Trapped in the Cave

Since entering the Ten Thousand Beasts Space, Qing Lin had enjoyed remarkably good luck. With the Jade Blood Demon Python she had subdued in advance, her own combat strength was already quite formidable. Moreover, Yang Yue had given her the Earth-Tier Advanced Flight Dou Technique he had bought at the auction. With this flight technique as insurance, no one below the Dou Zun realm could possibly catch Qing Lin, practically placing her in an invincible position. That was why Yang Yue had not strongly opposed Xiao Yan bringing Qing Lin in. More than anyone, Yang Yue understood Heavenly Snake Mansion's predicament. Seeing Xiao Yan and the others this time, he had decided to gamble everything and place all his bets on this Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly.

After entering, Qing Lin relied on the Jade Blood Demon Python and two other fifth-tier magical beasts to raise her score onto the rankings for a time. She had also luckily encountered a Heavenly Snake Mansion disciple. The two acted together, and not only did nothing go wrong, their results were quite impressive.

The accident occurred when they encountered someone during a hunt—Shi Meng of Elephant Rhino Mountain! Information about the six major powers was rather public to begin with, and Qing Lin's status was anything but ordinary. Shi Meng understood Qing Lin's importance all too well, so he attacked without hesitation.

With the other Heavenly Snake Mansion disciple holding him off at the cost of his life, Qing Lin fled using her flight ability. But Qing Lin was still young and inexperienced in fighting. She did not know that Elephant Rhino Mountain possessed a tracking ability. Although she could shake Shi Meng off each time, it would not be long before he caught up and resumed his pursuit.

Furthermore, due to Shi Meng's cunning, Qing Lin did not realize that he had been steadily forcing her in one direction. Elephant Rhino Mountain's techniques were unique. Though their speed was not particularly fast, their endurance was extraordinarily formidable, allowing him to maintain the pursuit all along.

Until Qing Lin was chased near a massive cave, where a broad-robed youth suddenly appeared before her—Lu Zhi of the Mystic Pattern Sect!

Lu Zhi was quite interested upon seeing Qing Lin, the possessor of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. He offered to spare her if she became his servant, but when Qing Lin refused, the battle began. For some reason, Shi Meng and Lu Zhi tacitly joined forces against Qing Lin from the very start. Lu Zhi was already no slouch in speed, and with Shi Meng covering his gaps, Qing Lin found no chance to escape.

The Jade Blood Demon Python loyally protected its master, but it fell into a disadvantage against Lu Zhi from the very beginning. Watching the Jade Blood Demon Python constantly being pounded by Lu Zhi, Qing Lin was filled with heartache and helplessness. At that moment, she desperately wished for the figure in her heart to appear and help her. But the Ten Thousand Beasts Space was so vast, and after all this time she had encountered only one companion. How could she possibly encounter her again?

The Jade Blood Demon Python swung its tail, lashing at Lu Zhi like a black shadow. This time, Lu Zhi did not dodge as before. He directly caught the Jade Blood Demon Python's tail with one hand.

"Beast, get lost!"

A Tyranny aura erupted from Lu Zhi's body. The Jade Blood Demon Python was violently blasted away, then embedded into the stone wall within the cave. As its master, Qing Lin had not suffered the same injury, but the magical beast under her control had been heavily wounded, and her face turned pale as well.

After defeating the Jade Blood Demon Python, Lu Zhi flashed before Qing Lin like a ghost and seized her throat.

"One last chance. Become my servant, or die!" Lu Zhi's somewhat magnetic voice was now utterly cold and cruel.

Qing Lin answered with jade light blazing in her eyes. Lu Zhi actually became dazed for an instant.

In the next moment, Qing Lin broke free. Two serpent-like magical beasts attacked Lu Zhi from both sides behind her.

The serpent-like magical beasts bit down on Lu Zhi, but the instant they touched him, yellowish-gray patterns appeared across his shoulders. Their bites had no effect whatsoever.

Then blood-red patterns appeared across Lu Zhi's entire body, flowing over him like fresh blood.

The two magical beasts seemed to have been drained dry, shriveling at once as crimson mist rose from their bodies.

With the two controlled magical beasts dead, a trace of blood flowed from Qing Lin's lips. Lu Zhi's gaze was cold, but he smiled. "It seems the people of Heavenly Snake Mansion aren't all that bright."

"Let me see what is so different about the blood of a possessor of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

Then Qing Lin felt as if the blood inside her body had begun to boil. Weakness followed, and she watched red strands slowly draw out of her body and flow into Lu Zhi's.

"Young Master Xiao Yan..." Qing Lin murmured softly, tears involuntarily streaming from the corners of her eyes.

Shi Meng, who was standing guard nearby, found the scene rather boring and stretched lazily.

The next instant, thunder roared as a figure streaked past him.

"Who is it?" Shi Meng asked vigilantly.

Two energy palm prints that had been gathering power for a long time slammed into Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi frowned at the energy palm prints and impatiently ended the Bloodthirsty Pattern's absorption state.

"Qing Lin!" The newcomer was none other than Xiao Yan. He pulled Qing Lin into his arms.

When Qing Lin clearly saw who stood before her, joy flooded her face. Unable to hold it in any longer, she burst into tears. "Young Master Xiao Yan, I thought I would never see you again."

After checking her condition, Xiao Yan found Qing Lin incomparably weak. Had he arrived even a moment later, she might truly have been drained dry by Lu Zhi.

Lu Zhi raised his brows as he looked at Xiao Yan. "You? I didn't expect to run into you so soon."

"How can Qing Lin recover?" Xiao Yan asked with narrowed eyes. Qing Lin's condition was at rock bottom. By Xiao Yan's judgment, even if she left safely, her remaining lifespan would likely be limited.

"Recover? Once the life essence has been absorbed by the Bloodthirsty Pattern, it cannot be restored. Perhaps defeating me could restore it. But can you do that?" Lu Zhi mocked. He had never thought a weakling's life was worth pitying. He was only willing to speak a few more words because Xiao Yan seemed like a decent opponent.

At this moment, Yang Lingyan and Chu Qun also entered the cave. They cautiously confronted Shi Meng while Xiao Yan handed Qing Lin over to Yang Lingyan.

Then he said calmly, "In that case, I have no choice but to kill you!"

Seeing that Xiao Yan's fighting spirit had reached its peak, Lu Zhi could not suppress his delight. "Shi Meng, keep an eye on the other two. Don't let them disturb us."

Hearing Lu Zhi's words, Shi Meng nodded.

The looks in Chu Qun and Yang Lingyan's eyes changed as well. The geniuses of the major powers had always refused to yield to one another and were almost never on good terms. Shi Meng was especially outstanding among them—vicious by nature, with a notorious reputation throughout the Northwest Region. Yet he was clearly taking orders from Lu Zhi now. Their relationship was certainly worth pondering.

Lu Zhi paid no attention to what the others thought. Instead, he looked at Xiao Yan and said, "I hope you can give me more surprises. It's been a long time since I found a worthy toy!"