Chapter 78: Wutan City!
Withdrawing his gaze, Jiang Yun looked at the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor, who was breathing more out than in, and quietly asked Qing Lin.
"Qing Lin, can you do it?"
Facing Jiang Yun's question, Qing Lin was a little nervous. This was a Tier 6 Magical Beast! In the past, she thought a Dou Grandmaster was the pinnacle of the world. Now, a Tier 6 Magical Beast, equivalent to a human Dou Huang, was about to be enslaved by her. Even though her worldview had been shattered several times in the past few days,
she still felt an incredible sense of disbelief!
"I can do it!" However, after feeling Jiang Yun's gaze, Qing Lin seemed to gain immense encouragement and nodded with a serious expression.
"Good, I'll help you!"
Jiang Yun smiled and nodded, placing his large hand on Qing Lin's head. Her soft hair brushed against his fingertips, making him reluctant to let go.
Feeling the warmth on her head, Qing Lin's pretty face flushed slightly. She turned to look at the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor on the ground.
Taking a deep breath, even though she inwardly cheered herself on not to disappoint Jiang Yun, when she truly faced the creature and saw its enormous body, she still felt a wave of oppression.
"Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil, Demonic Eye, open!"
Adjusting her state, Qing Lin's gaze firmly fixed on the white fangs. Her hands quickly blossomed like lotus flowers, forming intricate and mysterious seals. As her hand seals were formed, three small dots in the depths of her emerald green pupils emitted a demonic light.
The three small dots bloomed into three emerald green flowers, and at the central point where the three flowers touched, an eerie, chilling emerald green demonic pupil slowly opened, as if awakening!
"Roar—"
The fallen white fangs felt a strange fluctuation. Even though its body couldn't muster any strength, it still let out a weak roar of anger. How could a majestic Tier 6 ferocious beast be willing to be enslaved?
It immediately began to frantically resist, defending against the invasion of the Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil.
Feeling the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's resistance, Qing Lin's face turned a little pale, and drops of sweat began to appear on her forehead. The limited Dou Qi (Fighting spirit) in her body surged frantically towards her eyes.
Noticing Qing Lin's unusual state, Jiang Yun understood. It seemed that a Tier 6 creature was still too much for Qing Lin.
Indeed, even with diligent cultivation these past few days, she was still only a three-star Dou Zhe. A Dou Huang was indeed a bit too much.
(Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake: Are you being polite?)
"Soul Link!"
Immediately, Jiang Yun quickly formed hand seals. An inexplicable fluctuation spread from his glabella, radiating waves of oppressive aura.
At a certain moment, a vertical line suddenly split open on Jiang Yun's glabella, and a phantom purple chain swiftly shot out from it, heading towards Qing Lin.
"Mmm~"
As the purple chain landed on Qing Lin's head, a wave of comfort surged deep into her soul, immediately relaxing Qing Lin's previously furrowed brow.
"Guard your mind. I'll help you!"
Perceiving Qing Lin's state, Jiang Yun's voice directly transmitted through the chain into the depths of Qing Lin's soul.
Hearing Jiang Yun's voice, Qing Lin's heart immediately relaxed. Feeling their intertwined state, her pretty face flushed slightly. Was she taking a shortcut?
Amidst her wild thoughts, Qing Lin didn't forget the main task. With the enhancement of Jiang Yun's soul power, Qing Lin's Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil immediately shone brightly.
The violently struggling Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor seemed to sense something, and a trace of fear immediately rose in its heart. In its vision, an emerald green demonic eye, half a zhang in size, suddenly appeared.
Within it, three green flowers rapidly rotated, and a tingling sensation originating from the depths of its soul caused the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's tense body to slowly soften. The resistance and anger in its blood-red giant eyes also rapidly weakened.
The emerald green demonic eye, half a zhang in size, imprinted itself into the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's enormous pupils. The three rapidly rotating emerald green flowers emitted strange magical power, gradually diminishing the resistance and anger in the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's eyes.
As time passed, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's resistance grew weaker and weaker. Finally, the demonic pupil-within-a-pupil slowly rotated, and then a thumb-sized emerald green light beam suddenly shot out, striking the stiff Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor like lightning.
A palm-sized emerald green flower slowly appeared!
And with the appearance of the green flower, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor immediately performed what could be called an epic change of expression. The angry gaze it had moments ago was now replaced with a docile blankness.
"It succeeded!"
Zi Yan, who had already returned with the person she was carrying, said with a hint of surprise when she saw this scene.
Even seeing it again, Zi Yan still felt a surge of amazement. The Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil were truly overbearing. At this moment, even she felt a little envious of Qing Lin's talent.
