Chapter 350

Inside the vast hall, figures stood scattered; the number of Tian She Mansion members had greatly diminished—those fifth-rank Snake Kings or merely low-level sixth-rank Snake Emperors were not here, but out in the primitive forest searching for resources, while the remaining high-level Snake Emperors and Dou Zong-level cultivators had long been here, indicating the Tian She Mansion's goal was clear: upon entering the Ruins, they had headed straight here.

When Xiao Yan and the others entered the hall, they immediately drew the attention of She Tianhao, and at once, a multitude of wary or hostile gazes locked onto them.

Xiao Yan merely smiled at these stares, glancing toward the direction where She Tianhao and the others stood; they were glaring at him with dark expressions, undoubtedly still unwilling to share the treasure of this inheritance.

At this sight, a cold smile curled at Xiao Yan's lips; under the watch of countless eyes, he walked slowly into the hall, carrying Qing Lin, then halted in the center.

"Young Master Yan, my body is no longer seriously injured—you can put me down now." Qing Lin's cheeks flushed red; the elixir's effects were beginning to take hold, restoring some of her strength.

"Oh, okay." Xiao Yan secretly felt a pang of regret.

Only upon entering the hall did Xiao Yan realize that beneath the glowing orb stood a dozen figures, their entire bodies a chalky gray, resembling stone statues from afar, eyes tightly shut—how many centuries they had remained in this pose, no one knew; yet despite this, all present dared not rush forward to seize the orb.

"Huh? Are these Snake Race puppets controlled by the Qi San Hua Tong?" Xiao Yan whispered in surprise at the lifeless, statue-like figures.

"Yes, and these Snake Race puppets are already dead—but even in death, they could not escape the illusionary control of the Qi San Hua Tong. If I'm not mistaken, these dozen Snake Race puppets each possessed Dou Zong-level power, and some even reached Nine-Star Dou Zong."

Cai Lin's eyes also darkened with gravity; these puppets were definitely mobile, for on the ground lay two pools of blood, and two Sea Giant Pythons lay sprawled within them.

The Tian She Mansion must have already sent someone to seize them; once anyone attempted to take the orb, the Snake Race puppets would activate, triggering a ferociously brutal slaughter.

And if Xiao Yan's guess was correct, these dozen Snake Race elites controlled by the Qi San Hua Tong had once been Dou Zun!

But after so many years, their bloodlines had begun to wither, their cultivation realms declining to Dou Zong.

"So even death cannot break the Qi San Hua Tong's control?" A Tian She Mansion elder glanced at Qing Lin, then at the long-dead Snake Race puppets, a chill running through him.

After all, Qing Lin herself possessed the Qi San Hua Tong—yet even death could not free them; this was a curse rivaling heaven itself.

Hearing this, She Tianhao and the others grew visibly uneasy; Qing Lin was still weak now, but once she truly grew strong, who in the Snake Race could stand against her?

When Qing Lin was the Holy Maiden of the Tian She Mansion, they had seen no issue—but now, they feared.

"No wonder the original Qi Yan Snake Sage was expelled by all Snake Race factions in Shou Yu—this ability is a nightmare for any race." A Snake Emperor shuddered, finally understanding why the Tian She Mansion's ancestors had been driven out.

Hearing these words, Qing Lin's expression darkened; she knew well that her ability was unwelcome.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan gently patted Qing Lin's small head and murmured, "Only the weak fear this ability of yours. Look at Medusa Queen—she's perfectly calm."

Cai Lin glanced at Xiao Yan, then at Qing Lin, her red lips parting: "Your ability has no effect on me."

The confidence of a supreme being!

Xiao Yan used Soul Resonance to ask: "Qing Lin, can you control these Snake Race puppets with the Qi San Hua Tong?"

As expected, Qing Lin shook her head: "My cultivation realm is too far below theirs."

Normally, Qing Lin should have reached Dou Zong to unlock this Ruins; then, upon entering this hall, she could have used the Qi San Hua Tong to reverse-control them.

Reverse-controlling the Qi Yan Snake Sage's Qi San Hua Tong illusion would have been the final Trial—but now, Qing Lin was only a Dou Huang.

