Chapter 325: Serpent Saint Peak

A splash rang out as Qing Lin slowly rose from the hot spring, her jade feet stepping onto the shore—unfortunately, no one was there to witness this sight.

Qing Lin wore a green robe, its long trailing hem failing to conceal her exquisite figure; the thin gauze revealed her serpentine waist, and beneath it, her long, rounded legs were fully visible, especially with the semi-transparent fabric half-concealing them, making her even more alluring.

The green upper garment could barely contain such beauty—words could not describe it.

Especially beneath the thin green gauze, as Qing Lin walked step by step, it was simply too tempting to behold.

Just seeing her graceful back, her seductive figure, her enchanting curves—enough to stir the heart and bewitch the soul.

Qing Lin was no longer the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girl she once was; after five years in the Heavenly Snake Mansion, she had shed her youthful innocence and blossomed into a stunning woman.

I wonder if it's due to the superior Snake Tribe bloodline, but every Snake Tribe member Xiao Yan knew had top-tier physique and appearance.

Unlike Mei Du Sha and Yue Mei, although Qing Lin possessed a soul-stealing figure, her eyes carried a touch of clear innocence.

Qing Lin's gaze had not changed in five years—look into her eyes and you saw nothing but innocence, evoking pity, like a timid little sister from next door.

The best way to describe the current Qing Lin is a timid, pure fox spirit.

Qing Lin waved her hand, her eyes emitting a flash of green light, then space twisted—a massive two-headed snake flew out of the void and plunged with a splash into the hot spring.

If Xiao Yan were here, he would instantly recognize: wasn't this the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake from beneath the Lotus Earth Core Fire?!

Splash splash splash splash! The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake splashed around like a child playing in water, its two heads playfully nipping each other, spraying water everywhere, thoroughly enjoying itself.

"Shuang'er, you're splashing water all the way over here!" Qing Lin wiped the water from her face and body; this Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake had been her closest companion over the past five years.

Sssss! Hearing Qing Lin's call, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake emerged from the hot spring, its massive head resting on the ground, four eyes fixed on her, its tongue flickering sssss.

Now, on the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's forehead was a green flower, and its eyes had turned emerald green—the same color as Qing Lin's.

This was not Qing Lin controlling their minds, but helping them grow faster and stronger.

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's strength was no longer the low-level Dou Spirit level of its initial Fourth Rank; with the power of the Qi San Hua Tong and the resources of the Heavenly Snake Mansion, it had now reached Sixth Rank—equivalent to a human Dou Huang.

Knock knock knock—knocking echoed at the Stone Gate, an old woman's voice calling: "Holy Maiden, the banquet is about to begin. The Mansion Master asks you to prepare and proceed to the Grand Hall."

Hearing the urging from outside, Qing Lin's eyes dimmed slightly, but she rallied herself and said: "I know. I'll be there shortly."

Over these five years, Qing Lin had gradually grown stronger.

Qing Lin stroked the scales of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and sighed: "Alas, Shuang'er, when will Young Master Xiao Yan come?"

"Should we just run away and go back?"

Sssss~~~

The inns and guesthouses around the Heavenly Snake Mansion were now bustling; many factions had stopped here before the banquet, and some guests tired of the mansion had stepped out for fresh air—after all, the environment of the Heavenly Snake Mansion was truly unsuitable for humans.

For this lively scene, Xiao Yan paid no attention, as if closing his eyes to rest; Zi Yan leaned out, curiously gazing at the surroundings, until the carriage slowly arrived at the Heavenly Snake Mansion's gate.

In fact, guests arriving for the banquet at the Heavenly Snake Mansion were as numerous as fish crossing a river; Xiao Yan, alone in his carriage, blended seamlessly into the crowd, utterly unremarkable.

When the carriage reached the Heavenly Snake Mansion, Xiao Yan instantly opened his eyes, gazing at the mansion.

The Heavenly Snake Mansion stretched before him in lush green, ancient pines growing from sheer cliffs; anyone who saw this landscape would marvel at its grandeur.

This landscape differed from others—above the Heavenly Snake Mansion floated countless green lights, each thread pulsing with immense life force, appearing startlingly real.

