Serpent Ancestor
Chapter 420: Eight strong gather, Dragon vein takes root and sprouts

Sea God Sect, extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, Demon Child.

Countless pieces of information intertwined in everyone's minds, making it difficult for them to digest and accept.

"Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, isn't it just an Inner Demon?"

"When did an Inner Demon become corporeal?"

"Impossible! This is impossible!"

Various doubts arose, some were confused, some were in disbelief.

As the questions emerged, the eyes of some cultivators suddenly turned red, veins bulging, as a demonic thought rose in their hearts.

The master noticed and shouted in a low voice, "Disperse!"

Green light swirled, shattering all the demonic thoughts, and those frenzied cultivators immediately fell unconscious.

The more the extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon is discussed, the more one knows, the easier it is to give birth to an Inner Demon. It's a strange phenomenon, but it has always existed.

This is also why these secrets cannot be recorded and widely spread.

Only those who have reached the Elemental Infant stage and possess their own state of mind will not be affected. The higher the cultivation, the better the resistance to these demonic thoughts.

Regarding the extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, it's best not to speak much below the Core Formation Stage.

…………

An hour later, the assembly dispersed.

The injured were carried back for treatment, and those who survived knew the truth but were speechless and unable to spread the matter widely.

The Water Kylin did not disclose all the details, only giving a rough description to let people know the seriousness of the situation.

Xu Hei returned to his cave dwelling and took out the Heavenly Demon Mirror.

It had been almost two years since he last used the Heavenly Demon Mirror. Now, the mirror had regained some luster, no longer as lifeless as after its last use.

"What kind of existence is the extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon?"

"If this mirror imprisons an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, can it be used against the Sea God?"

This question was destined to remain unanswered for Xu Hei.

The extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon initially existed in the form of an Inner Demon, mimicking its target, just like the first time with Xuan Yangzi, and the second time with Xu Qingzhi.

Whether human or demonic beast, the Inner Demon can perfectly simulate an identical form.

But if the target is also an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, what would happen?

Xu Hei shook his head; it was a very dangerous thought. According to his guess, even the demon race has a hierarchy.

The one in the Heavenly Demon Mirror is just an ordinary demon, while the Sea God is called a Demon Child, which must have something special.

"Wait! If the extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon can feed on heavy oil, can I feed some to the Heavenly Demon Mirror?" Xu Hei's eyes flashed.

However, recalling Hei Huang's attitude towards heavy oil, Xu Hei shook his head, temporarily dismissing the idea.

If it were really possible to feed it heavy oil, Hei Huang would have mentioned it.

"Originally, I prepared many means for the year-end assembly, but they ended up being used by the Sea God Sect, and many weren't even utilized." Xu Hei sighed inwardly.

His strength was still insufficient.

Not to mention whether he could take first place, even if he could, there were stronger enemies and greater crises waiting for him.

He must break through to the Elemental Infant stage; only by forming a Nascent Soul would Xu Hei have the power to protect himself.

He didn't know what help an early Elemental Infant stage would be against a giant like the Sea God, but Xu Hei was determined to do it.

He wanted to awaken the nine Dragon veins, form a Nascent Soul, and transform into a dragon!

"There must be a way, there must be a turning point, I must become stronger!" Xu Hei's heart was resolute.

…………

Sea God Altar.

This was a pyramid-shaped structure located at the seabed, only its tip was cut off, leaving a flat top. The tower's body was covered with various strange runes.

These types of runes had never existed in the world, as if they didn't belong to this world.

Hei Huang, Han Te, and Tianji Shangren used their most powerful concealment techniques to approach the altar, with none of the three parties discovering each other.

Hei Huang's body was covered with immortal patterns not belonging to this world, completely hiding his form.

Han Te used a crude method, an invisibility cloak, odor eliminator, and water fusion beads, but in large quantities, layered countless times.

Tianji Shangren was simpler, using the technique to shield himself from heavenly secrets, making it as if he had never been there, never approached, as if the place had nothing to do with him.

The three passed through the edge of the Sea God Altar, stepping onto the pyramid, and soon reached the top of the altar.

Looking down from the top of the altar, the rune structure here resembled a teleportation array, but it was different from traditional teleportation arrays.

Hei Huang directly started to scrape off a layer of the array patterns on the altar.

Han Te took out a pickaxe, intending to dig out a brick to sell.

Tianji Shangren sat cross-legged, practicing Breathing Exercise, seemingly absorbing the spiritual energy here.

But it definitely wasn't just spiritual energy.

…………

In a flash, a day passed.

The Sea God Altar was too sturdy; Hei Huang spent an entire day and only managed to scrape off three array patterns, transferring them to his self-made array flags for future use.

Han Te only managed to dig out two bricks, which were so heavy that even with his cultivation, he could barely lift them, indicating their high value, likely fetching a good price in Spirit Stones.

Tianji Shangren absorbed about one-tenth of the spiritual energy here, with a look of lingering satisfaction on his face.

