Word Count: 2,735 Words
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The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent roared defiantly at Xiao Yan.
He listened to the hissing cries and shook his head with a faint smile. "I understand snake language."
As Xiao Cai's father and Cai Lin's husband, he was one of the very few humans deeply versed in serpent tongues! The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's hisses might sound like meaningless noise to others, but to him, every syllable carried clear meaning.
The translation was actually quite simple. It was a mix of grudging submission and veiled threats. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent promised that if Xiao Yan left it alone, it would never appear again, but if he destroyed it, Qing Lin's soul would suffer severe backlash, perhaps even shattering outright.
Despite its bluster, the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent feared Xiao Yan to its core. With the Asura Soul Reaping Technique in hand, he had become its greatest natural enemy. Even so, it believed itself safe because it had fused with Qing Lin's soul. They were now bound together!
Truly worthy of being called the Dou Qi Continent's strongest mutant bloodline. Even the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils couldn't completely refine and control it.
This outcome was both within and beyond Xiao Yan's expectations.
It exceeded them because the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent retained such resistance despite having lost its physical body and bloodline essence.
Yet it also confirmed his suspicions. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent was a primordial super-beast, and the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had their limits when facing exceptionally high-grade bloodlines. Even the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python lay beyond their control.
The founder of Sky Serpent Mansion, the Jade-Eyed Snake Saint, had only ever reached the Half-Saint level. He had ultimately failed in his attempt to break through to Dou Saint and died. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were indeed the continent's number one mystical eyes, but once one stepped into the Dou Saint realm, even Divine Grade bloodlines would stabilize. Though still formidable, they were no longer as overwhelmingly dominant.
After all, no one who reached the Dou Saint realm was weak. Could a Rank 9 magical beast possibly be frail?
Therefore, Xiao Yan had been mentally prepared for the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils to fall short of completely controlling the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's power.
Hiss hiss!!
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent reared up, its nine heads swaying warily.
Silence stretched between them as Xiao Yan fell into deep contemplation, his mind racing through possibilities.
With his current strength, dealing with the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent itself was not especially difficult. He possessed several methods; each, however, came with its own set of pros and cons.
He could directly unleash the Asura Soul Reaping Technique and annihilate the serpent's soul. Qing Lin's damaged soul could then be repaired through alchemy, but no matter how he handled it, she would inevitably be affected.
He could also use Abyss Submersion to seal the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent away completely. When he had originally placed the Asura Seal on Qing Lin, his Asura Soul Reaping Technique had only reached the first stage. Now that he had cultivated it to the second stage, its power had grown exponentially.
But a seal was still just a seal. If some future accident weakened it, the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent might break free once more.
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly. After thinking it over, he realized that if he wanted to resolve the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent problem at the root, the best approach was still negotiation.
The most effective solution to a problem wasn't always violence; at times, discussion and communication were far more direct.
This Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had desires. That made everything much easier. The Tenth Tianzun excelled at winning hearts and minds, and he was even more skilled at winning serpent hearts!
A slow smile curved Xiao Yan's lips. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the Asura Soul Reaping Technique's power and walked toward the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent with a bright, sunny expression.
The nine-headed serpent froze. What was this human planning? That smile looked harmless, but the daggers hiding behind it were all too obvious!
It remained on high alert as Xiao Yan stopped at a suitable distance and sat cross-legged. His voice carried an almost irresistible temptation. "You want to be resurrected, don't you? I can help you rebuild a body."
Even knowing Xiao Yan was an enemy, even knowing his words couldn't be trusted, the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's pupils contracted involuntarily. Its soul fluctuated violently, revealing just how desperately it craved resurrection.
After all, who truly wanted to die!
Xiao Yan watched the violent waves running through its soul and smiled inwardly. Little thing, I've used this old routine to fool so many people along the way! From the Amethyst Winged Lion King at the very beginning, to Hai Bodong, to Venerable Tian Huo… Hell, I even won over my wives and children this way.
An ancient super-beast? Still too green to play games with the Tenth Tianzun!
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent gradually calmed, though its eyes remained wary. Xiao Yan, however, clearly detected that beneath the caution, thick layers of greed were now gathering in their depths.
Xiao Yan was a powerful alchemist! Even in the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's era, alchemists had existed. They were one of the Dou Qi Continent's oldest professions.
He wasn't afraid of a high asking price; he was only afraid the other party wouldn't name one at all!
There was no deal in this world that couldn't be made, only prices that weren't high enough!
"Even if I don't interfere this time, what are your chances of resurrection using just that pool of essence blood? Ten percent? Twenty?"
Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, exuding the air of a wealthy patron ready to pay any price. "Don't forget—your Monster Core is in my hands, and your skeleton is in my possession. Without your core and bones, even if you managed to resurrect, you'd be nothing but a castle in the air, duckweed drifting on water, something that would shatter at the slightest touch."
Red light flashed in the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's eyes as fury surfaced on its features.
Xiao Yan showed no fear whatsoever. Controlling this Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent was well within his means. When he had first sealed it inside Qing Lin, he had indeed been somewhat constrained, but that was no longer the case. He was now a peak 8th-tier alchemist, half a step into tier 9. What tier 8 medicinal pills couldn't accomplish, tier 9 pills certainly could!
"No need to glare at me like that. You died; you have only yourself to blame. If you must bear resentment, direct it toward the one who killed you or the one who betrayed you."
His eyes then revealed a fierce gleam as his voice turned cold. "And don't think that just because you've fused with Qing Lin's soul, I won't dare kill you. Slaying you would indeed damage her soul, but with my alchemy skills, soul repair is merely a more troublesome procedure."
Hiss hiss!!
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's body straightened. All nine heads danced wildly through the air, its neck flaring like a cobra's hood as vicious fangs bared toward Xiao Yan.
(You're threatening me?!)
Its outrage only made Xiao Yan happier. This fellow was nothing more than fierce on the outside and hollow within.
Without wasting further words, Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve. Spiritual information condensed into a scroll that floated before the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent, the characters written in pure Spiritual Strength so that even a magical beast could understand them.
The scroll contained none other than the tier 9 pill recipe from Venerable Bing He's treasure trove.
"Tier 9 Treasure Pill, Supreme Unity Precious Pill. A healing-type medicinal pill that can be taken by anyone below the 3-star Dou Saint stage. Capable of curing all injuries, including complete treatment for soul trauma. Its medicinal properties are extremely gentle, to the point that even ordinary people can consume it safely. It will not damage an already injured body and can even allow a mere soul body to regenerate flesh and blood."
A Tier 9 Treasure Pill!
This was a medicinal pill capable of defying heaven to alter fate, bringing the dead back to life, and regrowing flesh on bare bones. Calling it an immortal elixir would be no exaggeration.
At the tier 9 level, every pill possessed miraculous properties. At that realm, distinctions between human and magical beast began to blur. All paths ultimately led to the same destination.
Even with its violent, crazed disposition, the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's eyes now showed nothing but greed and burning desire when it saw the description of the Supreme Unity Precious Pill.
A smile widened on Xiao Yan's face. He had seen this look far too many times.
The methods of an alchemist—terrifying indeed!
Hiss hiss!
(Give me the pill, and I'll leave this girl's soul.)
Xiao Yan chuckled and shook his head. "Do you take me for a fool? To resurrect, you have to leave Qing Lin's body anyway. Do you think I would refine pills for you free of charge? Besides, the Supreme Unity Precious Pill can also repair soul trauma. You should already understand that you're in no position to negotiate terms with me."
Though rage flared again in the Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent's eyes, it remained unusually silent this time.
Xiao Yan raised two fingers. "I'll give you two choices. First, I use a Soul Skill to erase you, then use the Supreme Unity Precious Pill to repair Qing Lin's soul. Second, I use the Supreme Unity Precious Pill to help you reconstruct a physical body, but you must become Qing Lin's guardian spirit beast and protect her for life."
"Whether this Supreme Unity Precious Pill is used on Qing Lin or on you—that's for you to decide."
Xiao Yan slowly rose to his feet. His gaze hardened, a sharp light flashing through his eyes. "I'm only doing this because you're the last Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent on the Dou Qi Continent and I appreciate talent. Don't push your luck."
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent saw the deadly seriousness in Xiao Yan's expression and understood instantly. He would absolutely follow through!
In truth, it had already been thoroughly played without even realizing how!
In that short exchange, although Xiao Yan's arguments sounded watertight, the truths he spoke hid small but critical falsehoods.
The Asura Soul Reaping Technique possessed terrifying might. If a single Tier 9 Treasure Pill could completely repair its damage, it would not deserve to be called a High Tian Class Soul Technique!
A soul body wounded by the Asura Soul Reaping Technique was almost impossible to mend. A violent power would actively resist any attempt by a medicinal pill to repair the soul. At the very least, Xiao Yan believed the Supreme Unity Precious Pill's efficacy would not necessarily be sufficient.
This was a Soul Technique capable of completely annihilating even Heavenly State souls. Qing Lin was only a 5-star Dou Venerate with Spiritual Strength barely reaching the Soul State. How could she possibly withstand that kind of damage?
