Chapter 547: The Ten Heavenly Venerables

The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake roared at Xiao Yan.

Hearing the serpent's hiss, Xiao Yan shook his head and smiled faintly: "I understand serpent tongue."

As Xiao Cai's father and Cai Lin's husband, Xiao Yan was a human who mastered the Snake Race's language! Though the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake hissed incessantly, Xiao Yan understood every word.

In truth, it was simple: translated, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake was begging for mercy and issuing threats—it swore it would never appear again, but if Xiao Yan destroyed it, Qing Lin's Spiritual Soul would suffer backlash, grievous injury, or even death.

It deeply feared Xiao Yan himself—Xiao Yan, who had cultivated the Asura Soul-Cutting Technique, was its greatest current enemy—but it had fused with Qing Lin's Spiritual Soul, bound together!

"No wonder you're the strongest mutated Bloodline on the Dou Qi Continent—the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake—even Qi San Hua Tong cannot fully refine or control you."

This was both unexpected and expected by Xiao Yan.

Unexpected was that the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake had lost both its physical body and Bloodline, yet still resisted the power of Qi San Hua Tong.

Expected was that the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake was originally a supreme Fierce Beast of the Wild Wasteland Era—Qi San Hua Tong could not control Spiritual Beasts with extremely high Bloodline; Qi San Hua Tong had its limits—it could not control the Seven-Colored Devouring Sky Serpent.

The founder of that Serpent Temple, the Green-Eyed Snake Saint, was only half-Saint level, never fully reaching Dou Saint, and ultimately died failing to break through to Dou Saint.

Qi San Hua Tong is indeed the first miraculous eye on the Dou Qi Continent, but after reaching Dou Saint, even Divine Grade Dou Di Bloodline stabilizes—though still powerful, it is no longer so incomprehensible.

After all, none who reach Dou Saint level are weak—can a Spiritual Beast reaching Nine Rank be weak?!

So Xiao Yan had some psychological preparation for being unable to fully control the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's power.

Hiss!! The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake rose up, its nine heads swaying, extremely alert.

It was nine heads, one body.

For a moment, Xiao Yan fell silent, thinking and calculating within.

To resolve the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, with his current means and strength, was not difficult—he had several methods. But each carried advantages and drawbacks.

He could directly unleash the Asura Soul-Cutting Technique to sever the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake Soul; Qing Lin's damaged Spiritual Soul could be repaired through Spirit Refining—but no matter what, it would inevitably affect Qing Lin.

He could also unleash the Asura Abyss to completely seal the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake. When he first set the Asura Sealing for Qing Lin, his Asura Soul-Cutting Technique was still at the First Level; now, cultivated to the Second Level, its power had increased immensely.

But a seal is still a seal—if any situation arose later and the seal failed, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake would reemerge.

Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed slightly; after careful thought, the best way to permanently resolve the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake issue was negotiation.

The most effective and direct way to solve a problem is not force, but discussion and communication.

The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake had desires—then it was easy. The Ten Heavenly Venerables were masters at buying hearts; buying a serpent's heart was even better!

Xiao Yan suddenly smiled, waved his hand, and dispelled the power of the Asura Soul-Cutting Technique, walking toward the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake with a cheerful grin.

Seeing Xiao Yan disarm and approach, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake froze—what was he doing? Smiling sweetly, but with knives hidden in his smile!

The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake remained alert, but when Xiao Yan stopped at a suitable distance, sat on the ground, and spoke with an irresistibly tempting voice: "You want to be resurrected, right? I can help you Chong Su a new body."

Even though Xiao Yan was an enemy, even though his words were untrustworthy, even this Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's violent nature couldn't help but shrink its serpent eyes, its Spiritual Soul trembling slightly—clearly, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake craved resurrection desperately.

After all, who wants to die?!

Seeing the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's Spiritual Soul ripple violently, Xiao Yan smiled inwardly—little guy, how many people have I fooled with this old trick since I started? From the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, to Hai Bodong, to the Heavenly Flame Venerable—even my wife and child were tricked back this way.

Ancient supreme Fierce Beast? Still too young before the Ten Heavenly Venerables!

Seeing the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake slowly calm down, its eyes still wary, Xiao Yan clearly sensed not only caution, but also intense greed.

Xiao Yan was a powerful Alchemist! Even in the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's era, Alchemists existed—they were among the oldest professions on the Dou Qi Continent.

