Contesting the Divine Pool

After thoroughly consolidating his cultivation, Shangguan Ye left the Mountain River Space. The moment he emerged, he saw Nie Li. It seemed Nie Li had been waiting for him for quite some time.

"Shangguan, everyone's here. We can begin. Once the screening is finished, we can take them to seize the first Divine Pool. However, that Divine Pool is a medium-sized one, and there are a large number of Monster Beasts there. It may be troublesome," Nie Li said.

"Let's go." The two arrived at the Demon Alliance's gathering place. Looking over the densely packed members, Shangguan Ye spread out his senses. He pointed out each person harboring ill will toward him, and the Demon Alliance's thousand members were reduced to around seven hundred.

"Looks like they planted quite a lot of spies. Good thing we have you." Nie Li sighed.

"Let's not talk about that. Are Li Xingyun's people ready?"

"They're ready. Li Xingyun sent word that there's a Dragon Path Realm Monster Beast at that medium-sized Divine Pool. It probably won't be easy to deal with."

"I'll hold off the Dragon Path Realm Monster Beast. Leave the rest to you," Shangguan Ye said.

"No problem."

"By the way, what's been going on between you and Long Yuyin these past few days? I heard she wants to take you as her master?" Shangguan Ye raised a brow.

"Ahaha... Long Yuyin is on our side anyway. Helping her is helping ourselves, and taking her as a disciple will let me better help her become the Dragon Seal Family's Patriarch." Nie Li scratched his head and laughed.

"True. Without our help, Long Yuyin would never be able to compete with Long Tianming." Shangguan Ye nodded.

"Brother Shangguan, I'm here." Li Xingyun hurried over as the two spoke.

"All my men are ready. Today, we'll take that Divine Pool in one stroke."

"Let's go."

Shangguan Ye and his group set out in grand fashion with nearly a thousand people.

As the group flew at top speed toward the medium-sized Divine Pool, Shangguan Ye suddenly transmitted his voice.

"Everyone, we're being followed."

"Who is it?" Nie Li and Li Xingyun asked at the same time.

"Gu Heng and Hua Ling. Looks like Hua Ling has thrown in with Gu Heng," Shangguan Ye said.

"Hmph, that blind fool Hua Ling still hasn't learned his lesson after I taught him so many times. But Gu Heng is more troublesome. He's held the position of first-in-line heir for too long. His power is about equal to mine." Li Xingyun looked worried.

"Brother Xingyun, don't worry. They're just a bunch of clowns," Shangguan Ye said with a smile.

"They want to wait until we and those Monster Beasts have both suffered before coming in to clean up. We need to be careful."

"Focus on taking the Divine Pool. I'll deal with those people as well."

"Alright. You possess Space Law, Shangguan. Those people probably can't do anything to you. I'll extract the Divine Root as quickly as possible."

Soon, Shangguan Ye and the others arrived at their destination first. Dark clouds blanketed the sky above the Divine Pool, with lightning flashing and thunder roaring. Several hundred Winged Snakes guarded the Divine Pool.

"Everyone, be careful. Don't let them spot us. These are Thunder Fire Winged Snakes. They're violent by nature and extremely territorial," Nie Li explained.

"Look, the largest one has already reached the Dragon Path Realm. There are also more than thirty at the Heaven Rotation Realm, and even more at the Heavenly Star and Heavenly Fate Realms. Though they are fewer in number than us, their overall strength surpasses ours." Li Xingyun looked concerned.

"I'll draw out the Dragon Path Realm one. Leave Gu Heng's group to Feng Yu." Shangguan Ye's lips curled upward.

"Master."

Sensing Shangguan Ye's summons, Feng Yu immediately appeared beside him.

"Later, use your true form to wipe out that group for me." Shangguan Ye glanced toward the direction where Gu Heng's group was hiding.

"Yes!"

"Charge!" Shangguan Ye took the lead, shooting straight toward the Dragon Path Realm Thunder Fire Winged Snake.

