Chapter 278: Summoning the Snake Swarm
A thin mist hung over Bewitching Gorge like gauze, drifting in strands and threads, as though it were the dim and silent dawn before the blazing sun had risen, carrying a trace of chill in the air.
In this land of lush vegetation, an inconspicuous Ironthread Snake slithered swiftly across the thick layer of fallen leaves on the ground.
At that moment, Zhou Ming used the Descending Possession power of the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils to attach his consciousness to the body of the Ironthread Snake.
As the Ironthread Snake moved quickly, the entrance to an underground cavern with a diameter of several dozen meters came into view. Around it, enormous spiders continuously entered and exited the burrow.
Their pitch-black bodies reflected a cold gleam. Their carapaces shone with chilling light, and sharp barbs protruded from the joints of their limbs—these were the Hunting Demon Spiders, adept at lurking and assassination.
Aside from the Hunting Demon Spiders at the low-tier Ferocious Beast level, there were also large numbers of half-meter-sized mutated animal-level Patrol Spiders.
These Patrol Spiders were bred by ordinary Hunting Demon Spiders that possessed reproductive ability, yet they were equally under the control of the Hunting Spider Queen.
The Patrol Spiders had no reproductive ability. Their main roles were to scout information for the spider swarm, transport food, and help construct the nest.
They were effectively the slaves within the social structure of the Hunting Demon Spiders. Their purpose at birth was to contribute to the Hunting Demon Spiders—one could say they were born as natural slaves.
While Zhou Ming observed the scene before him, a half-meter Patrol Spider silently approached the Ironthread Snake to which his consciousness was attached.
The moment he became the Patrol Spider’s prey, Zhou Ming sensed it immediately. However, the disparity in strength between the two made evasion impossible.
As darkness swallowed his vision, Zhou Ming’s consciousness returned to his main body.
“It seems trying to take shortcuts won’t work.”
“In that case, let’s see whether the Hunting Spider Queen’s swarm is stronger, or whether my snake swarm surpasses it.”
Five kilometers away from the Hunting Demon Spider nest, atop a towering tree, Zhou Ming stood on the treetop and decided to launch a direct assault based on the information he had gathered.
As his words fell, the bloodline aura belonging to the Ironthread Snake Emperor began to emanate from his body. A half-human, half-serpent Bloodline Phantom floated above his head.
Serpent tail and human torso—below the waist was a snake tail covered in tightly packed purple scales that resembled purple crystals carved to perfection. Above the waist was Zhou Ming’s unclothed upper body, yet a layer of semi-transparent snake scales shimmered faintly over his skin.
On both sides of his cheeks were fine crimson snake scales arranged in an inverted “八” pattern.
Upon the phantom’s head rested a dark-gold crown—the manifestation of the Snake Swarm Will.
As Zhou Ming’s strength increased and his bloodline was continuously strengthened, subtle changes had appeared in the phantom condensed from his bloodline aura.
Compared to Zhou Ming himself, the Bloodline Phantom exuded an aura of sovereignty. Its expression was cold, as though a deity seated upon the clouds gazed down upon the earth.
“I, in the name of the Ironthread Snake Emperor, summon the Ironthread Snakes to come forth and pay homage.”
This was not a voice shouted by Zhou Ming, but the will contained within the bloodline fluctuations emitted by the Bloodline Phantom.
When the bloodline summoning appeared within Bewitching Gorge, the Ironthread Snakes that sensed the call immediately began converging toward Zhou Ming’s location from all directions.
One snake, two snakes, three snakes…
As time slowly passed, guided by the bloodline, more and more Ironthread Snakes gathered beneath the towering tree where Zhou Ming stood.
There were ordinary Ironthread Snakes only a foot in length, as well as Ironthread Snakes nearly at the Ferocious Beast level, measuring close to one meter long.
As time continued to pass, Ironthread Snakes that had already reached the Ferocious Beast level began to appear.
