Snake Emperor's Mysterious Flame

Night fell, and a gentle campfire slowly rose before First-Line Heaven.

Beside the fire, the two leaned against each other and gradually drifted to sleep. Beyond the fire stood a massive Rock Mountain, vigilant and dependable. Though the night was long, their hearts were at ease.

The next day, Su Heng traveled upstream and returned to the river fork from before, choosing to follow the other branch downstream to survey the terrain.

This river was broader than yesterday's, and its current was slower as well. Su Heng spent twice as long as he had yesterday before reaching another exit of the Magic Beast Mountains.

The terrain at this exit was open, a mountain hollow several miles wide. Most magical beasts would be unable to conceal their tracks here, meaning there was no possibility of setting an ambush at this pass.

Su Heng and Qing Lin stayed there for half a day before finally returning to the cave where they had buried Little Black.

The routes forward and back were now clear. Next, it was time to take the Beast Flame.

After resting for three days and confirming that every arrangement was in place, Su Heng and Qing Lin headed for Xuanjia Snake Emperor's lair. This time, both of them wore Beast-Repelling Garments and swaggered straight in.

The low-ranking magical beasts along the way all kept their distance. The two encountered no obstacles and soon arrived near Xuanjia Snake Emperor's lair.

"Humans, you have some nerve!"

A furious roar exploded through the air like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

Su Heng looked toward the sound and saw a massive shadow blotting out the clear sky as it descended upon them.

"Boom!"

The heavy impact shook the ground violently. Qing Lin had already felt nauseated by the Beast-Repelling Garment, and the tremors left her dizzy and disoriented, nearly knocking her to the ground.

Seeing that Qing Lin could not take it, Su Heng hurriedly stored both of their Beast-Repelling Garments in his Storage Ring.

At that moment, the enormous shadow rapidly approached. A colossal creature dozens of zhang tall suddenly appeared before them!

Xuanjia Snake Emperor's writhing body was like a mountain, blotting out the sky. Its dark scales, each more than three feet wide, shone brilliantly beneath the blazing sun, like bloodied swords glinting with cold light and murderous intent.

Its scarlet eyes were like two gates to hell. Simply meeting its gaze made one feel as though they were being sliced alive, pain coursing through their entire body while breathing became difficult. Its contemptuous eyes were filled with utter disdain.

It did not immediately kill Su Heng and Qing Lin. Instead, it watched them as though enjoying a show. A baseless curiosity made it want to know why these two humans dared to march openly into its lair.

This was Su Heng's first step!

The Beast-Repelling Garments emitted the aura of Fifth Rank magical beasts, which would keep other magical beasts away and allow them to approach Xuanjia Snake Emperor's lair.

However, this little trick could deceive low-ranking magical beasts, but not the intelligent Xuanjia Snake Emperor. Once the two approached, it would definitely appear in person and eliminate these two humans who did not know their place.

As for how to take the second step, that depended on Xuanjia Snake Emperor's reaction. If it attacked immediately, Qing Lin would counter it at once. If it did not, then Su Heng would offer courtesy before resorting to force.

"This junior, Su Heng, pays respects to Xuanjia Snake Emperor."

Since the other party had not attacked and merely looked upon them with disdain, Su Heng stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Hmph! A mere Three-Star Dou Zhe dared to impersonate a Fifth Rank magical beast and strut into my lair. I have seen many humans, but you are the first with such nerve."

"Out of respect for your courage, I will give you one chance to speak."

Xuanjia Snake Emperor lowered its body. Its snake head, more than a zhang wide, pressed close to the ground as it narrowed its eyes and stared at Su Heng.

"This junior is an Alchemist Apprentice from Black Rock City in the Jia Ma Empire. I came here to obtain Your Majesty's Beast Flame. If Your Majesty is willing to grant this junior a wisp of flame, I will be deeply grateful. Once I become an Alchemist, I will surely present a generous gift to repay Your Majesty's kindness today."

"Oh? Wahahaha!!!"

Upon hearing this, Xuanjia Snake Emperor could not help bursting into wild laughter. Its earthshaking laughter seemed to make the entire Magic Beast Mountains tremble. The magical beasts that had gathered from all directions to watch were frightened into retreating hundreds of meters, trembling as they lay prone on the ground.

Xuanjia Snake Emperor was clearly somewhat enraged. It simply could not understand the arrogance of the human before it.

A mere Three-Star Dou Zhe and Alchemist Apprentice actually dared to discuss a deal with a Sixth Rank magical beast. For a moment, Xuanjia Snake Emperor thought it was hallucinating and had misheard him.

"Human brat, even if a Fifth-grade Alchemist came begging me, I might not be willing to give him a wisp of Beast Flame. What are you, to dare speak so shamelessly?"