The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent, however, was too foolish to consider that Xiao Yan might be lying. That talk of 'appreciating talent' was nothing but a fig leaf, there to cover the one glaring truth: if the solution were truly that simple, Xiao Yan would never have bothered with negotiations at all.
…
After an unknown span of time, Xiao Yan's soul finally returned. The result held no surprises. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had never truly had any other choice. It could either drag Qing Lin down to mutual destruction or accept the role of her guardian in exchange for rebirth.
Snake slaves and guardian spirit beasts were different. Qing Lin's original Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent had been a guardian beast; the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils would not absorb its Dou Qi and soul. It retained its own independent will.
By the time Xiao Yan could refine Tier 9 Treasure Pills, Qing Lin would have an incredibly powerful guardian spirit beast. The legendary Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent would once again walk the Dou Qi Continent!
When Xiao Yan's soul departed, Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils slowly reverted. Her body immediately went limp, collapsing into his arms. Her breathing had grown slightly rapid from the heavy Spiritual Strength consumption.
It wasn't just Qing Lin. Even Xiao Yan felt a bone-deep exhaustion in his soul. First, he had fought a battle, then spent such a long time exploring the depths of another's soul. The mental toll was immense.
Only once his Spiritual Strength fully returned did he finally register the waves of sharp pain assaulting his body. The blood pool seethed with extremely violent energy. The instant he entered, that energy had seemed to sense a trigger. It swarmed toward him like countless venomous snakes, crashing from all directions against his body!
But Xiao Yan's physique was incomparably strong. This degree of violent energy had very limited effect on him.
"Qing Lin is safe now. You should first—hiss!"
He turned toward her and sucked in a sharp breath, red creeping faintly into his eyes. The Nine-Headed Heaven Serpent had consumed so much of his attention that he had completely failed to notice their current state!
Their clothes had been corroded away!
Before him lay a body of flawless curves. Her skin glowed like polished jade, the faint sheen of the crimson liquid only accentuating its allure. Beads of blood-red water traced languid paths down the elegant line of her throat, sliding across delicate collarbones before disappearing into the shadowed valley between full, high breasts tipped with delicate rosy buds.
Her waist was impossibly slender, the kind that seemed it might snap beneath the slightest pressure, yet the swell of her hips below drew a breathtaking silhouette. Long, supple legs disappeared into the rippling surface of the blood pool, every inch of her a portrait of exquisite temptation.
In terms of figure, Qing Lin now ranked second only to Cai Lin among the women he knew. The sight alone was enough to make any man's blood burn!
Damn you, Mysterious Yellow Flame! The battle for the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree is underway—can't you focus on something useful for once?!
"Qing Lin, step outside for now. I need to use this blood pool to fully temper the Vajra Glass Body to major mastery."
Splash!
Xiao Yan spun around at once. Though regret burned faintly in his chest, there was still a whole group waiting for them outside. He needed to at least consider the occasion!
No sooner had he turned his back than he heard the sound of water behind him. Two delicate arms suddenly encircled his waist, and soft hands pressed against his abdomen. An indescribable sensation pressed against his back. It was soft yet firm, warm and impossibly delicate. A jolt like an electric shock shot up Xiao Yan's spine, and something went rigid!
Qing Lin rested her cheek against his back, her voice thick with guilt. She had heard every word of the conversation in the depths of her soul.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, meeting you was a blessing Qing Lin must have cultivated over three lifetimes… Without you, Qing Lin would have long since…" Her voice caught, trembling on the verge of tears.
Xiao Yan sighed inwardly. He couldn't deny the protective tenderness he felt toward this pitiful girl.
He gently patted her jade-smooth arms. "Silly girl. First Brother and Second Brother brought you home. You're part of the Xiao Clan. As its Little Clan Leader, how could I possibly let anything happen to you?"
A faint smile blossomed on Qing Lin's lips at his words. Some private thought flashed through her mind. Her cheeks flushed scarlet, and her arms tightened around him.
Splash.
Qing Lin lifted herself onto her tiptoes. Her entire body pressed tightly against his back, an indescribable friction of skin upon skin that made Xiao Yan freeze as if his acupoints had been struck. His eyes flew wide, and he dared not move a single inch.
At that moment, he truly felt as though a serpent had wrapped itself around him!
Only by standing on tiptoe could Qing Lin barely match Xiao Yan's height. Her soft lips brushed the curve of his ear, her breath warm and sweet as she whispered, "Young Master Xiao Yan, Qing Lin has grown up now. She can… she can…"