Chapter 461: Striking First
Xiao Ze glanced at the soul barrier, which, without his continuous support of soul power, might not last long at the bottom of the Nine Nether Underworld. The bottom of the Nine Nether Underworld contained such horrifyingly cold energy that even soul power struggled to maintain consistency. In the original story, Xiao Yan did not detect the soul imprint inside the Underworld Yin Stone because the cold energy it contained was overwhelmingly strong. Even approaching it made Xiao Yan extremely uncomfortable, let alone using soul power to probe the entire stone.
However, now that Yao Ming had recovered his strength, whether the soul fluctuations were blocked didn't matter anymore. "Let's go," Xiao Ze suggested, flicking his finger, a strand of soul power landing on Yao Ming. "This bit of soul power will allow you to pass directly through the soul barrier."
Yao Ming's puzzled expression eased, and he nodded in understanding. After all, he was not an alchemist and his study of soul power wasn't very deep. After crossing the soul barrier, the group didn't hesitate and headed straight to the top of the Nine Nether Underworld. Along the way, they encountered those residual strange snakes.
Just as Yao Ming was about to command the snakes to leave, he saw them fleeing in terror. "What's going on?" Yao Ming couldn't help but look at Xiao Ze, obviously linking the strange behavior of the snakes to him. "When we first entered the bottom of the Nine Nether Underworld, we encountered these snakes blocking the way, and I might have killed them a bit too harshly," Xiao Ze said calmly, as if discussing a trivial matter.
However, Yao Ming's expression stiffened. Knowing he could control these snakes, he was well aware of their ferocity. To have them flee upon seeing Xiao Ze suggested a near annihilation. "What's wrong, Clan Leader Yao Ming? Are these snakes also part of the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan?" "No, the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan just has a secret method to control them, keeping them in the Nine Nether Underworld to fend off intruders." "Let them be killed then. These snakes breed quite prolifically."
With the snakes no longer a hindrance, the group quickly flew upward, soon reaching the top of the Nine Nether Underworld. Splash! The group didn't stop and continued to ascend. On their way out of the deep pit, Xiao Ze's brow slightly furrowed—the soul barrier had shattered. As expected, under such extreme energy interference, the soul barrier couldn't last long.
Yao Xiao Tian must know by now that the seal on Yao Ming had been broken and was probably gathering the elders to head to the Nine Nether Underworld. Sure enough, just as Xiao Ze and his group reached the surface of the deep pit, they sensed a group of powerful presences rapidly approaching, including two particularly terrifying ones, clearly Dou Saints.
"I am Yao Ming, the clan leader of the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan!" Yao Ming took out the Nine Nether Ming Staff and struck first, his voice booming, startling the approaching members of the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan. The leading man, dressed in black and with a sinister face, was taken aback. He hadn't expected Yao Ming to strike first, preventing him from denouncing Yao Ming as an impostor.
Yao Xiao Tian felt the doubtful gazes of his own people. "Hmph! A nobody who came out of nowhere and got lucky with the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan leader's artifact now pretends to be the clan leader?" "I, Yao Xiao Tian, am the clan leader of the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan now!" His face darkened; no matter what, he couldn't acknowledge Yao Ming as the clan leader. "Elders, join me in taking down this impostor and those humans who have invaded our sacred land!"
Although Yao Xiao Tian said this, the initial preemptive strike by Yao Ming had an effect. Those elders who had once followed Yao Ming hesitated, only those close to Yao Xiao Tian in recent years responded without hesitation. Seeing the elders' hesitation, Yao Ming nodded slightly. Thankfully, he had heeded Xiao Ze's advice to strike first; otherwise, Yao Xiao Tian's cunning might have complicated matters further.
Yao Ming's gaze hardened with intense hatred as he faced Yao Xiao Tian. "Yao Xiao Tian, years ago, you and the Great Elder ambushed me, imprisoning me at the bottom of the Nine Nether Underworld to endure endless torment."
"I have thought every day about how to repay you properly!" With that, Yao Ming charged at Yao Xiao Tian, his aura fully unleashed, shocking the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan members.
A Two-Star Dou Saint! The expressions of the Great Elder and Yao Xiao Tian were particularly ugly. "How is this possible! How could his cultivation advance instead of decline after so many years at the bottom of the Nine Nether Underworld?!" Yao Xiao Tian exclaimed in disbelief.
"I told you long ago to kill him early. You insisted on letting him suffer. Now, if we join forces, we might still have a chance!" The Great Elder, his shoulders wrapped with a crimson serpent, suddenly spoke, his face twisted with ferocity.
Now that it had come to this, only a display of raw power could determine the outcome. "Fine!" Yao Xiao Tian gritted his teeth, with no hesitation. After all, the killing intent in Yao Ming's eyes and his ferocious expression made it clear that if Yao Ming caught him, his fate would be worse than death. Boom! The combined Dou Saint aura of the two rushed towards Yao Ming, forcing many of the Nine Nether Earth Ming Python clan's fighters to retreat.
The aftermath of a Dou Saint clash was not something they could withstand! Xiao Ze, keeping his aura concealed, watched as Yao Ming held his own against two Dou Saints, maintaining the upper hand. However, it was clear that resolving the fight as quickly as in the original story was unlikely. Given the Great Elder's strength at the peak of One-Star Dou Saint, the two could indeed stall Yao Ming.
"Yao Ming, need my help? If I intervene, he's yours to deal with," Xiao Ze offered, finding the Great Elder quite interesting.
A One-Star Dou Saint at his peak could significantly boost Qing Lin's strength if she forcefully contracted him. Qing Lin might become the fastest among the women to break through to Dou Saint. Of course, that was just a possibility; given that Xun Er was likely to break through to Dou Saint soon after her return, and Zi Yan, who was currently assimilating the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, was bound to reach Dou Saint status, just a matter of time.
"Please do, Sir Xiao Ze. I don't want to drag this out any longer," Yao Ming implored. As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling bolt of lightning intervened in the battle, striking the Great Elder away.
The silver lightning, tinged with black, swiftly transformed into a world of thunder, shrouding the Great Elder's form.
Xiao Ze, along with the women, flew towards this world of thunder. Meanwhile, Yao Ming and Yao Xiao Tian's battlefield witnessed a crushing fight!
(End of Chapter 461)
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