Xu Hei charged forward like a raging bull, shattering a Foundation Establishment cultivator into pieces. He swung his flying sword, decapitating five inner disciples in quick succession. Meanwhile, his puppets were unleashed, attacking in all directions.
"So, this is the snake demon causing trouble earlier. My clone must have been destroyed by this snake," Xuan Yangzi observed calmly, his eyes flickering with a hint of mockery as he watched Xu Hei's relentless slaughter below.
He had planned to use the bloodline tracing secret technique to find Xu Hei after reaching the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. But now, Xu Hei had delivered himself, saving him the trouble.
Although this strange mirror was indeed troublesome, the Snake Catchers Sect was filled with experts. How could a mere snake contend with them?
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" Xu Hei, fearless and ferocious, charged into the crowd like a god of death. Lightning arcs surrounded him as he cut down one Snake Catchers Sect disciple after another.
Countless spell attacks landed on Xu Hei, but his tough scales deflected them with a metallic clang. Unhindered, he continued his killing spree, drenched in blood, resembling a fearsome demon.
"Clang!" A massive flying sword struck Xu Hei from behind. Though it didn't break his defense, the impact caused his body to sink, bones cracking, nearly making him fall from the sky.
The attacker was none other than Wu Mochou.
As the top disciple, Wu Mochou knew well the vital points to strike on a snake. Each of his sword strikes aimed directly at Xu Hei's weak spots. His strength far surpassed that of Bai Xiu, whom Xu Hei had faced earlier, by at least tenfold.
Xu Hei's eyes turned cold. He spat out a cerulean ice soul flying sword, which collided with the giant sword above, instantly freezing it with spreading frost.
"Heavenly Thunder Curse!" Suddenly, a bolt of lightning descended from the sky, striking Xu Hei's back.
Though his scales blocked most of the attack, some of the lightning penetrated, sending Xu Hei crashing heavily to the ground, creating a snake-shaped crater.
"Elder Cui is so powerful!" The crowd cheered.
Cui Yuan, at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment stage, was even more terrifying than Wu Mochou!
Cui Yuan, expressionless, directed several more bolts of lightning into the snake-shaped crater.
As Xuan Yangzi's senior brother and the highest-ranking individual present, Cui Yuan's strength and wisdom far surpassed everyone else.
He could see the strangeness of this snake. Despite appearing to be at the initial Foundation Establishment stage, he had to go all out. Even if the snake died, he needed to ensure its body was utterly destroyed to feel at ease.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!..." Continuous lightning bolts struck Xu Hei.
Xu Hei used his Earth Escape Technique to dodge desperately, but the lightning pursued him relentlessly, no matter how fast he fled.
Moreover, his opponent's perception was incredibly sharp and experienced, seemingly able to predict Xu Hei's moves, always blocking his path in advance.
Boom!!" Another lightning strike hit Xu Hei, severely injuring him, his aura plummeting.
If not for his tough scales, he would have died countless times already.
Xu Hei patted his storage bag, took out some healing pills, and swallowed them. Using the Demon God Cauldron, his injuries healed at an astonishing rate.
But immediately, lightning and flying swords attacked again, joined by several mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Xu Hei's freshly healed wounds were once again severely damaged, his meridians ruptured, flesh charred, and he fell into the ground.
Even in a one-on-one fight, Xu Hei struggled to defeat Wu Mochou, let alone contend with Cui Yuan.
Moreover, with both of them teaming up and so many mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators attacking him, they were determined to kill Xu Hei at all costs.
The humans didn't underestimate him due to his low cultivation. They unleashed all their trump cards and magical treasures without holding back, attacking with full force!
Xu Hei's injuries were too severe, and his consciousness began to fade.
"Boom! Boom!" Two bolts of lightning struck, sending Xu Hei crashing into the ground.
At this moment, Xu Hei could clearly feel his physical body nearing death. Though his scales remained intact, his internal organs were utterly destroyed.
"Clang!!" A flying sword struck his vital point, splitting the ground with a thousand-foot chasm, burying Xu Hei deep underground.
Is this the end...
A single snake's strength could never contend with an entire sect, nor with the overwhelming force.
Two fists can't fight four hands. Humans are the spirits of all beings, standing at the pinnacle of creation. This is the rule!
They are snake catchers, and I... am a snake!
"Why didn't you run?" In a daze, Xu Hei entered a dream, hearing that familiar voice again.
The voice sounded like it came from a flood dragon, yet also from within himself.
"Why did you fight so desperately?" The voice echoed once more in Xu Hei's mind.
"Do you regret it?" The voice asked three soul-searching questions, and Xu Hei asked himself the same.
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Why didn't he run, why didn't he escape as he usually did?
If he had, he could have survived easily, preserved his strength, and risen again, with a chance to return one day.
What did the extinction of the snake clan have to do with him?
He risked his life to kill a group of Snake Catchers Sect disciples, but lost his own life. Was it worth it?
At this moment, Xu Hei's mind flashed with blurry images, like a revolving lantern.
Scenes appeared before his eyes, as if in the present, as if in the distance, as if in his heart.
"I am from the Chu Kingdom. My parents and family are all from the Chu Kingdom. I can't just stand by and do nothing!" Xiao Chou knelt before him, tears in his eyes.
He stood up resolutely, turning away, leaving only a lonely silhouette.
—What if there's no return?
—Then there will be no return!
"This is my ancestral jade, which I ground into a blade. It's the only thing with spiritual power."
A Chu Kingdom soldier, trembling, handed a sharp jade piece to his companion.
"Kill me, use my head to approach that Qin Kingdom cultivator."
The Chu Kingdom soldier, holding his comrade's broadsword, stabbed it into his own chest.
"No!!" A painful cry from a comrade echoed in his ears.
"My... death... is it worth it?" The Chu Kingdom soldier quietly closed his eyes.
In a thatched hut, Wang Ding used his last strength to shout "I won't be a slave to a fallen kingdom," hanging himself from the beam.
