Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Spirit Serpent

"How can I earn your approval?" Zi Bing's words piqued Qin Shuang's interest. The prospect of becoming a god held little temptation for him, and the so-called prize was even less alluring. In the rear courtyard of the Qin family's Purple Profound Pavilion alone, there were over a million celestial artifacts. Even first-rate Hongmeng spirit treasures were things Qin Yu could casually forge. What truly intrigued Qin Shuang was the opportunity to leave this place, yet he had no intention of relying on their assistance to ascend. His soul had already reached the pinnacle of the ninth-level Immortal Emperor, and his cultivation was at the eighth level. To become a god and ascend on his own would be no challenge—only a matter of time spent in cultivation.

"I've already told you," Zi Bing replied, her eyes glinting slyly at Qin Shuang. "My approval isn't based on your cultivation, but... your fortune!"

"And what kind of fortune is required to earn your approval?" Qin Shuang continued with a calm smile. Upon learning that Qin Shuang's true strength was that of an eighth-level Immortal Emperor, the cultivators of Heavenly Ice Valley, as well as Feng Potian and the others, were already staring in shock at this seemingly young, free-spirited man. Yet none could sense the aura of a true powerhouse from him. Only when he faced the five-clawed purple-scaled dragon—or rather, the striking young woman exuding immense power—did the crowd notice that, under the overwhelming dragon might, Qin Shuang remained entirely at ease. There was not the slightest sign of resistance or the unleashing of his own aura, as if he were a vast, unfathomable ocean—profound, yet brimming with vitality.

"That depends on your luck. However, today I am deeply disappointed. There is not a single one here with such fortune, including you." Zi Bing's radiant smile lingered on Qin Shuang, and as her words fell, she vanished.

"It seems rather interesting," Qin Shuang murmured with an odd smile. After Zi Bing left, he received another secret through her transmission.

Zi Bing had only shared this secret with him. Why she confided in him, Qin Shuang could not guess, though from her tone, it seemed the spirit beasts' standards for choosing their destined ones were not so high. Yet why had she not chosen among these cultivators?

Shaking his head in confusion, Qin Shuang cast a sympathetic glance over his shoulder at the gathering of cultivators—they had been forsaken by the spirit beast.

With a flicker, Qin Shuang also disappeared from Heavenly Ice Valley, leaving behind thousands of cultivators and the City Lord of Tianfeng City, Feng Potian, all staring helplessly as the spirit beast departed, their hearts full of grief and frustration.

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Water Spirit City, a middling city on the Infinite Continent. Water Spirit Gorge, a pleasant spiritual ground outside the city, was used for cultivating materials for immortals. It was not a famous place; only the locals were aware of its existence.

The Spirit Snake, one of the twelve spirit beasts, was currently in Water Spirit Gorge—a secret Zi Bing had whispered to Qin Shuang. She also told him that the trial of the Path to Heaven was not merely about becoming a god; there were temptations within that even Godkings could not refuse. As to what they were, Zi Bing did not say.

Qin Shuang did not wholly trust Zi Bing’s claims. In his eyes, the so-called Path to Heaven was nothing more than a game invented by some bored Godking, unworthy of his attention. Unbeknownst to him, Zi Bing was simply using the Godkings' reputation to deceive the inhabitants of Infinite Continent. The real orchestrator behind the scenes was far more formidable than any Godking.

After arriving in Water Spirit City, Qin Shuang had more or less unraveled the mystery of the twelve spirit beasts. Each possessed immense power. The Spirit Tiger, Spirit Mouse, Spirit Dragon, and Spirit Boar had already appeared. Of the remaining eight, rumors had surfaced about four more, and it would not be long before they appeared on the Infinite Continent.

Of the four spirit beasts that had already appeared, none had chosen their destined ones. However, the Spirit Ox, soon to emerge, had made it known that he would select someone upon his appearance. Now, the rumored site of his arrival—Azure Ox Mountain—was already teeming with tens of millions of cultivators and immortals, with more arriving each day.

Within Water Spirit City, not a single immortal remained, and only a hundred or so cultivators lingered, mostly at the Nascent Soul stage. These were the ones unable to leave—otherwise, who would not go to Azure Ox Mountain to try their luck? The mountain was not far from the city.

Hovering silently above Water Spirit Gorge, Qin Shuang had already scanned the area twice with his immortal sense, yet found no trace of the Spirit Snake Zi Bing had mentioned.

"It seems I was too trusting," Qin Shuang muttered with a wry smile.

"Since you've come, why not stay?" Just as Qin Shuang was about to leave, a soft voice called from behind. He paused, turning slowly. There, in a spot he had searched countless times, a small azure snake floated in midair.

"So you are the Spirit Snake?" Qin Shuang was inwardly astonished that his immortal sense, at the ninth-level Immortal Emperor's soul, could not detect this little snake. Such power could only belong to a god.

"Indeed, I am the Spirit Snake. How did you know I was here?" The green snake coiled in the air, its voice gentle.

"Zi Bing told me I could find you here." Qin Shuang steadied himself. Even if this snake’s power exceeded his own, there was nothing to fear—no member of the Qin family had ever backed down before a powerful foe.

"That girl sent you?" The little green snake swiftly darted before him, circling him twice before returning to face him.

"Can you take human form?" Qin Shuang could not accept conversing with a snake, especially one whose power surpassed his own.

"Hmph, since that's your wish, I hope you won’t regret it!" The green snake retreated a few steps, let out a cold snort, and in the blink of an eye, a woman in green stood before Qin Shuang.

He was taken aback. The Spirit Snake’s human form was even more surprising than Zi Bing’s. The massive, fearsome dragon had transformed into a peerless beauty, yet this gentle-voiced, powerful Spirit Snake now appeared as a woman with a face mottled by dark scars—an ugly figure utterly at odds with her voice.

"Do you regret it? Too late now. All who have seen my true face and dared to mock me must die!" Her voice was now icy cold, and strands of green hair shot out from her ugly visage, instantly encircling Qin Shuang.