"Then no choice—we force it!" Xiao Yan immediately activated Heavenly Flame Three Mystical Changes, boosting his cultivation to Nine-Star Dou Huang.

Xiao Yan stepped forward, his gaze instantly locking onto the nearest orb; behind him, his brilliant flame wings flared violently, turning him into a streak of light hurtling toward the orb.

Simultaneously, the Snake Race puppets with closed eyes suddenly snapped open, green light exploding from their pupils—each of their eyes bore several green blossoms.

This was the hallmark of Qi San Hua Tong control.

At that moment, a thick wave of killing intent surged through the hall.

Seeing Xiao Yan move, Medusa Queen followed instantly, charging toward another orb; seeing Xiao Yan and Medusa Queen strike first, the Tian She Mansion snakes refused to be outdone.

The previously silent, taut hall erupted like a bomb had been dropped—within an instant, the main hall boiled like oil.

The Tian She Mansion still had over twenty members; all of them launched themselves recklessly toward the orbs.

"Grab the treasure and leave immediately—return to the Tian She Mansion!" She Tianhao roared; they had the numbers.

Light surged violently; after a fleeting moment of silence, a scream pierced the air, followed by a barrage of thuds—dense waves of powerful Dou Qi erupted from every corner of the hall, and countless figures surged toward the orbs like locusts.

Despite the many strong cultivators blocking them, the orbs seemed to possess their own awareness, darting and dodging, evading every grasping hand.

"Pfft!"

In midair, countless figures clashed, yet the Snake Race puppets, as if given orders, fiercely guarded the orbs—anyone who tried to seize one was met with frenzied attacks.

Continuous clashes echoed through the air, followed by figures spitting blood and crashing down, slamming heavily onto the hall floor—the dull thuds sent chills through many; these Snake Race puppets had once been Dou Zun, and though now controlled, their strength surpassed even same-rank Dou Zong, and since they were already dead, they fought without fear.

"Tch!" Just as Xiao Yan reached for an orb, a gray shadow shot out like lightning—a rusted long knife, wielding piercing wind, slashed toward him.

Seeing the Three-Star Dou Zong Snake Race puppet, Xiao Yan's expression shifted; he made no hesitation, drawing his Xuan Zhong Chi and lunging forward, summoning the fusion of Lotus Earth Core Fire, Falling Heart Flame, and Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame into Ten Thousand Beasts Glorious Flame that engulfed his entire body.

Scorching, vast Dou Qi erupted from Xiao Yan's Xuan Zhong Chi.

"Flame Splitting, Wave Devouring Blade!" Xiao Yan roared internally, unleashing this signature technique.

A three-colored flame wave slashed violently against the Snake Race puppet.

Boom! Boom! Boom!! A continuous roar shook the entire hall; the new Different Flame formed from the fusion of Three Infernal Flames struck like the end of the world, leaving countless Snake Emperors trembling in terror.

"Such a powerful attack!"

"Is he really a Dou Huang Alchemist? How can his power surpass ordinary Dou Zong!"

Boom—the Ten Thousand Beasts Glorious Flame exploded with a final thunderous crash. All Tian She Mansion members witnessed a shocking sight: the Three-Star Dou Zong puppet had been crushed deep into the earth, buried beneath the soil in an instant.

Everyone froze, mouths gaping wide, unable to close them for long moments.

The Tian She Mansion had never seen Xiao Yan fight—none expected him to strike so brutally!

But only Xiao Yan's expression remained grim; as expected, the next second—Boom! —earth and stone flew everywhere, and the Snake Race puppet emerged as if unharmed, charging again.

"This body is incredibly tough!" Xiao Yan's heart sank; though these Snake Race puppets' bloodline power had withered and their Dou Qi reduced to Dou Zong, their bodies were still true Dou Zun bodies—defense far tougher than even eighth-rank Poison Armor!

Xiao Yan whistled in disbelief, with no time to complain, he hastily dodged the attack.

The puppet locked onto Xiao Yan relentlessly, unleashing a flood of deep-yellow blade light, while its muscles twisted grotesquely, rapidly gathering a terrifying force.