By the turbulent river, Mr. Chu laughed wildly at the sky, abandoning the pursuit of official rank and power, throwing himself into the great river.
"Why didn't you run?" The ethereal voice echoed once more.
Xu Hei smiled calmly, replying, "This is my home. Why should I run?"
"Why did you fight so desperately?" The question appeared again.
Xu Hei replied calmly, "They kill my compatriots, destroy my home. If I don't fight desperately, who will?"
This time, the ethereal voice paused for a moment before continuing, "Do you regret it?"
Do I regret it?
Xu Hei remained silent for a long time, seemingly sighing, but his gaze remained unwavering.
"Though I face death nine times, I have no regrets!"
...
Time seemed to pass quickly and slowly.
Who knows how long the attacks continued.
Suddenly, a new force was born within Xu Hei. His already established spiritual foundation began to expand once more.
The foundation rose, like a giant dragon soaring to the sky.
"Buzz!!" A beam of purple light shot from the ground, illuminating the mountains and rivers for miles.
The sky was filled with purple light, and the eastern sky was bathed in purple.
Everyone was stunned by this magnificent scene.
At this moment, Xu Hei's purple true qi rapidly changed, its color deepening from light purple to dark purple, and then gradually turning into an even deeper black!
Xu Hei finally realized that his previous Foundation Establishment was not truly perfect!
It wasn't until this moment, when he understood the concept of reverse cultivation, that he achieved true perfection!
"Reverse! What does it mean to be reverse?"
"A dragon has a reverse scale; touch it and it will rage. Though I face death nine times, I have no regrets!"
Xu Hei's voice, like thunder from the nine heavens, descended from the clouds.
The reverse scale! Xu Hei's last missing scale was his reverse scale!
"Boom!!!" Thunder rolled, splitting the sky, like the wrath of a god descending to the mortal world, striking Xu Hei's forehead.
On Xu Hei's forehead, a black-gold reverse scale was rapidly forming, becoming tangible.
This reverse scale was the scale of the ancestral dragon, even the heavens would tremble before it!
"This is... the Four-Nine Minor Heavenly Tribulation?" Xuan Yangzi's heart was in turmoil.
//106///
The Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations are meant for a Foundation Establishment cultivator reaching Great Perfection and forming a Golden Core. How could they appear on a mere snake?
"Boom!!!"
The thunder tribulation struck Xu Hei's head, but it was completely absorbed by the reverse scale on his forehead, as if it turned into nourishment, leaving him unharmed.
Xuan Yangzi's heart sank, and he shouted, "We must not let him cross the tribulation, kill him!"
Wu Mochou raised his hand, and a giant sword flew out. But as it approached Xu Hei, the thunder tribulation fell with a roar, turning the flying sword into ashes in an instant.
A small lightning bolt was drawn towards Wu Mochou, who hurriedly took out a pagoda to block it. The lightning struck the pagoda, shattering it into pieces.
Everyone realized that attacking Xu Hei now would trigger a chain reaction from the tribulation.
Xuan Yangzi's face was cold as he said, "Surround him. Even if he crosses the tribulation, what can he do? A dying snake is nothing to fear!"
...
As time passed.
The spiritual foundation within Xu Hei grew larger, several times that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. His True Qi had turned a deep, profound black.
Such blackness was unheard of, even among ancient cultivators!
Only by tracing back to ancient times could there be any clues.
Cultivation techniques, spiritual roots, temperament, and... one's own Dao!
Xu Hei's Dao was the path of reverse cultivation.
And his mysterious cultivation technique gradually revealed its true nature.
A vague voice appeared in Xu Hei's mind, conveying the complete content of the technique!
"This cultivation technique is inherited from the Great Void Ancestral Dragon, the only technique for a snake to transform into a dragon, the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon!"
"To transform from a snake to a dragon, one must undergo nine transformations: forging dragon scales, tempering dragon bones, opening dragon veins, creating dragon blood, growing dragon claws, raising dragon might, shaping the dragon body, and igniting the dragon soul!"
"Each transformation is not only a physical change but also a spiritual one!"
"The first transformation of the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon, the dragon scales, is now complete!"
With the appearance of Xu Hei's reverse scale, the final dragon scale was finally perfected.
His entire body of scales trembled with a terrifying pressure, even the surrounding Snake Catchers felt a chill of fear.
Their cultivation technique, the Snake Catching Technique, was supposed to suppress snake-type demonic beasts!
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But facing Xu Hei, not only did it fail to suppress him, it instilled fear instead!
This was no ordinary snake!
What was he?
At this moment, Xu Hei finally understood why his scales grew wildly when he rushed to save the white snake and the wolf king from a thousand miles away.
He finally understood why, on that day, when he faced He Luohua and used the Mountain Severing Abyss technique, his scales surged.
—He was perfecting his Dao!
The Nine Transformations of the True Dragon were not just about refining the physical body but also cultivating the Dao.
The first transformation, the dragon scales, could only be achieved by truly understanding the meaning of the reverse scale, transforming into a true dragon.
Without the reverse scale, he would never become a true dragon, always remaining a snake!
Only dragons have reverse scales.
"Crack!"
A rift opened in the void.
A pitch-black demonic hand reached out, with overwhelming demonic energy sweeping out.
"An extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon?!"
Everyone was horrified and retreated.
But as soon as the demonic hand fully emerged, revealing a demonic eye, it glanced at a bronze mirror in mid-air and quickly retracted, disappearing without a trace.
The rift closed, as if it had never appeared.
Everyone looked at each other, bewildered.
It was just an interlude.
...
Moments later, the tribulation disappeared, and the thunderclouds dispersed.
Xu Hei opened his cold eyes, looking at the crowd. Though his form hadn't changed much, his aura was vastly different, no longer resembling a snake demon.
Whether it was an illusion or not, everyone felt as if they were facing an emperor, not a snake demon.
Especially the reverse scale on his forehead, which looked like an imperial mark!
