Chapter 554 - Xiao Hei Returns

Gu Han ignored Chongming for the time being, instead fixing his gaze on Li Mao. A faint sense of familiarity tugged at him. According to the Hehuan Sect Master, Mu Feng was at the Ascension realm. Meanwhile, not only was this man at the Feather Transformation realm, but his surname was also Li.

“Are you Li Mao?”

Li Mao’s brows raised slightly. “You know me? That’s strange. Why don’t I have any impression of you?”

Gu Han shook his head. “It’s only natural that you don’t recognize me. I am not important enough to catch the notice of someone as esteemed as Ling Ya’s disciple.”

The old ancestor turned cold as he barked, “Bastard! How dare you speak of the Master’s name like that? You’re a mere Saint realm, an ant-like thing. You have no idea what you’re up against!”

Following that, a wisp of pressure descended. With a crash, Gu Han flew backward before landing heavily on the ground. The earth quaked without cease. A massive pit over ten zhang wide and several zhang deep had opened around him. Gu Han’s face had paled slightly, yet he still stood up straight.

The old ancestor was taken aback. “You’re not dead? I guess you’re quite skilled then!”

Even though he had only unleashed a casual strike, that strike casually, even an ordinary Saint realm cultivator couldn’t have withstood it. Yet Gu Han hadn’t even sustained a light injury.

“Master!”

From a distance, Ah Gou let out a startled cry, transforming into a shadow that planted itself before Gu Han. He then fixed the old ancestor with a death glare. The blood vessels in his eyes grew increasingly prominent as a hint of madness and bestiality lurked within them.

From start to finish, Li Mao’s sole target had been Ah Gou. He hadn’t spared Gu Han a second glance.

Now, after witnessing Ah Gou’s actions, he appeared puzzled. “That’s strange. Strictly speaking, this dog shouldn’t have any emotions. He only ever follows orders and never acts on his own initiative. How did you manage that? Doesn’t he seem quite attached to you?”

Gu Han’s expression remained neutral. “It’s simple. I treat him like a person. You all don’t. That’s all there is to it.”

Li Mao nodded, saying dismissively, “I see. Another one of those emotional arguments. What a pity. Only the weak care about such things.”

The old ancestor could no longer hold back. “Young Master Li, with your status, why waste words on him? Allow me to kill him, capture the spirit beast, and we can be on our way! Otherwise... the tea will grow cold.”

Li Mao let out a light laugh. ”Fine. You’re right. There’s no point in saying more to these ants. I’m afraid I was simply too cautious, making you take this trip for nothing...”

The old ancestor waved his hand grandly, taking full charge. “No, not at all! Wait a moment. Leave it to me!”

I can’t leave empty-handed! I have to at least look like I’m putting in effort. Otherwise, how can I just accept those two tokens?

With that thought, he swept his large sleeve, and a thick yellow mist descended. It spread in every direction, covering a thousand zhang in no time. Gu Han, Ah Gou, and Chongming were swept into it. Wherever the yellow mist passed, vegetation withered, and even the earth and stone silently crumbled into dust.

Li Mao grinned. “Elder Huang, it’s been years, but your cultivation has advanced yet again.”

The old ancestor feigned modesty. “You’re too nice! It’s just a few tricks. Hardly worth mentioning!”

His words were humble, but inwardly, he was pleased. His divine ability was called Yellow Wind Covering the Heavens. Supplemented by the power of heaven and earth, it transformed his cultivation base into rolling yellow mist, dissolving all things. Wherever it passed, scarcely a blade of grass could survive, making it his signature technique.

The old ancestor sighed with emotion once more. “You may not know this. My divine ability has killed countless people. But killing a rooster? That’s a first—”

Before he could finish, a rather youthful bark rang out from within the rolling yellow mist.

Both men froze. Wasn’t I killing a rooster? Where did a dog’s bark come from?

Chongming’s voice rang out with excitement. “Xiao Hei, quick! Bite them to death!”

The moment the words fell, a ferocious and unbridled demonic qi erupted from within the yellow mist, nearly blotting out the sky itself. In less than half a breath, it had dispersed all of the fog.

Another roar sounded, rendering the old ancestor and Li Mao speechless. That was when they noticed the sky growing somewhat dim. As they looked up, they saw a giant fearsome beast bearing down at them.

Spanning several thousand zhang, it was black, with a single sharp horn sprouting from its head. Savagery and bloodlust filled its eyes. Drool continuously dripped from its maw like a torrential downpour, drenching the pair from head to toe.

This creature hasn’t brushed its teeth! For some reason, that thought suddenly crossed both their minds.

Chongming perched himself on the beast’s horn, acting all high and mighty. “Xiao Hei, quickly bite them!”

Gu Han was in danger. Concerned for his master’s safety, Ah Gou had handed control of his body to Xiao Hei before falling into slumber. The little pup that Chongming had been longing for was finally back!

Li Mao was dumbfounded. Even though he knew the boy’s true form, he never imagined it was this powerful?! The old ancestor was equally stupified. This was no spirit beast! This was a great demon, and one of strange bloodlines that he simply could not handle! Beyond his shock, he was also filled with regret. If only he hadn’t been greedy for favor and had brought more helpers...

Following Chongming’s command, Xiao Hei opened its gaping maw. The dark, yawning abyss lunged down to bite the two. But that wasn’t all. Hidden within that abyss was an incredibly powerful force of attraction and tearing. Li Mao could no longer control himself, drawn toward that enormous mouth.

In the end, the old ancestor’s cultivation was slightly higher, so he could still barely maintain his position. Upon seeing Li Mao in danger, he gritted his teeth. A wisp of yellow mist coiled around Li Mao and hurled him far away. Regret came too late. He could not, and dared not, abandon Li Mao and flee. Even if he tried, escape was uncertain.

He swept his hand. Time to go all out!

Having grown up in the Tiannan Realm, he still had a streak of ruthlessness in him. Just as that massive maw descended, strands of yellow mist converged and wrapped around him without cease, transforming him into a yellow giant a thousand zhang tall.

In the blink of an eye, his enormous hand had already clenched into a fist, slamming upward toward Xiao Hei’s jaw. Yet no matter how one looked at it, he was no match for Xiao Hei. Just as Xiao Hei was about to swallow that arm whole, a flicker of pain crossed its eyes. Its demonic qi also churned violently as if it were enduring immense agony. The yellow-mist fist smashed into Xiao Hei’s head, sending it flying.

Chongming struggled to keep his footing as his eyes filled with concern. “Xiao Hei?! What’s wrong, Xiao Hei?!”

Xiao Hei let out a mournful whimper as its voice was steeped in pain and madness.

From far away, Li Mao’s face was pale as he clutched the red mother talisman. He coldly watched Xiao Hei’s enormous form. “Beast! Did you think I had no way to deal with you? Submit at once and come back with me. Otherwise, I’ll make you suffer a fate worse than death, body and soul!”

As his words fell, a sliver of spirit power once again seeped into the jade talisman, and Xiao Hei’s roars grew even more painful. A layer of five-colored divine flames, about a cun long, erupted from Chongming. Having consumed the Soul Crystal, he had recovered slightly, just enough to barely mobilize some of his cultivation.

Suddenly, the pupils in his eyes split in two. “How dare you bully my pup!”

With a spread of his wings, he transformed into a streak of flowing light and shot straight toward Li Mao.

“Great Might Heavenly Dragon!”