Chapter 292: Chapter 287: The Blood Python Family and the Ninghun Family
Before long, Xu Fei had someone bring them breakfast. Mu Chen ate, his mind clearly elsewhere. Xu Fei seemed to notice and asked, "Brother Mu Chen, are you thinking about the ruins?"
Mu Chen put down his bowl and chopsticks, smiling. "The closer we get to entering, the more worried I become. It’s a common human failing, I suppose."
Xu Fei also put down his utensils. "I can actually give you some information about that. But let’s talk on the road after we finish. For now, let’s eat up."
Mu Chen was pleased to hear this. After all, Xu Fei had been to the Blood Soul Empire many times, so he was bound to know something about the powers at play. "Then I’ll be counting on you, Brother Xu."
The three of them quietly finished breakfast, then boarded the Hurricane Horse Carriage to once again set out on the long road to the Blood Soul Imperial City. This time, however, they traveled on a wide thoroughfare. Towns and villages appeared from time to time, which made the journey considerably safer. In particular, after spending three months on deserted, untrodden paths, the presence of other people was a welcome relief that put them at ease.
The Blood Soul Empire was located in the south and had a very warm, humid climate. Upon arriving, Mu Chen felt none of winter’s chill; instead, it felt like a brilliant spring day. Unfamiliar, fragrant flowers bloomed along the roadside, and countless Spirit Butterflies—a sight long gone from the north—danced gracefully in the air. Xu Fei opened the door at the front of the carriage, removing the partition between him and Mu Chen.
"Brother Mu Chen, as I mentioned before, the Blood Soul Empire is the only High-class Empire in this region, possessing vast territory and formidable strength." As he spoke, Xu Fei shifted in his seat, let the Hurricane Horses continue along the road, and went on, "And the reason the Blood Soul Empire is what it is today stems from two words: Blood and Soul."
"Blood and Soul? Do those two words have some special meaning?" Mu Chen asked.
Xu Fei nodded. "Mm, they have a very special meaning. The ’Blood’ refers to none other than the Blood Python Family, which is renowned throughout the Extreme Martial Continent. The ’Soul’ represents another ancient noble family, the Ninghun Family. That family is gone now, but its existence had a huge impact on the Blood Soul Empire. I’ll get to that later. First, let me tell you about the Blood Python Family."
Mu Chen sat up straight, his expression turning serious, as it always did when important information was being shared. ’Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat. Now is the time to understand my enemy.’
"The Blood Python Family is a fairly ancient family, with a history on this continent stretching back over twenty thousand years. However, their rise was both sudden and legendary. The story goes that the Blood Python Ancestor who first founded the family was not some reclusive Great Power with exceptional talent or immense strength. Quite the contrary, this Blood Python Ancestor was just an unremarkable, ordinary martial artist—one could even say he was weak. But this continent is full of opportunities and fateful encounters, and this Blood Python Ancestor happened to be one of the lucky ones." At this, Xu Fei sighed wistfully.
Mu Chen pondered for a moment. Feeling the Extreme Spirit Pearl floating in his mind, he murmured, ’A fateful encounter...?’
Xu Fei nodded. "Yes, a fateful encounter. One day, while training in the Demon Beast Forest, he stumbled upon a grievously injured Level 7 Emperor Blood Python. Ordinarily, this would be a stroke of terrible luck, but great danger often comes with great opportunity—the two are inseparable. The Blood Python Ancestor was merely an ordinary martial artist; suddenly running into an Emperor Blood Python would have made anyone’s legs turn to jelly. He must have wished he could find a hole to crawl into and hide. Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t an insect and couldn’t just disappear into the ground. And by then, the wounded Emperor Blood Python had already spotted him, sitting there trembling."
Hearing this, Wan Xian’Er exclaimed, "Then wasn’t the Blood Python Ancestor doomed? I remember Mu Chen said that wounded Magical Beasts become incredibly aggressive, especially when they’ve suffered life-threatening injuries! And Blood Pythons are cold-blooded animals, on top of that!"
Xu Fei nodded gravely. "You’re right. Theoretically, that’s exactly what should have happened, and the Blood Python Ancestor himself thought he was about to die in the Demon Beast Forest. But alas, fateful encounters defy all logic—much like how you, Brother Mu Chen, possess two types of Attribute Elemental Power. The Blood Python Ancestor survived. And not only did he survive, he walked out of the Demon Beast Forest with that very same Emperor Blood Python. As for what exactly transpired between them, there are too many rumors to know for sure. All we know is that from that day forward, the Blood Soul Empire gained a name that struck fear into the hearts of all: the Blood Python Ancestor!"
"Blood Pythons are a rare commander-type Magical Beast in the World of Warcraft. From the moment they’re born, they are destined to lead countless other Magical Beasts. They reign supreme in the Demon Beast Forest, and unless faced with a Holy Beast, no other Magical Beast would dare challenge them. That’s because their poison is incredibly strange—one bite, and the victim becomes their most loyal slave!"