I'm not afraid of your high price—I'm afraid you won't name one!

There is no deal that cannot be made, only a price that isn't high enough!

"Even if I don't stop you this time, how much chance do you have of resurrection with just that pool of SpiritFlesh? One percent? Two percent?"

Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, looking like a wealthy patron ready to pay anything, and smiled: "Don't forget—your Magic Core is in my hands, your bones are in my hands. Without your Magic Core and bones, even if you resurrect, you'll be nothing but a castle in the air, a floating duckweed—something that shatters at the slightest touch."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's eyes flashed red, a flicker of fury visible on its surface.

Xiao Yan was utterly unfazed—he had no trouble controlling this Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake. When he first set the sealing for Qing Lin, he had no choice—but now? He was already an Eight Grade Peak Alchemist, half-step to Nine Rank. Eight Grade Elixirs couldn't do it? That didn't mean Nine Rank couldn't!

"Don't look at me like that—you're dead, don't blame others. If you blame anyone, blame the one who killed you or caused your death."

"Besides," Xiao Yan's eyes flashed with a murderous glint, and he spoke gravely: "Don't think that because you've fused with Qing Lin's Spiritual Soul, I won't kill you. Cutting you down will indeed damage Qing Lin's Spiritual Soul—but with my Spirit Refining, repairing a Spiritual Soul is merely a troublesome matter."

Hiss!! (Are you threatening me?!) The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake surged upright, its nine heads writhing in the air, necks swelling like a cobra's, fangs bared at Xiao Yan.

Seeing the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake enraged, Xiao Yan was delighted—this proved it was merely blustering. It hadn't realized: if repairing a Spiritual Soul were truly this simple, Xiao Yan wouldn't waste time negotiating—he'd just strike.

Xiao Yan said nothing further, waved his hand, and condensed Soul Information into a Scroll floating before the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake—written in Soul Force, readable even by Spiritual Beasts.

And the Scroll was none other than the Nine Rank Pill Formula from the Ice River Venerable's Treasure Vault.

"Nine-Treasure Pill, Taiyi Treasure Pill—a healing Elixir. Usable by anyone below Three-Star Dou Saint, capable of curing all injuries, including Spiritual Soul wounds, completely. Its nature is extremely mild—even ordinary humans can take it without damaging already injured bodies, and it can even Chong Su a SpiritFlesh body for a Soul Body. Truly, the Taiyi Pill."

Nine-Treasure Pill!

This was an Elixir capable of reversing fate, reviving the dead and regrowing flesh and bone—calling it a divine pill was no exaggeration.

At the Nine Rank level, every single Elixir possessed astonishing effects—no distinction between Spiritual Beasts and humans, all paths converged.

Seeing the effects of the Taiyi Treasure Pill, even the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake's violent, frenzied nature could not hide its greed and longing.

Xiao Yan smiled—this look, he'd seen too many times.

The power of an Alchemist—terrifying indeed!

Hiss! (Give me the Elixir, and I'll leave this girl's Spiritual Soul.)

Xiao Yan chuckled, shaking his head: "Do you think I'm a fool? If you want to resurrect, you must leave Qing Lin's body—do you think I'll refine this Elixir for free? Besides, the Taiyi Treasure Pill can also repair Spiritual Soul wounds—you have no right to bargain with me."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, though furious, unusually remained silent.

Xiao Yan held up two fingers: "I give you two choices. One: I use a Soul Technique to sever you, then use the Taiyi Treasure Pill to repair Qing Lin's Spiritual Soul wounds. Two: I use the Taiyi Treasure Pill to help you Chong Su a body, but you must become Qing Lin's Guardian Spirit Beast, guarding her for life."

"Whether this Taiyi Treasure Pill is used on Qing Lin or on you—it's your decision."

Xiao Yan slowly stood, his eyes cold and sharp, and spoke gravely: "I'm only showing you mercy because you're the last Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake on the Dou Qi Continent—I admire talent. Don't push your luck."

Seeing Xiao Yan's cold expression, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake instantly understood—Xiao Yan would truly do it!

In fact, the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake had already been tricked by Xiao Yan and didn't even realize what had happened!

In this brief exchange, Xiao Yan's words sounded perfectly reasonable—but most of their truth concealed falsehoods.

The Luo Sha Zhan Hun Shu is immensely powerful; if a Nine-Treasure Pill could heal the damage it inflicts, it would not deserve to be called a Heavenly Rank Advanced Grade Soul Dou Technique!

