Battle Through the Heavens: The Rise Begins at Jia Nan Academy

After speaking, Qin Chen closed his eyes. Vast soul power surged from between his brows like a tide, bearing an overwhelming force as it pressed down on the eight leaders below the platform.

That invisible pressure seemed tangible. The leaders, who had still held some contempt moments ago, saw their expressions change drastically and hurriedly circulated their Dou Qi to resist it.

Yet even so, their bodies still trembled slightly beneath that terrifying soul pressure, leaving them unable to move.

Only now did they understand that this young sixth-tier alchemist truly lived up to his reputation. No wonder Her Majesty the Queen valued him so highly.

Qin Chen slowly opened his eyes, drawing back his soul power as easily as moving an arm. He spoke calmly, "Well? Do you still have any questions?"

The eight leaders exchanged looks. The doubt and shock on their faces had long since been replaced by deep awe, and all their earlier contempt had vanished.

A voluptuous, seductive snake-woman was the first to recover. She cupped her fists and bowed. "We failed to recognize your greatness and offended you earlier. We hope Mister Qin Chen will forgive us!"

"Yes, yes, yes. Please do not hold it against us, Mister Qin Chen."

"We were disrespectful. Please do not take it to heart, sir."

The other seven leaders quickly echoed her, their attitudes incomparably respectful. None of them dared voice the slightest doubt again.

Medusa took in the entire scene, the corners of her lips lifting in an almost imperceptible curve as a trace of approval flashed through her eyes.

Qing Lin, meanwhile, looked thoughtful, though no one knew what she was thinking.

Over the following days, Qin Chen settled down in the Snake-People Holy City. Aside from guiding Qing Lin's cultivation, he spent his time refining pills with the medicinal ingredients supplied by the Snake-People Tribe.

Refining pills for the Snake-People Tribe was extremely simple for Qin Chen. After all, the pills commonly used by the tribe were generally low-tier, with only a handful reaching the sixth tier.

During this time, the entire courtyard was steeped in rich medicinal fragrance, drawing many low-ranking snake-people from the city to stop and watch from afar, though none dared approach.

With the Earth Core Pearl supplying him with energy, Qin Chen no longer needed to worry about the Dou Qi expenditure of pill refinement. His efficiency rose severalfold, and his alchemy skills quietly improved through each round of refining.

The process of refining pills was itself a form of cultivation. Every purification of medicinal ingredients and every fusion of medicinal liquids was an ultimate tempering of soul power and a precise test of Dou Qi control.

Combined with the endless stream of pure energy from the Earth Core Pearl, Qin Chen broke through the barrier of a seven-star Dou Wang in just two months, successfully advancing to an eight-star Dou Wang.

As for that so-called Grand Commander, Qin Chen had not seen him. He heard that the man was in seclusion deep within the desert.

A few days later, within the courtyard where Qin Chen resided.

Unlike before, the courtyard no longer held only Qin Chen and Qing Lin. Five additional figures with formidable auras had arrived.

One of them was the naturally enchanting Medusa Queen. The other four were elderly men, the Snake-People Tribe's hidden trump cards—the four elders at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm.

At this moment, their usual majesty and composure were gone, replaced by solemnity and anticipation. They stared intently at the young figure seated cross-legged in the center of the courtyard.

Before Qin Chen, a crimson medicinal cauldron floated in the air and slowly rotated, releasing a faint pill fragrance. Green flames churned violently within it, while tiny ripples of energy continuously swept out from the cauldron and spread in all directions.

"Condense!"

At Qin Chen's low shout, the tiny holes on the embryonic pill completely disappeared. Its surface became smooth and full, while a pill fragrance several times richer than before spread out almost tangibly, permeating the entire courtyard.

Boom!

The medicinal cauldron suddenly erupted with a muffled bang. A pillar of light as thick as two zhang shot into the sky, piercing straight through the clouds.

Qin Chen raised a hand and drew the pill from within the pillar of light. Without energy to sustain it, the soaring beam quickly faded away.

