Chapter 45: A Serpent Transforms into a Flood Dragon, Calamity Arrives of Its Own Accord

A dense, rustling sound echoed from the depths of the cave dwelling.

Heihuan’s massive, heavy body glided unhurriedly through this relic of a predecessor.

The interior of the relic was a world unto itself, complete with front courtyards, back gardens, and elegant corridors.

Though it was unknown how long it had been since the master of this dwelling had returned, everything remained fresh and dust-free under the maintenance of the formations.

Compared to this relic, Heihuan felt that his previous living quarters—and even the cave dwelling meticulously arranged by those two foxes—were nothing more than dilapidated holes.

Heihuan had already made up his mind: once he refined that Jade Green Lotus, he would turn this dwelling into his own!

The several Qi Refinement cultivators following beside Heihuan watched him with eager, anxious eyes.

"Great King, can we leave now?"

Hearing this, Heihuan twisted his massive head to look at these low-level human-beasts, his vertical pupils filled with cruelty. "Leave? Go where?"

"Better to come into my belly and reunite with your companions!"

With that, Heihuan opened his maw wide, bit down on one of them, and swallowed him whole after a few chews.

The remaining Qi Refinement cultivators panicked, each frantically activating their spells in an attempt to block Heihuan's assault.

But their meager spells only produced sparks against Heihuan's serpent scales; they couldn't even knock a single scale loose.

As screams, wails, and pleas for mercy faded from loud to weak within the cave, only the sounds of chewing and swallowing remained.

A serpent's tongue swept across the corner of his mouth. Satisfied, Heihuan turned to explore deeper into the dwelling.

He was a demon, after all; how could he allow these Qi Refinement human-beasts to escape?

What if they went to find the Zhao family of the Sea County to harm him?

Having swallowed so many people, Heihuan felt somewhat full, and his expression grew languid.

Gliding slowly, Heihuan’s vertical pupils casually surveyed the surroundings until he reached the lotus pond in the back garden. There, amidst a sea of green leaves and red flowers, he saw the most unique sight: the Jade Green Lotus, looking as transparent as fine jade.

"The Jade Green Lotus..."

Heihuan's eyes burned with fervor. It was his opportunity for enlightenment!

The Jade Green Lotus had not yet fully bloomed. Heihuan slowly coiled his entire body, staring unblinkingly at the lotus, waiting for the moment it would fully mature and open.

Meanwhile, amidst the rolling mountain ranges of Qingping Mountain, Jiang Sheng was advancing rapidly, accompanied by three foxes—two green and one white.

Although Jiang Sheng did not leak any aura, the presence of the three Foundation Establishment demon beasts, Bai Shang and the others, was unmistakable, causing the weak creatures along the way to scatter in terror.

Upon arriving at the front of Bai Shang and Qingyun's cave dwelling, Bai Shang felt a surge of anger at the sight of the mess outside.

This was his and his wife's dwelling, which they had meticulously maintained for a long time, yet now it was being carelessly trampled by that Black Fire Serpent.

Jiang Sheng surveyed the area and said, "There are traces of combat here, and they are recent."

"It seems another creature discovered this place and clashed with the Black Fire Serpent."

Bai Shang was startled. "That Black Fire Serpent has the strength of the late Foundation Establishment stage. Who could fight it?"

"Not necessarily. Perhaps the serpent intentionally lured them here?" Jiang Sheng smiled.

Bai Shang immediately understood Jiang Sheng's meaning. "Daoist Jiang, do you mean the Black Fire Serpent intentionally lured cultivators here to act as decoys to test for danger?"

Jiang Sheng nodded. "If you think about it from its perspective, isn't that quite logical?"

With that, Jiang Sheng made a grasping motion with his right hand, and the Qingping Sword appeared in his palm. "The three of you, do not hesitate. Enter quickly. I fear the Black Fire Serpent may have already entered the dwelling."

Bai Shang and the others did not hesitate further and quickly entered the dwelling, while Jiang Sheng followed behind, concealing his aura.

Soon, the group reached the predecessor's relic deep within the cave.

Here, Jiang Sheng and the others discovered many torn garments and skeletal remains.

Seeing that the formation in front of the relic was shattered, Bai Shang's expression turned grim. "The Black Fire Serpent has indeed entered. Let's go!"

Coiled before the lotus pond waiting for the Jade Green Lotus to mature, Heihuan suddenly caught several scents.

Two of those scents were exceptionally familiar.

Instantly, Heihuan's vertical pupils filled with murderous intent.

"Those damn foxes actually brought help!"

"They actually dare to return and try to steal my opportunity? They seek death!"

Uncoiling his twenty-plus zhang body, Heihuan turned without hesitation and charged toward the front courtyard of the relic.

The Jade Green Lotus was tied to whether he could open his Purple Mansion or even form a Demon Core; he would never allow anyone to snatch his opportunity!

The three foxes—Bai Shang, Qingyun, and Qingman—leaped forward through the relic.

Suddenly, a pillar of fire shot toward them, grazing the three and striking a small building within the relic, blowing it to smithereens.

"Watch out!"

The three foxes quickly scattered.

Bai Shang spat a mass of ice and snow toward the direction the fire pillar had come from.

The ice and snow seemed composed of countless blades, swirling and sweeping forward, carving fine, dense marks into every building in its path.

The sound of clashing metal rang out.

Heihuan forced his way through the blizzard, enduring Bai Shang's attack.

One-third of his twenty-plus zhang body rose up, as massive as a small mountain.

