Chapter 545

Xiao Yan sighed bitterly and shook his head. "Does the Elder know how the other factions' teams are faring?"

"Some major factions should be nearing the Ancient Domain Altar—it's a special altar left over from ancient times, and fierce beasts generally avoid it, making it one of the safer zones in the Manhuang Ancient Domain."

Nearby, Yun Yun suddenly spoke up: "But we're still nearly two days' journey away from it."

"The Ancient Domain Altar…"

Xiao Yan's eyes darkened with thought—they had only just entered the Manhuang Ancient Domain, and the center was still an immense distance away.

Moreover, securing the Bodhi Heart with their own strength was clearly impossible; to reach the depths of the Manhuang Ancient Domain, they would have to pass through the territories of countless fierce beasts, triggering massive beast surges.

Any heavenly treasure is guarded by extraordinary beasts—how much more so this Bodhi Ancient Tree, one of the greatest treasures in the world? The guardian beast must be terrifyingly powerful; even if Xiao Yan could seize it, he'd still need to guard against ambushes from other factions.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes, then said softly: "Shall we travel together from now on? Combined, our forces are stronger, and we can help each other if trouble arises."

No matter how powerful the factions at the Ancient Domain Altar might be, Xiao Yan had to reach it first—otherwise, their own strength was far too weak to matter.

Hearing this, Yun Yun hesitated. With the Flower Sect's strength, reaching the Ancient Domain Altar posed little difficulty; had it not been for the Tianming Sect's ambush, she and her group might have arrived even before Xiao Yan's party.

Moreover, she hoped Nalan Yanran would have more private moments with Xiao Yan—she wanted to create opportunities for her. This was simply her nature; her kind heart would sacrifice her own happiness to ensure her disciple's well-being.

Seeing Yun Yun's hesitation, Xiao Yan turned his gaze to Nalan Yanran, his eyes sharpening as he fixed her with a look—clearly hinting at something.

Nalan Yanran pouted: "That's going too far!"

Though reluctant to follow Xiao Yan's orders, Nalan Yanran also wished to stay with Yun Yun, so she whispered: "Master, you've seen how dangerous the Manhuang Ancient Domain has been these past days. The Flower Sect elders are all injured to some degree—why not travel with us?"

Xiao Yan silently gave Nalan Yanran a thumbs-up: Good job, little Bi Nu—I'll reward you with an Elixir when we return.

Since Yun Shan's death, Yun Yun's only remaining family member in the world—besides Xiao Yan, that peculiar exception—was Nalan Yanran.

"Sigh… fine." Yun Yun, as always, indulged Nalan Yanran—though perhaps, deep down, she too wanted to travel with them.

"We'll head east. The western route is shorter, but the main path there is occupied by an 'Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake' whose combat power rivals a Five Revolving Dou Zun at peak. Passing through would surely awaken it," Yun Yun said.

"Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake?"

"Yes. We encountered it once—we barely escaped. Its strength is immense."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan froze. This was an extremely rare mutated serpent-type fierce beast; in ferocity, it surpassed even the Nine Underworld Spirit Python. But such creatures were vanishingly rare, long extinct in the outside world—yet here, one still existed.

Yet what stunned Xiao Yan wasn't the rarity or power of the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake—it was how lucky he was?!

Seeing the wild joy in Xiao Yan's eyes, Yun Yun suddenly remembered something and turned to Qing Lin, smiling wryly: "I forgot—can Qi San Hua Tong control the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake? It possesses a potent ancient bloodline."

"Young Master Yan, Qing Lin can try," said Qing Lin. After enslaving an Eight Rank Peak Hai Yuanlong and several Chi Snake Race members, her cultivation had risen a star—to Five Star Dou Zun. The more Snake Slaves she acquired, the faster her cultivation would grow!

And this Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's blood pool could also strengthen the body!

"Good. Let's see what's so special about this so-called ruler, the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake," Xiao Yan smiled. Qing Lin was one step closer to assembling her ultimate army!

They hadn't captured the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign—this Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake couldn't be missed.

Though the Flower Sect elders were surprised, Xiao Yan was a Two-Turn Dou Zun, and the Yan Alliance members' strengths were utterly inscrutable—this reassured them.

"Then I'll lead the way," Yun Yun said, nodding as Xiao Yan insisted. She already regretted telling him about the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake—everyone else avoided it; why did he charge straight toward it?

