Word Count: 2,514 Words
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Xiao Yan gave a wry smile and shook his head. "Does Elder know how the other factions' teams are faring?"
"Some of the major factions should already be nearing the Ancient Region Stage," the Flower Sect elder replied. "That place is a special sacrificial altar left behind from ancient times. Most ferocious beasts avoid it, so it counts as a relatively safe zone within the Ancient Wasteland Region."
Yun Yun added softly from the side, "But from here, we're still nearly two days away."
'The Ancient Region Stage, huh...'
A thoughtful look entered Xiao Yan's eyes. They had only just stepped into the Ancient Wasteland Region. The distance to its central area remained vast.
More importantly, their current strength alone made successfully obtaining the Bodhisattva Heart clearly impossible. Reaching the deepest parts of the Ancient Wasteland Region meant crossing through countless ferocious beasts' territories and inevitably triggering massive beast tides.
Wherever heavenly treasures existed, powerful guardians always lurked nearby. The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree ranked among the world's most extraordinary wonders. The beasts protecting it would possess utterly terrifying strength. Even if Xiao Yan had the power to seize it, he would still need to guard against ambushes from other factions.
His eyes narrowed slightly before he said softly. "Then for the journey ahead, why don't we travel together? If we combine our groups, our overall strength will be greater, and we can help each other when trouble arises."
Whatever forces awaited at the Ancient Region Stage, Xiao Yan had to reach that place first. Relying solely on their small group wouldn't accomplish much.
Yun Yun clearly hesitated. With the Flower Sect's strength, their group reaching the Ancient Region Stage wouldn't have been too difficult. If not for the Profound Sky Sect's ambush, they might even have arrived before Xiao Yan's team.
Beyond that, she wanted to create opportunities for Nalan Yanran to spend more time alone with Xiao Yan. That had always been her nature—not an act, but genuine kindness willing to sacrifice her own happiness for her disciple's sake.
Xiao Yan noticed her reluctance and shifted his gaze to Nalan Yanran. His eyes tightened slightly in a silent hint.
You're really pushing it now! Nalan Yanran bristled inwardly.
She might not have liked the feeling of following his lead, but she also wanted to stay with Yun Yun. She lowered her voice. "Master, you've seen how dangerous this place has been these past days. The Flower Sect elders are all injured to varying degrees. Why don't we travel together?"
Xiao Yan silently gave Nalan Yanran a mental thumbs up. Good little maidservant. I'll reward you with a pill when we get back.
Since Yun Shan's death, aside from the special existence that was Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran was Yun Yun's only remaining family in this world.
"Sigh... very well." Yun Yun relented at last. She still doted on Nalan Yanran as much as ever. Of course, perhaps a small part of her heart also wanted to travel together.
"We'll head east from here. The western route is a little shorter, but the main path there is occupied by an Ancient Heaven Demon Python whose combat strength rivals a peak Five-Change Dou Venerate. If we try to pass through, we'll inevitably provoke it," Yun Yun explained.
"Ancient Heaven Demon Python?"
"Mm. We encountered it once and barely escaped. It's extremely powerful."
Xiao Yan blinked. This was an extremely rare mutated snake-type ferocious beast, even more vicious than the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python. The species had long since gone extinct in the outside world; he had never expected to find one here.
But what truly stunned him wasn't its rarity or strength; it was his luck. Was it really this good?!
The wild joy blazing in his eyes made Yun Yun suddenly remember something. She glanced at Qing Lin with a rueful smile. "I'd forgotten, but can the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils control an Ancient Heaven Demon Python? Its ancient bloodline is fairly strong."
"Young Master Xiao Yan, Qing Lin can try." After enslaving the peak Rank 8 Hai Yuanlong and several members of the Flood Serpent Tribe, Qing Lin's cultivation had risen another star to reach 5-star Dou Venerate. The more snake slaves she commanded, the faster her cultivation grew!
And this Ancient Heaven Demon Python possessed a blood pool that could be used for body tempering as well!
"Good. Let's see what makes this dominating Ancient Heaven Demon Python so impressive." A smile spread across Xiao Yan's face. Qing Lin was another step closer to building her super army!
He had missed capturing the Flood Serpent Demon Venerate. This Ancient Heaven Demon Python absolutely could not slip away.
The Flower Sect elders were somewhat surprised, but Xiao Yan was a Two-Change Dou Venerate, and the other Yan Alliance members all possessed unfathomable strength. That helped put them at ease.
"Since you insist, I'll lead the way." Yun Yun gave a slight nod. She already regretted mentioning the Ancient Heaven Demon Python. While everyone else detoured around such a beast, this fellow insisted on charging straight toward it.
