Zhang Chen, seeing the situation turning unfavorable, transformed into an inconspicuous drop of water and flowed down through the gaps in the scales of the Ba Snake, burrowing into the earth.
At this time, large armies encircled the body of the Ba Snake. As Zhang Chen, in his water drop form, gradually approached the armies, he felt a slight stagnation in the circulation of his magical power, affected by the vast Dynasty Qi. Fortunately, he was protected by Dragon Qi, preventing any errors.
"No wonder five thousand troops can slaughter a Flood Dragon. This Dynasty Dragon Qi, belonging to Earth Dragon Qi, exerts absolute suppression over True Dragons who have yet to transform." The drop of water that Zhang Chen had become was inconspicuous in the darkness, smoothly penetrating the soil and then disappearing into the night.
Although Zhang Chen went far, he didn’t leave; instead, he hid on a mountain several miles away, observing secretly, waiting for the final outcome. He waited for the moment when the Ba Snake’s body completely vanished to see if he could pick up any leftover skills.
For Zhang Chen, the Ba Snake’s body was a piece of Creation. Picking up skill fragments that fell from the Ba Snake would be the greatest fortune.
"If I gain the Ba Snake’s ability to swallow an elephant, I’d be unstoppable," Zhang Chen thought expectantly.
A living mystery, when deceased, drops skills; however, Zhang Chen didn’t know if a creature like Ba Snake would leave skill fragments upon its death.
While Zhang Chen anticipated, the Ba Snake’s body gradually shrank, the blood pool was dry, and demon beasts on the flesh mountain desperately tore at the Ba Snake’s flesh, but even exposed wounds couldn’t be bitten into.
The five thousand troops of the Inspection and Supervision Department were eager, lining up to prepare an assault against the elite demon race.
At that time, the Great Demons stood on the flesh mountain, their eyes full of vigilance, watching the gathering armies with solemn expressions.
"Do we fight or escape directly?" The Mouse Spirit looked to Bai Cang, the Master of Qingqiu.
Bai Cang pondered briefly and then shook his head, "The Tiger King hasn’t returned yet; it’s unwise for us to clash with the human experts. It’s human territory, and starting a clash isn’t advantageous for us. Especially facing the troops of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and the Supervision Department, engaging in battle would severely diminish our strength under the Human Dao Dragon Qi’s suppressive power. There aren’t many who can break through this encirclement. You are all elite of the demon race; not a single loss is acceptable."
Bai Cang looked at the Big Bear, "Please, Bear Demon King, help take us all away."
Upon hearing this, the Bear Demon King nodded, roared as his body expanded into a small mountain over sixty meters tall. The demon beasts leapt onto his body, and then the Bear Demon King sprouted wings, flapping them to stir up a level twelve hurricane, lifting everyone towards the clouds.
"Those beasts are trying to escape!" Xie Lingyun, seeing the Bear Demon King and others intending to flee, looked worried and said to Prince Pingbian beside him, "Prince, please order the gods to block those beasts. As long as we delay this night, once Ba Snake’s body levels down, our troops can encircle them, ensuring they neither come nor go."
Upon hearing Xie Lingyun’s words, Prince Pingbian inwardly complained. They were his allies; how could they perish here? If the demon race experts died here, how would he face the demon race in the future?
"Leader Xie, those Great Demons are powerful, and their numbers are more than us divine spirits. It’s unrealistic to try to stop them. Rather, we should wait for the Qi Mechanism between Heaven and Earth to stabilize and have your father personally act to intercept and kill those Great Demons. The Prince’s Mansion will fully assist when the time comes." Prince Pingbian humorously replied.
Meanwhile, Prince Pingbian’s mind harbored another thought: with Heaven and Earth in turmoil, the Yang God experts cannot act, providing an opportunity to hunt Xie Xuan. If Xie Xuan dies, the fifty thousand troops of the Inspection and Supervision Department in the Northern Land pose no threat!
At this moment, a murderous intent arose within Prince Pingbian; it was the best time to surround and kill the Yang God True Man. What’s crucial is that his allies are here, especially these demon race experts who evolved after absorbing Ba Snake Blood, their strength significantly improving, presenting a big chance to kill Xie Xuan.
Thinking this, Prince Pingbian turned to Mr. Wuliu, and in a moment of eye contact, Mr. Wuliu understood the murderous intent in Prince Pingbian’s eyes and whispered, "Xie Xuan isn’t a fool; he secretly transferred to the Supervision Department’s army long ago. With fifty thousand elite protecting Xie Xuan, the chance for a sneak attack is slim."
Prince Pingbian felt some disappointment, lamenting the missed opportunity.
While the crowd discussed and planned, the demon race experts had already gone far, disappearing into the night. Xie Lingyun watched the departing backs of the demon race experts, angering him, turning his face pale, yet he was quite helpless.
Xie Lingyun eyed Prince Pingbian suspiciously, feeling something wasn’t right, but couldn’t pinpoint what.
Meanwhile, Chen Xu, Li Donglai, and Wu Ming’Er beneath the snake skin were in confusion. They peeked out from within the Ba Snake’s body, glancing at the encircling army, feeling somewhat at a loss, unsure what to do.
Their identities were highly sensitive; Chen Xu was a defector from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, while the other two were defectors of the Yellow Heaven Dao, which now aligned with Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, leaving the three encircled.
Even with their considerable strength, they didn’t dare charge past the nearly two hundred thousand troops—Dragon Qi’s suppression on them was too immense.
With the snake skin’s flesh constantly evaporating, the three met inside the Ba Snake’s hide, exchanging glances without knowing their next move.
"What do we do now?" Li Donglai asked in distress.
Beside him, Chen Xu appeared calm and said patiently, "I have an idea. Soon, Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and the Inspection and Supervision Department, along with the martial artists, will likely clash over the Ba Snake’s bones and remnants. We might blend into the crowd amidst chaos and sneak away."
Escaping amidst tens of thousands has a favorable chance.
After plotting inside the Ba Snake’s framework, the three quietly concealed themselves inside, waiting, their bodies swirling with mysterious power—a testament to their fortune.
Time slowly passed, the flesh mountain visibly flattened, and at this moment, Ma Zhou slid down from the Ba Snake’s scales, landing on the ground, his eyes scanning the crowd before striding towards the Yellow Heaven Dao’s camp.
Faced with Ma Zhou, who could control the Bear Demon King, Xu Wei quickly approached a respectful salute, "Greetings, Senior Brother Ma Zhou, your divine power moves me deeply. I admire you."
Ma Zhou glanced at Xu Wei, Ba Snake’s pupil flickered subtly, sensing Xu Wei’s malevolent heart—a dubious character. This inexplicable intuition was an innate instinct belonging to Ba Snake.
The two exchanged a glance, and Ma Zhou indifferently replied, "I merely gained some fortune from Ba Snake—it’s nothing worth mentioning!"
Ma Zhou’s gaze swept over the disciples of the Yellow Heaven Dao, seeing them all the elite trained for power, each having obtained Ba Snake’s fortune and refining Qi Blood, reaching fruition.
Shifting his gaze back to Prince Pingbian, Prince Pingbian met him with focus, and Ma Zhou respectfully saluted, "Greetings, Prince."
"We’re family, no need for formality!" Prince Pingbian smiled, "Would Daoist Ma consider serving the Mansion?"
Prince Pingbian again attempted to recruit Ma Zhou as he always spared no effort in attracting talented individuals.