Hearing the call for help, Lin Qiye accelerated. His figure blurred into a phantom as he sprinted through the narrow corridor at explosive speed. The floor trembled under the force of his steps.
As soon as he reached the floor, he flicked his wrist. Several buckets of water from his Minecraft inventory materialized instantly.
Whoosh—
A torrent cascaded across the hallway like a waterfall, sweeping over the floor. The tightly packed serpent offspring were caught off guard, knocked off balance as the current slammed them against the walls.
Hiss, hiss, hiss—
Angry shrieks echoed through the corridor.
Lin Qiye ripped off his sunglasses without hesitation. His deep, mesmerizing eyes were fully exposed, radiating an irresistible allure. He pushed [Transcendent Charm] to its absolute limit.
An invisible ripple spread outward.
Every serpent offspring in the corridor—including those spilling from the dorm rooms—was driven into a frenzy by the lethal temptation. Their pupils dilated, burning with naked greed and possessiveness.
Hiss—! Hiss—!
Their cries grew sharper, filled with primitive desire. Ignoring the rushing water, the monsters slithered toward Lin Qiye with terrifying speed. Claws scraped harsh grooves into the floor, and scales clattered against the walls.
The leading serpent lunged, jaws gaping wide, foul saliva dripping from its fangs. Its claws were inches from Lin Qiye when—
BOOM!
A thick wall of obsidian materialized instantly, sealing him off from the rampaging horde.
The leading serpent slammed headfirst into the barrier with a dull thud. Its skull burst on impact, green blood splattering across the obsidian surface. Behind it, the other monsters clawed and hammered at the wall, their talons leaving pale scratches across the impenetrable block.
Lin Qiye moved quickly.
Several TNT blocks appeared in the center of the tightly packed swarm.
"Sister Hong Ying!" Lin Qiye called.
Hong Ying understood immediately.
The spear in her hand was still burning with the flames of her [Rose-Fire Feathered Dress]. With a flick of her wrist, a spark leapt from the spear tip and landed perfectly on the TNT.
Sizzle—
The fuse ignited.
At the same instant, another obsidian wall rose between Hong Ying and the explosives.
A heartbeat later—
BOOM!!!
A deafening explosion drowned out every other sound in the corridor. Blinding light flooded the entire floor as the shockwave tore through the hallway like a tidal wave.
The serpent offspring never had the chance to scream.
Their bodies were shredded instantly, flesh and scales reduced to blackened fragments.
The air filled with the suffocating stench of burned meat and death. Green blood splattered across the walls, and a massive crater was blasted into the floor.
Before the smoke could clear, a rhythmic set of footsteps echoed from the stairwell.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The steps were light, yet unnervingly distinct in the silence.
An Qingyu stepped through the lingering smoke. He adjusted his glasses, the lenses reflecting the flickering glow of nearby flames.
Ignoring the gore and destruction around him, he crouched down and picked up a relatively intact charred fragment of a serpent monster.
His eyes lit up behind his lenses.
"Interesting. Truly interesting."
He began analyzing the remains almost immediately.
"Judging by the scale texture and density, this appears to be a variant of an ancient serpent species. The cranial structure suggests a high level of intelligence. And despite this degree of incineration, the body retained partial structural integrity… its vitality must be exceptionally strong."
Hong Ying and Si Xiaonan exchanged puzzled glances.
Who was this guy?
Drawing on his deep knowledge of the occult, An Qingyu reached a tentative conclusion.
"If my guess is correct… this is a legendary transcendent species."
Excitement crept into his voice.
At that moment, Wu Xiangnan's voice crackled through the communication device.
"Confirmed," he said through the static. "You've encountered the 'Nanda Serpent Monster,' an extremely rare and dangerous entity."
"They are masters of infiltration within human society. Using a unique form of mental infection, they 'seed' and control their offspring. Their intelligence, strength, and ability to exploit human desires far exceed those of ordinary monsters."
"And most frightening of all—they can perfectly imitate human behavior. Even those closest to them may fail to notice the difference."
Lin Qiye's brows furrowed.
The implications were deeply unsettling.
Further examination quickly confirmed a troubling fact.
Both the mutated dormitory manager and the swarm they had just destroyed were merely offspring of the Nanda Serpent Monster.
Given the creature's cunning nature, the main body had likely escaped during the chaos on the playground or the explosion inside the dormitory.
Hong Ying recalled what she had sensed during the battle.
"The main body probably fled toward the woods behind the school," she said. "That area is dense and rarely visited by students. I sensed a powerful aura heading in that direction earlier, but we couldn't pursue it at the time."
Si Xiaonan nodded.
"I felt it too. That aura was much stronger than these offspring."
Lin Qiye's eyes hardened.
If such a creature escaped into the city, the consequences would be catastrophic. With its terrifying reproductive ability and stealth, it could quietly infiltrate human society and spread without anyone realizing.
To end the threat completely, Lin Qiye made a bold decision.
He would use himself as bait again.
And this time, he would push [Transcendent Charm] to its absolute limit.
Lin Qiye removed his jacket, revealing a white undershirt stretched across his well-defined physique. He swept his hair back, fully exposing his face.
His flawless, godlike features were now completely unobstructed.
An Qingyu stared in fascination.
Drool nearly slipped from the corner of his mouth—not because of the charm, but because of the overwhelming urge to dissect such a perfect specimen.
"Qiye, this is too dangerous," Hong Ying said, worry filling her voice.
"It'll be fine," Lin Qiye replied calmly. "This is the only way to lure it out."
He began patrolling the campus.
Lin Qiye walked along the main road as if on an ordinary stroll, yet his beauty and divine aura swept across the area like an invisible storm.
Sunlight illuminated his face, making his already striking features even more breathtaking.
Hidden serpent offspring emerged from every corner of the campus.
One disguised as a janitor lunged from the library shadows.
Two burst through the doors of the gym equipment room.
A window shattered in an abandoned classroom as another creature hurled itself out.
They rushed toward him like iron filings drawn to a magnet, their eyes burning with manic desire.
But every threat was eliminated instantly.
Lin Qiye, Hong Ying, and Si Xiaonan worked together with flawless coordination, purging the monsters wherever they appeared.
By the time they reached the arts building—an area with very little foot traffic—Lin Qiye suddenly stopped.
His sharpened mental perception had detected something.
A powerful aura.
Unlike the offspring they had encountered before.
Cold. Viscous. Saturated with boundless greed and primal possessiveness.
It felt like the gaze of a monstrous beast lurking in the abyss, locked firmly onto him.
The sheer intensity of the aura surpassed all the offspring combined.
Deep inside the silent arts building, something enormous had been awakened.
Hum—
A low vibration resonated from within the structure.
It was faint, almost imperceptible, yet it sent chills through the soul.
Malice and hunger poured outward, targeting Lin Qiye.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Hong Ying and Si Xiaonan sensed it at the same moment.
"Found it."
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