With a thought, Xu Hei took out a Blood Replenishing Pill from his storage bag marked with a skull and swallowed it.
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This Blood Replenishing Pill, if taken by a human, would cause an excess of blood, bursting out.
But for Xu Hei, it was just right.
This was not a human pill; it was a pill for a demon king.
Xu Hei hadn't transformed into a dragon yet; he had only completed the first step, gaining true dragon scales, but his physique was far beyond that of a snake demon.
As the pill entered his body, his previously exhausted flesh and blood rapidly recovered.
"Go!"
Cui Yuan, holding a thunder seal, waved his hand, and a purple thunderbolt as thick as a barrel condensed into a thunder spear, shooting towards Xu Hei with indescribable speed, reaching him in an instant.
"Boom!!!"
The void shook, and the ground was split into a thousand-foot chasm.
But Xu Hei's figure had completely disappeared.
"Quick, dodge!" Xuan Yangzi shouted angrily.
"Snap!!"
With a flick of his tail, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator's head was smashed, blood spraying, his body torn apart, turning into pieces.
There was no time to use any magical treasures; all defensive talismans exploded automatically, unable to block the attack.
This strike, Xu Hei didn't use any spells; it was pure physical combat!
Everyone was horrified and retreated, only to see a flash of black light, and Xu Hei disappeared again.
"Whoosh!"
Xu Hei turned into an arc of lightning, darting through a string of figures, killing six people in an instant, including two Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Blood and flesh exploded, limbs flew everywhere, with no trace of spell fluctuations; it was pure physical collision.
Cui Yuan waved his hand, and four large flags flew out, planting themselves in four directions. With a change of hand gestures, he shouted, "Four Symbols Snake Trapping Formation!"
In an instant, the four flags emitted red, green, white, and yellow lights, forming a square formation, trapping the area tightly.
Cui Yuan clasped his hands together and shouted "Constrict," causing the formation to rapidly close in, trapping Xu Hei within.
Xu Hei's movement range grew smaller and smaller, soon colliding with the formation.
जानिए पाकिस्तान की बेगम पारा कैसे बनी भारत की लोकप्रिय अभिनेत्री
Brainberries
"Boom!!"
The formation shook violently, Cui Yuan's face turned pale, almost spitting blood, but he gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot, and activated the formation again, tightening it further.
Wu Mochou wasn't idle either; he cast a glazed pagoda, which hovered high above, its colorful light covering Xu Hei's head.
Xu Hei's speed slowed, as if he were a worm trapped in mud.
Soon, he stopped completely.
"Kill!"
Seizing the opportunity, the others unleashed their spells, bombarding Xu Hei with a barrage of colorful lights, causing the ground to collapse, the earth to rumble, and the sound of explosions to spread for miles!
Facing a mutated snake, they had responded perfectly.
The Snake Catchers Sect members showed joy, but their faces soon stiffened.
As the dust cleared, Xu Hei's body was covered in thick stone armor, sixteen Earth Shields, thirty-two light rings, along with his dragon scales and the Stone Vein Technique, blocking all attacks.
"Crack, crack..."
The shields, light rings, and armor shattered one by one, leaving Xu Hei unharmed.
Everyone gasped.
"Earth Shield, I've only seen eight shields at most, how does he have sixteen?"
"Is that thick earth armor?"
They couldn't understand how Xu Hei's basic defensive spells could have such terrifying effects!
Xuan Yangzi's face turned grim, realizing that mid-Foundation Establishment spells could no longer harm Xu Hei.
But among them, only two were late-Foundation Establishment cultivators, Wu Mochou and Cui Yuan!
Xu Hei looked at the crowd coldly and said, "Now, it's my turn!"
He recalled the earth spells he had learned before.
Advanced spell, Mountain Embrace Seal?
No, not needed. Xu Hei directly aimed for the pinnacle spell, Falling Stars.
This move was one of the most powerful killing techniques in the Foundation Establishment stage, with a wide range, capable of covering everyone.
But the cost was that the more targets, the greater the consumption!
Even with Xu Hei's perfect Foundation Establishment and unprecedented black True Qi, he couldn't attack everyone at once.
High-quality True Qi didn't mean a large quantity.
Xu Hei couldn't afford such consumption!
But his killing intent was overwhelming!
"No matter! Today, no matter the cost, none of you will leave alive!"
Xu Hei made up his mind, took out a whole bottle of Rejuvenation Pills from his skull-marked storage bag, and swallowed them all in one gulp.
////107///
A whole bottle of Super Rejuvenation Pills entered his body, transforming into a surging torrent of True Qi, roaring like mountains and seas, crashing wildly within Xu Hei's body.
Blood seeped from the corners of Xu Hei's mouth, his meridians nearly collapsing, and his flesh experiencing unimaginable pain, almost on the verge of exploding.
He possessed dragon scales, but the rest of his body was still that of a snake, yet to undergo transformation, unable to withstand such a violent impact.
"Demon God Cauldron, refine it for me!"
Xu Hei shouted, mobilizing the Demon God Cauldron to absorb all the True Qi streams, fully suppressing and compressing them within, preventing any chaos.
Gradually, his pain lessened.
He looked around again; the crowd had already gathered their second round of spells, launching them together like a storm.
The Snake Catchers' strategy was clear: they had the numbers, and even through attrition, they could exhaust Xu Hei to death!
Xu Hei's spells were powerful, no doubt! With the black True Qi's enhancement, even the most basic spells could achieve miraculous effects.
But his True Qi was limited. He could defend once, twice, but could he defend three times, ten times?
In an instant, the crowd's spells descended upon Xu Hei, including Wu Mochou's three Bone-Corroding Nails, top-tier second-grade magical treasures he had treasured for years, now taken out for use, comparable to third-grade.
One person even burned their life force to unleash a third-grade Wind Blade Talisman, aiming to sever Xu Hei.
Xu Hei swallowed a Blood Replenishing Pill, ignoring all attacks, a madness gleaming in his eyes as he silently chanted in his heart.
