The Blackwater Swamp was a forbidden territory of the Nine head Clan. The area was a wetland and the swamp gas around was so toxic that it could make any cultivators below the Honorable Realm suffer greatly.
At this moment, two individuals were trekking along this area.
One at the front and the other at the back.
The individual leading the way was the empyrean walker from the Craggy Ocean Tower, Li Ze, and behind him was the Crown Prince of the Royal Azure Dynasty, Gu Changge.
The duo ventured deep into the forested wetland.
Within it laid a terrifying beast with multiple heads growing out of its body which was measured more than several hundred meters in size… It was the Nine-Headed Snakelet!
Although the Nine-Headed Snakelet looked like it had been dead for a while now as it laid on the ground, its gruesome aura was still lingering on its body. Due to this, no living beings dared to step into the entire swamp.
In fact, the Blackwater Swamp was created from the leakages of this being’s aura.
“An ancient beast indeed. It still possesses such a terrifying aura even though it has been dead for so many years.” Li Ze’s eyes were beaming with excitement.
By taming this beast, they were sure to gain all the advantages they needed to ascend into the Emperor Realm in this Era of Great Battle.
Even the legendary Chu Kuangren would not be his opponent!
The more Li Ze thought about it, the more impatient he became.
“This trip to the Nine Head Clan is well worth it.”
Buzz…
At that moment, the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl began to jerk violently as if it had sensed the presence of the corpse before it. The Nine-Headed Snakelet’s soul fragments in the pearl began to let out a howl that resembled an infant’s shrieks.
The Nine-Headed Snakelet’s corpse had also begun to move a little.
Its soul and body were calling out to one another.
Gu Changge was in awe. “No wonder the Nine Head Clan was so determined in getting this pearl throughout all these years. They’ve had the corpse of the Nine-Headed Snakelet in their territory all along!”
“But where did the Nine-Headed Snakelet come from?”
“It’s because the founding Emperor of the Royal Azure Dynasty led his army to surround the Nine-Headed Snakelet dozens of millennia ago. He used a spell to extract his soul fragments and refine it into this pearl!”
“In the end, the Nine-Headed Snakelet used the last bit of its soul fragment power to break through their formation. It fled to the Blackwater Prefecture and collapsed into a river, where it tainted the water with its blood.”
“At that time, there was a settlement down the river stream. So when the residents drank from the river, the blood of the Nine-Headed Snakelet coursed through their veins. Eventually, they found the great corpse of the Nine-Headed Snakelet and hauled it back to their settlement to worship. This is how the Nine Head Clan came about, and that’s also why the Nine Head Clan will always remain the arch-enemy of the Royal Azure Dynasty.”
“Apart from their constant battle for resources, this is another reason.”
Li Ze narrated the clan’s history before hurling the Nine-Headed Snakelet Pearl out. The pearl proceeded to fuse with the corpse as Li Ze’s eyes burned with passion. “Today, the God of the Nine Head Clan, the Nine-Headed Snakelet, shall finally be reborn!”
As the pearl fused into its body, the Nine-Headed Snakelet’s scales began to shake. Then, its body straightened up majestically and it let out a howling wail that unleashed a destructive aura, marking the rebirth of the ancient beast!
“So strong!”
Under the Nine-Headed Snakelet’s aura, Gu Changge could not help but tremble in fear.
After taking a sniff, the Nine-Headed Snakelet opened its nine pairs of blood-red eyes which glowed like nine pairs of lanterns as it fixated themselves upon Gu Changge and Li Ze.
“Little ones, the auras that you radiate are so strange. One of you belongs to my bloodline, and the other… belongs to the bloodline of my enemy!”
A frightening amount of ferocious qi surged out, crushing Gu Changge into the ground.
Li Ze remained in his spot. He simply looked at the Nine-Headed Snakelet and said, “Congratulations on your resurrection, Nine-Headed Snakelet!”
“So you’re the one who brought my soul fragment back to my body. Very well, seeing that you share my bloodline, I shall grant you a favor. Speak your desire.”
