Serpent Ancestor
Chapter 573: Human nature and dragon nature

In the Sea God Sect, there is a protector known as the Yehuo Demon Lord, who uses karmic obstacles as a means of attack.

"Karmic obstacles are hard to define, but you can think of them as the evil deeds you've committed," explained the Tomb Elder.

"Evil deeds? What is considered evil?" Hai Teng asked.

"For example, wanton killing of the innocent, causing harm to others. Here, it specifically refers to killing people," the Tomb Elder replied.

Hai Teng didn't quite understand; for demonic beasts, the concepts of good and evil were defined by humans.

"Killing people is evil, then what about killing demons?" Hai Teng quickly asked.

The other two demons also looked over, staring at the Tomb Elder, curious about the answer.

Unfortunately, this time the Tomb Elder shook his head and said, "It's not considered evil! On the contrary, killing a man-eating great demon brings merit!"

"Why?"

Killing people is evil, but killing demons is not? How could there be such reasoning in the world when all are living beings?

"This is the law of heaven, there's no why!" The Tomb Elder's expression was stern. "In a city, you must follow the city's rules; in a country, the country's laws; in a sect, the sect's commandments."

"And under this sky, you must follow the laws of heaven!"

At this point, the Tomb Elder stopped speaking.

He could see that the three demonic beasts were unwilling to accept this, especially Hai Teng, who clenched his fists and trembled slightly.

"Why is it like this?" Hai Teng gritted his teeth.

"These are the rules set by the Dao Ancestor. If you can transcend everything and become the supreme Dao Ancestor, then you can dictate the laws of heaven!" the Tomb Elder snorted coldly.

Just then, a large door opened in the adjacent tomb chamber, releasing a dense amount of spiritual qi.

The Nine-Headed Worm and Xiong Dabao did not dare to delay and quickly sat cross-legged to absorb it through breathing exercises.

Hai Teng looked at his own hands, and unknowingly, he had transformed into a human form.

In the next realm, the Divine Transformation Stage, all demonic beasts must undergo the tribulation of transformation, changing into human form to continue cultivating and comprehending the laws of heaven.

The human form is the one most favored by the heavens.

"When you leave the Void Realm, you'll forget everything. It's pointless to think about these things now," the Tomb Elder reminded.

Hai Teng thought for a moment, clenched his fists, and asked again, "What if I take the memories from the Void Realm with me?"

"You will fall into demonic ways, and may even develop an evil self like me!" The Tomb Elder stared at Hai Teng with a particularly stern gaze.

This sent a shiver down Hai Teng's spine, and he dared not consider leaving behind a memory jade slip.

…………

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed since they entered the outer battlefield.

The passage to the outer battlefield was about to open.

Xu Hei still lay motionless in Ghost City, like a dead corpse, with countless eyes watching him in the shadows.

Once the passage opened, his actions would be exposed, and at that time, countless human experts, including those at the Divine Transformation Stage, would come to deal with him.

This evil dragon would eventually reap what he had sown!

Xu Hei had already made quite a name for himself, known as the Insect Demon, Evil Dragon, Man-Eating Flood Dragon, and more, his infamy spreading far and wide. The Heart-Devouring Demon, Xiong Yan, was child's play compared to him.

Ghost City had truly become a ghost city, with no one daring to set foot in it.

This was Xu Hei's second time in a coma, but unlike the last time, his consciousness had been drawn into the demon flower, leaving him an empty shell without a soul.

Another part of Xu Hei's consciousness, representing his true nature, was slowly awakening.

That year, he saw a golden lotus suspended above his head, enveloping his consciousness and protecting him from harm.

This was the imprint of the laws left by Lotus True Monarch.

"Xu Hei, are you in pain?"

From the golden lotus came the voice of Lotus True Monarch.

"Indeed," Xu Hei nodded. "Senior, I doubt whether my path is the right one."

"You asked me to deliver a message to Canglan Immortal Lord to save all living beings, but I can't even save myself. How can I save the world?"

"Look at Luo Gang, who slaughtered his own city and yet lives well. While those with noble ideals, like Chen Zimo and Mo Yun, suffer one tragedy after another."

"I've seen these things, and you still want me to save the world? Do you think that's possible?"

Xu Hei fell into deep doubt.

The golden lotus above his head continued to emit a warm light, shining on Xu Hei's consciousness, allowing it to slowly grow stronger.

"Xu Hei, you've seen good people unrewarded and evil people living freely, so you think the laws of heaven are unjust, right?" Lotus True Monarch asked.

"Exactly!" Xu Hei nodded.

"It seems you know what is good and what is evil," Lotus True Monarch smiled.

Xu Hei was taken aback.

He knew what was good and what was evil?

Originally, he had no concept of good and evil. When did this feeling start to appear?

Was it in Wuyou City? Or the East Sea? Or perhaps the Myriad Serpent Valley?

Xu Hei had no idea how he transformed from an emotionless snake to his current state.

"Xu Hei, you've only been cultivating for a little over ten years, which is but a youth in human terms."

"This world is vast, the laws of heaven are vast, and what you've seen shouldn't be limited to these short ten years, nor just the outer battlefield before you."

"In Myriad Serpent Valley, you defied the heavens and repelled the Snake Catchers Sect with only a Foundation Establishment cultivation."

"In Wuyou City, you embraced humanity and fought alongside your demonic beast companions."

"In the East Sea, you and your allies worked together to repel the Sea God."

"Xu Hei, your journey is still long. Ask your heart, not the traces!"

As Lotus True Monarch's words spread, Xu Hei felt a gentle power of the laws entering his consciousness.

His consciousness, which was on the verge of slumber, quickly awakened.

"I understand now."

Xu Hei's eyes suddenly brightened.

Reflecting on his life, although it had only been a little over ten years, his experiences surpassed others' centuries, and he shouldn't have developed an inner demon or self-doubt.

All of this was the doing of that Void Realm demon!

He had acquired memories from within the Void Realm, but for some reason, he was infected by the Demon Plague, leading to all sorts of strange symptoms.

Xu Hei's will was far too strong to be affected by the Demon Plague.

"Thank you, Lotus True Monarch," Xu Hei bowed his head to the golden lotus in the sky.

"I was born because of you; I am you. No need to thank me."

A gentle voice came from within the golden lotus.

Xu Hei said no more. He lowered his head and saw a demon flower, within which an evil dragon was sealed, staring at him.

"Thank you, extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon!" Xu Hei also bowed his head in respect.

Even if it was the means of an extraterrestrial demon, it was born because of him, and at least it allowed Xu Hei to see some truths.

"Buzz!"

The golden lotus dispersed into countless points of light, merging into Xu Hei's brow.

Within Ghost City.

The massive body of the flood dragon began to change rapidly, shrinking and transforming into a human form as he lay unconscious.

Xu Hei was enveloped in golden light, with an illusory golden lotus platform appearing beneath him, solemn and sacred.

A vast power of the laws gathered at his brow, the inheritance of the laws from Lotus True Monarch.

…………

At the same time.

In the center of the outer battlefield, a spatial storm appeared in the sky, with a vortex converging at the center, and a large door opened at the peak of the sky.

That was the spatial passage.

The ten-year period had come to an end, and the door to the outer battlefield finally opened!

As the door opened, countless cultivators rushed out, eager to report everything that had happened here to their sects as quickly as possible, to devise countermeasures.