"Truly worthy of the Heavenly Snake Mansion—it possesses a better sacred land than Yun Lan Sect."

Jia Xingtian shook his head in awe: the stronger the sect, the richer the heavenly energy within its mountains; the finest sacred land in the Jia Ma Empire was naturally Yun Lan Mountain, home of the Yun Lan Sect.

Xiao Yan's formidable Spiritual Soul subtly swept across the entire Heavenly Snake Mansion, then his eyes narrowed slightly as he followed the terrain toward the colossal statue towering like a pillar piercing the heavens.

As Xiao Yan and his party drew closer to the Heavenly Snake Mansion, only then did they truly grasp the scale of the giant emerald-green statue.

It was nothing less than a colossal emerald peak thrusting straight into the clouds—looking up, one could not see its summit.

After staring at the giant statue for a long while, Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze and murmured: "Interesting… the Heavenly Snake Mansion."

Xiao Yan realized the mansion's colossal statue was connected to the mountain range's Earth Vein.

Crack—the carriage driver called from the front: "Gentlemen, the Heavenly Snake Mansion has arrived. The carriage can go no further."

Xiao Yan nodded, and the three stepped down, inhaling deeply; the Heavenly Snake Mansion truly lived up to its reputation as a land of serpent spirits—its air brimmed with abundant life force, vital for beasts, strengthening their bodies.

"Mmm! This is a wonderful place!" Zi Yan inhaled deeply, spreading her arms to feel the heavens and earth; for a beast like Zi Yan, such a place was perfect—ideal for habitation.

"Three of you, where are you from? Do you have an invitation?" As Xiao Yan and the others reached the tree gate, a Fifth-Rank Demon Snake King spoke in human tongue, addressing them.

At the mountain gate, many Heavenly Snake Mansion Demon Kings received guests from all directions—this also prevented malicious intruders from slipping in.

As the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Demon King questioned them, he could not help but study Xiao Yan.

Though Jia Xingtian possessed the deepest cultivation, the Demon King was most intrigued by Xiao Yan, dressed in the Alchemist Long Robe of a Fifth-Rank Alchemist.

Zi Yan, being a beast, looked young—but Xiao Yan was undeniably human; they could tell at a glance his age was no more than thirty, perhaps even under twenty-five; to be a Fifth-Rank Alchemist at such a young age was extraordinary.

Indeed, many nearby observers secretly studied Xiao Yan, whispering among themselves about which faction had cultivated this prodigious Alchemist.

Jia Xingtian handed over the invitation: "We are from the Yan Alliance."

"Yan Alliance?"

Upon hearing Jia Xingtian's declaration, the Demon King froze—he had never heard of it!

But when he confirmed the invitation was genuine, he politely bowed: "Welcome, welcome! On behalf of the Heavenly Snake Mansion, I welcome you. This way, please."

That a Fifth-Rank beast could only serve as a receptionist revealed the Heavenly Snake Mansion's true strength.

As the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Demon King led them, he hurriedly added: "We are honored that esteemed guests have come to our new Holy Maiden's banquet." After a few polite pleasantries, he asked: "Would you prefer to wait directly at the banquet hall, or would you like to tour the Heavenly Snake Mansion?"

Hearing they still had to wait, Zi Yan immediately scowled, waving her hand: "Wait again? So annoying. What's fun to do here?"

"Would you like to visit the famed Serpent Saint Peak?" The guiding Demon King pointed to a distant peak and said to Zi Yan: "Many who come to the Heavenly Snake Mansion climb Serpent Saint Peak. It's not only famous within the mansion—it's a renowned sacred land across the entire Northwest Region."

"Serpent Saint Peak?" At this, Xiao Yan slowly turned his gaze toward the peak the Demon King indicated—a mountain shaped like a coiled serpent winding upward.

"Yes. Legend says the Serpent Saint Peak is where the Heavenly Snake Mansion's Demon Saint attained enlightenment. The Green Snake Demon Saint once cultivated here, and rumors claim his Secret Technique still lingers, waiting for a destined one to claim it—though no one has succeeded in centuries." The Demon King, beaming with pride, continued: "Perhaps you three might gain insight upon the Serpent Saint Peak, forge an ultimate Cultivation Method, or even receive the Demon Saint's blessings."

