Chapter 28: I'll Take You to Meet Your Ancestor Right Now

This situation was truly not looking good.

Just beyond Wolf's Head Mountain lay the territory of the Spirit Gathering realm snake demon.

Although Song Xuanqing had never directly encountered the great serpent demon, he could judge the whole from the part — if even its underling snake demons were brazenly eating people, what kind of creature could the great serpent demon itself be?

Moreover, the great serpent demon's territory was far too close to his own. Song Xuanqing felt that sooner or later, he and that great serpent demon would have to settle things between them.

When that day truly came, he would likely find himself on the back foot. If that was the case, it would be far better to take the initiative and deal with the great serpent demon sooner rather than later.

That way, he wouldn't have to remain constantly vigilant against snake demons slipping into the village to prey on people.

In this world, there was only the logic of a thief who steals for a thousand days — there was no such thing as guarding against a thief for a thousand days.

What's more, it was this great serpent demon's underling that had come knocking on his door first.

Today, Xuanmo had temporarily held the little snake demon at bay, but Song Xuanqing had no illusions that it would simply let the matter go and spare the villagers at the foot of the mountain.

Besides, Song Xuanqing was no pushover.

With his level of power, forget a mere Bone Refinement Stage little snake demon — even that Spirit Gathering realm great serpent demon would have to kneel before him the moment it set foot in his Domain.

Being weaker than one's enemy was one thing, but when one's own strength was superior, Song Xuanqing had no intention of tolerating that snake demon lurking nearby with predatory eyes.

A cold glint flashed through his eyes. Song Xuanqing pondered for a moment, and a plan took shape in his mind.

"Tomorrow morning, take me to Green Mirror Pool. For tonight, rest and recover here."

With that, Song Xuanqing tossed 1 point of Incense Value to Xuanmo.

He was not a petty or stingy person. Xuanmo's injuries had been sustained on his account, so offering some compensation was only right.

The moment Xuanmo caught the familiar aura of incense divinity at the tip of her nose, her eyes lit up with delighted surprise.

She hadn't expected that getting injured in a fight with that snake demon would earn her a reward?

She knew she hadn't followed the wrong god. Following this Lord Xuanqing — there was a bright future ahead!

Xuanmo happily expressed her thanks, then closed her eyes and began to cultivate.

Completely unaware that Song Xuanqing's gaze lingered on her for a long while.

* * *

The next day.

The sky was just beginning to brighten, the first pale light of dawn barely touching the horizon.

Accompanied by the crowing of roosters, Xuanmo opened her pair of green eyes.

She glanced at the sky outside and said, "My lord, it's light out. Shall we set off for Green Mirror Pool now?"

"Mm."

A faint sound of acknowledgment was her only reply.

In the next moment, Song Xuanqing's figure materialized.

Ink-black hair, a cyan robe, divine aura drifting around him.

Yet as Xuanmo looked at him, she couldn't shake the feeling that Song Xuanqing's presence seemed considerably weaker than before.

She didn't ask about it, however, and obediently took the lead.

And her instincts were not wrong — for what stood before her now was merely a soul-split of Song Xuanqing's.

Its power was roughly equivalent to the early Bone Refinement Stage.

Green Mirror Pool lay on the far side of Wolf's Head Mountain, already beyond the boundaries of his Domain, and only a soul-split could reach it.

Furthermore, Song Xuanqing had other plans. His true body could not afford to expose itself before that Spirit Gathering realm great serpent demon — not yet.

And so, naturally, the soul-split was the one suited to make an appearance.

The two traveled in silence. The demon beast and the god arrived quickly at Back Slope Hill, where the towering peaks of Wolf's Head Mountain were already visible ahead.

Xuanmo kept her head down and led the way while Song Xuanqing drifted through the air above.

Suddenly, Song Xuanqing tilted his head as if sensing something, and came to a stop.

Xuanmo hadn't noticed anything unusual and was still charging ahead.

It was Song Xuanqing who called her back.

"Wait."

Xuanmo halted and turned her head around in confusion.

She watched as Song Xuanqing flew directly toward the left, where a large stretch of shrubs grew to about waist height.

Xuanmo hurried after him.

It didn't take long for her to understand why.

There, hidden in the middle of the dense shrubs, was a large green-flower snake as thick as an adult's thigh, coiled and concealed within.

And this was no ordinary large snake — it was a late-stage Body Tempering Stage snake demon.

It was the very same snake demon that had fought with Xuanmo the day before.

