Gu Fei's footsteps stopped by the Nine Serene Springs, and he crouched down, placing his hand on the surface of the lake. In an instant, deep yellow ice crystals began rapidly climbing up his arm. Fortunately, with his heavenly flame, he immediately melted the forming ice.
"Cai'er, Ziyan, this place is extremely cold. Even the members of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe can't endure it for long!"
"Therefore, unless there's a special reason, it's rare for anyone to come here."
"You two wait here; I'm going to the bottom of the Nine Serene Springs!"
"Be careful, my husband!"
With a splash, Gu Fei instructed the two and then plunged into the Nine Serene Springs, swiftly diving towards the bottom.
The coldness within the Springs was terrifying. Gu Fei had only descended a short distance before he realized that the chill could threaten even mid-level Dou Ancestor powerhouses. However, with his advanced Half-Saint cultivation, if he couldn't enter such a place, it would be laughable.
"Hiss!"
Soon, a faint hissing noise reached his ears, and Gu Fei noticed the water around him suddenly becoming turbulent.
In his sight, a mass of black mist was rapidly approaching from the depths of the Serene Springs. Upon closer inspection, the 'black mist' was actually countless small black snakes covered in eerie scales.
The hissing sound was made by these strange snakes.
"Sss! Sss!"
Before the snakes even got close to Gu Fei, they opened their menacing mouths, shooting out deep black water arrows. The whistling sound of these arrows resonated through the water, causing low, rumbling explosions.
"Get out of my way!"
Gu Fei released a few bursts of scorching energy, driving back some of the snakes. However, there were too many of them, so he didn't linger and accelerated downward.
Before long, he spotted a glimmer of light in the distance.
At this depth, the strange snakes seemed hesitant to follow, not daring to come closer.
"So, this is the bottom of the Nine Serene Springs?"
Soon, Gu Fei found himself on a vast, sandy seabed.
"Save… me…"
Suddenly, a faint voice echoed through the water, reaching Gu Fei's ears.
Splashing, Gu Fei reached down and grabbed the ground, revealing a massive iron chain, over a hundred feet long, buried beneath the sand. With a flick of his hand, he slowly pulled the chain out.
As he pulled, the surrounding ground began to tremble, and three more enormous chains rose from the muddy bottom.
In the center of these chains was a large mass of pitch-black mud. As the mud dispersed, it gradually revealed a skeletal figure.
It was a person, their body emaciated and skeletal.
"To be locked at the bottom of these dark Serene Springs for so many years—what torment!"
Looking at the skeletal figure, Gu Fei sighed inwardly.
This inhuman torture had persisted for years; how did he survive it?
"Save me… save me…"
"If you rescue me, I'll make the entire Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe serve you as their master!"
As Gu Fei gazed at the emaciated figure, the latter's deep-set eyes suddenly opened, looking at Gu Fei with a glimmer of hope.
"Serve me as their master?"
Hearing this promise from the skeletal figure, Gu Fei hesitated.
As the genius of the Gu Clan, who might one day become the clan leader, he generally wouldn't accept just anyone's allegiance. However, someone like Yao Ming, who had been the clan leader of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe and had reached the level of a Two-Star Dou Saint, did have some value.
Even a powerful clan like the Gu Clan wouldn't dismiss the loyalty of a Dou Saint.
"Huff, huff…"
The previous struggle seemed to have drained the skeletal figure's energy, leaving his breath shallow and rapid…
The four giant chains continuously emitted extremely cold energy, draining the Dou Qi within the skeletal figure, keeping him in a state of extreme weakness. But at the same time, this energy drain wouldn't kill him, leaving him to languish in a state of eternal exhaustion—worse than death.
"Young friend, I am Yao Ming, the tribe leader of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe… If you save me, I will fulfill my promise and serve you as my master!"
As Gu Fei hesitated, the skeletal figure spoke again.
"You're not the leader now; Yao Xiaotian holds that title…" Gu Fei chuckled, shaking his head.
"That wretch Yao Xiaotian used a treacherous plot to steal my position and imprison me here at the bottom of the Serene Springs!"
"That beast made me suffer hundreds of years of this freezing torment!"
"If I ever see the light of day again, I'll make Yao Xiaotian's life a living hell!"
At the mention of Yao Xiaotian, Yao Ming's eyes turned blood-red.
Gu Fei was well aware of the enmity between the two. Yao Ming was the legitimate candidate for tribe leader of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe, his power unquestioned. Yao Xiaotian, knowing this, had always shown Yao Ming great respect on the surface while secretly plotting against him.
Yao Ming had been sealed here for hundreds of years—a truly tragic fate.
"I will help you get out, but the fight for the tribe leader's position will be up to you."
Gu Fei sighed and agreed to Yao Ming's request.
"I possess the Nine Serene Profound Scepter, the token of the Nine Serene Deep Ground Python Tribe's leader…"
"As long as I escape the Serene Springs and deal with Yao Xiaotian, I will be the new tribe leader!"
Hearing this, Yao Ming quickly showed Gu Fei the value he still held.
"Young friend, you just need to shatter the Yellow Springs Yin Stone, and I'll be free!"
"Alright."
Gu Fei nodded and located the other end of the four chains, where a powerful, cold-infused Yellow Springs Yin Stone was attached.
Bang!
After several attacks, the Yellow Springs Yin Stone finally shattered, and at that moment, Yao Ming exerted all his strength, breaking the chains.
Meanwhile, deep within the Nether Serpent Vein, in a grand palace, there was great commotion.
On the throne sat a man dressed in black.
His eyes flickered with a cold, venomous light, like a deadly serpent ready to strike.
Beside him, two seductive women carefully massaged his body, while his hands roamed over their soft, delicate skin.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the man's eyes shot open, filled with shock. "The seal… has been broken?"