The shadow he cast covered nearly half of the front courtyard.

The blizzard sliced at Heihuan's body, but it only produced sparks against his scales, failing to wound him at all.

Immediately following, two gusts of wind blades attacked from the left and right.

Dense, green wind blades whistled toward him, once again enveloping Heihuan's body.

A series of clanging sounds erupted, accompanied by flying sparks.

Yet, Heihuan remained unscathed.

Bai Shang and the others' attacks couldn't even break Heihuan's scales!

Seeing that they were only three early-stage Foundation Establishment foxes, Heihuan felt a slight sense of relief.

"I already spared your lives. Why did you come back to seek death?"

Bai Shang clearly hadn't expected their attacks to be useless, but he showed no panic.

"Heihuan! You seized my wife's and my dwelling and occupied our treasures. Do we not have the right to reclaim them?!"

Heihuan couldn't help but burst into laughter, his raspy voice sending shivers down one's spine. "Hahahaha!"

"Your dwelling? Your treasures!"

"What a joke!"

"In these mountains, good things belong to the strong. I am stronger than you, so these things naturally belong to me!"

As he spoke, Heihuan's eyes were filled with excitement.

Facing three weak foxes, Heihuan felt nothing but mockery and brutality. He leisurely displayed his massive body, his steel-like scales, and his terrifying demonic power.

"Bai Shang, do you know that I will soon break through to the Purple Mansion stage?"

"When that time comes, I will be the King of Qingping Mountain!"

"The entire Qingping Mountain will be mine!"

Bai Shang snorted coldly. Just as he was about to speak, Jiang Sheng's figure slowly emerged.

"The King of Qingping Mountain? I seem to have heard that title about a year ago."

"At that time, the one who called himself that was a tiger demon."

"I recall, was his name Huang Shanjun?"

The sudden appearance of the Daoist startled Heihuan.

If the Daoist hadn't revealed himself voluntarily, Heihuan wouldn't have known such a powerful figure was hiding here!

A late-stage Foundation Establishment human cultivator!

Heihuan eyed the newcomer warily. "You, cultivator, are also a helper brought by Bai Shang?"

Jiang Sheng nodded slightly. "Indeed."

"Die!"

Heihuan abruptly spat out a fireball.

He sensed that Jiang Sheng was not to be trifled with, and a vague premonition told him that this Daoist was also after the Jade Green Lotus!

Therefore, Heihuan launched a decisive sneak attack!

"Daoist, be careful!" Seeing the sudden attack, Bai Shang shouted a warning.

Jiang Sheng was not surprised. He swung the Qingping Sword in a direct slash. A streak of green sword qi shot out, expanding to three zhang in size as it caught the wind.

The sword qi shattered the fireball and, under Heihuan's stunned gaze, flew straight toward him.

The piercing, chilling sharpness gave Heihuan his first sense of true crisis. He twisted his body to dodge, but the sword qi still grazed him.

Sparks flew as a large patch of scales was scraped directly off Heihuan's body, much like a butcher using a bone-scraping knife on a fish. The pain caused Heihuan to hiss incessantly.

His twenty-plus zhang demonic body twisted and turned violently. The intense pain awakened the brutality in Heihuan's bones.

On that massive serpent head, his vertical pupils—larger than a human's—stared fixedly at Jiang Sheng. Heihuan's raspy voice carried a ferocious killing intent: "Human cultivator, I will have your life!"

Holding his blade, Jiang Sheng walked forward leisurely. "You all retreat outside the dwelling for now. Do not let other creatures disturb this Daoist."

Hearing this, Bai Shang did not hesitate and led Qingyun and Qingman out of the dwelling.

"I thought you would have them help you." Heihuan shielded his injured section and stared warily at Jiang Sheng.

Jiang Sheng chuckled softly. "There is no need. It is more liberating for this Daoist to act alone."

"You also came for the Jade Green Lotus." Heihuan's body coiled tighter, and his head gradually retracted.

Jiang Sheng nodded. "Correct. That is precisely why I have come."

"Fellow Daoist, if my guess is correct, I should be your tribulation."

Tribulations are born of heaven and earth.

All living things in the world have their own tribulations.

For example, the strongest tiger demon that previously occupied Qingping Mountain, Huang Shanjun.

His strength was formidable, and he possessed dozens of ghost thralls. He was the most powerful demon beast in all of Qingping Mountain, having almost replaced the Mountain God.

Huang Shanjun occupied a spiritual vein and acted as the Mountain God. If he had continued, once he occupied half of Qingping Mountain, he could have opened his Purple Mansion, completely replaced the Mountain God, and lived in eternal leisure.

Jiang Sheng's sudden arrival could be described as Huang Shanjun's tribulation.

Heihuan's life had been smooth sailing since birth; he had even found the rare Spirit Fire Fruit, which allowed him to grow to the late Foundation Establishment stage, roaming unchecked on the eastern side of Qingping Mountain, nearly ready to open his Purple Mansion.

Once Heihuan swallowed the Jade Green Lotus, he would naturally open his Purple Mansion and might even leap forward to become a flood dragon.

When such creatures experience an ancestral bloodline awakening or reach a cultivation bottleneck, they all face a tribulation.

Whether he would eventually open his Purple Mansion to swim as a dragon or perish entirely depended on whether Heihuan could survive the tribulation that was Jiang Sheng.

Realizing his current situation, the brutality in Heihuan's eyes intensified

"Tribulation?"

"Come and die!"