Chapter 36

"Great Demon Winged Serpent?" Ji Ning frowned. "What happened? Our Ji Clan's Western Estate should have a garrison at Winged Serpent Lake, and there are several innate lifeforms there. Could it be that this Great Demon Winged Serpent has escaped from Winged Serpent Lake?"

Wan Fang shook his head. "If it was just escaping from Winged Serpent Lake, it would be a minor issue! Sigh, to think that our Ji Clan's Western Estate actually helped this Great Demon Winged Serpent. The several innate lifeforms we stationed there have been looking for opportunities to slay the Great Demon Winged Serpent. The Great Demon Winged Serpent has been in danger every day, and there have been several major battles! But under this pressure... this Winged Serpent actually reached the Innate Perfection stage!"

"What, Innate Perfection!" Ji Ning was greatly alarmed.

An Innate Perfection-level great demon is a real threat. In Dongshan Marsh, there is only one Innate Perfection-level old demon, the Snow Toad Old Demon!

"The several innate lifeforms we stationed there can only barely protect themselves with magical treasures, watching helplessly as the Great Demon Winged Serpent escapes!" Wan Fang sighed. "As soon as we got the news, Master immediately went to pursue it!"

"Father is pursuing it?" Ji Ning nodded.

Wan Fang nodded. "But the Great Demon Winged Serpent can fly and dive into the water, and it's much faster now. Once it hides in deep water, even a Purple Mansion cultivator would find it hard to kill. Master understands this, and this time, he might not be able to slay it. So he immediately ordered me to come and inform you, to be cautious, after all, you killed its child."

"I understand." Ji Ning nodded solemnly. "It seems I need to leave the Ironstone Tribe. The Winged Serpent, hmpf, I didn't expect it to break through after living so long!"

"For a demon that has cultivated for a thousand years, with such a deep foundation, breaking through isn't surprising." Wan Fang then said, "That's all the news. My mission is complete."

Ji Ning earnestly said, "Senior Brother Wan Fang, the people I killed earlier were from the nearby Black Mountain Tribe. Go and give them a good warning!"

"Leave this to me." Wan Fang nodded.

...

That day, Ji Ning left the Ironstone Tribe with Qiuye and Mo Wu. He didn't tell anyone where he was going, only to make it harder for the Great Demon Winged Serpent to find him.

***

The disaster caused by the Winged Serpent lasted for over a month before everything calmed down.

After the Great Demon Winged Serpent broke through to the Innate Perfection stage, it burst out of Winged Serpent Lake and began to vent its anger, wreaking havoc on the surrounding tribes, devouring many humans, causing panic in the tribes. It also searched for Ji Ning's whereabouts. However, the news of Ji Ning's adventures was a secret, known by very few, and with Ji Ning being extra cautious, the Winged Serpent naturally couldn't find him!

Half a month later, the Great Demon Winged Serpent encountered Ji Yichuan. The Winged Serpent, confident in its greatly enhanced strength, engaged in a battle. Unexpectedly, it was severely injured again, but it could now fly much faster, making it difficult for Ji Yichuan to catch it. This battle also made the Winged Serpent unwilling to face Ji Yichuan again, fleeing at the sight of him.

Another month later, the Poison Vulture Ridge intervened!

The five estates of the Ji Clan negotiated with the Poison Vulture Ridge, and the matter ended with the Great Demon Winged Serpent being confined to Winged Serpent Lake for a hundred years!

...

Time passed, and it was now summer.

In the Dongshan Marsh.

Amidst a patch of aquatic grass, two figures were lying in wait. One was a man with half-red, half-white braided hair, exuding an evil aura. The other was a tall man in black.

"Is the information you gathered correct?" the evil man asked softly. "We've been waiting here for three days."

The man in black nodded. "Recently, a young man has been frequently battling the Azure Green Snake King. Every ten to fifteen days, they fight, and the battle usually takes place in this area. Don't worry, Master, when the time comes, the Azure Green Snake will definitely come out of the water. Once it enters the array, it won't be able to escape!"

"Hmm." The evil man said softly. "I've prepared for this day for a long time, and I paid a great price to obtain this Yin-Yang Dual Qi Array. This time, I must capture the Azure Green Snake alive and make it my spirit beast!"

"Once the Azure Green Snake enters the array, its fate will be entirely up to you, Master." the man in black said.

"Ha ha ha..." The evil man laughed softly. "By the way, do you know who this young man is who frequently battles the Azure Green Snake King?"

"Never seen him." The man in black shook his head. "I know all the talented young men of the Tumu Clan, and there's no one like him... The sword technique he uses seems to be the Ji Clan's Dripping Water Scripture."

"Ji Clan?" The evil man's eyes flashed with a fierce light. "To be able to battle the Azure Green Snake King at such a young age, he will likely grow up to be another Ji Yichuan... Since that's the case, I, Tumu Zhan, will help the Ji Clan by sending their genius to the Yellow Springs."

Time passed.

Another half day went by, and it was now sunset. A young man in a leather outfit was approaching through the water waves.

"Master, he's here!" the man in black called out.

Tumu Zhan looked over and saw Ji Ning walking on the water as if it were solid ground, his pupils contracting. "Heaven and Man as One!"

