Chapter 1

Snake King City.

The strange mist had not completely dissipated, and the buildings in the city were looming in the fog, not very clear.

In the teahouses and taverns, people were discussing His Majesty the Snake King's methods of disciplining his children, when they heard a voice of excitement and agitation coming from the direction of the city gate.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and couldn't help but be stunned.

"Humans?! Has our Snake King City finally been discovered by the outside world?"

"Which city are they from? Are there any fellow villagers of mine?"

"Hey, there's an old guy actually riding on Centurion Huang An's back. What's his background?"

The surrounding streets were filled with noise as people curiously gathered around, pointing and talking. A brocade-clad guard riding a dragon let out a low shout, and the crowd retreated in panic, not daring to block the way.

Daoist Baihe and the others saw so many monsters and beasts surrounding them, their huge bodies exuding bursts of baleful aura, with fangs, sharp teeth, and scarlet eyes, extremely terrifying.

Although they knew that they were all transformed from the people of Xichuan Town, everyone was still frightened and uneasy.

Just then, there was a commotion in the distance.

Someone was shouting, "The Jinyiwei Commander is arriving! Everyone else make way!" The voice was very arrogant, and a team of cavalry was already rushing over, reckless and domineering. Passersby who couldn't dodge in time were directly knocked flying.

They came with a fierce and bloody wind, their aura extremely ferocious, and the passersby on both sides of the street retreated in terror.

Leading the way was Hu San.

His body was more than one hundred and fifty meters tall, his fur as black and shiny as silk, his aura as evil as a hellhound on the prowl. He had a slicked-back hairstyle, and his scarlet eyes swept the surrounding streets with a cold, fierce light, his gaze as sharp as a knife, and no one dared to meet his eyes.

"Has the Young Lord been received?"

He came slowly, sitting on a two-hundred-meter-tall white husky. On the back of the white husky was a "saddle suite."

This was a kind of car-carriage similar to a saddle but more comfortable, spacious and sturdy, with tables, chairs, and tea tables inside.

Hu San was sitting cross-legged inside, the curtain open.

He had a snake scale saber hanging at his waist and a snake scale cloak draped over his shoulders. The cloak was like metal, with a hard and cold luster, and his whole aura was deep and dark.

Daoist Baihe and the others trembled all over.

If the monsters and beasts around the streets made them uneasy, then the black-furred dog monster in front of them made them so terrified they couldn't breathe. As he rode the white husky closer, the air became oppressive.

Everyone guessed that the other party must have an extraordinary background, perhaps a big figure in Snake King City.

Sure enough.

Huang An bowed and said, "Reporting to Commander, the Young Lord has been received and is on my back."

He raised his dog paw and pointed to Zhang Fu lying on his dog back.

"Hi, you... Hello, sir!" Zhang Fu greeted with some fear, his expression very unnatural.

Obviously, he also noticed that Hu San was different from the others, with a heavy air of ferocity about him.

Hu San grinned, jumped off the sedan and stood upright, clasping his paws and said, "Jinyiwei Commander Hu San greets the Young Lord and welcomes the Young Lord back to Snake King City."

Zhang Fu quickly said, "Commander, you're too polite. I didn't expect you to come and pick me up in person. Just as Centurion Huang said, you are my Second Uncle's right-hand man and confidant. When I see my Second Uncle, I will definitely put in a good word for you."

He was sometimes senile and confused, but at other times he was shrewd. With one sentence, he praised both Huang An and Hu San.

A look of gratitude flashed in Huang An's eyes, especially when he saw Hu San's approving gaze. He was even more delighted, feeling that the Young Lord Zhang Fu was too good at talking, and that this mission was not in vain.

Hu San modestly said a few words with a warm smile and then said, "Thank you, Young Lord. Come, sit on my mount, my mount is comfortable."

His white husky mount had soft fur on its back and a saddle suite, which was indeed comfortable.