"Forge an ultimate Cultivation Method? My own method is already sufficient." Xiao Yan shook his head. He glanced at Zi Yan beside him and added: "But since we're here and the banquet hasn't started, let's climb up and take a look."

Without needing the Demon King's guidance, Xiao Yan and the others immediately unfurled their Dou Qi wings and flew toward Serpent Saint Peak.

When they reached the summit of Serpent Saint Peak, they saw a massive stone tablet atop the peak, covered in strange, intricate patterns.

These complex patterns were not carved by human hands—they were naturally formed, as if the rock face bore the weight of ancient history, shaped by wind and rain over countless years.

On the massive stone tablet was a black hole, as if carved by insects.

Before this stone tablet, covered in intricate, tangled patterns, sat many people—more accurately, many snakes. Most belonged to the young generation of the Sky Serpent Pavilion.

From their auras, it was easy to tell these beasts were very strong disciples of the Sky Serpent Pavilion, and even by their beast ages, they were extremely young.

Many beasts gazed upward at the tablet; others coiled beneath nearby trees, eyes closed, sensing; still others hovered high in the air, trying to discern its mysteries.

This was Xiao Yan's first time seeing beasts collectively cultivating—though calling it cultivation was misleading; they were more like solving riddles, all trying to crack the winding patterns on the tablet.

Even some human young generation members who had come with their elders to the Sect Grand Meeting stared intently, studying carefully—some sat in meditative stillness, attempting to sense the aura fluctuations emitted by the tablet.

The young generation from every sect and school sought to unravel the tablet's mysteries, hoping for some gain.

Xiao Yan did not hesitate; his Soul Force instantly shot forth like a fine needle, piercing into the tablet—but a strange force blocked his Soul Force Perception.

"Hmm, there really does seem to be something inside." Though not certain, something resisted his Soul Force Perception. Unless the Azure Serpent Demon Saint was truly that bored, placing a stone inside and deliberately shielding it with power.

Xiao Yan looked at Zi Yan; a flicker of Purple Light passed through her eyes, then she frowned and shook her head—she could not see through what lay inside, mainly because her power was still too weak.

Especially in recent days, countless people had come to Serpent Saint Peak to unravel its mysteries, yet no one had ever been heard to gain anything.

In recent days, people came to Serpent Saint Peak in waves, left in waves—everyone knew coming here was a wasted trip, yet no one gave up; not coming felt like never having visited the Sky Serpent Pavilion at all.

"Forget it, there's nothing on this stone wall at all!" When Xiao Yan and the others first arrived at Serpent Saint Peak, they heard a human young cultivator angrily declare he was leaving, having given up.

"There's definitely something inside," said someone with better talent: "I clearly sense fluctuations within—it's definitely there."

"So what? Who doesn't know there's something inside?" the human cultivator who gave up sneered: "For thousands of years, how many geniuses and strong ones have come here? I've heard even the Pavilion Master of the Yellow Spring Pavilion came—and still failed. I've long accepted I have no chance. I'm leaving."

Those who gave up were not just one or two; even as some cultivators left, new waves kept arriving.

Seeing human cultivators depart, the Sky Serpent Pavilion disciples sneered. They weren't here to obtain whatever lay inside—they were here because the Life Force was stronger here, allowing them to cultivate and absorb Heaven and Earth Power to accelerate their growth.

Beasts don't rely solely on Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to grow; they have their own cultivation methods. Especially a large beast sect like the Sky Serpent Pavilion.

At this moment, Xiao Yan walked up to the stone wall, looked down at the black hole, and said casually: "If there's something inside, why not just reach in and take it? There's a hole right here."

As soon as Xiao Yan spoke, many Snake Race members instantly darkened in expression, believing he was mocking them for having no hands—and if reaching in could retrieve it, it would have been taken thousands of years ago.

Of course, some Snake Race members had reached Dou Wang and used Demon Transformation Pills—they naturally had hands. And even if they wanted to retrieve something, they could use their tails.

"Hmph, an ignorant fool who doesn't know his place."

(End of Chapter)