Chapter 532: Ambush

"Cai Lin sister!"

Qing Lin, who had been controlling the Snake Race's battle, swiftly rose into the air and caught Cai Lin, who had been blasted away.

"Cai Lin sister, are you alright?" Qing Lin asked, her face filled with concern.

Cai Lin stared fixedly at the dark shadow in the sky, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, and nodded: "I'm fine."

Without doubt, the Fire Lotus just now was Xiao Yan's defensive measure, left specifically to guard against ambush.

The flame waves receded, revealing the figure in the sky; from his appearance, nearly identical to the transformed Hai Yuanlong, it was easy to guess—he was the Chi Snake Race's Clan Leader, the Chi Snake Demon Venerable! Long ago, he had reached Eight Rank Peak, his strength rising to Five Revolving Dou Zun!

"That's too despicable! A Dou Zun Di Feng powerhouse, sneaking an attack?!"

Seeing the Chi Snake Demon Venerable ambush, many frowned in disgust. If you're weak, sneaking an attack is understandable—but you two against one is bad enough, and you still ambush?!

Even some of the Old Generation shook their heads; though they said nothing, they looked down on such conduct.

The Chi Snake Demon Venerable stood atop the Sea Giant Python, frowning at the charred marks on his palm—he was from the Sea Snake Race, who feared Strange Fire above all.

Though the sudden Fire Lotus had been weak, it had still managed to injure him.

"Father, that's Qi San Hua Tong," Hai Yuanlong whispered.

Upon hearing the name Qi San Hua Tong, even the Chi Snake Demon Venerable frowned, casting a wary glance at the tearful woman.

Faced with the strangeness of Qi San Hua Tong, even the Chi Snake Demon Venerable, at Five Revolving Dou Zun, dared not underestimate it: "Ignore Qi San Hua Tong—have the Nine Underworld Earth Nether Python Clan Elder keep her occupied. Even if she's only Four Star Dou Zun, far weaker than us, don't let your guard down."

"If Qi San Hua Tong were truly weak, Yao Xiao Tian would never have offered such a heavy reward to get us to act. First, eliminate Mei Du Sha Queen."

Qi San Hua Tong grows stronger against Snake Race bloodlines of lower rank. Though Qing Lin's cultivation realm was far below the Chi Snake Demon Venerable and his son, it was impossible for it to be completely ineffective.

"Cai Lin sister, let me help you!" Qing Lin's eyes flashed with killing intent, her gaze sharp as she locked onto the two despicable men; the Qi San Hua Tong in her eyes began to swirl.

"No—if you leave, the people in the City and the Yan Alliance warriors will all be killed."

This was the Yan Alliance's weakness: though powerful, its combat strength was fragmented; without Qing Lin's unique ability to enslave some Nine Underworld Earth Nether Python Clan Dou Zun-level Snake Slaves, the Yan Alliance had very few Dou Zun.

Even Hai Bodong ranked in the top ten—imagine the rest.

"But—"

"Don't worry—just hold out until Xiao Yan arrives. We've already exceeded the agreed time; he must have arrived by now."

Qing Lin gritted her teeth and nodded. Snake Slaves were just slaves—without Qing Lin's control, they were worse than puppets.

Seeing Qing Lin walk toward the Battlefield below, emerald light illuminated the area; massive Sea Pythons emerged from Space, and alone, she could hold off tens of thousands of Snake Race warriors—no wonder Qi San Hua Tong kept the Nine Underworld Earth Nether Python Clan awake at night!

Cai Lin formed a hand seal; strands of Strange Fire slowly rose, forming a Strange Fire Armor. Though the Strange Fire itself was gone, she had once preserved some of its power.

Whoosh—a Strange Fire Sword appeared in Cai Lin's hand, heavenly thunder rolling as she gripped the flaming blade. Her beauty, already peerless, now took on an entirely new allure.

Seeing such a beautiful Cai Lin, the Chi Snake Demon Venerable's eyes burned with desire; for the Snake Race, Cai Lin was an irresistible prize.

"Beautiful lady, don't worry—I won't kill you. I merely need you to contribute your bloodline to my clan. Hehehe." The Chi Snake Demon Venerable licked his lips, already imagining the scene of his victory.

Not just the Chi Snake Demon Venerable—even Hai Yuanlong, in his true form, his eyes gleamed with malice. The Snake Race had no human morality—only male and female.

Feeling those evil gazes, Cai Lin's eyes grew colder; she flicked her hand, merging Strange Fire and Thunder into a single blade of light, sweeping across the sky.

As the blade slashed, the temperature of the entire Space rose; rain evaporated into steam. Facing the strike, Hai Yuanlong opened his mouth and spat a column of water. Boom—the collision erupted, white vapor rolling, drowning the sky.

"You're not enough!" At that moment, the Chi Snake Demon Venerable radiated overwhelming dominance, bursting through the vapor to confront Mei Du Sha Queen.

The Chi Snake Demon Venerable's first move was to transform the sea; his battle qi became an endless ocean, sweeping in all directions.

