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**
Half a month later.
The Pill Lightning gradually weakened until it finally came to a complete stop. This time, with Yao Lao, Wei Yang, Xiao Yan, and Xian'er four master alchemists — all taking action together, the spectacle they created completely opened the eyes of everyone within Falling Star Pavilion.
One brilliant, multicolored pill cloud after another bloomed across the sky.
When the work was finally done, the four of them each showed traces of exhaustion on their faces. After exchanging weary glances and a few bitter smiles, none had the energy to waste words. They all dispersed to rest.
The next morning, as the sun rose over the horizon—
Rumble!
The heavy door to the secret chamber slowly opened. Wei Yang stepped inside, holding Wei Shuo in his arms. Behind him, the chamber door closed with a deep, echoing rumble. They walked down a dim corridor. As they turned a corner, the view suddenly opened up before them.
A vast chamber filled their sight — green flames swirled gently through the air, radiating an overwhelming vitality that seemed to breathe life into everything.
Huala~
The sound of flowing liquid echoed softly. The emerald flames flickered like a pool of living green fire, rippling as if it were a tranquil lake. Coiled within that "lake" lay a massive, dark-red nine-headed serpent. Eighteen scarlet snake eyes were tightly shut, as though in deep slumber.
Even in this dormant state, faint waves of terrifying power and a trace of feral malice pulsed from its body, spreading through the chamber.
"Ah!" Wei Shuo gasped softly, tightening her little arms around her father's neck. Her delicate face showed a trace of nervousness.
"Don't be afraid," Wei Yang said with a gentle smile, patting her back lightly. "That's your mother."
"Mother?" Wei Shuo blinked her dark eyes in confusion.
Mother… how did she suddenly become a big snake?
Wei Yang chuckled and carried her closer.
At that moment—
The eyelids of the nine-headed serpent trembled. Eighteen blood-red eyes slowly opened, turning toward them.
For a brief second, a flicker of killing intent appeared — but it was quickly suppressed. The nine heads rose slightly, and a familiar, flustered female voice echoed within the chamber.
"You— you brought the child here?"
"This little brat's been crying every day to see her mother. What else could I do?" Wei Yang shrugged, pinching his daughter's cheek helplessly.
"…" The serpent fell silent.
Those eighteen crimson eyes gazed at her daughter — not with the slightest trace of savagery, but instead filled with warmth and motherly affection.
"Shuo'er," came a gentle, familiar voice from one of the serpent's mouths.
"Mommy?" Wei Shuo's timid voice quivered slightly when she heard that unmistakable tone.
"Mhm, it's Mommy," the serpent said softly. "Don't be afraid, Shuo'er. It's Mommy."
Wei Yang smiled faintly and carried his daughter forward.
Huala~
The emerald flames rippled and parted automatically, forming a pathway. Despite the flames burning all around, the air felt pleasantly warm rather than scalding — as if stepping into a soothing hot spring.
The abundant vitality in the air made every pore in the body instinctively relax, craving to absorb more of that life energy.
"Your temperature control's pretty good," Wei Yang said with a chuckle.
"After all this time, if I still couldn't control the temperature, I'd be an idiot," the serpent huffed lightly, as though rolling her eyes — though her tone carried a faint hint of pride.
Wei Yang couldn't help but laugh. He came to sit cross-legged before the serpent — Qing Lin — with his daughter still in his arms.
Up close, the serpent's body appeared long and elegant. Despite her monstrous size, her nine heads didn't seem frightening; instead, there was an uncanny sense of beauty about her form.
It was clear at a glance — this was a mother serpent, and a beautiful one at that. Compared to the shriveled corpse he had once seen, this form was entirely different. Even that dried-up nine-headed snake corpse had looked horrifying and fierce…
So it was true — one's form reflected their heart. One of the serpent's heads leaned forward gently, the blood-red eyes filled with warmth and tenderness as it gazed at Wei Shuo.
"Shuo'er, have you been naughty again?"
"No! Shuo'er's been very good!" the little girl shook her head vigorously.
Perhaps the sound of her mother's familiar voice gave her courage. She reached out her small hand curiously, gently touching the dark-red scales on the serpent's head. Qing Lin's eyes softened with affection, letting her daughter stroke her freely.
"Mommy, why do you look different now?" Wei Shuo asked curiously, hugging her mother's head, the last trace of fear gone from her face after realizing this truly was her mother.
"Because Mommy is cultivating, that's why I look like this now," Qing Lin said with a gentle laugh.
"Ah? Then Mommy, can you change back to how you looked before?" Wei Shuo asked anxiously.
