Chapter 19: The Blue-Banded Coral Snake

“The Celestial Annihilation Array—surely the three of you know its purpose?”

As expected, Lu Sheng found Wan Gu Xiao and the brothers Ma Bu Ting and Ma Bu Ti at the location of the Sea Dragon Ginseng. This time, he did not hide, but appeared openly and spoke.

By the pool’s edge, Wan Gu Xiao and the Ma brothers, who stood atop a swarm of serpents and faced off against each other, turned their heads simultaneously at the sound of Lu Sheng’s voice.

Wan Gu Xiao hailed from the Prime Gu Sect of the Ten Thousand Poisons School, while Ma Bu Ting and Ma Bu Ti belonged to the Ma Clan of Western Liang. Both their sect and family possessed grandmaster legacies, so their insights were extraordinary.

Although the array hidden in the pond had been laid out for seventy or eighty years, it had begun to reveal traces amidst the changes of time. Because of this, the aura of the Sea Dragon Ginseng’s ascension leaked out, drawing all the serpents and pythons of the snake pit.

Likewise, after Wan Gu Xiao and the Ma brothers arrived, they discovered the array within the pond. Uncertain about its nature, they chose merely to confront each other at the water’s edge, not daring to enter rashly.

Now, seeing Lu Sheng suddenly reveal himself and mention the array’s name, Ma Bu Ting was startled and quickly asked, “The Celestial Annihilation Array—is it the same formation used by King Celestial in the past?”

King Celestial’s slaying of the Golden Wolf King was an event that shocked the world. It was the most recent battle where a grandmaster had fallen, and even after more than a hundred years, it remained well-known among martial society.

Upon hearing “Celestial,” Ma Bu Ting immediately thought of King Celestial Lu Zhengyang, hailed as the foremost figure after Emperor Jing, and pressed for an answer.

“That’s right. Ancestor Zhengyang used this array to annihilate the intelligence of the Golden Wolf King’s mount, then slew the Golden Wolf King himself.”

“You must know its function, don’t you?”

Facing three grand martial masters—one the murderer of his father, and the other two bearing grudges against his family—Lu Sheng remained unruffled, speaking calmly.

With his current strength, it was impossible to break through the blockade of three grand martial masters. Whether he could access the array and gain great merit through its power depended on whether he could persuade them.

“The Celestial Annihilation Array targets creatures whose intelligence is newly born or incomplete,” Wan Gu Xiao speculated. “Is there, perhaps, a particularly powerful creature within this pond?”

For the Ma brothers, this array might not be familiar, but Wan Gu Xiao’s Prime Gu Sect was renowned for controlling serpents and insects, making him attentive to arrays targeting such beings.

Upon hearing the array’s name, he immediately recalled his sect’s records and its purpose.

“Could there be a beast guarding the spiritual herb in the pond?”

“Boy, did your ancestors not clear it out beforehand?” Ma Bu Ti asked, gazing intently at the turbulent pond full of serpents and pythons.

Ordinary serpents posed no threat to him, but if a second-tier or higher beast lurked beneath the water, even he would have to be cautious.

Because of this, Ma Bu Ti quickly seized upon Lu Sheng’s words, his eyes flashing as he considered whether to act and seize Lu Sheng.

—

“There’s a sea cucumber in the pond on the verge of ascending to the fourth tier!”

Sensing Ma Bu Ti’s hostility through his heightened spirit, Lu Sheng responded swiftly. At this moment, he could only rely on the tensions between Wan Gu Xiao and the Ma brothers to muddy the waters and seek his chance.

“Fourth tier!”

At the mention of this rank, the three instinctively stepped back. When they heard “sea cucumber,” their eyes immediately blazed, fixed upon the pond.

A fourth-tier treasure—especially a Sea Dragon Ginseng coveted even by grandmasters—instantly aroused their deepest desires.

“If I obtain this treasure and present it to a grandmaster, I’ll be set to become a Martial Lord!”

All three harbored the same thought.

A fourth-tier sea cucumber, even if it couldn’t guarantee discipleship under a grandmaster, would still earn their guidance and protection. The resources exchanged would be sufficient for all three to become Martial Lords.

“Boy, hand over the array’s control method, and I’ll spare your life!”

Ma Bu Ti’s gaze was fierce. Were it not for Wan Gu Xiao’s presence, he’d have already acted to seize Lu Sheng.

Nevertheless, he subtly shifted his position, ready to block Wan Gu Xiao at any moment and allow his brother to capture Lu Sheng.

Wan Gu Xiao was equally quick. With a flick of his wrist, a blue serpent shot between the Ma brothers and Lu Sheng.

A shrill cry rang out as the blue serpent summoned a swarm of serpents and pythons, blocking the Ma brothers’ path to Lu Sheng.

“Blue-striped Coral Snake!”

Ma Bu Ting exclaimed the serpent’s name.

This dazzling blue, noble and beautiful venomous snake was reputed to be the most toxic among serpents, possessing the largest venom gland of all—it was the Blue-striped Coral Snake.

Even without ascending tiers, its venom could kill a martial master!

“Haha!”

Wan Gu Xiao laughed wildly, “Indeed, the Blue-striped Coral Snake—now at the second tier. If it bites you… well, you can imagine the consequences!”

“You surely know what that means!”

“Second tier…”

Ma Bu Ting repeated quietly, now realizing this blue serpent could inflict mortal harm. The situation had turned thorny.

Earlier, he and Ma Bu Ti together could suppress Wan Gu Xiao. But with the addition of this venomous snake and its controlled swarm, the balance shifted—

Though Wan Gu Xiao remained at a disadvantage, he could now contend with the two brothers!

—

“So, have you finished your discussion? If that sea cucumber ascends to the fourth tier and gains intelligence, it won’t just be the spiritual herb at stake—our lives will depend on its whim.”

“A beast comparable to a grandmaster—surely none of you wish to face such an opponent?”

With his heightened spirit and sharpened perception, Lu Sheng could read the shifting expressions of the three and spoke up.

The stalemate between Wan Gu Xiao and the Ma brothers suited him best for reaping profit.

“What, you want to control the array?”

Ma Bu Ti sneered. To those who had spent years roaming the martial world, Lu Sheng’s intentions were obvious.

He threatened without hesitation, “If you want to survive, obediently reveal the array’s control method. If you ruin my plans, no one will be able to save you!”

Lu Sheng replied calmly, “Master Ma, please restrain yourself. The Celestial Annihilation Array can only be operated by those who have cultivated the Primordial Arts or its derivatives.”

“Even if I tell you the method, none of you can control it!”

“If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to try.”

With that, Lu Sheng recited an incantation—the method for controlling the Celestial Annihilation Array.

The three, possessing extraordinary insight, knew at once that the incantation was genuine. When they tried it, they found their own internal energy could not activate the array. Their eyes flickered, and they regarded Lu Sheng with new seriousness.