Chapter 477: The Ten Heaven Lords Want to Strengthen Their Power

The Mo Shou Shan Mai was a mountain range that once spanned the borders of several empires, famed for its vast diversity of beasts.

Of course, that was in the past.

It once truly stretched across multiple territories, but now, this Mo Shou Shan Mai belongs solely to the Yan Alliance; today, the Mo Shou Shan Mai is no longer renowned for its beast diversity, but for being the domain of an empire.

For here lies a beast kingdom—more precisely, a serpent-human empire that strikes fear into Zhongzhou Xiyu and the North Domain.

All because of the ruler of this serpent-human empire.

At this moment, within the Imperial Palace of the serpent-human empire, a woman sat upon the dragon throne, her slender red-robed figure lounging lazily against the backrest; on her cold, alluring face lingered a faint icy aura of dominance, while her enchanting, exotic eyes brimmed with the weight of supreme authority and pride.

This arrogance, even as time passed, had never faded.

Naturally, she was the ruler of the serpent-human empire—Cai Lin, or the Medusa Queen.

"Your Majesty, regarding the Tian Shan Xue Chi in the Heaven Eye Mountain Range, the Golden Burrower Clan has agreed to our proposal: if our Alchemist can purge the fire toxins from the bottom of the blood pool, we may take turns entering its depths with the Yan Alliance," said Mo Ba Si, once a leader of the Eight Tribes.

The tribal leader Yan Ci snorted coldly: "Hmph, in my opinion, we should launch an army and exterminate the Golden Burrower Clan, seizing the Heaven Eye Mountain Range outright."

Yue Mei shot him a disdainful glance: "Are you brain-dead? The Nine Underworld Earth Serpent Clan and the Tian Ming Sect are secretly backing the Wind and Thunder Pavilion—our overt aggression will only provoke more factions. Besides, Master Xiao Yan once made an alliance with the Golden Burrower Clan. Do you want the Queen to bear the blame?"

Struck by this heavy accusation, Yan Ci immediately knelt on the ground; they had once been leaders of the Eight Tribes, but now, apart from Yue Mei and Hua She Er who had reached Seventh Rank, the rest were only at Sixth Rank.

Hearing the bickering below, Cai Lin glanced at them indifferently; her serpent tail beneath the dragon robe swayed gently, revealing her mature grace in every motion.

Cai Lin avoided forceful measures simply because the Yan Alliance had expanded too rapidly, causing many hidden families and factions to grow uneasy.

For example, the Sound Valley—a hidden faction whose disciples rarely ventured beyond their own territory. The Dou Qi Continent was not merely ruled by the Four Pavilions, Three Valleys, and Two Sects; there were also Hidden Sects that shunned conflict.

Since Xiao Yan won the Pill Gathering Champion, the Yan Alliance had swept forward like a storm, reclaiming every city and nearly uprooting the Wind and Thunder Pavilion.

Even the Yellow Spring Pavilion in the West Domain and the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion in the Dong Yu were startled, abandoning several cities—all of which Cai Lin had since absorbed into the Yan Alliance's territory.

Suddenly, Cai Lin, who had been lounging lazily on the throne, furrowed her delicate brows; her beautiful eyes turned toward a garden behind the palace, and when she saw the familiar back, a faint smile touched her lips.

"That's enough for today. Dismissed." With a wave of her hand, Cai Lin rose slowly; a flash of colored light transformed her radiant serpent tail into a pair of beautiful legs.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Cai Lin stepped upon Space, and in one stride, arrived in the palace's rear garden.

There, in the garden, Xiao Yan was playing with Xiao Xiao.

"Ah!" With a thunderous boom, Xiao Xiao hurled a ball into the air, then stepped through Space, soaring upward and slamming down with a powerful spike—the ball shot toward Xiao Yan like a meteor.

"So fast!" Xiao Yan feigned utter shock, then gritted his teeth as if facing a deadly foe.

If the Black and White Heaven Lords were here, they'd be speechless—you didn't act this way when battling Dou Zuns, yet now you're overacting before a mere Dou Zong!

Boom—the ball struck Xiao Yan's arm, flattening against it; had it not been made from the hide of a Seventh-Stage Beast, it would have burst.

Xiao Yan immediately assumed a stable stance, revealing a sly smile, then gently tapped the ball—it flew toward the other side.

