Chapter 2645: Departure for Home, Ambush of the Fire Python Monk

**Seven Star Island, Azure Glass Sea**

A massive blue ship, over a thousand zhang long, was docked near Seven Star Island. Narrow at the front and wide at the back, it resembled a gigantic gourd ladle when viewed from the side. A large gourd emblem adorned its sails, the symbol of the Han family. Numerous cultivators were lining up to board and purchase tickets.

Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Wang Xiangrong joined the queue. They had waited on Seven Star Island for over seventy years for the Han family's Spirit Crossing Treasure Ship to stop there on its journey to Xuanling Continent. After paying the fare, they boarded successfully, and the Han family cultivators assigned them two cabins.

"We're finally heading back to Xuanling Continent," Wang Ruyan remarked, gazing out the window at the distant blue sea. "I hope we arrive soon." Wang Changsheng nodded, then sat cross-legged on the wooden bed to meditate and regulate his breathing.

Over an hour later, the Spirit Crossing Treasure Ship's hull glowed with countless mystical runes. Bathed in a brilliant light, it slowly ascended into the sky. Before long, the Spirit Crossing Treasure Ship vanished into the horizon.

**Xuanling Continent, Tianhu Sect**

In a secret chamber, a tall, red-robed old man sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. His body was enveloped in a red glow, and a gigantic python apparition appeared above his head. Numerous red light points floated within the room, steadily flowing into his body and disappearing. This red-robed elder was none other than the recently promoted Fire Serpent True Lord of the Tianhu Sect, a Void Refinement cultivator. He practiced the "Nine Revolutions Fire Serpent Grand Law," and his Dharma Idol was a fire python. The Tianhu Sect was a newly emerging sect with limited cultivation resources, making it particularly difficult to acquire Dharma Idol materials.

The red glow around Fire Serpent True Lord dissipated, and he stood up and walked out. Outside, he opened a restriction, and a handsome young man in a green robe entered, bowing respectfully. "Master," he said, "Qingmu Valley is hosting a Dao Discussion Assembly. I heard many Void Refinement cultivators will be attending, and there might be Dharma Idol materials available."

"When exactly is it?" Fire Serpent True Lord pressed.

"Two years from now."

Fire Serpent True Lord nodded. "Has anything significant happened recently? Any movements from the Qianyuan Sect?" The Qianyuan Sect frequently interacted with the Wang family, styling themselves as the Wang family's allies, which put significant pressure on the Tianhu Sect.

"The Qianyuan Sect has shown no unusual movements, but their interactions with the Wang family are frequent. According to an inside report, the Qianyuan Sect purchased a batch of fifth-rank puppet beasts from the Wang family. Also, Elder Wang of Guangyuan Sect was attacked recently and severely injured. Many cultivators witnessed him fleeing back to Guangyuan Sect and activating its protective array. Soon after, Guangyuan Sect began investigating for an internal traitor, as it's rumored someone betrayed Elder Wang, allowing the assailants to succeed. Guangyuan Sect has scaled back its operations, with few disciples venturing out, and they are maintaining strict vigilance." The green-robed youth reported truthfully.

Fire Serpent True Lord frowned; this was not good news. "Do you know who did it? Any clues?"

"It's unclear. Rumors say the Qianyuan Sect was responsible, but the Qianyuan Sect immediately denied it." The green-robed youth reported truthfully.

Fire Serpent True Lord asked a few more questions, which the green-robed youth answered truthfully. "Alright, you may go! Continue to send people to look for Dharma Idol materials."

Fire Serpent True Lord gave a few instructions, then dismissed the green-robed youth. He took out his communication disk to contact Tianhu True Lord, but there was no response. He assumed Tianhu True Lord was in secluded cultivation, which was not surprising, as cultivation was fundamental. Learning from Wang Mengshan's past experience, Fire Serpent True Lord did not bring any disciples. He transformed into a red streak of light and soared away from Tianhu Sect. If he were truly attacked, his disciples wouldn't be able to help and might even reveal his whereabouts.

Ten million li away from Tianhu Sect, there was a small market town with a teleportation array leading to Qingmu Valley. After flying three million li, Fire Serpent True Lord appeared above a flat, green grassland.

