"What a brat, reaping benefits while cutting off the path for future generations." The Asura God chuckled, not particularly bothered by this matter.
Among the few inheritance sites he had arranged in Douluo, only Slaughter City still held some promise, having produced several outstanding candidates for him so far.
The Asura God extended his divine sense to survey the continent, contemplating the resources he currently held.
Though Tang Chen was corrupted, he was only one step away from completing the Nine Trials. His grandson Tang Hao was half-crippled, while Bibidong had taken the path of the Rakshasa God. As for this young man, though his Martial Soul wasn't compatible with the Asura Godhood, it wasn't entirely impossible either.
"Now, it all depends on whether Tang Chen can break free from control and complete the Eighth Trial first."
Li Xun pressed forward, soon passing through the territory of the Three-Headed Bat King.
This creature was a subordinate of the Nine-Headed Bat King, and since there was no enmity between them, it was best to avoid unnecessary conflict—this would also help maintain Slaughter City's stability.
At this stage, a Tang Chen parasitized by the Nine-Headed Bat King was a favorable Tang Chen.
As he advanced, Li Xun gradually noticed the temperature rising around him, a scorching heat washing over him. However, with his immunity to ice and fire, this level of heat didn't affect him in the slightest.
Rustle—
While walking, a loud scraping sound suddenly echoed ahead of him. After turning a corner, his vision abruptly brightened.
Tendrils of rising flames and bubbling lava illuminated the space with an eerie glow. A massive serpent, ten meters long, coiled atop a giant rock.
The serpent had one head but bore nine protrusions on its back and neck, resembling blood-red mushrooms.
Seeing that the creature had no intention of letting him pass, Li Xun swiftly dashed to an open area. "I was just about to look for you. Didn't expect you to come to me instead."
Hiss—
The Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent, furious that Li Xun dared to move despite its intimidation, reared its neck back like a spring before lunging forward, its gaping mouth aiming to swallow the human whole.
"Wood Style: Wood Man Technique!" Li Xun clapped his hands together, and a colossal wooden figure erupted from the ground, though limited by the space, only about thirty meters of its upper half emerged.
The Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent froze at the sudden appearance of the towering figure, its body jerking backward in an attempt to halt its charge.
But Li Xun wasn't about to let it escape. Watching the serpent slide toward him due to momentum, the massive wooden figure abruptly extended its arms, pinning the creature to the ground.
The Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent nearly had its gall bladder crushed, its ten-meter-long body thrashing wildly. Its sharp fangs gnawed futilely at the wooden arms until, seizing an opportunity, it wrenched its tail free from the other massive hand and coiled it around the wooden figure's other arm.
Li Xun grinned. Manipulating the wooden figure, he slowly raised its arm and slammed it against the rocky wall with unstoppable force. The Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent's eyes bulged in terror as it let out a shrill hiss.
Boom—
With a deafening crash, the serpent made intimate contact with the unyielding rock. Flesh splattered, blood gushed, and the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent's head lolled to the side as it feigned unconsciousness.
"An ancient beast like you can't be this fragile. Still trying to trick me?" Li Xun smirked at the serpent's act. The wooden figure straightened it out with its massive palms.
Then he grabbed the serpent's tail and smashed it left and right against the cave walls. Soon, the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent ceased all signs of life, though its body was left mangled and broken in the process.
The wooden figure slowly sank and disappeared into the ground. Li Xun approached the giant serpent, carefully searching its remains before extracting a golden-red inner core.
As a primordial beast and the supreme ruler among serpents, the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent possessed an inner core capable of suppressing all snake species and neutralizing any serpent venom due to its elevated status.
Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom, altered by her mutated Immortal Herb Martial Soul, no longer harmed her body but instead refined and tempered her physique. However, Dugu Bo lacked such fortune.
The Immortal Herb he consumed seemed only to enhance his spiritual power and Soul Power without providing any substantial benefits. His method of dealing with the Jade Phosphor Serpent Venom remained unchanged—channeling it into his Soul Bone.
"Old man, if swallowing this serpent core still can't completely resolve your venom issue and allow you to break through to the 95th rank, don't blame me for mocking you," Li Xun said with amusement, tossing the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent core twice before storing it in his Soul Guiding Device.
With the death of the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent, the Road to Hell was now unobstructed. Li Xun moved forward at a leisurely pace, causing destruction along the way as he ascended through the ruined structures.
Here, the churning blood on either side became clearly visible, and the air grew increasingly oppressive.
As the temperature rose, an inexplicable emotion swirled within Li Xun's heart, seemingly attempting to stir his innate Slaughter essence. He quickly released his killing intent to resist the invasion of this malevolent influence.
Could this be the Rakshasa God's evil thoughts?
A chill ran down Li Xun's spine, and he immediately activated the Body Flicker Technique to hasten his advance.
But the closer he got to the exit, the thicker the crimson mist became. The evil thoughts grew more immense, frigid, and tyrannical, as if determined to consume him entirely.
Fortunately, his Blue Silver King Head Soul Bone amplified his spiritual power, or he might have succumbed to the corruption in mere moments.
Vines sprouted from beneath Li Xun's feet, forming bridges to carry him forward. Only when he plunged into a white light barrier did the sinister aura gradually dissipate, and the Road to Hell returned to its usual tranquility.
A biting cold spread through the white space, amplifying his pain as it ceaselessly eroded his body.
Sensing this was likely part of the Slaughter Domain's formation process, Li Xun ignored everything else and peacefully fell asleep.
God Realm.
The Asura God suddenly turned his gaze toward a distant point. "Audacious! How dare you interfere with the mortal world in secret, Rakshasa God? Do you truly believe I cannot deal with you?"
With that, he swung his sword, unleashing boundless Sword Qi and killing intent into the void.
"Hmph, as if you've never meddled in the mortal world yourself. Stop pretending to be some righteous saint every day," the Rakshasa God sneered, his voice carrying through the void to the Asura God's ears as his avatar was destroyed.
After this taunt, sensing danger, the Rakshasa God swiftly relocated.
Soon after, a figure emerged in the void but vanished upon finding only residual energy lingering in the area.
One month later.
At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, everyone rejoiced at Li Xun's return and even held a special family banquet in his honor.
After the meal, Li Xun took out the small golden-red sphere and handed it to Dugu Bo: "Grandpa Dugu, this is what I obtained during my journey—the inner core of the primordial beast, the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent. It will be of great benefit to you."
Dugu Bo was taken aback. He wiped his hands carefully before accepting it.
Though he didn't know what the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Serpent was, just hearing its name told him this item would surely be useful to him. "Xiao Xun, why not give this to Yan Yan instead?"
"Yan-jie's talent is already among the very best on the continent, but you've remained stagnant. Aren't you afraid of us youngsters outliving you elders?" Li Xun said with a laugh.
"You brat!" Dugu Bo pretended to be furious.
Everyone else burst into laughter as well.
"How should this be used?"
"Just eat it directly."
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