Serpent Ancestor

Netherworld Mine.

After a fierce battle, this place was left in ruins, collapsed beyond recognition, with countless spirit stones destroyed and many miners dead.

The Nine-Headed Snake usually remained in a state of slumber to slow down the consumption of its lifespan, only awakening when danger approached.

Although the mine was exposed and there was a possibility of being targeted by the Sea God Sect, the Netherworld Mine had been excavated for over five hundred years, and the prime areas had been mostly depleted, leaving only barren lands with little profit to be made.

Moreover, it had severely injured the Soul Refining Demon Lord, who definitely couldn’t make a comeback in a short time.

The only unexpected event was the explosion that revealed a new pit, where an ancient artifact was hidden underground. The Nine-Headed Snake made a decisive move, immediately sealing off the new pit, setting up a barrier formation, and sending the news back to the higher-ups.

...

When Xu Hei and his group arrived, it was already three days later.

This sea area was turbulent, with occasional magnetic storms and lightning, causing ships to avoid it. However, the Nine-Headed Worm skillfully maneuvered the ship through the area, as if entering a formation, and the sea instantly calmed down.

The sunlight was dim, and the sea surface was as tranquil as a deep pool, seemingly isolated from the outside world.”This is the place!” the Nine-Headed Worm said.

A group of demonic beasts immediately disembarked and dove towards the seabed.

The underwater world was pitch black, with visibility not exceeding a hundred feet. The group of demonic beasts descended over ten thousand feet before finally reaching the ocean floor.

The seabed was full of pits and craters, with countless mine shafts scattered around.

Here, remnants of violent spiritual power fluctuations lingered, indicating a fierce battle had taken place, and the massive crater in the distance confirmed this.

In the distance, a cluster of buildings stood, with unique designs—some were human dwellings made of bricks and stones, others were burrows, and some were made of shells, conches, fish bones, or even a sunken ship.

These were the miners’ residences.

The miners here were a group of creatures resembling mermen, but smaller in size, more like frogmen.

”Look, outsiders have arrived.”

”Are these the outsiders?”

”Amazing!”

A group of childlike frogmen emerged from their dwellings, gazing from afar. Living in a dark environment for years, they had evolved excellent night vision, allowing them to clearly see Xu Hei and his group.

Xu Hei also looked over. This group of frogmen had low cultivation levels, mostly at the Foundation Establishment stage.

They were small and slender, able to easily squeeze into narrow tunnels, with strong limbs and sharp claws, making them well-suited for mining work.

Born and dying in the mining area, they had never left or seen outsiders. At this moment, their eyes were wide open, filled with curiosity and fear.

An elderly frogman flew out from a dwelling. His cultivation was the highest, but only at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment stage.

”Everyone, the elder is in seclusion. I have been ordered to guide you. Please follow me,” the elderly frogman said, bowing.

Without daring to look at the expressions of the group, he swam straight towards the massive crater in the distance.

Xu Hei and the others followed behind.

It was evident that although this elder had lived for over a hundred years, it was his first time seeing outsiders, and he couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Xu Hei curiously asked, ”Elder, do your people have any Core Formation stage cultivators?”

”What is the Core Formation stage?” the elderly frogman asked in confusion.

”...” Xu Hei was at a loss for words.

”Don’t bother asking, they know nothing,” the Nine-Headed Worm transmitted.

Xu Hei fell silent.

Before long, they entered the crater, descending continuously. The surrounding terrain was in ruins, with claw marks and impacts everywhere, and the violent spiritual power lingered. It seemed this was where the battle had occurred.

Soon, the elder led them to a concealed formation and said, ”Everyone, this is the destination. I shall take my leave!”

He returned the way he came, swimming upwards and quickly disappearing.

The Nine-Headed Worm explained, ”These miners are a subspecies of the Merman Clan, with thin bloodlines and poor talent. They can never reach Core Formation in their lifetime. Even if there are rare geniuses with a chance at Core Formation, the spirit stones required for the breakthrough are too much, making it impossible for them to achieve it.”

Xu Hei still didn’t understand.

In fact, the operation of the Netherworld Mine had always been a mystery, but this mine continuously provided massive amounts of spirit stones, sustaining half of the Penglai Sea, so it must have its significance.

Xu Hei didn’t think much about it; it wasn’t his concern.

The barrier formation didn’t hinder them, and they easily passed through, entering a vast underground world.

This place resembled a cave, with no seawater inside, the air damp, and the stone walls adorned with a faint blue glow, likely from some metallic substance, slightly illuminating the space.

Yu Jianqiu took out a lamp, and the space immediately brightened.

Xu Hei’s gaze locked onto the stone walls, where he noticed a series of murals, and the others also looked over.

”Is this the ancient painting mentioned in the intelligence?” Yu Jianqiu raised an eyebrow.

”Master, can you see it?” Xiong Dabao muttered.

”Shut up!” Yu Jianqiu scolded.

Unlike the paintings Xu Hei had seen before, these depicted a human cultivator wielding a sharp blade, battling fierce beasts.

”This is...”

Xu Hei’s pupils suddenly contracted.

In the painting, the blade held by the human cultivator was one he recognized.

—The Dragon Slaying Sword!!

Although there were slight differences from the Dragon Slaying Sword in Xu Qingzhi’s possession, they were largely similar, undoubtedly connected to the Dragon Slaying Sword.

And the human cultivator wielding the Dragon Slaying Sword wore a crimson robe, with hair and beard bristling, and a dragon pattern on his forehead, resembling Xu Qingzhi’s fighting appearance.

Yu Jianqiu keenly sensed Xu Hei’s emotional change but didn’t point it out, merely smiling.

”Heh, it’s a painting of an ancient cultivator battling demonic beasts. From the techniques and movements, it seems to be left by a human cultivator to showcase his swordsmanship,” Yu Jianqiu said with a smile.

In ancient times, humans and demons were at odds, and battles between the human race and the demon clan were common.

Even now, in most regions, their relationship hadn’t improved, with only the Penglai Sea and Penglai Island being exceptions.

Xu Hei remained silent as the group continued deeper.

Along the way, numerous murals were displayed, all featuring the same person, but with demonic beasts of various forms—dragon-shaped, tiger-shaped, ox-shaped, bird-shaped.

It gave the impression of a human cultivator battling countless demonic beasts and recording the encounters.

Moments later, they reached the deepest part, arriving in a chamber filled with many ice blocks, though the ice wasn’t cold at all.

Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn to the ice blocks, which contained various strange demonic beasts frozen inside.

There was a three-headed wolf, a winged horse, a dragon-like wolf, a colorful deer, and more.