Starting as a Snake: Defying Heaven with Invincibility

On the rooftop of Qingfeng Tavern, three disciples of the Fire Cloud Sect gazed into the distance, in the direction where Xiao Long had fled.

The three of them exuded a powerful and robust aura, not inferior to Jiang Li, who was at the tenth level of the Body Refining Realm. In the center stood a handsome young man with a longbow on his back, his eyes solemn, possessing the strength of the first level of the Qi Condensing Realm.

"Brother Song, why aren't we pursuing?" asked an inner disciple at the tenth level of the Body Refining Realm beside him.

The handsome young man with the longbow replied indifferently, "Pursue? Why pursue? Our target is the mysterious expert behind that snake, not the snake itself."

"To control a demon beast to such an extent, one must possess an extremely advanced soul-controlling technique. If we can use it for our Fire Cloud Sect, rising to a two-star sect is just a matter of time."

The two beside him nodded in realization, praising the wisdom.

"It's just a pity about Junior Brother Jiang Li. If he weren't dead, with his intellect, he would surely achieve great things in the future."

"Let's go!"

The three of them leaped off the tavern.

"Look! That's 'Soul-Chasing Arrow' Song Yu, a core disciple of the Fire Cloud Sect!"

"An expert at the Qi Condensing Realm has come to our Qingyang Town. What major event has occurred?"

"I heard the demon beast that killed Xue Wuqing's daughter appeared at Qingfeng Tavern and killed the detective Jiang Li in the same way!"

"Jiang Li was killed too? He was a genius at the tenth level of the Body Refining Realm!"

Since this incident, the small Qingyang Town became bustling, with disciples from various sects nearby flocking to gather information.

***

After leaving Qingyang Town, Xiao Long found a cave to heal his injuries. A day later, his body had fully recovered, and his tail had regrown.

But for some reason, he always felt like he was being watched, as if someone was observing him from the shadows.

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Having lived two lives, Xiao Long's intuition was always sharp. He carefully examined his body and indeed found a mark on one of his scales.

The mark was crude, and Xiao Long easily erased it with a surge of Inner Qi.

After doing so, he felt a bit relieved.

"Something's not right!" Xiao Long suddenly realized. The mark was too obvious. Given their understanding of him, they wouldn't make such a low-level mark.

When something unusual happens, there's always a reason!

Xiao Long decided to take a risk. He forcefully used his soul power to thoroughly examine his body and soul, leaving no stone unturned.

Sure enough! After a few breaths, he discovered a faint white soul imprint seed in his sea of consciousness.

"Soul imprint seed?" Xiao Long sneered internally.

A soul imprint seed is a type of mark that can spread. Once he communicates soul-to-soul or physically contacts another being, the soul imprint seed would automatically spread to that being.

This tracking method is specifically used against puppet masters, beast tamers, and other special groups. Once they control a being, the controller themselves would also be marked.

"It seems you want to uncover the master behind me. Too bad, I am the master myself. You'll be disappointed."

"But since you want to play, I don't mind playing along."

With a mischievous thought, Xiao Long used Inner Qi to draw a sealing formation in his sea of consciousness, sealing the soul imprint seed.

This soul imprint seed must be in communication with the archer. Since that's the case, Xiao Long didn't mind using the 'remote attack' technique to give him a taste of his own medicine.

***

Inside the Fire Cloud Sect's main hall, a group of people sat on either side, exuding an aura of authority and faint pressure. They were the many elders of the sect and the eight core disciples.

The sect master, Liao Huoyun, sat at the head, his gaze solemn as he looked at everyone present.

"Sect Master, the probing mark has been erased," reported Song Yu, the Soul-Chasing Arrow, with a cupped fist.

Liao Huoyun nodded slightly, unsurprised, "With the expert's strength, it would be abnormal if he didn't detect the mark."

"Sect Master!" Xue Wuqing interjected, "Has the soul imprint seed spread?"

Xue Wuqing, harboring a vendetta for his daughter's death, was most concerned about this.

Liao Huoyun shook his head, "Not yet. That beast hasn't moved since leaving Qingyang Town, likely healing its injuries. During this time, no humans or other demon beasts have approached it."

Xue Wuqing clenched his fists, filled with anxiety.

"Elder Xue, don't worry. I personally planted the soul imprint seed. As soon as the snake demon's master contacts it, I'll sense it immediately. Even if he escapes to the ends of the earth, I will annihilate him!" Liao Huoyun declared coldly.

"Thank you, Sect Master!" Xue Wuqing cupped his fists.

Liao Huoyun nodded. At that moment, his brow suddenly furrowed, as if sensing something. In the next instant, his expression changed dramatically, and to everyone's shock, he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Everyone present was astonished.

Liao Huoyun gritted his teeth, and after a while, spat out another mouthful of blood, his face turning deathly pale.

"Sect Master!"

"Sect Master, what's wrong?"

Everyone stood up.

***

Meanwhile, on the other side...@@novelbin@@

Xiao Long, with a wicked smile, used his soul power to form a soul needle, repeatedly stabbing the soul imprint seed within the sealing formation.

Stab in, pull out, stab in, pull out...

With each stab, the soul imprint seed trembled as if begging for mercy.

"Haha! My sealing formation won't let you self-destruct. Enjoy the torment! Hahaha..."

Xiao Long continued his soul needle action, stabbing repeatedly, enjoying himself.

***

Meanwhile, Liao Huoyun felt like his head was about to explode. He roared, clutching his head, jumping around the Fire Cloud Hall. The destructive power of an Innate Expert was no joke. The hall seemed to experience a series of explosions, with violent True Qi wreaking havoc, leaving the hall in ruins.

"Ahhhh!!"

"Sect Master!"

"Ahhh!" Liao Huoyun clutched his head, his expression twisted, eyes bloodshot, crashing around.

Everyone was anxious yet helpless, only able to hide on the side, fearing being caught in the Sect Master's energy outburst.

The scene inside the hall was indescribable. Liao Huoyun, like a madman, rampaged inside, letting out continuous miserable screams. The soul's pain was far more profound than physical pain. In all his years as Sect Master, it was the first time he experienced such agony.

Moreover, more unbearable than the pain was the endless humiliation. He, a dignified Innate Expert, was tricked by an unknown scoundrel. If he hadn't separated a wisp of his soul to create the soul imprint seed, if the opponent wasn't hiding in the shadows, how could he be so embarrassed?

Liao Huoyun seemed to see the opponent's sneer behind the scenes, mocking his overestimation of his abilities.

"Beast! When I catch you, I'll burn your soul for a thousand years, making you suffer until death! Ahhhhhh!"

Proofreader & Editor: Howard Wong