Serpent Ancestor

”Qing Qing, in our Elephant Tribe, everything is based on strength. No one cares if you’re male or female. As long as you’re strong enough, you can earn respect!”

These were the words spoken to her by the Elephant Princess.

Man Qing had always lived by this principle. In three years, she had become a Core Formation great demon, even stronger than her father once was. During a clan gathering, she defeated a Chosen of the Elephant Tribe, gaining instant fame.

Everything seemed so perfect.

But after that, the Chosen of the Elephant Tribe took a liking to her and wanted to become her mate. This enraged the Elephant King, who believed Man Qing’s bloodline was impure and would taint the blood of the Elephant Tribe.

Using this as an excuse, the Elephant King imprisoned her, and she remained there to this day.

Xu Hei was unaware of all this.

”Whoosh!”

After two hours, Xu Hei arrived at the outskirts of the Elephant Tribe. His Divine Sense detected a great demon at the Elemental Infant stage ahead.

No, it seemed there were two, with one hiding deeply.Demonic Beasts of the same cultivation level can vary in strength depending on their size, and the Elephant Tribe was among the strongest, an advantage brought by their racial talent.

The concept of racial superiority, though cruel and inhumane, is a law of survival!

”Demon Emperor’s tribe?”

Xu Hei raised an eyebrow and, following the Blood Source Tracking Technique’s guidance, flew into the Elephant Tribe.

Unlike his previous cautious encounters with the Demon Clan, this time, Xu Hei faced obstruction.

Two giant elephants soared into the sky, blocking Xu Hei’s path.

These two elephants were as large as moving mountains, their skin gleaming with a black-gold light, like metal, and they wore armor only seen in the human world.

Even their tusks emitted the fluctuations of a Magical Artifact.

”Hmph!”

Hai Teng deliberately released the aura of the Elemental Infant stage.

In an instant, a burly man in human form landed between the two elephants. This person was tall, with dark skin that shone with the same metallic luster as the elephants, and his nose was an elephant’s trunk—a half-transformed Elephant Demon.

”Four friends from the Jiao Clan, what brings you to our Elephant Tribe?”

This Elephant great demon was the clan leader of the Elephant Tribe, the Elephant King.

”To see the descendant of an old friend,” Xu Hei replied calmly.

”Descendant of an old friend?” The Elephant King frowned, unable to recall anyone in their tribe knowing a strong member of the Jiao Clan.

”Do you have a Man Elephant in your tribe?” Xu Hei explained.

The Elephant King’s brow furrowed tightly. After thinking for a while, his pupils shrank as he finally remembered Man Qing, who was imprisoned.

Man Qing had been imprisoned for half a year, suffering greatly and nearly dying. If not for the princess and that Chosen’s protection, he would have dealt with her secretly long ago.

Though she wasn’t dead, if these four saw Man Qing’s condition, it would be troublesome.

The Elephant King, quick-witted, made a decisive decision and solemnly said, ”We are the Elephant Tribe; there is no Man Elephant here. Perhaps you have come to the wrong place?”

”The wrong place?” Xu Hei squinted his eyes.

Could the Blood Source Tracking Technique be wrong?

Something was off, very off!

”You’re lying! Qing’er is clearly imprisoned by you!”

Suddenly, a delicate shout came from afar, then was abruptly cut off as a female Elephant was pulled back and quickly disappeared.

Though the voice was cut off, Xu Hei heard it clearly.

”Apologies, Elephant Clan Leader!”

Xu Hei signaled to the Nine-Headed Worm with a glance.

”Nine Heads Entwined!”

The Nine-Headed Worm acted instantly, its nine heads forming a web-like Formation that spread forward. The Elephant King’s face darkened, and with a palm strike, he shattered the web, displaying terrifying strength.

But immediately, Hai Teng appeared behind the Elephant King, pulling out a massive frozen fish and striking the Elephant King’s head with a dull thud. The Elephant King plummeted from the sky.

Taking this opportunity, Xu Hei leaped into the depths of the Elephant Tribe, heading straight for the prison he sensed.

The Elephant Tribe’s prison wasn’t sealed underground like the humans’, but in a valley with a natural Formation.

Those imprisoned here were all members of the Elephant Tribe who had committed offenses.

Man Jin’s descendant, Man Qing, was also here, lying on a stone slab, unable to move. It was this special stone slab that bound her.

Xu Hei easily reached the place.

”Boom!”

With a casual strike, Xu Hei shattered the stone slab, freeing Man Qing. She stood up, surprised to see the horned serpent before her.

Suddenly regaining freedom felt unreal to Man Qing. She stared at the Snake Demon before her, suddenly feeling that Xu Hei looked familiar.

Xu Hei said nothing, taking out a handful of healing pills and scattering them generously into Man Qing’s body. He then took out a thousand-year Spirit Medicine, repeating the treatment he used for Man Jin.

This time, Xu Hei ensured no tragedy repeated. Man Qing wasn’t severely injured, just immobilized for half a year, leaving her mentally exhausted.

Moments later, she was full of vitality.

”Heh, three years have passed, and you’ve grown up.”

Xu Hei smiled, looking her over. She was the only bloodline left by Man Jin.

Man Qing was stunned for a long time. Perhaps her impression of Xu Hei was vague, but she certainly remembered the fruits brought back from the human city.

”You’re Uncle Xu who brought the fruits!” Man Qing said in a daze.

