The Serpent

They didn't have the exact current location of the Cult, but they knew they were getting close.

Won Feng before they had left had given them a map of the terrain around the wastelands. On it were markings showing recent areas of Cult activities. Underlined to show importance, was an area around the middle of the above-ground section of the Mythical Serpent's Skeleton.

That was where they were now. While no one was seemingly around - alive at least, there were certainly remnants of Cult activity. 

That was if the tibia of a human being lying on top of a destroyed campfire was anything to go off.

There were footprints leading off into the skeleton, before mysteriously disappearing. From this Julong assumed they used their Genesis Qi to take flight.

But that did leave him with a question.

"Xiao Dai, why is it they move around so often?"

Xiao Dai seemed a little apprehensive at first, but she indeed knew the reason. That was why she nodded to herself before answering.

"The Leader of the Cult supposedly has ethereal visions during each ritual, informing them of where they need to go next to help revive the Serpent. That could be their next Ritual spot or a place where treasure is supposedly located.

"From what I remember, it was a total hoax, something to keep faith in the Leaders of the Cult. During each vision, they go through a seizure of sorts. My Father at one point was attempting to make me emulate it, as he wanted me to take over leadership of the Cult one day. If we want to find out where they are, it is down to chance no matter how I look at it. Even finding a random one we could interrogate, would be down to luck."

"I see."

Julong took in what Xiao Dai had said, that was indeed a bit of a predicament. Finding them would prove to be a bit harder than expected. It didn't help either that the Sect Commissions' information was outdated. Originally it had the location of a stronghold of sorts. But they had checked that spot earlier only to find it had been destroyed by a Fortressing Event.

"Either way, now it's clear that the Cult is all about control. Obviously, the Serpent is just a ruse. To me, it just sounds like the Leaders have a superiority complex of some kind. Leading people on, just for the sake of being in control of their own little game."

Xiao Dai concurred with a small hum.

"That was the exact reason I ran. It didn't make sense to me when I found out, nor does it now. There is no value to what they control. Only meaningless death and violence."

Julong as they spoke slowly set foot on the ground. It was his first time being so close to the colossal skeleton. From right next to it, it seemed as if it would go on endlessly into the horizon. It was hard to believe that the other half of it was underground quite frankly.

Though he couldn't help but feel as if something was amiss.

"What are you doing Julong?"

Letting out his Genesis Qi, he grabbed the attention of the two girls.

"I'm just testing something out."

Walking over to one of the spines coming out of the enormous fossil, which served to create what looked like a giant spike coming out of the ground, Julong placed his hand on it.

What came next were flashes of scenes similar to the memories of the day Cang Xuan had been slain.

It was quick, but what he saw was not a serpent. It was a figure he knew very well. A large dragon, of ancestral origin.

He saw the First God.

It used its claws to form a new space as its Vitality began to flicker. It quickly appeared inside the new domain and fell to the ground, creating an earth-shattering rumble, where it soon died.

The whole world seemed downcast, as the potency of Genesis Qi dropped. It mourned the death of its creator. It was something that would not even happen upon a Saint Death.

Despite it all, Julong had figured out what it meant.

He had just seen the creation of the now-known Cang Xuan Heaven along with the death of the Ancestral Dragon.

His body froze as he came back to his senses.

He found himself on the ground, with Li Qingchan holding him, attempting to circulate her Genesis Qi through him to check for any internal damage. However, no matter what she tried she couldn't tell if anything was wrong. It was like something was blocking her.

Seeing him open his eyes, both Xiao Dai and Qingchan sighed in relief.

"Are you okay, Julong?"

Ignoring Xiao Dai's question for the moment, he couldn't help but stare at the skeleton with reverence he had not felt before. When he was told that half the skeleton was underground he was indeed shocked, but as it turns out, it was far from just half. The bones visible from the above ground were only from a small segment of the tail. It made Julong sweat nervously. It was truly unreal.

It was likely that only he knew what the skeleton truly was. Not even the bones radiated any more power of the Dragon, all of the power and vitality in them had been used to create the never-ending domain that was known as the Cang Xuan Heaven. All that remained was a small amount of Genesis Qi, attempting to preserve its master as if waiting for its return. One which would never come.

Even so, that's not what Julong was most hung up on. His revelation meant that Serpent Scales were actually Dragon Scales. Ancestral Dragon Scales from the First God.

Unfortunately, the identity of the fossil was a piece of information he could not share with anyone. At least not until he was powerful enough to ensure nothing happened to it. Julong didn't know much about the Sacred Race's God, aside from the fact that he was currently dormant. If the Saints of Shenzu Heaven learned about the fossil of the First God, who knew how much faster the Second God would wake up?

Either way, it all made sense now. Yao Yao wasn't the main reason he was called to the Cangxuan Heaven. This carcass was.

"Yes, I-I'm okay. I just accidentally absorbed some Qi from the Skeleton which I couldn't handle."

"Really, I can't sense anything from the bones at all?"

Xiao Dai was a little sceptical.

"It was Life-Solarity Qi, but it was far too volatile as it turns out."

"Is that so?"

His response seemed to quell the concern of Qingchan and Xiao Dai. Thankfully he could play that lie off as the truth, as if you didn't have the Heaven Devouring Vitality Rune, you could not sense Life-Solarity Qi.

Pushing himself up from an almost disappointed Qingchan, he quickly rose to his feet.

No matter what, Julong had to stop the Sacred Palace from getting their hands on the Dragon Scales. Not only would it be trouble if dogs of the Sacred Race were able to manipulate them, but it would also be far too great of a benefit for Julong to let go.

"Come on, you two. Time waits for no one."

Xiao Dai and Qingchan looked at each other curiously at his sudden change up.

Qingchan, knowing Julong, knew something would reveal itself eventually. Therefore she was in no haste to figure it out. Even so, she couldn't help but be curious.

"Hey Xiao Dai, I know it's unlikely after what you said, but do they do anything specific, or head anywhere straight after a ritual?"

Xiao Dai pondered for a few moments.

"Maybe that place..?"