A terrifying roar erupted from Xuanjia Snake Emperor's throat, frightening all magical beasts within several miles of its lair into scattering and fleeing.

Su Heng and Qing Lin were also left dizzy by the sound. Fortunately, both had earplugs made from Rock-Scaled Rattlesnake scales stuffed in their ears, allowing them to barely withstand the sonic attack.

Although Xuanjia Snake Emperor's roar was a sonic attack, every field had its specialists. The Rock-Scaled Rattlesnake was more proficient in this area, which was why its scales could offset a small portion of the attack.

"Since that is the case, then let me put it another way. Today, you will either obediently hand over your Origin Beast Flame, or become our gatekeeping slave!"

Su Heng's gaze turned cold. He picked up Qing Lin and strode forward. At the same time, a jade-green ghostly light burst from Qing Lin's eyes, completely enveloping Xuanjia Snake Emperor's head!

"What! This is... Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils! You...!"

The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were the nemesis of all snake-type magical beasts. Other than the Ancient Heavenly Snake and the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, every snake-type magical beast could only submit before them.

Qing Lin was now a One-Star Dou Zhe. She could easily control Fourth Rank snake-type magical beasts, and with some effort, she could control Fifth Rank ones as well. But she had no chance whatsoever of subduing a Sixth Rank snake-type magical beast.

Su Heng understood this clearly as well. What he wanted was to display this ability before Xuanjia Snake Emperor and make it feel enough fear.

The power of fear was limitless. No matter how powerful an individual was, once absolute fear took root in its heart, it became easy to control.

Bathed in the jade-green ghostly light, the intense fear rising from the depths of its bloodline made Xuanjia Snake Emperor's entire body tremble. Its arrogance and domineering presence vanished in an instant, replaced by visible terror.

The feeling was like that of a billionaire having all his wealth seized before his eyes. If Xuanjia Snake Emperor had been in human form, it would likely have already knelt and begged for mercy.

"You... let me go... let me go! I beg you... I beg you, let me go... Whatever you want, I'll give it to you! I'll give you anything!"

Its disdainful, tyrannical voice had vanished completely. As its consciousness gradually faded and it realized it was about to become another's slave, only one voice remained in Xuanjia Snake Emperor's heart: Please let me go. Please let me go.

Its tearful pleas grew increasingly desperate, while its proud head pressed completely against the ground.

Xuanjia Snake Emperor was now utterly docile, lying motionless on the ground. It was not that it did not want to move, but that the indescribable terror had completely robbed it of control over its body.

"Good, you said it yourself! Order your subordinates to withdraw fifty li, and without your command, no one is allowed to approach!"

Su Heng glanced at the watching magical beasts. They were restless, ready to launch a surprise attack at any moment. The instant they heard Xuanjia Snake Emperor's command, they would rush forward and tear Su Heng and Qing Lin to pieces.

The ghostly light weakened slightly, allowing Xuanjia Snake Emperor to regain partial control of its body. It immediately let out a roar. The surrounding magical beasts froze for a moment, then lowered their heads and ran into the distance. They possessed no intelligence; the Snake Emperor's command was everything.

"Next, hand over your Origin Beast Flame. And do not even think of playing tricks, or you know the consequences!"

Xuanjia Snake Emperor did not dare delay in the slightest. After gathering itself for a moment, a ball of dark flame slowly floated from its mouth and stopped before Su Heng.

The extreme heat of the Beast Flame sent a monstrous wave of heat crashing over Su Heng and Qing Lin. The fierce scorching made their skin ache as though it were being cut by blades.

Su Heng swiftly took out the Beast Flame container he had prepared long ago and placed Xuanjia Snake Emperor's Origin Beast Flame inside.

"Very good! Now hand over all the medicinal herbs, pills, pill formulas, cultivation methods, and Dou Skills you have collected!"

Su Heng clearly had no intention of leaving Xuanjia Snake Emperor any way out. Hearing this, Xuanjia Snake Emperor simply shut its eyes and remained silent.

"What? Still thinking of resisting? Do you think we cannot take you, so you want to gamble? Then open your eyes and look carefully!"

Su Heng took out a Qi-Replenishing Pill and gently fed it to Qing Lin. The pill melted upon entering her mouth and took effect moments later. The jade-green ghostly light, which had dimmed somewhat, erupted once more with even greater intensity than before.

Xuanjia Snake Emperor was so horrified that its entire body twisted violently. It struggled desperately, but its body would not move at all. Even its remaining resistance in spirit was futile. In another dozen minutes or so, Qing Lin would completely subdue it and turn it into her slave.

"Please, let me go! I know I was wrong! I'll give it to you, I'll hand it over now! Please, please!"

Amid anguished wails, Xuanjia Snake Emperor shook its body and presented a Storage Ring hidden between the gaps in its scales before Su Heng, then respectfully lay prone on the ground.

