Don't be afraid," Ye Chen said softly. "Look at it. Only by facing it can you discover the truth hidden within you."
Encouraged by Ye Chen's calm voice, Qing Lin took a deep breath and raised her head.
Her emerald eyes locked on the gigantic beast before her.
At that moment, three tiny green dots shimmered into existence within her crystalline pupils.....brighter and clearer than when Ye Chen had seen them before.
Upon closer look, those dots looked almost like budding flowers.
Suddenly, the three green buds bloomed, transforming into delicate, luminous flowers.
From them burst a strange green light that shot directly toward the serpent, engulfing its massive body.
The Fire Spirit Serpent froze, its twin eyes widening with shock and fear as that eerie light swept over it.
The glow moved slowly along its scales, finally settling upon the center of each forehead.
There, the light condensed and shrank, growing smaller and brighter until it was no larger than a palm.
Then....flash!.....the green flowers were branded onto the serpent's twin heads.
The eerie glow faded away soon after. The green blossoms within Qing Lin's eyes vanished, her pupils returning to their usual jade hue.
As the power subsided, weakness flooded her body. Her eyelids drooped, and she collapsed into Ye Chen's arms, unconscious.
A strange silence followed. The massive serpent remained motionless, the ferocity in its eyes melting away the moment it glanced at the sleeping girl.
What replaced it was submission....an instinctive gentleness.
Ye Chen quickly took out a recovery pill and fed it to Qing Lin. Moments later, she stirred and slowly awoke.
"How do you feel?" Ye Chen asked gently.
"Master Ye Chen," Qing Lin murmured, her voice soft and uncertain.
"I… I feel like there's some kind of strange connection between me and the serpent.
I can sense its thoughts. Is this… what you meant by the power of the Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil?"
Ye Chen nodded, smiling. "That's right. The Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil is a rare innate eye ability, found only in descendants of humans and serpentfolk. Once mastered, it can project illusions—or even control others' minds.
Imagine, in a fight, if your opponent suddenly loses focus, or if you can directly command them....wouldn't that be terrifyingly powerful?"
Qing Lin's face lit up with wonder. "That's… amazing!"
He continued, "This pupil is also the bane of all serpent-type beasts.
It allows you to form a one-sided spiritual bond with them.....like a mysterious ancient contract.
That Fire Spirit Serpent you just faced… is now bound to you."
"Bound?" she repeated softly, realization dawning. "So that means… it's become my loyal guardian beast."
Watching her expression, Ye Chen nodded approvingly.
Nearby, Yao Chen let out a low sigh of admiration.
"The master's insight is terrifying. He saw her potential from the very beginning…"
Qing Lin suddenly recalled something. "Master Ye Chen, you said we came here to find a Heavenly Flame.
Maybe this serpent knows where it is!"
"Good thinking," Ye Chen said with a smile. "Have it lead the way."
As the spatial seal dissolved, the Fire Spirit Serpent regained its freedom...but it didn't flee. Instead, it glided calmly across the magma's surface, obeying Qing Lin's mental command.
Ye Chen decided not to take Qing Lin into the molten depths, fearing unexpected danger when absorbing the Heavenly Flame.
Instead, he arranged for her to rest safely in a nearby passage a hundred meters above, guarded by the Ghost Flame Cat he summoned from his inner world...just in case.
After settling Qing Lin safely in the passage above, Ye Chen returned to the depths of the cavern.
With a tremor of his Thunder Wings, he shot downward...straight into the blazing sea of molten rock.
Splash!
The moment he plunged into the magma, a violent and scorching roar filled his ears.
The deeper he descended, the hotter it became.
Eventually, the outside world's sounds were smothered completely by the oppressive, fiery silence.
Suspended in the glowing, viscous magma, Ye Chen felt no hint of fear. He wasn't a fire-attribute cultivator, true.....but with his strength nearly at the Dou Wang level, and with the Dragon-Elephant Body, his confidence was unquestionable.
Besides, with Yao Chen's pale bone flame wrapping around him like armor, the world's heat was completely isolated.
Within the bone-white fire, Ye Chen felt no discomfort at all.
Read Advance 150+Chapter Here and support me
patreon.com/HeavenlyYinYang