Serpent Ancestor

The leader of the Extinction Gang, holding a black umbrella, stood among the crowd at the back, her pale skin devoid of any color.

Her eyes were fixed on the people falling into the ravine. With a leap, she gracefully entered. Behind her, the members of the Extinction Gang followed suit, jumping into the ravine.

Many cultivators entered the ravine, most harboring the same intentions.

Even without masks, they all used disguise techniques, making it impossible to discern their true identities. Only those with significant backgrounds dared to act without concern.

Two days was a clever timing.

It could attract a certain number of cultivators without drawing the true experts of the eastern wasteland, posing a threat to Xue Yang and his group.

However, there are always exceptions.

After a large number of rogue cultivators surged in, a figure as red as a phoenix landed at the entrance of the underground cave. Her robe was adorned with many firebirds, a flame marked her forehead, and her eyes were as cold as frost, devoid of any emotion.

Her appearance was unfamiliar, and no one recognized her, but when someone approached, they inexplicably screamed, and within a few breaths, their body turned into blood, causing everyone to retreat in fear.

”Who is this person?””Never seen her before, maybe she’s a newcomer since the passage opened!”

”She’s so strong!”

The rogue cultivators in the distance were shocked.

In the Outer Battlefield, most had seen the famous experts, but there were always some who came and went, unknown yet incredibly powerful.

The expressionless woman in red descended into the underground cave, and with a casual wave, a scarlet flame appeared at the entrance, sealing it off.

With this, no one else could enter.

…………

Before long, Xu Hei and his group traversed a narrow path for about half an hour, and their vision suddenly broadened as they arrived at an underground cavern.

This place resembled an ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling, with a flat ground, traces of ancient formations, and some pavilion structures, long in ruins.

However, judging by the environment, no great battle had occurred here, only the marks left by the passage of time.

The cave dwelling’s layout was square and orderly, with the buildings arranged neatly. Just by looking at the framework, it was pleasing to the eye, suggesting the owner was a person of taste.

Xu Hei observed the surroundings and discovered many valuable items, but he didn’t act rashly. Even if there were truly valuable things, they wouldn’t be his to take, as Xue Yang would have already looted them.

”This should be an undiscovered ancient cave dwelling,” Xu Hei thought to himself.

His gaze finally landed on the uneven stone wall, showing a puzzled expression.

Some protruding bumps caught Xu Hei’s attention. He knocked on them, and echoes resonated.

”Xu Hei, there’s something inside,” Ji Ying suddenly spoke.

”What is it?” Xu Hei asked casually.

”Not sure,” Ji Ying replied.

At Xue Yang’s call, the group gathered at the entrance of a stone hall, which was adjacent to the stone wall. The door was wide open, but inside was pitch black, and it was unclear what lay within.

Xue Yang took out three pearls and handed them to Ah Yin, saying, ”Take these pearls into the hall and place them at the Qian, Kan, and Gen positions.”

Xu Hei immediately recognized the pearls as Thunder Tribulation Pearls, but they had been refined with thunder techniques, making them far more powerful than ordinary ones.

Ah Yin glanced at Xu Hei, who nodded.

Then, Ah Yin flew into the dark hall.

On Ah Yin’s shoulder was one of Xu Hei’s puppets, allowing Xu Hei to see the hall’s interior through its eyes.

The hall was evidently left by the cave dwelling’s owner, but inside were numerous stone eggs scattered everywhere.

Seeing these stone eggs, Xu Hei immediately thought of insect eggs.

As Ah Yin appeared, the stone eggs began to stir. She quickly entered a state of intangibility, and the commotion ceased.

Ah Yin moved swiftly, reaching the first position, solidifying her body, and placing the Thunder Tribulation Pearl on the ground.

The process was quick, but even in that brief moment, the stone eggs emitted cracking sounds. Fortunately, Ah Yin became intangible again, preventing the stone eggs from bursting.

Next, Ah Yin went to the respective positions and placed the remaining two Thunder Tribulation Pearls.

During this process, many stone eggs trembled violently, developing countless cracks. Fortunately, Ah Yin quickly became intangible, averting a crisis, and none of the stone eggs shattered.

Ah Yin maintained her intangible state and swiftly retreated to the outside of the hall.

”Well done,” Xue Yang praised with a nod.

At that moment, many others rushed in from afar, all cultivators who had followed them inside. Their strength varied, but there were about thirty of them.

They grouped in threes and fives, searching the vast cave dwelling.

Inside the cave dwelling, there were pill rooms, weapon rooms, and even a beast garden for raising spirit beasts. It seemed untouched, and treasures were quickly found, leading to a scramble.

Xu Hei frowned as he watched, quietly retreating towards the exit, with Ah Yin following beside him.

Xue Yang and his group quickly retreated into a pavilion, calling out to Xu Hei and Ah Yin, ”If you don’t want to die, come in.”

As he spoke, he took out formation flags and placed them around, while the white-bearded elder beside him inscribed formation patterns.

Xu Hei guessed what they intended, but entering their formation was not a good sign.