"Falling Stars!"
In the sky, massive meteors suddenly appeared, gradually solidifying from phantoms into physical forms.
At the same time, the True Qi within Xu Hei's body was being consumed frantically, depleting rapidly, while the suppressed chaotic True Qi within the Demon God Cauldron was swiftly released, replenishing his body.
During this process, Xu Hei felt indescribable pain, his meridians seemingly on the verge of bursting, his body feeling as if struck by a thousand-pound hammer, blood seeping from his dragon scales, flowing all over his body.
But he gritted his teeth and endured!
"I can't lose, this is my home, my home!!!"
Xu Hei roared in his heart, the reverse scale on his forehead shining brilliantly.
Behind him were his family, his reverse scale!
If he were a snake, he could flee, but as a true dragon, he could not retreat!
"Boom, boom, boom..."
The Falling Stars streaked across the sky, crashing down on the crowd below with a terrifying, world-destroying force.
Falling Stars was originally a peak second-grade spell, but in Xu Hei's hands, enhanced by black True Qi, its power approached third-grade, comparable to the Core Formation Stage!
"Boom!!"
A large group of inner disciples hadn't even been touched yet, but were already crushed by the increasing gravity, their flesh disintegrating, countless magical treasures shattering into fragments.
When the meteors struck, the disciples were instantly obliterated, not even a hair left behind.
"Boom!!"
Another meteor fell on the heads of two elders, who took out their life-saving treasures, third-grade golden shield talismans, but due to insufficient spiritual power, the shields shattered after a few breaths, and the meteors fell, killing them amidst their screams.
Fourth disciple Su Bei used his treasured umbrella to protect himself, lasting five breaths, but turned to ashes after the second meteor fell.
Third disciple Wang Ping, terrified out of his wits, chose to flee, but was caught by a meteor from behind, smashing into his back, leaving not even a trace of skin.
"No!!!" Xuan Yangzi roared to the heavens.
Second disciple Liu Fei lasted the longest, with three meteors falling on her delicate body, driving her into the ground. Even though she had a treasure capable of blocking a Core Formation Stage attack, she couldn't hold out for long, ultimately perishing.
One by one, disciples died, elders with countless means perished, like wheat being harvested, unable to resist.
Xuan Yangzi's heart bled, he burned his blood and Qi, forming a blood array with his life soul, determined to kill Xu Hei at any cost.
But the mirrored figure opposite him also burned its blood and Qi, attacking with the same method, even stronger than him.
Xuan Yangzi immediately realized he couldn't act rashly; if he attacked in anger, the mirror image would do the same, even stronger!
When he changed his plan to protect the disciples, the mirror image directly attacked the crowd.
Xuan Yangzi was instantly at a loss.
Even if he wanted to leave, the mirror image blocked him, preventing any escape.
Xuan Yangzi's gaze was fixed on the mirror image before him, which also stared back, mirroring his every move.
"What kind of magical treasure is this, why is it so defiant of the heavens?"
Xuan Yangzi couldn't understand, the effects of this magical treasure were beyond his comprehension.
At this moment, the mirror image stared at him, suddenly revealing a sinister smile.
Seeing this smile, Xuan Yangzi's scalp tingled, goosebumps rising all over.
He clearly wasn't smiling, so why was this figure smiling?
Could it be, the other party had intelligence?
This wasn't an ordinary mirror image?
"What score would you give this magical treasure?" the mirror image suddenly sneered.
Xuan Yangzi's scalp exploded, involuntarily taking a step back.
The figure in front also stepped forward, maintaining the same distance.
"Who are you?" Xuan Yangzi's face darkened, shouting.
The other party didn't speak, just looked at him quietly, a mocking and ridiculing smile on its lips.
Xuan Yangzi's mind flashed through countless ancient texts, racking his brains for clues, but he was completely at a loss.
He couldn't fathom the principle behind this magical treasure!
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he thought of a word—
Inner Demon!
The figure before him resembled the inner demons that ancient cultivators faced when breaking through.
Born from the heart, emerging from within, inner demons knew everything about you, the evil projection of a cultivator's heart.
There was also a theory that inner demons were transformations of extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons entering the body, but the truth was unknown.
"Boom, boom, boom..."
Meteors fell, leaving the land scarred, countless cultivators crushed to death, the Snake Catchers Sect disciples nearly wiped out, less than five surviving.
They couldn't believe that an hour ago, they were hunters, about to blood sacrifice three million snakes.
In the blink of an eye, they were slaughtered, dead and wounded.
Regret surged in their hearts; if they had known, why get involved in this mess? What they thought was a great opportunity turned into a nightmare!
At the same time, Xu Hei suffered unprecedented injuries.
Not only from the collective attack of the Snake Catchers but also from the severe backlash of casting Falling Stars.
This move was originally for those at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment Stage, relying on their abundant True Qi to perform.
Xu Hei was only at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, relying entirely on the Rejuvenation Pills and the Demon God Cauldron to forcibly refine and cast it.
The damage to himself was terrifying.
Even though Xu Hei took various healing pills to recover, the burning pain in his meridians and the mental exhaustion couldn't be alleviated.
His Divine Sense also felt waves of dizziness, nearly fainting, but he held on with sheer willpower.
Xu Hei had yet to transform into a true dragon, only taking the first step, forging dragon scales, achieving perfect Foundation Establishment.
He had reached his limit.
Looking around, the Snake Catchers present were almost all dead, the survivors severely injured, worse off than him.
///108////
The eldest disciple, Wu Mochou, had his sleeves hanging empty, both arms severed, and his flying sword shattered. He was barely clinging to life.
Cui Yuan wasn't faring much better. He was covered in blood, emaciated, and his True Qi was nearly depleted. He must have used some secret blood-burning technique to barely stay alive.
Another person had managed to run farther away, surviving by sheer luck, but he was also on his last breath, lying on the ground with little time left.