Suddenly, a terrifying battle erupted in the sky: Hai Yuanlong in his true form and the Chi Snake Demon Venerable unleashed attacks capable of destroying heaven and earth—but Cai Lin was no weaker, using the residual Strange Fire and Seven Colored Thunder within her body to stubbornly hold her ground.

"Is Mei Du Sha Queen really that strong?! Fighting two at once?!"

"She's truly powerful—she's already grasped a bit of Swallowing Heaven Power. That Strange Fire may have been absorbed into her body through this bloodline ability."

"But her cultivation realm is still too low."

At the Yan Alliance's Battlefield, Qing Lin was steadily retreating; Qi San Hua Tong had its limits—it required battle qi and Soul Force to operate, and could not be sustained endlessly.

At that moment, a strange poison suddenly rose from the Battlefield; the instant it appeared, massive Sea Pythons exploded, their blood staining the earth.

"What's happening?!"

"Poison?!"

Seeing the poison suddenly rise, Cai Lin's beautiful eyes flickered with surprise—Qing Lin, however, smiled with relief.

A strand of Black Flame silently appeared behind the Chi Snake Demon Venerable; from within it emerged a man clad in a Black Robe, his lips curling into a smirk, his eyes cold and sharp: "Ambush? I can do that too."

The moment he spoke, a Twelve Color Fire Lotus appeared in Xiao Yan's palm.

The instant the Twelve Color Fire Lotus appeared, the torrential rain halted—as if time itself paused; every drop of rain froze, then instantly evaporated and vanished!

At that moment, the Chi Snake Demon Venerable and Hai Yuanlong in his true form turned pale; as they spun around, they saw the smiling man holding the Fire Lotus, which now radiated terrifying light.

Before everyone's terrified eyes, the Fire Lotus exploded.

"Xiao Yan!" Cai Lin's heart tightened; she was about to rush forward when a large hand seized her Jade Hand, laughing: "Xiao what? That's a Clone."

Black Flame instantly enveloped Cai Lin; as the flame wave surged, it carried her into Space to evade the fire.

Buddha Fury Lotus—it doesn't distinguish friend from foe!

A colossal, exaggerated Fire Lotus bloomed in the sky—the invincible Dou Technique of Heavenly Rank Intermediate! This was one of the strongest techniques Xiao Yan could currently master!

Though the Demon-Slaying Soul Severing Art was of higher rank, he had not yet perfected its third layer. And the Flame Emperor Seal still required time and effort to refine.

Flame waves scorched the heavens; the instant the Fire Lotus bloomed, everything ended—the dark clouds in the sky were drowned in flame, the rain evaporated, and the terrifying fire wave signified absolute annihilation.

Xiao Yan struck with his strongest technique—the Twelve Color Fire Lotus! Even though the highest-ranked Strange Fire used in the Twelve Color Fire Lotus was only the Ninth-ranked Three Thousand Yan Flame, its power had reached Heavenly Rank Intermediate—and even the pinnacle of that tier!

The flame waves slowly receded; when the Black Flame reappeared, Xiao Yan emerged from Space, holding Cai Lin's Jade Hand. Looking at the terrifying fire waves in the distance, Cai Lin's beautiful eyes were filled with astonishment.

This power—

"Your cultivation realm…" Cai Lin gazed at the smiling Xiao Yan; his cultivation was now beyond her ability to perceive.

Before entering the Heavenly Tomb, Xiao Yan and Cai Lin had been nearly equal—but three years in the Heavenly Tomb equaled only half a year in the outside world, and he had received the Xiao Clan's inheritance, causing his cultivation to far surpass even Cai Lin, who had obtained the Nine Headed Heavenly Snake Marrow Blood.

But to Cai Lin, that was only half a year!

Cai Lin had advanced fast enough—she had assumed Xiao Yan's arrival would merely help hold the line—but this strike? It had shattered heaven and earth!

"Two-Turn Dou Zun." Xiao Yan gently held Cai Lin's jade hand; he knew her nature.

Cai Lin's own nature leaned toward "male dominance"—she wished to protect Xiao Yan, not be protected by him.

Xiao Yan gazed at Cai Lin's slightly clenched red lips, a wry smile rising in his heart. He stepped forward two paces, wrapped his arms around her slender, snake-like waist, and pulled her into his embrace despite her struggles.

"We're an old married couple—why bother arguing over who's stronger?"

Hearing Xiao Yan's saccharine words, Cai Lin's beautiful eyes sighed helplessly. Her jade finger pinched his waist hard and twisted. Xiao Yan gasped in pain.

*Shoo! * A blue blood-shadow pierced through Space, escaping the flame waves—it was none other than the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign.

"He still got away?" Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed. At his current Cultivation Realm, even a Five Revolving Dou Zun like Gu Qingyang would collapse if he took a direct hit from the Twelve Color Fire Lotus.

"He must have some life-saving treasure." Xiao Yan saw a strange glimmer flash across the Chi Snake Demon Sovereign's body—likely that artifact had absorbed most of the impact. These Demon Venerables truly were tough; their health bars were absurdly thick—they still didn't die.

"Not chasing?"