Su Heng injected Dou Qi into the Storage Ring and confirmed that its restriction had been lifted. After inspecting it several times to ensure there was no hidden Dou Qi within, he placed a new restriction on the ring and put it on his index finger.

There would be plenty of time to inspect the contents of the Storage Ring later. He still needed to complete one final matter.

In truth, Qing Lin was already on the verge of exhaustion. That Qi-Replenishing Pill had merely been for show.

With Qing Lin's current strength, she simply could not subdue a magical beast at the Dou Emperor level. However, this practical battle had allowed Su Heng and Qing Lin to roughly determine the limits of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

When Qing Lin was a Dou Zhe, she could subdue Fourth Rank snake-type magical beasts with absolute certainty and had a forty percent chance of subduing Fifth Rank snake-type magical beasts.

As for Sixth Rank snake-type magical beasts, Qing Lin could currently only make them feel fear and disorientation, as though they were losing consciousness. Subduing them was utterly impossible.

Unless she advanced to Da Dou Shi, she should not even think about subduing Sixth Rank snake-type magical beasts.

"Snake Emperor, this junior must now refine the Beast Flame you gave me. I will trouble Your Majesty to stand guard! Once this is done, we will leave. We spare your life in exchange for your Beast Flame and Storage Ring. You are not losing out!"

"Also! I advise you not to get any foolish ideas. Otherwise, I will not be polite. With a Dou Emperor-level magical beast as my watchdog, I would look dozens of times more impressive than anyone else even walking the streets of Black Rock City!"

Su Heng's voice was as cold as frost, every word piercing Xuanjia Snake Emperor's heart. Fury raged within it, but before the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, it could only bow its head and obey.

A man had to bow his head under another's roof!

Su Heng set Qing Lin down and had her withdraw the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Xuanjia Snake Emperor was suddenly freed, and control returned to its body.

Having regained its freedom, Xuanjia Snake Emperor was ecstatic. Yet the bone-deep terror it had just experienced forcefully suppressed its urge to kill the two. It did not dare gamble; if it failed, it would be doomed beyond redemption.

In the end, Xuanjia Snake Emperor coiled its body around them, using itself as a shield to protect the two at its center.

Su Heng sat cross-legged and took a wisp of Profound Flame from the Beast Flame container. After examining it with his soul power and finding that the flame showed no resistance, he finally swallowed it in one gulp.

Wrapped in soul power, the wisp of Profound Flame flowed through Su Heng's meridians before finally arriving outside the Dou Qi Whirlpool in his lower abdomen.

There, Su Heng had already opened up a space specifically to contain the Beast Flame.

Looking at the clearly visible hollow within the Dou Qi Whirlpool, Su Heng activated his soul power and pushed the dark flame toward the hollow.

Driven by his powerful soul power, the wisp of Profound Flame pierced through several layers of Dou Qi barriers and successfully entered the home that had been prepared for it.

The moment the dark flame entered the hollow, Su Heng felt his Dou Qi Whirlpool begin to tremble violently as vast dark energy overflowed from the hollow.

This was not because Xuanjia Snake Emperor had tampered with it. The energy contained within the Profound Flame was simply too immense. A mere wisp of flame was enough to shake all of Su Heng's Dou Qi.

Su Heng hurriedly mobilized the full strength of his soul power and tried to stabilize his Dou Qi Whirlpool.

After a long stalemate, the Dou Qi Whirlpool within him finally stabilized slowly. At the point where the whirlpool connected to the hollow, Su Heng discovered that his crimson fire-attributed Dou Qi was continuously pouring into the hollow.

His Dou Qi had begun nourishing the wisp of Beast Flame. The faint Profound Flame, which had been so weak it was nearly extinguished, gradually began to burn and flicker under the nourishment of his Dou Qi, like a newborn infant crying for food.

A moment later, faint warmth spread from the Profound Flame and began feeding back into Su Heng's Dou Qi Whirlpool.

Su Heng discovered that after the Profound Flame entered his body, his Dou Qi Whirlpool was rotating more than twice as fast as before.

In other words, Su Heng now absorbed the Dou Qi of heaven and earth at more than twice his previous speed. Where he had once needed two months to advance one star, he now needed only around twenty days.

The Profound Flame needed to absorb the fire-attributed Dou Qi within the Dou Qi Whirlpool to grow, while the heat it emitted in turn increased the whirlpool's absorption speed. The two complemented each other.

At this moment, Su Heng finally understood why Xiao Yan advanced so quickly. He cultivated only a Low-Yellow Tier Cultivation Method, yet merely absorbing a wisp of Beast Flame had granted him such progress.

If one possessed several Heavenly Flames along with a high-tier cultivation method, rapid advancement would be unavoidable!