Is it a subdragon!? No, it can't be… but it doesn't have claws and its head is far too similar to that of a dragon, so much so that it even has dragon horns, so the only logical explanation is that it is a subdragon, the only ones that maintain such a direct connection with dragons are them.
As for what type of subdragon, just by its appearance it can be identified, since the only serpentine-shaped subdragons are… the Jiao Long or flood dragons, the Lindworm, the winged serpents, the sea serpents, and the Wyrm, the first two are discarded because they possess claws and the third option because it has wings.
The sea serpent because, although there is a nearby sea, it makes no sense for a subdragon related to the earth element, although it is not impossible that it is, since there are ones of that element, the sea is also not exactly right at the feet of the mountain range of the Mountainous Wyrm of a Thousand Poisons, so… the only remaining possible option is a Wyrm.
At that moment he did not pay much attention to that fact, so realizing that this Wyrm probably has no relation to that serpent, he then says: "I understand, I believe you, but even so I am worried about the existence of that thing, do you allow the worship of that?"
Zathare'k shakes her head: "Although the council allows the worship of other gods such as Supreme Gods, worshiping evil gods is forbidden, it is something considered heresy with the penalty of death."
Feicui Long looks at Valtoe who also seems confused and says: "Well, now I know what I want, my plan has to change we cannot face that level of threat, it is better to let them destroy each other for the moment, in any case we are safe thanks to the protective formation of the village."
Isabella, confused, asks him: "What do you mean by that, darling?"
Feicui Long tells her: "We will carry out a tactical retreat, we will take all our loot and return home."
Irina, confused and worried, says: "But then how will we sustain ourselves without hunting?"
Feicui Long touches his chin, thinks for about 5 minutes in a torturous silence for many in the room and then speaks asking Gloria and Emma: "How many prisoners do we have?"
Gloria speaks quickly: "Well, we have 15 prisoners if we include the 3 who are here."
Feicui Long nods and says: "That will suffice, you young lady of the Ktek clan, tell me, how do you track the things of the guardian serpent?"
Valtoe, annoyed at being called so rudely, says: "I am Valtoe'ktek call me by my name and it is simple, shamans and shamans have that ability, particularly those dedicated specifically to the guardian serpent, the serpent shamans, there is even a mid-level serpent shaman in this vanguard and yes, I know you will ask, the Atoleki can have their own shamans even specialized ones."
Feicui Long then points at the alphas and says: "Then it is simple, we will use them as a buffer to prevent them from expanding into our hunting territory."
Irina looks at them and says: "We will use them as bait to negotiate?"
Feicui Long shakes his head: "I doubt they will negotiate with us."
Irina, looking at him with a face that reveals all her confusion, says: "Then what will we do with them so that they do not expand?"
Emma, who has more or less already deduced what Feicui Long was thinking, says: "My venerable lord, do you mean that you will use taming on them?"
Feicui Long nods and says: "Yes, after all taming can be used on any living being, although it is more difficult on beings with high spiritual, soul and mental power, but it is still possible."
Upon hearing the word taming, Valtoe'ktek and the other lizard alpha's faces begin to reveal pure fear and even tremble a little, Valtoe tells him: "D-don't y-you d-dare u-use m-me l-like a b-beast h-human."
Feicui Long looks at her and indifferently tells her: "To me you and a beast are no different, but don't worry, I will give you freedom to choose and live your life, after I conquer your tribe and the fauns, you will be free, for the moment that is your only option."
Valtoe, furious, retorts: "Never, I would rather die than that!"
Feicui Long, laughing, summons one of his undead, opening the portal to the summoning storage dimension, from the portal emerges the faun leader whom he points at while telling her: "This is not a matter of negotiation, even if you die your destiny will not be eternal rest, one way or another you will serve me."
The faun leader takes his upgraded spear which recently went from being a mortal quality level artifact grade 7 - superior rank to one of grade 9 - supreme rank, but not only was the spear upgraded, he himself was as well, his already imposing height of 2 meters and his great muscles were enhanced by inscriptions that were improved layer upon layer with new inscriptions.
