Chapter 572: Huang Quan Shan Mai

The words had barely left his mouth when a figure in dark gray robes stepped into the air; the instant his foot landed, space shattered like ripples—had Yun Yun not pulled Nalan Yanran away, that spatial ripple would have severely wounded her.

"Yanran, are you alright?"

Nalan Yanran shook her head. "I'm fine, Master."

Soon after, Heavenly Flame Zunzhe and the others arrived beside Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, watching warily as the man emerged from the spatial rift.

"That's the half-Sage of Tianming Sect—the Tianming Old Demon?"

"This is the power of a half-Sage—vastly stronger than a Dou Zun by countless times."

The Tianming Old Demon had long gray hair, a face without a single wrinkle, unnaturally pale—had it not been for his eyes, radiating blue light and exuding an ancient aura, no one would have believed him a being who had lived for centuries.

This gray-robed figure looked utterly ordinary at first glance; even his inner aura resembled that of a common mortal—he seemed unremarkable, yet everyone knew this man could not possibly be ordinary.

"Damn! The Tianming Old Demon is still alive?!" Many elders who had heard of him were stunned to see him appear.

For centuries ago, the Tianming Old Demon had already broken through to half-Sage; everyone assumed he had died of old age, yet here he was, still alive!

"These ancient monsters all live longer than the next."

"I wonder if the Qing Immortal of Hua Sect has come."

"Doubtful. I heard the Qing Immortal has entered permanent seclusion and no longer concerns herself with worldly affairs—she won't emerge unless Hua Sect is destroyed. She's only just entered half-Sage, though."

Not only the onlookers, but even Tianming Sect's Tianming Zi sensed it: since the battle began, Xiao Yan had never appeared.

"Bring out Xiao Yan—or today, not a single soul of the Yan Alliance will escape." Tianming Old Demon waved his hand, instantly freezing space—high-level half-Sages could destroy heaven and earth with a single gesture!

Just as Tianming Old Demon sealed the space, the temperature of the entire world suddenly soared, and the clouds above turned crimson!

"Tianming Old Demon, you're not enough. Your Tianming Sect shouldn't have angered him."

At that moment, a voice spoke: "Back then, your Tianming Sect was nothing but a petty lackey—a minor sect that only survived because of the Soul Palace's favor."

In that instant, a figure appeared above Tianming Sect—no one saw how he arrived.

The sudden arrival was an old man in a red robe embroidered with a cloud. Seeing this red-robed elder, everyone in Tianming Sect froze—even Tianming Old Demon couldn't believe his eyes.

"You!! You're Huo Yun!! You weren't killed by the Soul Palace's master?!" Tianming Old Demon stared at Huo Yun Lao Zu with blazing eyes, filled with disbelief.

Upon hearing "Huo Yun," many elders who sensed something turned pale.

"Huo Yun Lao Zu of Fenyan Valley?! How is that possible! He should've been killed by the Soul Palace's master—that's why Fenyan Valley declined!"

"Huo Yun… is he the Qin Zi Chuan Di Zi of Fenyan Gu Zu, the founder of Fenyan Valley?!"

"It must be him! Rumor says he was once a Two-Star Dou Saint!"

Everyone had assumed Huo Yun Lao Zu was dead, for Fenyan Valley had declined—from a top-tier faction surpassing the Two Sects and rivaling Dan Tower—to its current pitiful state.

For a moment, all eyes shifted from Tianming Sect to Huo Yun Lao Zu, then settled on the banner hanging from the space-ship.

Instantly, everyone understood: it wasn't that Xiao Yan refused to appear—he simply didn't need to.

Some of the stronger experts sensed something and exclaimed in shock: "Could it be! Xiao Yan is already a Nine Grade Alchemist?!"

Sssss!! Triggered, many suddenly realized: Huo Yun Lao Zu wouldn't intervene out of any connection to the Yan Alliance—only a Nine Grade Alchemist could command a Dou Saint to act.

Nine Grade—those two words alone were a five-fingered mountain crushing Tianming Sect.

Knowing it was Huo Yun Lao Zu, the once-arrogant Tianming Old Demon now turned deathly pale—he was merely a high-level half-Sage, not even a One-Star Dou Saint; facing a Two-Star Dou Saint like Huo Yun Lao Zu, he had no chance to flee.

With a sharp hiss, Tianming Old Demon swiftly pulled out a jade slip carved with a serpent pattern and crushed it—immediately, a spatial ripple surged from the jade slip.