These Snake Race puppets could still use Dou Techniques!

Xiao Yan had underestimated the terrifying power of the Qi Yan Snake Sage; if these were ordinary Three-Star Dou Zong puppets, he wouldn't fear them—but these puppets were lifeless, their bodies unnaturally hard, his Infernal Flame attacks unable to destroy them, and they could still use their former Dou Techniques.

"Lifeless? Using their former Dou Techniques?" Xiao Yan suddenly had a flash of insight—he remembered something, and used Soul Resonance to speak to Qing Lin, who trembled nearby: "Qing Lin, can you briefly freeze these Snake Race puppets for an instant?"

Startled by Xiao Yan's voice, Qing Lin blinked, then nodded inwardly: "Yes."

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed, a smile forming—he retracted his Xuan Zhong Chi, swiftly formed hand seals, and his Soul Force began to boil.

At this moment, the shadow beneath Xiao Yan's feet began to writhe.

Just as the Snake Race puppet was about to reach Xiao Yan and bring down its blade, Xiao Yan sent a Soul Resonance: "Qing Lin, now!"

Qing Lin suddenly opened her eyes, and two green beams erupted from them; on the puppet's forehead, the pattern of the Qi San Hua Tong flickered faintly, as if struggling, its body trembling uncontrollably.

Seeing the Snake Race puppet immobilized, Xiao Yan's lips curled upward, a strange glint flashing in his eyes as he mentally roared: "Shen Yuan!"

Whoosh! From the shadow's Shen Yuan, dozens of black Hun Chains shot out, piercing straight into the puppet's body—ignoring its flesh, stabbing deep into its Spiritual Soul!

"Found it! Exactly as I thought—the Qi San Hua Tong controls the Snake Race's Spiritual Souls to manipulate their bodies. Puppets created this way possess consciousness and can even use Dou Techniques, far more troublesome than ordinary puppets." Xiao Yan grinned, showing his white teeth.

No matter how powerful your flesh, Soul Techniques bypass all physical defense and strike straight at the Spiritual Soul!

"Come out!" With a whoosh, a green orb was violently yanked from the puppet's body by the Hun Chains; Xiao Yan clearly sensed a Qi San Hua Tong soul mark upon this Soul Body—the green glow was the Qi San Hua Tong's Flame Sealing.

Once deprived of its Soul Body and the Qi San Hua Tong soul mark, the Snake Race puppet ceased all movement.

The second technique of the Xiu Luo Zhan Hun Shu—Shen Yuan—can directly extract the Soul Body from the flesh, even seal it!

Of course, this requires Xiao Yan's Soul Force to be strong enough.

"So this is how the Qi San Hua Tong casts illusions and controls the Snake Race—the eye technique that commands the Spiritual Souls of the Spirit Snakes." Xiao Yan hadn't expected he'd accidentally unraveled the secret of the Qi San Hua Tong!

Yet Xiao Yan secretly felt a pang of regret—time had passed too long; even a Dou Zun's Soul Body had weakened considerably, like the Heavenly Flame Zun—even with the Heavenly Flame preserving it, his Soul Force had been pitifully weak.

The remaining Soul Force in that orb just now matched the puppet's Cultivation Realm—a Three Star Dou Zong's Soul Body.

But regardless, this Snake Race elder had once been a Dou Zun; even if only worth a Three Star Dou Zong, this was still a substantial gain in Soul Points.

And there were over a dozen such Snake Race puppets here!

At this moment, Xiao Yan's eyes gleamed with greed, his gaze toward the Snake Race puppets transformed.

In the eyes of the Heavenly Flame Zun, these Snake Race puppets were more valuable than the orbs above them!

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, secretly forming a hand seal with his left hand, then lunged forward to appear before a Snake Emperor of the Tian She Fu, sneering: "Trying to steal my things?"

He unleashed the Palm of Mountain Splitting—immediately, the Tian She Fu Snake Emperor frantically activated a Defensive Dou Technique, yet still was blasted backward, spitting blood from the impact.

Space twisted; a tiny, adorable black cat paw emerged from the distorted space, then—shoo! —it stealthily snatched back the orb from behind.

