Serpent Ancestor

Xu Hei’s face froze upon hearing those words.

Qing Shuang had said the same thing to him!

She promised that if he accompanied her into that Cave Dwelling, she could lure out the Flame Demon Ancestor and even join forces to kill him.

But now, Qing Shuang had offered the Flame Demon Ancestor the same deal?

”Daoist Qing Shuang, care to explain?” Xu Hei’s gaze was icy.

Qing Xuan opened his eyes, his face expressionless, as if he had nothing to do with the matter.

Wang Dashan looked bewildered, not knowing what was happening.

Qing Shuang took a deep breath and said solemnly, ”That’s right! I promised you both that if you joined me in entering the Cave Dwelling of the ascended cultivator, I could lure him out. I have not broken my word.”

”......”

With those words, both Xu Hei and the Flame Demon Ancestor fell silent.Then, both of them laughed in anger.

Well! What a way to lure him out, they hadn’t expected such a setup.

The words weren’t wrong; she really did lure him out.

Both of their eyes were filled with murderous intent.

”However, you are both esteemed guests I’ve invited, and I hope there won’t be any conflicts within Qinglin Tower. I’m counting on you two to help break the seal!”

Qing Shuang smiled slightly and said, ”If you don’t cooperate, don’t blame me for enforcing the rules of the Wood Spirit Clan.”

Qing Xuan said seriously, ”The Wood Spirit Clan has rules. Within the territory of the Wood Spirit Clan, fighting is prohibited. Once discovered, severe punishment will follow! And my Thorn Clan is in charge of the Wood Spirit Clan’s laws.”

”I believe our Grand Elder would be happy to arrest two foreign criminals.”

Qing Xuan looked at Xu Hei and the Flame Demon Ancestor, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

Xu Hei and the Flame Demon Ancestor finally realized they had been outsmarted.

In this situation, whoever dared to make a move would be targeted by the Wood Spirit Clan!

Xu Hei’s face was gloomy, wishing he could just leave, but if he did, the Flame Demon Ancestor might team up with Qing Shuang to enter the Cave Dwelling...

At that time, Qing Shuang might really team up with the Flame Demon Ancestor to deal with him alone.

And the Flame Demon Ancestor was thinking the same thing.

So, they couldn’t leave now! Nor could they fight!

There was only one choice: follow Qing Shuang’s suggestion and join forces.

Qing Shuang’s plan to bring in two foreign cultivators greatly increased the success rate of breaking the seal! At the same time, it allowed them to balance each other out, while she reaped the benefits.

From Qing Shuang’s perspective, it was a perfect plan. An open scheme, even if you understood it, you were helpless.

”Heh, Wood Spirit Clan, Qing Shuang, what a clever scheme! I, Xu, have learned my lesson!” Xu Hei cupped his fists.

”Hmph.”

The Flame Demon Ancestor snorted coldly, his face dark, but he said nothing more, sitting cross-legged, ”I will do as you say.”

The Wood Spirit Clan forbids fighting, but once inside the Cave Dwelling of the ascended cultivator, who would stop him from making a move?

No matter what, Xu Hei was doomed this time! Did they really think he was afraid of Xu Hei?

”Qing Shuang, who are the other two? They won’t be troublemakers, will they?” Qing Xuan suddenly asked.

”Heh, not to that extent.” Qing Shuang smiled.

A stick of incense later, the door opened once more.

Everyone looked towards the entrance, and the first thing they saw was a head of striking purple hair.

Then, a figure clad in an outfit bristling with weapons.

A young man with purple hair, covered in swords, axes, and spears, with a pot strapped to his back, walked fully armed through the door, a bright smile on his face.

”Boss Qing, Han Te has arrived as promised, about that reward...”

Han Te was about to say something when he suddenly turned his gaze and saw Xu Hei and the Flame Demon Ancestor, his voice freezing.

But he quickly plastered on a bright smile.

”Oh my! Isn’t this Mr. Xu Hei? Fancy meeting you here, my goodness, what a small world!”

Han Te laughed heartily.

Xu Hei was stunned, his eyes nearly popping out.

Is this for real? How is he everywhere?

”You, how are you here?” Xu Hei stammered after a long pause.

”Where there’s business, there’s me, bounty hunter Han Te.” Han Te delivered his famous line.

”With such big business here, how could I, Han, miss out?”

Han Te chuckled, his gaze shifting to the Flame Demon Ancestor, his smile fading.

”It’s you!”

The Flame Demon Ancestor immediately became highly alert.

He had heard many rumors about Han Te, like how he could take down ascended cultivators as long as the price was right, defying logic with his strength.

Moreover, this was the one person Elder Mo had specifically warned him to be cautious of.

Elder Mo’s advice was this—if you see this person, do not offend him. Use Spirit Stones to buy him off if necessary, no matter the cost, and never engage in battle with him.

The Flame Demon Ancestor took a deep breath and tentatively said, ”Bounty hunter Han Te, I hear you need Spirit Stones? I have plenty here, how about we make a deal?”

”Heh, sorry Flame Demon Ancestor, I don’t make extra deals until I’ve completed my current job.” Han Te smiled.

Hearing this, the Flame Demon Ancestor secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As long as this person wasn’t Xu Hei’s ally and remained neutral, it was no big deal.

Qing Shuang also relaxed, seeing they hadn’t started fighting, and said, ”Everyone’s here, let’s set off.”

Currently, there were six people in Qinglin Tower.

They were Qing Shuang and Qing Xuan from the Wood Spirit Clan.

Xu Hei, Han Te, and the Flame Demon Ancestor from the outside world.

And Wang Dashan from the Stone Spirit Clan.

”Weren’t there supposed to be more?” Xu Hei frowned.

”There’s one more, but you don’t need to worry about them. You’ll know when we get there,” Qing Shuang said.

Qing Shuang opened the door of Qinglin Tower and sped off towards the east.

The group exchanged glances, hesitated no longer, and left Qinglin Tower, following Qing Shuang.

Not long after everyone disappeared, a black shadow seeped from the window, floated up, took on a human form, and followed the group.

...

After leaving Qinglin Tower, the group headed east, traveling for half a day.

They arrived at the border of the Wood Spirit Clan, at a place called Immortal Burial Valley.

As the name suggests, immortals had fallen here, and the Cave Dwelling of the ascended cultivator remained unopened to this day. Due to the many dangers, it had long been ignored.

Until recent years, when foreign cultivators returned to Dark Star, the Wood Spirit Clan began to take an interest in this place again.

Upon entering Immortal Burial Valley, Xu Hei clearly felt the gravity increasing, much stronger than in the dangerous zones outside!

Additionally, Xu Hei noticed occasional, irregular spatial rifts in the air.

In the outside world, these spatial rifts were harmless, but in this treacherous place, it was a different story.

Therefore, everyone dared not fly, cautiously walking on the ground, traveling on foot.

”Most of the spatial rifts in Immortal Burial Valley are safe, but there are a few that will shatter you to pieces if encountered. We call these death rifts. They appear without pattern, but the chances of encountering them are much lower if you stay on the ground,” Qing Shuang warned.