Chapter 155 - Leaving the Island!

At this moment, Qing Lin had advanced to a Seven-Star Dou Emperor, and Little Medical Fairy also had the strength of a Six-Star level.

After regrouping, the group left the Dragon Blood Pool together and stood in the void at the edge of Dragon Island.

It was the first time Heaven Fire Sovereign saw Dragon Island, and he couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Where is this place?"

"This is the land of the ancient Taixu Gulong clan. We have some relations with them. After saying our goodbyes, we'll be heading to Central Plains. Don't be too surprised later!" Jiang Yun briefly explained to Heaven Fire Sovereign and then began to observe the changes in Dragon Island.

Compared to before his seclusion, Dragon Island had changed significantly!

There were many figures patrolling the void around the island, their sharp gazes sweeping back and forth. 

As soon as anyone appeared with hostile intentions, they would be met with a torrential storm of attacks. These troops formed an impenetrable net, firmly protecting the island.

Deeper within Dragon Island, powerful auras emanated one after another. Jiang Yun smiled as he looked at the three women and said, "It seems that many seniors have returned. This is the true strength of the supreme magical beast Taixu Gulong clan!"

"Hahaha, Jiang Yun is right. This is the strength of our clan, not like before when we had only a few stray cats and dogs without even a single Four-Star Dou Saint, which was utterly shameful!" 

At this moment, a hearty laugh came from the front, and several figures silently appeared in the space ahead. Among them was Zhukun, but Jiang Yun and the others exchanged puzzled glances as they noticed that the figures beside Zhukun had bruised noses and swollen faces, standing behind him awkwardly.

"It looks like you all have made quite the progress this past year!" Zhukun looked at Jiang Yun and the others, nodding in approval.

His gaze lingered the longest on Jiang Yun, not just because of his identity but also because Zhukun felt that Jiang Yun had changed significantly since the last time.

As for the suddenly appeared Heaven Fire Sovereign, Zhukun chose to ignore him. Based on his strength, Zhukun had already noticed Heaven Fire Sovereign when he saw Jiang Yun. However, he didn't pay attention to him because he posed no threat to Jiang Yun and Ziyan. To his eyes, anyone below a Seven-Star Dou Saint was insignificant.

"Uncle, who are these?" Jiang Yun, with a hint of a smile, looked at Zhukun and softly asked.

"Hmph!" Zhukun's face turned sour at the question. He glared at the elderly Taixu Gulong elders beside him, who looked as if they had done something wrong, and snapped, "Why are you all standing there like fools? Talk!"

The elderly Taixu Gulong looked at each other in dismay. In the end, a white-haired elder took the lead and said, "I am Zhuzhou. Greetings, Young Master Jiang Yun!"

"Thank you, Young Master Jiang Yun, for returning our princess and bringing back news of His Majesty Zhukun. The Gulong clan is immensely grateful."

"That's enough! I've already promised my daughter's hand to Jiang Yun, and you still think you need to thank him?" Watching Zhuzhou thank Jiang Yun, Zhukun grew displeased, especially after noticing the three women beside Jiang Yun. He interrupted, feeling vexed.

Everyone awkwardly exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of Zhukun's rapidly changing moods. Jiang Yun, feeling helpless, rubbed his forehead. He was aware of Zhukun's displeased looks but couldn't refute facts. Being pressured under Zhukun's status, Jiang Yun could only accept it quietly.

Behind him, the three women watched the scene with amusement. Few could make Jiang Yun feel cornered without him being able to retaliate.

"This guy was one of my former guards. After thousands of years, he's only reached a pathetic Six-Star Dou Saint. He's entirely useless." Zhukun pointed at Zhuzhou, seemingly realizing his overreaction.

"Uh!" Being scolded, Zhuzhou, an elder, felt embarrassed and awkwardly rubbed his white head.

"You all, stop laughing! You're all just as useless, showing no improvement for so long. Now speak up!" Zhukun shot a stern glance at the snickering figures behind him.

"Young Master Jiang Yun, I am Zhuyu."

"I am Zhuxuan."

And so, Jiang Yun and the others were briefly introduced to these elders. Zhuzhou was the strongest among them, being at the early Six-Star Dou Saint level, while the others were at least Two-Star Dou Saints.

Most of them had been Zhukun's guards. Following Zhukun's disappearance, they ventured into the void searching for him.

This search lasted thousands of years. Once youthful, they had now grown old.

The Taixu Gulong clan likely lost many strong members to the void, unable to resist the ravages of time. Even the once powerful elders, older than Zhukun, had to face this.

Now it was up to fate.

"For now, only these few have returned. Who knows how many more familiar faces will come back?" Zhukun sighed nostalgically.

Hearing this, the group felt melancholic but didn't know how to comfort him. Jiang Yun finally said, "With the strength of the seniors, their end shouldn't be near. They might have traveled farther and are now on their way back upon hearing your return."

Zhukun felt a bit comforted by Jiang Yun's words, knowing that waiting was the only option.

"Uncle, the Gulong clan is back on track. Ziyan hasn't come out of seclusion yet, so we'll head to Central Plains for opportunities first." Jiang Yun cupped his hands towards Zhukun.

"Alright, I'll notify her when she comes out. Take this; if you face any danger you can't handle, crush it." Zhukun handed Jiang Yun a palm-sized dragon scale.

"Thank you, uncle!"

"Thank you, senior!"

Jiang Yun accepted the dragon scale, and the four of them bowed to Zhukun.

"Zhufeng, follow Jiang Yun from now on!" After receiving their bow, Zhukun commanded one of the elders.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhufeng, with a stern face and a chilling aura, responded respectfully and stood silently behind Jiang Yun and his group.

