Departure

Half a month later.

Pill Lightning gradually diminished until it finally ceased altogether.

This time, Elder Yao, Wei Yang, Xiao Yan, and Xian'er—four Alchemy Grandmasters—had worked together, leaving everyone in Starfall Pavilion utterly awestruck.

Colorful Pill Clouds blossomed one after another.

Once they were done, all four wore faintly weary expressions. They exchanged distant looks and smiled wryly. None had the energy for idle chatter, and each returned to rest.

The next morning, as the rising sun emerged.

Rumble~

The door to the secret chamber opened.

Wei Yang entered while carrying Wei Shuo in his arms. Behind him, the chamber door rumbled shut on its own.

After passing through a dim corridor, the view suddenly opened up at the bend ahead.

Green firelight filled the vast chamber, and dense vitality rushed toward them.

Splash, splash~

The sound of flowing water echoed slowly through the chamber.

Liquid-like Green Flame burned and swayed, gradually spreading out like a green lake with faint ripples on its surface.

A dark-red Nine-Headed Giant Serpent lay coiled within the "lake." Its eighteen snake eyes were shut as though it were asleep.

A tremendously powerful aura, along with a faint ferocious presence, seeped from its body.

"Ah!" Wei Shuo cried out at the sight. Her little hands hurriedly wrapped around her father's neck, her small face filled with nervousness.

"Don't be afraid. It's your mother." Wei Yang gently patted her back and smiled.

"Mother?" Wei Shuo blinked her dark eyes in confusion.

Why had Mother suddenly turned into a huge snake?

Wei Yang carried her closer.

At that moment.

The Nine-Headed Giant Serpent's eyelids twitched, and eighteen blood-red snake eyes slowly opened and looked over.

After a brief daze, the faint ferocity in those eyes swiftly receded. The nine snake heads lifted slightly as a clear, somewhat