This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

The enormous black serpent coiled atop the mountain, its form gleaming with a chilling light under the lightning.

It roared to the sky, its scales rippling, and a vast expanse of pure water vapor instantly spread out, turning into a torrential downpour.

If this breathtaking scene could be witnessed by the world, it would likely become another mythical legend passed down through the ages.

With a deafening roar that echoed through the heavens and earth, thunderclouds surged in the sky, and with a deafening boom, blinding lightning suddenly erupted, and a bolt of lightning descended directly from the sky, striking the giant black serpent precisely.

In an instant, the skin was torn open and the flesh was ripped apart.

The large black snake's body was visibly trembling and convulsing.

A deep, resonant hiss rang out, and cracks resembling lightning patterns appeared on the black snake's hard, iron-like scales.

Blood was splattered, indicating that he was seriously injured.

Li Daoxuan's fists clenched involuntarily, and he couldn't help but whisper:

"Hey everyone, hang in there, get through this, and the world will be your oyster..."

The large black snake was tightly coiled around the mountaintop, constantly spitting blood from its mouth.

Even with its considerable power, it was still difficult to resist such overwhelming force from heaven and earth.

But there was no fear or hesitation in those snake eyes.

It raised its head again, roared fiercely, and unleashed its power. The bristles on its cheeks, which were unusual for snakes, stood up all at once, making it look particularly divine.

"boom..."

The giant black snake acted like a lightning rod, attracting almost all the lightning in the entire area.

Another bolt of lightning crashed down.

Scales flew, and snake blood splattered across the mountains and forests.

The giant black snake could barely hold on any longer, and it broke free from the mountaintop, tumbling down the slope.

Li Daoxuan was startled and instinctively wanted to help.

But in the end, they stopped.

"Big guy, don't give up, or all our efforts will be in vain, and you'll surely die..."

Li Daoxuan said sternly.

The large black snake, which had rolled down from the mountaintop and was on the verge of death, seemed to hear Li Daoxuan's voice. It struggled to raise its head and began to writhe uncontrollably.

The outermost layer of scales and snakeskin began to peel off, revealing the newly grown black scales inside, which faintly shimmered with a lively luster.

Moreover, two bulges were clearly visible on the front part of the black snake's abdomen.

It was as if something was about to grow out of it.

The giant black snake roared and climbed up again, standing atop the mountain peak once more.

His powerful aura remained undiminished.

Thunderclouds rolled in, and another bolt of lightning struck down from the sky.

Its scales were shattered, and even the newly grown scales were severely damaged.

The giant black snake also realized that it had reached a critical moment of life and death, and if it did not break through, it would surely die.

It suddenly opened its mouth, its abdomen undulating, and a faint, ethereal shadow rose from its body, constantly breathing in and out, devouring the heavens and earth.

A faint power gathered in the surrounding mountains and forests, settling on its body.

The damaged body seemed to receive some nourishment and replenishment, and began to slowly recover.

However, the recovery speed was too slow, and with the fourth heavenly lightning about to strike, the giant black snake seemed unable to survive it.

Li Daoxuan was startled and couldn't help but exclaim in shock:

"This black snake has actually mastered the ability to absorb the essence of heaven and earth..."

Li Daoxuan was very familiar with the breathing technique of the giant black snake, as it was the very method he had taught it.

Li Daoxuan was not surprised that the black snake had this ability, but rather that it was astonished by its aptitude.

It is truly astonishing that a beast that has just begun to develop intelligence possesses such comprehension and talent.

Li Daoxuan looked up at the sky and the surrounding mountains and forests, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

"It seems those people were right. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the Jingming Cave is scarce. Even if the great black snake comprehends the method of absorbing the essence of heaven and earth and receives nourishment and help, it won't be of much use."

Li Daoxuan couldn't bear to watch such a black snake, with its extraordinary talent, die under the heavenly lightning.

However, if one forcibly interferes with the cause and effect of the giant black snake, even Li Daoxuan cannot predict what kind of changes will occur.

With the fourth bolt of heavenly lightning about to strike, Li Daoxuan had no time to hesitate.

Thinking of this, Li Daoxuan leaped into the air and landed beside the giant black snake, shouting loudly:

"My friend, I am the Xuanhuang Dao Ancestor. Considering your difficult cultivation and the great calamity you have encountered, I may guide you into my Daoist sect."

