Chapter 779 Underworld Demon Saint

As night fell, the sky over Zhongzhou was stained with thick ink, and the Starfall Pavilion, under the hazy moonlight, outlined a majestic and imposing silhouette.

Clouds and mist swirl around the mountains like a light veil, making the scattered pavilions and palaces look like a fairyland. Wind chimes hanging from the eaves occasionally chime in the wind, their clear and ethereal sounds breaking the stillness of the night, yet adding to the serene atmosphere.

Lingyue Peak is located at the heart of Xingyun Pavilion. The peaks are verdant, ancient trees reach for the sky, and the mountain courtyards are hidden among the lush trees. The blue bricks and gray tiles gleam with a warm luster under the moonlight.

Inside the courtyard, a winding stone path leads to a flowing stream, its murmuring water mingling with the chirping of insects in the woods, creating a natural lullaby. Only the quiet room built against the cliff still emits a faint glow, echoing the starlight in the sky.

The quiet room was sparsely furnished, with only a layer of warm white jade tiles on the floor and luminous pearls embedded in the walls, emitting a soft glow that illuminated every detail of the room. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of spiritual herbs, making it an ideal place for cultivation, calming the mind and spirit.

Xiao Ling sat cross-legged on a futon in the center of the quiet room, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his eyes lightly closed, his face calm and undisturbed. His breathing was long and steady, each exhale carrying a mysterious rhythm, as if resonating with some kind of energy between heaven and earth.

Countless specks of white light quietly appeared in the void around him, like shattered starlight or morning dew, with a translucent and lustrous quality.

These white particles were highly spiritual, slowly flowing around Xiao Ling, sometimes darting around like swimming fish, and sometimes condensing into faint bands of light, enveloping him in a hazy halo.

They moved in a rhythmic, invisible pattern, sometimes seeping into Xiao Ling's body, sometimes dissipating into the void. Each flow made the halo purer and Xiao Ling's aura more ethereal and otherworldly, like a banished immortal descending to earth, mysterious and indescribable.

As time went by, the white particles became more active, their circulation speed increased, and their light became clearer, yet they always maintained an orderly flow, slowly and steadily surrounding Xiao Ling, making him appear as if he were in a sea of ​​light, and the mysterious aura surrounding him became increasingly intense.

As the spiritual white light surged into Xiao Ling's brow like rivers flowing into the sea, transforming into a gentle torrent of energy in his mind and being completely refined, his tightly closed eyes finally opened slowly.

In an instant, two condensed, almost tangible white lights flashed from the depths of his eyes, like shooting stars streaking across the long night. They were so fast that one almost thought it was an illusion. In a flash, they disappeared into his deep pupils, leaving only a clear and bright look.

"call--"

Xiao Ling let out a long breath, which carried a faint stale air and turned into a wisp of white mist in the air before slowly dissipating.

He raised his hand and rubbed his temples, feeling an unprecedented clarity and transparency in his mind. His spiritual power, like a rushing river, became increasingly powerful and refined, with each flow carrying an indescribable sense of smoothness, clearly indicating that he had made considerable progress again.

Seeing this, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up slightly, forming a satisfied smile.

Slowly rising from the futon, Xiao Ling stretched, his joints cracking softly, conveying a sense of exhilarating relaxation.

His gaze swept across the quiet room, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing together as he murmured to himself, "Absorbing these soul essences has indeed improved my spiritual power considerably. At this rate, I think I'm only one step away from entering the late stage of the Heavenly Realm."

"This soul essence is indeed a heaven-defying treasure. No wonder that guy Void Devouring Flame went to great lengths to use all the methods of the Soul Clan to break through to the Emperor Realm with this soul essence. This time, it's a bargain for me."

Just then, the white spiritual energy around Xiao Ling, which had not yet completely dissipated, suddenly became restless. Points of white light gathered again like stars returning to their nests, weaving together in front of him to form a phantom and ethereal human figure.

The figure was formed from pure energy, its outline hazy yet exuding an ancient and desolate aura; it was the spirit of the ancestral stone.

He hovered in mid-air, his gaze falling on Xiao Ling. He slowly nodded, his voice calm yet steady and powerful: "Your spiritual power has improved considerably. Even against a Reincarnation Realm expert who has already passed the first Reincarnation Tribulation, you are more than capable of defeating them."

After a slight pause, the spirit of the ancestral stone spoke with a more solemn tone: "However, your spiritual power is too strong, far surpassing others of the same level, but your current battle qi cultivation is somewhat lagging behind. This imbalance will inevitably become a hindrance to your future progress."

Xiao Ling also looked at the spirit of the ancestral stone, then nodded slightly, signaling it to continue speaking.

"If you want to go further on the path of cultivation, the key is to improve your battle qi cultivation as soon as possible."

