Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils

Terrifying magma and flames, accompanied by explosive roars, swallowed the ground where Yan Qingshan had been standing. White smoke and the pungent stench of sulfur filled the passage.

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake suddenly opened its grotesque jaws wide, spewing two enormous columns composed entirely of magma and flame like an erupting volcano. The surging pillars of molten fire shot toward Yan Qingshan across the pool.

Though he avoided the two pillars, the surging magma exploded within the passage. The scorching heat radiating from the scattered embers was almost unbearable even for Yan Qingshan and Qingling, who were hiding around the corner.

"Looks like this Fire Spirit Snake is truly enraged. Good. Magical beasts that haven't gone mad are much harder to deal with."

Yan Qingshan watched the torrent of molten magma flow toward him, blue light flickering in his eyes. This situation had gone somewhat beyond his expectations, but cautious as he was, he had arranged a retreat in case of failure from the very beginning.

After Yan Qingshan pulled Qingling onward and turned another corner, they found a slanted tunnel above their heads, barely half a meter wide. He sent Qingling up first, then darted in after her before the molten flow reached them.

At the distant mouth of the passage, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake before the pool slowly ceased spewing its columns of molten fire. The once frigid pool before it was now covered in rising white mist, and the bone-chilling underground lake had nearly been boiled, its waters becoming extremely hot.

"Hisss~~~"

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake hissed repeatedly but received no response. Just as it prepared to turn and leave—

A howling wind suddenly came from another direction. A stone struck one of its heads with perfect accuracy. Both heads turned at once, and on the other side of the pool, it saw that infuriating figure again.

"You're pathetic, little snake!!!"

Yan Qingshan struck all kinds of provocative poses, even twisting his backside toward the Fire Spirit Snake. Perhaps the Fire Spirit Snake was not as intelligent as a human, but it could still recognize such obvious provocation. Its fury instantly overwhelmed what little reason it possessed.

"Fire Spirit Snake, isn't this what you want? Come and get it!"

After taunting the Fire Spirit Snake to the utmost, Yan Qingshan produced a pale-purple fruit that gave off a rich fragrance.

The Purple Smoke Fruit was a specialty fruit of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Since it contained a small amount of Fire Attribute energy, the vast majority of fire-attributed magical beasts were quite fond of it.

This Purple Smoke Fruit was the finest among those Yan Qingshan had once found. Moreover, he had specially treated it, giving it an indescribable allure for Fire Attribute magical beasts.

Ordinary Purple Smoke Fruits possessed only a faint fragrance, but the one in Yan Qingshan's hand continuously emitted a strange scent that made one's stomach rumble with hunger.

The Anorexia Flower was a spiritual herb that could emit a peculiar fragrance, easily stirring a magical beast's appetite. The powder Yan Qingshan had scattered earlier contained ingredients from both it and the Purple Smoke Fruit.

After inhaling the powder, the Fire Spirit Snake's appetite had surged. The Purple Smoke Fruit's ingredients had also made its Fire Attribute spiritual energy more active. It was like someone who had taken drugs but failed to get satisfaction—of course it would relentlessly pursue Yan Qingshan.

After inhaling so much powder along the way, the Fire Spirit Snake was like a starving beast whose cravings had been awakened. Having also expended great amounts of energy by spewing magma pillars, then being repeatedly provoked by Yan Qingshan, how could it possibly restrain its impulses?

"Hisss~~~"

Its rage and craving for the Purple Smoke Fruit completely suppressed the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake's wariness toward the pool. Besides, after all its earlier efforts, the pool's temperature was no longer so low, and it no longer felt the initial discomfort. After shaking its massive heads and hissing, it quickly entered the water and charged toward Yan Qingshan.

"Here you go!"

Yan Qingshan flexibly spread his Purple Cloud Wings and took to the air. After tracing an arc to evade the Fire Spirit Snake's bite, he moved to the other side of the pool and flung two Purple Smoke Fruits in the respective directions of its two heads. Its desire for the fruits caused the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake to temporarily abandon its pursuit.

After the Fire Spirit Snake's two heads swallowed a Purple Smoke Fruit each and raised themselves again, it naturally had no intention of letting Yan Qingshan go so easily.

"There's more!"

Yan Qingshan had already flown to the opposite side of the pool. With a scattering motion like a celestial maiden showering flowers, specks of purple light flew from his hand as Purple Smoke Fruits were tossed out one after another. The Fire Spirit Snake reacted quickly, swallowing every single one.

When the Fire Spirit Snake once again came within ten meters of Yan Qingshan, its movements seemed to develop a problem. Though its entire body was Fiery Red and highly agitated, its swimming speed had noticeably slowed.

"The finest Drunken Dragon Grass feels good, doesn't it!"

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Yan Qingshan's mouth. Of course, he had not been delivering supplements specifically for the Fire Spirit Snake. The Purple Smoke Fruit and Anorexia Flower were merely the surface layer. Excited by those two ingredients, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake had failed to notice the third spiritual herb hidden within the powder and medicated fruits.

Drunken Dragon Grass was a miraculous herb capable of making humans or magical beasts fall unconscious. In truth, it was not harmful to either humans or magical beasts. After consuming it, one would merely feel exceptionally comfortable, sleep soundly, and awaken refreshed. It was an excellent sleep aid.

Thus, magical beasts were not very sensitive to Drunken Dragon Grass, because it was indeed nonpoisonous.