"Would you...be willing to become my disciple?"

He knew that the black snake, whose intelligence had been awakened by his spirit-awakening spell, would definitely be able to understand his words.

Upon hearing this, the giant black snake paused for a moment, staring blankly at Li Daoxuan, seemingly somewhat bewildered.

Li Daoxuan glanced at the sky and quickly said:

"If you are willing, then prostrate yourself before me and kowtow three times."

The black snake's eyes suddenly lit up, and without hesitation, it arched its head and slammed it into the ground in front of Li Daoxuan three times in a row with tremendous force.

Seeing this, Li Daoxuan breathed a sigh of relief. Since he had already become his disciple, he was now a disciple of the Daoist sect.

It is only natural and right to take responsibility for the consequences of one's disciples' actions.

Li Daoxuan laughed loudly:

"Hahahaha... Very well, since that's the case, I have no reason to watch you die and perish."

With that, he flipped his hand, and a high-grade Heavenly Healing Talisman appeared between his fingers.

The Heavenly Physician Talisman is the highest-grade talisman paper among medical talismans. Even with Li Daoxuan's abilities, it would be extremely difficult for him to draw it.

"Vast and mysterious, the Six Jia and Six Ding roam the world, searching for and capturing evil spirits..."

The Heavenly Healer Talisman transformed into a stream of light and covered the black snake's body, instantly enveloping its entire body in a layer of shimmering white light.

Its dents and damage healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Moreover, a powerful life force filled the black snake's body, greatly enhancing its vitality.

At the same time, the fourth bolt of lightning finally struck.

This long-accumulated heavenly lightning was even more powerful than the previous three. It struck the black serpent, instantly shattering the remaining old scales on its body.

The terrifying force even shattered half of the mountaintop.

But the great black serpent remained standing, its body crackling with lightning, and continued to roar towards the sky.

The two bulges on its abdomen grew at a visible rate, and two unusual protrusions also rose behind its eye sockets.

But in that instant, the giant black snake seemed somewhat confused.

Li Daoxuan clearly sensed that its mind seemed to be trapped in some kind of illusion, and it was hesitating, not daring to continue forward.

This feeling is like a large black snake facing a choice, at the final moment of its transformation, suddenly losing its goal and not knowing what it should transform into.

From the perspective of spiritual practice, it means not knowing how to continue practicing next, and not having a big goal or direction.

This feeling of confusion caused the black snake's mind to become chaotic and bewildered, and it even lost control of its own body.

The bulge in his abdomen began to tremble with an unusual rhythm, and streaks of bright red blood oozed from the gaps in his scales.

The bump on his forehead became extremely unstable, sometimes large and sometimes small, as if it were about to crack open at any moment.

Upon seeing this, Li Daoxuan immediately understood that in the black snake's mind, there was no object that could allow it to continue evolving.

There are no dragons in this world, not even in myths and legends.

Even Li Daoxuan had never seen the word "dragon".

The emperor of the Great Zhao Kingdom does not claim to be a true dragon like the emperors of the previous ancient times.

Legend has it that the emperor's robe was embroidered with the yellow bird, the totem of the Great Zhao Kingdom.

So this is a world without dragons, or even dragon legends.

As a snake, the black serpent naturally develops some characteristics of a dragon during its metamorphosis. However, at this crucial moment, it completely lost its target.

As the fifth bolt of heavenly lightning was about to strike, the giant black snake was in a daze, completely unaware of its impending doom.

Li Daoxuan's heart stirred as he sensed a pressure emanating from the overwhelming power of heaven and earth.

"So that's how it is... This is the source of that immense divine fortune..."

Li Daoxuan understood that it was now his turn to make a move.

Since there are no dragons in this world, let us start with him and create a supreme and powerful ultimate pursuit and goal for all the countless creatures with scales and armor.

Li Daoxuan let out a long breath, and his mental energy suddenly spread out, instantly becoming one with heaven and earth.

He spoke softly, his voice not loud, yet it echoed between heaven and earth, transforming into bolts of lightning that rolled down.

"Heaven and earth were dark and yellow, the universe was vast and boundless. In ancient times there were holy spirits, created by heaven and earth, capable of being both hidden and visible, both small and large, ascending to the heavens in spring and diving into the abyss in autumn..."