Invincible Snake Emperor

Chapter 686: Chapter 633: The Ancient Demon’s Abode (Part 2)

"Unless what?" Tu Xiao’an grumbled. "Don’t leave me hanging."

"Unless you can find the core of the Array and seize control of it. Then you would be the master of the War Relics, and this Ancient Demon’s former abode would become your own—your home."

’Worthy of his title as the Dean of the Ancient Academy. He looks like he’s not even eighteen, but his knowledge is incredibly vast. He knows so much.’

Tu Xiao’an’s eyes lit up. "So there’s still a sliver of a chance. Just kill the Taotie, find the Array, and we’re golden."

"It’s not that simple. An Ancient Demon’s Array is unpredictable and ever-changing. The core is its crucial nexus, so how could anyone find it easily? That Taotie has been trapped for who knows how many hundreds of millions of years. Even though its master is long gone, it still hasn’t become the master of the abode. That alone is enough to prove that finding the core is practically impossible."

"So what are you saying, Dean? That no one should go in? That going in is just a suicide mission?" Tu Xiao’an’s expression darkened.

’Not going in to kill the Taotie is waiting for death. Going in is actively seeking it.’

’Once the Fourth Rank Taotie emerges, who could possibly stop it?’

"Not at all. We still have to go in," Wang Bo said. "I am merely explaining the serious dangers of this relic to His Majesty the Snake King."

’Heh. Now that you’ve put it that way, this Snake King has changed his mind. I’m not going in.’

’If I go in and can’t get out, am I supposed to become roommates with that Taotie and live out my days with the Exotic Beast?’

’Besides, the Taotie was raised by the Ancient Demon. Whether I can even kill it is a whole other question.’

’Not unless you’re determined to succeed or die trying.’

’But Tu Xiao’an wasn’t that noble. This snake has an old mother to support, you know. He can’t afford to play such high-stakes games.’

’Well, this dean seems pretty reliable, though. At least he told me the truth instead of letting me wander in there like a fool.’

’Otherwise, if I got stuck in there, it would’ve been too late for regrets.’

"Thank you very much for telling me this, Dean. I am extremely grateful," Tu Xiao’an said seriously. "I’m not going in."

Wang Bo was stunned. ’Did I say too much?’

’He had only told him everything because he felt the snake was a decent sort and had contributed a great deal to Wencheng. It was a way of repaying him.’

’But the point wasn’t to make him back out!’

"Actually, with Your Majesty the Snake King’s Talent, reaching Rank Four of Ascension might not be impossible. You must understand, the War Relics is an Ancient Demon’s abode. It’s filled with treasures, and the nature’s spiritual energy is incredibly rich. It might be a great opportunity for you."

"Fortune is found in peril."

Wang Bo continued to tempt him. "Throughout history, many great masters have found immense boons within War Relics, leading to a meteoric rise. Your own Five Great Deep Mountain Demon Kings of the Yaoling Mountain Range are a perfect example. It was only after they benefited from a War Relic that their Cultivation skyrocketed, allowing them to become who they are today."

"It’s just that this relic we’ve uncovered here in Wencheng is a bit... exceptional. The obstructing Array is a major problem."

Tu Xiao’an said calmly, "It’s only an opportunity if you can seize it. If you can’t, it’s a catastrophe. This War Relic is far more complex than I imagined."

’Tu Xiao’an was confident he would reach Rank Four of Ascension eventually. He had his system, and he was the chosen snake, after all. The real question was *when* he would reach Rank Four.’

’Even if it took him a hundred years to reach Rank Four of Ascension, he’d still be the fastest cultivator in the world. However, Tu Xiao’an had no interest in spending a century cultivating inside some relic.’

’He believed there had to be other Rank Four Great Powers in the world. Even if the Fourth Rank Taotie emerged, it wouldn’t necessarily be able to wreak havoc unchecked.’

’So, this snake, Tu Xiao’an, wasn’t going to worry about it. Even if there were no Rank Four beings, the Taotie could be dealt with eventually.’

Tu Xiao’an’s attitude had done a complete one-eighty, which wasn’t entirely outside Wang Bo’s expectations. After all, the stakes were enormous.

"His Majesty the Snake King, the reason I’ve told you so much is that I want you to understand something. Although this War Relic is protected by an Array, it is the kind of fortuitous abode one might stumble upon only once in a lifetime. The relic itself is an immense treasure. If you could find the core of the Array, control it, and become the abode’s master... the possibilities would be unimaginable. You must realize, this is an independent space—a pocket world!"

"Don’t be fooled by its ’small’ designation. The space inside is larger than an entire human province. You could create your own kingdom in there, a world that belongs completely to you. You would be an existence on par with the Heaven and Earth Law itself."

