Chapter 1 The Snake King's Banquet

Before the Snake King Palace, a group of people arrived.

Representatives from other human safe zones had been invited. Their faces were a mix of excitement and trepidation, standing nervously beneath the Snake King Stele, awaiting their audience.

Bai He Daoren saw a familiar face when he arrived.

"Lu Tao, Shidi Lu?!" He approached a stout, elderly Daoist with surprise. The old Daoist was among the invited guests, holding a horsetail whisk, wearing a brand-new Daoist robe, and standing uneasily.

Hearing his name called, he turned and, recognizing Bai He Daoren, greeted him with joy: "Greetings, Zong Wang!"

Bai He Daoren waved his hand and smiled: "What Zong Wang? We were once Shixiong and Shidi. Although I am now at the fifth realm of martial arts, in my heart, you will always be my Shidi."

Lu Tao was moved.

They had both cultivated at Wudang Mountain. After Earth's Qi revival, they separated. Bai He Daoren became a grandmaster guardian of the Black Wind Safe Zone, while Lu Tao became a high-level administrator in another safe zone. Recently, he advanced to the third realm of martial arts, becoming a grandmaster guardian himself, which led to his selection by the Rat Guard to attend the Snake King's banquet.

Seeing Lu Tao's nervous expression, Bai He Daoren smiled reassuringly: "Don't be nervous or afraid. His Majesty the Snake King is benevolent, gentle, and kind. You will see when you meet him."

Lu Tao nodded, his anxiety easing slightly. He noticed the gift box held by Bai He Daoren's disciple, Zhao Mei, and his expression changed drastically. "Oh no! Shixiong, I was so nervous coming here that I forgot to prepare a gift!"

He wrung his hands in distress.

Bai He Daoren suggested, "Do you have any presentable treasures on you that you could offer as a gift?"

Lu Tao searched himself and found a pendant in his pocket, but his eyes revealed a mix of reluctance and heartache.

Bai He Daoren noticed and was slightly surprised. To his knowledge, his Shidi was penniless and had no valuable possessions. He had been prepared to provide a gift for him, but it seemed the other man did have a treasure after all.

"Shidi, what's wrong?"

Lu Tao removed a pendant from his neck. It was thumb-sized, with a lustrous jade surface, carved with a five-pointed ancient pagoda, suspended by a string of an unidentifiable material.

Bai He Daoren took it and examined it, even using his Zhenqi to sense it, but found nothing extraordinary. It seemed to be an ordinary pendant, though the years of wear had made it feel warm and smooth.

He looked at Lu Tao quizzically. Was this really a treasure?

Lu Tao explained with emotion, "This jade pendant is a family heirloom. It has been passed down in my Lu family for many years. Before my father died, he told me to always wear the heirloom, saying it was from our Lu family's first ancestor."

He gazed at the pendant with great affection.

Bai He Daoren examined the pendant again but still found nothing unusual. He smiled and said, "This must be a true treasure if even I cannot discern its secrets. If you offer it to His Majesty the Snake King, you might receive a great opportunity."

Seeing his friend and Shidi still hesitating, Bai He Daoren reminded him, "Shidi, what can you do with it if you keep it? It's just a sentimental object. In this era of Qi revival and competition among all beings, what is most important? Cultivation and strength!"

"If you offer this to His Majesty the Snake King in exchange for an opportunity to cultivate, to advance to a higher realm of martial arts, wouldn't that be better?"

Lu Tao trembled, bowed to Bai He Daoren, and said, "I was foolish. Thank you for your guidance, Shixiong!"

He immediately wrapped up the jade pendant.

"By the way, Shixiong, what gift did you prepare for His Majesty the Snake King?" he asked curiously, looking at the box in Zhao Mei's arms.

Bai He Daoren chuckled. "A treasure, the greatest treasure under heaven, obtained from a mysterious ancient temple. Its origins are as grand as the heavens themselves."

