Serpent Ancestor

In the Penglai Sea, islands were scattered everywhere. As Xu Hei flew along his journey, he saw no less than ten thousand islands.

The token given by Elder Mo had a clear map on it, with markings that allowed Xu Hei to quickly locate the small island.

This island wasn’t large, but it was picturesque, with many native wildlife species, some of which were intelligent and aware. When they saw Xu Hei approaching, they scattered in all directions.

Xu Hei landed on the island without encountering any formation barriers.

”To be given an island right upon arrival, I wonder what peculiarities this place holds,” Xu Hei thought to himself.

He spread out his divine sense. The island was long and narrow, a thousand miles long and a hundred miles wide, covered with vegetation, with mountains and water. There were three cave dwellings, each with vast internal space, large enough to accommodate a hundred-zhang-long great demon with room to spare.

Moreover, within each cave dwelling, a spring of spiritual water bubbled up from the ground, appearing a deep blue, quite miraculous.

Judging by the narrow structure of the cave dwellings, they seemed like the lairs of an old Flood Dragon.

”Is this what Elder Mo left behind?” Xu Hei pondered.

He casually chose one of the cave dwellings, entered it, and immediately began a closed-door cultivation session.He needed to stabilize his realm.

Forcibly breaking through to the mid-stage Core Formation and then experiencing a great battle had left Xu Hei’s realm unstable. He needed to refine it well, or he might regress.

”Too many enemies, too many dangers outside. Only here do I feel a bit of safety.”

After leaving the East Sea, this was the first time Xu Hei felt at ease.

Xu Hei withdrew his thoughts and took out a barrel of heavy oil, preparing to refine it.

But suddenly, he remembered what Hei Huang had said: ”Heavy oil is formed from the corpses of ancient beasts. You know nothing about what species these beasts were or what their cultivation level was!”

”You have yet to comprehend the Elemental Infant state, unaware of its dangers. I can only advise you to use it sparingly!”

Xu Hei carefully pondered these words. He could refine all the impurities, but he was only at the Core Formation level, not yet at the Elemental Infant level.

Perhaps there were side effects he couldn’t even imagine, ones he hadn’t encountered yet!

After much consideration, Xu Hei decided to put the heavy oil away. He didn’t have much left, and it would be better to use it when breaking through. The spiritual energy here was abundant, and there were spiritual springs, so there was no need for extra consumption.

…………

At sea, winter was not obvious, only a sea breeze blew, bringing a slight chill.

As time passed, cultivators who had escaped from the Sea God Sect gradually returned, spreading news that caused an uproar.

The location of the Sea God Sect’s lair had always been a mystery, with various forces trying to investigate, but to no avail.

Now, however, people brought back two coordinates: one for Prison Island, the other for the heavy oil mine.

These two pieces of information were invaluable, quickly drawing the attention of various forces in the East Sea. Many of their disciples had been captured by the Sea God Sect, their whereabouts unknown, but now they had answers.

However, problems arose.

Prison Island was far away. Even Elemental Infant cultivators would need a week to reach it, while those at the Core Formation stage would take a month.

Unless a fast warship could be built or a long-distance teleportation array set up, launching an attack would be difficult.

These two technologies were essential for attacking the Sea God Sect. The sect had teleportation arrays, allowing them to come and go freely. Without matching mobility, fighting them was impossible, like infantry against cavalry.

Some sent envoys to the Qin Kingdom for help, but Qin Xuanji gave this reply: ”I have the technology, and I can mass-produce warships, but energy is a big problem. To support a warship at Elemental Infant speed, at least top-grade spirit stones or... heavy oil is needed!”

”Otherwise, even if you build them, you won’t be able to start them.”

This dilemma hit everyone hard.

The Sea God Sect was too far away to attack, and at most, small teams could be sent for raids. But who could come and go as freely as the master?

This matter could only be left unresolved.

However, after the slave escape incident, the Sea God Sect also quieted down, seemingly laying low or perhaps plotting something unknown.

…………

That night, on a full moon night.

The cold moonlight shone on the sea, the calm water like a mirror, undisturbed, with even the wind silent.

Xu Hei suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a stream of air.

After a month of long seclusion, he finally stabilized his cultivation at the mid-stage Core Formation. However, in the world of sea beasts, it was more appropriate to call it the mid-stage of the demon core.

Xu Hei climbed out of the cave dwelling, staring at the reflection of the full moon on the sea, momentarily stunned.

At this moment, moonlight poured down, shining on the sea, reflecting layer upon layer, and then into the cave dwelling.

On the stone walls of the cave, ancient drawings appeared, blurry, as if left from ancient times.

Xu Hei’s body shook, and he immediately returned to the cave dwelling, staring at the drawings on the stone wall, lost in thought.

These drawings were usually invisible, but on a full moon night, illuminated by moonlight, they emerged, greatly shocking Xu Hei.

The first drawing was simple, depicting a long creature flicking its tail.

This simple action contained a special intent, replaying vividly in Xu Hei’s mind, as if it truly existed.

Xu Hei gazed at the first drawing, his mind gradually sinking into it.

”Roar!”

In a daze, Xu Hei heard a sound, a dragon’s roar.

Before his eyes, a phantom scene appeared: a giant dragon swinging its tail, striking a towering pillar, shattering it, causing the sky to collapse.

”Boom!!!”

The deafening sound exploded in Xu Hei’s mind, waking him instantly, causing him to spit out blood and fly backward, drenched in cold sweat.

”What kind of technique is this?”

Xu Hei was utterly shocked.

He had only slightly sensed the intent of the drawing and suffered a backlash, as if struck by an invisible force.

It showed how powerful this move was!

”Could this be the immortal spell of the Penglai Sea?”

Xu Hei pondered.

He had heard that the six major clans of the Penglai Sea each had different immortal spells, stored in the Scripture Repository for learning.

But such terrifying immortal spells, he had never heard of, far surpassing those used by Hai Teng.

Then, Xu Hei looked at the second drawing, which showed no creatures, only an ordinary claw.

Following the method of observing the first drawing, Xu Hei focused his mind, gazing at the second drawing.

Gradually, he sensed a hint of intent emerging from the drawing, coming closer to him.

”Slash!!”

Suddenly, Xu Hei was struck heavily, his body feeling torn apart, blood streaming from his eyes, crashing into the stone wall, his whole body in pain.

In that instant, he seemed to be attacked by countless claw shadows, giving him the illusion of being shattered.

Xu Hei stood there, his heart racing wildly.

”This move is too strong, beyond what I can handle,” Xu Hei thought to himself.

There were many drawings on the stone wall, each with a unique intent. Xu Hei dared not look too much, only glancing quickly before returning to the first drawing.

He felt that this drawing was the most suitable for him at the moment.