Chapter 577: Yao Ming

The nine-headed heavenly snake fixed its nine heads directly on the Nine Underworld Huang Quan below, its eyes filled with greed and nostalgia.

It had once been part of the Ancient Heavenly Snake race; this Nine Underworld Huang Quan was ideal for Snake Race magical beasts to temper their bodies, and training here could restore some of its strength.

Upon hearing Yao Xiao Tian acknowledge Yao Ming's identity, many Shou Yu magical beast clan leaders showed expressions of shock.

"Kuang?! That's Yao Ming! Didn't this guy disappear centuries ago from demonic cultivation deviation? So he's been training beneath the Nine Underworld Huang Quan all along?!"

"Hehe, yes, he's definitely beneath the Nine Underworld Huang Quan—but whether he's training or not is uncertain; judging by his appearance, he seems more like a prisoner."

"Now this'll be good entertainment. Didn't expect the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race had this trick up their sleeve. Looks like the Yan Alliance is going to return empty-handed."

"That's not certain."

Some Shou Yu powerhouses wore knowing smiles, especially those familiar with the Yan Alliance—they knew the Alliance still harbored one powerful figure.

The Yan Alliance—Xiao Yan!

Founder of the Yan Alliance Covenant, Champion of the Pill Gathering! Especially those who knew Xiao Yan well understood that his prowess extended far beyond pill alchemy—his cultivation was among the top on the Dou Qi Continent, and he had slain the Nine-Turn Dou Zun, Sky Scorpion Elder!

And that was still less than a year ago.

As expected, shortly after Yao Ming emerged, the cold, damp ravine housing the Nine Underworld Huang Quan suddenly began to rise in temperature in a bizarre manner.

"Hm?" Yao Ming frowned, glancing toward the Sokong Boat—space there was warping, and the intense heat originated from that direction.

"A Dou Saint! Another Dou Saint has arrived!!"

At that moment, a voice echoed from Space: "From today onward, this land belongs to the Snake Empire. You Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race—leave, or be forced out."

A man in black robes stepped out of Space with a smile, standing beside Cai Lin, and said: "This is the true Queen of the Snake Race."

Xiao Yan's One-Star Dou Saint Early Stage spiritual pressure surged violently, and rolling waves of heat shattered all the cold air surrounding the Sokong Boat.

"It's Xiao Yan!" The moment Xiao Yan appeared, someone instantly cried out—they had recognized his face!

"He's the founder of the Yan Alliance Covenant?! Damn, wasn't he only a Two-Turn Dou Zun half a year ago? How is his aura now not weaker than Yao Xiao Tian's Dou Saint power?!"

"Fucking hell… how the hell did he cultivate? It's impossible to break through to Dou Saint in such a short time!"

Some elders' eyes flickered with insight, as if understanding something, and they spoke gravely: "No wonder the Yan Alliance's strength rose so fast. Rumor has it the final team to enter the Bodhi Ancient Tree was the Yan Alliance, Soul Sovereign, Gu Clan, and Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan."

"I thought the Soul Sovereign and Gu Clan—the Dou Emperor Families—would gain the most. But now it seems the Yan Alliance gained the most!"

The events of the Bodhi Ancient Tree were barely whispered about; even survivors only knew the final four teams were the Yan Alliance, Soul Sovereign, Gu Clan, and Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan—but who gained the most remained unknown.

And no one would have guessed that the Soul Sovereign and Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan were annihilated, while the Yan Alliance and Gu Clan reaped the greatest rewards—especially the Yan Alliance, for the Bodhi Heart and Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation both fell into Xiao Yan's hands, leaving him utterly victorious.

"You, I can ignore. But these two must stay." Xiao Yan's gaze burned, and his Infernal Flames began to rise; though he had lent Cai Lin Three Infernal Flames and Xiao Yixian one, Xiao Yan still possessed Eight Different Flames—literally a walking Strange Fire Ranking!

"Xiao Yan, don't push your luck too far!" Yao Xiao Tian roared—he never imagined Xiao Yan had also broken through to Dou Saint!

"Hmph, you two aren't even human. As rulers of the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race, if I let you two live, how would I answer to the dead disciples of the Yan Alliance?" Xiao Yan sneered. They were the decision-makers; though they never stepped onto the Battlefield, they had controlled the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race all along.

The Grand Elder asked gravely: "Xiao Yan, what does your Yan Alliance truly want? Are you truly determined to fight us to the death?"

Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said: "Simple. My Yan Alliance demands three things. First, the treasure vault of the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race—including all Yellow Spring Blood Crystals. Second, the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race must vacate this land and surrender the Nine Underworld Huang Quan Holy Land. Third, you two must die."