"Huo Yun Lao Zu! My Tianming Sect has allied with the Nine Underworld Earth Python Clan! Leave now, and I'll overlook this—otherwise, even as a Two-Star Dou Saint, you cannot stand against three Dou Saints!" Tianming Old Demon glanced at Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, softly whispering in submission: "Both of you, leave now—I swear I'll no longer interfere in the affairs of the Yan Alliance and the Nine Underworld Earth Python Clan."

He's surrendered!!

The true strength of the Yan Alliance isn't Huo Yun Lao Zu's support—it's Xiao Yan's power as a Nine Grade Alchemist!

Angering an Alchemist is a death sentence; angering a Nine Grade Alchemist? Even nine lives won't save you!

Yet neither Nalan Yanran, nor Heavenly Flame Zunzhe, nor Yun Yun nor anyone else reacted—as if they hadn't heard. Only Tang Zhen, who had watched from afar without intervening, let out a sigh.

"Today… Tianming Sect will end. The title 'Two Sects' will become history." Tang Zhen shook his head, for he saw the space channel had been constructed—but no Dou Saint from the Nine Underworld Earth Python Clan had appeared.

With Dou Saint power, traveling from Huang Quan Shan Mai to Tianming Sect's gate would take barely an instant—especially since the space channel had been long prepared to guard against the Yan Alliance.

Now, the Yan Alliance has arrived, yet no Dou Saint from the Nine Underworld Earth Python Clan appears—the only conclusion: they're already struggling to survive themselves.

At this moment, many finally realized: throughout this entire battle, the strongest force of the Yan Alliance—the SnakeTribe Empire ruled by Mei Du Sha Queen—never showed up.

The Yan Alliance's fearsome army is composed of the SnakeTribe and countless serpent demons from the Heavenly Snake Mansion—but now, not only are Mei Du Sha and Qing Lin absent, not even a single SnakeTribe or serpent demon appears—this is clearly abnormal.

At nearly the same moment the Yan Alliance attacked Tianming Sect, a similarly massive space-ship appeared above Huang Quan Shan Mai in Shou Yu.

This was a colossal mountain range, stretching nearly halfway across Shou Yu. Huang Quan Shan Mai was shrouded in mist, its true form hidden—forever mysterious.

Like a giant python risen from the Nine Underworld, it coiled across Shou Yu.

The origin of Huang Quan Shan Mai's name is debated: some say it's because the range is damp and icy, much of it swamp-like, resembling the legendary land of Huang Quan—hence the name.

Others say it's because deep beneath the mountains lies a pool of Jiu You Huang Quan, as real as the mythic Huang Quan—hence the name.

Others claim a powerful Demon Saint named Huang Quan was born here, and after his death in this place, the mountains were named after him.

Which version is true? Even the ancient texts of the Mei Du Sha Clan lack detailed records; Cai Lin only knew her clan once lived within Huang Quan Shan Mai, until driven out by the Nine Underworld Earth Python Clan and exiled to the barren Northwest Region.

But no matter the truth, today, the history of the Mei Du Sha Clan is destined to be rewritten!

"The Jiu You Huang Quan lies beneath the mountains?" Xiao Yan asked.

The Elder of the Mei Du Sha Clan nodded, his voice hoarse: "Yes. Jiu You Huang Quan lies deep within the earth—the origin of Huang Quan Shan Mai. Once, it belonged to the Ancient Heavenly Snake and the Sea Giant Python; now it's controlled by the Nine Underworld Earth Python Clan, who regard it as a Holy Land. Any Nine Underworld Earth Python seeking to ascend will enter Jiu You Huang Quan, soak within it, and find their breakthrough far easier."

"Yet the waters of Jiu You Huang Quan are supremely yin and freezing. For serpent demons, whose nature leans toward cold and yin, it is among the finest Body Tempering sites in the world—but due to its extreme cold, even ordinary Dou Saints dare not truly descend to its depths."

"Huang Quan Blood Crystals form only at the deepest, coldest point—extremely precious."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan frowned. Such top-tier Body Tempering sites were always perilous—like the Void Thunder Pool he had seen; if one entered the region where Black Demon Thunder existed, even ordinary Dou Saints would be obliterated.

Even the high-level half-Sage Mang Tianchi of the Lei Clan was driven away.

Xiao Yan pondered: over two years remained before the Jing Lian Yao Fire emerged. Before then, he needed to raise his Cultivation Realm and return to Sheng Dan Cheng.

Besides entering Xiao Dan Ta, Xiao Yan needed the Pill Formula for the Jiu Yin Huang Quan Pill.

