Serpent Ancestor

Xu Bai and Qingluan followed closely behind, the three demons entering together.

Inside the grand hall, a row of shadowy figures sat, their bodies shrouded in darkness. Only their outlines were visible, revealing them to be various fish-like creatures.

”Hmph, newcomers?”

A disdainful voice came from one of the electric rays.

”Heh, you all know how troublesome newcomers can be. Now, three have come at once, and we’re required to take them on every mission. I really don’t know what the higher-ups are thinking.”

A giant tooth shark complained.

”Three burdens, whoever wants to take them can. I won’t bother.”

A shadow resembling a porcupine fish said.

”Save it, it’s a direct order from the higher-ups. If you’re not happy, just keep it to yourself.”

A massive sea centipede remarked.The conversation among these shadows was unrestrained, filled with contempt and disdain for Xu Hei and the other two demons.

Burdens! Newcomers are just burdens; that’s the experience the Shark lineage has accumulated over countless years.

In other demon clans, newcomers might handle some easy tasks.

But in the dangerous Shark lineage, their missions involve facing ruthless foes. The newcomers’ weakness and indecisiveness could become fatal weaknesses.

Newcomers being captured as hostages or missing opportunities due to cowardice happens often.

Fortunately, the number of newcomers assigned to the Shark lineage each year isn’t many, and with thirteen teams to distribute them among, it’s somewhat manageable.

But this time, all the newcomers were brought in, and they had to manage them for a year. It was exhausting!

One burden was enough, but now three had come at once.

You can imagine how heavy their hearts felt.

”State your names.”

A large shadow in the center spoke. It was a giant tooth shark, the most powerful one, possibly the captain of the third team.

”Xu Hei.”

”Xu Bai.”

”Qingluan.”

Hearing these three names, the giant tooth shark’s eyes lit up and said, ”Oh? The healer Xu Bai, I’ve heard of her.”

They had been on missions for years and hadn’t met Xu Bai, but they had heard her name.

”Heh, seems like we’ve found a treasure.”

”I heard she can even heal those at the Elemental Infant stage, is that true?”

”Regardless, she should be more useful than other newcomers.”

Only then did the mood among the demons ease, and their complaints about the three lessened.

Although each team was equipped with a healer, who would complain about having more talent?

Xu Hei couldn’t help but admire Xu Bai; she really was something.

The giant tooth shark said, ”Since you’ve joined our third team, even if it’s only for a year, there are some things you need to know.”

”This is your next mission, take a good look.”

He tossed over a black stone tablet. Xu Hei caught it, glanced at it, and his eyes narrowed.

The mission tablet described:

”In the southeastern sea, there has been a large-scale occurrence of fish dying in the womb. The humans on the local islands are experiencing the same, with the population decreasing by thirty percent in less than half a year.” ɌἁＮǒʙЁ𝒮

”A month ago, we sent three members to investigate, but they have been missing ever since. Last night, the soul lamps of the three demons extinguished.”

”This time, the captain will personally lead the team, and the entire third team will be deployed to thoroughly investigate the truth.”

”Additional note: The killer whales captured by the Whale Hunting Gang are also victims in the southeastern sea. To avoid alerting the enemy, the enforcement team has not yet investigated this matter.”

After reading the mission content on the stone tablet, a flash of insight crossed Xu Hei’s mind.

He seemed to grasp something, yet it felt elusive.

”Stillbirths, Whale Hunting Gang...”

As Xu Hei pondered, he thought of the killer whale captured by the Whale Hunting Gang, whose unborn child had also died. He had initially thought it was due to injuries.

It turned out there was another factor behind it.

Wild whales are powerful, and if not in poor condition, they wouldn’t be so easily hunted by humans.

”When do we depart?” Xu Hei asked.

”In five days. You have five days to prepare. Of course, you can choose not to go. The higher-ups have a rule that newcomers can take a month’s leave at any time,” the giant tooth shark said.

The porcupine fish beside him chuckled, ”The difficulty of this mission is unknown. I suggest you give up. However, Xu Bai can come along; I’d like to see your medical skills.”

His words clearly belittled the other two, acknowledging only Xu Bai.

Xu Hei exhaled deeply and nodded, ”Thank you for the information!”

He returned the mission tablet and swiftly left.

Xu Bai followed behind, communicating telepathically, ”Xu Hei, is something on your mind?”

”Yes, this mission might not be simple,” Xu Hei said solemnly.

Xu Bai hesitated for a moment and said, ”If it doesn’t work out, you can give up.”

”No, I must go this time. I need to investigate some things,” Xu Hei said seriously.

Before that, he had five days to prepare.

During this time, he planned to sell the loot he had previously collected, and along with his contribution points, exchange for some useful magical treasures, preferably gaining an extra trump card.

And, he intended to consult the old Flood Dragon.

Although the old Flood Dragon hadn’t formally taken him as a disciple, Xu Hei was still under his command, and there were some things he needed to inform him about.

Qingluan also followed behind.

Xu Hei swam out of the palace gates and hadn’t gone far.

Suddenly, a frog appeared ahead. This frog was entirely azure blue, holding a trident in its hand and wearing a straw hat on its back, walking in a human-like manner.

The frog glanced at Xu Hei, then turned its gaze to Xu Bai, saying, ”Are you Xu Bai?”

”Yes,” Xu Bai nodded.

”How about joining my team? We need talent like you. If you come over, I can directly give you five hundred contribution points,” the blue frog said with a smile.

Five hundred contribution points were already a fortune, enough to exchange for a top-tier third-level magical treasure.

They had only heard of people disliking newcomers, but had never seen anyone actively recruiting them, leaving Qingluan dumbfounded.

Xu Bai frowned, ”I’ve already joined the third team.”

”Heh, no problem. As long as our team captain talks to the third team, they’ll naturally let you go,” the blue frog said with a smile, eyes showing determination.

Xu Bai still shook her head, ”Sorry, I don’t know you. Goodbye!”

This demon’s cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of the Demon Core Stage, likely holding a high position in the first team. They didn’t want to provoke him, and Xu Hei remained vigilant, staying close to Xu Bai as the two snakes swiftly departed.

Qingluan didn’t dare linger either, slipping away in another direction.

”Dare to refuse me?”

The blue frog was taken aback, eyes filled with disbelief.

Being rejected by a newcomer was simply impossible, something he couldn’t accept.

He had boasted that he could bring Xu Bai over with just a word, but he failed. The bastards in the first team would surely mock him.

”No newcomer can refuse me!”

The blue frog’s eyes turned icy, and with a flash, he moved at incredible speed, chasing after the two snakes.

In the first team, the blue frog was outstanding in terms of cultivation, speed, and agility, having survived countless bloody battles. None were simple.

A blue light streaked forward at an astonishing speed!

Sensing the figure approaching from behind, Xu Hei’s brow furrowed.

Although the rules of the Beast Law were in place, he believed the blue frog wouldn’t use force. But having lost face, who knew what methods he might employ?

He was just a newcomer, unfamiliar with some rules, while the other was an old hand who had been around for who knows how many years, surely knowing how to exploit loopholes.

Where there’s policy, there’s countermeasure. Where there are rules, there are loopholes. Xu Hei had to be cautious.

Xu Hei said in a deep voice, ”Xu Bai, hold on to me!”