Serpent Ancestor

One hour ago.

Deep within Wu Mountain, in the Demon Clan’s territory.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds, the air heavy with a sinister aura. The ground had turned black, exuding a dense black fog that enveloped the entire mountain range, creating an eerie atmosphere.

This mountain range was home to several Demon Clans, all trapped within the black fog, unable to escape.

Within the black fog, a group of black-robed cultivators stood. Their faces were pale, bodies emaciated, and their eyes flickered with a sinister light, extremely eerie.

”Hehe, Junior Brother Ji Yin, these Demon Clans are not found on Ming Star. If we take them back, they will surely fetch a high price!”

An old man, thin and withered, looked at a group of wolf clans in the valley, a wicked smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

”Of course, Junior Brother knows, but with the two stars having reached a cooperation agreement, is our current action appropriate?”

The ghostly middle-aged man beside him hesitated.

”They’re just beasts, no one will notice if a few go missing. Besides, Wu Mountain is perpetually covered in dark clouds and heavy with yin energy, perfect for our Ghost Nether Sect’s cultivation. The Sect Master is already considering buying this place. Since it will eventually be our territory, why not capture some spirit beasts in advance?” The withered old man chuckled sinisterly.

With a signal from the old man, the Ghost Nether Sect cultivators beside him immediately sprang into action, deploying restrictions and charging into the ghostly fog to capture the demonic beasts.

Most of the demonic beasts in Wu Mountain were at the Core Formation Stage, with some just entering the Nascent Soul stage, their foundations still shallow, no match for these alien cultivators.

In just one hour, more than half had been captured.

Only the strongest Wild Giant Elephant Tribe continued to resist stubbornly.

The withered old man led the way to the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe’s territory, raising his hand to summon a swarm of skeletal ghost shadows that trapped three mid-stage Elemental Infant elders of the tribe, immediately binding them to the ground.

These three elders, having reached the mid-stage Elemental Infant, had formidable physical bodies and could still resist against late-stage Elemental Infant cultivators.

However, the Ghost Nether Sect’s expertise in ghost control techniques specifically countered these physically powerful demons.

”Haha, these Wild Giant Elephants, long extinct on Ming Star, who would have thought there are still so many on Divine Continent Star! They are perfect materials for refining Nether Mammoths, sure to sell for a fortune!” The withered old man laughed heartily.

”The Sect Master of the Ancient Tomb Sect possesses a Nether Mammoth, capable of breaking through a fifth-tier formation with its physical body!” The ghostly middle-aged man beside him exclaimed excitedly.

The two Wild Giant Elephant elders, trapped, glared at the crowd, gritting their teeth, ”Who are you? There are no cultivators like you in Central Divine Continent!”

”Central Divine Continent?” The withered old man’s eyebrow arched, sneering, ”You have a keen eye! Not just Central Divine Continent, but the entire Divine Continent Star can’t find anyone like us!”

Ghost Nether Sect, one of the five major sects on Ming Star.

However, it was merely a vassal sect of the Ancient Tomb Sect, only hoping to pick up some leftovers.

”Take action!”

The withered old man waved his hand, and the group quickly moved forward to capture.

Facing the capture by this group of cultivators, the Wild Giant Elephant Tribe had no power to resist and were all taken into storage stones.

”Rip!”

Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.

The black clouds in the sky split apart as if torn by an invisible giant hand, sunlight pouring down, illuminating everyone’s faces.

The last three Wild Giant Elephants were about to be captured when the Ghost Nether Sect cultivators were startled, quickly halting and retreating, looking up at the sky.

A figure in white robes stood on the clouds, looking down at them from above.

”This is...” The crowd was filled with uncertainty and suspicion.

The withered old man’s face changed dramatically, hurriedly cupping his fists, ”Junior Ghost Nether Sect’s Third Elder, Xuan Yin Zi, pays respects to Senior!”

”Junior Ghost Nether Sect’s Fifth Elder, Ji Yin Zi, pays respects to Senior!” The ghostly middle-aged man also hurriedly bowed.

