Chapter 348: Legacy Thief

At this time, within the Tian She Mansion.

"Did that Xiao Yan succeed in spirit refining?" asked Yi Jun, an Elder of the Tian She Mansion who was a Five Star Dou Zong.

A Snake Emperor who had been monitoring the Tian She Mansion sighed helplessly and nodded. "Yes. Xiao Yan made no effort to conceal his spirit refining—he seemed to be deliberately showing it to us."

The old woman who had once spoken up for Qing Lin, Hai Meng Po, asked softly, "What elixir did he refine?"

"The Beast Emperor Body Strengthening Pill," replied the Snake Emperor. "The same one Master Sima Lin refined at the Sect Grand Meeting."

"Not a Healing Pill? The Beast Emperor Body Strengthening Pill? So Mei Du Sha's injuries are already healed!" Yi Jun's eyes sharpened, incredulous.

"Impossible! Master Sima Lin has been treating the Mansion Master for nearly half a month, and even now the Mansion Master has only just begun to improve. How could Medusa recover so quickly!" Hai Meng Po exclaimed in shock. That battle was so brutal, and Dou Zong injuries are never easy to heal—let alone injuries inflicted by a Heavenly Flame.

"She's healed, I'm certain," said an old man slowly. "Even when I hid myself, she still sensed me. And Mei Du Sha's aura is steady and calm—there's no sign of injury. Xiao Yan truly has a divine gift for pill alchemy—unparalleled." His strength ranked second only to She Tianhao, a Five Star Dou Zong. Upon hearing his confirmation, all the Elders of the Tian She Mansion grew grim.

Not only do they possess Mei Du Sha, but also a pill alchemy master like Xiao Yan. Most terrifying of all, Mei Du Sha actually defeated the combined forces of the Three Great Sects—even the Tian She Mansion's Demonic Array couldn't stop her. This outcome was unbearable to accept.

Mei Du Sha now feels invincible beneath the Dou Zun level.

"Are we really going to submit to Mei Du Sha's Snake Empire?" muttered a Snake Emperor Elder.

"Hmph. Mei Du Sha only defeated the Mansion Master, Shi Nian, and Lei Dian. If the Three Great Sects unite, we still hold the advantage!"

"Do you really think the Thunder Sect and Shi Ming Sect will truly ally with us? Who would lead the alliance? Do you truly believe Shi Nian and Lei Dian are so foolish as to openly offend the now-powerful Yan Alliance?"

"No matter what, my Yi She clan would rather die than submit to the Snake Empire!"

"Correct! My Jiao She clan feels the same. If I must submit, I'd rather die alongside our enemies!"

"Hmph, if you want to die, don't drag our Jiao She clan into it. We won't join you."

For a time, the entire hall of the Tian She Mansion erupted in chaotic bickering. After all, just half a month ago, the Tian She Mansion was the oldest and strongest sect—how could they have expected the sudden emergence of the Yan Alliance?

Mei Du Sha was terrifyingly powerful, having beaten every one of the Three Great Sects. And since she herself was of the Snake Race and had historical ties to the Tian She Mansion, she shattered it from within!

Seeing the Elders in uproar, Hai Meng Po exchanged a glance with Bai Ya and Lv Man.

"My lords," Lv Man rose slowly, gazing at the quarreling Snake Emperors and Snake Sect leaders like a bustling marketplace, "we don't necessarily have to fight the Yan Alliance to the death, nor must we submit to Mei Du Sha. There is another path."

"Lv Man, what proposal do you have?"

Lv Man's eyes flickered with a strange light. "My lords, have you forgotten Qing Lin?"

"Qing Lin? But she's already made up her mind to leave our Tian She Mansion. With the Yan Alliance so dominant now, how could Qing Lin ever return?" one Elder shook his head skeptically.

Bai Ya stood up. "You're wrong. It was I and Lv Man who brought Qing Lin back. Back then, even when Xiao Yan was weak, he risked his life to save her. Qing Lin certainly has a close bond with Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance—but she still has feelings for the Tian She Mansion."

"We don't need to surrender to the Yan Alliance. If we follow Qing Lin, the Yan Alliance won't harm us. In fact, we could even leverage their strength."