After a few polite remarks, Zhang Fu was picked up by Hu San with his paws and placed on his white husky mount. Zhang Fu's face was full of happy and excited smiles, obviously very satisfied. Hu San smiled when he saw this.

He looked at Daoist Baihe and the others and said, "You will also come with me to meet His Majesty the Snake King!"

"Yes!"

Daoist Baihe and the others nodded quickly, not daring to disobey in the slightest.

The Jinyiwei set off, and the long cavalry team headed towards the Snake King Palace. The passersby only dared to discuss again after they had gone far away.

Many of them had left Snake King City to find their hometown relatives before the fall of Xichuan Town. Many days had passed, but no news had returned. On the contrary, this group of people had taken the initiative to come to Snake King City.

They all wanted to take the initiative to strike up a conversation to understand the situation of humans in the outside world, wanting to know what had happened outside during this period, why the human cities and towns were gone, and only endless mountains remained.

But with Hu San's Jinyiwei here, no one dared to approach, and everyone could only wait for an opportunity.

Hu San led the crowd through the wide Snake King Square, ascended the high steps of the Snake King Palace, and entered the magnificent and solemn Snake King Palace through the South Heaven Gate.

Outside the palace stood the Snake King Stele, towering into the clouds, which recorded the achievements of the King Cobra.

Hu San stopped and smiled to explain the story of the King Cobra to the crowd. It was roughly the same as what Hu San had said, both tearful and praiseworthy, all words of praise. Before Daoist Baihe and the others had even seen the King Cobra, they already felt infinite awe and respect.

Unconsciously, their first thought was that Zhang Fu's Second Uncle, the King Cobra, had the heart of a Bodhisattva, was supremely kind and benevolent, was a good person, and was the greatest person in the world.

"Everything is permitted, nothing is true. We work in the dark, we serve the light, day after day, night after night, praise the great King Cobra, immortal and indestructible!" After Hu San finished explaining, he clasped his paws in front of his chest and said a word of praise with fanatic reverence.

This was a word of praise for the King Cobra formulated by the State Preceptor He Zhiguo after the establishment of the Myriad Monster Kingdom. Everyone in Snake King City knew it, and the first sentence that children learned after entering school was this word of praise, which they had to recite backwards and forwards.

At this moment, after Hu San said this word of praise, his scarlet eyes looked at the dazed Daoist Baihe and the others.

Daoist Baihe and the others reacted and hurriedly imitated Hu San, raising their fists in front of their chests and saying in unison: "Everything is permitted, nothing is true. We work in the dark, we serve the light, day after day, night after night, praise the great King Cobra, immortal and indestructible!"

Hu San smiled with satisfaction.

But he still solemnly reminded, "When you see His Majesty the Snake King later, you must nod and bow when you speak, be respectful, don't look around, and don't talk nonsense. This is the rule of our Snake King City, otherwise, your life may be in danger. Remember that?"

Daoist Baihe and the others were startled. Meeting His Majesty the Snake King could actually be life-threatening?!

They nodded like chickens pecking rice, indicating that they would definitely remember.

"Come, follow me!"

Hu San led the way in front, walking upright. The white husky followed beside him, striding forward with its head held high, its eyes full of arrogance and pride.

Since becoming Hu San's exclusive mount as the Commander, everyone around it had to nod and bow when they saw it, their eyes full of respect. This greatly satisfied its vanity, and it felt that it was becoming more and more stylish.

The transformation from a lone lynx giant tiger to a white husky was very successful and could be included as a textbook case.

~

Chapter 2

After passing the Snake King Stele, they began to approach the main hall of the Snake King Palace. The security here was obviously stricter, and the atmosphere was oppressive, with almost no sound of talking.

The guards were tall and mighty armored monsters, patrolling every three steps and standing sentry every five steps, their eyes scarlet and sharp, carrying bows and snake scale sabers. They had all been transformed into Evil Seeds by Zhang Ji, and their aura was deep and evil.