In an instant, all the snake catchers who had come to participate in the blood sacrifice were either dead or gravely injured.
Xuan Yangzi felt his worldview shatter, as if struck by lightning, unable to accept this reality.
He couldn't help but ponder a question.
What was the cultivation level of this snake?
How could it, at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, unleash an attack comparable to the Core Formation Stage, crossing an entire major realm and killing so many people in one blow?
Even Cui Yuan, at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment, nearly perished! Fortunately, he had blood-refining techniques and numerous magical treasures protecting him. Any other Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator would likely have been dead by now.
"This snake cannot be allowed to live, or the Snake Catchers Sect will face annihilation!"
Xuan Yangzi's face was grim, and the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.
...
Xu Hei took deep breaths, swallowing a large amount of pills again, using the Demon God Cauldron to refine them and maintain his combat state.
"Why... is he still able to move?" Wu Mochou was already bewildered.
Seeing that the opponent still seemed capable of fighting, Cui Yuan was equally stunned.
They couldn't comprehend why Xu Hei had such powerful mental strength!
They had never witnessed a mortal slaying immortals.
So, they didn't understand!
"Whoosh!"
A flying sword shot straight towards Wu Mochou.
Cui Yuan suddenly flashed in front, slapping the flying sword away, but his arm also broke, turning into a mist of blood.
"Junior Nephew Wu!"
Cui Yuan shouted.
Wu Mochou shuddered, struggling to lift his head to look at Cui Yuan.
"Run! I'll hold him off!"
Cui Yuan gritted his teeth, a resolute look in his eyes.
Wu Mochou and he were both at their limits, but the former was young with an unlimited future. Cui Yuan, on the other hand, was past his prime, and this severe injury meant he would never form his core in this life.
Seeing Wu Mochou still hesitating, Cui Yuan shouted again, "Get out of here!"
His voice was like thunder, snapping Wu Mochou out of his daze.
With red eyes, Wu Mochou solemnly said, "Take care, Uncle Cui!"
He turned and trudged away.
With both arms severed and his True Qi depleted, he could only rely on his legs to run.
Xu Hei's eyes were cold as he spat out the ivory flying sword, aiming once more at Wu Mochou's back.
But Cui Yuan's figure flashed again, appearing in front of the flying sword, shouting loudly.
"Explode!"
Cui Yuan's physical body swelled and then exploded, turning into a mist of blood, with a powerful shockwave sweeping in all directions.
The self-destruction of a Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator was terrifying. The ivory flying sword was blasted away, flying thousands of meters, even showing cracks.
Even Xu Hei was impacted, flying out like a kite with a broken string, spitting blood.
"Uncle Cui!!"
Wu Mochou cried out in anguish but didn't dare to look back. He bit his tongue and ran for his life, using his remaining legs to escape.
He couldn't die!
His life was bought with Cui Yuan's sacrifice, and he had to live!
With hatred and unwillingness, he had to live on to avenge his fallen brothers!
"Senior Brother..."
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Xuan Yangzi's eyes were filled with sorrow.
Of his generation, few were still alive, and now, even Cui Yuan was gone.
Xu Hei flew out, his body once again suffering a severe impact, bones breaking.
Watching Wu Mochou gradually disappear into the distance, Xu Hei's eyes filled with intense grief and anger.
Wu Mochou carried the hope of this lineage; he had a reason to live.
But he also had a reason to die!
"I said, none of you are getting away!"
Xu Hei's eyes were vicious, his remaining True Qi rapidly depleting.
Xuan Yangzi's face changed drastically, shouting, "Be careful!"
At this moment, a small scouting snake appeared near Wu Mochou.
This scouting snake was Xu Hei's only remaining puppet, following him until now. It had no cultivation level and had never participated in a fight.
It had no combat power and was never taken seriously by anyone.
But in this instant!
The positions of the scouting snake and Xu Hei swapped!
"Body Swap!"
Xu Hei's True Qi was exhausted, using a puppet technique from the Earth Puppet Art to switch places with the small snake, appearing right in front of Wu Mochou.
"Die!"
Xu Hei, unable to use any more spells, pounced directly, opening his bloody mouth and biting Wu Mochou's head.
"Ah!!"
Wu Mochou screamed miserably, his legs kicking wildly, but Xu Hei didn't budge.
Reverse cultivation, what is reverse cultivation?
Cultivators who follow the natural order are like clay chickens and pottery dogs before a true reverse cultivator, unable to withstand a single blow!
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Xu Hei gave him no chance, twisting hard, and Wu Mochou's screams abruptly stopped with a crack, his head severed.
The entire scene fell silent.
The whole Myriad Serpent Valley was deathly quiet, only the sound of the breeze blowing through, carrying the scent of blood.
Around the perimeter of Myriad Serpent Valley, corpses lay in heaps, all snake catchers, young and old, all dead.
Xuan Yangzi was stunned, standing there like a fool.
With Wu Mochou's death, his lineage was completely wiped out.
Xu Hei, at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, had killed a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, forced a Great Perfection Foundation Establishment cultivator to self-destruct, and slaughtered a large number of elder disciples.
Such a record was simply terrifying.
In that moment, Xuan Yangzi seemed to age significantly, feeling somewhat unreal.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, taking advantage of Xuan Yangzi's distraction, the mirrored figure flicked his wrist, sending several phantom spirit snakes flying from his sleeve, striking Xuan Yangzi's chest and burrowing in. Xuan Yangzi's face turned pale, spitting blood, quickly circulating his energy to expel the spirit snakes.
"Hey, hey! You actually got distracted. Show some respect, will you? This is an eight-point spell."
The mirrored figure sneered, seizing the opportunity to attack relentlessly, bombarding with various magical treasures and secret techniques.
Their strengths were evenly matched, but Xuan Yangzi, deeply affected, lost his balance, allowing the suspected inner demon to land a successful sneak attack.
At this moment, Xu Hei's spirit was also at its limit, feeling dizzy and on the verge of fainting.
