Serpent Ancestor
Chapter 597: Walking Merchant

Xu Hei didn't know which side the cultivator belonged to—Ma Kingdom, Zhao Kingdom, or perhaps a rogue cultivator?

He didn't care.

He realized he still couldn't truly empathize. Even if he walked among mortals and became one, deep down, he was still an immortal, a demon!

All beings have never been equal. Some struggle with all their might to survive, yet can't compete with a single thought from others. A mortal's lifetime of effort and struggle can be wiped out with a single breath from an immortal.

During this escort mission, Xu Hei learned a lot, at least he understood the flirtatious banter in the high-class brothels.

...

Outside Sanli Town, in a mountain stream.

A white-bearded middle-aged man riding a sword landed in front of an elder in purple robes, knelt on one knee, and clasped his fists, "Sanli Town has been completely wiped out, not a single soul left, ensuring no news will leak!"

"Well done!" The elder in purple nodded slightly.

"However..." The white-bearded man hesitated for a moment, "I let one person go. This person seemed to be just a passing rogue cultivator. I couldn't discern his cultivation level, so I didn't dare to act rashly, only noting his route."

He handed an image to the elder in purple.

The elder raised an eyebrow, "A rogue cultivator? To be safe, I will personally take a look."

With that, he leaped in the direction where Xu Hei had disappeared.

...

In the following days, Xu Hei traveled alone, crossing mountains and forests, from the western border of Ma Kingdom to the central region.

During this time, he occasionally sensed someone following him. Initially, the pursuers were only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, but later, their cultivation levels grew higher.

Until yesterday, a cultivator at the early Core Formation stage appeared, just like the others, took a distant glance at Xu Hei, and then vanished.

Xu Hei paid no attention. To speed up his journey, he chopped wood from the mountains and began crafting mechanical puppets.

Before long, a wooden ox and flowing horse were completed. This creation didn't involve any immortal techniques, purely crafted by mortal hands, resembling an ox in appearance.

As long as Xu Hei sat on it and pedaled, the wooden ox could move forward automatically, quite miraculous.

"Traveling with this will be much more convenient," Xu Hei thought to himself.

He also picked some wild fruits and ginseng from the mountains, loaded them on the wooden ox, intending to sell them to mortals in towns for silver.

Thus, Xu Hei traveled, stopping occasionally, resting in human towns, and interacting with people.

After more than half a year, Xu Hei finally crossed the borders of Ma Kingdom and reached the eastern boundary.

Compared to when he first entered Ma Kingdom, Xu Hei's appearance hadn't changed, but he had gained a certain worldly aura, behaving like an ordinary person.

"Uncle Xu, next time you pass by Qingshan City, you must come to see me!"

"I will!"

After bidding farewell to the innkeeper's daughter, Xu Hei smiled warmly, dragging the wooden ox cart towards the distant border.

Passing a checkpoint, a pavilion appeared out of nowhere on the road ahead. Inside, a white-bearded elder sat, with a pot of tea on the table, the fragrance wafting through the air. The elder gently stroked his beard, quietly watching Xu Hei.

Seeing this scene, the warmth on Xu Hei's face vanished, replaced by a calm indifference.

He walked into the pavilion, "Do you need something from me?"

During his year in Ma Kingdom, Xu Hei often felt someone secretly observing him. The strongest among them had reached the Great Perfection of the Core Formation stage.

But after that, no one appeared again.

This time, the elder before him had a cultivation level reaching the late Elemental Infant stage, at least on the same major realm as Xu Hei.

"Hehe, fellow cultivator's realm is profound, I am ashamed of my inferiority. I wonder if you are interested in joining my White Bone Sect to unify the myriad nations?"

The white-bearded elder wasted no words, getting straight to the point.

Xu Hei had heard of the White Bone Sect, the state religion of Ma Kingdom, similar to the Heavenly Puppet Sect in Qin Kingdom and the Astrology Bureau in Chu Kingdom.

"I already have a sect, and besides, I have no interest in unifying the nations," Xu Hei shook his head.

Hearing this response, the elder wasn't surprised, only smiled, "Is your journey for the sake of Divine Transformation?"

Xu Hei immediately looked up, staring coldly at him, "What do you mean?"

"I don't need you to join the White Bone Sect, just a little help from you. Once the nations are unified, I have full confidence to help you achieve Divine Transformation!" The white-bearded elder said solemnly, "I swear by my soul, I will not break my word!"

His words seemed sincere, but they were meant to disturb Xu Hei's state of mind, to shake his hard-earned mortal heart and draw him back into the pursuit of Divine Transformation.

Xu Hei stared at the white-bearded elder for a long time, "I don't want to get involved in anything. If I see someone following me again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

With that, Xu Hei left the pavilion without caring what the elder thought.

After Xu Hei walked far away, the white-bearded elder stroked his beard, deep in thought.

"What to do? He didn't take the bait!"

A light laugh came from the side, and a woman wearing a fox mask appeared out of nowhere, lying on a tree.

"Hehe, who said he didn't take the bait? At least he believes I am from the White Bone Sect," the white-bearded elder laughed, his voice turning into a sharp female tone.

"So what if he believes? Can he go and destroy the White Bone Sect?" The fox-masked woman giggled.

"What if? Let's wait and see," the white-bearded elder stroked his beard, speaking meaningfully.

...

After leaving the border of Ma Kingdom, Xu Hei entered a vast country called Le Kingdom.

The people here were lazy and indulgent, working one day and playing for three was the norm for the lower class. The state religion of Le Kingdom was the famous Changle Sect, whose followers Xu Hei had seen during the Qin-Chu war.

Entering Le Kingdom, Xu Hei resumed crafting puppets.

Initially, he only made cats and dogs, chickens, ducks, geese, and fish. Later, Xu Hei began carving creatures he once knew.

In an ancient city, he carved a black-and-white dog, only palm-sized, this was Er Gou. Its fur was fluffy, tail raised, eyes wide open, lifelike.

Although he used no immortal spells, under Xu Hei's meticulous carving, it already possessed some of Er Gou's charm.

Looking at his masterpiece, Xu Hei smiled with satisfaction and placed it on the wooden ox.

"Who should I make next?"

Xu Hei's mind flashed with the image of Hei Huang, but he found that no matter what, he couldn't capture Hei Huang's essence.

"Let's try carving an outline first." Xu Hei took out a piece of wood and began to attempt.

"Brother, are you a merchant?"

At this moment, a voice came from ahead.

"That's right," Xu Hei nodded, suddenly finding the voice familiar, and looked up.

He saw a slightly dark-skinned, honest-looking young man standing before him, with a sword at his waist, dressed in luxurious clothes, like a scion of a noble family.

However, upon seeing this familiar figure, Xu Hei was momentarily stunned.

"Xiao Chou?"