join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter
The agreement with Xu Renshan was to depart the next day, leaving one night for rest.
Eagle Tooth City had no night; in this distorted, sealed space, night was like day.
However, the light was much dimmer than normal daylight, looking somewhat like dusk.
Amon sat atop the Xu Family's white tower, gazing at the city, which appeared a dull yellow under the light reflected from the rock walls, his eyes deep and calm.
Shen Yan came to his side and softly asked, "What are you looking at?"
"The scenery," Amon replied with a smile, "such a unique city is rare."
"I always feel something is off," Shen Yan said, frowning.
Amon's smile didn't waver: "What do you mean?"
Shen Yan replied, "The Xu Family's spatial wormhole… it seems to be constantly trembling, like it's malfunctioning, but it feels a bit strange."
"I've seen damaged spatial wormholes before; when damaged, the wormhole's form gradually shatters and disperses into spatial fragments, it doesn't remain this stable."
Amon was noncommittal: "Perhaps the degree of damage is just different."
Shen Yan nodded: "Maybe, but in any case, tomorrow we should pay more attention to that guy, watch out for each other, and don't let him scheme against us."
Amon nodded: "Then let's do that. We'll watch out for each other, and if the Xu Family dares to play tricks, we'll deal with them together."
…
In a secret room of the Xu Family, an old man with sunken eyes, protruding cheekbones, and a few sparse hairs on his scalp, looking like skin and bones, sat on a low bed.
He wore a black robe, and a purple mark in the shape of a snake was on his face.
The mark was lifelike; upon closer inspection, one could almost feel it slowly squirming, as if alive.
The old man's face twitched incessantly, his expression showing a hint of pain.
The severe pain made it difficult for him to control his aura, and a terrifying presence filled the secret room, making it hard for anyone to approach.
"Ah…"
He let out a painful roar, and terrifying sound waves impacted the secret room, making the entire room tremble.
The door creaked open, and Xu Renshan walked in, respectfully bowing to the black-robed elder: "Old Ancestor."
"Didn't I say not to come unless it's important?" the black-robed elder said in a hoarse, low voice.
"The fire essence paste has been found. Tomorrow, I will go with others to retrieve it."
A hint of joy appeared on the black-robed elder's face: "Good, good. This cursed 'Five Serpents Devouring Heart Curse' can finally be lifted."
Seeing that Xu Renshan had not left, he asked, "Is there anything else?"
Xu Renshan said, "The family's spatial wormhole has some problems. After Old Ancestor recovers, I hope it can be repaired soon."
The elder frowned: "Why did it break so quickly this time? Didn't I maintain it just half a year ago?"
Xu Renshan responded: "Uh… I deliberately damaged it. The Crimson Serpent guarding the fire essence paste is a bit troublesome, and I can't handle it alone."
"To increase the chances of those powerful Dou Huangs who are eager to use the spatial wormhole agreeing to help me obtain the fire essence paste, I intentionally caused problems with the wormhole."
"I promised them that if Old Ancestor's injuries recover, I would repair the spatial wormhole immediately for their use."
The black-robed elder looked at Xu Renshan with a strange expression, then nodded: "Alright."
…
The dim yellow light gradually turned bright white; it was daytime.
The three met at the ticket office at the inner city entrance.
Xu Renshan said spiritedly, "Did you two rest well? If you're ready, let's depart."
Shen Yan and Amon both nodded.
The three rode a large griffon towards a tunnel on the rock face.
Traveling by Dou Qi wings was a bit too conspicuous and easily detected by the other two families with Dou Emperor experts in the city.
After entering the tunnel, Xu Renshan lightly tapped the griffon's back, unfurled a pair of green Dou Qi wings behind him, and shot off into the distance.
Behind Shen Yan were a pair of earthy yellow wings, following closely.
Both of them glanced at Amon out of the corner of their eyes and were startled; there was nothing behind him!
However, upon closer inspection, they found that behind Amon, there was actually a pair of transparent wings, only vaguely visible in outline.
Both simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief; they had almost thought he was a Dou Ancestor expert.
The three moved very quickly, and after half an hour of travel, they flew out of the long tunnel and arrived outside.
The sky was still that hazy, dim color, with a thick layer of dark clouds formed by the perpetual gale winds, blocking half of the sunlight.
On the ground, in the vast, boundless forest, the roars of magical beasts could be heard from time to time.
At this moment, Xu Renshan and Shen Yan couldn't help but heighten their vigilance. In these vast mountains, there were countless dangerous magical beasts, and if they were careless, even Dou Emperor experts could encounter considerable danger.
Only Amon remained leisurely at this moment; this was merely a clone, controlled remotely by his main body through the connection of the Flame of Destiny.
After flying for another hour, Xu Renshan reminded them in a low voice, "Be careful, both of you. This is already the territory of those two Crimson Serpents. We are about to approach their lair."
The sea of trees gradually thinned, and an open clearing appeared before the three.
In the clearing stood colossal rocks, dozens of meters high.
On the largest central rock, there was a giant snake, black and red, with bloody fire light Binding its scales.
It was lazily lying on the rock, basking in the sun.
Upon sensing the rapidly approaching auras of the three, its gaze became dangerous, its body slightly lifted, its tongue flicked out, and its eyes held a fierce look.
"Snake King, I wish to exchange for some fire essence paste. For this, I am willing to offer a sixth-tier Fire Spirit Mushroom as a price. I wonder if Snake King agrees."
Sixth-tier magical beasts already possessed intelligence no less than humans, so Xu Renshan spoke politely, following the principle of 'courtesy before force.'
"Hmph, if you had come with such an attitude when you first arrived here a few days ago, I might have considered it, but now… no chance! Go back where you came from." This peak sixth-tier Crimson Serpent coldly refused.
"Before, I didn't know this was your lair, Snake King, and it was you who attacked upon meeting, wasn't it?" Xu Renshan sighed slightly.
"For a thief who intrudes into my home, you still expect me to be polite?" A disdainful snort came from the Crimson Serpent's mouth.
As they confronted each other, another slightly smaller Crimson Serpent also emerged from a natural cave beneath the giant rock, its gaze chillingly fixed on the three in the sky.
"Since Snake King is unwilling, then don't blame us for being impolite." Xu Renshan's gaze darkened, and his tone became icy.
He softly said to the two, "Proceed as planned."
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter