Chapter 566

Outside this palace stood massive walls, beyond which countless sea demon beasts patrolled; the towering walls were carved with flying dragons, and the entire palace looked like a dragon palace.

"Acting like he's a true dragon— even the Void Ancient Dragon Clan doesn't have anything like this." Seeing the dragon palace city, Xiao Yan could only sigh helplessly.

Those who didn't know might think those sea pythons were real sea dragons.

The entire dragon palace city was extravagantly magnificent; Xiao Yan had visited the Ancient Realm and Soul Realm, homes of Dou Emperor Families, but none compared to the splendor of this dragon palace city—he couldn't imagine how many precious crystal ores had been spent to build it.

"Young Master Yan, what should we do now? Storm in?" Qing Lin looked at Xiao Yan beside her; today had been the happiest day she'd had in a long time.

But Qing Lin was sensible; she knew Xiao Yan had delayed a day just to accompany her on this underwater excursion, and now she understood it was time for serious business.

Seeing Qing Lin's eager expression, Xiao Yan smiled gently, stroking her smooth hair, and said, "Qing Lin, we can't be so brutal. The Dou Qi Continent isn't just about fighting and killing—sometimes we must first reason with them."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Qing Lin's bright, shining eyes blinked, filled with admiration. Under Qing Lin's admiring gaze, Xiao Yan lifted the invisibility of Sea Heart Flame.

"Listen, those inside! You are surrounded! Open your gates and surrender—hand over the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign—or don't blame me, Xiao Yan, for being ruthless and destroying your city!" Xiao Yan's Heavenly Realm Soul Force erupted as a soul sound wave, spreading through every corner of the vast dragon palace city.

Two people surrounding an entire race.

When Xiao Yan and Qing Lin suddenly appeared outside the Chi Snake Race's dragon palace city, and the soul sound wave swept through it, the entire city erupted in blinding light—bubbles gurgled, gurgled, gurgled—and in an instant, the city seemed to awaken: the walls rose, and a surge of Dragon Might erupted!

Clearly, this dragon palace city had once truly housed real sea dragons; in the distant Wild Wasteland Era, it might have been the ancestral land of a super race, like the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan or the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan.

Sssss!! Countless enormous sea pythons rose from the great city; without exception, all were Seventh Rank or higher, and many had already reached Eighth Rank, long capable of human form.

BOOM! From the center of the dragon palace city, a colossal Chi Snake, covered in dragon scales, surged from the sea like a dragon stirring the ocean, churning the entire sea. Without introduction, Xiao Yan recognized it—it was none other than the escaped Chi Snake Demon Sovereign.

Xiao Yan's Eleven-Color Fire Lotus had reduced the Nine-Revolution Sky Scorpion Elder to white ash, successfully clearing his name, yet this thing—only around Five Revolving strength—had escaped!

This was partly because Xiao Yan had originally wanted to capture it alive for Qing Lin as a Snake Slave, weakening the blast, and partly because the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign possessed a priceless treasure for self-preservation—but this guy truly had thick skin and tough flesh.

"Xiao Yan! Don't push too far! Don't think my Chi Snake Race is truly afraid of your Yan Alliance!" The Chi Snake Demon Sovereign roared hoarsely, but everyone could hear the fear in his voice.

In this ocean environment, the Chi Snake's combat power was naturally much stronger than on land—but the gap here was as vast as heaven and earth; even if Xiao Yan hadn't reached Dou Sage, the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign dared not challenge him.

One more fire lotus, and the entire dragon palace city couldn't withstand it!

Seeing Xiao Yan come directly to his door, the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign was filled with endless regret—he should never have agreed to Yao Xiao Tian's scheme! He'd originally coveted Cai Lin's Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent Bloodline, allied with the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan to capture Cai Lin, hoping to purify their own bloodline.

But he never imagined the Yan Alliance's power had grown so fast—and Xiao Yan's strength defied all logic!

Xiao Yan coldly stared at the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign, a cold smirk on his lips; this creature had once lusted after Cai Lin's bloodline and led troops to attack Yan Alliance cities—Xiao Yan had naturally placed him on his kill list.

Even if you were Ninth Rank, if you dared lay hands on Xiao Yan's kin, he wouldn't fear you. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—what's a Dou Sage!

"Enough talk. Even if you break through to Ninth Rank today, you won't escape. I'll give your Chi Snake Race one chance: hand over this foolish creature, submit your Dou Zun-level elders to Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong, open your clan treasury—and I'll spare your Chi Snake Race."

