Subduing the Nether Snake King
"Crackle! Crackle!"
Heavenly lightning rumbled down from the thick clouds as though truly enraged. In the sea of lightning in the void, it took the shape of a divine dragon and blasted toward Xiao Yan and the Nether Snake King.
"What frenzied lightning energy! That power... I'm afraid even a Five-Star Dou Zong couldn't withstand it!"
Xiao Yan stared in terror at the distant lightning dragon, horror filling his heart. Inside him, Yao Lao's expression was graver still. His mind remained linked to the youth's, ready to take the blow in his place.
"Hmph! Absurd."
The Nether Snake King sneered. Purple-black Dou Qi burst from his body, forming wisps of thick smoke that swirled in his mouth. Then he fired a beam of purple light straight at the lightning dragon.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Violent explosions rang out one after another, echoing endlessly over the entire swamp.
The lightning dragon collided with the purple light, and the two locked in a stalemate.
Surging waves of blue and purple Dou Qi spilled in every direction, blasting erratically toward the swamp and the heavens. Shattered rocks and sprays of water flew up, then slowly rose under the pull of gravity at the center of the battle.
But the Nether Snake King seemed to have strength to spare. With a flicker of thought, he activated a profound Dou Qi cultivation method, swiftly drawing the poison-attribute energy from the swamp domain to bolster himself.
Soon, the purple beam bore down on the lightning dragon with growing ferocity. It gradually gained the upper hand, then slowly swallowed the dragon and shot straight toward the dark clouds above.
Pop!
The thick beam of purple light, tens of meters across, surged into the sky and suddenly raised a wave. It shattered space, instantly creating a hollow and dispersing the gloom that filled the sky.
When the gloom cleared and light returned to heaven and earth, only the Nether Snake stood proudly at the edge of the swamp, gazing down at the mountain scenery.
"Isn't that a bit much? He suppressed the entire lightning tribulation without even using a Dou Technique. Could the Nether Snake King's strength have already reached Seven-Star Dou Zong?"
At the sight, cold sweat suddenly poured down Xiao Yan's face. He turned and met the Nether Snake's gaze, and his heart skipped a beat.
"Hiss... Lord Alliance Leader, may you give me the Dragon Transformation Pill now?"
The Nether Snake King flicked his tongue and bowed his head respectfully.
He had not forgotten what he had promised Xiao Yan: to join the faction the latter was forming and become his companion.
Since the person before him really was such a powerful alchemist, the soul contract he had just signed was no loss. On the contrary, he had gained a connection.
The youth froze at his words, but quickly recovered. Smiling, he held out the pill in his hand and nodded as he stood in the air.
"Haha, of course. Since you're willing to keep your promise, I naturally won't go back on my word. Take it!"
Watching the pill float slowly toward him, the Nether Snake King grew impatient. He twisted his body and slithered over, eagerly swallowing the divine pill in one gulp.
He had long yearned for this Dragon Transformation Pill.
In truth, there was one thing only he knew.
Back then, Yun Shan and he had not fought until both sides were grievously wounded.
Rather, at the critical moment, he had risked his life to break through to Dou Zong. Only then had he driven Yun Shan off and fled into this poisonous swamp to recuperate.
Now, after several decades, his strength had reached the realm of an Eight-Star Dou Zong.
But as poison Dou Qi accumulated in his body, his old injuries had not only failed to improve but had grown increasingly severe. He could explode and die at any moment.
To his surprise, he had encountered Xiao Yan today-an unexpected stroke of good fortune.
Compared with his own life, what did joining a mere alliance of factions amount to...?
At that thought, the Nether Snake King hesitated no longer. After a casual word of thanks, he turned and left, disappearing into the depths of the swamp.
Watching the Nether Snake King leave, Xiao Yan thought it over carefully and decided to call out after all.
"Nether Snake King, once your injuries have healed, if you wish to find my alliance, just come to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave."
At the edge of the swamp, the Nether Snake swept his massive tail sharply through the air, stirring up a current that snapped several poisonous trees beside him, signaling that he understood.
Xiao Yan gave an awkward smile. He couldn't help feeling that the other party's way of saying goodbye was a little arrogant, as though he were looking for trouble.
But on second thought, the other party really did have the ability to back it up, so he could hardly be blamed for acting that way.
"Teacher, now we've even recruited a Magical Beast comparable to a Dou Zong. The alliance should be secure. Once everything here is settled, let's go out and train!"
Xiao Yan sent his soul into his mind and asked Yao Lao.
"Mm, that's fine. As for your training, I've already made arrangements."
Yao Lao patted his chest and gazed through Xiao Yan's body at the swamp outside. Recalling the departing Nether Snake King, he answered with lingering trepidation.
Although his Dou Qi cultivation had once reached the terrifying Nine Revolutions Peak Dou Zun, he had now fallen on hard times. If they really fought, he might not last a thousand exchanges against him.
If the Nether Snake King forcibly tore up the soul contract, even at the risk of backlash, he could probably kill him here.
Fortunately, he had displayed his abilities as a seventh-tier alchemist in time, thoroughly intimidating the other party.
"Then thank you, Teacher. What's your plan?"
As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, he strode forward and swiftly flew out of the swamp, heading west, straight for the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave.
"Hehe, nothing much. You've only just reached Six-Star Dou Zhe and haven't learned any Dou Techniques yet, have you? How about I take this time to teach you a few moves?"
Yao Lao stroked his beard with satisfaction and continued, "Besides that, before you reach Da Dou Shi, you won't need to cultivate with a cultivation method. I'll refine some Companion Amethyst Source for you each month, and that will be enough to keep you breaking through."
"The time you save will leave you free to learn Dou Techniques and study alchemy under me."
Xiao Yan came to a sudden realization, then asked curiously, "Where will we go to train afterward? Will we stay in the Magical Beast Mountain Range the whole time?"
If that were really the case, he would have some regrets.
Beyond the Magical Beast Mountain Range, there were people and opportunities in several places that he greatly coveted.
For example, Xiao Yi Xian of Qingshan Town, and the Dou Wang's cave dwelling in the Magical Beast Mountain Range...
Wait, the Dou Wang's cave dwelling-that's right! I still haven't retrieved the fragment of the Purifying Lotus Demon Flame map. If I forget it, getting into the Demonic Flame Space later will be troublesome.
"Of course. I settled on a place long ago: the Tagor Desert on the border of the Jia Ma Empire. When I traveled the continent all those years ago, I heard information about Heavenly Flames there. This is a good chance to take you along and investigate."
Yao Lao nodded and went on.
"Once you've learned Dou Techniques and basic alchemy, go find an Alchemist Guild in a nearby city and take the alchemist examination. It will help you in the future."
Xiao Yan set off to search the mountains as he replied, "All right, Teacher. But there's something else I'd like to do first."
Yao Lao asked curiously, "Oh? What is it?"
Smiling, Xiao Yan casually made up an explanation.
"Teacher, don't you think there are too many cliffs in the Magical Beast Mountain Range? I often read martial arts novels when I was little, and I heard that as long as you go to the bottom of a cliff, you can encounter a beauty and pick up powerful Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills. So I'd like to give it a try..."
Yao Lao: "..."