Longevity Martial Arts: I have a Mysterious Water Snake Avatar

Zero Desolate Sea Area, Ice Frost River.

Demon Beast Hong Yuan lay quietly in the cave, earnestly absorbing the Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow.

Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow could only exist in glacial snow peak worlds that wouldn't melt for tens of thousands of years, serving as the essence to maintain the Icy Pole World.

Each time a piece of Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow was extracted, a part of the Icy Pole World would collapse due to the lack of Ice Tao Rhyme.

The value of Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow was extremely high, far surpassing the Cold Spring Spirit that Hong Yuan consumed. Even Demon Saints would desire it.

At this moment, the Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow, which seemed as if it would never melt, floated in the air, emitting a radiant blue light.

Bit by bit, the radiant blue light surged towards Demon Beast Hong Yuan, causing his aura to become increasingly consolidated.

The icy substance emitted by Demon Beast Hong Yuan grew increasingly potent, to the extent that Shrimp Soldier Xia San and Crab General Xie Four had no choice but to leave the cave entrance and wander above the river.

"What is this coldness? What powerful Demon Skill is Monarch Zhenyi practicing this time?" Shrimp Soldier Xia San asked, trembling.

"I don't know," Crab General Xie Four replied. "Let's go back, it doesn't seem that cold anymore..."

"Hold on." Shrimp Soldier Xia San, sensing something was amiss, grabbed Crab General Xie Four and pulled him to the surface of the water.

Before Crab General Xie Four could voice his confusion, he saw the water below him freeze layer by layer. It was no longer half water, half ice—it had completely turned to solid ice.

Slowly, the entire Ice Frost River was sealed in ice, transforming into a path of Ice Tao. Shrimp Soldier Xia San and Crab General Xie Four stood in mid-air, looking at each other.

Could this Xuan Guangqiao be a bit too exaggerated?

Demon Beast Hong Yuan had no spare energy to care about how other Demon Cultivators regarded him; he was fully focused on dealing with the Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow.

A quarter of an hour later, the Ten Thousand Years Cold Jade Marrow completely vanished. Demon Beast Hong Yuan slowly opened his eyes and lightly clenched his fists, sensing the potential within his body.

Third rank, high grade.

It seems I really am a genius~

[Avatar: Ice Armor Python]

[Level: Third rank, high grade]

Given that the Heavenly Tao was devoted to the Human Tao, the path of a Demon Cultivator was inherently difficult.

Yet Hong Yuan, relying on his own sweat and effort, had managed to ascend from third rank, middle grade to third rank, high grade in just over two years. Who wouldn't say his future was promising?

Thinking of this, the corners of Hong Yuan's mouth curled into a slight smile.

Not only that, but he had also gained new insights into the Cold Moon Seal Divine Power, which was truly a cause for celebration.

The frozen river before his eyes was a creation of the Cold Moon Seal Divine Power.

Just as Hong Yuan was basking in self-satisfaction, the voice of the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon reached his ears.

"Guangqiao, your progress is commendable. Come here," the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon transmitted his voice.

"Yes, Godfather," Hong Yuan promptly replied with respect, raising his hand even though the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon couldn't see it.

Hong Yuan, sensing the intense concentration of ice in the Ice Frost River, had a thought and removed a few key nodes.

CRACK, CRACK!

The frozen river shattered, and the Ice Frost River returned to its unique environment of half ice, half water.

Above the Ice Frost River, Shrimp Soldier Xia San and Crab General Xie Four watched in puzzlement. Then, Hong Yuan transformed into his Ice Armor Python Original Body, burst from the river, and headed straight for the Black Dragon Palace.

"Xia San, Xie Four, guard the cave dwelling."

"Yes, Taoist Zhenyi."

Having received affirmative replies from the two Demon Cultivators, Hong Yuan stirred the icy currents and departed, coiling the frozen river waters around him without a backward glance.

Crab General Xie Four was about to descend into the river when he noticed Shrimp Soldier Xia San staring blankly at the retreating figure of Hong Yuan, the Ice Armor Python.

