Chapter 716 - 655: The Snake Race’s Powerful Foundation

Chapter 716: Chapter 655: The Snake Race’s Powerful Foundation

"So many?" Tu Xiao’an said from the throne, astonished.

There were nearly five hundred Snake Demon Spirits in total, and Tu Xiao’an was unfamiliar with the vast majority of them.

"My King, those who have come are all leaders from their respective factions and species. A great many more Snake Demon Spirits are outside the hall, unable to enter," Elder Snake explained.

The reason they couldn’t enter was that there were too many of them, and the main hall had limited space. More importantly, it was sufficient for just the leading snake of each faction to attend.

Within each snake species and faction, there was certainly more than one who had attained Enlightenment. Therefore, the ones who entered were the cream of the crop.

In other words, every Snake Demon Spirit in the main hall represented the Princes of their respective factions.

"Your subjects greet the Lord Snake King!"

The deafening shouts echoed throughout the main hall as the Snake Demon Spirits knelt on one knee in unison.

Tu Xiao’an’s expression was cool as he swept his gaze over them, but inwardly, he was thrilled. ’Among them, there are an astonishing fifty-plus at the Pseudo Demon King Level.’

If they manifested their true forms, each would be a colossal, heaven-shattering serpent hundreds of feet long.

’The Snake Race has this much hidden strength?’

And yet, when he first attained Enlightenment and was crowned an Upper Rank King, only a dozen or so Snake Demon Spirits had come to Monkey Mountain to greet him.

’It seems that back then, many Snake Demon Spirits didn’t take me, their new king, seriously at all.’

Things were different now. Tu Xiao’an had killed the White Demon King, his might shaking the Yaoling Mountain Range. What Snake Demon Spirit of his own race would dare to defy him now?

There were over fifty Snake Demon Spirits at the Pseudo Demon King Level. Below them, all were at the Deep Mountain Great Demon level. And even further back were the ordinary Snake Demon Spirits, who weren’t qualified to even enter the hall.

’My god.’

Tu Xiao’an was stunned. This number far exceeded his expectations.

’If the Snake Race is this powerful, then the armies led by the Yellow Demon King and Gray Demon King must be enormous.’

Tu Xiao’an couldn’t even begin to imagine it. The number of Rank Three Demon Spirits would likely be staggering.

Once the war between the races began, it would likely change the entire power structure of the Yaoling Mountain Range, plunging it into true pandemonium.

As Tu Xiao’an’s gaze swept over them, he felt a twinge of regret. Among all those in the main hall, there wasn’t a single one from a Snake Species capable of becoming a Demon King.

Not a single one. The Snake Species of these fifty-plus Pseudo Demon Kings simply didn’t have the potential to break through to the Demon King Level.

Becoming a Demon King was simply too difficult—countless times harder than reaching Rank Three of Enlightenment.

Tu Xiao’an had once thought that reaching Rank 3 was exceedingly rare, but the truth was, the truly rare beings were the Demon Kings.

Rank 3 was merely the first great threshold.

It was only the beginning.

"All of you, rise," Tu Xiao’an said, giving a light wave of his hand.

But not a single one of the kneeling Snake Demon Spirits dared to stand. They kept their heads bowed, not daring to look at him directly. The scene was a testament to the supreme authority Tu Xiao’an now wielded within the Snake Race.

Thanks to the appearance of their new Snake King, and because of his power, the Snake Race was beginning to regain the bearing it once had as the number one race in the Yaoling Mountain Range.

"I have summoned you all today to tell you this: the Yellow Demon King and the Gray Demon King have united with the Twelve Great Races to exterminate our Snake Race. Are you afraid?"

As soon as he spoke, every Snake Demon Spirit held their breath, their gazes fixed on the man who sat as if upon a divine altar. In one voice, they roared, "We are not afraid! We would be ground to dust for our Lord Snake King! May the Snake Race be eternal!"

Haha...!

’These Snakes, long since turned Demon, certainly know the right things to say.’

Tu Xiao’an was amused. Every single Snake here possessed an incomparably noble bloodline.

It’s hard to even conceive of how many snakes belong to any single species. These individuals had distinguished themselves from among millions, attained Enlightenment, and become leaders of their factions.

Many of them were even more powerful than the kings of other races.

This was the hidden strength of the Snake Race, and all of it was his to command.

Their former status as the number one race in the Yaoling Mountain Range was no empty boast; it was backed by true power.

"Good. It’s good that you are not afraid. I will lead you to strike down all enemies who defy the Snake Race! The Snake Race will become the number one race in the Yaoling Mountain Range in the truest sense, and I, your Snake King, will become the Lord Gong of the Yaoling Mountain Range!"

