Chapter 28: Fire Spirit Snake, Green Scale of the Green-Snake Three-Flower Pupils

A section of the ground in the sand pit suddenly bulged upward.

Boom!

With a tremendous roar, a great amount of sand and soil was thrown into the air, scattering in all directions. Mixed within was red molten lava, causing the faces of the onlookers—Xu Guang, Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, and others—to change drastically as they staggered backward.

They only stopped after running dozens of meters, then turned to look back. Upon seeing the scene in the sky, their pupils constricted sharply.

A figure shrouded in black mist descended slowly. The thick black fog condensed into a terrifying chain, binding a robust demonic beast at the other end.

This beast resembled a serpent, its body covered in red scales, crowned with two enormous heads, each bearing four diamond-shaped eyes. When its gaze swept over the crowd, Xu Guang felt the raw fury and madness within, swallowing hard in fear.

“What kind of demonic beast is that?”

“So terrifying. Just one look from it nearly made me soil myself.”

“To think such a dreadful creature lurks beneath Stone Desert City.”

The surrounding mercenaries trembled uncontrollably as the Fire Spirit Serpent’s eyes swept over them, their teeth clattering.

The chain whipped, forcefully slamming the Fire Spirit Serpent onto the ground.

As the black mist dissipated, it revealed the stern face of Hun Cang.

He glanced at the Fire Spirit Serpent, an expression of mild annoyance flickering across his brow.

This creature was like a fish in water within the magma.

With only a Dou Ling level of power, capturing it with his Five-Star Dou Huang strength still required considerable effort.

However, catching the Fire Spirit Serpent did prove that the Azure Lotus Hearth Fire truly existed beneath.

Reflecting on this, Hun Cang sighed with some helplessness.

Within the magma, the fire elemental aura was thick; everything visible was bathed in a red glow.

He had initially ventured deep inside, searching for a long time but failed to locate the exact position of the Azure Lotus Hearth Fire. He even attempted to reach the area beneath the magma where the temperature was so high the lava turned bluish.

Still, nothing.

With no better option, Hun Cang had to settle for capturing the Fire Spirit Serpent.

“Where are the people from the Desert Iron Mercenary Group? Come here at once!” Hun Cang called out to the surrounding crowd, withdrawing his gaze from the serpent.

“What does he want with the Desert Iron folks?”

“Could it be that someone offended this gentleman?”

Whispers broke out among the mercenaries. Eyes shifted toward a pair of brothers with similar features, both wearing expressions of shock and anxiety.

“Brother?” Xiao Li’s heart tightened with worry. Could it be that something he said earlier to his elder brother was overheard by this gentleman?

Xiao Ding took a deep breath, didn’t look at him, and hurried over.

As he approached, before he could steady himself, he felt an intense heat radiating from the nearby beast.

He instinctively glanced over. The Fire Spirit Serpent glared wildly, roaring at him.

“Behave.” Just as Xiao Ding worried the beast might lunge at him, a low command sounded by his ear. Then he saw the chain on the creature’s body emit a pitch-black light and suddenly tighten.

The two heads of the Fire Spirit Serpent twisted in pain, struggling fiercely. Yet, the more it struggled, the tighter the chains became.

Impressive...

Gathering his thoughts, Xiao Ding looked at Hun Cang with increasing reverence and respectfully said, “Sir, I am Xiao Ding, captain of the Desert Iron Mercenary Group. If you have any orders for us, please speak.”

Hun Cang replied coldly, “Is there a girl named Qing Lin in your group?”

“Qing Lin...” Xiao Ding repeated silently, then nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Bring her here.” Hun Cang instructed, feeling relieved that Qing Lin was already with the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, saving him the trouble of searching.

Qing Lin possessed the Tri-Flower Azure Serpent Eyes. As long as she controlled the Fire Spirit Serpent, she could have it lead her to the true location of the Azure Lotus Hearth Fire.

Otherwise, Hun Cang could search himself, but it would take too long.

No choice—after all, the underground magma world was vast.

Before long, Xiao Ding returned with a young girl.

She was short and slender, appearing somewhat malnourished and dressed in simple servant’s clothes. Even in the desert, she wore long sleeves and pants, as if unafraid of the heat.

Standing before Hun Cang, Qing Lin kept her head lowered, her body trembling faintly.

She didn’t understand how the captain had suddenly found her or why this gentleman wanted to see her.

While she was at a loss, a shadow suddenly fell over her. Before she could react, she felt her sleeve being lifted.

A faint chill brushed against the scales on her wrist. Like a reflex, Qing Lin withdrew her hand hastily, bowing her head lower and trembling more violently.

At least that gentleman was a Dou Wang-level powerhouse. Whatever he wanted her to do next, she had to cooperate obediently, she reminded herself.

Recalling the captain’s warning on the way here, Qing Lin shakily returned her hand to where it had been pulled.

“Don’t be afraid, I just want you to help me with something. Relax...” A gentle voice whispered beside her, and Qing Lin felt a warm hand rest atop her head, softly rubbing it.

She looked up in surprise, her emerald eyes reflecting the handsome young man whose lips curved in a faint smile.

“S-sir... what should I do?” Qing Lin stammered.

Hun Cang took hold of the wrist bearing her growing scales, his face calm as he pointed toward the Fire Spirit Serpent not far away.

“Look it in the eyes and imagine controlling it, making it obedient.”

Noticing Qing Lin’s uncontrollable trembling, Hun Cang’s gaze followed hers to the wrist he held. He glanced at the delicate scales on her fair arm and smiled slightly.

“Such beautiful scales...”

“Sir, aren’t you afraid?” Qing Lin blinked, summoning courage to ask.

Hun Cang ruffled her hair and laughed, “Why fear something beautiful? Others’ fear comes from their inability to appreciate it.”

Pausing, he continued, “If you can help me control it, I can take you somewhere better to live.”

“I... I’ll try,” Qing Lin said timidly, fixing her gaze on the Fire Spirit Serpent. Taking several deep breaths, she stepped forward slowly.

Hun Cang stood still, watching her back with anticipation.

The Tri-Flower Azure Serpent Eyes were known as the bane of serpents, granting control over all snake-type creatures—an ability worth cultivating.

“Why would sir bring a little girl along?” Xu Guang asked Xiao Ding as he returned.

Xiao Ding shook his head, equally puzzled.

He was even curious how this gentleman, who should be visiting Stone Desert City for the first time, knew about Qing Lin.

Suddenly, a shout interrupted his thoughts.

The chains binding the Fire Spirit Serpent shattered into mist and flew back into Hun Cang’s body. Meanwhile, Qing Lin still stood before the serpent.

“Be careful...” Xiao Ding’s heart leapt into his throat as the serpent moved toward Qing Lin.

Yet what happened next shocked everyone.

The Fire Spirit Serpent gently nuzzled Qing Lin’s small hand, like a pet.

Too far away to hear their conversation, Xiao Ding only saw the serpent slip back into the molten lava, with Hun Cang following close behind.