The Nine-Headed Snakelet’s voice was neither male nor female. However, it was so sharp that it could pierce through anyone’s eardrums.
Li Ze did not hesitate and said, “That’s great. I want you to be my mount. Together, we shall conquer the world!”
Appalled by such a request, the Nine-Headed Snakelet let out a furious screech, releasing even more ferocious qi to his surroundings.
“You should know your place, little one!”
The Nine-Headed Snakelet possessed the purest of bloodlines, so it thought it was ridiculous for an average clansman to ride him as their mount. After all, he was an ancient legendary beast!
“Hmph, guess you should be the one to know your place.”
Li Ye pulled his focus together as he cast a technique. Immediately, the Nine-Headed Snakelet could feel an intense pain growing in its skulls, sending it and its nine heads rolling on the ground in pain.
The Blackwater Swamp shook under its force.
“You b*stard!”
“Ahh, it hurts!”
Li Ze was still in his position as he uttered calmly, “The Nine Head Clan worships you like a God. But unfortunately, I’m not like them. I’m an empyrean walker from the Craggy Ocean Tower. I’m destined to rule the world!”
“Nine-Headed Snakelet, the only option left for you is to bow before me!’
Seeing how proudly Li Ze stood and how superior he sounded, the Nine-Headed Snakelet became more furious than ever. It roared, “What did you do to me?!”
“The Craggy Ocean Curse, one of the secret beast-taming techniques of the Craggy Ocean Tower. By planting my curse into your soul fragment, I can crush your soul with the force of the mountain and ocean with just a mere thought. It’ll be excruciating and unbearable. Did you really think that I’ll return your soul unconditionally?”
Li Ze said.
Then, he withdrew the power of the Craggy Ocean Curse.
The Nine-Headed Snakelet gradually recovered from its pain. He looked at Li Ze fearfully and said, “I’ve never heard of the Craggy Ocean Tower. Are you from one of those unknown lands, empyrean walker?!”
“Nine-Headed Snakelet, the times have changed. The Great Dharma Emergence has caused the Era of Great Battles to begin. Soon, many forces from the unknown lands shall emerge and various sky-prides will appear. I’m offering you one last chance. You shall bow before me, and together, we shall sail this world. When I’ve ascended into the Emperor Realm, you shall become stronger too!”
The Nine-Headed Snakelet seemed indecisive at first. However, worried about the Craggy Ocean Tower’s power, it could only helplessly nod in agreement.
“A wise choice!” Li Ze said.
“However, my body hasn’t been used for a long time. It might not have rotten, but my energies have long been drained. I need a huge amount of meat to replenish my energies. And since this b*stard belongs to my enemy’s bloodline, I wish to devour him!”
The Nine-Headed Snakelet looked at Gu Changge and snarked coldly.
“Brother Li, save me!”
“As you wish!”
Gu Changge looked at Li Ze in terror.
Not only did Li Ze break his promise to bring Gu Changge into the Craggy Ocean Tower, but he was now sending the latter directly into the beast’s mouth too.
Gu Changge made a desperate attempt to flee but was attacked from behind by a mixture of fire and water elements that spurted from the beast’s mouth. His organs and bones were instantly ruptured.
All it took was one attack and Gu Changge was heavily injured by the Nine-Headed Snakelet!
Then, the Nine-Headed Snakelet opened one of its mouths and swallowed Gu Changge directly into its tummy while he was screaming in terror.
“Oh, I didn’t know this was a Daoist Physique. It has replenished a decent amount of my energies. Now, I can sense that many of my bloodlines are just over there. If I could devour them all, my recovery would be faster.” The Nine-Headed Snakelet looked across the distance at the Nine Head Clan’s settlement and smacked its lips.
Li Ze initially frowned at such a suggestion, but it was not long before he agreed. “Sure. After all, I don’t have much attachment to this clan. If it makes your recovery quicker, I guess their deaths are not in vain.”