A Soul Body wounded by the Luo Sha Zhan Hun Shu is nearly impossible to repair—the violent, raging force blocks elixirs from restoring the soul; at least, Xiao Yan believes the Taiyi Treasure Pill's potency may not be sufficient.

This is a Soul Technique capable of utterly slaying a Heavenly Realm Soul—Qing Lin, a Five-Star Dou Zun with only barely Spirit Realm Soul Force, how could she possibly resist?

The Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake is foolish—it never considered Xiao Yan was deceiving it; all that talk of valuing talent was merely a cover for the flaw: "If it were truly that simple, Xiao Yan wouldn't waste words with it."

After an unknown length of time, Xiao Yan's soul returned—and naturally, there was no surprise: the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake had no better choice but to either perish alongside Qing Lin or guard her and be reborn.

A Snake Slave differs from a Guardian Spirit Beast; the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake Qing Lin originally obtained was a Guardian Spirit Beast, unaffected by the Qi San Hua Tong's absorption of Dou Qi and soul, possessing its own Zi Zhuo Yi Shi.

When Xiao Yan can forge Nine-Treasure Pills, Qing Lin will possess an ultra-powerful Guardian Spirit Beast—the legendary Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake will reappear on the Dou Qi Continent!

Only after Xiao Yan's soul departed did Qing Lin's Qi San Hua Tong slowly recover; instantly, her body went limp, collapsing into Xiao Yan's arms, her breathing slightly labored—likely from heavy depletion of Soul Force.

Not just Qing Lin—even Xiao Yan now felt a fatigue in his Soul Force; having endured battle and then spent so long within the soul's depths, the mental toll was immense.

Only when Xiao Yan's Soul Force returned did he feel waves of stabbing pain—within the blood pool, wildly violent energy permeated; the moment he entered, the energy surged like countless venomous snakes, flooding the sky and earth to slam against his body!

Yet Xiao Yan's physique was immensely powerful; this level of violent energy naturally had little effect on him.

"Qing Lin is fine now, you just—hiss!" As Xiao Yan turned to look at Qing Lin, he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes streaked with blood vessels—he'd been distracted by the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake and hadn't noticed his own condition with Qing Lin!

His clothes had been corroded!

Before him lay an exquisitely beautiful curve and hollow—in figure, Qing Lin now only lost to Cai Lin: towering, full, firm, rounded—a natural beauty, a body guaranteed to stir blood and heat.

Xiao Yan couldn't help but curse Xuan Huang Yan inwardly: right now, during the battle for the Bodhi Ancient Tree, can't you do something useful?!

"Qing Lin, step out for a moment—I'll use this blood pool to fully refine my Vajra Glazed Body to perfection."

Splash! Xiao Yan quickly turned around; though regretful, a crowd waited outside—he had to know when to act appropriately!

As soon as Xiao Yan turned, he heard a splash behind him; two jade arms suddenly emerged from his lower back, wrapping around him from behind—suddenly, a sensation beyond words surged from his back!

The feeling was gentle, delicate; Xiao Yan's body trembled as if struck by lightning—he hardened, his body stiffened!

Qing Lin's lovely face rested against Xiao Yan's back, her voice tinged with guilt—she had heard every word spoken within the soul's depths.

"Young Master Yan, meeting you is a blessing earned over three lifetimes… Without you, Qing Lin would have…" Her voice carried a hint of tears.

Hearing Qing Lin's confession, Xiao Yan sighed inwardly—he could not deny he felt pity for this pitiful little girl.

He patted her jade arms and whispered soothingly: "Ya Tou, you were brought back by Big Brother and Second Brother—you're one of the Xiao Clan. As Young Clan Leader, I could never let you come to harm."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Qing Lin, still pressed against his back, smiled faintly; something crossed her mind, and her face flushed slightly as her arms tightened around him.

Splash! Qing Lin tiptoed slightly, her back pressing against him with an indescribable rubbing sensation—Xiao Yan froze like he'd been pinned by acupuncture, eyes wide open, not daring to move an inch.

At that moment, Xiao Yan felt as if his body were being constricted by a serpent!

Only after tiptoeing did Qing Lin barely match Xiao Yan's height; softly, gently, she whispered behind his ear: "Young Master Yan, Qing Lin has grown up… I can… I can…"

In an instant, Xiao Yan recalled the words Big Brother and Second Brother had spoken to him during the Mercenary Group days.

(End of Chapter)