Seeing this Two-Star Dou Saint peak expert, even though they had anticipated it, the three women still found it somewhat surreal, feeling it was too extravagant.

After a final bow to Zhukun, Jiang Yun said to Zhufeng, "Sorry to trouble you, Senior Zhufeng!"

Zhufeng silently nodded, slashed his hand through the space, creating a spatial crack. With a flash, Jiang Yun and the three women disappeared into it.

After they entered, Zhufeng respectfully bowed to Zhukun and the others before picking up the Heaven Fire Sovereign like a chick and also disappearing into the spatial crack with a whoosh.

Inside the spatial crack.

Medusa looked at Jiang Yun at the front and asked, "Are we heading to the Beast Realm now?"

Jiang Yun nodded, "There are many Nine Nether Earth Serpents there and a significant opportunity related to you. Let's head there first."

He didn't mention that the Bodhi Tree appeared in the original story in the Ancient Desolation Domain, part of the Beast Realm. Little Medical Fairy had an inexplicable resonance with Bodhi Fruit, hoping for unexpected gains in the Beast Realm.

"Alright!"

The three women naturally wouldn't oppose Jiang Yun's decisions, and Zhufeng, even more so, dutifully led the group towards the Beast Realm at high speed.

In the Beast Realm, three supreme beast races reigned. Among them, the weakest in strength but largest in numbers was the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan.

The Nine Nether Earth Serpents' main base was deep underground in the Beast Realm, though they also had many branches on the surface.

This race's large number made it the largest among the three supreme races, but this also diluted their bloodline purity compared to the ancient Taixu Gulong and even the descendants of the ancient Heavenly Phoenix.

It was estimated that within a thousand years, the ancient bloodline of the Nine Nether Earth Serpents might be entirely depleted through natural reproduction.

By then, they would face a bloodline crisis similar to the once great Xiao clan.

The underground world's terrain was extremely complex, but with Zhufeng's presence, everything seemed like an open book.

A purple-gold light streaked quickly through the depths of the earth vein, soon breaking through layers of defense to reach the core, where the group appeared at the main base of the Nine Nether Earth Serpents, the Nether Serpent Earth Vein.

As for the Heaven Fire Sovereign, Jiang Yun had released him halfway, giving him his freedom. However, the Heaven Fire Sovereign, not being foolish, clung to Jiang Yun's coattails. Jiang Yun sent him to the Pill Region in preparation for their future trip to Central Plains.

The Nether Serpent Earth Vein was the headquarters of the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan and a sacred land for many serpent tribes. Therefore, its defense was exceptionally stringent, and ordinary serpents couldn't enter.

"This Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan lacks the number of experts the Taixu Gulong clan has but still has plenty of Dou Zuns." 

On a mountain overlooking the earth vein, Qing Lin remarked quietly, being a Green Snake Three-Flower Pupils bearer, feeling the number of experts among the Nine Nether Earth Serpents more acutely.

"They are just mixed blood, relying on their numbers." Zhufeng, usually silent, couldn't help but scoff at this point.

"Who would have thought we'd see such a large serpent tribe in Central Plains, far stronger than our tribe..." 

Queen Medusa, looking at the densely packed serpent tribes below, marveled, "I saw in our ancestral records that our branch migrated to the Tagor Desert, but I wonder if it originally came from this Beast Realm."

Hearing Medusa's thoughts, Jiang Yun commented, "Maybe one day, you can move the serpent tribe here and have you as its ruler." 

Medusa, taken aback, felt warmth in her heart, seeing the affection in Jiang Yun's eyes, and proudly smiled, "In the magical beast world, bloodline is paramount. Now, my Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline is supreme among serpent magical beasts. This place should be under my rule!"

"Then let's go acquire the power to rule it!"

Under Jiang Yun's direction, Zhufeng led them swiftly, arriving at the destination of this journey, the Nine Nether Yellow Spring.

The space manipulation of the Taixu Gulong was unmatched, and Zhufeng had mastered it phenomenally, transporting them to the heart of the earth vein without being detected.

Deep within the Nether Serpent Earth Vein was a giant, dark abyss, about a hundred meters wide and bottomless, emitting a chilling, gale-like wind from its depths. 

Typically, standing here, the cold wind would make one's blood and Dou Qi feel frozen. Without Zhufeng's protection, bearing such power would be tough.

At the bottom of this abyss lay the legendary holy pool of the Nine Nether Earth Serpent clan, the Nine Nether Yellow Spring, the Serpent-Swallowing Python's greatest inheritance and Medusa's transformative opportunity.

There was no guard beside the abyss, as the chilling wind was the natural guardian, deterring even Dou Zhong-level experts from approaching easily.

"This is the legendary Nine Nether Yellow Spring!"

Looking at the yellow lake, Medusa felt the terrifying cold energy seeping from it, awakening her nine-colored power.

"Indeed a great cultivation place!" Medusa excitedly looked at Jiang Yun after sensing it for a while.

"Hiss hiss hiss!" The little Nine-Headed Serpent on Medusa's shoulder called out at Jiang Yun, enjoying the environment.

"There seems to be a sealed expert below!" Zhufeng spoke gravely.

"A seal?" They all felt curious.

Jiang Yun raised his brow and asked, "Can you bring him out without alerting anyone?"

Studying the calm lake surface, Zhufeng contemplated and nodded, "Yes!"

"Please proceed, senior!" Jiang Yun cupped his hands in thanks.

Zhufeng nodded and dove into the Nine Nether Yellow Spring quick as lightning.

"Shhhh..."

With Zhufeng entering the Yellow Spring, white smoke rose, and water bubbles rapidly floated up. (End of Chapter)