"Xia San, what's wrong?" Crab General Xie Four asked.

Shrimp Soldier Xia San, his expression grave, replied earnestly, "There are signs of protrusions on Taoist Zhenyi's head!"

Crab General Xie Four was shocked. He quickly turned to look back at Hong Yuan, the Ice Armor Python, only to find that Hong Yuan had already vanished.

A python growing horns is a sign of transforming into a dragon.

But wasn't this Ice Armor Python far too young?!

Inside the Black Dragon Palace, young Demon Cultivators from the various demon islands of different demon clans within the Zero Desolate Sea Area were studying.

According to the preferences of the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon, they all wore Taoist robes of different colors, in a style befitting Taoist cultivators.

Truth be told, when Hong Yuan first learned that such a system was practiced in the Black Dragon Palace, he was astounded and took a long time to recover. It was simply too outrageous, more human-like than humans themselves.

Only after the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon imparted knowledge to him and recounted the history of this realm did he reluctantly accept it.

Originally, several hundred thousand years ago, this world was dominated by Demon Cultivators, with Human Cultivators categorized as Wisdom Tao Variant Seeds.

It was only after the half-human, half-demon Dragon Sun Martial Emperor ascended to emperorship that the Heavenly Tao began to show favor towards humans, and the Human Race started to develop rapidly.

When the nine great Martial Emperors of the Human Race emerged one after another, the Heavenly Tao became completely devoted to the Human Tao. Consequently, Demon Cultivators were forced to move away from the several Divine States and develop in the Endless Sea Area.

"Demon Saints with territory and heritage experience a Heaven Tribulation once every three hundred years. Those without territory and heritage face one every sixty years."

"If we could seize the Divine States occupied by Human Cultivators, the interval for our Heaven Tribulation would extend from three hundred to five hundred years. Alas, there are no 'ifs'."

"Therefore, for this Heart-questioning Trial, Guangqiao, you must exert your utmost effort in every aspect."

"I won't blame you if you fail, but you must understand how crucial the Heart-questioning Trial is for Demon Cultivators like us."

In the Monarch Hall, the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon explained the importance of the Heart-questioning Trial to Hong Yuan, who nodded repeatedly, indicating that he had taken note and understood.

Hong Yuan's previous understanding of the Heart-questioning Trial had indeed not been very clear. However, with the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon's current explanation, he understood much more deeply and was no longer so perplexed.

"The primary assessment of the Heart-questioning Realm is the Soul Foundation," the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon continued to explain. "The soul can be tenfold, hundredfold, thousandfold, ten-thousandfold, and so on."

"Taking you as an example, it would be Ten Python Soul, Hundred Python Soul, Thousand Python Soul... The Soul Foundation determines how far you can progress in the Heart-questioning Trial and whether you can enter the Dragon God Sacred Land."

Hearing the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon speak about the soul, Hong Yuan was inwardly startled.

He had never forgotten that he was human.

If the Heart-questioning Trial directly involves the soul, wouldn't I be in trouble?

If what manifested was a Ten Human Soul, a Hundred Human Soul—oh no, game over.

"Guangqiao, what's wrong?" the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon asked, looking at Hong Yuan with puzzlement.

Hong Yuan, though startled internally, maintained a calm expression. He lifted his head and asked softly, "Godfather, I don't understand the Soul Tao. What should I do?"

"Haha, you don't need to worry about that," laughed the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon. "It's a process similar to larger fish eating smaller fish; you just need to consume more at that time. Remember, do not, under any circumstances, try to stand out and strive for first place."

"I understand. Thank you, Godfather," Hong Yuan nodded.

Under the guidance of the Demon Saint of the Black Dragon, Hong Yuan gained a better understanding of the Heart-questioning Trial and also of his own specific combat capabilities.

By virtue of his three Ice Tao Rhymes, he was now equivalent to an initial fifth-order Ice Tao Great Demon!