His body seemed full of intricate tattoos from powerful runes that shine with a mysterious blue light, to glyphs that glow with a green light that give a mysterious feeling of tranquility, passing through red sigils that indicate unprecedented brutality, purple seals that give the sensation that something is hidden and yellow talismans that give a feeling of elegance.
His cultivation at the peak of the mystic realm half a step from becoming an ascending realm and with abilities increased by the inscriptions made him project an aura capable of intimidating even ascending realms grade 1, the faun leader took his spear and pointed it at Valtoe while looking at her with those eyes with that mysterious blue glow that chills the soul.
Valtoe cannot help feeling that her heart almost stops, this human is also a necromancer!, but worse for her is feeling the great power contained in this thing, even though they are in the same cultivation realm and the difference in strength should not be that great she feels that even if she had her weapon and her precious Nekari, she would lose 100%.
Feicui Long breaks the silence and tells her: "What do you choose?, serve me or die and still do so?, even if you think it is worth dying and being reanimated because they would notice that you are undead let me tell you that I can place an illusory formation on you and make them think you are perfectly alive for the time I need anyway."
This made Valtoe tremble even more, she has no option either she serves him in life or she serves him in death, either one serves Feicui Long's purpose, in the end she only lets out: "Alright… I will help you."
Isabella, who had been waiting for them to finish, asks: "But what will we do with the fauns?, how will we keep them in check?"
Feicui Long thinks for a few seconds and looks at the faun leader: "We can pay that tribe a visit if they are still alive and take it under our control."
For Feicui Long this is a perfect maneuver, the faun leader has been showing signs that he is gaining consciousness, that is an indication that his soul is about to awaken and that could not only improve his intelligence, but his strength and even give him the possibility to evolve or ascend realms.
Additionally, although he is now a contracted creature he can make him happier by allowing him to reunite with his family, although honestly he does not know if the sleeping soul is the original one that clung to his corpse wanting to protect his own or on the contrary is a soul born from the fragments left by the previous one before ascending to the reincarnation cycle.
Whatever it is, he would kill two birds with one stone, he would have more troops in the form of an entire tribe and he would keep the fauns in check by making them believe that this territory is occupied by fauns.
This would give him a lot of time to prepare, on one hand he keeps the lizardmen in check and on the other the fauns, while he can continue hunting without problems and keep the barony's economy afloat… although perhaps it is time to promote migration and develop an alternative source of income.
Feicui Long then tells her and prepares to leave: "Emma take the prisoners with the others."
Emma, somewhat embarrassed, hurries and tells him: "Venerable lord… what happens is that Lily told me that she convinced the prisoner Zathare'k to join us of her own free will before, so I wanted to ask you if we can let her go free and without using taming on her."
Feicui Long looks at her and she looks at him, after that brief exchange he says: "Alright do it, treat her as one of ours and free her lizard as well."
Emma is delighted and says while making a bow: "Thank you very much venerable lord!"
…
Feicui Long leaves followed by Gloria, Irina and Isabella, Isabella, curious, asks him: "How did you make them confess all that, darling?, I know it has something to do with your eyes, but how?"
Feicui Long, touching his forehead trying to endure the pain from the enormous energy consumption and from using one of his eye abilities that he normally should not use, replies somewhat uncomfortable while smiling: "Well… I just forced them to live the past."
Irina, intrigued, says: "Live the past?, did you make them relive their memories?"
Feicui Long shakes his head: "No, I literally made their consciousness return to the past and see it for themselves."
The three women looked at each other, somewhat astonished, this ability although amazing is a bit… terrifying.
Isabella then notices how Feicui Long has difficulty walking and then hugs him saying: "You have to control yourself a bit more, you can't overexert yourself like this with these things…"
Feicui Long smiles bitterly and says: "That doesn't matter anymore, come Gloria I would like to check the loot."