Serpent Ancestor

”Are you the renowned Fellow Daoist Xu, who defeated Hei Xuan and the Western Mountain Three Bandits? I’ve admired you for a long time, and meeting you today, you truly have an extraordinary presence.”

The woman in green looked at Xu Hei with admiration in her eyes.

Though she appeared to be in the late Divine Power stage, she gave Xu Hei a very dangerous feeling. Since arriving at Dark Star, this was the first time Xu Hei had such an instinctive perception.

Neither Ao De nor Chi Lian, both in the late Divine Power stage, posed as much danger as the woman in green before him.

Xu Hei clasped his hands and asked, ”May I know who you are?”

”I am Qing Shuang, a simple wood spirit from the Wood Spirit Clan. I came here just to meet a talent like Fellow Daoist Xu, nothing more,” Qing Shuang said with a gentle smile.

Ao De laughed heartily, ”Haha, the wood spirits of the Wood Spirit Clan are known for their high standards. We usually don’t get a chance to associate with them. It’s only because of Brother Xu that we’re graced with their presence today. We’re truly fortunate!”

Everyone joined in the laughter.

Xu Hei, however, remained standing, not even approaching the table.

Seeing this, Qing Shuang stood up, walked over to Xu Hei, and took out a leaf-shaped token. ”Fellow Daoist Xu, this is a VIP token for Qinglin Tower. With it, you can enjoy a 20% discount on all expenses there. Consider it a gift.”The moment everyone saw the token, they were stunned.

Qing Shuang actually had a VIP token and casually gave it away. It was something other races could only dream of obtaining.

Xu Hei did not accept it, simply saying, ”Daoist Qing Shuang, you are too kind. Today, someone else is treating us, so there’s no need for a discount.”

His words left the previously noisy crowd in silence.

Even Qing Shuang was taken aback, not expecting such a reaction from Xu Hei.

After a long silence, Xu Hei sighed and clasped his hands, ”Daoist Qing Shuang, you should know that I’ve been ambushed several times on my journey and am now as skittish as a startled bird. I came to this banquet because of the life-and-death bond with the two families, and I really don’t want any contact with outsiders.”

Xu Hei was essentially issuing a polite dismissal.

In Dark Star, the Wood Spirit Clan monopolized the fertile lands of the extreme north, and no one dared to oppose them, showing their immense strength, far beyond that of the Stone Spirit Clan.

Without any prior contact with the wood spirits, Xu Hei was unwilling to face such unknown risks.

Qing Shuang was silent for a moment before smiling wryly, ”In that case, I was indeed presumptuous. But I understand.”

”Since that’s the case, I won’t disturb your enjoyment any longer. Farewell!”

She put away the token, bowed to everyone, and headed towards the door.

Xu Hei stepped aside to let her pass.

As she walked past Xu Hei, she paused and whispered, ”Your caution is admirable. However, someone did intend to harm you today, but I refused them. If you wish to lure out the mastermind, you can come to the top floor of Qinglin Tower tomorrow to find me.”

With that, she left the room and disappeared.

Hearing this, Xu Hei stood in place, deep in thought.

…………

The banquet continued late into the night.

Everyone drank until they were thoroughly drunk before staggering out of Qinglin Tower.

It was the first time Xu Hei had seen such powerful beings, comparable to Divine Transformation stage cultivators, get so inebriated.

Throughout his journey, Xu Hei observed that the Stone Spirit Clan was not much different from ordinary low-level cultivators, except for their strong physical bodies.

It was as if a group of ordinary people suddenly gained Divine Transformation stage power.

Perhaps this was what pure body cultivation was like, closer to mortals.

And the anticipated assassination never occurred, as if the hidden danger had indeed been cleared as Qing Shuang had said.

The cultivators of the Oli family and Yan Feng were also drunk, posing no threat to Xu Hei anymore. After today, they would all leave, rendering any internal traitor meaningless.

”Fellow Daoist Xu, after today, we must part ways.”

Yan Feng, though swaying, spoke clearly.

Xu Hei glanced at Yan Feng and suddenly felt compelled to ask, ”Fellow Daoist Yan, on your journey, your clan suffered heavy casualties, and I took seventy percent of your spirit sand. Do you harbor any resentment?”

Yan Feng shook his head, ”Our Yan family has had its ups and downs, experiencing a thousand years of rise and fall. We’ve faced worse. As long as we have the bodies of our clansmen and this spirit sand, we can nurture a new batch of Divine Power stage members.”

”As long as our Divine Power stage members continue, our Yan family will not decline.”

”Today’s setback will mean nothing ten or thirty years from now.”

Yan Feng forced a smile.

Xu Hei remained silent for a long time, then took out a jade slip and inscribed many earth-based divine abilities, inherited from the Earth God.

He handed the jade slip to Yan Feng.

”Fellow Daoist Xu, this is…” Yan Feng said in surprise.

”Some divine ability secrets,” Xu Hei said calmly. ”I took seventy percent of your Yan family’s spirit sand without offering equivalent benefits, causing you heavy losses. Consider this a small compensation.”

Xu Hei didn’t know why he suddenly felt a twinge of compassion.

Most of the spirit stones he had came from Yan Feng, and what he did was just a small gesture, costing him nothing.

Yan Feng’s drunkenness vanished instantly, and his body trembled uncontrollably.

He understood that the Chi family’s strength came from alien cultivators who bestowed many divine abilities and magical treasures, making them so powerful.

”Brother Xu, I…” Yan Feng hesitated.

Xu Hei smiled, ”If you don’t want to say something, then don’t. Brother Yan, after today, I hope we meet again someday.”

Before leaving, he took out a fifth-tier magical treasure he no longer used, which belonged to a Blood Refining Sect elder, and gifted it to Yan Feng.

Then, Xu Hei turned and left.

After Xu Hei departed, Yan Feng stood there for a long time, clenching his fists, a determined look in his eyes.

…………

The next day.

Xu Hei sat cross-legged in his cave dwelling, the spiritual qi within him compressing and expanding, his physical body swelling and contracting like a balloon.

During this process, the density and purity of the spiritual qi increased, and when it reached a limit, it began to merge with Xu Hei’s flesh, compressing and strengthening every inch of his skin and flesh to be as hard as metal and stone.

This was the Diamond Suppression Technique, the secret of the White Emperor’s scripture.

However, the spiritual qi required for strengthening was like a bottomless pit.

After a long time, Xu Hei slowly opened his eyes.

His skin shimmered with a golden hue, which quickly faded away.

”Finally reached the fourth level!” Xu Hei exhaled.

The fourth level of the White Emperor’s scripture was just a foundation. Only at the fifth level would there be a qualitative change.

By then, Xu Hei’s physical body would rival that of the Stone Spirit Clan.

Judging by the time, the Oli and Yan families should have left.

Xu Hei didn’t plan to return. Being alone, since he had come to such a good place as the Wood Spirit Clan, he needed to find a way to settle down permanently.

Therefore, the message Qing Shuang gave him yesterday was something he had to consider.