Early in the morning, Qing Lin walked out of her quarters.
Several mercenaries had gathered in the courtyard, talking loudly.
"Have you heard? The two captains have broken through to Dou Emperor."
"Dou Emperor? Who told you that?"
"The brothers on duty last night heard it with their own ears. The two captains broke through in the back courtyard. You could feel that aura from far away."
"My heavens, what does being a Dou Emperor even mean? There can't be many in the entire Jia Ma Empire."
"Exactly. And I heard the pill was refined by Young Master Xiao Yan—a seventh-grade pill."
"Seventh-grade? How old is Young Master Xiao Yan?"
"Fifteen."
"A fifteen-year-old seventh-grade alchemist? Are you joking with me?"
"Why would I joke about that? It's true. The two captains said so themselves."
Qing Lin stopped in her tracks, her eyes full of shock.
Earlier, she'd heard Xiao Yan say he would refine pills to help the two captains improve their strength, but she hadn't expected it to happen so quickly.
And they hadn't become Dou Wang—they'd become Dou Emperor.
A fifteen-year-old youth had refined a seventh-grade pill and helped two people break through directly to Dou Emperor.
Who would believe such a thing if they heard it?
But there was no denying the two captains' strength.
Qing Lin murmured to herself, her admiration for Xiao Yan growing even stronger.
She crossed the courtyard and headed toward the main hall.
As she rounded the corridor, she happened to see Xiao Yan approaching from the other side.
"Young Master Xiao Yan." Qing Lin quickly bowed.
Xiao Yan nodded. "You're up."
"Mm." Qing Lin hesitated, then said, "Young Master Xiao Yan, I heard the two captains broke through to Dou Emperor."
"That's right."
Qing Lin's eyes lit up. "The pills really were refined by you?"
"Mm," Xiao Yan replied calmly.
Qing Lin opened her mouth, unsure what to say.
Her admiration for Xiao Yan was beyond words.
Just then, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li came out of the hall.
"Third Brother," Xiao Ding said.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother," Xiao Yan replied.
Qing Lin looked at the two captains and carefully sensed the auras around them.
Their auras were countless times stronger than before. Just standing near them made her feel a sense of pressure.
"The two captains really did break through to Dou Emperor," Qing Lin couldn't help asking.
Xiao Li smiled. "We have Third Brother to thank."
Qing Lin turned to look at Xiao Yan, her eyes filled with even greater admiration.
"Third Brother, what are your plans for today?" Xiao Ding asked.
Xiao Yan fell silent for a moment, then said, "There's something I need to take care of."
"What is it?" Xiao Li asked.
"I'm looking for something," Xiao Yan said. "I'll need Qing Lin's help."
Qing Lin froze.
"Me?" she asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Xiao Yan said. "Your constitution is special. You're the only one who can help."
Qing Lin was so flattered that she didn't know what to say.
A powerful person like Young Master Xiao Yan actually needed her help.
"Tell me what to do, Young Master Xiao Yan. I'll do my best," Qing Lin said quickly.
"Do you know about Heavenly Flames?" Xiao Yan asked.
Qing Lin shook her head.
"Heavenly Flames are the most powerful flames in the world, something alchemists dream of obtaining," Xiao Yan said. "I'm looking for one called the Green Lotus Core Flame."
Qing Lin didn't quite understand, but she nodded firmly.
"The Green Lotus Core Flame is usually hidden deep underground, so it's very hard to find," Xiao Yan said. "But your Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can sense where the Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake is."
"The Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake?" Qing Lin asked.
"It's a magical beast that likes to stay near Heavenly Flames," Xiao Yan said. "If we find it, we'll find the flame."
Qing Lin understood. "You mean you want me to sense where the Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake is."
"That's right," Xiao Yan said.
"I don't know if I can do that..." Qing Lin said, lacking confidence.
"I'll teach you," Xiao Yan said.
Xiao Ding stepped forward. "Third Brother, we'll come help too."
"Right, many hands make light work," Xiao Li added.
Xiao Yan shook his head. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, stay here. Qing Lin is all I need."
Xiao Ding was about to say more, but Xiao Li stopped him.
"Listen to Third Brother," Xiao Li said.
Xiao Ding nodded and didn't insist.
Outside Desert Rock City stretched a desolate expanse of rocky wasteland.
Xiao Yan and Qing Lin stood before a fissure. The darkness below swallowed the light, and they couldn't see the bottom.
Qing Lin peered down and felt a little uneasy.
"Are you scared?" Xiao Yan asked.
Qing Lin shook her head. "With you here, Young Master Xiao Yan, I'm not afraid."
Xiao Yan nodded. "Close your eyes and feel the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils inside you."
Qing Lin drew a deep breath and closed her eyes.
She could sense a strange force within her, but she didn't know how to use it.
"Don't rush. Take it slowly." Xiao Yan's voice was calm. "That power is inside you. Try to guide it."
Qing Lin followed Xiao Yan's instructions and tried to guide the power within her.
But it was as if something had trapped it. No matter what she did, she couldn't draw it out.
"I... I can't do it." Qing Lin opened her eyes, dejected.
"Try again," Xiao Yan said.
Qing Lin gritted her teeth and closed her eyes again.
This time, she calmed herself and carefully sensed that power.
Slowly, she felt it begin to loosen.
A warm breath welled up from within her, and her eyes began to heat.
When she opened her eyes, three jade-green spots appeared in her pupils.
The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had awakened.
"I did it!" Qing Lin's voice trembled.
Xiao Yan nodded. "See if you can sense the Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake nearby."
Qing Lin closed her eyes, and the power of her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils spread outward.
A moment later, she opened her eyes and pointed down into the fissure.
"Deep below. There's something down there."
The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted slightly. "Let's go."
He grabbed Qing Lin by the arm and leaped into the fissure.
The two of them plunged downward, the wind roaring in their ears.
They circulated their Dou Qi to slow their fall.
After an unknown stretch of time, they finally reached the bottom.
The temperature deep underground was high, and a strange smell hung in the air.
Qing Lin looked around, her eyes full of curiosity.
"This way." She pointed ahead.
Xiao Yan followed her as they passed through a narrow passage.
At the end of the passage lay a vast cavern.
A gigantic magical beast lay coiled in the center.
It had three heads and six eyes, and its body was covered in dark red scales.
The Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.
Sensing intruders, all three heads turned at once. Its six eyes fixed on Xiao Yan and Qing Lin.
It opened its jaws and hissed.
Xiao Yan was about to strike, but Qing Lin had already stepped forward.
A faint glow shone from the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils in her eyes.
The Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's body went rigid.
All six eyes stared at Qing Lin. The ferocity in them gradually faded, replaced by docility.
The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had taken control.
Qing Lin relaxed and turned to look at Xiao Yan.
"Young Master Xiao Yan, I did it."
Xiao Yan nodded, his gaze passing over the Three-Headed Fire Spirit Snake to the depths of the cavern.
There, a green lotus floated in midair.
A ball of cyan flame danced within the lotus.
The Green Lotus Core Flame.
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