Yet regardless of their strength, they all raised their snake heads and gazed at Zhou Ming standing upon the great tree. They were paying homage to a sovereign the Ironthread Snakes had never before possessed.
To summon even more Ironthread Snakes, Zhou Ming waited silently in the tree for an entire day.
After one day, the Ironthread Snakes beneath his feet had completely covered the ground. Fallen leaves, weeds, and even low vegetation were no longer visible. The writhing bodies of the snakes resembled ocean waves.
The time had come. Zhou Ming no longer waited.
“Snake Swarm Will.”
“Sand Convergence Secret Technique.”
“Bloodline Power.”
Will, secret technique, and bloodline intertwined. The Bloodline Phantom began to change, condensing into a tangible dark-gold crown that settled upon Zhou Ming’s head.
As the dark-gold crown emitted mysterious energy fluctuations, the sea of snakes beneath Zhou Ming began to transform.
The bodies of the Ironthread Snakes gradually fused together. Their originally slender forms grew increasingly massive, and their scales became thicker and harder.
Moments later, a colossal serpent over one hundred meters long appeared before Zhou Ming.
Its body was covered in pitch-black scales that gleamed with cold light, as though forged from steel.
Around the serpent’s body, an extremely ferocious aura condensed into a faint blood mist, coiling around it and instilling a suffocating terror.
Yet before Zhou Ming, this colossal serpent—formed from the fusion of countless Ironthread Snakes—lowered its head.
Looking at the masterpiece he had personally created, Zhou Ming revealed a trace of satisfaction. With a single leap, he landed upon the serpent’s head and stood upright.
“Let’s go.”
Under the dominion of the Snake Swarm Will, the colossal serpent formed from countless Ironthread Snakes displayed unparalleled power and presence.
Opening its massive jaws, it let out a thunderous roar, then charged toward the Hunting Demon Spider nest with domineering momentum.
As the colossal serpent approached the nest, the Hunting Demon Spiders sensed the impending danger and surged out like a tide, preparing for battle.
When Zhou Ming rode the giant serpent close to the nest, a piercing screech erupted from within. Hunting Demon Spiders at the Ferocious Beast level, along with the lowest-tier Patrol Spiders, charged toward the giant serpent like successive tidal waves.
Their momentum resembled a mountain torrent bursting forth, causing the surrounding vegetation to collapse.
Facing the attack of the Hunting Demon Spiders, Zhou Ming made no move. Instead, he allowed the giant serpent beneath him to act freely.
With a hiss, the giant serpent raised its enormous head and sprayed venom.
The venom fell like rain. The Patrol Spiders—most numerous and charging at the forefront—suffered devastating casualties.
However, under the orders of the Hunting Spider Queen, the spider swarm showed no sign of retreat. Among them, Hunting Demon Spiders that had reached the Ferocious Beast level began spewing silk.
Strands of spider silk shot out like chains, attempting to bind the giant serpent.
But with a single struggle, the incomparably tough silk snapped instantly. The colossal body pressed forward like a crushing mountain.
At that moment, Zhou Ming’s feet seemed adhered to the serpent’s body. He felt no discomfort from the turbulence; instead, he observed the battle between the giant serpent and the spider swarm as though watching a performance.
Seeing the giant serpent overwhelming the spider swarm, shadows began to writhe around the high-tier Hunting Demon Spiders. Threads composed of Shadow Energy Particles lashed toward the giant serpent.
With such a massive body, evasion was difficult. The pitch-black scales were torn open, and the Shadow Energy Particles began corroding the flesh around the wounds.
Faced with the attacks of the high-tier Hunting Demon Spiders, the wounds on the giant serpent’s body began to squirm. Lifeless Ironthread Snakes fell to the ground one after another, and the injured areas instantly recovered as good as new.
The assault of the high-tier Hunting Demon Spiders seemed instead to provoke the giant serpent. A ferocious pressure erupted like a volcano. The blood mist surrounding its body began to spread outward, devouring vitality.