Chapter 60: Land Naga

“There’s someone there, Master.”

Tally reminded him.

“I see. Don’t reveal yourself yet.”

The [Sacrificial Sword] emitted an ultra-long beam of light, instantly severing two high-temperature worms.

The [Giant Slash] consumed an extraordinary amount of spiritual energy; after these two strikes, nearly half his internal spiritual energy was spent.

Fortunately, the [Tree’s Blessing] continuously regenerated his energy, flooding his body with a massive torrent of spiritual power.

Luo De and the remaining two worms circled around.

He suddenly stomped his right foot.

[Steel Vines Charge].

Steel vines burst from the ground, piercing and pinning one worm in place.

“Perfect time to test a new skill.”

Luo De raised his hand and gripped the air.

Whoosh—

A tearing sound erupted beside the last worm, revealing a dark purple rift to another dimension.

Five thick iron chains, pulsing with purple spiritual energy, suddenly tore through from the rift into the mortal world, locking and immobilizing the giant worm.

[Gravity Chains].

All gravity-based spiritual arts or spells on the continent are tied to other dimensions, making them arguably the most mysterious school of techniques.

“Not bad.”

Watching the giant worm move with excruciating slowness, Luo De evaluated.

For his current fighting style, he didn’t really need [Gravity Chains].

He’d originally planned for Tally, the assassin, to learn it—but she was too lazy, and gravity spells consumed spiritual energy at an elite level.

Luo De ended the lives of the two worms.

He was collecting their mouthparts.

As for that Land Naga, he had no interest unless she came after him first.

He thought so.

The Land Naga immediately walked toward him.

“Human sir, what an astonishing battle!”

She stepped forward openly, clapping her hands in praise.

Only then did Luo De get a clear look.

She was a Naga with four arms.

Not arranged like a spider’s legs, but two on each side, emerging from the shoulders—one forward, one back—appearing perfectly balanced, not at all unnatural.

Her attire consisted of two black cloths, each wrapped around a large white breast, with thin cords securing and guiding the rest, resembling a bikini from Earth.

Her snow-white, slender waist accentuated the extreme waist-to-hip ratio against her thick, serpentine lower body.

"It's not wise to approach someone alone in a labyrinth, beautiful Miss Naga."

Her long hair cascaded down to her waist, a strand resting between her large white breasts, bouncing lightly as she glided forward.

“True enough, but my judgment has never failed me. A gentleman like you would never lay hands on an innocent lady.”

Luo De chuckled softly, then introduced himself.

The Land Naga’s expression turned solemn, and she bowed with a distinctly tribal gesture.

“Mr. Luo De, I am Eve Skripconko Balar of the Mirror Desert, Princess of the Balar Clan. I humbly request your aid; upon success, I shall reward you with precious treasures and gold.”

“I’m afraid I can’t.”

“Why?”

“A princess alone in a labyrinth? The Snow Hill Evening News has too many cases of fraudsters posing as princes and princesses. I’m not a man driven by lust.”

Eve blinked, then flushed with indignation.

“Are you insulting me, Mr. Luo De?”

“Not at all—just caution when traveling alone.”

She took a deep breath, calmed herself, and said:

“I understand. Then we can sign a magical contract—payment upon completion.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work either.”

“?”

“I’m currently undertaking the Labyrinth Pass challenge.”

The monsters won’t come in just one wave.

The Labyrinth Pass marker will draw them out of their territories, one after another, toward Luo De.

Eve’s face bore a blend of Eastern and Western features—the kind once called “Western exoticism” in his past life.

Luo De scanned her serpentine body back and forth, unable to find any entrance at all.

Do Nagas reproduce asexually? That shouldn’t be right!

Eve was startled—this was the first time she’d met a human with a Labyrinth Pass.

But she didn’t care much; she actually held multiple Labyrinth Passes herself, and the challenge wasn’t difficult.

“I can assist you with obtaining the Pass. It’s not hard.”

The Naga Princess’s spiritual energy level appeared to be early sixth-rank; she wore a curved blade and a crossbow at her waist.

She bore battle scars—no mere ornament. After all, Land Nagas were a warlike, battle-hardened race.

At least she was better than Xia Li and Gaima.

“First, tell me the task and the reward.”

“I shouldn’t reveal this to outsiders, but given the circumstances, I’ll make an exception—the Mirror Desert Clan has suffered a coup. The rebels received massive support and seized the palace. I escaped in the chaos, but a group of pursuers still trails me.”

“Uh… a deposed princess?”

Luo De instantly lost interest in the quest.

What profit could a deposed princess offer? Compensation with her body? I’m not interested. Hmm… though the taste of a Naga… well, sampling it wouldn’t hurt.

Unconsciously, Luo De had opened a collection plan in his mind for all the continent’s races.

“I’m not deposed!” Eve snapped.

“Alright, alright.”

“My pursuers include four sixth-rank warriors, and they carry a batch of magic rings. I can’t handle them—I need your help.”

“Magic rings? Are you saying the Heavenly Flower Kingdom is backing the rebels?”

“Precisely. In recent years, the Heavenly Flower Kingdom’s magic ring technology has surged forward, production has skyrocketed, and their ambitions are emerging.”

Luo De suddenly turned his head—a high-temperature worm burst from the ground, leaping high.

His golden sword extended a beam of light, slicing it cleanly in two.

Hot blood rained down upon the earth.

“You see, I’m no ordinary fifth-rank high-tier. These fifth-rank monsters can’t even withstand two strikes from me. If the reward’s too low, I won’t take the job.”

She tossed him a magical satchel.

Luo De opened it, raising an eyebrow.

Nearly two thousand Jin Along, three or four pieces of metal that looked extremely rare, a series of potions radiating high-level magical energy, and more.

“This is the down payment. Upon completion, I’ll also give you a ninth-rank dragon scale. Mr. Luo De, dragon scales aren’t common.”

“Not enough.”

Eve clicked her tongue.

Damn it, this man is greedier than a Naga!

“I also want your body.”

In the shadows, Tally pinched him hard.

“You?”

She glanced at Luo De curiously, then her expression turned sultry.

“Do you know the Naga custom? One lifetime, one partner. That means you must become my husband.”

“Just once. I won’t bother you afterward.” Luo De smirked—he had no objection to a fleeting affair like Xia Li’s.

“Deal~”

“Straightforward!”

Soon, a magical contract was drawn up, and both signed their names, formalizing the agreement.

Watching Luo De’s wandering gaze over her body,

Eve silently sneered.

Greedy?

No one could ever be greedy on a Naga!

She idly flicked her jade bracelet—no one noticed its faint pulse of spiritual energy.

Then she smiled inwardly with confidence, shaking her head.

Foolish, shallow human.

I’m eagerly awaiting your expression when the magical contract is broken by my treasure at the mission’s end.

(End of chapter)