Stupid

"This guy can absorb the HP of ten thousand dragon shadows and transfer it to himself?" Zhuge Xiang muttered to himself, his eyes wide as he stared at the Black Water Mysterious Snake.

Incredibly, Zhuge Xiang had never seen anyone with HP exceeding 1 million like his own, but this Black Water Mysterious Snake had reached a staggering 50 million.

Each dragon shadow has 5000 HP, so 10,000 dragon shadows together do indeed have 50 million health points. However, these dragon shadows only had 5000 HP left after absorbing Zhuge Xiang's Sky-Supporting Sacred Sword. What would the Black Water Mysterious Snake's HP be if it didn't have its own Sky-Supporting Sacred Sword?

100 million!

This number was enough to shock Zhuge Xiang. Possessing 100 million HP and strength comparable to Gods and Buddhas of all Heavens, who in this Cultivation World could possibly defeat him?

With 100 million HP, even Ying Qianshan wouldn't be a match for this guy in a prolonged battle, would he? With that HP, even without resistance, it's unknown how long it would take to defeat it.

"Truly worthy of existing since Ancient Times. Even though its cultivation is restricted due to the Heavenly Laws, its HP is still astonishingly high," Zhuge Xiang murmured to himself, looking at the HP that was still over 50 million even after half of it had been lost.

"To be old and not die is to be a thief." This Black Water Mysterious Snake, just looking at its HP, makes it hard to have the will to continue fighting.

"Your strength is formidable; you can even defeat beings at the Immortal-Demon level. However, while my strength may not have reached the Immortal-Demon level, my vitality far surpasses that of ordinary Immortals and Demons. It is impossible for you to kill me," the Black Water Mysterious Snake, protected by the Spirit of Ten Thousand Dragons, looked at Zhuge Xiang and made its conclusion.

"..." Zhuge Xiang did not reply to the Black Water Mysterious Snake's words. Although unwilling, Zhuge Xiang had to admit that the Black Water Mysterious Snake's words made sense.

With 50 million HP, just looking at it makes one lose the will to fight. The Great Five Elements Sword Formation, dealing 1.5 million true damage, could almost kill anyone in the Cultivation World. However, compared to the Black Water Mysterious Snake, it's nothing.

"How ironic." Zhuge Xiang paused for a moment, then a mocking smile appeared on his lips. "You keep saying that the Dragon Ancestor deceived you, but in the end, you still had to rely on the power of the Dragon Clan to protect yourself?"

"Hahaha..." Zhuge Xiang's words made the Black Water Mysterious Snake suddenly laugh. The laughter was filled with anger, hatred, and resentment. It said to Zhuge Xiang, "What you said is indeed true, but do you know why I have possessed immense Dragon Qi for thousands of years, nourishing myself, yet I have not been able to become a true Black Water Profound Dragon?"

Shaking his head, Zhuge Xiang remained silent. In truth, Zhuge Xiang himself was also puzzled. Over thousands of years, this Black Water Mysterious Snake had reached the pinnacle of cultivation, and with the assistance of countless Dragon Blood, it was impossible that it still couldn't break through the final barrier and ascend after so long. Was it because the Dragon Blood was insufficient to drive its transformation? Zhuge Xiang didn't believe it.

"Inner Core!" the Black Water Mysterious Snake exclaimed, its eyes filled with resentment. It shrieked, "Back then, I was defeated by the Dragon Ancestor. To show my sincerity, I offered my Dragon Ancestor Inner Core to him. On my deathbed, the Dragon Ancestor made a promise: as long as I sincerely offered three sticks of incense daily and nourished myself with the Dragon Qi contained in my Dragon Blood, one day he would return my Inner Core to me. But for millions of years, my Inner Core has remained elusive."

Taking a deep breath, the Black Water Mysterious Snake's resentment deepened. "The Inner Core is as important as the Nascent Soul of you human Cultivator," it said. "For millennia, my physical body has been nourished by Dragon Qi, reaching its limit. Once the Inner Core arrives, I can transform into a dragon. But for millennia, the Inner Core promised to me by the Dragon Ancestor has yet to appear. For millennia, I've told myself it's not the right time, but today, I can't wait any longer..."

"Inner Core?" Upon hearing the Black Water Mysterious Snake's words, Zhuge Xiang's heart stirred slightly.

Previously, when Zhuge Xiang was selecting treasures, thousands of treasures swirled around Zhuge Xiang. Although in the end, the brilliance of these treasures was overwhelmed by the Sword Dao scroll of the Heavenly Flying Immortal, Zhuge Xiang did indeed see an Inner Core among the thousands of treasures—an inner core imbued with Dragon Qi and Demonic Qi Inner Core.

The Dragon Qi and Demonic Qi were mixed together, and this peculiar Inner Core left a deep impression on Zhuge Xiang. However, the inner Inner Core was also forced back by the Sword Dao painting of the Heavenly Flying Immortal, so Zhuge Xiang did not think about it anymore.

But now, upon hearing the Black Water Mysterious Snake's words, Zhuge Xiang realized that the Demonic Qi contained within that Inner Core seemed to be the same Demonic Qi emanating from the Black Water Mysterious Snake.