Xue Yang’s eyes showed a mocking expression. In an instant, the formation flags were set, and the patterns completed. He quickly formed a seal and shouted, ”Explode!”

”Boom!” ”Boom!” ”Boom!”

Three consecutive explosions echoed within the stone hall, precisely where Ah Yin had placed the Thunder Tribulation Pearls, now detonated.

The violent tremors caused the entire ceiling to shake, momentarily halting the fighting within the cave dwelling.

Terrifying lightning surged from the stone hall, the sound muffled by the walls, yet the loud explosions could still be heard, like divine punishment descending.

The cave dwelling fell silent for about two breaths.

Then, Xu Hei witnessed a shocking scene.

Countless insects crawled out from the stone hall, their color matching the stone walls, gray-white like stone insects, hatched from the stone eggs.

There were so many insects that they formed a gray-white carpet, rushing towards the crowd.

The distant cultivators’ faces changed drastically upon seeing the insects.

”Spirit-Eating Ants?”

”This is bad, it’s a trap, run!”

Everyone panicked, abandoning the treasures and fleeing towards the exit.

Spirit-Eating Ants feed on spiritual qi, a nightmare for cultivators. Spell attacks are ineffective, only multiplying their numbers. The best solution is to escape.

But then, an even more terrifying scene unfolded. The protruding bumps on the stone walls shattered, and stone spider-like creatures emerged, attacking the crowd.

In the blink of an eye, five people were bitten to death!

”Ghost-Faced Stone Spiders!”

”Oh my god, what kind of place is this?”

”Ahhh!!”

Screams and cries for help echoed everywhere. Faced with the onslaught of these bizarre creatures, the rogue cultivators outside fell like grass.

Only a few with exceptional skills could escape the disaster.

Xu Hei grabbed Ah Yin and used Earth Concealment Escape to burrow underground, merging with the earth using Earth Intent, avoiding the Spirit-Eating Ants’ attacks.

The leader of the Extinction Gang, holding a black umbrella, turned into a shadow, with only the umbrella visible outside.

Xue Yang’s group was in a pavilion, a formation that repelled all the insects, making them the most relaxed.

The only surprise for Xue Yang was that Xu Hei also had a way to hide himself.

In just a few breaths, more than half of the thirty cultivators who entered were dead, devoured by the Spirit-Eating Ants and Ghost-Faced Stone Spiders, leaving not even bones behind.

Spirit-Eating Ants specifically target those with more spiritual qi, while Ghost-Faced Stone Spiders devour any flesh, leaving nothing behind.

No one expected such terrifying creatures to exist beneath the ruins that had been desolate for countless years. If there were dangers, they should have been discovered long ago.

Xu Hei had anticipated this scene, but witnessing it firsthand was still shocking.

On the surface where Xu Hei was, a small group of Spirit-Eating Ants lingered, sensing Xu Hei but unable to pinpoint his location.

”Strange, why aren’t they leaving?” Xu Hei frowned.

He suddenly thought, could it be the Supreme Spirit Stones on him attracting the Spirit-Eating Ants?

The Supreme Spirit Stones were stored in a Void Stone, yet they could still sense them?

Back in the abandoned mine, just taking out a top-grade spirit stone attracted a swarm of Spirit-Eating Ants. If he took out a Supreme Spirit Stone, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Xu Hei thought for a moment, then took out the talisman Hei Huang had given him to shield from heavenly secrets, and wore a jade stone, but it was still ineffective.

He steeled himself and swallowed the Void Stone, placing it in the Demon God Cauldron.

After this, the Spirit-Eating Ants outside finally dispersed.

In the pavilion, Xue Yang watched this scene quietly, a look of suspicion in his eyes.

”Daoist Xue, the Spirit-Eating Ants should have mostly left by now.”

A white-haired elder spoke, his gaze also fixed on Xu Hei’s location, a shadow passing through his eyes, ”We underestimated this person.”

Xue Yang remained expressionless, nodding, ”Take action!”

The group instantly rushed out of the pavilion, dismantling the formation. At the same time, numerous top-grade spirit stones were scattered from the pavilion, thrown into the surrounding area. The Spirit-Eating Ants, seeing this, swarmed towards the spirit stones like a plague of locusts.

These top-grade spirit stones were coated with a protective layer, taking some time to consume.

Seizing this opportunity, Xue Yang reached Xu Hei’s location in a single step, grabbing him from a distance.

Xu Hei, along with Ah Yin, was pulled from the soil, bound by an invisible lock, unable to resist.

Then, Xue Yang’s group leaped into the stone hall, bringing Xu Hei along.

Inside the stone hall, the stone eggs were all damaged, with three craters from the Thunder Tribulation Pearls, the surroundings charred, and traces of many Spirit-Eating Ants killed by the explosion. Most were reduced to ashes, leaving no bodies behind.

A few remaining Spirit-Eating Ants rushed at them.

The white-haired elder stepped forward, releasing a transparent queen insect, emitting a strange scent that drifted away. The approaching Spirit-Eating Ants slowed, chasing after the queen insect.