Serpent Ancestor

”Here they come,” Daoist Sparrow said, looking into the distance.

In the distance, the horizon was dotted with countless black specks, merging with the sky and drawing closer, like a vast curtain blocking out the sun.

Accompanied by the roar of tsunamis, towering waves, and rolling thunder, countless figures rode the waves forward—it was the elite forces of Sea Star.

At the forefront stood Gong Jiang, with five Divine Transformation Ancestors, including Shi Lan, by his side. In terms of numbers, they had twice as many Divine Transformations as those on Divine Continent Star.

But they had witnessed Daoist Sparrow’s Thousand Mechanisms Grand Formation, and the so-called numerical advantage was nothing but an illusion.

This time, the main force of the battle was not the Divine Transformations but the Elemental Infant cultivators below. Each was tall and strong, wielding short weapons, and their physical bodies were generally more robust.

One figure caught Xu Hei’s attention.

It was a merman encased in golden armor, with disheveled hair, a long face, golden scales covering his chest, blue eyes, and a golden flame burning at the center of his forehead.

”The Merman Prince, Yu Huang,” Xu Hei thought to himself.

Sensing Xu Hei’s gaze, Yu Huang looked over, but his eyes showed little fear, only a hint of disdain.”Brother Yu, the opponents this time are strong,” came a soft female voice from behind Yu Huang, belonging to a robust female merman.

”Hmph! Without a Divine Transformation, no one is my match!”

Yu Huang’s voice was calm, as if stating a fact.

”Hehe, I finally get to see Brother’s true strength,” the female merman said excitedly, her eyes full of anticipation.

”Haha, true strength? These weaklings are not enough!” Yu Huang sneered, crossing his arms and scanning the human cultivators on the shore with disdain in his eyes.

Before the two armies clashed, both sides were sizing each other up.

Before long, another figure approached from afar. It was a middle-aged man in a yellow robe, stepping on the yellow sand, a gourd hanging at his waist, traversing thousands of miles in a single step, arriving beside the Merman Clan.

This man was human, but his complexion and appearance did not resemble those of Divine Continent Star cultivators; he seemed more like a human from a different race.

”Luo Gang...” Xu Hei squinted his eyes.

He was well aware of the enemy’s intelligence, including information about Luo Gang.

Luo Gang rarely took action, usually providing cover during retreats, more like a figurehead.

After all, as an outsider, he couldn’t possibly burn his primordial spirit and fight desperately. Given Sea Star’s current weakened state, it was already commendable that Luo Gang hadn’t fled.

Behind Luo Gang stood a man in black, his eyes blood-red, carrying a blade wrapped in long cloth on his back, exuding a fierce aura, his cultivation seemingly at the peak of the Elemental Infant stage.

”Brother Luo, who might this be?” Gong Jiang hesitated.

”This is my disciple, invincible within the Elemental Infant stage,” Luo Gang said calmly.

”That’s excellent!” Gong Jiang nodded.

Everyone had arrived.

Gong Jiang stepped forward, staring at Xu Hei, and loudly declared, ”Xu Hei, you’ve occupied the Northern Continent and expanded recklessly, angering the Water God. I represent the Water God’s will to challenge you. Do you dare to accept?”

”Enough with the nonsense!” Daoist Sparrow glanced at him and said, ”How do you want to fight?”

”The usual way!”

Gong Jiang waved his hand.

From the sea emerged a merman with thick arms, wielding two meteor hammers, with a blue face and sharp teeth. With each breath, the sound of the sea waves could be heard, exuding a fierce and imposing aura.

It was Jiang Batian, the top Chosen of the Sea Lion Clan and one of the Divine Transformation seeds.

”Elemental Infant stage, one-on-one. The first to lose five matches loses! Xu Hei, if you lose, return the Northern Continent, leave Sea Star, and never set foot here again!” Gong Jiang said coldly.

For three years, the two stars had clashed countless times, mostly in Elemental Infant stage skirmishes, with Divine Transformations observing.

The one-on-one Elemental Infant stage battles were the least costly way.

Daoist Sparrow didn’t speak but looked at Xu Hei. The challenge was directed at Xu Hei, so his opinion was needed.

Xu Hei understood and nodded, ”Alright, as you say. But if you lose, what then?”

”If I lose, the Northern Continent will be ceded to you, and we will never invade,” Gong Jiang replied.

Xu Hei shook his head at this, ”What use do I have for this barren land?”

Everyone was taken aback by his words.

”This place is useless to me. If I win, give me ten Supreme Spirit Stones, and I want to explore the forbidden lands of the gods one by one,” Xu Hei said.

Gong Jiang’s eyes widened, ”The Spirit Stones are fine, but the forbidden lands of the gods are off-limits!”

Xu Hei wanted the Spirit Stones to nurture his insects and the forbidden lands to absorb more Law power.

Since the other party disagreed, Xu Hei said, ”Then I’ll change my condition. How about a drop of ancient emperor’s blood? That’s not too much, is it?”

The value of ancient emperor’s blood couldn’t be measured by Spirit Stones, and Xu Hei planned to use it to advance Ji Ying.

The Merman Clan quickly discussed among themselves.

Moments later, Gong Jiang said, ”Agreed, but if you lose, you must compensate with twenty Supreme Spirit Stones!”

”Deal!” Daoist Sparrow agreed on Xu Hei’s behalf, ”The sect has plenty of Supreme Spirit Stones in stock, Xu Hei, go ahead!”

Xu Hei nodded.

”Roar!”

Jiang Batian swung his meteor hammers and roared to the sky, ”I’ll take the lead. Who dares to fight?”

He had fought on Divine Continent Star before, known for his brutal nature and infamous reputation, with over a thousand human cultivators perishing at his hands. In the last battle, he won two consecutive matches and withdrew successfully, gaining some fame.

”Who is willing to step forward?”

Xu Hei looked at the cultivators below.

”Senior, let me go!”

A burly man stepped forward, named Gao Sheng, the strongest on the Northern Continent, a body refinement cultivator and an Earth God follower.

Though he hadn’t reached Divine Transformation, he had comprehended a trace of the Earth Law and could even perform a first-turn Divine Ability. During Xu Hei’s land creation, he had observed closely, showing great insight, and Xu Hei had even guided him.

Strictly speaking, Gao Sheng was half a disciple of Xu Hei.

”Alright, no need to feel too pressured,” Xu Hei nodded.

”Yes!”

Gao Sheng nodded heavily and stepped out from the crowd.

As he moved, a layer of brown crystal appeared on his body, the Earth God’s Divine Ability, Rock Crystal Protection.

Though far inferior to Xu Hei’s, it already had the defensive power of a half-step Divine Transformation.

In his palm appeared a great seal, a Magical Treasure he had refined throughout his life, the Taishan Seal.

”Oh? A lowly native of the Northern Continent dares to challenge me? Truly bold.”

Jiang Batian licked his lips excitedly. He knew Gao Sheng, the strongest native of the Northern Continent, how could he not?

Gao Sheng remained silent, a flash of ferocity and deeply hidden hatred in his eyes.