”Paying respects to Senior!”

Everyone half-knelt, their hearts pounding with anxiety.

Xu Hei’s expression was calm as he glanced over the numerous Ghost Nether Sect cultivators below and the remaining three Wild Giant Elephants, his thoughts unknown to anyone.

Among the three Wild Giant Elephants, one mid-stage Elemental Infant elder’s heart trembled upon seeing Xu Hei, but he said nothing.

Xu Hei raised his hand, and several storage stones flew out from the Ghost Nether Sect’s sleeves, landing in Xu Hei’s hand.

”This...”

Ji Yin Zi’s face changed, seemingly wanting to say something, but was stopped by Xuan Yin Zi, signaling him to remain silent.

Xu Hei opened the storage stones, and figures quickly emerged, falling into the valley.

Wolf Clan, Lion Clan, Ape Clan, Ox Clan... numerous Demon Clans from the Wu Mountain Range appeared one after another, densely packed, filling the mountain tops.

Most were on the brink of death, severely injured, entangled by ghostly energy, with thirty percent already reduced to blackened corpses.

”We’re actually out?”

”Saved?”

The surviving demonic beasts immediately surveyed their surroundings. Upon seeing the kneeling Ghost Nether Sect cultivators and the white-robed cultivator in the sky, they vaguely guessed something, all bowing their heads, not daring to make a sound.

Among them, a black-and-white wolfhound glanced at Xu Hei, its pupils contracting, eyes wide.

”Ancestor, what’s wrong?” The clan leader of the Wolf Clan asked softly.

”Nothing, maybe my eyes are playing tricks on me.” The black-and-white wolfhound shook its head.

Before long, all the demonic beasts were released.

Seeing their deceased companions, the demonic beasts were filled with rage, but they had long been corroded by ghostly energy, terrified, all trembling with their heads down.

Xu Hei’s face showed no emotion as he looked at the storage stones in his hand. These stones were only palm-sized, entirely black, but their internal space was surprisingly large, far surpassing storage bags.

They were the rare Void Stones of Divine Continent Star.

As for the Ghost Nether Sect, Daoist Sparrow’s transmission had not mentioned them, but Xu Hei could guess a thing or two.

”You are cultivators from Ming Star?” Xu Hei asked coldly.

”Indeed.” Xuan Yin Zi nodded, ”Replying to Senior, we are here under the orders of the Ancient Tomb Sect to establish a trade outpost, with no intention of offense.”

He could vaguely sense that this senior’s mood seemed not too good.

”These Void Stones, are they a specialty of Ming Star?” Xu Hei asked again.

”Yes.” Xuan Yin Zi quickly replied, ”Ming Star has several meteorite mines, rich in Void Stones, so these stones are not considered precious on Ming Star. Consider them a gift to Senior.”

He had intended to sell some of the Void Stones on Divine Continent Star, but unexpectedly, they were taken by this mysterious person upon arrival.

But he dared not say anything, as this person was undoubtedly a legendary Divine Transformation expert.

Although the Ghost Nether Sect also had a Divine Transformation Ancestor, this ancestor had not come to Divine Continent Star; they were merely the advance party.

Subsequently, Xu Hei asked some other questions.

Xuan Yin Zi answered honestly, also stating that they captured these demonic beasts merely to sell them for profit, with no other intentions, and dared not oppose Divine Continent Star, claiming it was all a misunderstanding.

After all, the common demonic beasts of Divine Continent Star were long extinct on Ming Star, their value multiplied tenfold or even a hundredfold, prompting them to take the risk.

Seeing Xu Hei’s lack of response, Xuan Yin Zi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that mere mountain beasts were indeed insignificant.

A stick of incense later, Xu Hei nodded slightly, having obtained the information he wanted, and recorded it in a jade slip.

Then, Xu Hei declared loudly, ”Ghost Nether Sect, poaching the demonic beasts of my Divine Continent Star, has committed a grave crime, unforgivable, death!”

Xu Hei waved his hand, and a large amount of white substance surged from his sleeve, sweeping towards the crowd like a storm.