At Bai Ya's words, every Elder in the hall fell silent. They were all old snakes—wise, cunning, and fully aware of what Bai Ya meant.

That is: follow Qing Lin, and make her your master!

Qing Lin not only possesses the Qi San Hua Tong, but is now also a high-ranking member of the Yan Alliance, with an extraordinary bond to Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan himself publicly declared that Qing Lin is his family, raised in his clan since childhood. If we follow Qing Lin, the Tian She Mansion need not fear retribution—and could even benefit from the Yan Alliance's glory.

For a moment, all the Elders fell into deep thought. She Tianhao had been defeated, his authority fading. Some Elders were already dissatisfied with his loss to Mei Du Sha.

Especially those Snake races who worship strength—why had they joined the Tian She Mansion in the first place? Because it was the strongest Snake faction in the Northwest Region.

Now that the Tian She Mansion is no longer the strongest, these beast races will grow disloyal.

"But the She Tianhao lineage is still powerful. The former Sect Master, She Heaven Phoenix, hasn't even died yet."

"No," said Hai Meng Po, dropping a bombshell. "From what I know, She Heaven Phoenix passed the Sect Master title to his son because he failed to break through to Dou Zun—his bloodline energy has dried up. His strength is now less than one-tenth of what it was, likely only at Five Star Dou Zong level. Otherwise, he would have appeared at the Sect Grand Meeting."

Once again, the entire hall fell silent. But this time, the silence carried something new in the eyes of the snakes.

Early the next morning, Lv Man and Bai Ya arrived at the Yan Alliance mansion.

But when Xiao Yan heard they were inviting him and Qing Lin to the Tian She Mansion under their personal names, he declined, citing the need to refine pills.

Yun Yun asked, puzzled: "They invited you and Qing Lin to the Tian She Mansion to discuss Northwest Region affairs—why refuse?"

The Yan Alliance's current strategic goal was to unify the entire Northwest Region without bloodshed—avoiding war whenever possible. Yun Yun couldn't understand why Xiao Yan was turning them down.

Xiao Yan smiled at Yun Yun's beautiful, noble face. "You don't understand, Yun Sect Master."

Yun Yun glared at his annoying expression. "Fine, I'm stupid."

Xiao Yan chuckled. "Just teasing. When Lv Man and Bai Ya invited me, they did so under their own names—meaning they don't represent the Tian She Mansion. Or rather, She Tianhao doesn't know about it."

Yun Yun's eyebrows furrowed slightly. "You mean the Tian She Mansion is experiencing internal strife?"

"You could say that. If I'm correct, there are currently two factions within the Tian She Mansion. One supports She Tianhao—continuing to resist, refusing compromise or surrender, seeking alliances with other sects to oppose the Yan Alliance." Xiao Yan slowly extended two fingers.

"As for the second…" Xiao Yan gazed at Qing Lin, who was scrubbing tables and sweeping the floor in the hall, her face filled with quiet contentment. "It's the faction that wishes to follow Qing Lin, make her their leader, and join the Yan Alliance—using her to gain maximum advantage, intending to oust She Tianhao's line."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Yun Yun asked.

"For the Yan Alliance right now, it's meaningless. Unless the entire Tian She Mansion submits to Qing Lin, it won't make much difference. Adding a few Fifth or Sixth Rank beasts won't elevate the Yan Alliance's overall strength." Xiao Yan spoke slowly.

"Too bad—if opening the legacy of the Green-Eyed Snake Saint required only Qing Lin's Three-Flower Pupils, I would've stormed the Snake Mansion long ago." His calm words carried the arrogance of the Flame Venerable.

Yun Yun immediately understood. So Xiao Yan had been eyeing the Tian She Mansion's Dou Sheng legacy all along!

"You want the Snake Mansion's legacy of the Green-Eyed Snake Saint!" Yun Yun stared at Xiao Yan strangely. This man had once targeted the Life and Death Gate of the Yun Lan Sect—and now he's after the Snake Mansion's legacy.

A legacy thief!

Seeing Yun Yun's curious gaze, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose awkwardly. "Cough… this… this is different from the Life and Death Gate."

