Liu Xi wrapped his arm around Qing Lin's slender waist and leaped with her into the depths of the Nine Serene Spring. Azure flames burst forth, swirling around their bodies and forming a dazzling ring of fire. The heavy waters of the spring swallowed them soundlessly; not a single ripple broke the surface, only faint waves spread outward as their figures vanished below.
Watching the surface still itself, Xiao Yixian glanced once toward the heavens, then lightly tapped the ground with her toes and followed suit, her figure rippling once before fading into the void.
Chi chi!
Beneath the surface, the fire surrounding Liu Xi and Qing Lin clashed violently against the bone-piercing cold of the spring water. The contrast between flame and frost tore through the silence, and Liu Xi could feel the fierce pressure mounting — his Dou Qi consumption rising sharply. Though still manageable for now, he knew the Nine Serene Springs' depth was unfathomable; he needed to move quickly.
His figure flickered as his speed surged, turning into a blurred afterimage slicing through the yellowish water. The further they descended, the thicker the frigid aura became, and even his circulating Dou Qi began to flow sluggishly under the oppressive chill.
He had to constantly release his Heavenly Flame to temper and protect his body, maintaining peak condition. Yet, the yin energy here was so pure and abundant that it resisted his control — impossible to refine or absorb.
'If only this were magma instead of ice water,' Liu Xi thought with faint irritation.
In his arms, Qing Lin's bright eyes darted about curiously, fascinated by the strange undercurrent of cold energy. Her serpentine bloodline granted her a higher tolerance than Liu Xi, but she still understood the strain he was under. Obediently, she remained nestled against him, motionless, afraid to cause any distraction.
As they dove deeper, the chill intensified, pressing down like a frozen mountain. Liu Xi's eyes glimmered with calm determination. The deeper they went, the stronger the resistance — and the closer they were to what he sought.
Suddenly, faint shadows stirred in the dark waters ahead. His spiritual perception expanded, locking onto several serpent-like figures — pitch black, scarlet-eyed, tongues flickering as they slithered toward him with frightening speed.
Without hesitation, Liu Xi clenched his fist and struck forward. The blast of Dou Qi tore through the heavy water, the force dulled yet still potent enough to shatter the nearest serpent into pulp.
But that one strike triggered a frenzy. Dozens more emerged from the murky depths, hissing wildly as their eyes glowed like embers, rushing him from all sides.
Liu Xi frowned. Fighting here would only consume energy unnecessarily — a poor choice in such terrain.
Before he could act again, Qing Lin's jade-like eyes flashed, and a strange green radiance bloomed within them. Her Jade Snake Three-Flowered Pupils shone with bewitching brilliance, rippling through the waters like a mesmerizing illusion. Instantly, the serpents froze mid-stride, their bodies swaying drunkenly before falling still, their wills subdued.
Qing Lin's ability was no simple trick — her Jade Snake Three-Flowered Pupils represented dominion over the serpentine race, the bloodline of kings among snakes. Even a casual exertion of her power could suppress all lesser serpents effortlessly.
Seeing this, Liu Xi's lips curved upward. He gave her a gentle pat and a thumbs-up. "Beautifully done."
Qing Lin giggled softly, joy sparkling in her emerald eyes. That delicate smile — alluring and bright — made her look even more enchanting.
For a heartbeat, Liu Xi's composure wavered. Her laughter, her warmth in his arms — it stirred his heart, but he forced himself to focus. Now was not the time for distractions.
With the serpents pacified, their descent continued swiftly. Before long, the dim yellow hue of the deep lakebed came into view — a vast stone basin strewn with silt and rubble, glowing faintly with eerie light from scattered stones.
"This should be the bottom of the Nine Serene Spring," Liu Xi murmured, scanning the area. 'If I'm not mistaken, the former chief of the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe, Yao Ming, should be sealed somewhere here — by his own brother, no less.'
He extended his spiritual sense, probing for any anomaly among the scattered stones and silt.
Then — a whisper, faint and broken, drifted through the water.
"...Save me… save… me…"
Liu Xi's eyes narrowed, a cold gleam flashing within. "Found you."
He extended his perception toward the sound, tracing it to its source — but as soon as he focused, the voice faded completely, as though it had never existed.
"Where could you be hiding…" he muttered, scanning downward. Logic dictated only one possibility — beneath the muck. Without hesitation, his palm thrust forward.
Huala!
The lakebed erupted as silt and gravel burst upward. Beneath the disturbed ground, a massive iron chain — nearly a hundred feet long — glimmered faintly in the dim light.
Liu Xi's lips curved into a cold smile. "There you are."
With a flick of his wrist, the chain trembled and rose, dragging against the earth with a deep rumble. The entire lakebed shook as three more colossal chains followed, each anchored into the surrounding stone walls. Together they converged toward a single point — the center.
There, buried beneath thick layers of black mud, something pulsed faintly.
Liu Xi's gaze sharpened. A sweep of his hand sent a surge of force outward, scattering the sludge and revealing what lay hidden beneath.
A withered human figure — skin clinging to bone like an ancient corpse.
"Though barely clinging to life, the strength once contained in this body is unmistakable. The most gifted of the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe… and the perfect candidate for a puppet."
A smile touched Liu Xi's lips.
The desiccated figure's eyes snapped open, hollow and crazed. His voice rasped like tearing metal. "Save me… save me! Free me, and I will make the entire Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe serve under your command!"
Liu Xi chuckled softly, unfazed by the desperate plea. He gave Qing Lin's waist a light squeeze and spoke with calm authority.
"Qing Lin, this is Yao Ming — the former chieftain of the Nine Serene Ground Python Tribe. Once a 2-Star Dou Saint, but now… even a Dou Zun could end him. Use your Jade Snake Three-Flowered Pupils to control him. Once you do, not only will your strength advance to the Dou Saint Realm, but this entire tribe will belong to us."
(End of Chapter)
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