Chapter 44

After receiving the talisman, Zhu Ganglie led a troop of three thousand shrimp soldiers and became the general of the Bi Bo Pond. This troop of shrimp soldiers was indeed impressive.

However, Zhu Ganglie had come for the Golden Spirit Pearl and did not pay much attention to the shrimp soldiers. If he wanted to lead a troop, the Shenxiao Dao had even more powerful Dao soldiers.

After arriving at the southwestern part of the Bi Bo Pond, Zhu Ganglie closed the water palace under the pretext of seclusion. He then activated the Heavenly Cicada Spirit Leaf to conceal his presence and headed toward the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon Palace.

After half a day, Zhu Ganglie entered the Crystal Palace and began to search slowly. The Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King was a Golden Core expert, so he did not dare to use his magical power to explore, for fear of being discovered by the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King.

Concealed, Zhu Ganglie searched for a whole day, almost turning the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon Palace upside down, but found no clues.

Apart from some mundane gold and silver treasures and rare items, there were very few cultivation materials, making it difficult for Zhu Ganglie to even plunder.

Feeling quite discouraged, he returned to his temporary residence.

"I will investigate for a few more days. If I still can't find it, I will return to the Ice Soul Peak of the Shenxiao Dao. Cultivation should be my main focus!"

Sitting in his residence, Zhu Ganglie pondered. Since he had completed the sect's mission, if he couldn't find it, he would immediately return to the sect and not waste any more time.

"Hmm?"

At this moment, Zhu Ganglie furrowed his brows and reached out, grabbing a talisman that appeared before him, which transformed into the image of the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King.

"General of the Water Divider, lead the three thousand shrimp soldiers to the Dragon Palace immediately!"

Seeing the summon from the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King, Zhu Ganglie stood up from his seat and immediately led the three thousand shrimp soldiers toward the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon Palace.

After arriving at the Dragon Palace, Zhu Ganglie immediately entered and saw that the grand hall was already lined with countless generals from the Dragon Palace.

After entering, Zhu Ganglie did not speak and automatically lined up to one side. Gradually, all the generals of the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon Palace arrived.

Seeing everyone gathered, the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King scanned the crowd below and coldly shouted, "Ten thousand miles away, in the Ten Thousand Snakes Valley, six days from now, a green snake will attempt to transcend and become a dragon. The ten great generals of the Dragon Palace will accompany me. All troops will be stationed in the Dragon Palace to defend against external threats. We will seize the opportunity to snatch the green snake's dragon pearl!"

"Agreed!"

Zhu Ganglie also responded with the others, but was inwardly shocked. The green snake was directly transforming into a dragon, which was a significant event.

For a snake to transform into a dragon was akin to a cultivator achieving the Spirit Core realm, a leap that was like ascending to heaven, promising immortality.

However, for a snake to transform into a dragon, it usually first transforms into a python, then into a true dragon. This was the most stable and hopeful method.

Directly transforming from a snake into a true dragon was the most difficult, requiring the gradual refinement of its own bloodline, condensing a trace of true dragon bloodline, then strengthening and purifying it, and finally forming a dragon pearl to become a true dragon.

However, once a true dragon was achieved, its power would be the greatest, and its future cultivation would be smooth sailing.

Since the green snake was directly transforming into a true dragon, its strength must already be close to the Spirit Core realm.

The Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King dared to target the green snake, likely planning to take advantage of its weakened state during the thunderstorm.

However, since the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King knew about the green snake's transformation, there might be others who would also try to raid it. Zhu Ganglie needed to be cautious to avoid being implicated.

When the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King flew out of the Bi Bo Pond, he transformed into a huge golden python, which was twice the size of an ordinary python.

What caught Zhu Ganglie's attention most were the two prominent fleshy horns on the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King's head, which were not easily noticeable unless one looked closely.

This made Zhu Ganglie realize that the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King already showed signs of transforming into a dragon, and his strength was likely about to break through the Golden Core realm.

After the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King transformed, Zhu Ganglie also transformed into a black python and followed behind, glancing around.

Zhu Ganglie noticed that among the ten great generals, including himself, seven were pythons, one was a large white turtle, one was a huge red shrimp, and one was a pitch-black carp monster.

They all rushed forward quickly and soon landed on a large mountain depression.

On the opposite side of the mountain depression was a vast valley, shrouded in a layer of greenish mist.

Zhu Ganglie carefully observed the Ten Thousand Snakes Valley and noticed many giant snakes coiling at the entrance, like guards, and countless colorful snakes darting through the forest, evoking fear.

"Zuo Fang, come here!"

While observing the Ten Thousand Snakes Valley, the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King called Zhu Ganglie to his side.

"May I ask what the Great King needs?"

Zhu Ganglie asked.

The Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King looked at the clumsy giant that Zhu Ganglie had transformed into and said solemnly, "You practice the Buddhist method and have attained the Eye of Insight. When the green snake transcends, observe carefully. Once you notice it beginning to condense the dragon pearl, report immediately!"

After the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King finished speaking, Zhu Ganglie showed a hint of hesitation and said in a deep voice, "Great King, as a Golden Core expert, you can see things thousands of miles away. Why do you need me to observe?"

"Ha ha, you fool, don't you know that our python kind is suppressed by the true dragon's aura? The green snake has extraordinary talent, having transformed into a dragon after only five hundred years of cultivation. It has the aura of a true dragon. If it condenses the dragon pearl, it will form a dragon's might, affecting our pythons' minds.

By having you observe, we can be prepared to snatch the dragon pearl at the critical moment.

Only by obtaining the dragon pearl can I use it to refine my bloodline and extend my lifespan by eight hundred years, giving me a chance to break through the Golden Core realm."

Zhu Ganglie did not know about this, and he immediately smiled and apologized, "Great King, you are right! This little dragon has been practicing alone since birth and later focused on understanding the Dharma, so I did not know about these secrets!"

"Hmm, I will explain to you to prevent you from going astray. Our pythons have a difficult cultivation path, with a lifespan of only eight hundred years, unlike true dragons, which have a lifespan of ten thousand years.

Because of our python bodies, our bloodlines are impure, and our strength is limited, making us look down upon by powerful cultivators. Major sects will not teach us cultivation techniques, and they won't even take us as servants.

Everything must be done on our own.

In my youth, I sought masters everywhere but always faced rejection, almost being refined into a magical tool by some demons.

Through great effort, I barely achieved the current Golden Core realm just as my lifespan was about to end. However, it is only a sixth-grade Golden Core, extending my lifespan by only three hundred years.

Without the true dragon's pearl, I will reach the end of my lifespan in two hundred years and return to the underworld. Sigh!"

Hearing the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King's words, Zhu Ganglie felt a mix of emotions, filled with both sympathy and relief. He was glad to have joined the Shenxiao Dao, otherwise, he might have ended up like the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King, or even worse.

After all, this python had an eight-hundred-year lifespan, while he had only a little over a hundred years.

Even now, he could not afford to be complacent. The path to immortality was distant and uncertain. Even if the Ten Thousand Saints Dragon King had reached the Golden Core realm, it did not guarantee immortality.

Because the Golden Core also has different grades.