Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils

Ever since Xiao Yan had shown his fondness for Qinglian and Qinglian's own cultivation talent had come to light, Qinglian's status had risen greatly. She now had her own private room in Xiao Yan's courtyard, complete with a sitting room, guest room, bathroom, and cultivation chamber. Xiao Yan had even allowed Qinglian to find a personal attendant for herself.

This gave Qinglian quite a fright. She hurriedly said that she was only a servant herself, so how could she possibly have servants of her own?

Qinglian was not the only one startled. When Xiao Ding and Xiao Li heard about it, both came over to ask what was going on. There had been unfavorable rumors in the residence about Qinglian, claiming that she had climbed into Xiao Yan's bed to obtain her current fortune. Neither of them had believed it at first.

After all, they believed that no matter how lecherous their younger brother was, he would not lay a hand on a child as young as Qinglian. But Xiao Yan treating Qinglian this well for no reason was a little excessive. Even Xiao Yi Xian, who had come out of seclusion midway to rest, could not help shooting him suspicious looks.

Only after Xiao Yan explained that he had discovered Qinglian might possess a special constitution worth cultivating did Xiao Ding and Xiao Li leave reassured.

Xiao Yi Xian suspected that Xiao Yan might be playing some sort of raising game. Qinglian was obviously a budding beauty, after all. But on second thought, even if that were true, so what? In Dou Qi Continent, where killing someone did not even require a trial, this sort of thing barely counted as anything. It was not even enough to warrant moral condemnation.

And not just on Dou Qi Continent. Even on Blue Star in his previous life, how many people who had gone to Lolita Island had actually been punished?

At most, Xiao Yan would get cursed a couple of times for being lecherous and shameless, so she did not dwell on it further.

Xiao Yan felt that Xiao Yi Xian had probably guessed part of what he was thinking, so he had been feeling rather guilty. But when he realized she had not asked anything, he could not help sighing inwardly. What a wicked feudal... no, cultivation society.

Inside the main hall of Xiao Yan's courtyard.

"Y-Young Master Xiao Yan, is this for me?"

Qinglian looked at the medicinal pill in her hand, visibly excited.

"Of course. I prepared it especially for you." Xiao Yan smiled and rubbed Qinglian's soft little head.

Qinglian lowered her head shyly. She knew about the things the servants had been saying.

"Young Master treats Qinglian so well. Qinglian doesn't even know how to repay you."

With her head lowered, Qinglian shyly glanced at Xiao Yan. Her snake-person bloodline seemed to make her sway unconsciously at that moment, leaving Xiao Yan's mouth a little dry.

He quickly suppressed the wicked thoughts and regained the clarity in his eyes.

When Qinglian saw the clarity in Xiao Yan's gaze, her heart dimmed slightly. She knew what kind of person Young Master Xiao Yan was, yet he showed no interest in her at all right now. It had to mean that she was not pretty enough yet.

Although Qinglian was only thirteen, children on Dou Qi Continent generally matured early and were not entirely ignorant of adult matters. As for those rumors, Qinglian herself felt that if Young Master Xiao Yan wanted to, she would not refuse.

Naturally, Xiao Yan had no idea what Qinglian was thinking. For him, it was not only important to help Qinglian awaken her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils; it was even more important to explain things clearly.

"Qinglian, after cultivating for the past few days, you should have felt that you're different from others, right?" Xiao Yan's expression turned serious.

"Well... in reply to Young Master, a little." Seeing Xiao Yan's solemn expression and tone, Qinglian also sensed the importance of the coming conversation. She herself had noticed something about the question Xiao Yan raised.

Leaving aside the fact that she had reached Dou Qi, Third Stage the moment she began cultivating, after only a few days, Qinglian's cultivation had risen again to Dou Qi, Fourth Stage. At this rate, even without any other help, Qinglian would likely break through to the Dou Zhe realm in less than half a year. Even if the Dou Zhe realm delayed her by a few more months, it would take no more than a year.

Reaching the Dou Zhe realm in just one year! That was much faster than even Xiao Yan had been back then!

Even if cultivation was not simply a contest of speed, this was still far too astonishing.

Only because Xiao Yan had instructed Qinglian to keep it secret had the matter remained hidden. Otherwise, the entire Tagore Great Desert would have been shocked.

"Qinglian, you're a very smart child, so I won't hide it from you. You possess an extremely special and powerful talent, and this medicinal pill is meant to help you awaken it." Xiao Yan gradually explained, "If I'm not mistaken, your talent should be the legendary Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils!"

"Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?"