Seeing his own clansman flung away, She Tianhao paid no attention—he cared only that Xiao Yan had seized one of the orbs.

"All of you, hold those puppets with your lives!" She Tianhao roared, dashing toward one of the orbs—this orb was guarded by a Nine Star Dou Zong; whatever lay within was certainly no ordinary thing.

Xiao Yan merely smiled, dismissive. As long as he gathered enough Soul Points, he was certain the Soul Sovereign held Snake Race Dou Zun or even Dou Saint Essence Blood.

"Cai Lin, help me control those Snake Race puppets—I have a way to deal with them." Xiao Yan, as if discovering a fortune-making scheme, urgently sent a Soul Resonance to Cai Lin.

But Cai Lin, hearing Xiao Yan's Soul Resonance, acted as if she hadn't heard—still locked in combat with the Nine Star Dou Zong Snake Race puppet.

Xiao Yan sighed, and used Soul Resonance again: "Mei Du Sha, Queen, His Majesty!"

Instantly, Mei Du Sha slammed out a palm, repelling the puppet, then used the recoil to glide clear of the orb's range. Sensing her departure, the puppet turned and attacked a Tian She Fu Dou Zong attempting to sneak a steal.

"You have a plan?" Cai Lin's beautiful eyes turned to Xiao Yan, coldly asking.

Xiao Yan gave a knowing smile: "Let's work together. Don't let She Tianhao and the others notice. When the time comes, I'll make them vomit up everything they've swallowed."

Mei Du Sha's delicate brows furrowed slightly—she had no idea what trick Xiao Yan was cooking up—but she nodded, offering no rebuttal.

Two streaks of light shot toward a Five Star Dou Zong Snake Race puppet. Of the dozen or so puppets present, some guarded no orbs and merely attacked intruders endlessly; Xiao Yan chose one that guarded an orb.

Seeing Xiao Yan and Mei Du Sha suddenly charge, the Tian She Fu elders fighting over the orb froze—already outmatched by the puppets, if Mei Du Sha and Xiao Yan turned on them, death was certain!

But to the surprise of the snakes, Xiao Yan and Mei Du Sha did not attack them—they instead blocked the puppet's assault!

"What's going on? They're not killing us?"

"They must be after the orb."

Xiao Yan naturally gave no explanation. Mei Du Sha suddenly erupted in a brilliant seven-colored light, so dazzling it engulfed the entire hall.

"Seven-Colored Snake Binding!" Mei Du Sha thought, her eyes narrowing as a beam of seven-colored light shot forth.

Like the legendary petrification, the Five Star Dou Zong's body stiffened. Amid the seven-colored glow, Xiao Yan crept silently behind the Dou Zong, pulling out the Soul Token—dozens of black Hun Chains shot out.

Xiao Yan replicated the method: the Hun Chains pierced the body of the Five Star Dou Zong Snake Race puppet; after several seconds, a green Soul Orb was drawn into the Soul Token!

Xiao Yan seized the now-soulless Snake Race puppet and feigned a palm strike to its back, sending it flying as if he'd defeated it.

Then, space twisted again—the tiny cat paw reappeared.

Meow~o(=∩ω∩=)m: Cat paw, snatch. Hehe, got it.

Seeing Xiao Yan defeat two Snake Race puppets in mere minutes, She Heaven Phoenix, assisting his son, was suddenly startled.

"Their strength is terrifying!"

Naturally, they could not imagine this was because Xiao Yan had cultivated the Soul Sovereign's Soul Techniques—techniques so advanced even within the Soul Sovereign they were rare.

Ordinary Soul Techniques could never extract a Dou Zong's Soul Body, let alone one sealed by the Qi San Hua Tong.

"Your Dou Technique is strange," even Mei Du Sha found Xiao Yan's Soul Technique peculiar—but she couldn't say why, for she was no Alchemist and knew nothing of the Soul Sovereign.

"Jiejiejie—any dead thing belongs to me." Xiao Yan's gaze swept the field—thirteen Snake Race puppets remained. If he could claim all their Soul Bodies, he'd likely gather enough to exchange for a Heavenly Rank Dou Technique!

(End of Chapter)