Xuanmo's fur instantly bristled. She bared her teeth and glared ferociously at the green-flower snake.

"You dead snake, you dare sneak over here again? Still planning to eat the villagers at the foot of the mountain?"

Then she immediately turned to report to Song Xuanqing.

"My lord, this is the snake that wounded me yesterday!"

The green-flower snake spared Xuanmo only a single glance before dismissing her, its gaze snapping tensely to Song Xuanqing.

Its forked tongue flicked in and out with unease.

It had indeed been planning to slip straight into the village to prey on people.

It hadn't expected such terrible luck — to be discovered by Song Xuanqing of all beings.

But it couldn't figure out what Song Xuanqing was. Xuanmo was a demon beast, that much was clear — but Song Xuanqing? He looked like a person, yet didn't feel like one. His aura was powerful enough to set the snake's heart on edge.

How could a demon cat and this unknown human-like existence be traveling together?

The green-flower snake fixed its gaze on Song Xuanqing, watching for any opening to flee.

A bad start — better to run first.

Song Xuanqing looked down at the green-flower snake from above, and let out a cold laugh.

"Quite bold of you!"

With that, Song Xuanqing gave the snake no chance to escape. He moved swiftly, seizing it by its vital spot.

And just like that, he hoisted it into the air.

The green-flower snake hadn't even registered what was happening before it was subdued. It stared wide-eyed, hissing and flicking its tongue, struggling frantically.

Song Xuanqing narrowed his eyes, a dangerous light flashing within them.

"Stop moving. If I'm displeased, I'll crush your vital spot and take you back to make snake-meat soup."

The green-flower snake froze the moment it heard that, no longer daring to struggle. It flicked its tongue anxiously and said, putting on a brave front despite its fear:

"My ancestor is the Serpent King of the Falling Glow Mountain Range! If you dare kill me, my ancestor will never let you off!"

Song Xuanqing let out a cold laugh. "The Spirit Gathering realm snake demon of Green Mirror Pool, is it? Don't worry — I'll take you to meet your ancestor right now!"

With that, Song Xuanqing flew forward, one hand gripping the green-flower snake, the other stretched ahead.

Xuanmo led the way.

The green-flower snake was utterly dumbfounded.

This brazen? He felt like nothing more than a Bone Refinement Stage cultivator — far stronger than itself, yes, but how could he dare march straight to its ancestor while using it as a hostage?!

Fine, fine, fine. Truly ignorant of death!

When they reached its ancestor, it would make sure to lodge a full complaint and have its ancestor kill this arrogant fool!

And that demon cat too!

Oh, and those humans down the mountain — it was going to eat every last one of them!

* * *

As the morning sun rose, Song Xuanqing passed through Wolf's Head Mountain.

At the western foot of Wolf's Head Mountain, several long streams wound their way to unknown destinations.

At the source of those streams lay a deep pool whose surface gleamed like green glass — Green Mirror Pool.

Though it was called a pool, it was in truth more the size of a river — wide, deep, and thick with water plants.

Song Xuanqing stood atop a high cliff face, gazing down at the pool below.

He was still some distance from the water's edge, yet he could already sense the dense, chaotic Demonic Aura emanating from the vicinity of Green Mirror Pool.

A considerable number of snake demons were coiled and draped everywhere — some hanging from treetops, some coiled along the banks, some lurking hidden among the water plants. The sight sent a chill down the spine.

Song Xuanqing glanced down at Xuanmo beside him.

"You head back first."

In case things came to blows with the great serpent demon, he didn't want to accidentally injure the little demon cat.

Xuanmo asked no questions, nodded obediently, turned, and ran off into the distance.

Watching the little demon cat disappear, Song Xuanqing withdrew his gaze. Gripping the green-flower snake in one hand, he leapt from the cliff and plunged downward.

Wind rushed past his ears as his line of sight dropped rapidly.

Beneath him, Green Mirror Pool drew closer and closer.

Song Xuanqing didn't slow down. Before the snake demons near the pool's edge could even react, he had already landed on the surface of the water.

The deep pool, green as a mirror, reflected the sudden arrival of a divine figure. He stood upon the water as though it were solid ground.

The moment he appeared, before the snake demons along the bank could respond, Song Xuanqing raised his voice in a great shout that rolled out in waves across the pool.

"Wuzhu! Come out and face me!"

Wuzhu — that was the name Xuanmo had mentioned: the name of the Spirit Gathering realm snake demon.