"That's right, the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils! It is a special constitution that only appears among descendants of snake-people and humans. Aside from making others fall into illusions, its most important ability is its innate power to control the vast majority of snake-type magical beasts. The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils also contain an independent space that can hold controlled snake-type magical beasts and gradually absorb the cultivation of those within. It can be called one of the most powerful constitutions in this world!"

"Th-this... Qinglian really has such a powerful talent?" Qinglian could barely believe it. It was like a poor student who had lived for over twenty years suddenly learning that her father was actually the richest man in the country. Her first reaction would never be belief, but to think she was dreaming.

"Of course it's true!" Xiao Yan said decisively. But mere words were clearly difficult to believe, so Xiao Yan brought Qinglian before the Third-Rank Sand Python he had captured earlier.

The enormous snake body, dozens of meters long, was coiled within an iron cage less than ten meters wide, making it look extremely cramped.

There was no helping it. With the Mo Iron Mercenary Group's capabilities, they could not prepare a beast cage capable of holding a Third-Rank Magical Beast. This iron cage was only there to provide ordinary members with psychological comfort. What truly kept it contained was Xiao Yan's iron fists.

Every so often, Xiao Yan would come over, knock the Sand Python unconscious again, and drain the Dou Qi from its body.

What? Wouldn't striking it while it was still unconscious wake it up instead?

Xiao Yan's answer to that was simple: wake it up first, then knock it unconscious. After all, he could not just stand here waiting for it to wake up.

"Qinglian, don't be afraid. Come here."

Xiao Yan gently pushed Qinglian forward, making her face the sleeping Sand Python through the iron cage.

For a little girl who had only just begun cultivating, facing a magical beast a hundred times larger than herself was truly terrifying. Even though Xiao Yan had told her more than once that she could handle it, she still could not stop herself from feeling frightened. Her pleading gaze kept turning toward Xiao Yan behind her.

Although Xiao Yan wanted to soften his heart, he also knew this was already the absolute minimum. Even if cultivation did not require risking one's life, one could not lack even the most basic courage. If she did not even have courage, there was no point in cultivating, because even breaking through in cultivation carried the risk of failure and a drop in realm.

When Qinglian saw that Xiao Yan had no intention of helping, she understood that she could only rely on herself now.

Following Xiao Yan's prior instructions, she swallowed the medicinal pill in her hand.

Although the pill was only second rank, it was still an enormous force for Qinglian, who was merely at Dou Qi, Fourth Stage.

The moment it entered her body, the powerful energy nearly burst Qinglian's meridians apart. Qinglian desperately circulated the Dou Qi through her meridians, trying to restrain and refine the wild energy, but Dou Qi at her level was clearly incapable of dealing with the energy of a second-rank pill.

The out-of-control energy sent waves of pain through Qinglian's meridians, which showed faint signs of cracking. Yet she could do nothing about it. She even began to wonder whether Xiao Yan had made a mistake—perhaps she did not possess any special talent at all, and was merely an ordinary cultivator whose cultivation speed was slightly faster.

Just then, the essence blood of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent that Xiao Yan had fused into the pill began to manifest. The instant it appeared, it charged directly into Qinglian's bloodline, as if intending to seize the nest from its rightful owner. But it had clearly chosen the wrong opponent.

Stimulated by the essence blood of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent, the previously dormant bloodline of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils was swiftly activated. The rampaging pill energy was instantly taken over and absorbed by the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, becoming nourishment for its awakening!

The pain in her meridians faded, replaced by a subtle sensation in her eyes. They itched, as though something were growing within them.

From an outsider's perspective, three small green dots suddenly appeared around Qinglian's jade-green pupils. As the bloodline of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils completely suppressed and absorbed the essence blood of the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Serpent, the three green dots outside her pupils shone brilliantly. In an instant, they expanded, bloomed, and transformed into three tiny green flowers.

"Hiss—"

The disturbance from Qinglian awakening the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils quickly woke the sleeping Sand Python. Its violent, hungry snake eyes passed through the iron cage and fixed on the girl before it, revealing a cruel gleam. But when it noticed those wondrous pupils emitting an eerie green light, terror from the depths of its soul surged into its heart.

Although its Dou Qi had not yet recovered, the Third-Rank Sand Python effortlessly crushed the iron cage enclosing it like paper with brute strength alone. The next moment, its massive head lunged at Qinglian with bared fangs.

The thick stench of snake flooded Qinglian's nostrils. If it had been before, Qinglian's legs would have gone weak from fright.

But at this moment, Qinglian felt little fear in her heart. With the awakening of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, a profound stream of information entered her mind. It taught her how to wield this miraculous talent and took away her fear of snake-type magical beasts.

"Vile beast! Get down!"

Following the guidance of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Qinglian shouted furiously. A powerful eerie light shot out and struck the Sand Python charging toward her.

