Evolution Succeeds, Heaven Swallowing Python Bracelets

Boom!

Thunderclouds churned violently as furious lightning gathered deep within them.

Amid an explosion that shook heaven and earth, two silver bolts as thick as bowls burst from the clouds and struck straight down with world-ending force.

Inside the secret chamber, two giant snakes lay collapsed on the floor. Their once-purple scales had been scorched black, and the faint smell of burnt meat hung in the air.

The two bolts struck their charred bodies dead on. Arcs of electricity scattered in every direction, and the glare was blinding.

As the lightning poured into them, their bodies, which had still been capable of slight movement, went utterly still. Their last traces of life finally faded.

All that remained were two silent heaps of charred flesh.

To anyone else, this would have looked like a tragic failed evolution that had cost them their lives.

But Xiao Yan had never withdrawn his Soul Power or the Dog Talisman's power for even an instant. Both still enveloped the sisters' bodies.

The sight might have driven anyone else to despair, but to Xiao Yan, who knew how this story went, it was precisely the sign of success.

With the Dog Talisman keeping them alive, the sisters could not fail.

The moment their auras vanished marked the beginning of their rebirth.

Xiao Yan withdrew the Green Lotus Core Flame and walked over to the two charred bodies. The Dog Talisman's power remained firmly around them.

As he searched carefully with his Soul Power, two entirely new auras finally emerged from deep within the charred shells.

Two beams of seven-colored light suddenly burst from them.

Within the light, two tiny snakes covered in brilliant scales poked their heads out of the shells. In a blink, they had darted up to Xiao Yan.

They flicked their slender tongues and tilted their heads, gazing at him with wide eyes that held both confusion and affection. They were unbearably cute.

Xiao Yan could not help smiling at the two little creatures. He reached out a finger to play with them.

Their reactions to his finger could not have been more different.

One drew back slightly, her eyes wary and assessing.

The other came forward without a trace of caution and rubbed her little head against his fingertip, as affectionate as could be.

"You two must be hungry. Here, eat." Their affection softened Xiao Yan's heart. He took out two jade bottles, pulled out the stoppers, and held them up to the little snakes.

The bottles contained Companion Amethyst Source.

He had not used it all when he devoured the Purple Flame, and plenty remained to feed the two little creatures.

The moment they smelled what wafted from the bottles, their eyes brightened. They latched onto the openings and drank in eager gulps.

Before long, they had drained both bottles of Companion Amethyst Source. Their tiny bellies swelled round, and each gave a little burp.

"Quite the appetites you have." Smiling, Xiao Yan reached out to tease them again.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, sleepiness overtook them.

The two little snakes yawned together, slipped into Xiao Yan's sleeves from either side, and curled softly around his wrists like a pair of warm, smooth bracelets.

Xiao Yan looked down at the pair of Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python bracelets on his wrists and smiled in satisfaction.

With everything settled, he withdrew the Sheep Talisman's power and summoned Yao Lao from the Bone Flame Ring.

Yao Lao had been confined inside the ring for half a day. With nothing else to do, he had slept through it.

The moment Xiao Yan lifted the restriction, Yao Lao sensed it and floated out eagerly, finally free again.

As soon as he emerged, he spotted the two lifeless, charred bodies nearby. His expression changed, and he asked with concern, "Don't tell me the evolution failed?"

"It succeeded." Xiao Yan shook his head, then held up his wrists to show off his pair of Heaven Swallowing Python bracelets. "Teacher, take a look at my new bracelets. Pretty damn impressive, aren't they?"

"Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Pythons?" Yao Lao raised his brows as he sensed them, surprise filling his voice.

Then he stroked his beard, genuinely happy for Xiao Yan. "You little brat. Your luck really is something. Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Pythons—and two of them at that..."

Seeing his disciple do better and better filled Yao Lao with joy.

Xiao Yan scratched his head and chuckled.

With both women's evolutions complete, Xiao Yan had achieved everything he had come for. It was time to leave.

Before he went, however, he still needed to deal with the Four Great Elders' physical ailments. That way, the Snake-People Tribe would have enough strength to protect itself while Cai Lin and her sister were away.

Xiao Yan stored the two charred bodies in his Storage Ring, then left the secret chamber with the two little snakes.

He retraced his path through several checkpoints. As the stone door slowly opened, he emerged from the passage alone.

The Four Great Elders had been waiting outside for some time.

At the sound of the stone door, they hurried to the exit and looked anxiously behind Xiao Yan. Neither queen was there.

Their hearts sank, but they forced down their surging emotions and stepped forward to ask.

"My lord... did the evolution go smoothly?" the First Elder asked first, her voice hoarse but respectful.

The other three Elders watched Xiao Yan nervously, unease filling their eyes. They dreaded hearing even a hint of bad news from him.

Ever since Xiao Yan had put the First Elder in her place, the four Elders had finally pulled together.

The two queens were the Snake-People Tribe's greatest hope. If the evolution succeeded, they would have two fighters at the Dou Zong level. Of course the Elders were worried.

The Second Elder was especially anxious. She had watched the sisters grow up and was closer to them than anyone.

"There's no need to worry, Elders. Your queens have completed their evolution and are safe." Seeing how troubled they all looked, Xiao Yan wasted no time and gave them the news with a smile.

At the word "completed," all four Elders let out long breaths. The weight that had hung over them finally lifted.

The First Elder's aged face creased into a broad smile. "Where are the two queens now, my lord? I can arrange for someone to care for them personally."

She assumed the queens must be weak after their evolution, which was why she asked.

"You don't need to know where they are right now. All you need to know is that they're safe," Xiao Yan replied bluntly.

"Well..." The Elders exchanged glances, but none dared say another word.

The memory of how Xiao Yan had dealt with the First Elder was still fresh. They had no wish to make such a terrifying enemy for the Snake-People Tribe.

Satisfied that they knew when to stop, Xiao Yan nodded. "Don't worry. Before I go, I'll resolve some of the difficulties you're facing."

With that, he raised his hand and pointed at the four Elders from afar.

Power from the Horse Talisman and Dog Talisman flowed silently from his fingertip into their bodies. It swiftly healed their old injuries and quietly extended what little remained of their lifespans.

The four Elders felt a gentle yet vast power flow through every part of them, wrapping their bodies in soothing warmth.

In a matter of moments, their bodies underwent a complete transformation. All four were restored to their peak condition.

The First Elder, who was both the oldest and the strongest, changed most visibly. The arm Xiao Yan had crippled himself healed instantly under the power, as though it had never been injured.

With her body in its current state, she now had an eighty percent chance of advancing to Dou Zong.

All four Elders had gained greatly, and uncontrollable delight spread across their faces.

But by the time they came to their senses and moved to thank him, Xiao Yan was already gone. Only his command to protect the Snake-People Tribe still seemed to echo in the air.

Their expressions turned solemn. Together, the four knelt respectfully in the direction Xiao Yan had gone and accepted his command.