When those two words, "Lord Gong," were spoken, all the Snake Demon Spirits were stunned. ’Our new king is so ambitious!’

"Long live the Snake King! Long live the Snake King! Long live the Snake King...!"

Like fanatical believers, they unconditionally trusted his grand words and began to shout with excitement.

"The war between the races will begin soon. All of you must go and prepare to welcome the Snake Race’s moment of glory!"

Tu Xiao’an stood as he said this, his eyes, filled with an incomparable might, shining brilliantly.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH...!

The light from his eyes materialized, shooting out over the heads of the Demon Spirits and out of the Snake Palace’s main hall. It finally exploded in the sky above She Mountain like a brilliant firework display.

"Long live the Snake King! Long live the Snake King! Long live the Snake King...!"

The Demon Snakes were all excited beyond words. Their Snake King was just this domineering, this powerful. He would lead the Snake Race to the very peak of the Yaoling Mountain Range.

「A long time later!」

"All of you may withdraw. Go and prepare for the Snake Race’s battle of life and death."

News of the great racial army’s approach was already spreading throughout She Mountain, striking fear into the hearts of countless Snakes.

As their King, Tu Xiao’an had to give them courage and confidence.

’If they’re afraid before the fight even begins, then defeat is certain.’

This was his way of mobilizing them and boosting their morale before the great battle.

The winds of change were about to sweep through the Yaoling Mountain Range.

........

After all the Snake Demon Spirits had left, Tu Xiao’an kept Elder Snake behind to ask him a question.

"Elder Snake, do you know where Demon King Liu imprisoned the Snake King from two generations ago?"

"My King, how do you know of this matter?" Elder Snake asked, shocked.

Tu Xiao’an said coolly, "The Fox Immortal King told me. Why would you hide something so important from me?"

As he spoke, Tu Xiao’an stared intently at Elder Snake.

’This Elder Snake used to follow Demon King Liu. Could he be harboring ulterior motives?’

THUD...!

Elder Snake fell to his knees in fright. "My King, this old servant did not intentionally conceal it! The matter of the Snake King from two generations ago became a taboo within the Snake Race. When Demon King Liu was in power, no one was permitted to speak of it. Over time, this old servant... simply began to forget."

"Is that really so?"

Elder Snake was trembling with fear. "My King, every word this old servant has spoken is the truth!"

"Fine. In that case, you may rise. I am not trying to hold you accountable. What I want to know now is where in the Snake Palace the Snake King from two generations ago is being held. As the steward of the Snake Palace, you should know that, shouldn’t you?"

"This old servant knows."

Tu Xiao’an’s eyes lit up. "Good. Take me there."

Elder Snake stared at him, stunned. "My King... surely you don’t intend to release the Old Snake King?"

"Heh. The Snake Race is at a critical juncture. Every Snake must fight for the race. The Old Snake King is no exception."

"My King, even at the height of his power, Demon King Liu could not make the Old Snake King yield. This will not be an easy task."

"Just lead the way."

Tu Xiao’an was confident. ’Subduing other creatures is my specialty, after all.’

He was quite curious to see just what kind of Snake Species the Snake King from two generations ago belonged to.

Elder Snake didn’t dare say another word and respectfully led the way for Tu Xiao’an.

He led Tu Xiao’an on a winding path through the Snake Palace, through various passages and entrances, all of them extremely well-hidden.

’Probably only Elder Snake could be this familiar with the Snake Palace.’

After a long, long time, Elder Snake brought Tu Xiao’an to the deepest part of the Snake Palace. Nearby stood a stone tablet inscribed with two words: "Entry Forbidden."

Seeing the words on the tablet, Tu Xiao’an’s eyes lit up. ’This must be the place.’

"This way, My King."

Full of anticipation, Tu Xiao’an ignored the words on the tablet and strode past it. But after only a few minutes, he stopped in surprise.

As far as the eye could see, there was only a barren patch of empty land with no buildings whatsoever.

Confused, Tu Xiao’an turned to look at Elder Snake.

Suddenly, Elder Snake’s serpentine aura flared. His Demon Power surged, and he transformed into a half-man, half-snake form. A massive, long tail then swept powerfully toward the empty ground ahead.

As the snake tail passed over it, the space itself began to tremble violently.

RUMBLE...

Tu Xiao’an was astonished. On the empty ground before him, an ancient palace shimmered into view like a mirage, then solidified into reality.

"My King, King Liu Yao set up a special Array here. No one who didn’t already know of its existence would ever be able to find it."

Tu Xiao’an stared, dumbfounded, at the ancient palace revealed by the sweep of Elder Snake’s tail. It was a truly eye-opening experience.