At this moment, Cai Lin, clad in a blood-red battle armor, moved closer—she was not in her human form, but retained her human body with a serpent tail, for today she was the SnakeTribe Empire's sovereign leading the campaign in person.

"You don't need to act yet," Cai Lin said.

Xiao Yan nodded, picking up Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai: "Right, this time you two lead the charge. If Yao Xiao Tian shows up, I'll step in."

This time they were the ones launching the offensive against the Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe; they could not possibly reveal all their cards immediately. Moreover, this was Shou Yu—Xiao Yan had to be wary not only of Yao Xiao Tian, the former Clan Leader of the Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe, but also of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and other hidden Fierce Beasts.

In Shou Yu, who could be certain that no ten-thousand-year-old ancient turtles were still alive?

Furthermore, the Three Great Dragon Kings of the Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan in the south, north, and west were also figures Xiao Yan needed to watch carefully—any single Dragon Island of the Grand Void Ancient Dragon Clan was stronger than the entire Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe.

"Xiao Xiao, shall Daddy go fight the little monsters with you this time?" Xiao Yan teased Xiao Xiao.

"Yes!" Xiao Xiao swung her fists, each punch stirring the wind—she swung one so hard it nearly shattered space.

Sssss!! Xiao Cai flicked its tongue, signaling it too wanted to fight!

For once, Xiao Yan could finally play the shadowy mastermind, staying hidden behind the scenes—so long as nothing went wrong, he wouldn't need to act.

With the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake and Tuan Tuan, plus the already formidable Cai Lin, Xiao Yixian, and Qing Lin, the weakest of the Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe posed no real threat.

Xiao Yan took Xiao Xiao's small hand, carrying Xiao Cai, and the father-daughter trio leapt from the Sky-Slicing Vessel, heading straight to a spot along the Huang Quan Shan Mai to light a fire, ready to hunt any stragglers—the Devouring Python had a huge appetite.

Seeing Xiao Yan guarding Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai, Cai Lin finally relaxed—then, in the next instant, she regained her usual dominance, her gaze instantly turning commanding.

"According to some intelligence from the Snake Slaves, the Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe vanished suddenly, but we can't rule out that they're deliberately hiding to enter a sealed cultivation. Can you hold off Yao Xiao Tian while Qing Lin and I deal with the strongest Elder?" Cai Lin asked Xiao Yixian beside her.

Xiao Yixian had not yet reached Dou Saint; she remained at the Sixth Transformation stage. Though her Eternal Calamity Poison Body had no cultivation bottleneck, she had yet to find a suitable Secret Realm to advance herself.

Xiao Yixian nodded, stroking Tuan Tuan: "Holding him off isn't a problem."

Though Tuan Tuan had only just entered Dou Saint, combined with Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison Body, holding back a One Star Dou Saint posed little difficulty—the main battlefield still depended on the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake.

Qing Lin could not yet use the Qi San Hua Tong to control Nine Rank Snake Race members; the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake was not controlled by the Qi San Hua Tong—it had formed a Contract with Qing Lin. The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake possessed its own mind and was Qing Lin's Spiritual Beast.

Hearing this, Cai Lin nodded, her voice cool and crisp: "Enough."

At once, the four Elders of the SnakeTribe clenched their fists, tears glistening in their eyes as they gazed at the Huang Quan Shan Mai—fallen leaves return to their roots; this was their former homeland! They had lived here as children.

Deep beneath the Huang Quan Shan Mai, in the depths of the Snake Vein Earth Vein, lay countless Snake Race tribes. At the very center of these tribes stood a magnificent palace. Inside, the hall was bustling—leaders of numerous SnakeTribe clans gathered here, laughter echoing through the great hall.

Upon the throne sat a man clad in black robes. His features were strikingly handsome, yet his brow radiated an unhidden chill. His half-lidded eyes flickered with piercing light, like a venomous serpent capable of killing in an instant, sending chills down the spines of all who watched.

This man was the current Clan Leader of the Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe—Yao Xiao Tian!

Beside Yao Xiao Tian, two voluptuous women carefully massaged his body, while his large hands roamed endlessly over their soft forms, causing their eyes to grow hazy and their expressions exquisitely alluring.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Yao Xiao Tian's half-closed eyes snapped open, shock flashing across them—then, with a thunderous BOOM, the entire palace shook violently, massive rocks crashing down.

Yao Xiao Tian unleashed his Dou Saint aura, his voice echoing throughout the Di Xia Shi Jie: "Who dares cause trouble on the territory of the Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe?!"

A cool, commanding voice came from above: "From today on, you and your Nine Underworld Earth Vein Snake Tribe may leave."

(End of Chapter)