Chapter 41: The Triumph of the Three-Flower Pupils

Page (1/3)

A mysterious creature burst through the magma, its shrill hissing echoing through the depths and making their eardrums ache.

The slowly churning magma was stirred into frenzy. Pillars of molten fire shot skyward, crashing against the rocks overhead before splashing back down. It was as though a rainstorm of magma and flame had begun—a spectacular sight indeed.

Only after the scene had somewhat calmed did the four of them finally see what had caused it all.

It was a two-headed serpent whose entire body was nearly indistinguishable in color from the magma. One body, two heads, and four enormous diamond-shaped pupils—filled with rage born of some unknown source—stared fixedly at the four people standing at the mouth of the passage.

“The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent usually grows in places of extreme heat and survives by devouring magma. Its potential for evolution is tremendous. When newly born, it is merely a first-tier magical beast, but with sufficient fortune, it may one day evolve into a sixth-tier magical beast comparable to a Battle Emperor. Look at the scales on its back—they’re badly shattered. This fellow was probably given a casual beating by Queen Medusa and has come here to vent its fury on us.”

Tengshan clicked his tongue, not the least bit nervous.

He had already seen that the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent was currently no more than the equivalent of a fourth-tier magical beast.

Leaving aside Hai Bodong and himself, even Chen Xiao, a nine-star Great Battle Master, would face little danger dealing with it alone.

“It is hardly a formidable magical beast. There is no need to concern ourselves with it,” Hai Bodong said indifferently.

He was a professional when it came to displaying his power before others.

Without giving Tengshan a chance to act, Hai Bodong spread the wings behind him and took one step forward. In an instant, he appeared before the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent. As battle energy surged, a whirling ice storm took shape, poised to strike at the serpent’s heads.

“Elder Hai, spare its life!”

Chen Xiao hurriedly called out. If the Fire Spirit Serpent were slain in a single blow, would he not have brought Qinglin here for nothing?

Besides, no one knew how deep the magma below went. It would be quite difficult for Hai Bodong to search alone for the place where the Green Lotus Core Flame had been born. With the Fire Spirit Serpent to lead the way, things would undoubtedly be much simpler.

Hai Bodong did not reply. He merely shifted the target of his whirling ice blades from the serpent’s heads to its body.

“Take this as a lesson. Perhaps next time you’ll think twice before baring your fangs at anyone.”

At a thought from Hai Bodong, the icy storm surged wildly. Brilliant yet frigid blades of ice swept the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent into their midst. The extreme cold caused even the surface of the magma below to solidify for several moments, as though frost had descended from the heavens.

Hai Bodong paid no further attention to the battlefield and turned away with complete confidence.

“Boom!”

Behind him, the enormous body of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent crashed stiffly onto the newly frozen magma. Countless scales across its body had shattered, and fine streams of blood seeped from between them.

A single strike from a Battle Emperor was nothing short of a catastrophe to a human or magical beast of Battle Spirit level.

Returning to the mouth of the passage, Hai Bodong lightly swept back his sleeve, his expression as calm as still water.

At the perfect moment, Tengshan shot forward. Displaying the might of a Battle King, he forcibly dragged the rigid Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent out of the magma and laid its two half-conscious heads upon the small platform at the passage entrance.

“Thank you, Chief Tengshan,” Chen Xiao said, stepping aside to make room for the girl who had been following closely behind him.

“Qinglin, don’t be afraid. Focus your mind and stare into its eyes.”

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

Chen Xiao did not really understand how to activate the Jade Serpent Triple Flower Eyes, so he could only begin with the simplest possible method.

With Hai Bodong and Tengshan present, there was no need to worry about the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent suddenly lashing out.

Although Qinglin did not understand, she obediently nodded and walked forward courageously.

As the girl drew closer, the badly wounded Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent’s body trembled faintly. Yet before it could make a move, it sensed two murderous gazes locking onto it.

It did not dare move. It truly did not dare move.

Qinglin’s hesitant footsteps fell again, and determination appeared upon her small face.

This was the first time Chen Xiao had asked her to do something. Though she did not know what she was supposed to accomplish, she told herself that she had to complete it without the slightest deviation.

Soon, Qinglin stood only a yard away from the Fire Spirit Serpent.

Following Chen Xiao’s instructions, she concentrated with all her might, widening her eyes and staring directly into the serpent’s four pupils.