The Sand Python's body suddenly went rigid. Its body slid through the air for some distance after losing its support, then crashed heavily to the ground before Qinglian.

The green eerie light continuously gathered, finally converging at the Sand Python's brow. The light flared again, imprinting two small green flowers between its eyes.

As the green eerie light in Qinglian's eyes vanished, the green flowers on the Sand Python's brow also faded away. But the Sand Python had already lost its earlier arrogance.

After regaining the ability to move, it slowly crawled up before Qinglian and gently licked her cheek with its forked tongue.

"Ah, wait, don't do that, it tickles!"

Having emerged from the state of awakening the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, Qinglian returned to being the little girl she had been before, somewhat at a loss over the Sand Python's sudden affection. But from this day onward, no one would look down on her as they once had, or else the Third-Rank Sand Python at her side would surely teach them how to behave.

Knowing that Xiao Yan was still waiting behind her, Qinglian recalled the method the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had imparted to her for opening the space within her pupils.

A green light shot out from Qinglian's eyes, enveloping the Sand Python's dozens-of-meters-long body.

The next moment, the massive snake body began shrinking continuously within the green light. Once it had shrunk to the size of a fingernail, Qinglian's left eye swallowed it, drawing it into the inner-pupil space of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

"Young Master! Look! I did it!" Qinglian turned around and skipped into Xiao Yan's arms, crying out excitedly.

Xiao Yan steadily caught the Qinglian who leaped at him. Feeling her body trembling faintly with joy, his eyes were full of gratification and emotion.

He had worked so hard for so long and was only a Da Dou Shi, while Qinglian had cultivated for merely a few days and already had a Third-Rank Sand Python comparable to a Da Dou Shi as her servant. Of course, he had personally brought all of this about, so naturally he would not be jealous.

"Well done, Qinglian!" Xiao Yan said sincerely.

"Hehe, it's all thanks to Young Master." Qinglian smiled brightly. "Don't worry, Young Master. Once Qinglian becomes stronger, Qinglian will protect you."

Xiao Yan paused, then laughed. "Silly girl, I haven't fallen so low that I need you to protect me."

He rubbed Qinglian's little head. "Go make preparations. Once Sister Xiao Yi Xian comes out, we'll be leaving."

"Young Master is leaving?" Qinglian asked in surprise, then grew sad. "Young Master doesn't want Qinglian anymore?"

"How could that be?" Xiao Yan pinched Qinglian's little cheek. "You'll come with us when the time comes."

"Mm. Qinglian will listen to Young Master."

The night was as dark as ink, quietly enveloping the ancient courtyard. Moonlight draped gently across the flagstones like silver gauze, sketching mottled shadows. The old locust tree in the courtyard stretched out its thick branches, its leaves rustling in the breeze as though accompanying the gathering. Several jars of aged wine sat on the stone table, their fragrance mingling with the scent of nearby flowers. The three brothers sat around it, with a carved wooden screen behind them. Candle flames swayed inside their lanterns, casting their shadows long and short, creating an atmosphere that was warm yet faintly sorrowful.

Clink!

The sound of cups striking rang out. In the courtyard, the three brothers sat around a stone table, drinking warmed wine together.

If they were mercenaries, this would have been the time to drink from large bowls and devour meat by the mouthful. But the Xiao Clan was one of the foremost great families in the city, and the three brothers were all young masters of the Xiao Clan. Naturally, they would not be so crude. Even Xiao Li, who was usually carefree and boisterous, held a small wine cup delicately in both hands as he savored it.

"Ah, who would've thought Little Yan had only just arrived and was already leaving again? I was planning for the three of us brothers to make the Mo Iron Mercenary Group bigger and stronger together, then simply unite the Tagore Great Desert!"

"Enough, Second Brother. Little Yan has his own path to walk. His talent is better than either of ours. This tiny Tagor cannot hold him."

"Where do you plan to go after you return this time?"

Xiao Yan thought for a moment. "I'll probably stay home for a few months after going back. After that, I may first visit the old master of the Nalan Clan in the Imperial Capital, then I plan to go to Jia Nan Academy."

"Jia Nan Academy? That's a good place. I heard that Jia Nan Academy's founder was a great figure from the Central Plains. Perhaps you might even use it as a way to enter the Central Plains. But you should know that Jia Nan Academy's enrollment period is almost over," Xiao Ding reminded him.

"Don't worry, Big Brother. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll already be a Dou Ling by the time I reach Jia Nan Academy. Do you think Jia Nan Academy's teachers would reject a Dou Ling under twenty just because he missed the enrollment period?"

"That's true." Xiao Ding nodded.