But! Xiao Xiao's lips curled into a triumphant grin; she stomped Space, as if she'd anticipated it all, reappearing on the other side and kicking out her tiny foot—the ball landed squarely before Xiao Yan's stunned gaze.

"Damn it, I lost." Xiao Yan pretended to be just barely defeated.

"Dad's pretty strong too," Xiao Xiao gave Xiao Yan a thumbs-up, signaling he was awesome too.

At this moment, Cai Lin walked slowly from the palace, her cold, haughty expression entirely gone; though less icy, her tenderness carried a deeper charm.

"Mama!" Xiao Xiao became a streak of colored light, leaping onto Cai Lin's front, wrapping her arms around her neck and hanging on affectionately.

Seeing Cai Lin approach, Xiao Yan rose slowly, his face softening with affection: "Finished your business?"

"Mm." Cai Lin held Xiao Xiao and walked slowly toward Xiao Yan.

Though they were already married, their marriage had been brief, and even now, their meetings still brought shy heartbeats.

At that moment, Space twisted; a black cat emerged from the Void Space. Under Xiao Yan and Cai Lin's puzzled gazes, Mao Wu hopped over to a rock garden.

Soon after, Mao Wu trotted back to Xiao Yan's feet, mouth clutching Xiao Cai—pretending to be dead, tongue lolling—and dropped her there.

Xiao Yan instantly understood, barely holding back laughter.

This was reenacting the moment he first met Cai Lin—back then, Mao Wu had dragged back the barely-burnt, shrunken Cai Lin.

Xiao Cai now truly resembled Cai Lin as she once was.

Suddenly, a freezing chill swept from behind Xiao Yan; Cai Lin's beautiful eyes, icy as frost, fixed on him. Mao Wu zipped into the Void Space in an instant; Xiao Cai stopped pretending, sprang up, and bolted away.

"Funny?"

Xiao Yan shook his head frantically, scooped up Xiao Xiao, and sprinted off shouting: "Mama's angry—run!"

Cai Lin froze in place—had she become the villain?!

After much play, Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai finally fell asleep in Cai Lin's arms; their physiques were extraordinary, still in juvenile stages, requiring frequent sleep to grow.

As Cai Lin sat beside Xiao Yan, stroking Xiao Xiao's hair, she asked casually: "How long will you stay this time?"

Xiao Yan gazed at her profile and said softly: "Most matters are settled—I'll likely remain in the Yan Alliance for nearly two years."

Cai Lin's eyes flickered with a strange emotion; she knew Xiao Yan would soon go to the Ancient Realm—and his purpose there was essentially to propose.

After that Enlightenment, when their Spiritual Souls merged, she had learned of Xun Er's existence. Had it not been for accident, she would never have entered Xiao Yan's life—making her feel, in a way, like a third party.

Seeing the strange look in Cai Lin's eyes, Xiao Yan took her soft, boneless Jade Hand: "This isn't your fault. The root cause was my greed for the Lotus Earth Core Fire."

The entire incident began because Xiao Yan, a member of the Soul Hall, had greedily seized the Lotus Earth Core Fire—in truth, he had stormed into her palace, stolen the fire, and launched a Spiritual Soul attack while she was evolving with her Three-Flame Serpent Body.

He was the true culprit!

Cai Lin shook her head gently: "Without you, the serpent-human empire would have been destroyed, and I would have died. You needn't blame yourself."

Xiao Yan stretched lazily: "Overthinking won't help. We'll explain everything to Xun Er when we meet. The Ancient Realm isn't a gentle place—I'm still only a Third-Star Dou Zun. These two years, I must strengthen my Cultivation Realm further."

Hearing Xiao Yan's humblebrag, Cai Lin gave him a deadpan look. Even she, with her Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent Bloodline and fully evolved Three-Flame Serpent Body, was only at Peak Second-Star Dou Zun.

Back then, she was far stronger than him—now he'd surpassed her!

One could imagine how terrifyingly fast Xiao Yan's cultivation had advanced.

"There is indeed one Secret Realm that can enhance Dou Zun strength," Cai Lin suddenly recalled.

!?

"The Yan Alliance has a Secret Realm that can boost Dou Zun power!" Xiao Yan exclaimed in shock—he'd assumed such a realm didn't exist, despite the Yan Alliance's rapid growth.

