Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor

"There's another Magical Beast. Why don't you call it out?"

Qingling suddenly turned to look in another direction. Yan Qingshan turned at the same time. Although the movement there was faint, he had spent the past few days in this valley and had long grown familiar with the changes in most of its vegetation. Such subtle activity could not escape his notice.

"This brat's senses are terrifyingly inhuman. I told you we wouldn't be able to hide from him."

A gruff voice sounded from one side, and a figure sprang out from the distant undergrowth.

A massive beast nearly ten zhang long abruptly soared into the sky before flying toward them. Its enormous shadow blanketed a wide stretch of ground. It was twice the size of the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, and its aura was even more terrifying.

The beast's body was extremely long and slender, resembling a snake-type Magical Beast. Yet its flying speed was terrifyingly fast. With a twist and sway of its huge tail, it seemed to teleport, flashing several times before arriving not far from the woman in green.

As the beast drew near, Yan Qingshan and the others saw its full appearance. It truly was a giant snake, its jet-black body marked with streaks of colorful patterns that made it look rather strange.

Even more astonishingly, eight black wings tinged with purple grew from either side of the giant snake's body. A black, spiraling horn also protruded from its head, with a faint purple gleam flickering at its tip, clearly concealing potent venom.

The faint colorful markings on the snake's body vaguely outlined the shape of a crown around its head. Its triangular pupils were filled with a shrewd, cunning intelligence like that of a human.

"Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor!"

Yan Qingshan's expression turned grave. After glancing at Qingling beside him, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, only to frown deeply again.

The Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor was a gifted exotic beast, the evolved form of the Third-tier Magical Beast, the Two-winged Black Snake. Starting from the third tier, it gained an additional pair of wings with every tier it advanced. Once it reached eight wings, it became the notorious sixth-tier Magical Beast of the continent—the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor.

"Kid, you do know your stuff. I could already tell you weren't simple. Looks like I guessed right!"

The Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor flicked its enormous forked tongue, its snake eyes reflecting Yan Qingshan's figure. Its attitude clearly held no goodwill.

A sixth-tier Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor could speak human language and possessed intelligence no less than a human's. Ordinary methods were already useless against it, while the woman in green was no ordinary Dou Emperor either.

With the two working together, even with the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake on Yan Qingshan's side, they had no chance of winning.

"You must be Lv Man, the Serpent Spirit User of Heavenly Serpent Mansion. I think we can talk."

Yan Qingshan withdrew his gaze from the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor and looked at the woman in green. These two sudden arrivals perfectly matched the pair from Heavenly Serpent Mansion that he remembered operating in this region: the Serpent Spirit User Lv Man and the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor, White Fang.

Because of what had happened with Mo Cheng, Yan Qingshan had long been mentally prepared for someone to come looking for him. These two were also the ones who took Qingling away in the original story. However, their methods were simple and brutal—they would simply abduct her. That obviously did not suit Yan Qingshan's intentions.

"Talk? Little brother, don't you think you're speaking without much confidence?"

Lv Man cast Yan Qingshan a seductive sidelong glance, then shifted her gaze to Xuelan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qingling behind him. "Little brother has good taste. These little girls are all fine prospects!"

Yan Qingshan took a deep breath and calmed himself. He stared at Lv Man before suddenly saying coldly, "Qingling, listen to me. Circulate your Dou Qi into your eyes. If anyone tries to approach you again, destroy your own eyes."

As soon as Yan Qingshan said this, the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor slowed its movements. Lv Man's smiling expression faded, while Xuelan and Xiao Yi Xian both tensed. Qingling, meanwhile, looked nervous and serious.

"Yes, Young Master. Qingling understands!"

Qingling looked stubborn as she gathered her Dou Qi into her eyes while speaking. The reflection of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils became increasingly clear. Seeing that she was truly doing it, Lv Man genuinely panicked.

"Little girl, stop! Do you know what you're doing? Why listen to that bastard?"

Lv Man wanted to step forward, but Crimson Serpent watched her like a hawk. The fifth-tier Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake could not hold her and the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor back for long, but that brief moment would be enough for Qingling to destroy the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

Yan Qingshan remained composed and spoke calmly. "I know you came for Qingling and value her talent. This matter was not something we couldn't discuss, but I'm very unhappy with your approach. Now back off. Retreat ten zhang."

"You!"

Lv Man stared at Yan Qingshan, utterly unable to understand where this brat, who was at most a Dou Master, found the nerve to order around a Dou Emperor like her. But seeing Qingling preparing to act again at Yan Qingshan's gesture, she exchanged a look with the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor and retreated several paces, stopping ten zhang away.

"Very good. Now we can talk properly."

Yan Qingshan said they could talk, yet he did not tell Qingling to stop. Lv Man and the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor did not dare make any unnecessary moves for the moment.

"You can take Qingling away. Whether you can persuade me depends on the price you offer. Qingling is my maid, so even if... there has to be an appropriate price, right?"

A flash of disgust passed through Lv Man's eyes. She had originally somewhat admired Yan Qingshan's courage, but seeing him now bargaining over benefits with the face of a merchant immediately increased her aversion.

Lv Man spoke to Qingling again, trying to persuade her. "Little girl, did you hear what he said? In his heart, you are nothing more than a tool, a commodity. Is he really worth your devotion and trust like this...?"

Qingling's small face was full of grievance, but she stubbornly said, "Shut up! You're not allowed to speak of Young Master that way! I won't object to any of Young Master's thoughts or arrangements. I'll listen to Young Master in everything."

"You—"

Lv Man was left speechless. Seeing Yan Qingshan's calm and unhurried expression, the matter seemed to have reached a dead end. The two sides remained locked in confrontation for nearly half an hour before Lv Man finally decided to lower herself and speak with Yan Qingshan.

Lv Man said helplessly, "Kid, you win. Let's talk. What conditions do you have before you'll let this little girl leave with us?

"Since you know of our Heavenly Serpent Mansion, you should have looked into us beforehand. Only by going to Heavenly Serpent Mansion can this little girl fully develop all her talents. Handing her over to us would be for her own good."

"Heh, what a joke. Don't try to fool me with such sanctimonious nonsense."

Yan Qingshan looked disdainful as he said coldly, "Of course I know Qingling's talent. I was the one who helped awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Even without you, I can nurture her perfectly well.

"A loyal subordinate who can at least become a Dou Zong, and you're talking such nonsense to me? It seems you truly have no sincerity at all!"