Serpent Ancestor

”With such abundant gains now, it’s enough for me to retreat into seclusion until the late Core Formation stage. Even if the resources I need are several times that of others, it’s more than sufficient,” Xu Hei thought to himself.

In cultivation, the importance of resources is self-evident.

Among these, there are eight types of pills that aid in cultivation, totaling over five hundred pills, along with various rare treasures, all of which can help accumulate true essence. These resources are something many cultivators spend a lifetime seeking but never obtain.

Xu Hei had exceptional talent and the assistance of the Demon God Cauldron.

Breaking through to the late Core Formation stage, as long as the resources are sufficient, is only a matter of time.

Next, as long as Xu Hei returns to the Penglai Sea, rents a time-accelerated cultivation room, and goes into seclusion for a year or so, he can strive towards the late Core Formation stage.

Indeed, high risk brings high reward. No matter what, this adventure was worth it!

”Are you planning to return to the Penglai Sea, or stay here for a while until things calm down?” Hei Huang asked.

Xu Hei pondered briefly. The timing was sensitive. If he returned directly, it might arouse suspicion. He immediately asked, ”Is it safe to stay here?”

”There’s no absolute safety, but I can guarantee over ninety percent safety!” Hei Huang replied.”Then I’ll go back,” Xu Hei said, feeling a headache at the mention of ninety percent.

”Oh! You don’t trust me!”

Hei Huang felt insulted and immediately took out a large handful of formation flags, placing them all around the island to strengthen the formation. Many of the flags were made from the latest materials he had acquired, with effects unlike before.

Seeing Hei Huang busy, Xu Hei laughed and said, ”With this formation, even a Great Golden Immortal can’t break in, right?”

”How did you know what I was going to say?” Hei Huang was surprised.

”...” Xu Hei remained silent.

…………

Deep underground in the Melodic Sect.

This is the core of the sect’s protective formation, where a phantom shadow is sealed. It is a snow-white phantom spirit cat with four phantom tails swaying in the air.

In front of the spirit cat stood a woman in blue, calmly looking at it. She was the sect leader, Lin Miaoyu.

”Meow!”

Upon seeing Lin Miaoyu, the spirit cat’s eyes showed clear hostility, letting out a low growl.

”September, can you explain today’s incident?” Lin Miaoyu questioned.

The spirit cat said nothing, its four paws gripping the ground, back arched, phantom fur bristling like spikes, ears pulled back, and a warning growl emanating from its throat.

Lin Miaoyu looked puzzled. This formation spirit had been captured for a hundred years, detained without issue, so why did it suddenly go mad today?

”I’ll give you one day. After one day, give me a reasonable explanation, or you know the consequences!” Lin Miaoyu said impatiently before leaving.

After Lin Miaoyu left, the spirit cat’s tense body relaxed, its fur retracting. It curled up, using its body to shield its paw, and slowly lifted it.

Beneath its paw was a palm-sized dragon scale.

Gazing at the dragon scale, the spirit cat’s eyes showed a rare look of infatuation.

”Don’t forget what you promised me,” the spirit cat thought to itself.

…………

Days passed one by one.

On Star Island, two shocking incidents occurred in succession, causing a huge stir. First, Mu Hou from the Immortal Pavilion was assassinated at home, and the treasury was robbed, bringing disgrace to the Immortal Pavilion.

Then, a prisoner was taken from the Melodic Sect, and the sect leader was seen in full view, turning the Demon Extermination Assembly into a joke.

Either of these incidents was enough to be considered sensational and would be talked about for a long time.

The culprits behind these two incidents naturally made it to the top ten of the bounty list.

And today was the day the bounty list was updated.

A group of bounty hunters gathered in the center of Star Island, staring at the list appearing on the stone wall in front of them.

This list, produced by the Bounty Alliance, recorded the bounty targets of all forces in the East Sea, changing daily from first to one hundredth. Those who made the list were all figures of great renown.

Bounty list tenth: Bloodhand Butcher, bounty of five hundred thousand spirit stones. Notorious leader of the pirate group Bloodhand Gang, once active in...

…………

Bounty list sixth: Big Black Dog, self-proclaimed Hei Huang, bounty of two hundred sixty thousand spirit stones. Capable of self-destruction and rebirth, can release Yin Sha Qi, causing loss of sanity... Not very strong, but with many tricks, can trap Elemental Infant stage cultivators.

Bounty list fifth: Average Cultivator, bounty of three hundred thousand spirit stones. Appearance is unremarkable, average face among cultivators, likely disguised... Skilled in sonic spells, long-distance claw strikes, and a wind-based divine ability that can instantly kill late Core Formation stage, estimated strength at Core Formation Extreme Realm.

Bounty list third: Mysterious Cultivator, bounty of five hundred thousand spirit stones. Able to deceive Duanmu Qing, the head of the Immortal Pavilion, and steal all the treasures from the treasury without a trace, methods are unfathomable, cultivation level unknown, estimated to be around mid-Elemental Infant stage.

Seeing these three new names, all the bounty hunters’ eyes lit up with excitement.

These three were not necessarily strong, but the bounties were immense.

Especially the Average Cultivator, whose bounty exceeded some Elemental Infant bandits. The bounty for killing him was enough to exchange for a fourth-tier magical treasure, a high cost-performance ratio that even Elemental Infant cultivators would be tempted by!

It’s said that the Average Cultivator’s bounty was originally only over a hundred thousand, but it was increased several times, reaching three hundred thousand.

The one who increased the bounty was undoubtedly from the sect of the three cultivators Xu Hei killed. They spared no expense for revenge.

Additionally, the Melodic Sect also added an extra portion to Xu Hei’s bounty for unknown reasons, causing his bounty to soar to an unprecedented three hundred thousand!

”Average Cultivator, that face, that figure, truly average! I suspect he has a spell to change his appearance!”

”That’s tricky. We can only look for clues through his magical treasures and techniques.”

Bounty hunters gathered to discuss.

Among them, a purple-haired bounty hunter, covered in weapons, glanced at the newly appeared names on the list, his pupils slightly contracting.

His fingers quickly gestured, seemingly calculating something.

”Two hundred sixty thousand, three hundred thousand, five hundred thousand, how much is that, how much again...” Han Te’s fingers trembled.

”But that’s a million spirit stones, a million!” Han Te’s eyes widened as he looked at the second name on the bounty list, comparing in his mind and muttering, ”That old dog even managed to deal with Xu Fu like that, only a fool would provoke him. The other million is easier to handle.”

Bounty list second: Xu Fu, bounty of one million spirit stones, funded by the Qin Kingdom’s royal family.

…………

Penglai Sea, Shark Lineage.

Today was the day for the three teams to change captains and gather.

All the team members of the three teams had recovered from their injuries. They gathered in a shallow sea area, waiting for the arrival of the new captain.

Porcupine Fish’s gaze swept over all eleven team members, suddenly recalling the image of that horned serpent.

In the dungeon, attacked by the Golden Eagle, missing to this day, even if the soul lamp is still lit, what good outcome could there be?

And with such a person absent, the new captain might not have a good impression, and it’s possible they could be kicked out of the team altogether.