"It's getting late, we should leave."

The three stood up together and dashed off in the same direction.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from afar, resounding from the heavens and the earth, spreading for thousands of miles.

"Stop, thieves!!"

The voice rolled in like a stormy wave, like thunderous fury, it was the Soul Refining Demon Lord, returning at the fastest speed.

Of course, to hurry back, he had consumed almost all his true essence and burned what little Divine Sense he had left, just to arrive early.

"What? He actually returned early!"

The three were simultaneously alarmed, speeding up, fleeing madly into the distance.

The Soul Refining Demon Lord, in extreme anger, pursued in the direction the three were escaping.

Thus began a month-long, grand pursuit spanning thousands of miles.

This chase left a deep impression on the Soul Refining Demon Lord, an indelible memory that would last a lifetime, but that is a story for another time.

…………

Xu Hei's seclusion this time didn't last long before he received a communication talisman.

"Gather at Martial Arts Island at noon tomorrow."

This was a message from Yu Jianqiu.

He almost forgot, this guy was still the captain of the third team.

Although according to the rules, after a year, they would no longer belong to the hunting squad and would return to their respective sects.

However, the communication method was still retained.

This time, Xu Hei didn't delay and arrived at Martial Arts Island at noon the next day.

Along with him were the top eight contestants from the year-end assembly.

Bai Luo, Bai Qiushui, Xu Bai, Xu Hei, Hai Teng, Xiong Dabao.

After several days of healing, they had all awakened and seemed to have recovered well. Some even showed signs of advancement in their cultivation, with their aura uncontrollably emanating, indicating they had touched the threshold.

This life-and-death crisis was just a crisis for ordinary people, but for the Chosen, it was an opportunity!

Geniuses are geniuses precisely because they possess extraordinary abilities!

And Yu Jianqiu sat on the original platform, cross-legged in the center, wearing an eye mask, resting with his eyes closed.

"Surprisingly, he's not late, how rare." Xu Hei clicked his tongue in wonder.

"Since the end of that day, he hasn't left." Xu Bai transmitted.

"……" Xu Hei was speechless.

So it turned out, Yu Jianqiu hadn't left at all, no wonder he was on time.

Before long, two more figures arrived, Nine-Headed Worm and the Silver-haired Witch Ah Yin.

With this, the eight were complete.

"Among the original top eight contestants, Gong Tianhe and Turtle Dragon died in battle, and their places are taken by Nine-Headed Worm and Ah Yin. You are the new top eight!"

Only then did Yu Jianqiu speak.

No one knew what the selection criteria were, but since the higher-ups had decided, they had no authority to change it.

Xu Hei speculated it was based on their performance against the Sea God Sect.

"What, the year-end assembly is still going on?" Hai Teng frowned.

Yu Jianqiu shook his head and said, "After discussions among the higher-ups, it was decided to award each of you eight the first-place prize, and on top of that, double it!"

"You eight are tied for first, each receiving five hundred thousand contribution points!"

When the words were spoken, all eight present were stunned. They were both delighted and puzzled by such a result.

Five hundred thousand contribution points were indeed substantial, even enough to exchange for two cups of Enlightenment Tea.

But what prompted the higher-ups to make such a decision?

Contribution points aren't just handed out; they are deducted from the higher-ups' resources.

"Additionally, each of you can choose any treasure from the Treasure Pavilion, anything at all!"

"If there's nothing satisfactory, you can make a request, and we will tailor-make something for you! As long as it's not excessive, it can be fulfilled!" Yu Jianqiu continued.

This was an even more substantial reward.

Choosing any treasure, even above the fourth tier, and the option to request a custom-made item was more enticing than five hundred thousand contribution points.

This was a tangible benefit that could lead to real improvement!

"Why is this?" Bai Luo asked, puzzled.

Yu Jianqiu took a deep breath and said slowly, "Starting this year, Penglai Sea and Penglai Island will no longer recruit any newcomers. The future hope lies with you eight!"

Yu Jianqiu didn't elaborate on the meaning of this statement.

But everyone felt a heavy burden pressing on their hearts.

The future hope!

As someone who understood the whole story, Xu Hei could grasp the meaning behind these words. He hesitated for a moment and asked, "Can we opt out?"

"Of course, you can leave at any time, but if you accept this opportunity, I hope you can bear the corresponding responsibility in the future," Yu Jianqiu said solemnly.

Everyone fell silent.

If it were the old Xu Hei, facing a great calamity, he would have fled without hesitation, as far as he could.

But since the time Xuan Yangzi sacrificed a million serpents, Xu Hei realized there were things he had to face!

Without a word, he climbed onto the platform.

At the same time, the other seven also stepped onto the platform, with no one choosing to opt out. Even though each of them knew what the so-called responsibility entailed.

In this silent advance, all nine of Xu Hei's Dragon veins stirred within him, like nine seeds taking root and sprouting inside him.