As a sea snake race second only to the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan, possessing Ancient Heavenly Snake bloodline, their clan must hold vast resources. Xiao Yan had set his sights on this Chi Snake Race.

You steal from me, I steal from you—fair and balanced.

In a world where strength rules, this was normal.

Hearing Xiao Yan had no intention of sparing him, the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign, as Clan Leader, his eyes flashed with murderous intent; if Xiao Yan had negotiated reasonably, he'd have accepted defeat, offering medicinal materials and Magic Cores as compensation—but Xiao Yan had always intended to kill him.

"Dream on! Chi Snake Ten Guards—engage!" The Chi Snake Demon Sovereign roared. BOOM BOOM BOOM! Instantly, ten Dou Zun auras erupted from the dragon palace city; each Demon Venerable was stronger than Star Seven Dou Zun, and two elders had reached Nine-Star Dou Zun Di Feng.

"Engage!"

Sssss!! In an instant, the entire sea trembled; countless enormous sea pythons churned the ocean, forming arrays; when these sea pythons formed their arrays, from afar they truly resembled dragons.

Countless giant sea pythons glared menacingly at Xiao Yan and Qing Lin—two humans dared attack their ancestral land!!

Countless Sixth and Seventh Rank sea pythons, over thirty Eighth Rank ones, and ten of them even reached Star Seven Dou Zun—such strength, on Zhong Zhou, could sweep away many factions.

No wonder the Chi Snake Race could dominate this sea!

"Looks like you've chosen the wrong answer. Very well—my Yan Alliance's blood cannot be spilled in vain." Xiao Yan smiled faintly, his eyes flashing with cruelty. "Qing Lin, give them a taste of summoning shock."

"Yes, Young Master!" Qing Lin nodded firmly, then a pale green light slowly rose; she formed a hand seal, and behind her appeared a massive shadow of the Qi San Hua Tong—a giant Qi San Hua Tong, as real as life, like a sky-piercing serpent with eyes wide open, staring at this world.

ZZZZ! Flashes of green light appeared; hundreds of giant serpent races emerged from the Qi San Hua Tong's space, one after another, lining up.

Winged serpents, jet-black Nine Underworld Earth Snakes, storm-wrapping Storm Giant Pythons—and among them, the Chi Snake Race's Young Clan Leader, Hai Yuanlong.

All these giant serpents had their eyes replaced by Qi San Hua Tong, fully controlled by Qing Lin.

Seeing over a hundred serpent races, all Seventh Rank or higher, appear in mere seconds, the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign's face turned pale; though numerically superior, every one of the enemy serpents was Seventh Rank or above, with around twenty at Eighth Rank!

And most terrifying of all was the dark red demonic serpent beneath Xiao Yan and Qing Lin's feet.

"Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake—you even control Fierce Beasts from the Manhuang Ancient Domain!" The Chi Snake Demon Sovereign's scalp prickled; this Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake wasn't just stronger than him, its bloodline was superior—but it still hadn't escaped the Qi San Hua Tong!

With enough time, Qing Lin could command an invincible serpent army! And this was even without unleashing the Nine Headed Heavenly Snake Soul Power—if she did, her own strength would grow further.

The first wonder eye of the Dou Qi Continent lived up to its name.

Sssss!! With a surge of aura, the hundred-plus Snake Slaves controlled by Qi San Hua Tong surged toward the dragon palace city like a tide; the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake spat out ink-black poison.

The Five Revolving Dou Zun Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake's power crushed them utterly; even if Xiao Yan hadn't moved, Qing Lin—who had captured the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake—could potentially fight the entire Chi Snake Race alone!

Seeing Qing Lin's Snake Slaves flood the dragon palace city like a mountain collapsing and sea overturning, Qing Lin alone was nearly enough to crush the entire Chi Snake Race's dragon palace city!

Some newly arrived Eighth Rank Chi Snakes even tried to ambush Qing Lin—but she glanced at them, and they fell into confusion; instantly, the Ancient Heavenly Demon Snake bit them down, tearing them in half.

"Qing Lin's potential is truly immense." Xiao Yan watched Qing Lin's battle up close for the first time; he'd originally thought he'd need to intervene—but he was wrong.

With Qi San Hua Tong, Qing Lin's Snake Slaves multiplied with every battle; the so-called Ten Snake Guards, as they fought, three were already under Qing Lin's control—others grew fewer, Qing Lin grew more—what the hell was this fight?!

Although Qi San Hua Tong had weaknesses—it consumed Dou Qi and Soul Force, and couldn't control serpent beasts with too high a bloodline—this Chi Snake Race lacked powerful bloodlines, and now the tide was clearly turning.

