Cultivating Immortality :I Obtained The Villain's Ascension Code-Chapter 69: Primordial Devourer…?

Xiao Ning clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the distant eastern skies. "There are things I must handle on the way. We shall meet at Evil Dragon City."

Meng Qing seemed like she wanted to say more, but ultimately held her tongue.

Xiao Ning’s form flickered—and then vanished into the air.

In truth, it was not that he had any pressing matters to handle.

He simply preferred not to travel with the others.

Though he had fully inherited Li Fang’s memories—down to every habit, tone, and mannerism—maintaining the pretense remained a tiresome affair. After all, memories could guide the mind, but not ease the burden of constant performance.

Even a few casual words of greeting, a simple exchange of pleasantries, had already left him feeling drained.

Acting like someone else was never easy.

Let alone acting like Li Fang.

Elder Qian Xu suddenly raised his head, as if sensing something from afar.

He cupped his hands around his mouth and called out in a deep voice.

"Old Xu! Stop hiding and come down already!"

His voice rolled like thunder, shaking the surrounding cliffs.

Moments later, the sky above darkened as if a great shadow had descended.

A suffocating spiritual pressure blanketed the area, heavy and primal. The wind stilled, and the surrounding spirit beasts in the forest fell silent. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

A moment later—

Roar!

A low, thunderous bellow rang out from the clouds as a massive figure pierced through the sky.

It was a beast the size of a grand hall, its scales black as night, gleaming faintly with cold light. A row of sharp spines ran along its serpentine back, and its long, sinuous tail trailed behind it like a comet’s tail.

Crimson eyes shone with ancient intelligence, and four clawed limbs gripped the air as it descended in spiraling motion.

This was Xu Long, the only Fourth-Rank Spirit Beast residing within the Shadowclaw Sect—and one of its oldest guardians.

"Spirit beasts" were not ordinary animals. They were creatures that had undergone long-term cultivation, awakening spiritual intelligence and forming a spiritual core, much like a cultivator’s dantian. While humans cultivated techniques and spiritual essence, spirit beasts refined their bloodlines and raw physical might. Some powerful ones even forged divine abilities unique to their race.

And the beast before them—Xu Long—was a Flood Dragon.

A rare and noble bloodline among aquatic dragon species, Flood Dragons were said to be the descendants of true dragons who had mingled with lesser serpents. Though not full-fledged divine dragons, they were renowned for their strength, speed, and powerful elemental affinities—particularly thunder and water.

Xu Long’s body coiled midair before landing lightly on the platform.

A gust of wind surged out from his descent, blowing everyone’s robes back.

"Tch. You always like to make a dramatic entrance," Elder Qian muttered, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Xu Long snorted, a puff of black mist escaping his nostrils. "Hmph. You old thing still alive? Then why not use that mouth to say something useful."

Meng Qing smiled brightly and stepped forward, cupping her hands in greeting. "It’s been a while, Senior Xu. It’s good to see you again."

Xu Long narrowed his crimson eyes, a snort escaping his nostrils. "Hmph. So it’s you, little girl. Still stuck at Core Formation, are you?"

His tone was blunt, but not unkind—like that of an old guardian scolding a familiar junior.

Meng Qing’s smile turned sheepish. She scratched her cheek lightly and said nothing, bowing her head slightly in silent acknowledgment.

She knew better than to argue. In front of an ancient spirit beast like Xu Long, strength spoke louder than excuses.

Beside her, Wu Fang and Qian Mo, both seeing the mighty flood dragon up close for the first time, stepped forward and bowed with solemn respect.

"Junior Wu Fang greets Senior Xu."

"Junior Qian Mo pays respects."

Xu Long gave them a sideways glance, his massive head shifting slightly as he regarded each one, then shifted his gaze to Elder Qian. "These are the little brats you’re taking to the Evil Gathering?"

"They are," Elder Qian replied calmly. "They’ll be riding on your back. Don’t throw anyone off."

"Depends if they bite," Xu Long said with a grin, revealing rows of glinting fangs.

Without waiting further, he lowered his massive body until his wide back was nearly level with the stone platform.

Elder Qian leapt up first, landing smoothly atop one of the flat ridges between his spines.

The others followed quickly.

Meng Qing stepped up without hesitation, her crimson robes fluttering like flame. Wu Fang and Qian Mo followed.

Once all were seated securely along Xu Long’s back, spiritual barrier were activated around them to protect them from wind resistance and fluctuation during high-speed flight.

Xu Long raised his head.

"Hold on."

Boom!

With a powerful beat of his limbs, his massive form launched into the sky like a cannonbolt.

Lightning crackled faintly around his horns as they tore through the clouds. In the blink of an eye, the Shadowclaw Sect became a speck below.

They soared through the night like a phantom streak of darkness, cutting across the mountain range with terrifying speed.

The landscape blurred beneath them—forests, rivers, and ridges flickered by like brushstrokes in an ink painting.

Even Meng Qing, known for her bold temperament, had to grip tightly onto the formation saddle. "T-this is flying at lightning speed...?"

Shi Ling chuckled lightly. "Don’t lose your nerve now."

From the front, Elder Qian’s voice carried back through the wind:

"At this pace, we’ll reach the The Evil Dragon City before dawn."

"Uncle Qian," Felling bored Meng Qing called out "You’ve been to Evil Dragon City before, haven’t you?"

Elder Qian Xu didn’t turn around, but his voice drifted back clearly, carried by a layer of spiritual sound transmission.

"More times than I can count."

"What was it like... back in the Evil Dragon Lord’s era?" Meng Qing’s eyes flickered with interest. "Is it true that he built the city atop the corpse of a divine beast?"

Qian Xu chuckled faintly. "That part is true. And it wasn’t just any beast—it was one of the ancient titanic class. Some say it was a Sky-Falling Netherscale Wyrm... others believe it was the husk of a fallen Primordial Devourer."

"Primordial Devourer...?" Wu Fang’s eyes widened.

Qian Xu’s explained. "A creature so ancient that even divine beasts feared it. They say it ate Divine Transformation Realm experts as easily as spirit beasts eat flesh."

Meng Qing took a deep breath. "And the Evil Dragon Lord built a city on top of that?"

"Built it, yes. But not alone. After the Great Sect Purge, the Evil Dragon Lord had barely a handful of trusted followers left. They say it took him seventy-seven days and nights of blood rites and forbidden offerings just to stabilize the beast’s remains and suppress the corpse’s lingering will."

Meng Qing’s brow furrowed slightly. "The beast’s will still lingered?"

Qian Xu let out a faint chuckle. "What do you think? That something that fell from beyond the firmament would simply die cleanly?"

Behind them, Wu Fang’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I’ve read that divine beast corpses can hold residual divine sense... even after millennia."

Qian Xu nodded. "That’s right. This one was worse. It wasn’t just the bones. The marrow, the lingering resentment, the fragments of consciousness—none of it faded."