"Don't underestimate yourself. Among the magical beast supremes of the ancient era, only the Ancient Void Dragon has survived to this day. You are not inferior to anyone!"
Jiang Yun slowly came to Zi Yan's side and said. In his opinion, the Green Snake Three-Flower Pupil and the Woeful Poison Body were indeed top-tier physiques on the continent, even surpassing the divine bloodlines of imperial clans.
However, limited by the resources of the Dou Qi Continent, their rate of improvement after reaching the Dou Saint level might not be able to surpass the latter.
"Of course! I'm the strongest!" Hearing Jiang Yun's encouragement, Zi Yan immediately said proudly.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun chuckled, then turned his attention back to Qing Lin's state!
"Whoosh—"
As the flower formed, Qing Lin also slowly closed her eyes. With several thuds, witnessed by Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, she leaped three levels, reaching the strength of a six-star Dou Zhe.
This speed was something even Jiang Yun couldn't match back then!
"Brother Jiang Yun, Sister Zi Yan, I'm a six-star Dou Zhe!" Qing Lin, having assimilated her rapidly increased strength, excitedly said to Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, her radiant smile impossible to hide.
Just over ten days ago, she was still a little beggar wandering the streets, an outcast reviled by everyone, living day to day, perhaps dying any time. But then, everything changed.
Jiang Yun became a beam of light in her dark life (Zi Yan: Am I not even worthy of a name?), giving her a new lease on life.
He also activated her talent, allowing her to reach six-star Dou Zhe in a short time, with an even wider sky awaiting her in the future. All of this was brought by Jiang Yun and Zi Yan, and she was very grateful to both of them.
"Qing Lin is really amazing!" Looking at the increasingly cheerful girl, Jiang Yun felt relieved. He and Zi Yan praised her without reservation, causing Qing Lin's blushing face to remain for a long time.
"Xiao Yun, how should we deal with this woman?" After dealing with the white fangs, Zi Yan now turned her gaze to Lü Man, whom she had knocked out and brought back.
"Hmm," Looking at the bloodied Lü Man, Jiang Yun silently considered her fate. Lü Man was human and couldn't be controlled by Qing Lin like the white fangs. They also didn't lack a Dou Huang-level subordinate, so should they just kill her?
Seeing the hesitation on Jiang Yun's face (as Zi Yan perceived it), Zi Yan immediately snorted in displeasure, her pretty face stern as she looked at Lü Man on the ground.
This woman's beauty was indeed not as good as her own, but her figure was undeniable. She exuded a mature aura, and with her robes torn and fair skin exposed, it added another layer of temptation.
Vixen!
Muttering an insult, Zi Yan grew even more displeased with Lü Man. Should she just kill her?
"I've got it!"
Meanwhile, after a moment of thought, Jiang Yun looked at Lü Man. He now had a plan for her.
"Got what?"
Facing Zi Yan's puzzled gaze, Jiang Yun pointed a finger, and a cluster of pure white flames slowly flew out, eventually landing on Lü Man's body.
"Mmm~"
A painful groan sounded as a complex rune quickly appeared on Lü Man's forehead, eventually slowly fading away.
"Let's go!"
After doing all this, Jiang Yun turned to Zi Yan and Qing Lin and said.
Though a little confused by Jiang Yun's actions, Zi Yan and Qing Lin trusted him unconditionally. They nodded without objection. As long as they didn't take the woman with them, Zi Yan didn't care.
"Brother Jiang Yun, Sister Zi Yan, let's ride Little White!" As they were about to set off, Qing Lin suddenly pointed at the enormous Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor following behind them and said with a smile.
"Haha, that's naturally good."
The two were slightly startled, then smiled and nodded. Jiang Yun's figure moved first, soaring onto the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's massive body. Behind him, the sound of rushing wind indicated Zi Yan, carrying Qing Lin, was also quickly following.
Under Qing Lin's control, the previously incredibly violent Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor was now extremely docile, showing no reaction to their actions.
When Qing Lin gave the command, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor's huge wings vibrated, and it abruptly ascended into the sky, then flew towards the distant horizon.
Not long after the three left, the fallen Lü Man also slowly opened her eyes, a white flame flashing in the depths of her gaze.
"Is this Wutan City?"
On a distant hill, a stern young man in white silently gazed at the city ahead.
Wutan City, an unremarkable name, was an insignificant presence in the Jia Ma Empire. As one of the smaller cities in the Jia Ma Empire, it was located in the northeast, between Black Flame City in the northern province, the Magical Beast Mountain Range in the northeastern province, and Black Rock City in the eastern province.