After placing the pill into a jade bottle prepared beforehand, Qin Chen revealed a satisfied smile. He was indeed extremely pleased. The birth of this pill represented his official entry into the ranks of high-grade sixth-tier alchemists.

Seeing Qin Chen succeed, the solemnity on Medusa Queen's and the four elders' faces was instantly replaced by delight.

"This is the Snake Marrow Bone-Transforming Pill?"

Medusa Queen was the first to step forward, and her words seemed to carry a trace of relief.

The four elders also hurriedly gathered around. Eager light glimmered in their cloudy eyes. The leading First Elder praised, "This is indeed the Snake Marrow Bone-Transforming Pill. Not only that, its color is full and its fragrance rich. Its quality exceeds the one Her Majesty used back then by several levels."

The Second Elder beside him nodded as well, his withered fingers trembling slightly. "Young friend Qin Chen's alchemy is truly superb. It is the finest this old man has ever seen in his life."

"Now that the Snake Marrow Bone-Transforming Pill is ready, Her Majesty can evolve without worry."

The Snake-People Tribe's four great elders had specifically come to visit Qin Chen, even bringing medicinal ingredients they had treasured for years, all because they wanted him to refine the Snake Marrow Bone-Transforming Pill.

From their perspective, they had no idea how long Qin Chen intended to stay here. If they wished to invite another sixth-tier alchemist in the future, it would be difficult indeed.

Thus, it was necessary to refine in advance the pill required for the intermediate secret technique. Besides, should Medusa encounter an accident during her evolution, they could at least promptly cultivate the next successor.

They could not change their queen's decision, so they could only make every possible preparation beforehand.

Several days later, in a quiet room.

Qin Chen held a scroll in his hand, reviewing and summarizing that day's pill refinement.

Creak.

The door was gently pushed open, and Qing Lin slowly walked inside. Unlike her usual lively and adorable self, she now wore a worried expression, and the light in her large eyes was much dimmer than usual.

After a long while, Qing Lin slowly said, "Young Master, I..."

Qin Chen understood at once. He then smiled gently and said, "Have you made your decision?"

"Mhm." Qing Lin nodded, forcing down the sadness in her heart.

Through this period of cultivation and battle, Qin Chen had discovered that although Qing Lin was progressing at an astonishing speed, that was only compared to ordinary people. Without a systematic inheritance for the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, her cultivation was twice the effort for half the result.

Thus, three days earlier, Qin Chen had told Qing Lin about the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

Naturally, Qing Lin had been extremely unwilling when she heard that her young master intended to send her to the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

During this time, Qin Chen had not only protected her but also guided her cultivation. The little girl had no grand wishes; she only hoped to remain by her young master's side for the rest of her life.

However, when Qin Chen told her that only by cultivating at the Heavenly Snake Mansion could she become stronger in the future and help him better, Qing Lin hesitated.

At the time, Qin Chen had not urged her. Instead, he gave her three days to think it over slowly, and today was precisely the third day.

Chapter 29: People from the Heavenly Snake Mansion Arrive

Qing Lin lowered her head, her fingers tightly clutching the corner of her clothes. Her voice trembled faintly. "Young Master, I've thought it through. I want to go to the Heavenly Snake Mansion. I want to become stronger."

Seeing her like this, Qin Chen's heart warmed. He reached out and gently rubbed her hair, saying softly, "Good. Since you've thought it through, I'll remove the seal on you now. Once the people of the Heavenly Snake Mansion sense your aura, they will send experts to come fetch you."

Qin Chen then gathered a gentle strand of Dou Qi at his fingertip and lightly pressed it against Qing Lin's forehead. A warm energy slowly flowed in, causing the seal within her body to gradually collapse.

The instant the seal was removed, a faint yet pure energy overflowed from Qing Lin's body, carrying a strange ripple as it swept into the distance.

The moment the seal on her body was undone, Qing Lin could no longer suppress her sorrow. She threw herself into Qin Chen's arms, and tears instantly burst from her eyes, soaking the clothes on his chest.

Wiping away the tears on the little girl's face, Qin Chen said solemnly, "Qing Lin, believe me. Within ten years, I will definitely go to the Heavenly Snake Mansion and bring you back."

