In the main hall of the Underground Serene Snake Network, the air was thick with the scent of perfume and indulgence. Within a luxuriously decorated chamber, the current leader of the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe, Yao Xiaotian, suddenly opened his vertical pupils, cold light flashing with murderous fury.
"Hmph. The seal… It's been broken."
Around him lay four or five alluring serpent women, their jade-like bodies intertwined with his, still radiating warmth and fragrance from what had just transpired. Clearly, their "ritual of pleasure" had been interrupted.
"Tribe Leader, you're awake. Would you like us to serve you~?" one of the women cooed as she slithered closer, wrapping her smooth serpent tail affectionately around Yao Xiaotian's waist.
"Scram!"
Sensing that Yao Ming's seal might have been undone, Yao Xiaotian's lust instantly vanished. He grabbed the snake woman by her tail and hurled her aside. The impact sent her crashing into a pile of silk pillows, scattering the others in panic.
The terrified serpent women huddled together, trembling as they watched the man whose every feature screamed, I want to kill someone. The beauty of the moment was utterly wasted — Yao Xiaotian's mind was filled not with desire, but dread.
If his elder brother Yao Ming had truly broken free from his centuries-old imprisonment, he might soon come seeking vengeance… and Yao Xiaotian had no illusions — he would be torn apart alive. The thought alone made his scales prickle. Childhood fear, buried deep within his bones, came surging back like a nightmare.
He sprang from the bed, pulling a robe toward him with a flick of his hand. Without even bothering to tie it properly, he ripped open a spatial crack and vanished, rushing straight toward the Nine Serene Spring.
—
Elsewhere, Qing Lin had already recovered most of her strength after taking a restorative pill. Her complexion was bright again, her Dou Qi circulating smoothly through her meridians.
Yao Ming, too, had been fed a pill — courtesy of Liu Xi — to prevent any lingering damage from the ordeal. His vitality was faint, but the medicine would sustain him.
"Yao Ming," Liu Xi said casually, "you should still have the Nine Serene Profound Scepter and the Spring Blood Crystal. Take them out. I'd like a look."
Yao Ming froze, his face blank. He stood stiffly in silence, neither moving nor speaking.
Before Liu Xi could open his mouth again, Qing Lin's brows knit together. She stepped forward, gave Yao Ming a firm kick, and scolded, "What are you waiting for? When the Young Master gives an order, you obey! Hand them over!"
Yao Ming's expression twisted as though he wanted to cry but had no tears. At last, with visible reluctance, he opened his mouth wide. A flash of crimson light and a streak of black energy shot forth.
The red light solidified into a blood-colored crystal pulsing with chilling energy, while the black light condensed into a half-meter-long obsidian scepter.
The scepter was pitch black, carved with the image of two serpents entwined around its shaft, their heads facing each other. Between their fangs floated a dark orb, cold and foreboding.
Liu Xi blinked. 'Why do all serpent-type beings love hiding things in their mouths? Even that mad scientist from the Ninja World had the same habit… must be a snake thing.'
With a wave of his hand, the two objects flew into his grasp. The cyan Heavenly Flame ignited along his palms, burning away lingering miasma and impurities before he examined them closely.
The Spring Blood Crystal was freezing to the touch. Frost instantly spread across his fingers, encasing them in ice before he shattered it with a flick. He quickly stored the crystal within his Storage Ring — he had plans for it. The Blood Crystal could be refined into the Nine Ying Yellow Spring Pill, a perfect countermeasure against the Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame. That ancient flame had once accompanied the Toushe Ancient Emperor himself — Liu Xi dared not underestimate it.
He lifted the black scepter next. Its energy was dense and ancient, pulsing faintly with the aura of the Nine Serene Ground Python bloodline — much like Zi Yan's Dragon Seal. It wasn't just a weapon; it was a symbol of dominion.
"Qing Lin, take this," Liu Xi said, tossing the scepter lightly toward her. "See if you can draw anything useful from it. With this scepter and Yao Ming under control, the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe will soon have its queen. Isn't that right… Your Majesty?"
A teasing grin curved his lips.
Catching the scepter, Qing Lin immediately felt the ancient pulse of bloodline power humming through it. The energy resonated faintly with her own serpent heritage, urging evolution. She narrowed her eyes playfully. "Fine. As long as my Young Master serves me well, this Queen shall protect him faithfully~."
Liu Xi chuckled. "Oh, you're already getting into character. But wait—something's missing." He stroked his chin thoughtfully, then his eyes lit up in amusement. "A queen needs her royal robes. We'll have to find or make one that suits you. I'll design it myself."
Yao Ming: …
Watching the two banter, the former tribe leader's dull eyes flickered with faint bitterness. Inside, his thoughts screamed, 'That's mine… all of it was mine!'
When the teasing finally ended, Liu Xi scooped Qing Lin into his arms. "This place is far too cold," he said softly. With a light bend of his knees, he surged upward. His figure blurred into a streak of light that shot straight toward the surface. Yao Ming followed behind silently — the single snake left alone.
As they ascended, the oppressive cold faded. The further they rose, the less resistance there was. The countless serpentine monsters that swam through the spring dared not approach, all retreating in dazed submission before the glow of Qing Lin's Jade Snake Three-Flowered Pupils.
Boom!
A thunderous explosion echoed above. The shockwave rippled down through the waters, stirring waves across the entire spring.
Liu Xi's expression darkened. He didn't even need to guess — the commotion could only be caused by Yao Xiaotian, that worthless younger brother of Yao Ming's.
"Trouble," he muttered. With a flicker of thought, his Dou Qi flared, and he accelerated like lightning, cutting through the waters toward the surface.
He wasn't worried for Xiao Yixian; she could easily handle an ordinary Dou Saint. But the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe still had a First Elder, and who knew how many hidden serpent guards? If they all ganged up on her, even she could be forced into retreat.
Liu Xi's eyes turned cold. If they dared… he'd simply turn them all into sacrifices for Qing Lin's future breakthrough.
With a muffled splash, he and Qing Lin broke through the surface. The instant their figures emerged, the battling forces in the sky paused.
Above the lake, toxic mists clashed with chilling frost, two vast domains colliding violently. The sky quaked and fissured under the impact of Saint-tier combat.
When Xiao Yixian saw Liu Xi appear, a rare smile of relief softened her face — her heart finally settled.
Opposite her, Yao Xiaotian's expression grew ugly. Seeing Liu Xi emerge from the Nine Serene Spring holding a beautiful woman, while an unfamiliar power surged faintly around him, made every scale on his body crawl with unease and envy.
If the seal had truly been undone… and this human had a hand in it…
"Stranger," Yao Xiaotian called coldly, his serpentine pupils narrowing. "Did you release someone from the Nine Serene Spring? That person is a criminal of my tribe. Hand him over, and the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe will treat you as an honored guest."
"Otherwise… bear the consequences."
(End of Chapter)
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