His boastful words shocked Lu Tao. Then Zhao Mei lifted a corner of the box, revealing a snake-patterned stone brick. Lu Tao was dumbfounded. This thing? A brick? The greatest treasure under heaven?

Others nearby had overheard or seen this and couldn't help but chuckle.

Two men, one with a broken pendant, the other with a stone brick, discussing treasures to offer to His Majesty the Snake King – they couldn't help but laugh.

Bai He Daoren's cultivation was high. The more others looked down on his snake-patterned stone brick, the more valuable it must be.

But Lu Tao was angry. He glared at the one who laughed the loudest, apparently a representative from the Mangshan Safe Zone named Su Hanxin.

He had heard that Su Hanxin had found his long-lost lover in Snake King City, who worked there. She had given him a bowl of demon king meat soup, allowing him to break through to the fourth realm of martial arts, the Grandmaster, making him extremely arrogant.

Right now, his hands were empty, yet he was mocking Lu Tao. Lu Tao retorted, "Attending the Snake King's banquet without a gift, and you dare to ridicule us?"

Su Hanxin raised his head and laughed. "Gifts? How vulgar! His Majesty the Snake King is immortal and unmatched, the greatest under heaven. He lacks nothing. Does he need gifts from us? Forgive me for speaking frankly, but what we consider treasures are nothing more than trash in His Majesty the Snake King's eyes."

Hearing this, several others who hadn't prepared gifts nodded in agreement.

Bai He Daoren smiled gently. "Daoyou Su, what the gift is doesn't matter, but having one makes a big difference. It's a matter of attitude, showing respect for His Majesty the Snake King."

He worried that the other man's arrogance might offend the King Cobra, causing trouble for everyone.

Su Hanxin laughed. "Who said I didn't prepare a gift? My gift is in my belly!"

"When I see His Majesty the Snake King, I will ask him three questions. These three questions are on behalf of a friend. I have heard that His Majesty the Snake King is benevolent and wise, and accepts all advice. I believe these three questions will be invaluable to him."

He wore a confident expression.

Beside him, several others who hadn't prepared gifts also declared that they had some words to offer to His Majesty the Snake King. These words were the unknown truths and secrets they had heard since coming to Snake King City, secrets that were terrifying and shocking.

Seeing this, Bai He Daoren said no more. Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together. He led Lu Tao away from these people, because he noticed a Dog Guard not far away, staring intently at them.

He recognized him as one of Huang An's men, from the Eastern Depot Embroidered Uniform Guard.

By now, all the invited guests had arrived, about three hundred in all. The bells chimed, and a Rat Guard approached. Everyone fell silent and looked at it.

"Please present your invitations and follow me."

The Rat Guard said, leading the group up the steps, through the South Heaven Gate, into the Snake King Palace, and finally into the Snake King Hall.

Compared to the usual solemn and oppressive atmosphere, the Snake King Hall was lively and festive. The sounds of silk and bamboo music filled the air, along with moving songs. It seemed a woman was singing, her voice exceptionally beautiful.

~

Chapter 2

Listening to the music, Bai He Daoren and the others exchanged glances, their faces showing infatuation. They wondered if a singing queen or jade maiden from some safe zone had arrived.

"Please enter!"

The Rat Guard led the group into the Snake King Hall, where the lively and bustling scene washed over them. The rich aroma of food and wine was intoxicating, instantly stimulating their appetites.

The Snake King Hall was brilliantly illuminated. The vast hall was filled with tables and chairs, with tables hundreds of meters wide arranged in rows. Various monsters and beasts already occupied the seats around them.

In the verandas on both sides of the hall, rows of monsters sat on the ground, playing musical instruments or performing songs.

On a side stage, a group of rabbits wearing black stockings were performing pole dances, their sultry moves eliciting cheers from time to time.

Monkey waiters holding trays bustled back and forth, constantly serving various delicacies and drinks.

