Since it was just Lu Yin and Bai Xian’er approaching the Python Ancestor, the only thing Lu Yin needed to worry about was the Python Ancestor suddenly listening to Bai Xian’er. However, Lu Yin refused to believe Bai Xian’er had any way to control the Python Ancestor. If the snake actually obeyed her commands, Lu Yin knew that he would have died long ago.
As soon as they found the right direction, the two started moving towards the Python Ancestor’s head.
“Big Brother Xiaoxuan, do you remember the times when we explored the Higher Realm together in our younger days?” Bai Xian’er asked with a fond, nostalgic look in her eyes.
Lu Yin replied, “I’m curious. Given your talent, why weren’t you ever considered one of the Seven Heroes back then?”
Bai Xian’er blinked. “That’s something that you should be asking yourself, Big Brother Xiaoxuan.”
“Ask myself?” Lu Yin was stumped. He had no memories of any such thing.
Bai Xian’er explained, “Back then, I was not included in the lineup when the Seven Heroes were first established. Though, at that time, Big Brother Xiaoxuan liked me a lot and spent much more time with me than them.”
Lu Yin found the entire matter to be rather strange. “Then who stopped you from becoming one of the Seven Heroes?”
Bai Xian’er shook her head. “No one stopped me, but no one ever mentioned the possibility to me, either. Tu Qiming kept begging you to let him become the Eighth Hero, and all of you agreed to it. However, when it came to me, no one ever brought it up.”
As she spoke, she lowered her head.
Lu Yin retracted his gaze. “How did we lose our memories?”
Bai Xian’er gave a small smile. “That is my biggest secret. You’ll have to guess, Big Brother Xiaoxuan.”
“Was it really you?” Lu Yin was dumbfounded. Aside from him, Wan Zhiyi, Master Shan, and many others had also had at least some of their memories removed, and some of them were Semi-Progenitors. Given Bai Xian’er’s level of strength at the time when the Lu family had been banished, how had she managed to do it?
Bai Xian’er denied nothing.
“What about the seal on my body?” Lu Yin continued asking.
Bai Xian’er maintained the same slight smile. “Isn’t living a simple life good enough? Big Brother Xiaoxuan, you could have enjoyed a safe and stable life in the Forsaken Land. There was no need to burden yourself with this part of the universe. Don’t you think that that is also a good way to live? Why return here?”
“Answer the question.” All traces of amusement vanished from Lu Yin’s face.
Bai Xian’er calmly met his gaze. “When I see you again, you will die. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it once again: Big Brother Xiaoxuan, you will soon die. Let me know if you need me to help you fulfill any of your last wishes.”
Lu Yin’s hand shot out to grab Bai Xian’er’s neck, only to be blocked by some invisible power. An influx of runes from the Champions’ Stage reinforced his efforts, battering against the barrier as Lu Yin lashed out at Bai Xian’er with a Progenitor’s strength.
“Are you going to kill me?” Bai Xian’er suddenly asked.
The surge of runes allowed Lu Yin’s hand to break past her defenses, and he grabbed the woman’s delicate throat. He felt as though he could snap it at any moment.
Bai Xian’er stared at Lu Yin with a serene expression. “Can you kill me?”
Lu Yin’s eyes narrowed. Killing Bai Xian’er would mean breaking the truce. Bai Wangyuan would become absolutely obsessed with getting revenge. Lu Yin was not capable of handling such consequences. Furthermore, he refused to believe that Bai Xian’er could die so easily.
When the Sea King had broken open the Upper Three Gates, Bai Xian’er had pressed a Semi-Progenitor to death with a single finger. Lu Yin simply could not see the full extent of this woman’s strength, but he would not at all be surprised if she was actually comparable to a Progenitor.
While Lu Yin felt like he was currently holding her life in the palm of his hand, in reality, she most likely wanted him to feel that way.
He took a deep breath and slowly breathed out as he suppressed the temptation to snap the neck in his hands. Lu Yin pulled his hand back, turned around, and then continued moving towards the Python Ancestor’s head without saying another word.
Bai Xian’er stared at him from behind, her expression calm and impassive, terrifyingly impassive.
This was not Lu Yin’s first time seeing the Python Ancestor’s head. In the past, Long Xi had taken Long Qi to meet the Python Ancestor, and at that time, Lu Yin had seen the snake’s head from below, though he had not seen its entire body. This time, Bai Xian’er and Lu Yin both stood in the sky, and it was possible to see the unbelievable size of the python’s body that filled the entire sky. Lu Yin’s fingers grew slightly numb. There would be no escape if this ancient beast decided to bite at him.
“It looks like it’s sleeping,” Lu Yin said.
Bai Xian’er replied, “Blood.”
Lu Yin glanced at Bai Xian’er. Runes from the Champion’s Stage shot out and enveloped her body. “If anything happens to me, you won’t survive either.”
While he was not certain that he could actually kill Bai Xian’er, if he was going to die, then he was absolutely capable of dragging her down with him. Of course, the chances of something happening were not very high. The Lu family had led the Fifth Mainland for many years, which meant that the Python Ancestor had only been allowed to live in the Lower Realm because it had been able to coexist with the Lu family.
Bai Xian’er remained silent.
Lu Yin cut one of his fingers and watched as his blood dripped down.
He saw the Python Ancestor’s head in front of him twitch. Then, the beast opened its eyes. The color of the sky and ground both changed, and every single creature in the entire Lower Realm prostrated.
Some distance away, Xia Shenji’s clone grew pale. He turned to stare at the Python Ancestor’s head in a daze. The man was frozen stiff.
The same thing happened to Liu Shaoge.
Whether human or creature, everyone was forced to stop moving the moment the Python Ancestor opened its eyes.
It was an inexplicable feeling. Lu Yin had seen many giant creatures throughout his life after he started cultivating, but none of them could even begin to compare to the Python Ancestor.
When faced with this overwhelmingly immense creature’s stare, Lu Yin felt as though the heavens themselves were staring at him. A soul piercing fear that far surpassed what he had felt when Xia Shenji had tried to kill him overcame him.
No matter how strong Xia Shenji might be, he was still a human. However, the Python Ancestor was a completely different species, and it far surpassed humans.
The Python Ancestor’s colossal eyes looked as though they were able to pierce through and examine every inch of the entire Lower Realm. However, Lu Yin knew that the beast was staring straight at him. Its gaze was focused on him.
“Excuse me.” Lu Yin’s voice rang out after a long moment of silence.
In this situation, anyone would struggle terribly to act normally. Forget speaking—even the smallest of movements were impossible. The fact that Lu Yin was able to say anything at all was an incredibly impressive feat.
The Python Ancestor lowered its head towards Lu Yin.
Lu Yin’s pupils constricted, and he unconsciously glanced sideways at Bai Xian’er.
The woman’s expression was as indifferent as ever. There was no trace of any emotions whatsoever.
Lu Yin felt a sudden impulse to make a break for it. This was too much pressure for him to handle. He felt as though he was an ordinary human facing a Progenitor.
Lu Yin clenched his fists tightly as the Python Ancestor continued moving closer to him. Finally, he could not endure any longer, and he blurted out, “Can you eat Undying God?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Yin’s heart stilled in suspense. He tightened his jaw in agitation as he waited for the Python Ancestor’s response.