Hearing the roar echoing from the heavens, Xiao Yan slowly withdrew his fist, but his feet remained firmly planted on top of Yaotian Xiao’s body. The power of the Heavenly Flame permeated his feet, halting precisely at the vital spot, which was a snake’s death point. If struck, even a Dou Sage like him would be in for a rough time. Raising his head, Xiao Yan looked up at the sky, where he saw numerous Nine Serene Hellish Earth Pythons. These people were staring at him with fierce eyes, filled with anger. No matter how one looked at it, the Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan was one of the three great clans in the Magic Beast Realm. Now that someone had infiltrated their territory and even violently beat their clan leader, no one could tolerate such a provocation.
“Who are you, boy? How dare you cause trouble in my Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan!” shouted an elder with a completely crimson venomous snake coiled around his shoulder, glaring at Xiao Yan with a chilly voice.
As he yelled, his eyes also turned to the giant golden figure formed by Xiao Yan, focusing on the black giant snake under his feet. His heart skipped a beat; he didn’t expect that, despite Yaotian Xiao’s strength, he would be suppressed to such a degree by this unknown intruder.
“No matter who he is, we must capture him today. If word of this gets out, how will my Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan ever stand in the Magic Beast Realm?” roared a gray-haired elder beside the first one.
“Python Guards, seize this person!” commanded the gray-haired elder.
“Yes!” The air was filled with synchronized shouts, and the sound of breaking winds echoed as figures wearing python armor emerged from various mountain peaks. After a few quick flashes, they surrounded Xiao Yan, locking onto him with their overwhelming auras.
“The Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan truly has a strong foundation. These Python Guards all emit powerful auras, and they move in perfect unison,” observed Xiao Yan, glancing over the nearly hundred Python Guards around him, his heart filled with surprise. Even the Alliance of the Heavenly Capital did not possess such elite troops.
While Xiao Yan was still in awe, Yaotian Xiao, under his feet, suddenly burst with power, forcibly breaking free from Xiao Yan’s control. He clumsily darted into the sky, his blood-red eyes fixing on Xiao Yan, roaring, “All elders, form the Ten Thousand Snake Array! Kill this guy!”
Hearing Yaotian Xiao’s order, the many elders in the sky blinked, then bowed respectfully, complying instantly. Swooshing sounds filled the air as the elders, whose strength was nothing to scoff at, dispersed to form a peculiar array, trapping Xiao Yan within.
Seeing the elders moving, Xiao Yan’s brows knitted slightly. Even a brave man can’t withstand numbers, and this was the stronghold of the Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan. Relying solely on himself, it would be difficult to defend against such relentless attacks. After all, both Yaotian Xiao and the elder with the crimson snake on his shoulder were genuine Dou Sages.
“Leaders of the various tribes, you all should return home for now. I will handle this personally!” Having cornered Xiao Yan, Yaotian Xiao’s eyes flashed as he turned sharply, addressing the leaders of the nearby tribes.
The tribal leaders hesitated for a moment, but dared not defy their clan leader’s orders and eventually nodded in agreement.
“Heh, Yaotian Xiao, you’re trying to send these tribal leaders away again, planning to silently do away with me, right?” Just as Yaotian Xiao’s words fell, a mocking voice echoed from the deep ravine. A figure darted out, appearing in the air above.
The person who appeared was none other than Yao Ming, whom Xiao Yan had rescued from the Nine Serene Nether Springs. However, Yao Ming’s body was no longer shriveled; instead, he had grown taller, with a face that, though dark, radiated an aura of malevolence.
Seeing Yao Ming’s face, which bore a resemblance to Yaotian Xiao’s, all the members of the Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan were stunned. After a long pause, some incredulous voices cried, “Clan Leader Yao Ming? How could this be? Didn’t you go astray and perish during your cultivation?”
“Indeed, it’s Clan Leader Yao Ming.”
“Isn’t he the elder brother of Clan Leader Tianshao, the previous Clan Leader? But didn’t they say he died due to demonic cultivation? He’s been gone for hundreds of years, how can he appear now?”
Hearing the whispers filling the air, Yaotian Xiao’s face twitched. Glancing at the elder with the crimson snake, he roared, “Silence! Don’t be fooled by this imposter. He’s surely a collaborator, masquerading as my brother to cause chaos. Elders, activate the array and kill him now!”
The elders, taken aback, hesitated a moment.