Most of the tables and chairs in the hall were already occupied.

There were only a few dozen monsters hundreds of meters tall; most were smaller monsters about ten meters tall. Some had wolf heads, some had snake heads, and others had snake claws or snake wings. But they were all snakes, their scales shimmering with a metallic luster in the firelight.

There were hundreds of them, each with surging Qi and blood, emitting a powerful aura. Their eyes were piercing, and a few were particularly fierce, their gazes flashing with a sinister light.

Bai He Daoren was shocked. He wondered where these guests had come from. Could they be snake princes?

He secretly speculated.

"Indeed, they are all His Majesty the Snake King's children, the esteemed snake princes and snake princesses." A voice sounded beside him, accompanied by a large shadow looming over them.

Bai He Daoren quickly said, "Greetings, Commander Hu."

Grandmaster Yuan Kong, Black Hand Fist King, and others also bowed in greeting.

It was none other than Hu San.

Today, he was not wearing armor. He wore a flying fish robe, beneath which was a crimson python robe embroidered with the image of a King Cobra. He wore a bamboo hat, and his tail was wrapped around his waist. He stood upright, his gaze gentle yet dignified.

He smiled. "Go over there. Those are your seats."

He pointed to a row of tables near the front in the middle. They were a few meters wide, with appropriately sized tables and chairs, placed empty among the large tables, just the right size for humans.

"Please follow me, honored guests. These are your seats." A rabbit servant wearing stockings approached, smiling and inviting Bai He Daoren and the others to sit at these small tables.

It was clear that these tables and chairs had been specially made for them, and the size was just right. Even the bowls and chopsticks were normal size. Some of the weaker ones were overjoyed and secretly relaxed, quietly hiding the ropes they had brought in their waists.

They had assumed that the tables and chairs would be as high as cliffs, as they had been last time, so they had brought ropes and climbing tools.

After Bai He Daoren sat down, he noticed a man sitting alone at a table in front of him, wearing a dignified purple robe embroidered with the image of a King Cobra.

Anyone wearing this robe was a high-ranking figure in Snake King City.

Bai He Daoren pondered for a moment, recalling the images of the various important figures Hu San had introduced him to. A thought struck him, and he proactively rose and bowed. "Bai He from the Black Wind Safe Zone greets His Excellency the Prime Minister."

Bei Liu raised his head and glanced at Bai He Daoren. Seeing that he was also a cultivator, a hint of friendliness appeared in his eyes, and he asked, "Which lineage do you belong to? Who is your founder?"

Bai He Daoren cupped his hands and replied, "I am a disciple of Limitless Heavenly Lord, and my founder is also Limitless Heavenly Lord."

Hearing this, Bei Liu laughed heartily, repeating "interesting" several times. He patted the seat beside him. "Come, sit with me."

Bai He Daoren was overjoyed. After a few modest words, he took the seat.

Grandmaster Yuan Kong and the others behind him looked on with envy.

At this moment, someone shouted from the front of the hall, "His Majesty the Snake King has arrived, the Supreme Emperor has arrived, the Snake Queen has arrived, the Eldest Princess has arrived!"

As the voice rang out, the sound of drums and music ceased, and the hall fell silent. Everyone knelt on the ground.

Bai He Daoren and the others followed suit.

Everyone knelt and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Snake King! Greetings, Your Majesty the Supreme Emperor! Greetings, Your Majesty the Snake Queen! Greetings, Your Highness the Eldest Princess!"

The sound echoed in the hall.

From above came the sound of living beings moving, but it was not the sound of footsteps, but the rustling sound of snake scales rubbing against the ground.

"Rise, be seated!"

The majestic voice sounded, and everyone rose and took their seats.

Looking up, they saw several enormous figures above the hall.

One of the figures was a King Cobra, its upper body erect, its scarlet eyes majestic and sinister, radiating an icy cold light. Its snake claws were clasped behind its back, its snake wings folded, its bone spurs inverted, and it wore a crown on its head, with a snake-scale robe draped over its back.