Daoist Baihe and the others were trembling with fear. As grandmasters, they were infinitely glamorous outside, but here they felt like they were walking on thin ice.

Hu San explained, "Our Myriad Monster Kingdom has twelve armies. They are palace experts selected from them, guarding the Snake King Palace. Each of them has mastered extraordinary Old Arts, is brave and good at fighting, fierce and bloodthirsty. Except for His Majesty the Snake King, they respect no one and recognize no one. You must never provoke them."

Daoist Baihe nodded quickly.

These monsters looked like they were not easy to mess with. They would definitely stay far away from them and would not dare to provoke them.

After passing through layers of checkpoints, they finally arrived in front of a magnificent palace at the deepest part.

"Snake King Hall"

The King Cobra's exclusive royal hall, shaped like a triangular pyramid, fifteen thousand meters high, its momentum majestic and imposing like a mountain, is the tallest building in Snake King City. On it is carved a pattern of a five-headed King Cobra roaring at the sky, dignified and grand.

When Hu San came here, he bowed down. The white husky also became docile and respectful, walking with small steps, no longer daring to stride forward with its head held high.

Daoist Baihe, Grandmaster Yuankong, and Black Hand Fist King looked at each other, and they all saw the nervousness and anticipation in each other's eyes. They were finally going to meet the master of this place, the great and benevolent King Cobra like a Bodhisattva.

Zhang Fu also became excited. Was his Second Uncle working here? This office location was too extravagant!

At this time, Hu San took two steps forward, knelt down, and said loudly:

"Reporting to the great King Cobra, the Young Lord has been received, and there are human survivors from the Black Wind Safe Zone here."

The gate of the Snake King Hall slowly opened, and a majestic voice came out: "Little Fu, is that you coming?..."

When Zhang Fu heard this, he burst into tears of excitement, rolling and crawling down from the saddle suite sedan, running and crying, "Second Uncle, my dear Second Uncle, it's me, it's me, your Little Fu, I'm here..."

As he ran, he took out a roasted chicken from his arms and rushed into the Snake King Hall.

"You all come in too!" Zhang Ji's voice came out.

Hu San saluted and led Daoist Baihe and more than a hundred others into the solemn and magnificent Snake King Hall.

The hall was empty and had a wide view.

The surrounding walls were inlaid with rows of tens-of-meter-large chandeliers, like furnaces, filled with lamp oil made of demon king meat, which could burn continuously for decades without going out. A musk-like smell filled the hall, making people feel at peace. The air was not cold, but warm like spring.

The hall was brightly lit. From the entrance, there were stone pillars standing on both sides, with exquisite tables and chairs placed in order, but the smallest chairs were hundreds of meters tall.

In the front was a staircase, thousands of meters high, with a monster faintly coiled on it, its scarlet eyes opening and closing like red lanterns. Its huge body cast a large shadow on the wall under the light of the chandeliers.

Daoist Baihe and the others remembered Hu San's instructions, and after entering the hall, they only glanced at it in a hurry before daring to look again. But even so, the huge shadow above the hall made them horrified and fearful. They quickly lowered their heads and walked with their waists bent.

"This subordinate pays respects to His Majesty the Snake King!" Hu San saluted, and Daoist Baihe and the others followed suit, but they did not see Zhang Fu's shadow.

"No need to be so polite, speak standing up." Zhang Ji said with a smile. The few people stood up and then tried to cautiously look up at Zhang Ji.

They saw a snake-like monster coiled above, its entire body covered in blood-colored snake scales that shone with a cold luster like metal, with blood wings on its back, snake claws, and five heads, each more ferocious and terrifying than the last. Its scarlet vertical pupils flickered with a fierce light that made people feel cold.

Its aura was particularly deep, like an unfathomable abyss. Its majesty lingered throughout the Snake King Hall, and even if it tried its best to restrain its aura, the air was still very oppressive.