“Ha ha, Yaotian Xiao, so eager to silence me?” laughed Yao Ming. He then turned to the elders, “Elders Tan, Ming, and Liu, you were closest to me in the past. Can’t you recognize me?”
The three white-haired elders’ eyes swept across Yao Ming, excitement flaring on their faces. “It seems it truly is Clan Leader Yao Ming. We are quite familiar with his aura.”
“Elder Meng, stop misleading them. The current Clan Leader of the Nine Serene Hellish Earth Python Clan is Yaotian Xiao. Your actions are akin to betrayal!” The elder with the crimson snake glared darkly at the three, rebuking.
“Grand Elder, this is indeed Clan Leader Yao Ming. Is there some misunderstanding here?” the three elders hurriedly asked.
“There’s no misunderstanding. I was poisoned and sealed at the bottom of the Nine Serene Nether Springs by this good brother and the Grand Elder. If it weren’t for someone rescuing me, I would’ve stayed sealed forever. They wish to silence me now that I’ve escaped…” said Yao Ming with a light laugh.
“What?” Yao Ming’s words struck like a thunderbolt. Everyone’s gaze turned to Yaotian Xiao and the Grand Elder.
“Grand Elder, is what Clan Leader Yao Ming said true?” some elders bellowed angrily.
“This impostor’s words are false. Do you believe him?” replied the Grand Elder, his robe fluttering. “If so, then I shall apprehend him myself and have him speak the truth!”
No sooner had the Grand Elder finished speaking than he vanished, reappearing before Yao Ming. His withered hands turned pitch black, an intense stench spreading outwards.
“Dry Leaf Poison Palm!”
“Grand Elder, you’re rather quick to silence me, aren’t you?” As the Grand Elder made his move, a roar boomed, followed by a golden light surging. A huge golden figure inserted itself between Yao Ming and the Grand Elder, clashing with intense force.
Clang!
The collision created an energy hurricane, shaking the mountain beneath them.
The Grand Elder stumbled back two steps, glaring at the golden figure with a sinister expression. “Boy, you’re asking for death!”
“Hmph, Grand Elder, you’re even more impatient,” countered Yao Ming, stepping forward. Opening his mouth, a black light shot out, transforming into a half-yard-long black scepter in his hand. The entire staff was pitch black, with two lifelike black venomous snakes entwined at its top. Between the snakes, a fist-sized black orb emitted a cold glow.
“Do the elders recognize this?”
“The Nine Serene Scepter? It’s the lost Nine Serene Scepter!”
“That’s the symbol of the Clan Leader.”
Seeing the black scepter, the faces of the elders in the sky changed, and their eyes burned with fervor. From the scepter, they felt the pressure of their bloodline, which was believed to contain the purest lineage of the Nine Serene Royal Family. If the clan possessed this bloodline, it would greatly prolong the vitality of their thinning lineage.
“No wonder I searched everywhere and couldn’t find the Nine Serene Scepter. It was swallowed by this bastard,” snarled Yaotian Xiao, fists clenched, his face darkening.
“Whatever happens, don’t just believe one side. You should know how the clan has fared under Clan Leader Tianshao these years. Even if Yao Ming is the previous Clan Leader, he’s still the former. If he returns the Nine Serene Scepter, he’ll have a place in the clan,” declared the Grand Elder, glaring at Xiao Yan.
“Indeed, Clan Leader Yao Ming, give the Nine Serene Scepter to Clan Leader Tianshao,” urged several elders, loyal to Yaotian Xiao, supporting him.
Yao Ming let out a cold laugh. “Grand Elder, you are mistaken. Whoever holds the Nine Serene Scepter is the Clan Leader, a rule set by our ancestors. Letting Yaotian Xiao become the Clan Leader was a temporary arrangement, and you all agreed to return the position to me if I returned.”
The three elders pointed out earlier, exchanging glances, added, “The three of us are right…”
Among the elders, support for Yao Ming was evident, as some voices of agreement rose.
“Scoundrels, die!” Hearing these words, Yaotian Xiao and the Grand Elder’s faces grew cold, and they shared a glance. In an instant, both charged towards Xiao Yan, unleashing a terrifying whirlwind of force. Evidently, they aimed to use brutal force to eliminate Xiao Yan and Yao Ming, only then would the situation stabilize.
With two Dou Sages acting simultaneously, the resulting commotion was indeed world-shaking.
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