"Can't chase. He used the Blood Escape Art, and he's got a treasure protecting him. The Twelve Color Fire Lotus drained me heavily too—but don't worry, I left a Soul Pursuit Mark."

Xiao Yan shook his head. After all, the opponent was a Five Revolving Dou Zun—if he wanted to flee, Xiao Yan truly had no good way to stop him. Moreover, a Heavenly Rank intermediate Fire Lotus consumed enormous amounts of Dou Qi and Soul Force.

But Xiao Yan never said he'd let him go. When the man appeared behind him, Xiao Yan had already cast the Soul Pursuit Mark from the Demon-Slaying Soul Severance Art—he couldn't escape even if he ran to the ends of the earth.

We can settle accounts after the Space Trade Fair!

Xiao Yan and Cai Lin landed calmly and steadily. The terrifying power of the Fire Lotus still blazed in the sky; there was no need to continue this battle. Besides, Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison had already killed countless Sea Giant Pythons.

In terms of battlefield lethality, no one surpassed Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison!

"Young Master Yan!" Qing Lin's nose twitched, her eyes glistening with moisture.

Seeing the obedient Qing Lin, Xiao Yan patted her small head and smiled: "It's fine. After the Trade Fair ends, Young Master will settle accounts with them."

"Mm." Qing Lin nodded lightly, then slowly raised her head toward Xiao Yan. Memories surfaced, and her lovely face flushed hotly. She stepped back two paces, lowering her head, not daring to look.

Seeing Qing Lin silently step back half a pace, Xiao Yan felt puzzled.

Are you seriously stepping back half a pace?!

Oh no—Qing Lin doesn't love Young Master anymore!

"Cough, uh—Qing Lin, look at that huge thing—can you control it? If you can, revive it with an Elixir. If not, kill it." Xiao Yan broke the awkwardness, pointing at the Hai Yuanlong, barely alive after the Fire Lotus blast.

After all, it was an Eight Rank Peak Sea Snake beast. If the Qi San Hua Tong could control it, it would be a tremendous asset. Robbery—no, going to the Space Trade Fair to trade would give us far more confidence.

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Qing Lin snapped back to attention and nodded: "I'll try."

Walking up to the massive Sea Python, she activated the Qi San Hua Tong. Even wounded, Hai Yuanlong's power still reached Eight Rank Peak, and his Bloodline still showed signs of ancestral regression—he fiercely resisted the Qi San Hua Tong's power.

Just as Xiao Yan shook his head, preparing to end it, a familiar Soul Power suddenly erupted from Qing Lin's body.

"The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Soul?!"

*Whirr! * A phantom Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake surged into Hai Yuanlong's body, which had reverted to its true form. Soon after, Hai Yuanlong's Ancient Heavenly Snake Bloodline was entirely consumed by the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Soul.

After losing the Ancient Heavenly Snake Bloodline, Hai Yuanlong was easily controlled by Qing Lin. The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Soul then returned to Qing Lin's body.

"Does the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Soul appear often?" Xiao Yan asked Cai Lin beside him.

"It emerges to devour the Bloodline of any strong warrior with strong Ancient Heavenly Snake Bloodline. Including this time, it's happened three times." Cai Lin nodded.

Xiao Yan rubbed his chin, pondering for a moment—but said nothing.

Space twisted. Xiao Yixian slowly stepped out and asked: "What about those Dou Zun-level ones?"

"First, paralyze them and hand them over to Qing Lin. If she can control them, fine. If not—I'll handle them."

Xiao Yan had always wanted to build Qing Lin an invincible supreme Snake Race army—all Dou Zun-level Snake Race warriors! Then Qing Lin alone could sweep everything clean.

Seeing Xiao Yixian appear, Cai Lin unconsciously frowned—she sensed Xiao Yixian's power was stronger than hers.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose, then pulled a Chengzun Spirit Pill from his storage ring and said: "Xiao Yixian used the Chengzun Spirit Pill to boost her Cultivation Realm. If you take it, you could reach Nine Star Peak—or even Nine Star Peak."

Cai Lin's delicate brows furrowed slightly. After a moment's thought, she didn't refuse Xiao Yan's Elixir—she knew well that this trip to the Space Trade Fair would be extremely dangerous. Whether Xiao Yan succeeded in buying the Pure Lotus Demon Flame Remnant Map or not, a fierce battle was inevitable.

If he didn't buy it, he'd rob it. If he did buy it, others might rob him. Combat was unavoidable.

Fortunately, there was still time before the Space Trade Fair—enough for Cai Lin to refine the Pill.

While Cai Lin refined the Pill, in a Secluded Chamber, Xiao Yan tossed two corpses out of the Void Space—naturally, Hun Ya and Hun Li.

They were dead. Their Soul Bodies had not been absorbed into the Soul Talisman. Xiao Yan didn't know if the Soul Sect would dare collect Hun Ya and Hun Li's Soul Bodies.

"Two Eight Grade Dou Di Bloodlines... I wonder how much Bloodline Power the Spirit-Eating Clan can extract."

(End of Chapter)