Mu Chen nodded. ’He’s right. Blood Pythons are indeed one of the Magical Beast species in this world blessed by Divine Favor. Their innate talent is the Blood Contract. Once afflicted by a Blood Python’s poison, the victim forms a Life and Death Contract with it, placing their very life at the python’s mercy. However, if the Blood Python chooses not to kill its victim, instead allowing them to live in servitude, the Blood Poison can grant them a massive boost in their cultivation realm. This boost varies from person to person, but it’s always an increase of at least two Small Realms.’
Xu Fei continued, "Therefore, a Blood Python’s Magic Beast Level doesn’t need to be exceptionally high, because its vassals and subordinates are always experts. The Blood Python Family used this Blood Poison to attain strength far beyond that of ordinary Martial Artists. However, this has also led to widespread speculation about them. Was it the Blood Python Ancestor who contracted the Emperor Blood Python, creating the family’s current splendor? Or did the Emperor Blood Python contract the Ancestor, using him to conquer a territory and successfully infiltrate the Human World? It’s all a mystery."
Taking a deep breath, Xu Fei said, "That’s the gist of the Blood Python Family’s history. They are certainly powerful, but they have a huge weakness: the Blood Python’s natural enemy, Fire Attribute Martial Artists and Magical Beasts. Because of this, I was initially very worried for you, Brother Mu Chen, since the power you had displayed was of the Ice Attribute. But once I learned you’re an Ice and Fire Dual Attribute Martial Artist, I was completely relieved. Ice and Fire Burst is a terrifying Combat Skill that few can withstand. It’s also why, over the years, the vast majority of people who have come back alive from the Senluo Ruins are either Fire Attribute Martial Artists or Ice Attribute Martial Artists."
Mu Chen froze. "Ice Attribute Martial Artists?" ’Fire Attribute Martial Artists make sense, since Blood Pythons are extremely wary of Fire Attribute Primordial Power. But why would Ice Attribute Martial Artists survive?’
Xu Fei chuckled. "Oh, it’s not that Fire Attribute Martial Artists can completely suppress a Blood Python on their own. They’re still vulnerable to sneak attacks. So, if they have an Ice Attribute Martial Artist watching their back, with the two of them working together and occasionally pulling off a joint Ice and Fire Burst, their chances of survival increase dramatically. Most Martial Artists would normally be too proud for that, but when there are benefits to be had, who’s going to complain, right?"
Understanding suddenly dawned on Mu Chen. ’So that’s how it is. The Ice Attribute Martial Artists offer up some benefits in exchange for protection, while the Fire Attribute Martial Artists not only reap those benefits but also gain a teammate and a powerful assistant for devastating joint attacks. Anyone would accept a deal like that.’
"I see. In that case, Brother Xu, could you tell me about the story behind the ’Soul’ part?"
When it came to historical knowledge, Mu Chen was an eager listener. Having spent the last three months with him, Wan Xian’Er had also developed a taste for it. And Xu Fei, being a naturally talkative man, was more than happy to oblige them.
"The ’Soul’ part is simple, really. It refers to the soul, or what’s now called Spiritual Power. It’s an abbreviation for the Ninghun Family," Xu Fei said leisurely. "Speaking of the Ninghun Family, their origins are completely different from the Blood Python Family’s. First, they are much, much older. The Ninghun Family existed thirty thousand years ago, back when the Martial Emperor Strong Person had not yet vanished from the world. That means they predate the Blood Python Family by over ten thousand years! The Ninghun Ancestor was also fundamentally different from the Blood Python Ancestor. The Ninghun Ancestor was a true genius! In terms of his Martial Artist Realm, Cultivation Talent, and Life Insights, he was a monstrous talent. But as incredible as all that was, his greatest and most terrifying asset wasn’t his martial strength, but his Spiritual Power!"
"Spiritual Power?!"
This was the first time Mu Chen had ever heard of a Martial Artist renowned for their Spiritual Power. His own Spiritual Power was also exceptionally strong, but other than using it to operate the Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique, he knew nothing else about its applications. The sudden mention of someone who specialized in it naturally piqued his interest.
"That’s right! The very same Spiritual Power that has all but disappeared from the continent today! Legend says the Ninghun Ancestor’s Spiritual Power was so immense he could pierce the minds of countless people with a single glance, view any scenery in the world with a single thought, and obliterate a Martial Artist’s soul with a mere look. We of this later generation can’t know if these legends are true or just exaggerations; we are talking about a Great Power from tens of thousands of years ago, after all. But one thing is certain: the Ninghun Ancestor’s Spiritual Power was a terrifying force. Because the Senluo Ruins you are about to enter... is the very place where the Ninghun Ancestor entered his final meditation and passed away."
"But..." A glint flashed in Mu Chen’s eyes. "Aren’t those Ancient Ruins?"
Xu Fei said, "They are. They are indeed Ancient Ruins. It’s just that the original caretakers of those ruins weren’t the Blood Python Family. It was the Ninghun Family. That’s why they’re called the Senluo Ruins, not the Blood Python Ruins."
"The Senluo Ruins? What does that name have to do with the Ninghun Clan?" Mu Chen asked again.
Xu Fei explained, "Of course there’s a connection. The ancestor of the Ninghun Family wasn’t named Ninghun. His name was Sima Senluo, and his title was the Senluo Saint. He earned that title because he poured his entire life’s work into creating a Cultivation Technique... a High-level Cultivation Method for cultivating Spiritual Power..."