The spirit of the ancestral stone added, "You don't need to rush into improving your spiritual power for now; you can set it aside and refine it. I will keep the remaining soul essence safe for you. Once your fighting spirit foundation is stable, I will help you further refine your spiritual power. This way, they can complement each other and achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Xiao Ling stroked his chin with his fingertips, his gaze slightly darkening. After a moment's thought, he looked up at the spirit of the ancestral stone, his tone firm and composed.
“Yan, you’re right. My mental strength is indeed much stronger than my battle qi cultivation. I will raise my battle qi as soon as possible. You don’t need to worry too much about that. I know what I’m doing. I won’t neglect either battle qi or mental strength.”

Upon hearing this, the spirit of the ancestral stone nodded slightly, its voice devoid of any emotion but carrying a hint of approval: "You are exceptionally talented and have a strong sense of self. You have encountered many opportunities along the way but have never lost your true self. As long as you do not stray from the right path, I believe that one day you will reach the pinnacle of cultivation. Until then, I will do everything in my power to help you."

As soon as he finished speaking, the spirit of the ancestral stone said no more. Its illusory form turned into specks of white light, receded like the tide, and merged back into Xiao Ling's body, disappearing from sight.

Xiao Ling stood in the quiet room, keeping the instructions of the Ancestral Stone Spirit deeply in mind.

He raised his hand to sense the surging battle qi within his body, his eyes growing increasingly resolute. Now, his spiritual power level was far ahead of others, and the gap between them was simply too vast.

With this in mind, he began to think about how to make use of the current conditions to quickly make up for his shortcomings in fighting spirit cultivation.

After a moment of contemplation, a glint of light flashed in Xiao Ling's eyes, and he quickly made a decision: it was the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's inheritance, sealed for thousands of years, deep within the heartland of the Nine Netherworld Python Clan!
That was the culmination of the life's work of a semi-emperor who once dominated the Central Plains. Within its inheritance, not only was the original essence blood left behind by the Yellow Spring Demon Saint sealed, but also the three Heavenly Rank fighting techniques created by the Yellow Spring Demon Saint.

In particular, the "Wrath of the Yellow Springs," a high-level Heavenly Rank soul combat skill, perfectly blends soul power with battle qi, making it incredibly powerful. Back then, it terrified countless top experts.

Now that his mental strength has reached its peak, if he could learn this fighting technique, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger, greatly enhancing his combat abilities.

Moreover, Qinglin's cultivation progress is no longer as smooth as before, and he has already hit a bottleneck, urgently needing a great opportunity to break through.

This journey to seize the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's inheritance from the Nine Netherworld Python Clan was something Xiao Ling was determined to achieve, and for Qing Lin, it was also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With Qing Lin's current spiritual power, under circumstances where the opponent could not resist, activating the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil allowed her to control a ninth-level serpentine magical beast.

Afterwards, she would go to obtain the inheritance of the Yellow Spring Demon Saint, which would also allow her to completely subdue the entire Nine Nether Earthly Python Clan. This behemoth, which ranks among the three major races of the magical beast world of the Dou Qi Continent, not only has Dou Saint experts in charge of the clan, but also a massive amount of cultivation resources and bloodline inheritance. Its value is immeasurable, and Xiao Ling naturally had no reason to let it go.

More importantly, once Qinglin subdues the Nine Netherworld Python Clan, he can use the extraordinary ability of the Azure Serpent Three-Flower Pupil to absorb the battle qi essence of those high-level experts in the clan, thereby quickly breaking through his own bottleneck and making his cultivation efficiency advance by leaps and bounds.

How could Xiao Ling not be tempted by such a wonderful opportunity, which would allow him to obtain the inheritance of a half-emperor, make up for his own shortcomings in fighting spirit, help Qing Lin break through his realm, and subdue powerful races?
Thinking of this, Xiao Ling's plan became clearer and clearer, but just then, a beautiful figure he hadn't seen for a long time suddenly appeared in his mind and wouldn't leave.

He lightly tapped his palm with his fingertips, a knowing glint in his eyes. Deep within the Nine Netherworld Python Clan, there was more than just the Yellow Spring Demon Saint's legacy.

Beneath that Netherworld, there lies the ancient lair of the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python race, where the original heritage and bloodline secrets of the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python race are sealed.

Looking across the entire Dou Qi Continent, who is most suitable to inherit this ancient opportunity? The answer is self-evident.

Only Medusa, whose true form has now transformed into the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python!

The inheritance within that nest was tailor-made for the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python clan. The ancient bloodline power contained within it can not only allow Medusa's cultivation to reach new heights, but also completely activate the ancient foundation hidden within her body, allowing her to truly join the ranks of the continent's top powerhouses.

It would be a great pity to miss such an opportunity that resonated with her very essence.

As Xiao Ling's fingertips traced the cool white jade tabletop of the quiet room, he gazed at the starry sky outside the window, his murmured words carrying a subtle warmth.
"It has been a long time since I left the Northwest Continent... I wonder how Medusa is doing now."