"That legacy is perfect for Qing Lin. To fully awaken her Three-Flower Pupils, the Green-Eyed Snake Saint's legacy is essential. And Medusa is already a Seven Star Dou Zong. Though she's taken human form, reaching Eighth Rank is no simple feat. If we can find the Snake Race Dou Sheng's essence blood or divine bones within, it will greatly increase Medusa's chance of breaking through to Dou Zun."

Xiao Yan was indeed a man who worried about everything—Mei Du Sha had just formed her serpent body, and he was already planning her path to Dou Zun.

"I've already had my eldest and second brothers spread word: the Yan Alliance will leave the Tian She Empire in one month and return home. Let's see how long She Tianhao can hold out." Xiao Yan smiled. His departure meant Qing Lin's departure—without Qing Lin, the Tian She Mansion's legacy was useless.

You hold the Tian She Mansion's heirloom. I hold Qing Lin. Let's see who blinks first!

As for promises and broken oaths? Hmph. The Soul Sect doesn't honor promises.

During this time, Lv Man and Bai Ya occasionally came to pay respects, but Xiao Yan always declined their invitations to visit the Tian She Mansion, citing pill refining.

But Xiao Yan wasn't entirely lying—this past month, he had indeed been refining pills and cultivating the Burning Scripture. Still, most of his time was spent refining elixirs needed by the Yan Alliance.

Such as the Imperial Ultimate Pill, Imperial Heaven Pill, and Breakthrough Pill—all Six-Grade Peak elixirs—and he also taught Yue Er how to refine pills. After all, when Xiao Yan left the Yan Alliance, the entire pill supply would depend on Yue Er.

As Xiao Yan cultivated, he broke through to Four-Star Dou Huang. In just over a month, Xiao Yan had advanced one star. The terrifying synergy between the Fallen Heart Flame and the Heaven Grade Cultivation Method left Hai Bodong gritting his teeth.

Others take a year or two to advance a star as a Dou Huang—you do it by the month!

And Xiao Yan hasn't even used the Imperial Ultimate Pill yet—he still has two left!

Time passed swiftly; as the month neared its end, Xiao Yan ceased Spirit Refining. He spent his days in leisure, occasionally teaching Yue Er the art of Spirit Refining, chatting and drinking with his brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, and teasing Nalan Yanran—all while preparing to leave the Tian She Empire at any moment.

Xiao Yan was at ease, but the Tian She Mansion was in chaos. When they learned Xiao Yan was about to depart and that the Yan Alliance refused all visitors—even Lv Man and Bai Ya were turned away by Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran—they were utterly panicked.

After all, if Qing Lin truly left, then with Mei Du Sha in the Yan Alliance, they could never forcibly seize her—it would mean the half-Sage Ancestral Inheritance, which was already within reach, was now completely lost.

"Damn it!" She Tianhao slammed a fist hard onto the table. After over a month of healing, he had fully recovered.

She Tianhao clearly understood Xiao Yan's goal—but he had long regarded the Green-Eyed Snake Saint's Ancestral Inheritance as his own possession. How could he possibly share it with Xiao Yan!

"Hao'er." An old man leaning on a cane slowly walked in from the doorway.

"Father, what are you doing here!" She Tianhao rushed forward to support the elder.

The newcomer was She Heaven Phoenix, the former Mansion Master of the Tian She Mansion. Having failed to break through to Dou Zun, his bloodline had withered; he was no longer what he once was, his appearance now aged and frail.

His strength had plummeted from Nine-Star Dou Zong all the way down to Five-Star Dou Zong.

"The Snake Mansion is no longer what it was. Opening the Green-Eyed Snake Saint's Ancestral Inheritance is your only hope of breaking through to Dou Zun," the old man said, his eyes gleaming with sharp resolve.

"But… are we really just going to split the treasures inside the inheritance? I can't accept this!" She Tianhao gritted his teeth. How could he possibly accept it? He had only needed to wait for Qing Lin to open the Green-Eyed Snake Saint's Ancestral Inheritance, claim the Sage's legacy, break through to Dou Zun, and unify the Northwest Region within reach.

But now, the Yan Alliance had suddenly appeared—taking Qing Lin away, defeating him at the Sect Grand Meeting, and now demanding half the inheritance!

To She Tianhao, this was not just being cuckolded—it was being robbed of half his fortune. How could he endure it!