Just as Yun Yun prepared to set off, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a surge of familiar energy ripple through his heart.

Oh, the little phoenix has arrived.

Due to the primordial aura of the Manhuang Ancient Domain, Xiao Yan's Asura Slave Seal's perception had weakened; had Feng Qing'er'er not drawn near, he wouldn't have sensed her.

Xiao Yan glanced around—well, well, everything's coming together!

Xiao Yan feigned ignorance, following Yun Yun toward the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's lair. Now wasn't the time to deal with the Asura Slave Seal, and judging by her direction, Feng Qing'er'er's target was clearly the Bodhi Ancient Tree—she was heading for the altar too.

"That guy probably wants the Bodhi Heart, using the Bodhi Ancient Tree's power to cleanse the Asura Slave Seal," Xiao Yan chuckled. The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed—this bird was truly untrainable.

Of course, Xiao Yan hadn't raised her—he'd been tormenting the poor little phoenix all along.

The Bodhi Ancient Tree was called the Tree of Wisdom; beneath it, one could awaken the Dao. Even the Puti Huati Yan from the Bodhi Ancient Tree could cleanse meridians and marrow—effective even on the Eternal Calamity Poison Body. Maybe it really could cleanse her.

"Wants to steal my Bodhi Heart? Heh. This bird's gotten bold. I'll give her a 'surprise' later."

Xiao Yan moved silently toward the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's lair. The Bodhi Ancient Tree could wait—first, deal with this serpent.

Within a towering, treacherous peak, thick black mist continuously seeped out, shrouding the sky within a hundred-meter radius. No fierce beast dared tread here—this was the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's territory!

The Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake was an extremely rare mutated fierce beast. Though it lacked the bloodlines of the Ancient Heavenly Snake or the Devouring Sky Serpent, its own bloodline was extraordinary—an aberrant lineage.

Legends say that in the Wild Wasteland Era, the ancestor of the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake might have become the progenitor of the Snake Race—but ultimately lost to the Snake Mother, leaving the remaining Ancient Heavenly Demon Snakes exiled to this remote region, unable to dwell in the Shou Yu.

The Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake possesses a unique trait: its nest contains a blood pool it has spent centuries accumulating.

Over centuries—or even longer—it has gone to great lengths to gather countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures rich in pure energy and cast them into this pool. Gradually, the energy condensed within reached an unimaginable level; any ordinary being entering it would be instantly ruptured by the overwhelming force. Only the offspring of the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake could withstand such concentrated energy.

The blood pool's energy is violently chaotic—let alone humans, even ordinary demonic beasts' bodies would be corroded into white bones.

But if one could endure it, this blood pool would be a tremendous opportunity—even triggering Bloodline Ancestral Return in demonic beasts.

Sssss! Sensing Xiao Yan's arrival, the massive Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake instantly appeared before them—a thousand-meter-long black serpent, as colossal as a dragon, utterly heart-stopping.

"Hmph!" Xiao Yan instantly activated the Golden Vajra Body and the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor, slamming a fist into the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's body. The serpent shrieked and whipped its colossal tail toward him.

Boom!! The two forces collided—unexpectedly, it was Xiao Yan who was thrown back!

"This physical power is truly extraordinary!"

Though the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's cultivation merely matched a Five Revolving Dou Zun, its physical strength was immensely formidable—its overall power likely rivaled even the Sky Scorpion Elder.

Seeing Xiao Yan take a slight hit, Cai Lin and Xiao Yixian both struck instantly.

Cai Lin leapt into the clouds, her body shimmering with seven-colored light as she transformed into her true form—a Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent no smaller than the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake, floating in the clouds. An invisible pressure spread, momentarily stalling the serpent's ferocity.

Sssssss!! Boom!! Cai Lin hissed at the serpent below, and a colossal seven-colored Heavenly Thunder, as thick as a river, crashed from the sky.

The terrifying thunder struck the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake midair, shattering its scales. Great gouts of blood erupted, sizzling as the blood corroded the mountain range.

Xiao Yixian didn't hold back—she instantly formed the Misfortune Demonic Poison Claw. The Eternal Calamity Poison Fire coalesced into a massive hand, exploding with the power of a First-Transformation Dou Zun, slamming the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake to the ground like the Five Finger Mountain suppressing Sun Wukong—leaving it utterly immobilized.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan transformed into a colossal golden giant, clad in ancient armor, gripping the serpent's tail with both hands.