"Damn! Damn Qi San Hua Tong!!" The Chi Snake Demon Sovereign's eyes twisted with rage; the terror of Qi San Hua Tong far exceeded his imagination—no wonder the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan had been desperate to kill her!

If she grew to Dou Sage—even half-Sage—she alone could sweep away the entire Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan!

"This can't continue—Blood Sacrifice! Summon the Ancestral Soul!!" The Chi Snake Demon Sovereign roared, and a blue pendant around his neck emitted blinding blue light.

At that moment, a dragon roar echoed through space; the giant sea dragon carved on the dragon palace walls seemed to awaken, and tiny streams of energy flowed from the palace's crystals into it.

ZZZZ! A colossal sealing array rose; countless Chi Snake subordinates offered their blood, each thread flowing into the array, converging onto the sea dragon.

Of course, this sea dragon wasn't real, nor alive; Xiao Yan guessed it was the corpse of some super beast, seized by the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign and refined into this form—it looked lifelike, its Dragon Breath surging like crashing waves, one after another.

Woooo!! Now the giant blue sea dragon coiled around the dragon palace, its massive body slowly gliding as if a true dragon had come to life, circling the palace as if patrolling it.

This blue sea dragon emitted faint Saint Might!

As the blue sea dragon surged forward, Qing Lin's controlled Snake Slaves instinctively trembled—and the next second, Qing Lin's body erupted with an extremely ferocious aura.

Hiss!! A phantom of a nine-headed, pitch-black Heavenly Snake surged forth, roaring at the lifelike sea dragon! Though the Spiritual Soul of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake was no match for the sea dragon before it, a hint of contempt flashed in its eyes.

It was clear that, judged by Bloodline, the sea dragon before them was inferior to the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake.

At this moment, Xiao Yan's gaze fixed on the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign — more precisely, on the blue pendant floating above its head.

"So that thing blocked most of the Fire Lotus's power back then?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. Although the Xiao Yan of back then had only the strength of a Two-Turn Dou Zun, and had even suppressed some of the Fire Lotus's power intending to capture it alive, the fact that it could block the Fire Lotus and still escape was enough to show how terrifying the pendant's defensive power was.

From Hai Yuanlong's memories, Xiao Yan naturally learned that the blue pendant was the inheritance treasure of the Chi Snake Race, forged from the Magic Core of an ancient sea dragon. It was passed down from Clan Leader to Clan Leader through the generations, capable of unleashing terrifying power.

Every powerful clan has its own foundation. For example, the Nine Underworld Earth-Dark Python Race also has a scepter, an inheritance treasure held by each generation's Clan Leader. Legend has it that it not only contains vast Ancient Sky Serpent Essence Blood, but also possesses a special power that can elevate Bloodline Power to a state of atavism, reaching the Ancient Heavenly Snake, and raise one's Cultivation Realm — extremely terrifying.

That was why Xiao Yan did not act rashly just because he had reached the Sage Emperor realm. After all, when it came to foundations, one truly could not say for sure — who knew what terrifying methods the Tian Ming Sect and the Nine Underworld Earth-Dark Python Race might possess.

"Qing Lin, let me take this." Xiao Yan patted Qing Lin's fragrant shoulder. Facing that ancestral soul possessing the power of a Sage Emperor, Qing Lin might not necessarily be able to handle it. Besides, that thing didn't even look like it belonged to the Snake Race — it should be an Ancient Chi Dragon, a type of sea dragon beast.

Qing Lin nodded and withdrew the Spiritual Soul of the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake. As it was recalled, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake cast a wary glance at Xiao Yan — it could feel it: the current Xiao Yan... was very strong!

Xiao Yan clasped his hands behind his back and stepped forward to the very front of the Snake Slave tide.

Tiny, utterly tiny. In this endless deep sea, amid the Battlefield of countless Sea Giant Pythons, Xiao Yan — a single human — was far too insignificant, as inconspicuous as a little pebble by the roadside.

But the moment Xiao Yan stepped out, those frenzied Snake Slaves one after another lowered their heads, seemingly kneeling in worship to welcome this tiny human.

At the sight of Xiao Yan's appearance, the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign's face changed drastically! For some unknown reason, the slight sense of security brought by having just summoned the ancestral soul instantly vanished, and an inexplicable sense of crisis welled up in its heart!

"I was originally a little worried whether just one Nine-Treasure Pill and the Treasure Vault of your Chi Snake Race would be enough to restore the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake to its former strength, but after seeing this ancestral soul, I think it'll be enough."

"You could say you've given me quite a generous gift."

(End of this chapter)