"Qing Lin believes in Young Master." Qing Lin sniffled and buried her head against Qin Chen's chest, her voice thick with tears.

The two fell silent for a while. Qin Chen knew that ordinary methods would make it difficult for Qing Lin to let go of her reluctance, so an idea struck him. Smiling at her, he said, "Qing Lin, how about I give you a gift?"

"A gift?" Qing Lin raised her reddened eyes, curiosity flashing through them. The corners of her tightly pressed lips loosened slightly.

"Hehe..." Qin Chen wore a sly expression as he said with a mischievous grin, "Close your eyes first."

Qing Lin obediently closed her eyes.

"Mwah~"

To her surprise, Qin Chen planted a kiss on Qing Lin's cheek.

"Young Master, you... you..."

Qing Lin's eyelids flew open. Her eyes widened round, and her cheeks flushed so red that they seemed ready to bleed, even the tips of her ears turning pink.

She tried to open her mouth, only to find that something seemed lodged in her throat. Her usually fluent cherry lips could not utter a single word. She could only let the wave of embarrassment spread freely through her heart like a tide.

"Ah!!!"

Qing Lin suddenly broke free from Qin Chen's embrace, covered her burning cheeks with both hands, and darted out through the door like a startled little rabbit.

Seeing her like this, Qin Chen could not help bursting into laughter. The heavy mood of parting was also greatly diluted by this sudden little episode.

Outside the room, Qing Lin lightly stamped her foot. Her pretty face was so red it nearly seemed to smoke, and she muttered in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "Young Master is so bad..."

Though she said so, there was not the slightest anger in her eyes. Instead, they seemed like water mixed with honey—sweet, carrying a young girl's shyness and helplessness. The gloom brought on by their coming separation was also soothed considerably by that sudden intimacy.

At the edge of the Tagore Desert.

A massive black shadow raced through the sky, and the fierce wind it generated swept up yellow sand that carved a long trail across the ground.

Looking closer, that enormous black shadow was actually a pitch-black giant snake. Its body was covered in strange patterns, and four pairs of black wings tinged with purple grew from its sides.

The Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor, the evolved form of the third-tier magical beast, the Two-Winged Black Snake!

"White Fang, are you sure you didn't sense it wrong?" a woman in green on the snake's back asked lightly, though her voice carried a barely noticeable tremor.

"Though I have never seen the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, the fluctuation of that aura perfectly matches the characteristics recorded in ancient texts. Moreover, from that aura, I sensed a trace of the pressure a superior exerts over an inferior." The Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor White Fang spoke with absolute certainty.

"Who knows whether you're just using this as an excuse to go find Medusa?" The woman in green rolled her eyes, her lovely face filled with disdain.

"Green Man, how can you slander me out of thin air? I wouldn't use such a matter as an excuse." Seeing that his longtime partner did not believe him, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed through the giant snake's humanlike pupils, and his voice unconsciously rose.

"Hmph." Green Man snorted.

She knew this stinking snake's nature all too well. Whenever he had free time, he always liked going to find Medusa.

He called it sparring, but every time, he ended up beaten black and blue. If he had not claimed to have sensed the aura of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, she, Green Man, would never have accompanied this stinking snake here.

Seeing the woman on his back act this way, White Fang could not be bothered to argue. His giant tail lashed fiercely again as he said eagerly, "But since the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils have appeared in Medusa Queen's territory, this is the perfect chance to challenge her to a match."

"Hehe, such a perfect woman was practically born just for this emperor!"

"Hahaha..."

Today, he could not only see Medusa, but also find the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. It truly was a double blessing.

Elsewhere, in a broad plaza in the eastern part of the Snake-People Holy City.

Three-star Dou Zhe Qing Lin was battling a four-star Dou Zhe snake-person. Though the little girl's face still carried some childishness, her gaze was exceptionally resolute. Clearly, her combat experience had become increasingly refined during this period of fighting.

"Sigh..."

On a rooftop not far away, Qin Chen softly sighed as he watched the petite figure sparring with the snake-person.