Crushed by the Heavenly Thunder, pinned by the Poison Fire hand, and now held fast by Xiao Yan's grip on its tail—even the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's formidable body couldn't move.

Boom! Boom! Boom! The Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake unleashed its ancient bloodline, roaring in fury, thrashing violently like a subterranean dragon turning over. The ground shook violently; the entire mountain range trembled, cracks splitting the earth.

"Yanran, use the Yun Yan Fu Ri Formation," Yun Yun said sternly as the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake continued to struggle.

"Yes, Master!" Nalan Yanran retracted the Jing Ling Bai Hu, drew the Yun Sha Black Sword, and with a shared hand seal, both master and disciple pointed their swords to the sky—immediately, a massive Sealing Array formed.

Wisps of cloud mist, like Spiritual Energy Sealing Chains, bound the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake, after which Heavenly Flame Zunzhe and the others also moved to suppress it.

Killing the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake wasn't hard, but capturing it alive was far more difficult! And Xiao Yan, determined not to waste anything, naturally chose to capture it alive.

"Qing Lin! Act!" Xiao Yan, transformed into the Golden Diamond Glass Body, barked lowly. Qing Lin, who had been waiting for his command, suddenly appeared from Space, standing before the pinned-down Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake.

*Clang! * Qing Lin's eyes snapped open—her emerald irises bloomed with three green flowers; a strange green light erupted from her Qi San Hua Tong.

"Qi San Hua Tong—activate!"

As Qing Lin's voice fell, a colossal Qi San Hua Tong appeared on the forehead of the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake. The instant the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake saw it, a terror and trembling surged from the depths of its Spiritual Soul.

The three green flowers spun rapidly; a numbness originating from the soul's core caused the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's taut body to slowly soften. The murderous intent and savagery in its blood-red eyes rapidly faded.

*Sssss! * The Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake knew it could not let this sensation invade—it began burning its Bloodline, unleashing its strongest state. The instant its Bloodline erupted, its Cultivation Realm surged violently!

"So strong!" Xiao Yan gritted his teeth—he felt immense power, and he was losing his grip!

Ancient beasts must never be underestimated! The Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's Bloodline Power must have reached the level of the Ancient Heavenly Snake—only a supreme Fierce Beast capable of standing in the Manhuang Ancient Domain could possess such ability!

Waves of terrifying black mist continuously spilled from the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's body, raging in violent resistance.

"This beast is truly not easy to deal with!"

Seeing the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake still resisting the Qi San Hua Tong through its own power, Xiao Yan was startled—then he slammed out a punch, unleashing a vast wave of Strange Fire that swiftly wrapped around the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's body, rapidly vaporizing the black mist.

"Suppress it!"

Seeing Xiao Yan struggling to hold it, Qing Lin bit her tongue sharply and spat out a mouthful of essence blood, formed a hand seal, and from her forehead emerged a third Qi San Hua Tong.

Her hands bloomed like lotus petals, rapidly forming intricate and mysterious hand seals—and as the seals took shape, a deep, low growl echoed faintly from within her body!

At the moment this growl, carrying ancient pressure, sounded, space behind Qing Lin twisted—and directly formed a thousand-zhang-long serpent-shaped shadow. This shadow radiated an extremely ancient aura, and it bore nine identical serpent heads—undeniably the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Xiao Yan had once seen!

The instant the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake shadow appeared, the wildly thrashing body of the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake shuddered—its pupils finally revealed an intense, profound dread. Even this ferocious, brutal Heavenly Demon Snake felt trembling.

Because the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake was the true origin of mutation—the supreme Fierce Beast among Fierce Beasts!

"Qi San Hua Tong—Demon Eye—open!"

*Wum! * With the aid of the Nine Headed Heavenly Snake Soul, the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake could no longer resist—it was completely subjugated by Qing Lin. Sensing the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's lack of resistance, Xiao Yan and the others released their suppression.

Then, another transformation occurred in this instant!

The instant Xiao Yan loosened his grip, the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's tail suddenly lashed out with brutal force, striking Xiao Yan's abdomen—*Cough! * A mouthful of blood spewed from his mouth.

"Xiao Yan!!"

The Nine Headed Heavenly Snake Soul did not return to Qing Lin's body!

(End of Chapter)