Daoist Baihe and the others' faces turned pale. Was this the benevolent and kind King Cobra His Majesty in Hu San and Huang An's words?! But no matter how they looked at it, it felt like a giant ferocious evil creature!

Zhang Ji smiled and said, "Although this king looks a bit fierce, this king believes that you will not judge people by their appearance, and think that this king is an evil snake based solely on appearance, right?!"

Daoist Baihe was flustered when he heard this, and did not dare to say half a "no." He quickly replied loudly:

"On the way here, we heard Commander Hu and Centurion Huang talk about your heroic deeds. It was you who saved Xichuan Town, ended the chaos and darkness, rebuilt order, and gave the people light and hope."

"We are honored to see His Majesty the Snake King's true face at this moment."

Daoist Baihe praised to the utmost. As the sound fell, a voice also sounded above the hall: "Second Uncle, what Daoist Baihe said is true. We all think you are a great hero."

It was Zhang Fu's voice. Everyone then noticed that on the snake's claws, there was a person like an ant standing, it was Zhang Fu, with a face full of excitement.

Zhang Ji laughed and said, "Good grandson, you've said a bit too much. Your Second Uncle can't be called a hero, but I've been working hard to be a good person and a hero."

"Since the establishment of the Myriad Monster Kingdom, this king has widely recruited talents, worked hard to govern, and adhered to the concept of 'ruling the country with virtue'. I dislike killing and hate tyranny, and I'm determined to be a wise and kind monarch."

Daoist Baihe did not dare to express other opinions, and could only nod repeatedly like a chicken pecking rice, saying "yes".

"Sit down and talk." Zhang Ji smiled, his gentle voice echoing in the hall.

Hu San easily sat on the tea table and chair next to him. Daoist Baihe and the others also got up and sat down, but found that the chairs here were too big, the smallest being one hundred meters, and as high as cliffs.

Daoist Baihe, Grandmaster Yuankong, and Black Hand Fist King were grandmaster guardians. They gathered their energy and jumped up, each landing on a chair.

Han Feng, Zhao Mei, Wu Yue, and the other disciples of the grandmaster guardians also climbed onto the chairs by their own skills and sat down, their faces full of pride and joy.

The others were not strong enough, and after trying for a long time, they could not get on the chairs, so they could only sit awkwardly on the corners of the chairs below.

Zhang Ji seemed not to see this scene and asked about the changes outside.

Daoist Baihe immediately told him that after Xichuan Town disappeared, the Earth's vitality was restored, plants and animals mutated, cities were destroyed, and humans had become the lowest existence in the food chain, struggling to survive in dire straits for more than sixty years. Now that safe zones had been established, they could finally catch their breath.

He spoke in detail, telling Zhang Ji that they came from the Black Wind Safe Zone, and now everyone was practicing martial arts and respected martial arts above all else...

Zhang Ji listened carefully, asking questions from time to time. Daoist Baihe answered them one by one. If he did not understand something, Grandmaster Yuankong and Black Hand Fist King supplemented the explanation.

When he heard that more than sixty years had passed outside, Zhang Ji was in a daze.

He looked down at Zhang Fu lying on his snake claws and finally understood why Zhang Fu had become so old, because after Xichuan Town was sealed off by the strange mist, the flow of time was different from the outside world.

"Thank you all for clearing up my confusion. This king has been trapped in Xichuan Town for so long that I didn't know that the outside world had undergone earth-shattering changes, and that sixty years had passed. Alas~ This damned strange mist." Zhang Ji sighed for a long time, his mood complex.

If it weren't for the strange mist, he, as a human, would have been tossed around in the Great Evolution Era in a humble fate, and now he might have already turned into bones.

Hu San below also sighed, thinking that if he had not been trapped in Xichuan Town and had not followed Snake Lord, then he would have been old and frail long ago, and might even have died.