**The Ambush**

The ground shook violently. A powerful gravitational force suddenly appeared, causing Fire Serpent True Lord's body to sink and rapidly fall towards the ground. "Oh no, an ambush!" Fire Serpent True Lord was greatly alarmed. How did his attackers know he would pass through here? He had constantly changed direction during his journey, and no one should have known his destination. Could one of his disciples have betrayed him?

A surge of crimson flames erupted from Fire Serpent True Lord's right hand. He gently struck the ground, and countless crimson flames materialized, forming a gigantic crimson fist that appeared, carrying astonishing high temperatures, and smashed towards the ground. Boom! A massive crater exploded in the ground, filled with rolling inferno.

Accompanied by a piercing sword hum, countless blue sword qi swept forth, like a surging blue river, seemingly about to engulf Fire Serpent True Lord. He was horrified and dared not delay. He quickly performed a hand seal, and a crimson python apparition appeared in the void above his head. The python apparition opened its gaping maw and spewed out a sheet of crimson flames, shattering the incoming blue sword qi.

A flash of blue light, and a blue-glowing jade seal suddenly appeared above Fire Serpent True Lord's head. The blue jade seal flared with dazzling blue light, then its size rapidly expanded, plummeting towards Fire Serpent True Lord. Tens of thousands of yellow earth spears burst from the ground, soaring directly towards him. A heavy rain began to fall from high above, with huge raindrops pouring down like blue flying swords, slashing at Fire Serpent True Lord.

He opened his mouth, and a continuously flickering red shield flew out, expanding to block in front of him. With a flick of his hand, the python apparition's eyes each shot out a beam of red light, striking the blue jade seal and slowing its descent. The python apparition opened its mouth and spewed a sheet of crimson flames, shattering the incoming yellow earth spears and blue flying swords. The red shield shook, emitting dull thudding sounds.

A dense barrage of blue flying swords shot forth, merging mid-air to form a colossal, misty blue sword that cleaved towards the python apparition. The python apparition again spewed crimson flames, but they were effortlessly shattered by the colossal sword. The colossal sword struck the red shield, emitting a dull clang.

Fire Serpent True Lord's expression darkened. A brilliant red light erupted from his body as he attempted to use an escape art to flee. Just then, a deafening roar came from high above. A massive golden thundercloud appeared in the sky, churning violently as streaks of golden lightning tore through the firmament with astonishing power, as if the entire world had become a golden sea of lightning. A thick beam of yellow light shot from the ground, striking the red shield. The red shield petrified at a visible rate, then shattered into pieces.

"Petrification Divine Ability!" Fire Serpent True Lord was greatly alarmed. He flicked his sleeve, and a red light flew out from his spirit beast bracelet, revealing a gigantic crimson fire python with a pair of golden fleshy wings on its back—a fifth-rank superior Golden-Winged Fire Python. A brilliant red light erupted from Fire Serpent True Lord's body, and he merged with the Golden-Winged Fire Python, transforming into a red streak of light that shot through the air.

He had barely flown a thousand li when a man's loud shout came from the horizon. The Golden-Winged Fire Python plummeted from high in the sky as two beams of black light shot from the ground, striking it. The Golden-Winged Fire Python's body writhed continuously, letting out repeated screams. A blue long rainbow and a green long rainbow shot forth, completely pulverizing the Golden-Winged Fire Python, even its Nascent Soul unable to escape.

A tall young man in a blue robe and a stout young man in a red robe emerged from underground. They were Wang Qingshan and Wang Lihe, disguised. Wang Qingshan was extremely cautious and had no intention of engaging in a direct confrontation, to prevent Fire Serpent True Lord from using any special escape arts. With the stone golem's soul attack combined with the Soul Suppressing Roar, Fire Serpent True Lord simply couldn't resist.

Wang Qingshan collected Fire Serpent True Lord's belongings, burned the body, and then, along with Wang Lihe, submerged underground and departed. Almost simultaneously, the Tianhu Sect's main headquarters blared alarms. Fire Serpent True Lord's demise alerted Tianhu True Lord, who was in secluded cultivation. By the time Tianhu Sect disciples arrived at the scene, Wang Qingshan and Wang Lihe had long since departed.