"Of course I can. Mommy will turn back very soon," Qing Lin replied softly.
"Really? That's great!"
Qing Lin's nine eyes narrowed slightly in mock suspicion. "Hmm? Is Shuo'er saying Mommy doesn't look pretty now?"
"That's not it!" Wei Shuo quickly shook her head. "I just like the way Mommy used to look more. I think that was the prettiest!"
"Hmph, you little rascal, I'm not talking to you anymore," Qing Lin said with a hint of playful annoyance.
"Heehee~ Don't be mad, Mommy~"
The mother and daughter chattered on, their laughter echoing warmly through the chamber.
Wei Yang stood nearby, smiling quietly as he watched them. Before long, the little girl puffed her cheeks and began whispering tattles. "Mommy, Daddy's so mean. He spanked me the other day—it hurt so much!"
"Oh? Why did he spank you? Were you being naughty?"
"Mm…" Wei Shuo lowered her head guiltily.
"Because that day I secretly played with fire with Xiao Xiao, and Daddy caught us. He spanked me, and Xiao Xiao too! But it was Xiao Xiao who suggested it first. I said we shouldn't, but she insisted on playing! Still, Daddy spanked me three times and only spanked Xiao Xiao twice. Daddy's unfair!"
Several dark lines appeared on Wei Yang's forehead.
This little brat… I'm standing right here, and you're tattling on me to my face?
He had only given her one extra swat, and she'd held onto that grudge for half a month.
"You're the older sister, aren't you? Just think of it as taking one for your little sister," Qing Lin said, glancing at Wei Yang with a teasing look in her crimson snake eyes.
"Mm, okay then. I'll forgive bad Daddy—for now," the little girl said solemnly, though a mischievous smile soon broke out on her face.
A few moments later, when the mother and daughter had finally tired from playing, Wei Yang spoke up. "The transformation is almost complete, right?"
"Mm, almost," Qing Lin nodded one of her heads. "Just a few more days. Then I'll fully adapt to my bloodline and stabilize the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
That matter had troubled her for quite some time. Because her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils were still unstable, she hadn't dared to leave this chamber—afraid that something might go wrong outside.
"That's good." Wei Yang nodded. "I'll be heading out for a few days."
"You're leaving again? Where to?" Qing Lin asked in surprise.
"I'll be going with Master and Xiao Yan to attend the Spatial Trade Fair. I'll be back soon," Wei Yang explained briefly.
Then, as if recalling something, he flipped his hand and took out a jade box. When he opened it, a dark-red glow immediately illuminated the chamber. Inside lay a fist-sized, dark-red magic core—the energy pulsing within it was immensely powerful.
It was the Magic Core of an Ancient Heaven Serpent—a genuine Rank 9 magic core.
"Since you've already gained control over your bloodline, I'll seal this magic core into your body," Wei Yang said. "You can then slowly absorb its energy through your bloodline power."
"Alright," Qing Lin replied softly. All eighteen of her snake eyes fixed on the core, faintly shimmering with desire.
Wei Yang smiled faintly. His fingers danced rapidly as he wove several intricate hand seals, layer upon layer of seals covering the core before he embedded it within Qing Lin's serpent body. Then, he left a tiny opening in the seals, allowing her to gradually draw energy from within.
After fusing the Heaven Serpent's Blood Essence and the Life Spirit Flame, Qing Lin's strength had already reached the Seven-Star Dou Zun realm. Her soul had also stepped into the Spirit Realm.
With this Rank 9 magic core—one of the same lineage as her bloodline—she wouldn't need much time to reach the peak Nine-Change, and might even have energy to spare after that.
Three days later.
At dawn.
Outside the stone tower atop the main peak, the master and his two disciples gathered once again.
"Let's head out," said Yao Lao with a smile as he looked at his two disciples. By his estimation, the Spatial Trade Fair was about to begin. It was time for them to depart.
"Mm." Wei Yang and Xiao Yan both nodded with smiles.
This time, only the three of them would attend the fair. The rest of the group would remain behind to guard the main base of Falling Star Pavilion.
"I've already made the necessary arrangements," Yao Lao said calmly, gazing over the vast expanse of the Star Realm from the mountaintop. "If anything unexpected happens, Feng Xian will crush the spatial jade slip immediately. When that happens, we'll be able to return at once."
After speaking, he didn't linger any longer.
With a step forward, he stomped lightly on the air, and his figure flashed toward the exit of the Star Realm. Behind him, Wei Yang and Xiao Yan simultaneously activated their movement Dou Techniques and swiftly followed.
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