"I will spare the rest of the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Yao Ming understood everything—he didn't need to guess: Yao Xiao Tian must have discovered the Qi San Hua Tong and coveted the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent Bloodline, clashed with this Yan Alliance, and now they'd come to their doorstep.

"You're dreaming!" Yao Xiao Tian and Yao Ce's faces darkened instantly. They didn't care if Xiao Yan slaughtered everyone—as long as they two lived, what did the clan members matter?

But since Xiao Yan was dead set on killing them, there was nothing left to say.

"Xiao Yan, don't let him regain more strength," Cai Lin whispered.

Xiao Yan nodded—he sensed Yao Ming's strength was immense, but due to prolonged sealing, his Dou Qi had not fully recovered. Instantly, his Ancient Phoenix Wings appeared behind him, and with a hum, the Golden Immortal Body activated—his entire body turned golden like glass, and the Dragon Phoenix Ancient Armor clad his form.

Xiao Yan flashed forward, moving faster than transmigration through Space, appearing before Yao Ming, and swung his fist straight at him.

Sensing the raw power of Xiao Yan's body, Yao Ming's expression changed—could a human's body rival a Nine-Rank Magical Beast?!

Had the world changed so drastically in the centuries he was sealed?! Had humans become monsters?!

Boom! A dull, heavy sound! Yao Ming blocked with both arms—Xiao Yan's Golden Immortal Fist struck, and even though Yao Ming had spent centuries beneath the Nine Underworld Huang Quan, his body greatly strengthened, his arms still burned with pain.

Of course, in pure physical strength, Xiao Yan was far inferior to Yao Ming the beast—but Xiao Yan possessed Dou Techniques, which drastically narrowed the gap.

"Yellow Spring Finger!"

Yao Ming's eyes hardened, forcing out a sliver of Dou Qi. With a thought, a colossal finger—larger than the one the Grand Elder had summoned—plummeted from the sky. The giant Yellow Spring Finger roared downward, collapsing entire sections of space; cracks exploded across the ravines around them, the ground shaking violently as if an earthquake had struck.

"Your Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race only has one technique…"

Watching the might of the Yellow Spring Finger, Xiao Yan smiled. A Dou Saint wielding a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique could easily obliterate an entire city.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, his right hand gathering vast Dou Qi. A speck of black light erupted instantly—within a few blinks, it expanded into a black circle a hundred zhang wide. This was Xiao Yan's first use of the Great Heaven Creation Palm since ascending to Dou Saint—the power and momentum had surged a hundredfold.

Especially after the Hundred Lifetimes Reincarnation, Xiao Yan had gained deeper insight into his cultivated techniques—nearly all had reached perfection or even completion.

"Wuuu!"

As the black circle formed, it unleashed terrifying suction. The ravines around it split open, massive rocks tore free and were sucked into the circle, vanishing completely.

"Great Heaven Creation Palm—Shatter!"

Xiao Yan raised his head and slammed his palm forward. It appeared instantly beneath the descending Yellow Spring Finger—a massive black hole sphere began spinning violently.

Boom! Boom! Boom!! The Great Heaven Creation Palm acted like a meat grinder—upon contact with the Yellow Spring Finger, it relentlessly ground it down.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The black hole circle of the Great Heaven Creation Palm spun furiously, radiating waves of destruction. The Yellow Spring Finger sank inch by inch into it, until finally, under Yao Ming's stunned gaze, it was entirely swallowed by the black circle.

Sensing Xiao Yan's strength, Yao Ming narrowed his eyes, slowly opened his mouth, and a black beam shot out—transforming into a half-zhang-long black scepter in his hand.

The scepter was entirely black, its top entwined by two lifelike black venomous snakes; between their heads rested a fist-sized black orb emitting faint cold light.

"Nine Underworld Scepter! That's the lost Nine Underworld Scepter!!" Some powerhouses, seeing the scepter in Yao Ming's hand, were stunned.

Legend said the Nine Underworld Scepter once belonged to the Ancient Heavenly Snake race. After their extinction, it fell into the hands of the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race—this was how they rose to power and inherited the Ancient Heavenly Snake's legitimacy.

From the scepter, other Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race powerhouses felt a bloodline pressure. It was said the serpent orb within the Nine Underworld Scepter contained the purest ancestral bloodline of the Nine Underworld royal line, holding immense Ancient Heavenly Snake Bloodline. If the current Nine Underworld Earth Snake Race could possess this bloodline, it would dramatically slow their bloodline dilution.

