu Hei glared at Ji Ying, angrily reprimanding her.

Ji Ying, not backing down, retorted, ”You asked for the experiment! What, can’t handle it?”

Xu Hei hadn’t expected this little Ji Ying to dare talk back. She had her own ideas and wouldn’t just follow orders.

”You little bastard, three days without a beating, and you start causing trouble!”

With nothing more to say, Xu Hei grabbed Ji Ying, ready to give her a good thrashing.

”Help! Help!” Ji Ying screamed.

”Scream all you want, no one will care. I’m going to teach you a lesson!”

Xu Hei’s face turned livid. This was a matter of principle; a little insect dared to rebel, and it had to be nipped in the bud.

Suddenly, Xu Hei sensed something and took out a communication talisman.

Yu Jianqiu’s calm voice came through: ”Assemble!”

Xu Hei put away the communication talisman, snorting coldly, ”I’ll let you off this time!”

He stored Ji Ying in the gaps of his dragon scales, took some of the venomous insects, and left the cave dwelling, heading straight for Martial Arts Island.

...

Shortly after Xu Hei arrived, two more figures descended: Xu Bai and the Nine-Headed Worm. Xiong Dabao was also present, hanging from a tree.

Hai Teng was still in seclusion and had not arrived.

After the year-end meeting, these Chosen were all under Yu Jianqiu’s unified management.

Yu Jianqiu glanced at everyone and said, ”I have a temporary task for you. Have you heard of the Netherworld Mine?”

After saying this, Yu Jianqiu looked at the Nine-Headed Worm.

The Nine-Headed Worm shivered, hesitating to speak.

That was the place guarded by his father, a secret of the Penglai Sea, usually not disclosed unless...

”This task involves the Netherworld Mine. We’ll discuss it on the way.”

Yu Jianqiu stood up, waved his hand, and Xiong Dabao finally fell, crying tears of joy.

”Nine-Headed Worm, you lead the way!”

”Yes!”

The Nine-Headed Worm didn’t understand what was happening, but he complied, flying at the forefront toward the exit.

Perhaps due to his bloodline, the Nine-Headed Worm was already half-transformed into human form, wearing a long white robe. Nine snake-like slender heads grew from his neck, and his hands were covered in scales.

His attire was very clean and tidy, without a speck of dust. His entire form was perfectly symmetrical, even wearing jade bracelets on both wrists.

Yu Jianqiu, strangely enough, was being held by Xiong Dabao, as if afraid he might get lost.

”Weirdos, all of them,” Xu Hei silently commented.

On the way, Yu Jianqiu explained the task.

The Penglai Sea had many external industries, most of which were confidential. Among them, the Netherworld Mine had the highest level of secrecy.

Originally, disciples like them were not qualified to know about it.

However, a few days ago, a great battle erupted between the elder guarding the Netherworld Mine and the Soul Refining Demon Lord, collapsing the mine.

Not only that, but it also revealed an underground cavern never seen before, with ancient murals on the stone walls and a large area of strange creatures frozen in ice.

These places had never been exposed before, clearly protected by ancient restrictions to prevent outsiders from exploring.

”The mine has been exposed. We don’t know if the Sea God Sect will take action next. Before that, our task is to seize the opportunities within the mine,” Yu Jianqiu said solemnly.

”Understood.”

Everyone responded in unison.

Leaving the Penglai Sea, they sailed under the cover of a dense fog formation, heading toward their destination.