Just as she prepared to set out, Xiao Yan's heart suddenly stirred. A familiar fluctuation brushed across his senses.
Oh ho, the little phoenix has arrived too.
The Ancient Wasteland Region's primordial aura had greatly weakened his perception through the Asura Slave Seal. If Feng Qing Er weren't approaching in this direction, he wouldn't have sensed her at all.
Xiao Yan swept his gaze around. Good heavens, the whole gang really is about to be reunited!
He kept his expression neutral, betraying nothing, and followed Yun Yun toward the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's lair. This wasn't the right time to deal with the Asura Slave Seal, and by the feel of it, Feng Qing Er's target was also the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree. She was heading toward that ancient altar.
'That girl probably wants the Bodhisattva Heart so she can use the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree's power to wash away the Asura Slave Seal.' Xiao Yan chuckled inwardly. The more he considered it, the more likely it seemed. That bird truly couldn't be tamed.
Of course, he had never actually tried to tame her. If anything, he'd just kept tormenting the poor little phoenix.
The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree was famed as the Tree of Wisdom. One could achieve enlightenment beneath its branches, and even its Bodhisattva Body Transformation Saliva possessed the power to cleanse meridians and marrow. It worked even on the Woeful Poison Body. Maybe it really could wash away her seal.
'Trying to compete with me for the Bodhisattva Heart? Hehe, this girl's grown bold. I'll have a "surprise" ready for her when the time comes.'
Without revealing his thoughts, Xiao Yan continued toward the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's lair. The Bodhisattva Ancient Tree could wait. First, he would deal with this beast.
…
Within the body of an extremely steep mountain, streams of black mist seeped continuously outward, shrouding the sky for several hundred meters in every direction. No ferocious beast dared set foot within this range, for this was the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's domain!
The Ancient Heaven Demon Python was an extremely rare mutated ferocious beast. Though it carried neither the Ancient Heaven Serpent's nor the Heaven Swallowing Python's bloodline, its own lineage was extraordinarily remarkable, a mutated bloodline of terrifying potential.
Legend held that in the primordial era, the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's ancestor might have become the progenitor of all serpents, but had ultimately lost to the Serpent Mother. The remaining Heaven Demon Pythons were exiled to these remote regions, forever barred from the Beast Region.
The Ancient Heaven Demon Python possessed a unique trait: a Heaven Demon Blood Pool it spent centuries accumulating within its lair!
Over hundreds or even thousands of years, the Ancient Heaven Demon Python would scour the land for heavenly treasures rich in pure energy and cast them into the pool. The condensed energy eventually reached a terrifying level. An ordinary person entering it would explode on the spot from that violent power. Only the python's descendants could withstand such concentrated energy.
The blood pool's power was so savage it would corrode even common magical beasts down to bare bone.
Of course, for those who could endure it, the blood pool represented a tremendous opportunity. Even bloodline reversion wasn't out of the question.
Hiss hiss!!
The instant it sensed Xiao Yan's arrival, the massive Ancient Heaven Demon Python rose into view. Its thousand-meter-long black body towered before everyone like a dragon made flesh, its sheer presence devastating to the senses.
"Hmph!" Xiao Yan immediately activated the Vajra Glass Body and Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor. His fist hammered into the python's body. The Ancient Heaven Demon Python shrieked and lashed its enormous tail in retaliation.
BOOM!!
The two forces collided. To Xiao Yan's surprise, he was the one knocked backward!
"What incredible physical strength!"
Though the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's cultivation only matched a Five-Change Dou Venerate's, its raw bodily power was terrifying. Its overall strength probably wasn't inferior to even Tian He Zi's.
Cai Lin and Little Fairy Doctor immediately sprang into action when they saw Xiao Yan had suffered a small loss.
Cai Lin's delicate body shot into the clouds. Seven-colored light surged and rolled as she transformed into her true form. A Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python no smaller than the Ancient Heaven Demon Python emerged within the cloud layer. Invisible pressure spread outward in waves, making even the Heaven Demon Python's ferocious aura falter.
Hiss hiss hiss!!
Rumble!!
Cai Lin shrieked down at the Ancient Heaven Demon Python below. A bolt of seven-colored Heavenly Lightning thick as a river crashed earthward.
The terrifying thunderbolt struck the airborne Ancient Heaven Demon Python head-on and blasted it toward the ground. Seven-colored lightning shattered its scales as massive gouts of blood sprayed forth. Where the blood splashed, the mountain rocks hissed and smoked, rapidly corroding away.
