At the end of the vast space, an enormous bronze door appeared before the three of them. The door stood a thousand zhang tall, its surface covered in spreading runes that formed a gigantic serpent rearing up toward the heavens, as though it wished to devour the moon.
Yao Ming stopped before the door, his expression turning solemn. In a deep voice, he said, "Beyond this lies the core of the Snake Tomb. Many ancestors of my Nine Netherworld Underworld Python Clan are buried within. Even my father rests there."
"My condolences, Brother Yao Ming," Xiao Heng said softly.
"There is no need. We Magical Beasts do not share such inseparable feelings toward our fathers. In truth, I barely saw my father during my childhood. On the few occasions I did see him, he rarely embraced me like human fathers do. So many years have passed that I can barely remember what he looked like." Yao Ming spoke softly, seemingly unconcerned. In fact, most Magical Beast fathers were like that. Even Yao Ming himself would likely be the same someday when he had offspring.
However, that did not mean Yao Ming's father did not love him. It was simply the nature of Magical Beasts, the Nine Netherworld Underworld Python Clan in particular.
"Enough nonsense. Brother Xiao Heng, I'll take you in to retrieve what you need...!"
With that, Yao Ming turned toward the giant door. Dou Qi surged from his fingertips, and he sliced open one finger. Blood mixed with Dou Qi as his hand seals changed, forming mysterious runes one after another. A special rune-serpent emerged, and with Yao Ming's final hand seal, it shot into the door.
"Gate of the Nine Netherworlds, Tomb of the Underworld Python, open...!"
With a low cry, all the runes rushed into the