Serpent Ancestor

The passage of time is swift, like an arrow or a shuttle.

It has been a full year since Xu Hei was suppressed.

During this period, a series of strange changes have occurred near the ruins of the Divine King’s Hall.

The depleted spiritual qi in this area has gradually increased over time. Although it still cannot compare to other places, it has been improving every month.

The reason for this is, of course, the destruction of the formation left by the Tianhen Sword Sect, which stopped the spiritual qi from being devoured, allowing it to naturally rise until it reaches normal levels.

Such changes naturally do not escape the notice of the keen-eyed.

Unknowingly, more people have gathered here, investigating and searching for clues, fearing they might miss some opportunity.

Back in ancient times, the area around the ruins of the Divine King’s Hall was rich in spiritual qi, attracting many cultivators. It was only after a great battle twenty thousand years ago that the spiritual qi began to wane.

Now, signs of recovery are appearing, which is no small matter.

”At this rate, in less than two years, this place will return to average levels, and in another five years, it might return to the peak it was twenty thousand years ago,” someone speculated.After this news spread, many forces have been eager to investigate this land.

In a few years, if the news proves true, a new city might rise here.

…………

The Nine-Headed Snake is an assassin organization that has recently emerged in the eastern wasteland.

Established for only a year, it has already taken shape, with several Elemental Infant stage assassins within, and has accomplished many sensational feats.

The destruction of the Extinction Gang, the flattening of East River Valley, and the assassination of the City Lord of Blood Refining City were all feats accomplished by the Nine-Headed Snake organization.

For a time, the Nine-Headed Snake gained significant attention, but at the same time, it also secretly made many enemies.

However, for such an assassin organization that operates in the shadows, it’s best not to provoke them if possible. The only ones who harbor the greatest hostility towards them are the Tianwang Organization, another assassin group.

Either annex them or destroy them, this is the highest order issued within the Tianwang Organization.

…………

Deep underground in the ruins of the Divine King’s Hall, in the magma zone.

”Boom…”

Suddenly, the magma in this area began to churn uncontrollably, stirring up a violent spiritual qi storm that swept outward.

Even the Fire Phoenix Seal suspended overhead trembled slightly, showing signs of instability in the confined space.

Beneath the Fire Phoenix Seal, thirty meters below, a completely black flood dragon was devouring the spiritual qi flowing underground, while simultaneously taking out a gourd and gulping down several mouthfuls, compressing the true essence within its body to charge towards a higher level.

This flood dragon was Xu Hei.

Inside Xu Hei’s body, the young dragon above the Demon God Cauldron was rapidly expanding, growing larger, with teeth gradually emerging in its mouth and a pair of small wings sprouting from its back.

This was Xu Hei’s Elemental Infant, which was undergoing transformation.

Half a year ago, Xu Hei could have attempted to break through to the mid-Elemental Infant stage, but he didn’t, delaying it until a year later when his foundation was completely solid before attempting the breakthrough.

Mouthful after mouthful of spiritual liquid was poured into his body, and his Elemental Infant continued to grow, becoming increasingly robust.

Back in the day, Huangfu Duanlong failed seven times to break through to the mid-Elemental Infant stage, succeeding only on the eighth attempt.

Xu Hei accumulated the lessons from his predecessors’ failures, and this time, he was fully prepared, advancing steadily, determined not to make a single misstep, even if it meant a longer seclusion.

This breakthrough lasted a full three months.

Three months later, when Xu Hei’s true essence reached a critical point, he took out a Supreme Spirit Stone, bit off a corner, and swallowed it in one gulp.

Then, he took out a large number of pills he had accumulated and swallowed them all, using the Demon God Cauldron to frantically refine them. Silent before, now he made a stunning breakthrough.

”Boom!”

Vast true essence surged like a tsunami, sweeping across the land, causing the magma to churn incessantly, and even the Fire Phoenix Seal trembled wildly, as if unable to suppress this terrifying power.

”Roar!!”

A loud dragon roar emanated from within Xu Hei’s body, as the young dragon in his Elemental Infant opened its eyes.

”Break for me!”

Xu Hei and the young dragon shouted simultaneously.

At this moment, his cultivation surged like a tide breaking through a dam, rushing forth, instantly filling ten dragon veins, and the Elemental Infant broke through the bottleneck, officially entering the next realm.

Elemental Infant, mid-stage!

Xu Hei, having first entered the outer battlefield, successfully broke through to the mid-Elemental Infant stage a year and a half later. Such a cultivation speed is truly defying the heavens, unprecedented!

…………

Outside the magma, in a rocky cave dwelling.

The Insect Emperor, who had been sleeping, suddenly raised its head and looked down. Nearby, a large number of Spirit-Eating Ants simultaneously opened their eyes, awakening from their stone eggs, and looked in a certain direction below.

Just now, they all sensed an extremely strong fluctuation of spiritual power coming from deep underground.

Such a fluctuation could only be emitted by Supreme Spirit Stones.

No! Not just Supreme Spirit Stones! There were also fluctuations brought by a strong cultivator’s breakthrough, even more evident!

As Spirit-Eating Ants, their sensitivity to spiritual qi is extremely keen, even able to sense spirit stones in storage bags, no matter if they are a hundred thousand miles away, even with formations blocking, they can locate their prey.

This is the unique ability of Spirit-Eating Ants.

”Everyone, move out!”

At the Insect Emperor’s command, the Spirit-Eating Ants scattered, moving through the complex nest.

Ji Ying also led a team of large spiders, setting up ambushes in the passageways.

”Senior, should we take the initiative?” Ji Ying asked.

”No need! He will come up sooner or later, we’ll just wait here,” the Insect Emperor replied.

”Senior is wise and brilliant, a true hero among insects, sure to defeat that average kid!” Ji Ying flattered.

The Insect Emperor squinted its eyes, clearly pleased with such flattery. Compared to its mindless offspring, Ji Ying was much more to its liking.

”Well said, and call me Empress.”

”Yes, Senior!”

…………

In the magma.

After breaking through to the mid-Elemental Infant stage, Xu Hei did not take any action, merely suppressing his turbulent cultivation, allowing the true essence to calm down.

This process took about another week.

”Indeed, I couldn’t hold back,” Xu Hei shook his head to himself.

Actually, his cultivation progress was still too fast. Compared to others, he almost had no bottlenecks and had never failed a breakthrough.

This was, of course, thanks to the Demon God Cauldron.

Although it brought many benefits, it also led to slow progress in terms of artistic conception, with the dragon blood still being just a drop, showing no signs of movement.

The Demon God Cauldron could only help him accumulate true essence and cross small realms, but in terms of major realms, especially Dao comprehension, it was of no help.

However, Xu Hei did not regret it. He had been suppressed for a year and a half and did not want to remain suppressed. If one day that woman suddenly returned, not adhering to the agreed three years, Xu Hei would be caught off guard.

In such special times, Xu Hei couldn’t care about his cultivation being unstable or any side effects; he had to break through to deal with the crisis of the outer battlefield.

”Now that I’m at the mid-Elemental Infant stage, if that woman dares to come again, I’ll make her cry for her parents!” Xu Hei thought to himself. Of course, the premise was that he was underground.

”Congratulations, husband, on breaking through to the mid-Elemental Infant stage.”

A clear and gentle voice came from within Xu Hei’s body.

This voice would occasionally appear during his seclusion, and it was the four-tailed spirit cat that had awakened.