With a thought in mind, Zhuge Xiang remained silent for a moment, then said to the Black Water Mysterious Snake, "I want to ask you, in all these millennia, have you ever entered the Dragon Tomb to sweep the tomb of the Dragon Ancestor?"

"Sweeping the tomb?" Suddenly, Zhuge Xiang said this to him. The Black Water Mysterious Snake was slightly taken aback. Although it didn't understand what Zhuge Xiang meant, it hesitated for a moment, then shook its head and said coldly, "The agreement between the Dragon Ancestor Black Water Mysterious Snake me back then was only to guard the Dragon Tomb and burn three sticks of incense every day. It never mentioned that I had to sweep his tomb."

"Hahaha..." Zhuge Xiang suddenly laughed at the Black Water Mysterious Snake's words, laughing loudly as if he had heard the funniest thing in the Mortal World. He laughed so hard he couldn't catch his breath, and his eyes were filled with pity and sympathy when he looked at the Black Water Mysterious Snake.

"What are you laughing at?" Black Water Mysterious Snake frowned slightly and shouted in a deep voice, feeling Zhuge Xiang's gaze fixed on him and seeing his breathless Zhuge Xiang.

"I'm laughing at you. For thousands of years, you've shown no respect to the Dragon Ancestor, yet you still think you've done a good job. It's precisely because of this that you've missed opportunities for thousands of years, and you're even more foolish to blame the Dragon Ancestor for it," Zhuge Xiang said bluntly to the Black Water Mysterious Snake, suppressing his smile.

Upon hearing Zhuge Xiang's evaluation of him, the Black Water Mysterious Snake's face flushed with anger, but then his expression changed again. Although Zhuge Xiang 'Zhuge Xiang words were sarcastic, the meaning behind them revealed that he knew why he could not become the Black Water Profound Dragon, or rather, why he could not retrieve his Inner Core.

His expression changed, and the Black Water Mysterious Snake stared intently at Zhuge Xiang, cautiously asking, "What do you mean by that?"

"Haha, what do you mean?" Zhuge Xiang chuckled, not rushing to answer. He simply watched the slowly collapsing Dragon Tomb space and the gray mist constantly dissipating from the Void, his Divine Sense spreading out like a tide.

Although the gray mist still blocked Zhuge Xiang's Divine Sense, much of it had dissipated, limiting its obstruction. In a short while, Zhuge Xiang found what he wanted. With a wave of his hand, the sound of a Zhuge Xiang's Divine Sense could be faintly heard. Then, a ray of light appeared from the horizon and landed in Zhuge Xiang's hand.

"Look, what's this?" Zhuge Xiang asked, waving the object in his hand.

The Black Water Mysterious Snake trembled upon seeing the object in Zhuge Xiang's hand, its eyes widening in disbelief. It blurted out, "My Inner Core!"

In Zhuge Xiang's hand lay a fist-sized Inner Core. Within this Inner Core emanated a surging and profound aura, a magnificent blend of Demonic Qi and Dragon Qi, perfectly fused together. The power it contained Human Heart...

The main reason Zhuge Xiang noticed this Inner Core before was because, faced with the oppressive power of the Sword Dao scroll of the Heavenly Flying Immortal, this Inner Core was the last resort. Therefore, Zhuge Xiang paid special attention to it, and now he understands that it is actually the Inner Core of the Black Water Mysterious Snake.

"You... how did you find my Inner Core...?" The Black Water Mysterious Snake stared intently at the Inner Core in Zhuge Xiang's hand and asked.

Having lost its Inner Core for millions of years, it's as if the door to the Immortal Realm has been closed. Today, the key to that door has suddenly appeared. How could the Black Water Mysterious Snake not be nervous?

"How did you find it?" Zhuge Xiang, a strange smile on his face, looking at the Black Water Mysterious Snake. "This Inner Core is actually located inside this Dragon Tomb."

"!!!", these words stunned the Black Water Mysterious Snake. It stood there frozen in place, as if struck by a spell, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Looking at the Black Water Mysterious Snake's appearance, Zhuge Xiang smiled. Zhuge Xiang could naturally understand its feelings. The Black Water Mysterious Snake had been waiting for the appearance of the Inner Core all along. However, the Inner Core was in the Dragon Tomb and could be retrieved at any time. But the Black Water Mysterious Snake Serpent harbored resentment towards the Dragon Ancestor and had never entered the Dragon Tomb. This feeling was much more foolish than guarding a treasure chest but having no money to eat.

The Black Water Mysterious Snake stood frozen in place, and Zhuge Xiang remained silent. The entire Dragon Tomb space slowly collapsed, and gray mist drifted away in the Void. After about Half a Tea Interval of tea's time, the Black Water Mysterious Snake suddenly laughed.

"Hahahaha..." The Black Water Mysterious Snake threw its head back and laughed loudly. The laughter was complex and full of complicated emotions, including sudden realization, regret, and self-mockery. It was hard to imagine that so many complex emotions could be integrated into the laughter.

"Idiot! Fool, haha, you were right, I really am the biggest fool since the beginning of Pangu..." The Black Water Mysterious Snake laughed maniacally, hurling insults at himself without any restraint.

In the heat of the moment, he even slapped himself repeatedly, repeatedly, until his teeth broke and blood streamed from his mouth, yet he remained oblivious. (To be continued...)