บท 329: Chapter 328: Ancient Heaven Serpent

In the midst of a mountain range cloaked in ethereal clouds, ancient trees reached towards the heavens, enveloping the landscape in a perpetual shade.

As Xiao Ming and his companions strolled through the woods, a delicate mist hung in the air, drifting like white silk.

Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting intermittent patches of golden light upon the grassy terrain. The dew-kissed grassland glistened, releasing an enchanting aroma of grass, flowers, and damp earth.

Wrinkling his nose, Xiao Ming whispered, "The sweet scent in the air has considerably diminished, and there are fewer low-ranking snakes around. We must have reached the central area."

"Be careful later. By the way, Qing Lin, your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils should have a certain attraction to the Ancient Heaven Serpent. If you notice anything unusual, be sure to let us know," he reminded her.

"Mm!" Qing Lin smiled and nodded, her head bobbing in understanding.

"Senior Yao, we'll be relying on you even more for our safety from now on," Xiao Ming said.

"Don't worry," Venerable Tian Huo reassured with a smile.

Without further words, Xiao Ming vanished with a single step, venturing deeper into the mountains. Venerable Tian Huo and the girls followed closely behind.

As they delved deeper, the presence of low-ranking snakes dwindled.

Half an hour later, Qing Lin felt a stirring and grabbed hold of Xiao Ming's sleeve, exclaiming, "Young Master, I sense something in that mountain over there calling out to me!"

Xiao Ming, Xiao Yi Xian, and Venerable Tian Huo turned their attention to her. As Xiao Ming had suspected, they had yet to conduct a thorough search, but Qing Lin had already sensed the call.

"Qing Lin, is there anything peculiar about this call?" Xiao Ming inquired.

"No, I just feel like it's calling me and telling me to hurry over." Qing Lin blinked her eyes and then looked at Xiao Ming, asking, "Young Master, what should we do now?"

Although their purpose was to find the tomb of the Ancient Heaven Serpent, the decision of when to proceed ultimately rested with Xiao Ming.

"Of course, let's head straight there," Xiao Ming said without hesitation. There was no need for further deliberation.

"Okay," Venerable Tian Huo and Xiao Yi Xian agreed without objections.

Led by Qing Lin, the four of them disappeared into the forest, their forms blending seamlessly with the shadows. Behind them, the forest remained still and silent.

Passing through yet another dense forest, Xiao Ming noticed an increase in the presence of nearby snakes, many of them at the fifth and sixth ranks. This indicated that they had indeed ventured deep into the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range.

'So many snake-type magical beasts in the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range, and their strength is formidable. It is likely connected to the fall of the Ancient Heaven Serpent in this place, though the exact reasons remain unknown,' Xiao Ming pondered silently.

Although the Ten Thousand Snake Mountain Range spanned a vast area, for Xiao Ming's group, who had already penetrated deep into it, it was not an insurmountable obstacle. If they were not concerned about attracting unnecessary attention, Xiao Ming and his companions could have asked Venerable Tian Huo to open a spatial passage, transporting them directly to the center of the mountain range.

After roughly ten minutes, the group arrived at a cluster of towering mountains. This particular mountain range was riddled with caves of various sizes.

Without pausing, their guide, Qing Lin, continued walking towards a specific cave, with Xiao Ming and the others trailing closely behind.

Half an hour later, a group of snake-like magical beasts, ranging in size and form, passed by the spot where Xiao Ming's group had stood. Among them were elderly figures with human appearances and hybrid beings with both human and snake features. These snakes, however, did not enter the same cave that Xiao Ming and his companions had just entered. Instead, they proceeded a few more miles and entered a different cave.

...

The cave ahead was enveloped in profound darkness, with Qing Lin leading the way, holding a moonstone high to illuminate their path. The echoing sound of their footsteps reverberated harshly in the narrow passage as they ventured deeper.

As they proceeded, the passage grew narrower, and multiple forks appeared, intertwining like the intricate roots of a tree. Without a guide, it would be all too easy to become lost in this labyrinthine network of paths.

Simultaneously, the presence of creatures grew increasingly scarce. By the end, even Xiao Ming could sense a faint but palpable pressure emanating from the depths of the passage.

After walking dozens of meters, the surroundings suddenly opened up, revealing a hidden small valley. Standing tall in the center of the valley was a chilling sight - a colossal serpent skeleton.

Judging by the length of the skeleton, the magical beast must have been hundreds of meters long, and its bone structure indicated it possessed nine heads during its lifetime. However, now only four of those heads remained. The cracks that adorned the skeleton spoke of a brutal battle the creature had endured.

Xiao Ming and his companions found themselves at the entrance of a cave situated on the cliff face of the valley. They stood there, dumbfounded, gazing at the awe-inspiring sight below.

In a fragile voice, Qing Lin spoke up, "It's calling for me!"

"This pressure is from the Ancient Heaven Serpent, no doubt about it!" said Venerable Tian Huo, putting down his hand that was stroking his beard. His expression became serious, as the serpent's cultivation realm in front of him seemed to be even higher than his own.

"Be cautious. If it can call out to Qing Lin, it means that this Ancient Heaven Serpent still retains some consciousness," Xiao Ming warned. As if to verify his words, a terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from the skeletal remains before them.

Strands of bloody mist gradually seeped from the cracks in the bones. As the mist dispersed, the previously dim and lifeless bones regained a glossy sheen.

Sensing this sudden change, Xiao Ming carefully examined the skeleton and noticed a blood pool about half a meter wide beneath the Ancient Heaven Serpent's remains. The bloody mist seemed to be emanating from the bones, but it was actually just an illusion created by the blood pool beneath the bones.

The sudden change made Xiao Ming and the others cautious and they chose to observe the situation up close.

...

A few minutes earlier, in a cave not far from Xiao Ming and his companions, another blood pool could be found. However, this blood pool was significantly larger than the one beneath the Ancient Heaven Serpent skeleton. It stretched for hundreds of meters in width, and at its center floated a muscular man, cross-legged in the void. Traces of blood energy lingered around his body, gradually dissipating.

Outside the blood pool, numerous snakes hovered in the air, guided by several frail-looking old men. Among them was the Third Elder, though he did not currently occupy a prominent position. Instead, a sinister old man in a dark green robe stood at the forefront.

Xia Ran also appeared among the snakes, but at this moment, he had become much smaller in size, and there was also a snake-beast man standing beside him.

The muscular man in the blood pool slowly opened his eyes, revealing bloodshot demonic pupils that sent chills down one's spine. His voice echoed with an eerie tone as he spoke, "Is everything prepared for the blood ritual?"

"Snake Lord, everything is prepared, but do we truly need to proceed with this ritual? After all, this ritual is our chance to replenish fresh blood..." The green-robed old man stepped forward, his tone hesitant.

"I have been stagnating at the five-star Dou Venerate level for many years. This ritual is the only way for me to break through!" the Snake Lord responded, gazing indifferently at the green-robed old man. His tone was resolute, showing no intention of wavering.