He could only take an Awakening Pill to stay alert.
"What should I do now?"
Xu Hei couldn't intervene in the Core Formation Stage battle; he didn't have that capability yet.
At this moment, facing the mirrored figure's attacks, Xuan Yangzi was at a disadvantage, in a perilous situation, but his eyes showed no panic, only a hint of a cold smile.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a flying sword slashed from afar, its speed like teleportation, aiming at the mirrored figure.
"Clang!"
The mirrored figure took out the Myriad Serpent Cauldron, blocking the sword, his figure retreating rapidly. Xuan Yangzi took the opportunity to escape, landing in the distance.
Xu Hei's eyes focused, looking towards the sky.
Behind Xuan Yangzi, a purple-haired young man had appeared at some point. His hair was disheveled, his attire strange, and he was covered in weapons, yet his presence was almost undetectable.
But from his earlier strike, it was clear that this person was undoubtedly at the Core Formation Stage!
The purple-haired youth glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the corpses outside Myriad Serpent Valley, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Xuan Yangzi, you seem to be in trouble. What's going on?"
///109////
The young man with strange purple hair, named Han Te, was one of the rare Core Formation Stage rogue cultivators in the Southern Region. He had no sect or faction, known for his incredible speed, appearing and disappearing without a trace. He was an old acquaintance of Xuan Yangzi.
Xuan Yangzi had always been cautious. Upon realizing something was wrong, he decisively used a communication jade slip to send a message to Han Te.
At that time, Xu Hei was still in the midst of his tribulation, and no one believed he would survive.
But Xuan Yangzi still used a favor to have Han Te rush over at the fastest speed for support.
As it turned out, his choice was correct!
A major upheaval indeed occurred!
In fact, Xuan Yangzi was not the only Core Formation Stage cultivator in the Snake Catchers Sect, but most of the core elders were in seclusion at the headquarters, and the fastest one would take a day to arrive, which was too late for support.
The only one nearby who could make it in time was Han Te.
"Don't ask unnecessary questions. You just need to kill that snake, that's enough," Xuan Yangzi pointed at Xu Hei and said coldly.
Han Te squinted his eyes and hesitated, "What about the price..."
Xuan Yangzi impatiently threw out a storage bag and urged, "Hurry up and do it, don't dawdle!"
Just a dying early-stage Qi Condensation great demon, and he still wanted to negotiate the price. Xuan Yangzi was speechless.
Han Te took the storage bag, glanced inside, and said, "This is the price for helping you out earlier. If you want me to kill that snake, you'll have to add more!"
Xuan Yangzi's lips twitched. He forced himself to be patient and threw out another storage bag.
Han Te took a look and finally smiled, putting the storage bag away.
"Fellow Daoist, you are indeed generous. I will kill that snake right away!"
Han Te sneered, waved his hand, and a flying sword shot out, aiming straight for Xu Hei's forehead.
At that moment!
A violent demonic wind suddenly arose in front of Xu Hei, forming a fierce storm that swept up the flying sword and blew it far away.This terrifying demonic aura had already turned into a destructive storm, sweeping in from the distance. The sky darkened, black clouds pressed down on the city, as if some terrifying demonic beast was approaching!
"A Golden Core great demon?"
Xuan Yangzi and Han Te's faces changed simultaneously.
In the distant sky, a giant elephant as large as a mountain stepped through the void, each step shaking the void, rumbling as if the sky was about to collapse.
The terrifying might of this creature was among the top of the great demons they had seen!
This was the leader of the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe, Man Jin.
Unlike before, Man Jin's body had grown to ten meters, shining with golden light, with long hair like a forest. On each side, there were three tusks like ferocious curved blades, a unique mark of a Golden Core giant elephant!
The Elephant Tribe was already among the top demonic beasts, almost invincible in the same realm.
If he hadn't just broken through recently, he could even fight two at once!
Xu Hei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
When he first arrived at Myriad Serpent Valley and noticed something was wrong, he immediately sent a message to Man Jin, requesting support.
At that time, Man Jin had already completed his Core Formation, and with the healing pills Xu Hei had given him, he successfully endured the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulations in winter without serious injury.
Now, Man Jin had finally arrived.
Not only did he come, but he also brought a group of tribesmen. Behind him were several late-stage Qi Condensation great demons, all elite members of the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe.
Xuan Yangzi called for help, and Xu Hei did the same!
Moreover, Xu Hei called upon top-tier demonic beasts, the elite among demonic beasts.
"This..." Xuan Yangzi's body stiffened, his face turning black.
He never imagined that this snake would also call for help!
Seeing the situation turn bad, Han Te took a few steps back and said in a deep voice, "Xuan Yangzi, this will cost extra."
Xuan Yangzi ignored him and turned to flee.
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At this point, there was no need to continue fighting. It was no longer a matter of revenge but whether they could escape!
If this Wild Giant Elephant and the mirror image person attacked him together, he would be in grave danger.
As for Han Te, he couldn't be relied on. He was good at bullying the weak, but asking him to risk his life was impossible.
"Trying to escape?"
The mirror image person sneered, moving like a ghost to block Xuan Yangzi's path.
Xuan Yangzi slapped his chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and shot out like a meteor, flying a thousand feet away.
The mirror image person also spat out blood, flying a thousand feet to pursue.
The two figures flew continuously, disappearing from sight in an instant.
Man Jin roared, stepping on the sky, charging towards Han Te.
"Misunderstanding!"
Han Te's face changed, and he turned to run. His speed was faster than Xuan Yangzi's blood escape, turning into a flash of lightning, speeding towards the horizon.
Even Man Jin couldn't keep up with such speed!
Man Jin initially chased for a bit, but the opponent disappeared in an instant. He could only roar in frustration and return to the original place.
"That damned human escaped! Unfortunately, my strength is still not enough!" Man Jin was unwilling.
Man Jin returned to Myriad Serpent Valley, looking around outside the valley, and couldn't help but gasp.