”Indeed, you still remember me,” Xu Hei replied with a smile.

The memories of the past surged like a tide, and Man Qing’s eyes reddened, her emotions uncontrollable as tears flowed like raindrops.

She remembered everything.

Back then, her siblings were all there, and their father saved them time and again, along with their mother and many clan elders.

But now, they were all gone.

”Uncle Xu! My father, he...” Man Qing’s voice trembled.

Xu Hei said nothing, taking out the Soul-absorbing Flag and releasing Man Jin’s soul.

A phantom image of an elephant’s head appeared from the Soul-absorbing Flag, floating before Man Qing.

A gentle breeze brushed her forehead, like an elderly father’s whisper, kind and gentle.

A hint of a smile appeared in Man Jin’s spirit eyes.

He rose into the sky, his spirit body growing fainter, looking down at his grown daughter, then at Xu Hei, before slowly drifting upward into the clouds.

He simply dissipated!

Xu Hei fulfilled Man Jin’s last wish, allowing him to see his descendant.

With his obsession gone, his soul re-entered the cycle of reincarnation.

Perhaps this was the best outcome for Man Jin.

Man Qing gazed at the sky, her tears already gone.

Demonic Beasts don’t believe in tears. In just a brief moment, Man Qing had already pulled herself together. She knew what her father wanted her to do.

She must become strong! Only by being strong enough can she protect herself and those she wishes to protect!

”Thank you, Uncle Xu!” Man Qing bowed her head.

”No need to thank me. Man Jin was my brother; this is my duty,” Xu Hei said.

”Is the performance over?”

Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind.

Xu Hei turned to see an emaciated old man standing behind him, unnoticed until now.

”You intruded into our Elephant Tribe and rescued a prisoner without permission. If you can’t give an explanation, I’m afraid you’ll have to stay!”

...

Beyond the Central Divine Continent, deep in the East Sea.

A pitch-black pyramid stood on the seabed, the Sea God Altar.

On it was engraved a towering teleportation array, inscribed with countless runes not belonging to this world, connecting to a dark place.

Today.

Five pitch-black shadows sat in five directions on the Sea God Altar, each occupying the positions of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—the Five Elemental positions.

These were the five protectors of the Sea God Sect.

Behind the five protectors sat a row of shadows, the elders, deacons, and ordinary members of the Sea God Sect. Their numbers were vast.

”The sacrifice begins!” the Soul Refining Demon Lord announced loudly.

Like the ghostly gods of the underworld, his voice echoed deep in the sea, reverberating endlessly.

”Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...”

In an instant, one physical body after another was thrown into the altar, turning into thick blood.

These were human cultivators they had captured, all unconscious, sacrificed alive.

Initially, they were at the Qi Refining stage, then Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation.

Later, five Elemental Infant cultivators were also thrown into the altar, all turning into blood, merging into the altar.

As more and more sacrifices piled up, the Sea God Altar grew darker, shining with a black luster. The core of the Formation emitted a vibrating sound, as if a passage was opening, connecting to that mysterious unknown world.

The Devouring Demon Lord waved his hand, and numerous barrels of oil appeared from his palm, thrown into the altar.

This was heavy oil! Collected by the Sea God Sect over countless years!

All for this moment!

Countless barrels of heavy oil poured into the altar, merging with the Formation. The teleportation array connecting to another world lit up, space trembled, and the plane shook.

A thunderous sound echoed from beyond the nine heavens, as if the world was roaring.

On the sea surface, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and strong winds howled. A thunder tribulation descended, crashing into the sea, roaring towards the altar.

The five protectors acted simultaneously, waving their hands to confront the thunder tribulation. Their bodies charred, severely injured, yet they withstood the tribulation!

After a long time, a door connecting to another world appeared at the top of the altar, slowly opening a crack.

With the crack’s appearance.

All Sea God Sect followers shouted in unison, kneeling on the ground.

”Welcome the Sea God’s descent!”

”Welcome the Sea God’s descent!”

”...”

The shouts echoed in the depths of the sea.

Following this, a terrifying pollution seeped through the crack, identical to the pollution of the heavy oil, spreading uniformly from the altar in all directions, expanding in a circular pattern.

The pollution first passed through the five protectors, whose bodies instantly melted, merging into the pollution.

Then, the pollution passed through the elders and deacons behind them, their bodies also melting, merging into the bottomless darkness.

The pollution spread rapidly, like a spring of heavy oil, gushing out continuously, expanding in all directions.

Marine life in the water, upon contact with the pollution, all melted and merged into it. Seagulls flying high in the sky also fell into the sea, caught by the pollution, their bodies disappearing inch by inch.

They screamed and wailed, unable to stop their deaths.

”Look, what is that?”

On a solitary island, two fugitives stared at the distant sea horizon, eyes filled with horror.

They were fugitives, and if not for having no other choice, they wouldn’t have fled so far.

A pitch-black shadow, like ink, was rapidly approaching from the distant sea horizon, like an oil spill or ink spreading.

”What the hell is that?”

The two were terrified. One of the cultivators decisively took out a parrot and threw it towards the distance.

As the parrot approached the area, it suddenly screamed and fell, landing in the sea. Upon contact with the water, it screamed, flapping its wings, unable to escape the pollution’s grasp. Within a few breaths, it completely melted.

The two turned pale, no longer caring about being fugitives, and fled far away, heading towards a human island.

”Something big is happening!”