Having finished with the cons, Wang Bo began to lay out the pros.

Upon hearing this, Tu Xiao’an fell silent, a sharp light glinting in his bewitching, demonic eyes.

’An independent space, a private kingdom, belonging only to him?’

Those words had truly struck a chord with Tu Xiao’an.

’Go in, kill the Taotie, control the Array... and he’d be set for life.’

’Dean Wang Bo had laid out both the pros and cons for him. From the looks of it, he clearly wanted Tu Xiao’an to go in and kill the Taotie.’

’According to him, sending in more people would be useless.’

’Rather than everyone go in to die, it was better for one to take the risk. If that one person didn’t die and seized the opportunity, they would soar from the branches and become a Phoenix.’

"With such incredible benefits on the line, are you planning to go in, Dean?" Tu Xiao’an suddenly asked.

Wang Bo stated firmly, "I am not!"

"..." Tu Xiao’an was utterly dumbstruck.

He was speechless for a long moment. ’A powerful figure like you isn’t going to kill the Taotie, so you’re just going to entrust the fate of the world to a single Snake? Is that appropriate?’

"War Relics are opening up all over the country right now. I have other important duties to the nation."

"Then aren’t you afraid that once the Fourth Rank Taotie emerges, Wencheng will be the first to fall?" Tu Xiao’an asked curiously.

Wang Bo smiled. "Based on my estimations, the Taotie won’t reach Rank Four of Ascension so easily. It will need several years at least, perhaps even longer."

"But the Taotie will keep sending out its avatars. Wencheng can’t take that kind of pressure. Aren’t you considering that?"

"When the relic first opened, Wencheng was simply caught off guard. Everything has its pros and cons. Now that the War Relic is open, the nature’s spiritual energy has grown much richer. We human Martial Cultivators are bound to rise," Wang Bo said. "I have already reported to the national authorities. We will cordon off Wenjialing and designate it as a Cultivation site for our Martial Cultivators."

"If any more Fierce Beasts charge out, they won’t even make it to Wencheng."

’Tu Xiao’an almost wanted to give him a thumbs-up. What a brilliant plan. The nature’s spiritual energy was getting richer, and the Spiritual Qi near the War Relics was even more potent. By cordoning off the area, they could let human Martial Cultivators train on the periphery. If any Fierce Beasts charged out, they could be killed on the spot, providing real combat training and helping to cultivate experts for the nation.’

’The only catch was that it would require several War God Level experts to hold the line. The number of Fierce Beasts emerging from the relic was growing, and they were all at the Pseudo Demon King Level.’

’Without a few War Gods stationed there, ordinary Rank 3 Martial Cultivators would just be committing suicide by training there.’

’Wang Bo was using a stalling tactic. He was betting the Taotie wouldn’t emerge anytime soon, and that perhaps a human Great Power would reach Rank Four of Ascension first.’

’Or maybe the nation already had a Rank Four expert, which would explain his confidence.’

After today’s conversation, Tu Xiao’an had a much clearer picture of Dean Wang Bo’s intentions.

’If Tu Xiao’an decided to go in and kill the Taotie himself, great. If not, humanity wouldn’t panic. The nation had its policies, and Great Powers to hold the line.’

’Besides, Dean Wang Bo’s own power was terrifying. He was at least at Rank Three Peak, and possibly even Half Step Ascension.’

’Otherwise, his system should have been able to scan him.’

’He guessed that Wang Bo wanted to reach Rank Four before the Taotie did, which was why he didn’t want to risk entering the relic.’

"Oh, right. If the Taotie doesn’t control the Array and is essentially its own prisoner, how can it send out avatars to wreak havoc?" This was Tu Xiao’an’s last question.

Wang Bo didn’t answer directly. He thought for a moment before saying, "I suspect that since the Taotie has lived in there for so long, it’s found a small loophole in the Array. It can send out avatars that have no souls, but that’s the extent of it."

"That must be it." Tu Xiao’an nodded. ’Without a soul, the Array can’t restrain it.’

’After all, it’s impossible for a living creature to be without a soul. Wouldn’t that just be a walking corpse?’

’It was a minor loophole, but as long as its real body couldn’t get out, it was all for naught.’

As they talked and ate, the two of them, with their huge appetites, had unknowingly devoured the entire Fish Demon Giant Snake, leaving behind nothing but its skeleton.

Half an hour later, Tu Xiao’an left the Ancient Academy.

The conversation with Wang Bo had been incredibly enlightening. At the same time, Tu Xiao’an made a mental note of the kindness Dean Wang Bo had shown him.

He hadn’t schemed against him for being a Demon. Instead, he had told him the complete truth.

’What a good man.’

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