Serpent Ancestor

The atmosphere in the venue grew heavy, an invisible pressure enveloping everyone, making it hard for them to breathe.

Hai Teng stood up, keeping his head down, showing no intention of defending himself.

Hai Teng, the inheritor of the Azure Sea Dragon King’s legacy, had perfectly carried on the mantle of the Sea Star’s master. With pure bloodline, he was a descendant of the Sea Star Flood Dragon Clan, progressing rapidly in strength, and was their hope for the future.

But at this moment, he had made a grave mistake.

Gong Jiang remained silent for a long time before speaking calmly, ”Hai Teng, let me ask you, if on the battlefield, I issue an order and everyone has to think for themselves before obeying, doing what they believe is right, would there still be a chance of winning this war?”

Gong Jiang did not scold him; he was earnestly explaining a very common matter.

So common that everyone understood it—obey orders without questioning the reason.

This is the most basic quality of any army.

”You have your judgment, and I have mine. I won’t interfere with your thoughts and even agree with your view that Zhao Nanqi is a treacherous villain. But can you act on it?”

Gong Jiang continued, ”I once ordered the slaughter of an entire city, regardless of age or gender, but my subordinates thought it was wrong and refused to act! He believed he was right, just like you. Guess what happened to that unit later?”Hai Teng had heard of that unit’s story, which was very tragic.

A witch doctor was hidden in the city, who performed a sacrificial ritual on the entire city, including that unit, leading to their complete annihilation.

Hai Teng lowered his head and said, ”Clan Leader, I, Hai Teng, accept the punishment. You can imprison me for ten or a hundred years, but I will not change!”

After speaking, Hai Teng ignored the expressions of those around him and directly soared into the air, heading towards the Merman Clan’s prison.

”Stop right there!”

Gong Jiang shouted, but Hai Teng paid no heed and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Ancestor Yellow Spring, standing nearby, advised, ”Clan Leader, let it go. After all, Hai Teng is a Divine Transformation cultivator. Criticizing him in front of so many people is quite humiliating.”

Being reprimanded face-to-face as a Divine Transformation Ancestor is indeed a disgraceful matter.

Perhaps in Gong Jiang’s eyes, Hai Teng was still just an immature child, prone to acting on impulse, which is why he criticized him.

”It was my oversight,” Gong Jiang said.

The matter with Hai Teng was just a minor episode.

Afterward, Gong Jiang established the next plan. They aimed to reclaim the Northern Continent, then seize the opportunity to negotiate for a ceasefire and obtain compensation.

…………

Northern Continent.

Xu Hei sat in a valley, holding a crescent-shaped jade stone, studying it carefully.

As long as this item was activated, it could emit a layer of gentle protective light, though its defense was weak.

He tried placing it into the Demon God Cauldron for refining and discovered that the cauldron could indeed slowly refine the jade stone.

If this was the key to opening Guanghan Palace, then refining it completely would mean the palace couldn’t be opened, right?

Xu Hei fell into deep thought.

Would the relics left by a True Immortal have so many loopholes?

Or was the Demon God Cauldron so heaven-defying that it could refine even the relics of a True Immortal?

Xu Hei couldn’t figure it out for the time being.

Regarding Zhao Nanqi, he eventually took out some cheap pills to feed him, waiting to see when he would wake up.

He was also conducting research on the insects, but Bai Zhi’s injuries were equally severe, making it difficult for her to wake up.

And Zhao Nanqi’s storage ring contained a pitiful amount of treasures, with only one cultivation technique for controlling insect swarms catching Xu Hei’s attention.

”Blood Soul Sacrifice, using one’s own flesh and blood as a sacrifice to connect with the insect swarm’s spirit, allowing temporary control over the insects...”

Xu Hei finished reading the technique, furrowed his brows, and casually destroyed it.

He didn’t plan to cultivate it. This technique was an evil one, and he worried that Zhao Nanqi had altered its content, leading to potential mishaps during cultivation.

Given Zhao Nanqi’s nature, he would likely destroy the cultivation techniques he practiced, leaving behind those that might be problematic.

”Why is this person’s storage ring so poor? Did he spend it all on raising insects?”

Xu Hei stared at the empty storage ring, lost in thought.

For now, Xu Hei could only focus on the upcoming battle in a week.

As long as no major conflict erupted, Divine Transformation cultivators would find it difficult to intervene again, making Elemental Infant cultivators the main force in the war.

Xu Hei needed to select powerful Elemental Infant cultivators to represent him in battle.

”Commander, here is a list of rogue cultivators available for recruitment. Please take a look.” Wang Yimao handed over a jade slip to Xu Hei.

The jade slip contained information on all late Elemental Infant stage rogue cultivators on Divine Continent Star.

Xu Hei glanced over it. The list had over a hundred names, all individuals with considerable strength.

Among them, Xu Hei noticed some familiar names, causing his eyes to flash.

”Recruit these people. Money is not an issue.”

After marking the names, Xu Hei handed the list back to Wang Yimao.

”Understood!” Wang Yimao cupped his fists and withdrew.

…………

Time passed.

The Sea Star Demon Clan on Divine Continent Star gradually retreated, returning to Sea Star.

Meanwhile, the human cultivators from Divine Continent Star also left their homeland, arriving at the Northern Continent on Sea Star.

The location of the war had unknowingly shifted.

On Moon Star, a figure emerged from underground.

This person had a cold demeanor, an ordinary build, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, looking exactly like Zhao Nanqi—a clear external incarnation.

He sensed briefly and muttered to himself, ”The main body hasn’t been heard from for a week, likely already dead.”

He took out a crescent jade stone, much larger than the one Xu Hei held, about two palms in size, radiating a silver glow, with a more robust texture and softer luster.

However, this crescent jade stone was missing a small corner.

This was the true key to Guanghan Palace!

The one in the main body’s possession was just a counterfeit, crafted by combining the missing corner with other materials.

”As long as the main body had a chance to speak, he shouldn’t have been killed outright. Hmph, I underestimated Xu Hei’s methods.”

”This incarnation won’t last long. If there’s still no news from the main body after a while, I’ll open Guanghan Palace! Seven Stars Alignment!”

”If I can’t survive, then no one else will either!”

A sharp gleam flashed in Zhao Nanqi’s incarnation’s eyes. He gazed into the distant cosmic galaxy, which seemed like a devouring maw gradually closing in.

…………

The week’s deadline quickly arrived.

The Northern Continent, as the only true landmass on Sea Star, had become the final battlefield.

Xu Hei, Night Owl, Qin Xuanji, and the recently arrived Daoist Sparrow sat cross-legged high in the sky, gazing into the distance, quietly awaiting the formidable enemy.

Below them, on the ground, stood rows of Elemental Infant stage figures, carefully selected elites, representing the strongest Elemental Infant combat power from Divine Continent Star!

Each one was a genius among geniuses, with many hailed as Divine Transformation seeds, destined to reach Divine Transformation given enough resources, as long as they survived.