Because secret realms of this level can only be Ancient Ruins or half-Sage inheritances; ordinary Dou Zun inheritances are already useless to Xiao Yan.

The Yan Alliance may be large, but it shouldn't be able to control a secret realm of this magnitude.

As expected, Cai Lin shook her head and explained: "It's not the Yan Alliance's secret realm."

"About a month ago, I went with Qing Lin to the former territory of the Ice River Valley to eliminate its remnants. In an ancient forest bordering the Dong Yu region, Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong discovered something."

Xiao Yan's heart jolted—Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong had discovered it! Qi San Hua Tong was famed as the number one miraculous eye on the Dou Qi Continent!

"Did you go inside?" Xiao Yan asked.

"No, the dominator there is unusual—we didn't dare enter rashly. Moreover, Qing Lin sensed that whatever exists in that ancient forest is terrifying, likely reaching the level of a Dou Sheng. We originally planned to wait until Master Yao returned before investigating."

Hearing Cai Lin's words, Xiao Yan frowned—something that could make Qi San Hua Tong feel fear?!

"Where's Qing Lin?" Xiao Yan swept his Soul Force across the entire Jia Ma Sheng Cheng and realized his adorable little maid was nowhere to be found.

"Qing Lin is waiting at Bian Bian Cheng on the North Domain's border—that's also the northern boundary of the Yan Alliance," Cai Lin explained.

Xiao Yan's eyes instantly burned with heat—this was the advantage of a major faction: well-informed, vast territory. He'd only just returned and already knew of such a place.

"I'll make arrangements—no time to waste." Though Cai Lin spoke calmly, she'd long wanted to explore that ancient forest.

Qing Lin had already reached Halfway to Dou Zun; she herself was a Two Star Dou Zun, while Xiao Yan, this freak, was already a Three Star Dou Zun. Not only had he surpassed her, but Qing Lin, with her Qi San Hua Tong, might soon surpass her too.

As Queen of the Snake Empire, she naturally had her pride!

Though they hadn't yet explored it, Qing Lin sensed the place was likely the Ruins of a Demon Saint—very probably a Snake-type Demon Saint. This Ruins would suit her perfectly and could greatly enhance her strength.

After arranging for Xiao Ding to care for Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai, Xiao Yan and Cai Lin opened a Space Wormhole and headed toward Bian Bian Cheng on the North Domain's border.

With the cultivation realms of Xiao Yan and Cai Lin, they reached Bian Bian Cheng from Jia Ma Sheng Cheng in three days.

"Young Master Yan! What are you doing here?" In the city governor's mansion, Qing Lin sensed Xiao Yan's arrival and immediately broke off her meditation.

"I heard you found something good, so I came to mooch food, drinks, and a bit of inheritance to boost my strength."

The Ten Elders loved living off others' hard work!

Looking at Qing Lin, whose eyes sparkled with delight, Xiao Yan gently stroked her small head. Her cheeks flushed slightly, her face like carved jade, her large, luminous eyes full of innocence. Her figure was as fiery as Cai Lin's, yet paired with this pure expression, every glance and smile tugged at the heart.

"If Young Master needs it, Qing Lin can give it all to you," Qing Lin said, offering a sincere smile.

Xiao Yan withdrew his hand, rubbed his nose, slightly embarrassed—too soft a meal was hard to swallow.

Xiao Yan then said: "You're already Halfway to Dou Zun. The two Pill Formulas left by Qi Yan Snake Saint—one helps you break through to Dou Zun."

Qi Yan Snake Saint left behind many things, including two Pill Formulas: one to help Qing Lin break through to Dou Zun and stabilize her Qi San Hua Tong—it produces an Eight Grade Pill with Two-Colored Pill Lightning.

The other formula creates a Pill that draws Eight-Color Pill Thunder, capable of evolving Qi San Hua Tong—but Xiao Yan still hasn't gathered all the Medicinal Materials for it.

Refining a Pill that draws Two-Colored Pill Lightning was too simple for Xiao Yan's Heavenly Realm Soul—he produced it in just two days.

Already on the verge of Dou Zun, Qing Lin quickly refined the Pill and broke through to Dou Zun.

After Qing Lin's breakthrough, Xiao Yan took Cai Lin and Qing Lin to a nearby City to gather information.