Groups of snake catchers lay dead outside Myriad Serpent Valley, their deaths miserable. He recognized their clothes; they were his enemies!
"My benefactor avenged me and killed so many people!" Man Jin was deeply moved.
...
Xu Hei entered Myriad Serpent Valley.
After a year, he finally returned home.
Xu Hei felt a special sensation, like a wanderer returning to his hometown.
This feeling was common among humans, but Xu Hei, as a demonic beast, also had this feeling.
The restraints of Myriad Serpent Valley had long been lifted. Many surviving snakes left Myriad Serpent Valley, returning to their respective habitats.
However, whether they were ordinary snakes or snake demons, they all bowed their heads to Xu Hei in deep respect when they left.
Xu Hei was their savior!
Xu Hei had defeated the snake catchers, saving the lives of millions of snakes, earning the respect of every snake!
Especially after Xu Hei developed dragon scales, he seemed like the emperor of snakes. Even his aura was enough to make snakes submit!
Xu Hei came to the middle of the valley, crawling to the side of the white snake.
Xu Bai had a spear stuck in her, pinning her to the ground. She was barely breathing but still alive.
Xu Hei carefully pulled out the spear, picked up Xu Bai, and carried her on his back.
Xu Hei continued crawling forward, reaching a hillside.
Here stood a stone tablet, the tombstone of the Old Snake King.
Back then, the Old Snake King gave two Serpent Fruits, one to him and one to Xu Bai.
"Old man, I'm back to see you."
Xu Hei whispered to the tombstone.
An overwhelming sense of fatigue swept over him, and Xu Hei collapsed in front of the tombstone, passing out.
Man Jin watched from afar, sighed, and ordered, "All members of the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe, guard this valley until the benefactor wakes up."
"Yes, Great King!"
The elite members of the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe roared, taking positions around Myriad Serpent Valley to guard it.
...
An hour later.
"Whoosh!"
A figure flew back from afar, the mirror image projection of Xuan Yangzi.
This person was covered in blood, his aura chaotic, as if he had experienced a life-and-death battle. He said nothing, diving into the purple bronze mirror and disappearing.
The bronze mirror lost its luster, flying back to Xu Hei's side and landing on the ground.
///110////
Noble spirit remains
Chu Kingdom Calendar, Early May.
Xuan Yangzi led a hundred members of the Snake Catchers Sect to surround Myriad Serpent Valley, intending to blood-sacrifice three million mortal snakes, but they suffered a devastating defeat, with nearly all dead or injured.
Since then, Xuan Yangzi disappeared.
No one knew where he went. He might have found a secret place to heal, or he might have been too ashamed to face anyone, or perhaps he fled to another region.
Because no one survived to tell the tale, the massacre at Myriad Serpent Valley was only discovered by the world a week later.
Mid-May.
The Qin army broke through Chuyang City, decimating the Chu army of 800,000 and capturing 500,000, including 3,000 cultivators!
The Southern Region of Chu Kingdom completely fell.
The core force of Chu Kingdom, the Astrology Bureau, retreated to the capital city. The main force's defeat signaled the end of this war, and the fall of the entire country was only a matter of time.
This was destined to be a losing war from the start; the strength of the two sides was not on the same level.
If the Qin army hadn't been cautious to minimize casualties, they would have broken the city a month earlier.
The four major sects of the southeast, northwest, Kunlun, Penglai, Ice and Snow, and Snake Catchers, did not send a single person to aid, waiting quietly for the regime change.
These four sects have a long history, even predating Chu Kingdom, and regime changes were nothing new to them.
For the stubborn resistance of various cities in Chu Kingdom, the Qin army was very patient. They would rather wait for months until the people inside starved or surrendered than attack rashly.
They wanted a complete country, not ruins.
Of course, these are all later matters.
...
This time, Xu Hei's coma did not last long.
In just three days, he woke up. After achieving perfect Foundation Establishment, Xu Hei's physique far surpassed ordinary demonic beasts, possessing the qualities of a legendary divine beast.
Xu Hei checked on Xu Bai beside him and found that she was unharmed, which put his mind at ease.
He picked up the bronze mirror beside him and observed it carefully, finding that it had lost its previous luster. He remembered Hei Huang had said it could only be used once.
He probed it with his divine sense, but there was no response.
Xu Hei looked at his reflection in the mirror, sighed, and put it back into the pale golden storage bag.
"Brother Xu, you're awake!"
Man Jin immediately flew over and stood in front of him.
"Thank you, Brother Man Jin, for your help this time!"
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Xu Hei said sincerely.
"Brother Xu killed so many enemies for me; I should be the one thanking you. Besides, it was the pills you gave me that gave me the courage to attempt Qi Condensation. You helped me!"
Man Jin said even more sincerely.
Originally, Xu Hei's kindness to him was already immense. After this battle, Xu Hei's kindness was even more unrepayable.
He even wanted to give Xu Hei a piece of his ivory, but Xu Hei strongly persuaded him not to.
This time, although Xu Hei woke up, his condition had not fully recovered. Consuming so many pills in succession had caused significant side effects.
Even now, he still felt waves of soreness. Both his bones and meridians had varying degrees of damage, and there were many residual medicinal residues in his body.
During the previous battle, he didn't have time to check, but now he saw that the problem was significant.
Xu Hei planned to retreat in Myriad Serpent Valley for some time, adjust his condition to the best, and then come out.
"I need to retreat for a few more days," Xu Hei said.
"Haha, no problem. I'll guard here. This valley is quite nice; I also need to consolidate my cultivation," Man Jin laughed.
Xu Hei nodded.
Man Jin was not human; he had not experienced the scheming of human sects and had a simple mind, which also made him sincere.
Xu Hei immediately activated the Demon God Cauldron to absorb the remaining medicinal power in his body. At the same time, he operated the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon cultivation technique, fully refining it, or expelling some useless substances from his body.
...
In the blink of an eye, June arrived.