She Tianfeng patted his son's shoulder, his expression grim, eyes gleaming: "Son, small patience disrupts great plans. Our Snake Mansion is the true bloodline of the Green-Eyed Snake Saint. They are outsiders. Once we obtain the inheritance, even if we leave the Snake Mansion, it won't matter."

"Once you reach Dou Zun, our lineage will relocate to Zhong Zhou's Shou Yu—that is our ancestral homeland."

Hearing his father's words, She Tianhao took a deep breath and finally nodded: "I understand, Father. I will endure."

Not long after, within the Yan Alliance mansion.

"Hm? She Tianhao wants to visit?" Xiao Yan smiled at Xiao Ding's words.

Xiao Ding also smiled and nodded: "Yes, word has spread through the Tian She Mansion. I hear he'll come personally soon—he's finally lost patience."

True to form, not long after, a powerful aura arrived from the horizon. She Tianhao, accompanied by a group of Dou Zong Elders, stepped through Space—clear proof that the Tian She Mansion possessed the strength to dominate.

Seeing She Tianhao appear above the courtyard, Mei Du Sha snorted, waved her hand, and crushed the space with overwhelming pressure that pinned every member of the Tian She Mansion.

Sensing Mei Du Sha's terrifying power, She Tianhao and the others ceased resistance and slowly descended to the street—they hadn't come to fight.

Besides, they'd already fought—and lost.

Slowly opening the gate, Xiao Yan smiled coldly: "Heh, Mansion Master She. Long time no see. What brings you here today?"

She Tianhao's eyelid twitched at this obvious provocation, but he forced a smile: "I should have visited the leaders of the Yan Alliance long ago, but my recovery required time. I didn't wish to disturb you."

Xiao Yan gestured inward: "Of course. We're planning to depart for the Jia Ma Empire soon and are currently free. Please, come in."

Hearing Xiao Yan intended to leave, She Tianhao knew: if today's negotiations failed, Xiao Yan would never remain in the Tian She Empire. This was his only chance.

Inside the Hall, after hollow pleasantries, She Tianhao spoke first: "When will Master Xiao Yan allow Qing Lin to open the Green-Eyed Snake Saint's Ancestral Inheritance in the Snake Mansion?"

Xiao Yan smiled, slowly shook his head, and sighed regretfully: "Alas, Qing Lin has been unwell lately. I plan to take her back to the Yan Alliance first, treat her condition, then proceed to the Tian She Mansion to open the Ruins."

Hearing this, even the Yan Alliance members found it hard to believe—Qing Lin had been energetic these past days, excelling at laundry and cooking. How could she possibly be unwell?

Hearing Xiao Yan's reply, She Tianhao realized Xiao Yan wouldn't act without guarantees. He dropped the pretense: "Master Xiao Yan, the Green-Eyed Snake Saint's Ancestral Inheritance is an alternate space. It likely contains ancient herbs."

Xiao Yan smiled inwardly: "Oh? But I'm not comfortable letting Qing Lin go alone. How about this—I and Medusa Queen will accompany Qing Lin into the Ruins, to better protect her. What do you think?"

Xiao Yan had laid his cards on the table: the Ruins could be opened, but he and Cai Lin would enter together. All Yan Alliance members entering the Ancestral Inheritance Site was impossible—but with Cai Lin, the strongest among them, Xiao Yan knew he wouldn't be at a disadvantage.

Hearing Mei Du Sha would enter, the Tian She Mansion members grew restless. Everyone knew how powerful Mei Du Sha was—when it came time to fight over the Ruins' treasures, they might not stand a chance.

But to everyone's surprise, She Tianhao immediately agreed: "Understood. When the Ancestral Inheritance Site opens, it will rely entirely on Qing Lin."

With that, She Tianhao led his group away from the Yan Alliance mansion—it was a plan he and his father had already agreed upon. Xiao Yan would never leave without Mei Du Sha.

After She Tianhao departed, Yun Yun spoke with concern: "Only you, Qing Lin, and Medusa Queen entering—won't that be dangerous?"

Xiao Yan waved his hand: "Don't worry. With Mei Du Sha, there's no danger. And if needed, we'll take Qing Lin and leave immediately."

(End of Chapter)