Mount

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's serpent-man body lay limply on the ground. The overwhelming might of a Dou Huang had vanished completely, and even the Dou Qi Wings behind his back could no longer be maintained.

"Impossible!"

He clenched his fists in disbelief. Forget a Dou Huang—at this moment, the strength of his aura and Dou Qi was no more than that of a Da Dou Shi!

It was not just his Dou Qi. His physical body was completely numb as well. That terrifying body of a Sixth-tier Monster Beast was now utterly weak and powerless, as if it did not belong to him at all.

After struggling slightly, the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor decisively shut his eyes and examined the state of his body. A moment later, he opened them again and nearly ground his teeth. "That damned bastard... it's a sealing technique!"

But when had he been hit?

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor was utterly baffled. Only a few minutes had passed since his appearance, and he had exchanged merely a handful of moves with Lin Ran. Lin Ran had not even attacked him directly. So when had the sealing technique been placed on him?

Even if a Dou Zong was stronger than a Dou Huang, there should not have been such a vast difference, right? Without a sound, without even the slightest fluctuation of Dou Qi, he had been sealed just like that?

Wait!

As if he had thought of something, the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's gaze suddenly shifted from Lin Ran in midair to Green Yi in the distance.

It was that Demon Transformation Pill!

Only the Demon Transformation Pill could have done it. The only thing that could have silently inflicted a seal upon him was that Demon Transformation Pill!

White Fang glared furiously, but he did not speak aloud. Instead, he used voice transmission to roar into Lin Ran's ear, "You tampered with that Demon Transformation Pill! You cunning human! You're an alchemist—how could you tamper with a medicinal pill?!"

That reaction was rather surprising.

"They say the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor is incomparably cunning, with wisdom almost demonic. You really are somewhat interesting."

"But this method of stalling for time is meaningless. You should just stay here obediently."

Lin Ran's calm words froze the expression on the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's face. Since he had already been seen through, he could not be bothered to keep pretending.

"You may be a Dou Zong, but Green Man is no weakling. With her speed, flying at full force, she should have long since vanished without a trace."

"The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils are something Heavenly Snake Mansion is determined to obtain. You should give up!"

"Is that so?"

Lin Ran chuckled softly, took a step forward, and vanished directly before the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's eyes.

"Th-this..."

"The might of a Dou Zong is beyond our understanding."

Green Yi slowly came to White Fang's side and sighed softly. "I suspect Lord Lin Ran may even be stronger than our sect master. That is why I did everything I could to stop Green Man from becoming enemies with Lord Lin Ran."

"He is too strong, whether in terms of foundation, personal strength, or status and background."

"If we become his enemy—or if Heavenly Snake Mansion becomes his enemy—we have no chance of victory whatsoever. It is only that Green Man has been blinded by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and can no longer see reality clearly."

"Hmph!"

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor snorted. Although he agreed with Green Yi's words at this moment, prideful as he was, he would never lower his head to her.

He was already meat on the chopping block, able only to let that human brat slaughter him at will. He could only hope that Green Man would...

"Thud."

The dull sound instantly dragged the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's inner musings back to reality. Under his stunned gaze, Lin Ran, who had just left moments ago, had already returned, cradling a young girl in his arms.

And on the ground before him lay a corpse that no longer showed any signs of life.

"Gulp..."

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor swallowed. What kind of power was this? In an instant, he had hunted down and killed a Seven-Star Dou Huang, yet he remained so composed, as though crushing an ant were no more difficult.

Just who was this human brat...

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor stared at the corpse on the ground and fell silent.

He was not some brainless brute. The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor had risen through cunning and intelligence; otherwise, he could not have become an elder of Heavenly Snake Mansion. After consuming the Demon Transformation Pill, he had fully gained human intelligence.

All at once, he seemed to understand Green Yi's words.

The power held by this seemingly young boy was simply not something he could contend against, nor was it something those so-called great powers of the Northwest Continent could contend against.

This person either came from one of those ancient sects that had remained hidden from the world, or he came from beyond the Northwest Continent!

"Will you not kill me?"

"Do you want to die that badly?"

Lin Ran asked in return.

He gently held Qing Lin, his tone calm.

This little girl was small and light, yet she had perfectly inherited the strengths of both humans and serpent-people. Though still young and immature, she was rather well-developed.

Her bonelessly soft figure, paired with her adorable and delicate oval face, somehow gave Lin Ran the impression of a porcelain doll. Unable to help himself, he reached out and pinched Qing Lin's little cheek.

"You are merely a Sixth-tier Monster Beast. If you were a Seventh-tier Monster Beast, I might have some interest in your Magic Core."

"Rather than kill you, I may as well leave you for this little girl."

Leave him for this little girl...

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor looked at Qing Lin in Lin Ran's arms and immediately understood what Lin Ran meant.

Legend said that the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were the nemesis of all snake-type Monster Beasts. This fellow wanted him to become this little girl's pet!

In an instant, the scales all over the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's body nearly stood on end. But soon, like a deflated ball, he collapsed back onto the ground.

What good would resisting do? Green Man's fate had already made everything clear. Not being directly killed by Lin Ran was already the best outcome possible. Obediently doing as he was told was the best choice now.

"A clever little snake."

Lin Ran smiled faintly. He liked speaking with clever people most.

Crimson-gold Dou Qi gathered in Lin Ran's palm. Immediately afterward, an invisible energy surged from between his brows and fused with the Dou Qi in his hand. Under the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor's terrified gaze, it entered his body directly.

The Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor immediately let out a shrill scream. It felt as though ten thousand steel needles were piercing his head while blazing molten lava was being poured over it. The pain was unbearable!

Fortunately, the intense pain came quickly and left just as quickly. Within a few breaths, it had completely faded. Even so, the Eight-winged Black Snake Emperor was drenched in sweat, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.

"This is..."

Still shaken, he touched his forehead. Beneath his spiraling horn, a scorching mark had already fused deep into his dark snake scales.

Lin Ran casually waved his hand, sending a surge of immense Dou Qi into White Fang's body. White Fang's aura, which had fallen to that of a Da Dou Shi, immediately began to rise. Within a few breaths, the aura of a Six-Star Dou Huang reappeared.

"For some time to come, I will be staying in the Northwest Continent. You can be my mount."