"He must die!" Tumu Zhan's heart was filled with overwhelming killing intent. To achieve Heaven and Man as One at such a young age, such a terrifying young man, if he grows up... he could be even more powerful than Ji Yichuan, possibly becoming the strongest existence in the five estates of the Ji Clan!

"Brother An!" Tumu Zhan ordered, "When the time comes, you will deal with this young man. Even if you can't kill him, keep a close eye on him. Once I subdue the Azure Green Snake King, come over immediately."

"Yes." The man in black respectfully replied.

Tumu Zhan stared intently at the distance.

A young man achieving Heaven and Man as One... such a monstrous talent, far surpassing Tumu Zhan. Fortunately, Tumu Zhan had cultivated for over a hundred years, and with his age advantage, killing this young man would be easy.

...

Tumu Zhan was hiding in the aquatic grass and had set up a concealment array around him. Their aura and sounds couldn't be detected. Since their aura couldn't be detected, Ji Ning couldn't sense their presence either.

"Little snake." Ji Ning stood on the water and called out, "Come out already."

His voice echoed directly into the water.

A moment later.

Boom!

A large green snake emerged from the water, quickly shrinking to about ten meters long. It raised its head and looked at Ji Ning, letting out a disdainful hiss. In fact, after several battles with Ji Ning, the Azure Green Snake King had gained some insights and felt it was about to enter the Heaven and Man as One realm. Although it had astonishing combat power due to its innate talent, it was inferior to Ji Ning in terms of realm.

Such a match of equals, with each move being a matter of life and death, was the fastest way to improve!

"Once I reach Heaven and Man as One, you're dead." The Azure Green Snake King thought to itself.

"Ha ha, come on, little snake." Two swords appeared in Ji Ning's hands.

Swish!

The Azure Green Snake King, like a green lightning bolt, pounced, and Ji Ning met it head-on.

...

Tumu Zhan, hiding in the aquatic grass, watched with shock: "Heaven and Man as One sword technique! And he's using dual swords, so perfectly! He doesn't even seem to be an innate lifeform, yet he can battle a divine beast at the innate stage... Such talent is truly terrifying! He must be eliminated as soon as possible!"

"Why isn't he entering the array yet?"

"Hurry up." Tumu Zhan was anxious.

The array was set up in advance, and although it had a large range, Ji Ning and the Azure Green Snake King were still some distance from the array.

"Hurry."

Tumu Zhan was anxious but had to wait patiently. He knew that if he revealed himself, the Azure Green Snake King would immediately dive into the water, and he would have no way to deal with it.

The intense battle continued in the distance.

At times, Ji Ning was thrown back, and at other times, the Azure Green Snake King had wounds. The two fought fiercely, causing the water to churn. Ji Ning constantly moved on the water, advancing and retreating, almost entering the array but not quite... It was truly frustrating.

"Bang."

One clash.

"He's in!" Tumu Zhan's eyes turned red. At this moment, Ji Ning and the Azure Green Snake King had only just barely entered the array, at the edge. But Tumu Zhan couldn't wait any longer, as they might leave the array's range at any moment.

"Activate!"

Tumu Zhan's face was twisted with a fierce expression.

"Hmm?" Ji Ning, at the edge of the array, suddenly felt a tremor in his soul. His soul was powerful enough to sense a great danger, and an intangible fear instantly filled his heart. Ji Ning had a feeling that if he didn't act, he might really die!

"Retreat!" Ji Ning's speed reached its peak as he retreated, just managing to leave the array's boundary.

...

As soon as Ji Ning retreated from the array's boundary, he saw the vast water surface turn into chaos. Huge white and black qi streams, like countless dragons, enveloped the area, the power of the array making Ji Ning's heart tremble.

This was the terrifying power of a late-stage innate lifeform, combined with a pre-set large array.

"The Azure Green Snake King is in the array!" Ji Ning's heart tightened. After battling multiple times, he was concerned for the Azure Green Snake King, who was now trapped in the array.

"Roar~~"

A black figure suddenly leaped over, transforming into a black beast over ten zhang long in mid-air. The mane on its neck rose like a giant fan, and its green eyes were filled with savagery, charging straight at Ji Ning.

"Black Beast?" Ji Ning instantly knew who had set up the array. "Only Tumu Zhan of the Tumu Clan would have a late-stage innate lifeform as a spirit beast!"

"Quick, run!"

Ji Ning understood the gap between them. Tumu Zhan was known for his cunning and relied on magical treasures, even the Azure Green Snake King was no match for him!

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a black light shot towards Ji Ning.

Ji Ning blocked it with a sword, and the black light returned to the late-stage innate Black Beast. The Black Beast roared, "Ji Clan brat, today is your end!"

"Ah!"

A sharp, ear-piercing cry came from the vast array, making Ji Ning's heart tremble. He knew it was the Azure Green Snake King's cry, a sound it had never made in all their battles, clearly indicating it was in a dire situation.

"Little Green Snake, I hope you can survive this." Ji Ning could only silently pray, not daring to hesitate, he blocked the Black Beast's pursuit and quickly fled on the water.

***

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{Piaotian Literature}