Beside her, Chen Xiao watched carefully. Hai Bodong and Tengshan also observed with curiosity, eager to learn his purpose.

For a time, the only sound echoing through the underground space was the gurgling of the churning magma.

The seconds passed. Then, all at once, Hai Bodong let out a soft exclamation. Tengshan revealed an astonished expression, while a smile rose upon Chen Xiao’s face.

They had all noticed that, as Qinglin grew increasingly focused and entered a deeper state of concentration, three tiny green dots gradually became distinct beside her emerald pupils. They seemed to be slowly enlarging, resembling three miniature flower buds.

The Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent, forced to meet her gaze, grew less rather than more intelligent. Its eyes became filled with confusion and dullness, tinged with a trace of fear.

Finally, at a certain moment, the three green dots within Qinglin’s eyes suddenly blazed with a ghostly radiance. In an instant, the three tiny buds bloomed, transforming into three minuscule green flowers.

As those eerie green flowers emerged, an intense ghostly light suddenly shot from her eyes and fell upon the Fire Spirit Serpent before her.

The strange radiance slowly moved across the serpent’s body before finally stopping at the center of the foreheads of its two heads. It gradually contracted, transforming into two tiny green floral marks that were imprinted upon the serpent’s heads.

Only then did the small flowers within Qinglin’s eyes rapidly fade away, leaving them as they had been before.

After completing everything against her own control, Qinglin suddenly felt as though all the strength had been drained from her body. Her knees weakened, and she began to fall.

Chen Xiao caught her with quick reflexes.

“My lord… did we… succeed?”

Qinglin was not foolish. Realizing that what had just happened might have been the result Chen Xiao wanted, she revealed a joyful smile upon her slightly pale face.

Chen Xiao nodded. Glancing at the foolishly prone Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent nearby, he smiled and said, “Qinglin did wonderfully. From now on, this big fellow is your pet.”

Only then did Qinglin discover, to her amazement, that she seemed to share a bond with the creature.

It was as though their senses were linked and their hearts connected.

“What extraordinary eyes. This girl has only just begun cultivating, yet she is already capable of enslaving a fourth-tier magical beast. Tsk, tsk. Even I have never heard of such a thing.”

Having witnessed everything from beginning to end, even Hai Bodong could not help exclaiming in astonishment.

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Tengshan was even more stunned, standing there with his mouth agape.

To think that she could enslave a fourth-tier magical beast while still at the Battle Power stage. If she became even stronger…

Hiss.

He did not dare imagine it.

In an instant, the two men understood why Chen Xiao valued Qinglin so highly.

Meanwhile, after hearing Chen Xiao’s words, Qinglin began experimenting curiously. With no more than a thought, the foolishly sprawled Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent seemed to awaken from a dream. Its body trembled, and it suddenly shrank to a foot in length before darting affectionately to Qinglin’s side and rubbing her arm with its two tiny heads.

Qinglin seemed to have received a new toy. She kept ordering the Fire Spirit Serpent to sway from side to side, and when she saw how obediently it obeyed, the smile on her face grew even brighter.

“Qinglin, have it take Elder Hai to the place where the Green Lotus Core Flame was born—the place in the magma that is clearly different from its surroundings.”

Chen Xiao seriously suspected that the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent did not know what the Green Lotus Core Flame was, so he slightly altered the way he explained it.

Qinglin nodded and immediately issued the command through their mental link.

The next moment, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent darted toward the magma. Its body swelled once more, returning to its former size.

“That is indeed a good method. I’ll go take a look.”

Hai Bodong chuckled. Using his formidable battle energy, he condensed a barrier of ice around himself before following the serpent into the magma.

“Elder Hai, if you manage to find that Earth Core Lotus, don’t uproot it.”

Hai Bodong nodded. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gradually sank into the magma.

Chen Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and helped Qinglin, whose strength had not yet fully recovered, to sit down nearby and rest.

All that remained was to wait patiently.

One hour passed, then two…

After roughly two and a half hours, Qinglin, who had already recovered most of her strength, sensed something first.

“My lord, they’re coming back!”

The moment Qinglin finished speaking, Chen Xiao and Tengshan saw the surface of the magma begin to surge.

In the next instant, Hai Bodong burst from the magma, standing atop the reluctant Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent.

Knowing that Chen Xiao was eager to learn the outcome, Hai Bodong did not keep him in suspense. With a turn of his hand, an exquisitely formed green lotus platform appeared before them.

Page (3/3)