Seeing the Nine Underworld Scepter appear, Yao Xiao Tian's eyes burned with malice—he had searched everywhere for it, never imagining Yao Ming had hidden it inside his own body!

Hum! The Nine Underworld Scepter emitted a powerful crimson glow. Instantly, the Nine Underworld Huang Quan below radiated a strange red light—threads of blood qi surged into Yao Ming, rapidly restoring his Dou Qi and Bloodline Power.

At this moment, Yao Ming rapidly recovered from his withered state, and a terrifying aura stronger than anyone present surged forth, filling the heavens and earth.

Two-Star Dou Saint!

"No wonder Yao Ming is Clan Leader—this talent far surpasses Yao Xiao Tian!" The Elder of the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan and others also wore expressions of wild joy; as beasts, their cultivation speed might not match humans', but they possessed long lifespans—in the beast realm, advancing from Half-Saint to Two-Star Dou Saint over centuries was already a formidable pace.

"We're saved! Truly no wonder Yao Ming is Clan Leader!"

Seeing Yao Ming rapidly restore his strength by absorbing the power of Jiu You Huang Quan, Xiao Yan furrowed his brow—fighting on someone else's territory was indeed disadvantageous.

Having regained his strength, Yao Ming did not strike immediately, but stared straight at Xiao Yan and said gravely: "Young friend, I will surely give you an accounting for your matter with Yao Xiao Tian, but the Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan cannot relinquish our ancestral land. Please leave."

Xiao Yan glanced at Yao Ming, exhaled slowly, and shook his head: "A Two-Star Dou Saint still lacks the authority to make me retreat."

Xiao Yan formed a hand seal, and suddenly a seven-colored Clan Mark appeared on his forehead, its radiance blazing brighter than the sun!

After Mao Wu refined and absorbed the Dou Di's residual energy, not only did Xiao Yan's Soul Sovereign Dou Di Bloodline rise to Divine Grade, but also the Xiao Clan's bloodline power surged to the terrifying level of Divine Grade!

To a Dou Di, this so-called Dou Di Bloodline was merely the tip of the iceberg—equivalent to a powerful Heaven-Rank Secret Technique!

"Clan Mark, manifest!"

The Eight Different Flames instantly fused, the Xiao Clan Totem spreading across Xiao Yan's entire body, his aura rising continuously from One-Star Dou Saint Early Stage!

The gap between Dou Saint One Star is immense, exceedingly difficult to bridge—once one reaches Dou Saint, everyone cultivates at roughly the same level. Unlike before, when Xiao Yan cultivated Earth-Rank Dou Techniques and Cultivation Methods while others only practiced Profound Class—crossing ranks was easy then.

But now, at Dou Saint, all are Heavenly Rank; the differences are not vast, and crossing ranks is extremely difficult.

Yet with the Xiao Clan's Divine Grade Bloodline combined with the eruption of the Eight Different Flames, Xiao Yan's strength surged by a full star, reaching Two-Star Dou Saint!

Seeing Xiao Yan's power match his own, Yao Ming's expression finally changed—especially when he saw the Clan Mark, his eyes flickered with wariness as he murmured: "That is the Xiao Clan Totem… Could he be a descendant of that man?!"

Yao Ming was born a millennium ago, even earlier than Hei Qing—he knew Xiao Xuan and had heard tales of him!

Xiao Yan, of course, had no idea what Yao Ming was thinking upon seeing the Xiao Clan Totem. He clasped his hands together, and with a resonant hum, an Eight-Color Fire Lotus appeared in his palm, radiating a world-destroying aura.

"Heavenly Rank Intermediate Dou Technique!" Yao Ming's eyes widened sharply; sensing the destructive force, his heart sank.

The Nine Underworld Earth Snake Clan naturally possessed such an inheritance—indeed, even Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade techniques. But Yao Ming had been sealed centuries ago, when he was only a Half-Saint, utterly unable to cultivate a Heavenly Rank Intermediate Dou Technique!

The Fire Lotus rotated slowly, its flame glow illuminating Xiao Yan's face.

"No wonder it's a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Cultivation Method—the Eight-Color Fire Lotus was completed effortlessly, and only a little Dou Qi was consumed." Xiao Yan could not hide his delight—this was the first time he had used the Fire Lotus Dou Technique since his Cultivation Method reached Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade!

The power of the Cultivation Method profoundly influences Dou Techniques! The Eight-Color Fire Lotus was completed instantly, as easily as plucking a flower!

Slowly raising his head toward Yao Ming, just as Xiao Yan was about to hurl the Fire Lotus, Yao Ming suddenly said: "Fine. I accept your terms."

(End of Chapter)