"Hiss!" Seeing this, the Thunder Fire Winged Snake immediately summoned its underlings to surround and attack Shangguan Ye.

Immortal Art: Storm Style Light Fang

A beam shot from Shangguan Ye's mouth. The Thunder Fire Winged Snake instantly beat its wings to evade, but it was still grazed.

"Hiss!"

The Thunder Fire Winged Snake was utterly enraged and chased after Shangguan Ye.

"Got it." Shangguan Ye immediately retreated, with the Thunder Fire Winged Snake pursuing him relentlessly.

"It's time. Brothers, charge!"

Seeing this, Li Xingyun and the others immediately rushed out. Once Feng Yu saw Shangguan Ye lead away the Thunder Fire Winged Snake and Nie Li's group begin battling the remaining Thunder Fire Winged Snakes, she instantly assumed her true form and charged toward Gu Heng's group.

"What is that?!" Gu Heng and the others had been waiting to reap the rewards when they saw a firebird blotting out the sky dive toward them.

"Run!" Gu Heng's group immediately scattered in every direction. Flames ignited across Feng Yu's body, and nothing survived where she passed. Gu Heng's group had no chance to resist before being reduced to ash.

"Done." Feng Yu returned to human form and clapped her hands.

Elsewhere, after leading the Thunder Fire Winged Snake far away, Shangguan Ye suddenly stopped. The Thunder Fire Winged Snake spewed flames and lightning from its mouth, determined to reduce Shangguan Ye to ashes.

Shangguan Ye raised a hand, forming a barrier around himself. The instant the lightning and flames touched the barrier, they were absorbed.

A trace of solemnity appeared in the Thunder Fire Winged Snake's eyes. It then opened its jaws wide and lunged to kill him.

"Pretty smart. You know your Battle Skills will be absorbed. You can be collected."

Just as the Thunder Fire Winged Snake was about to reach him, Shangguan Ye waved his hand, and a spatial portal connected to the Mountain River Space appeared before him. Unable to stop in time, the Thunder Fire Winged Snake charged straight into it.

Shangguan Ye immediately closed the portal and flew toward the Divine Pool.

By the time Shangguan Ye arrived, Nie Li had already extracted the Divine Root, and everyone else had left. After all, the remaining thirty-plus Heaven Rotation Realm Thunder Fire Winged Snakes were no pushovers either. Shangguan Ye swiftly collected those thirty-plus Thunder Fire Winged Snakes into the Mountain River Space before catching up with the others.

"Nie Li, Brother Shangguan won't be in trouble, will he? That was a Dragon Path Realm Monster Beast," Li Xingyun asked.

After extracting the Divine Root, Nie Li and the others had stopped there to wait for Shangguan Ye.

"Don't worry. Shangguan wouldn't do anything he wasn't confident about."

"Boss, Shangguan Ye is here!" one subordinate shouted, pointing into the distance.

"Shangguan! Over here!" Nie Li waved.

In the blink of an eye, Shangguan Ye had arrived before them.

"How were the casualties?"

"A few brothers were injured. No one died," Nie Li reported.

"Good. Give every brother two hundred spirit stones. You've worked hard."

"Awesome!"

"This is great. Coming today was practically picking up a huge bargain."

"That Dragon Path Realm Thunder Fire Winged Snake was way too powerful. Just one look from it nearly scared me pissless."

"Yeah, but how did Shangguan Ye manage to escape from the Thunder Fire Winged Snake?"

"Could Shangguan Ye have killed that Thunder Fire Winged Snake?"

"Impossible! Shangguan Ye's aura had only just entered the Heaven Rotation Realm. How could he possibly kill a Dragon Path Realm Monster Beast? He must have some Battle Skill that made him faster than the Thunder Fire Winged Snake, which is how he escaped."

"True."

"Alright, everyone, go back."

That night, while Shangguan Ye was bathing in his room, he sensed a familiar aura.

"Hmm? Long Yuyin is here. Looks like she's looking for Nie Li. I'd better not play third wheel." Shangguan Ye immediately got dressed and entered the Mountain River Space.