Cai Lin

Jiang Cheng said with a smile, "My apologies, Elder Lu Man, but Qing Lin is now my disciple. Naturally, I cannot hand her over to your Heavenly Snake Manor."

Upon hearing this, Lu Man's expression changed slightly. Mister Confucian Sage's disciple?

Back then, the First Elder had clearly said that Jiang Cheng enjoyed traveling the world and had no intention of taking disciples. Why had he now accepted Qing Lin as one?

Could it be that he was doing this to spite their Heavenly Snake Manor?

Elder Qing could not help frowning as well. Becoming Mister Confucian Sage's disciple was something envied throughout the entire Dou Qi Continent, yet a junior had beaten them to it.

It was indeed hard to believe.

Lu Man bit her lower lip lightly and said, "Sir, you know the elder's temperament. If she learns that you took away a girl with the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, she might..."

"If that day truly comes, let her come find me."

Jiang Cheng waved his hand. "If there is nothing else, Elder Lu Man may leave."

Elder Qing had wanted to say something, but Lu Man stopped her. Mister Confucian Sage's strength was terrifying beyond measure. Even the elder back then had avoided him whenever possible, let alone the two of them—a Dou Emperor and a Dou King.

The reason they had not taken Qing Lin away earlier was because they had not been certain whether she possessed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

For the sake of caution, they had hidden in Stone Desert City and observed her in secret. If things turned out as they suspected, they would take Qing Lin back with them.

Who could have expected Mister Jiang Cheng to intercept her halfway? He truly was impossible to fathom.

The two could only retreat to the side and watch helplessly as Qing Lin left before their eyes. All they could do now was report this matter to the elder.

One day later.

Northeastern Monster Mountain Range.

Four figures appeared there almost simultaneously. A breeze passed by, and the rippling lake reflected the dense growth of trees.

Queen Medusa took a deep breath. Sure enough, this was the true paradise of the Snake People Tribe.

If her people moved here, they would no longer suffer the pain of their bloodlines being scorched.

Hai Bodong said, "Jiang Cheng, I'll return to the Jia Ma Empire first. Once the pills are refined, send them to the Mite'er Auction House. I'll settle down there."

"You don't plan to stay here?"

Hai Bodong shook his head. "No. Because of my body, I have to return. Besides, those old fellows probably think I'm dead. If I don't go back, I'm afraid the world will forget about the Ice Emperor."

Seeing how insistent Hai Bodong was, Jiang Cheng did not try to persuade him further. Before he left, however, he promised that he would help refine the Fu Ling Zi Pill for him in the coming days.

Hai Bodong let out a Hearty Laugh and soared into the blue sky in high spirits, disappearing moments later.

Queen Medusa stood with one hand on her hip. "Now, you can refine the pills, right? This King can hardly wait to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm."

"The one-year agreement has not yet arrived. Don't be hasty."

Jiang Cheng was about to step forward when he stopped and smiled as he gazed at Queen Medusa's smooth, slender legs. "Now that you've become human, you can't keep using the name of a magical beast."

"How about Cai Lin?"

Medusa frowned. "Medusa is This King's name, as well as my identity. I don't need you to name me."

Jiang Cheng understood Queen Medusa's temperament and knew she had little interest in names. Still, she needed one. Otherwise, calling her Queen Medusa every time felt rather strange.

"You are human now, not half-human and half-snake. If you continue calling yourself Medusa, I'm afraid it will cause unnecessary trouble."

Queen Medusa's gaze flickered for an instant, but this time, she did not snap at him. With a flash of her figure, she transformed into a light and shadow and darted into the distance.

"Alright, then I'll call you Cai Lin from now on."

In the eastern Monster Mountain Range, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had now reached the Half-Step Dou Ancestor realm. With Master's Peach Blossom Wine to drink every day and the abundant Dou Qi in this place, his cultivation progressed twice as fast with half the effort.

The Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had also benefited greatly, its strength roughly at the level of a Five-star Dou King.

"Little Fire, go pick peaches with your sister." Xiao Yi Xian patted the Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's head and climbed onto its back.

After spending so much time together, Xiao Yi Xian and the Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had become very close. They often picked peaches to make wine, stole bird eggs, and then slept comfortably.

Roar~

The Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King responded with a low growl, carrying Xiao Yi Xian toward the area where the peaches grew most abundantly.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King glanced at his son, then lay back down helplessly and continued sleeping. It was normal for feline magical beasts to be lazy by nature. Every day, he needed eighteen hours of sleep to ease his exhausted body.

"Slacking off again."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King abruptly raised his head and discovered that three figures had appeared before him at some point.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's Pupils contracted. He hurriedly climbed to his feet and greeted them with a smile. "Master, you're back."

"I've missed you so much during this time." Like a giant cat, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King moved in for a cuddle, only to be refused by Jiang Cheng.

He had no interest in male magical beasts.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King also noticed the unfamiliar person. The moment he saw Queen Medusa, his face twisted fiercely. "It's you again—the Snake People Tribe's Expert, Queen Medusa!"

"Oh~" Queen Medusa raised a brow. "So it's you, big kitty. I thought there were many Purple Crystal Winged Lion Kings in the Monster Mountain Range."

"You know each other?" Jiang Cheng asked as he walked to the bamboo pavilion and poured himself a cup of fine wine.

"Know each other? We're practically... enemies among enemies!"

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King recounted everything that had happened back then. Many years ago, Queen Medusa had wanted to choose a good location for the Snake People Tribe, so she had set her sights on the Monster Mountain Range—specifically, his territory.

That battle had been earth-shaking, with blood and flesh flying everywhere. The Snake People and the Dou Wang magical beasts under his command fought a battle to the death, but without question, he had lost.

Still, he had managed to strike her with the Purple Crystal Seal, thus avoiding the risk of being killed.

Even so, he had suffered severe injuries and needed several full years of recovery before he finally healed.

Jiang Cheng had nearly pulled out some popcorn. He had never expected Queen Medusa to have such a glorious history.

"What is it, Kitten? Do you really think This King is no match for you?!"

In an instant, Blood Red Dou Qi surged forth like an endless roaring river. The overwhelming pressure made even the surrounding space fall silent.

Naturally, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King refused to be outdone. Before Queen Medusa, he transformed into human form, and likewise released the Dou Qi of his former purple flames.

When the two streams of Dou Qi collided, they were unexpectedly evenly matched, neither able to harm the other.