Longing spread quietly like gentle vines, and a tenderness flashed in his eyes, a warmth that dispelled the indifference he had felt during cultivation.
"Judging by the time, it's about time to go back and take a look. This trip to the Nine Netherworld Python Clan will also be a good opportunity to bring her along. The ancient inheritance of the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python should rightfully belong to her. With this opportunity to help her, her strength will surely reach a new level."

With his plans in mind, Xiao Ling decided not to delay any longer and planned to discuss the details of the trip with Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin immediately. Once everything was settled, he would set off to return to the Northwest Continent.

He composed himself, suppressed his surging thoughts, and gently pushed open the stone door of the cultivation chamber.

With a soft creak, the heavy stone door slowly opened, and a gentle evening breeze carrying the fragrance of grass and trees wafted in, lifting a few strands of long hair from his forehead and bringing a touch of the night's freshness.

Xiao Ling stepped out of the meditation room and walked along the winding bluestone path. The moonlight, like water, cast a long shadow of him. Exquisite pavilions stood quietly on both sides in the night, and the wind chimes on the eaves occasionally tinkled softly, blending with the babbling of the mountain stream. After passing through several courtyards shaded by flowers and trees, he headed straight for the main hall's front courtyard.

Before they even got close, several clear and melodious female voices drifted in through the bright moonlight, their gentle tone tinged with liveliness, breaking the stillness of the night.

Xiao Ling looked up following the sound and saw five figures sitting together in the exquisite pavilion in front of the main hall, chatting and laughing happily under the bright moonlight.

Pale purple gauze curtains hung around the pavilion, swaying gently in the wind, making the figures inside appear even more graceful.

He recognized two of the figures immediately; they were Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian. Qing Lin was dressed in a green dress, her fingertips playing with a strand of her hair, her eyes sparkling with liveliness. Xiao Yi Xian, on the other hand, was dressed in snow-white robes, a faint smile on her lips, her voice soft and melodious.

Besides, there were three other familiar figures in the pavilion. Yun Yun was dressed in a plain long dress, with an elegant and refined temperament and a gentle demeanor in her speech. Nalan Yanran, who was next to her, was dressed in a light blue outfit, with a tall and straight posture. The naivety between her brows had faded, and she had become more calm and capable.

What surprised Xiao Ling the most was the long-unseen Consort Ya. She wore a crimson dress with a jade hairpin in her hair, and her face was still charming and beautiful. Her eyes sparkled as she talked and laughed, exuding a unique charm.

Five people sat around a stone table, on which were placed tea and fresh fruit. Their laughter drifted on the evening breeze, creating a warm and pleasant scene.

Xiao Ling's footsteps were light and slow, and the sound of his footsteps on the bluestone path became clearer as he approached. The five people chatting in the pavilion quickly noticed the newcomer and looked in the direction of the sound. When they saw the familiar figure, they each had their own reaction.

Qinglin was most familiar with Little Fairy Doctor, and simply nodded to Xiao Ling in a friendly manner, her eyes full of natural closeness.

Yun Yun, Nalan Yanran, and Ya Fei all stood up and bowed to Xiao Ling in greeting.

Yun Yun gently gathered the hem of her skirt with her delicate hand, her tone elegant and respectful: "Greetings, Master Xiao Ling."

Nalan Yanran followed closely behind, her pretty face slightly flushed, her expression a little reserved, her voice clear but slightly hesitant.
"Yanran greets Master Xiao Ling."

Only Consort Ya's posture was perfectly appropriate. She wore a crimson dress, and when she bowed slightly, the hem of the dress outlined a beautiful curve, showing neither deliberate intimacy nor any aloofness.

Her eyes, brimming with autumn water, looked at Xiao Ling. Her tone was gentle and appropriate, carrying just the right amount of respect: "Ya Fei greets Master Xiao Ling. It's been a long time since we last met. Your demeanor is even more impressive than before."

Throughout her conversation, she maintained an appropriate distance, displaying impeccable manners without being obsequious. Her composed and measured demeanor perfectly reflected her current status and state of mind.

Xiao Ling nodded slightly to the three women who rose to greet him, as a return gesture. When his gaze fell on Consort Ya, a relaxed smile appeared on his lips.

“Miss Yafei, it has indeed been a long time since we last met. When I was chatting with Elder Feng before, he often mentioned you. Now, the reputation of the ‘Golden Queen’ is becoming more and more renowned in the Zhongzhou business community. You are truly as charming as ever.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped forward and sat down in the empty seat between Little Fairy Doctor and Qinglin without any hesitation.

The stone benches were slightly cool, which only made the night breeze seem even more refreshing. He glanced at the people in the pavilion and smiled.
"You two were having such a lively conversation, I'm sorry to have disturbed you." (End of Chapter)