Serpent Ancestor

Seeing Qing Shuang’s furious expression, it was clear she was genuinely angry.

From the moment they appeared, they were surrounded by people from the Thorn lineage, with none of their own around, showing just how dire the situation was.

”Splurt!”

Everyone spat out green liquid, their bodies withered, leaves turned yellow, losing moisture. Except for the strongest, Qing Hua, who could barely hold on, the others were severely injured and on the brink of death.

Among them, three at the mid Divine Power stage had almost half of their physical bodies vanish, on the verge of falling.

”Stop right there!”

A sudden, thunderous roar echoed from afar, shattering the golden light in an instant.

The ground was covered with thorns, each spike towering a hundred feet high, like a forest of giant spikes, rising from the earth. A phantom face appeared in the sky, glaring angrily at Qing Shuang.

”Thorn King!”

Xu Hei slightly sensed the powerful aura and immediately knew who had arrived.Judging from the fact that this person shattered the Golden Lotus light shield with a single strike, the Thorn King’s strength was stronger than expected, worthy of being half a step into Void Shattering.

Qing Shuang stared at the Thorn King, her eyes showing no fear.

Qing Hua, as if grabbing a lifeline, hurriedly shouted, ”Grand Elder, Qing Shuang is resisting enforcement, harboring criminals, and even wants to kill our enforcement team. Please act immediately and bring this villain to justice!”

Then, she glared viciously at Qing Shuang and Xu Hei beside her.

The Thorn King said nothing, his gaze assessing the golden lotus on Qing Shuang’s forehead, then looking at the disheveled crowd, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes, as if he had guessed something.

”Qing Shuang, do you know what you were just doing?” the Thorn King asked calmly.

”Of course I know,” Qing Shuang replied with a cold smile.

Seeing her so composed, everyone was stunned. Facing the Thorn King, how could she remain so calm? Where did this woman get her confidence?

The Thorn King nodded slightly and said, ”Good, it seems you’ve obtained that item, no wonder you’re so fearless.”

”Now, come to the Enforcement Hall immediately. Since you’re the new clan leader, there must be a succession ceremony.”

The Thorn King’s tone was calm.

But his words were like a bolt from the blue, causing everyone’s hearts to tremble violently, leaving them dumbfounded.

What did he say? Clan leader succession ceremony?

Could it be that Qing Shuang had obtained the clan leader’s seal?

No wonder the Thorn King had been paying attention to this place and had even sent additional personnel. So there was such a secret.

Hearing this, Xu Hei’s lips curled into a cold smile.

The Thorn King compromised quite quickly, but did he really compromise? This person was clearly up to some scheme, but did Qing Shuang see through it?

”Alright!” Qing Shuang nodded without hesitation and then said, ”But before that, I have some matters to attend to.”

”Oh? What matters?” the Thorn King asked in surprise.

”Of course, it’s them!” Qing Shuang looked at the people before her and said, ”Attempting to assassinate the clan leader, according to the Wood Spirit Clan’s laws, what is the punishment?”

At this moment, she showed a rare domineering side, actually wanting to hold them accountable.

The group led by Qing Hua turned pale.

The Thorn King frowned and said, ”Qing Shuang, you haven’t officially succeeded yet. Handling them now isn’t according to the rules.”

After he finished speaking, a water ripple mirror appeared in the sky, reflecting the situation here.

This was the Thorn King’s Reflecting Sky Mirror! It could project everything happening here onto the central sky of the Wood Spirit Clan, allowing all clan members to witness it.

If Qing Shuang killed this group, it would mean her actions would be witnessed by everyone.

Moreover, Xu Hei, an outsider, was standing beside Qing Shuang.

At that time, whatever crime the Thorn King wanted to pin on her, it would be a matter of a single sentence, and there would be no way to refute it.

She would immediately lose the people’s support and be questioned by all clan members.

”Elder Thorn, what a brilliant move, I must say,” Qing Shuang said with a frosty expression. This person was truly shameless.

Xu Hei had remained silent, but it was his first time witnessing such a tactic.

The Reflecting Sky Mirror, he had heard Qing Shuang mention it before, was a recorder used by the highest enforcers. It was only used to convict important figures, and under everyone’s witness, even if the Grand Elder made a mistake, there would be no denying it.

However, if used properly, it could also be manipulated to cut and twist the truth, turning black into white.

For instance, just now, the Wood Spirit Clan members didn’t know the cause and effect, only that this group of enforcers was severely injured, while Qing Shuang and Xu Hei stood together.

”Qing Shuang, I haven’t activated the Reflecting Sky Mirror, so your actions haven’t been discovered by others, but I can’t guarantee that for what’s next,” the Thorn King said calmly.

He had seen through Qing Shuang’s desire to become the clan leader, not only to become one but to do so openly and with the people’s support. Only then would she be a true clan leader, wielding great power, with no one defying her.

Therefore, she couldn’t leave any stains on her record.

Because he saw through her intentions, the Thorn King could implement his countermeasures, precisely grasping her.

”Come to the Enforcement Hall! When you succeed as clan leader, I will use this mirror to let all clan members witness it, making you the true clan leader of the Wood Spirit Clan. You can also introduce your friend to everyone, so he can have a place to stand,” the Thorn King said.

At this moment, Qing Shuang didn’t respond but looked at Xu Hei.

”Let’s return to the clan first, we’ll discuss the rest later,” Xu Hei transmitted.

”Alright!”

Qing Shuang nodded and headed towards the Wood Spirit Clan.

Sometimes, relying solely on strength can’t solve all problems. She thought that obtaining the inheritance of Lotus True Monarch, having the clan leader’s seal, and with Xu Hei’s assistance, everything should fall into place.

But now it seemed that the Thorn King and these old men had very sophisticated methods, and compared to them, she was still too inexperienced.

She had plans, and so did they, perhaps even anticipating her appearance and having countermeasures ready.

The only element outside their calculations was probably Xu Hei.

Xu Hei followed leisurely behind.

The Thorn King held up the mirror until the two walked away, then put it away.

”You six, disappear immediately, the farther the better!” the Thorn King said sternly.

”Yes!”

Qing Hua and the others didn’t dare to delay, leaping and disappearing from the spot.

The giant spikes on the ground retracted, and the Thorn King stared at the distant Qing Shuang, his gaze slightly heavy.

”Heh, Thorn King, facing a thorny issue?”

Suddenly, a cold laugh sounded in his ear.

”Indeed, it’s quite thorny, but if handled properly, it’s also an opportunity, a great opportunity for both you and me,” the Thorn King said.

”Oh? Is that so?”

The person’s tone rose a few notches.

As beings of the Wood Spirit Clan who had lived for tens of thousands of years, their cultivation had long reached a bottleneck. What could possibly be considered a great opportunity for them?

Magical treasures? Divine abilities? Resources? Do these matter to them?

”Hmph, although the opponent is not to be underestimated, this matter requires meticulous planning, no room for error,” the Thorn King said solemnly.

…………

About the time of a stick of incense later.

At this moment, Qing Hua and the others were hiding in an underground pool, healing and absorbing nutrients from the pool.

Their withered leaves were turning green, and their trunks were slowly growing.

Although they didn’t know why the Thorn King told them to hide, they still followed his instructions.