Guai She Sen Lin was a famous forest in Dong Yu, existing since ancient times and rich in resources, producing various Spirit Fruits and gems.

It was called Guai She Sen Lin because its dominator was the Ghost Snake Tribe—named for their bizarre appearance: multiple heads, more heads meaning greater strength.

The Ghost Snake Tribe's Clan Leader had eight heads—an Eight Rank Demon Beast—and was one of the few neither part of the Nine Underworld Serpent Clan nor the Yan Alliance's Snake Race.

Outside Guai She Sen Lin, in the City, Qing Lin summoned the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. Standing atop it, Xiao Yan and the two women looked perfectly normal in this City.

Everywhere were giant snakes over ten meters long; they themselves were nothing unusual.

The only ones drawing attention were Cai Lin and Qing Lin beside Xiao Yan—two peerless beauties who shone wherever they went, impossible to ignore.

Cai Lin's expression was cold, her eyes sharp and icy—like plum blossoms defying snow; her beauty was so exquisite it could topple nations, a divine beauty that made people pause from afar.

Qing Lin's eyes sparkled with curiosity, her luminous gaze filled with innocence and naivety—this purity was utterly intoxicating, making hearts melt.

Yet no one dared approach to flirt—after all, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake under Qing Lin's care had reached Dou Huang Peak.

A Dou Huang Peak Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake as a mount? That alone terrified many petty villains.

"She Yan Ling Guo! Just harvested from Jiu She Ling—three She Yan Ling Guo for one Dou Wang Pill! No haggling!" Shouts rose and fell along the street.

Xiao Yan glanced over, shot out a Dou Wang Pill with a hiss, then gestured—three She Yan Ling Guo flew into their hands. He bit into one immediately; sweet juice burst in his mouth.

These Spirit Fruits strengthened the body of Snake-type Demon Beasts, but for Xiao Yan, they were just snacks bought while strolling.

"Sssss!" The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake twisted its neck toward Xiao Yan, hissing—it wanted some too!

Xiao Yan smiled. "Alright."

He tossed out four Dou Wang Pills, bought every fruit on the stall, and dumped them all onto the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake. To Xiao Yan now, Dou Wang Pills? Just something he could refine with a wave of his hand.

The vendor stared at the Pills before him, utterly stunned—he hadn't expected anyone to pay full price! He'd only said "no haggling" to lure buyers! Wasn't that how business worked? How could someone just buy everything?!

"Thank you, Great Sir! Thank you, Great Sir!" The vendor hastily gathered the Pills, bowed deeply to Xiao Yan, treating him like a god of wealth.

Xiao Yan stepped lightly down from the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake and smiled: "No need to thank me—I have a few questions."

"Sir, please ask! I'll answer everything without holding back!" The vendor rubbed his hands like a fly, grinning.

In a strange place, the first step was always gathering intelligence.

"Are there any interesting spots in Guai She Sen Lin? I'd like to take these two beauties for a proper tour," Xiao Yan said, adopting the demeanor of a spoiled noble.

The vendor looked up and immediately saw the extraordinary beauty of Cai Lin and Qing Lin—he naturally couldn't perceive their hidden cultivation.

He instantly assumed Xiao Yan was a Young Clan Leader from a major faction, out for leisure.

"Sir, you've come at the perfect time and place. Jiu She Ling just opened a few days ago—you can still enter now." The vendor hurried to say.

"Jiu She Ling?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed—he sensed Jiu She Ling might be connected to what Qing Lin had sensed.

"Hehe, Jiu She Ling is a treasure land. Legend says it was formed by the death of a powerful Ancient Heavenly Snake, hence its abundance of precious Spirit Fruits and Medicinal Materials. It was always the Ghost Snake Tribe's private property, but holding such a treasure long-term invites trouble, so they open it periodically, allowing everyone to enter and harvest."

!?

Hearing the vendor's words, Cai Lin and Qing Lin both froze in shock—Ancient Heavenly Snake?!

"Is there really an Ancient Heavenly Snake Ruins?" Xiao Yan asked urgently—he was certain the legend was true, but if someone had already looted it, it would be a disaster.

"Nah, there's no such Ruins—if there were, the Ghost Snake Tribe would've claimed it long ago. Why leave it for others? The legend's just something the Ghost Snake Tribe spread to lure more people into Jiu She Ling."

(End of chapter)