However, in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, it was extremely dangerous for magical beasts. After accidentally eating Drunken Dragon Grass, they could easily fall asleep, and in a dangerous place like the Magical Beast Mountain Range, once you fell asleep in the wilderness, you might never wake up again.

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake had inhaled a large amount of powder along the way and swallowed at least ten tampered Purple Smoke Fruits. It had also remained active in the water for so long. The medicine was finally taking effect.

Waves of drowsiness washed over it. Instinctively sensing that something was wrong, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake abandoned its pursuit of Yan Qingshan and turned to leave.

"You want to leave? Too late!!!"

Yan Qingshan had spent so long setting this up. Naturally, he would not let the Fire Spirit Snake leave just like that. "You've been swimming for so long, and your body is so hot! Let me cool you down!"

Several sacks suddenly appeared in Yan Qingshan's hands. He threw them one after another toward the pool, and just before hitting the surface, they exploded. Bag after bag of powder rapidly spread through the water, while a visible chill swept outward.

Yan Qingshan smiled as he watched from the air. A cold wind swiftly rose from the surging pool below. "This is specially refined Saltpeter Powder mixed with a first-tier ice-attributed Magic Core. I hope it gives you an unforgettable experience!"

"Hisss~~~"

The pool that had been heated up rapidly turned cold. Though it calmed the Fire Spirit Snake somewhat, it also slowed it down even further.

The Fire Spirit Snake hissed furiously, its massive tail thrashing wildly while its two mouths continuously spewed magma. Yet with every movement it made, more underground water froze into ice under the effects of the saltpeter ice powder. Yan Qingshan above continued scattering more powder, and even ice began forming on its tail. This drove it even more frantic.

"You have no chance left!"

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake struggled with great difficulty to reach the edge of the pool, but Yan Qingshan remained completely composed. Waves of serpent shadows crashed into its enormous body like a tide. The long-hidden rock serpent swarm delivered the final blow, knocking it back into the freezing pool.

"Hiss..."

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake's tail was completely frozen into the pool, and its two heads were covered in countless grains of Saltpeter Powder. What frightened it even more was the ceaseless drowsiness rushing over it like a tide.

Yan Qingshan landed upon the ice that radiated cold air. The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake's still-red-glowing heads whipped around, and it opened its huge mouths to hiss a warning at him not to approach.

Yet Yan Qingshan continued onward as if he had heard nothing. After taking two steps, he circled toward another direction. Though the Fire Spirit Snake remained wary, it did not rashly attack, because Yan Qingshan was still more than ten meters away. If it attacked carelessly and failed to land a hit, it no longer had much strength left to resist.

"Qingling, use the method I taught you!"

Yan Qingshan led Qingling out from another passage and pointed in the direction of the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, carefully instructing her on the details. Don't be fooled by how badly Yan Qingshan had outmaneuvered the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake.

In truth, even in its exhausted state, the Fire Spirit Snake's combat strength was no weaker than that of a Third-tier Magical Beast. If it truly launched a desperate final strike, it was not something Yan Qingshan could withstand. Thus, after probing it, he kept a safe distance.

"I understand, Young Master!"

Qingling also knew how long Yan Qingshan had planned for this day. In order not to disappoint him, she had to succeed. The girl slowly approached the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake. Perhaps because of the snakefolk bloodline within Qing Lin, the Fire Spirit Snake did not attack her directly, instead warily watching her movements.

"Hiss..."

The Fire Spirit Snake extended its scarlet tongue and hissed, warning this little snack—one it would normally find quite appealing—not to come any closer.

Yet the little snack before it showed no intention of stopping. Even after drawing near, she continued forward. Forming hand seals with both hands, Qingling used a special method to circulate all the Dou Qi in her body into her eyes.

"Feel it with your heart, then... subdue it... Young Master, I will succeed..."

Qingling's heart was filled with resolve. Within those emerald eyes, as clear and translucent as green jade, three tiny green dots suddenly emerged. The three green dots that appeared this time were clearer than ever before, and they underwent a wondrous change, seeming to resemble three tiny flower buds.

The three green dots in Qingling's pupils suddenly shone with a brilliant eerie light. In an instant, they transformed into three extremely tiny green flowers. As these strange green flowers emerged, an intense eerie radiance shot forth from them, enveloping the Fire Spirit Snake before her.

The Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake had originally been preparing to launch its final attack, but once it was illuminated by that strange eerie light, its massive body abruptly stiffened, and its two pairs of enormous eyes filled with terror.

The eerie light slowly moved across the Fire Spirit Snake's body before finally stopping at the center of the foreheads of its two heads. Once the light stopped moving, it began to shrink slowly. Yet as its range grew smaller and smaller, the light it contained grew increasingly brilliant.

The range of the eerie light became smaller and smaller until, in the end, it was only about the size of a palm. Once it had shrunk to that size, it stopped shrinking. As the eerie light flashed forth, two tiny green flowers were imprinted upon the Fire Spirit Snake's two heads.

After the flowers appeared, the eerie light gradually faded. A moment later, the tiny flowers in Qingling's pupils quickly dispersed, and in an instant, her eyes returned to their former emerald green.

But just as complete emerald flowers appeared in her eyes and she successfully formed a contract with the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, waves of pale green light silently spread outward. It was as though nothing had happened, yet it also seemed as if some signal had been transmitted.

Once her pupils returned to normal, Qingling's body swayed. Overcome by weakness, she nearly collapsed. The sound of wind came from behind her, and Yan Qingshan caught her in his arms.