The breeding season for snakes had ended, and most of the snakes in Myriad Serpent Valley had left, returning to their respective habitats.
Only a few snakes that lived here year-round remained, and they all revered Xu Hei as their king.
The hundreds of snake demons captured by Xuan Yangzi had also left, leaving only a few behind for unknown reasons, staying in Myriad Serpent Valley for a long time.
Whenever they saw Xu Hei, they would lower their heads.
Without any verbal communication, just a glance from Xu Hei, they could understand his orders and act according to his will.
Xu Hei did not interfere with these intelligent snake demons; whether they stayed or left was their own choice.
The environment here also often attracted some natural enemies of snakes, leading to hunting and fighting.
Xu Hei did not interfere with this either. As long as it wasn't humans causing large-scale destruction, he wouldn't intervene.
During this time, under Xu Hei's careful observation.
He discovered that Myriad Serpent Valley, besides being filled with spiritual qi and being a rare blessed land, seemed to have a trace of dragon qi deep underground.
It might be this trace of dragon qi that attracted so many snakes every year.
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But when Xu Hei delved underground to investigate, he couldn't sense it anymore.
Xu Hei didn't understand why. He wasn't the type to dig to the bottom of things. Since he couldn't find it, it meant the time wasn't right. If he hadn't cultivated the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon, he wouldn't have sensed the dragon qi at all.
In the battle against the snake catchers, he had obtained over a hundred storage bags, which he checked one by one, categorizing the items and storing them in the huge black jade space.
Xu Hei took out some items and gave them to Man Jin and Xu Bai.
Since waking up, Xu Bai had locked herself in the underground cave dwelling, fully immersed in researching pills.
It seemed that the recent injuries had greatly affected her.
Xu Hei didn't disturb her. He took out the formation flags left by Hei Huang and placed them around the cave dwelling, ensuring it was well-hidden.
This way, no one could discover Xu Bai's whereabouts.
Xu Hei regretted that he didn't have Hei Huang's formation skills. Otherwise, he could have set up a Mountain Protection Array like human sects, providing defense even if someone came.
...
One day, Xu Hei left Myriad Serpent Valley.
He went to a branch hall of the snake catchers he had passed by before and found it already emptied, with no one in sight.
"Have they withdrawn?"
Xu Hei was puzzled. Normally, if the small ones died, wouldn't the older ones come? If the older ones ran, wouldn't even older ones come?
He didn't know what was happening with the Snake Catchers Sect.
However, in these turbulent times, any sect was caught in the larger trend and couldn't stay unaffected.
Xu Hei then went to Snake Village.
The news of the Southern Region of Chu Kingdom falling and the complete defeat had spread to every town and village.
From now on, Chu Kingdom might cease to exist.
Xu Hei wasn't human, so he couldn't empathize with humans.
But the scene of mortals killing immortals that day deeply influenced him, giving him the courage to resist the invaders.
Xu Hei took out a stone tablet and placed it at the entrance of Snake Village.
With the power of mortals, defying the heavens and killing cultivators, these nameless people deserved respect!
This stone tablet was called the Immortal Slaying Tablet!
Xu Hei wasn't skilled in carving words, so he used his divine sense to imprint it, merging it into the stone tablet. Only those with a fated connection could sense that trace of defiance.
Afterward, Xu Hei went to the riverside.
He set up another stone tablet, leaving the image of a middle-aged scholar.
A person's death could be as light as a feather or as heavy as Mount Tai.
In a daze, Xu Hei saw the scene of that day again.
A speck of dust fell into the river, swallowed by the waves.
But this speck of dust stirred up a mighty wave.
"Though you have died, your deeds will be passed down through generations, your name will be remembered forever!"
Xu Hei bowed deeply to the stone tablet.
Across the vast land, the sun and moon changed the sky, though people die, their noble spirit remains.
Xu Hei was also about to embark on a new path.
——End of Volume One, Dragon Scale Chapter!
[PS: I deleted the relationship between the Old Snake King and the protagonist from the last chapter, treating him as a senior. The same goes for Xu Bai, treating her as a junior.]
————
End of Volume Summary & Reflections:
I'm quite satisfied with the ending of the first volume. This was the plot I had designed from the beginning, starting and ending with Snake Village.
The difference is that the protagonist has changed, from running away at the sight of people to confronting them head-on (not really).
In short, a growing protagonist whose personality also changes is relatively rare in web novels.
This actually carries a significant risk. A change in personality might mean that readers' tastes may not accept it. For example, the initial cautious approach might deter readers who prefer hot-blooded stories, while those who came for the cautious approach might not like a reckless protagonist.
But I believe that as long as the story is well-written, there is no conflict of genre or style.
Regarding the female lead, I haven't decided whether to write one yet.
Many readers insist on no female lead because many web novels have poorly written romance, with female leads being either vases or tools to create conflict, leading to readers developing PTSD and avoiding female leads.
Some readers also say the protagonist shouldn't turn human or empathize with humans, blah blah blah.
As I said before, as long as it's well-written, there's no such thing as what can or can't be written.
I've written snakes with female leads and without, and I haven't seen much difference.
Ultimately, content is king.
Why do many novels with unique concepts or gimmicks start strong but fall apart later?
Because unique concepts are temporary; only a good story can retain readers.
In the second volume, the protagonist won't stay in Myriad Serpent Valley but will go to other places and do other things. Being a mountain king all the time can get boring, right?
He might go to the deep sea or some human sects, but it won't be cliché.
The usual content will still be mainly light-hearted and enjoyable. People like to read funny stuff, and a serious ending once in a while is enough.
At the end of each volume, I'll do a summary. With nine realms and currently 250,000 words, it should at least reach two to three million words... probably.
Off-topic:
Next month, I plan to change to a shorter title. The current title is somewhat off-putting. Although more people click in, many leave after a few chapters, especially after the Immortal Emperor devours everything, which is frustrating.
Actually, that Immortal Emperor is useless, purely a gimmick. He might come back for a revival match later to play a minor role.