Little Fairy Doctor showed no mercy either. She instantly condensed the Woeful Demon Poison Claw. Woeful poison fire transformed into a giant hand as her One-Change Dou Venerate cultivation erupted. The poison-fire hand slammed down, pinning the Ancient Heaven Demon Python to the ground like the Five Finger Mountain that had once imprisoned the Monkey King.
Xiao Yan transformed into a towering golden glass giant clad in ancient armor. Both hands clamped around the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's massive tail and locked tight.
Suppressed by Heavenly Lightning, pinned by the poison‑fire hand, and with Xiao Yan gripping its tail, even the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's formidable physical body couldn't break free.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The Ancient Heaven Demon Python erupted with its ancient bloodline and released furious cries. Its body thrashed continuously like an earth dragon turning over. The ground shook, the mountain range trembled, and deep fissures split the land.
"Yanran, use the Covering Sun Cloud Formation." Yun Yun's voice rang out when she saw the python continue to struggle.
"Yes, Master!" Nalan Yanran stowed her Psychic White Fox and drew the Cloud Slaying Black Sword. Master and disciple formed hand seals together and pointed their swords skyward. A massive formation instantly took shape.
Wisps of cloud mist coiled around the Ancient Heaven Demon Python like chains. Venerable Tian Huo and the others moved as well, reinforcing the suppression.
Killing the Ancient Heaven Demon Python wouldn't be difficult, but capturing it alive was another matter entirely. Following his principle of never wasting resources, Xiao Yan naturally chose to take it alive.
"Qing Lin! Now!" The Vajra-bodied Xiao Yan's voice boomed out. Qing Lin, who had been awaiting his command, stepped out from the void and stood before the pinned Ancient Heaven Demon Python.
With a clear chime, Qing Lin's eyes snapped open. Three green flowers bloomed within her emerald pupils as eerie green light erupted from the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
"Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, activate!"
As her voice fell, a massive Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupil manifested on the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's forehead. The instant the python glimpsed it, terror and trembling surged from the depths of its soul.
The three green flowers spun rapidly. A numbing sensation originating from deep within its spirit caused the python's taut body to gradually relax. The killing intent and violence in its blood-red eyes rapidly weakened.
Hiss hiss hiss!!!
The Ancient Heaven Demon Python knew it absolutely couldn't let this feeling invade. It began burning its bloodline, erupting into its most powerful state. The instant its bloodline ignited, its cultivation suddenly soared!
"So strong!" Xiao Yan grit his teeth. An incredibly powerful force surged against his grip. He was starting to lose his hold!
Ancient magical beasts truly couldn't be underestimated! This Ancient Heaven Demon Python's bloodline strength had probably reached the Ancient Heaven Serpent's level. Any ferocious beast capable of claiming territory in the Ancient Wasteland Region naturally possessed considerable ability.
Waves of terrifying black mist poured continuously from within the python as it struggled frantically.
'This beast really isn't easy to deal with!'
Xiao Yan's heart lurched when he realized the Ancient Heaven Demon Python was actually resisting the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils through sheer willpower. He immediately punched out, and a torrent of Heavenly Flame surged forth, rapidly wrapping around the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's body and evaporating the black mist.
"Suppress it!"
Qing Lin fiercely bit the tip of her tongue and spat out essence blood when she noticed Xiao Yan's slipping grip. She formed a new hand seal, and a third Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupil appeared on her forehead.
Her hands unfolded rapidly like blooming lotus petals, weaving an intricate series of mysterious seals. As the hand seals took shape, an extremely deep roar faintly rumbled out from within her body!
When that roar, laden with ancient pressure, rang out, the space behind Qing Lin twisted. A colossal snake-shaped phantom stretching a full ten thousand feet materialized directly from the distortion. An extremely ancient aura poured off the illusory figure, and it actually possessed nine identical snake heads.
It was precisely the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent Xiao Yan had witnessed before!
The instant this illusory Nine‑Headed Heaven Serpent appeared, the frantically struggling Ancient Heaven Demon Python's massive body shuddered. Its pupils finally revealed intense fear. Even this exceptionally fierce and violent Heaven Demon Python felt a trembling terror it couldn't suppress.
Because the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent was the true progenitor of all mutated serpents, a super ferocious beast among ferocious beasts!
"Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Demon Eye—open!"
BUZZ!!
With the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent soul's assistance, the Ancient Heaven Demon Python could no longer resist and was completely enslaved by Qing Lin. Xiao Yan and the others released their suppression the moment they sensed the python had stopped struggling.
Then, a sudden change erupted!
The instant Xiao Yan let go, the Ancient Heaven Demon Python's tail whipped viciously into his abdomen. A wet cough burst from his throat as blood sprayed from his mouth.
"Xiao Yan!!"
The soul body of the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had not returned to Qing Lin's body!