He was Zhang Ji.

Bai He Daoren and the others had seen him once before. Seeing him again today, they noticed that Zhang Ji only had one head left, and they were slightly curious.

Su Hanxin and the others behind him saw Zhang Ji's appearance for the first time and couldn't help but turn pale, swallowing hard. He looked like a fierce snake, not a kind one.

"It seems that the rumors we heard are likely true. During the treasure presentation later, we will use this to question him, attacking his conscience. The outside world says he accepts advice readily, so he probably won't punish us, and perhaps there will even be rewards."

Su Hanxin and the others exchanged glances, seeing the meaning in each other's eyes.

Below the hall, a group of snake princes and snake princesses saw Zhang Ji, their breathing quickening, their scarlet eyes blazing, with excitement, fear, and awe, but even more with endless worship.

They had grown up listening to Zhang Ji's stories.

They all took their father, Zhang Ji, as their role model, all wanting to become King Cobras as powerful and ferocious as their father, Zhang Ji. So, they worked hard day and night, all wanting to attract Zhang Ji's attention.

Because there were too many of them, as many as three hundred brothers and sisters, but not one had ever been summoned by Zhang Ji.

And Zhang Ji had never said a word to them, which made them even more in awe of Zhang Ji. They were secretly competing, wanting to be the first to receive Zhang Ji's summons.

Beside Zhang Ji was a hundred-meter-long silver ringed snake. Although it looked ferocious, its eyes were full of kindness, and it held a pipe several meters long in its mouth.

He was Zhang Ji's grandfather, Zhang Youfu.

Behind them were three mother snakes, their snake tails wearing golden stockings, diamond necklaces around their necks, and phoenix crowns on their heads. Although they were snakes, they gave people a feeling of beauty and sexiness.

They were the Leng Yue triplets. Now that they followed Zhang Ji, their status had risen, and they had become the Snake Queens of Snake King City, incredibly noble.

Below the hall, many snake princes and snake princesses saw them and revealed expressions of affection.

Because they were their mothers. Usually, these snake princes and snake princesses were arrogant, domineering, and ferocious, but in front of their mothers, they were all good children, very filial and respectful.

Finally, at the very back, was a beauty snake.

Her upper body was bare, her skin was like snow, her collarbones were exquisite, her appearance was incredibly beautiful, as if carved from fragrant jade, like a phoenix soaring through the sky. Her stillness was like pine trees growing in an empty valley, her beauty like rosy clouds reflecting on a clear pond. Her temperament was as noble as a snow lotus on a mountain, and she also had the etherealness of a banished immortal.

However, the three thousand green strands of hair that hung down from her shoulders were not hair, but countless dense, small snakes, constantly wriggling, coiling, hissing, baring their fangs, yawning, and tangling… making one feel terrified at first glance.

Yet, her face was stunningly beautiful, like a banished celestial maiden who had fallen into the mortal world.

It was an eerie beauty, yet extremely noble.

In the hall, Bai He Daoren and the others saw such an extraordinary woman for the first time, and instantly felt infinitely humble. It seemed that even looking at this woman once was a kind of blasphemy and sin.

Based on the rumors in Snake King City, they suddenly realized that this beauty snake must be the Snake King's precious daughter, his eldest daughter, Bi Lian, who was showered with love. She was the Snake King's most beloved daughter.

In Snake King City, there was a famous saying from His Majesty the Snake King: I would rather give up thousands of miles of land and a glorious empire than give up Bi Lian!

They had never really understood this saying before, but now that they had seen Bi Lian, they finally understood. She was so beautiful and outstanding that it was no wonder His Majesty the Snake King doted on her so much.

They were amazed and impressed that His Majesty the Snake King, who looked so fierce and terrifying, had actually given birth to such a divine daughter.