Backed by the Magical Beast Mountain Range and two large cities, Wutan City did not have many strong cultivators. The strongest in the city was merely a high-level Dou Grandmaster close to a Dou Ling. Within the entire Wutan City, the Xiao Family, the Jia Lie Family, and the Ao Ba Family, the three major families, controlled and divided most of the city's interests.
Wutan City originally only had the Jia Lie and Ao Ba families. However, ten years ago, the Xiao Family, once a first-rate family in the Jia Ma Empire, migrated here. Relying on its background as a former Dou Wang family, the Xiao Family immediately established itself in Wutan City, becoming one of the three major families.
By now, the Xiao Family was even the number one family in Wutan City, occupying more of the city's interests.
"I sense the aura of a Heavenly Flame, two of them. One of them is truly terrifying!"
Yun Yi closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, then spoke indifferently, his eyes revealing a greedy glint. He wished he could immediately snatch and devour the two Heavenly Flames!
But he knew that this matter was not urgent; at least, he was not yet qualified to touch the Golden Emperor's Burning Heaven Flame.
Entering the city, Yun Yi aimlessly walked down the street. Along the way, besides receiving many infatuated gazes, what he heard most was the legend of the Xiao Family's Third Young Master.
As a legend of Wutan City, Xiao Yan's deeds were familiar even to any child.
The Xiao Family's Third Young Master, who broke through to Dou Zhe at the age of eleven, was hailed as a once-in-a-century genius of the Jia Ma Empire, a future Dou Huang expert. However, this genius, who possessed the potential of a Dou Huang, fell three years ago!
Overnight, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi vortex vanished, and he regressed to three part Dou Qi.
Such explosive news kept Xiao Yan firmly at the top of the trending topics for three years. Wherever one went, one could hear discussions, speculating about the reason for his fall from Dou Zhe, with all sorts of bizarre versions circulating.
Yun Yi even learned that tomorrow was the Xiao Family's annual Dou Qi test. A strange glint flashed in his eyes. Was this a coincidence?
Was he about to witness the first famous scene of the Dou Qi Continent!
The next day.
Wutan City, Xiao Family, Dou Qi Test Magic Stone Stele Plaza.
Young men and women surged, and from time to time, a youth whose name was called would run to the central platform to test their Dou Qi (Fighting spirit).
Beside the testing magic stone stele, there was a middle-aged man responsible for announcing the information displayed on the stele.
"Xiao Mu, Dou Qi, Six stage, Level: Intermediate!"
"Xiao Hua, Dou Qi, Five stage, Level: Intermediate!"
"Xiao Ling, Dou Qi, Eight stage, Level: Advanced!"
"…"
In the vast bluestone training ground, over a hundred young men and women stood, and waves of clamor rose to the sky.
On the high platform to the left of the training ground sat some internal members of the Xiao Family. In the central area were the Clan Head Xiao Zhan and three elders, as well as some influential figures.
Looking at the vibrant young men and women below, the First Elder's face showed a happy smile. Especially when he saw his grandson Xiao Ning, the smile on his face became even more unconcealed. After smiling for a while, the First Elder suddenly spoke to Xiao Zhan, who was sitting next to him.
"The Young Clan Head is also here today. I wonder what 'excellent' performance the Young Clan Head will have later?"
Upon hearing the First Elder's words, Xiao Zhan's previously smiling face instantly stiffened. His hand hidden in his sleeve clenched tightly, and a flash of anger appeared in his eyes.
How could he not understand the First Elder's words? Who in Wutan City didn't know that Xiao Yan's Dou Qi (Fighting spirit) had mysteriously disappeared for some unknown reason, and he had been stuck at three stage of Dou Qi for three years? The First Elder bringing it up again today was clearly trying to embarrass Xiao Yan and him!
Beside them, the Second Elder, clad in a black robe, stroked his beard and silently added, "The Young Clan Head is the Xiao Family's number one genius in a hundred years! He should at least test at six stage… no, five stage of Dou Qi!"
"Presumptuous! I'm not dead yet; I'm still the Clan Head!"
Facing the First Elder and Second Elder's continuous direct attacks, Xiao Zhan was instantly enraged. His five-star Dou Grandmaster aura erupted, and he glared coldly at the two.
Under Xiao Zhan's gaze, the First Elder and Second Elder's faces stiffened slightly. Their strength was inferior to Xiao Zhan's, and being older, they had even less chance of winning against him.
Seeing Xiao Zhan's anger, the two exchanged glances, snorted, and stopped speaking.
Looking at the two who had temporarily shut up, Xiao Zhan also withdrew his aura with a grim expression, his gaze fixed on the young man in the crowd, his eyes filled with worry.