"It won't get away!" Xiao Bai responded casually to Hai Bo Dong's warning.
Looking down at the magma, he saw that the Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake had almost completely submerged, with only the tip of its tail still visible, rapidly disappearing.
With a flap of his wings, Xiao Bai landed on the magma's surface, his body enveloped in a layer of yellow-gray lightning. He reached out, gripping the snake's tail like a rope in a tug-of-war.
"Up!"
With a mighty heave, the fifteen-meter-long serpent was yanked out of the magma like a stubborn radish.
To Hai Bo Dong and Xiao Ding, Xiao Bai now seemed more like a magical beast than the snake itself—and far more ferocious.
The Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake, dangling in midair, blinked its diamond-shaped eyes in utter bewilderment. It had just been plucked out of its home by this two-legged creature.
Then came the rage. A snake could be killed, but not humiliated! As the undisputed ruler of this magma realm—a future Rank Six Magical Beast—being dragged around like this was an unbearable insult!
"Hssss—!"
It thrashed violently in Xiao Bai's grip, splashing molten rock in all directions. The magma struck the yellow-gray barrier around Xiao Bai, sizzling as lightning and fire clashed.
When struggling proved futile, the snake twisted its body, both heads lunging toward Xiao Bai with jaws wide open.
Xiao Bai smirked at the incoming fangs, abruptly releasing the tail. Crimson lightning surged around his palms as he slammed them onto the two skulls.
ZZZT!
Electricity rippled across the ruby-like scales, arcs of lightning dancing wildly over the serpent's body.
"Hss—!"
A pitiful whimper escaped its throats as both heads limply collapsed, its convulsing body twitching atop the magma. Its already weakened aura now teetered on the brink of extinction.
The arrogance and bloodlust in its eyes had vanished, replaced by sheer resignation.
'I'm done. Just end me.'
It hadn't even gotten to use its ultimate move—not that it could now. The rampaging lightning inside its body left it completely paralyzed, every inch wracked with numbing agony.
Sensing its defeat, Xiao Bai hoisted the massive serpent over his shoulder, his Purple Cloud Wings straining as he wobbled into the air.
Since breaking through to the Great Dou Master realm, he could fly while carrying weight—it just drained him faster.
Reaching the platform at the tunnel entrance, he unceremoniously dumped the Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake onto the ground, its colossal body nearly covering the entire space.
Xiao Ding, standing at the tunnel mouth, gulped at the sight. This was a Rank Four Magical Beast—and Xiao Bai had hauled it over like a log! Since when was the once-refined Xiao Bai this brutal?
"Qing Lin, come here." Xiao Bai beckoned to the girl peeking out from behind Hai Bo Dong.
"Young Master..." Qing Lin timidly approached, eyeing the two ferocious snake heads with a mix of fear and an inexplicable sense of familiarity and longing.
The conflicting emotions left her flustered. Nervously, she clutched Xiao Bai's sleeve.
"Don't be afraid. Look into its eyes." Xiao Bai guided her to crouch before one of the heads, his voice gentle.
Noticing the snake's tightly shut eyes, he smacked one of its skulls and barked, "Open them!"
He knew this creature was intelligent. In the Dou Qi Continent, magical beasts were bound by bloodline limits—those with inferior lineage rarely broke through without extraordinary opportunities.
The Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake typically thrived in extreme heat, feeding on magma. With the potential to reach the Sixth Rank, it could one day rival a Dou Huang powerhouse.
Reluctantly, the snake opened its four eyes, unsure what this two-legged creature wanted.
By its species' standards, it was just a Fourth-Rank baby! How could this bastard bully it like this? Didn't he have any conscience?
Qing Lin obediently stared into the snake's eyes. Though frightened, she forced herself to keep her gaze steady, not even blinking despite the discomfort.
After a few minutes, nothing happened. Xiao Bai frowned. What's going on?
"Kid, are you trying to make her subdue this snake with her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?" Elder Yao's voice echoed in Xiao Bai's mind.
"Exactly. Do you know why it's not working?" Xiao Bai was puzzled.
Did they really need to follow the original plot—letting the snake attack her first to trigger the pupils? Or was it because she was a year too early, and her pupils hadn't fully awakened yet?
"I'm not entirely sure how to activate the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils," Elder Yao mused. "But my guess is that this girl is only eleven—her body isn't fully developed yet. Likely, her pupils aren't either."
"Not developed enough?" Xiao Bai glanced at Qing Lin's petite frame, stroking his chin.
But based on the original story, there was another possibility—stimulation.
Maybe if Qing Lin got a scare, her pupils would awaken?
But how could he deliberately frighten her? She already lived in constant anxiety. Traumatizing her further might leave lifelong scars.
"Maybe... spank her?" Xiao Bai considered, half-jokingly.
"Young Master..." Qing Lin's large, watery eyes kept darting toward him.
She didn't know how long she was supposed to keep staring, but since he hadn't told her to stop, she refused to look away—even as her eyes grew sore.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Xiao Bai immediately abandoned his ridiculous idea. How could I possibly do that to her?
Sighing, he patted her head gently. "Alright, you can stop for now."
Relieved, Qing Lin blinked rapidly, then beamed up at him with a silly, adorable grin.
Xiao Bai nearly facepalmed. This girl and that little dragon from Jia Nan Academy are polar opposites—one timid and insecure, the other overflowing with confidence.
Her emerald-green eyes reminded him of Little Yi's mist form, nearly the same shade.
'Hmm... Little Yi…'
An idea sparked. 'Could Little Yi's energy stimulate her pupils?'
But she was only a first-stage Dou Zhi Qi—would her body handle it?
Then again, she was a Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils
wielder. Maybe she had unique resilience?
Xiao Bai raised a finger, green mist coiling around it, occasionally crackling with threads of lightning.
If he were to use thunder, Little Yi's mist form was the most suitable and gentlest option. Plus, its Yi Wood Qi had healing and growth properties—perhaps it could even nurture her pupils' development?
The moment the green light appeared, Qing Lin shuddered, her gaze locking onto the mist.
Her eyes felt strange—a mix of yearning and fear toward that glow.
Xiao Bai noticed her reaction and turned. To his surprise, three faint specks of light flickered in her pupils, like unopened flower buds.
"It's actually working?"