Chapter 126: The Snake People

Although his time at the Xuandao Sect had been brief, Elder Xuanyin had been a loyal associate of his father and had treated him with great care. As for Nuolan, she was the love of his life. One had died because of the Qingyun Sect, and the other was now separated from him by distance, unable to meet, also because of that same sect.

The hatred he felt for the Qingyun Sect could only be washed away with blood.

"Let's go," Yin Tianfang said, tucking his belongings into his storage pouch and patting the head of the Sky-Winged Demon Tiger. He then led the beast forward.

Rather than taking to the skies, Yin Tianfang chose to travel through the jungle on the tiger’s back. While riding, he perused the manual he had obtained from the disciple of the Heaven Talisman Sect. Once he had memorized every detail within, he flicked his mind, and the booklet turned to ash.

The Soul-Splitting Pill had been successfully refined. As he rode, Yin Tianfang pondered when he should practice the Tri-Soul Technique. Although it was a cultivation method meant for the Golden Core stage, the time required to master it was likely more than a day or two.

A human possesses only one soul—whether they are a commoner, a cultivator, or a legendary immortal. Once a soul is damaged, it is notoriously difficult to restore. For a commoner, it leads to premature death; for a cultivator, it not only causes a massive loss in cultivation base but also severs any hope of advancing to higher realms. To reach the pinnacle, one’s physical body must be pure and unified, and the soul must be entirely intact.

Yet, the Tri-Soul Technique demanded that a single, complete soul be split into three, each with its own independent consciousness. The Soul-Splitting Pill was essential to ensure that each severed soul remained whole and integral.

"Once things here are concluded, I will find a place to cultivate the Tri-Soul Technique," Yin Tianfang thought to himself. He patted the tiger’s head again and said, "Pick up the pace."

The Sky-Winged Demon Tiger kicked off the ground, moving like a bolt of lightning, streaking through the forest with Yin Tianfang on its back. Several days later, they had ventured hundreds of miles deep.

Even so, they were still a long way from the central region of the Divine Medicine Mountains. By now, however, the number of people they encountered had increased significantly. Within a single day, Yin Tianfang had crossed paths with several groups.

These groups comprised members from various sects and families of the Qingshui Kingdom, and each possessed a formidable aura. Riding the Sky-Winged Demon Tiger, Yin Tianfang naturally drew the attention of many. The beast was truly magnificent, and the intensity of the demonic aura it radiated was stronger than that of an average early-stage Golden Core expert. Using such a beast as a mount was something few could accomplish.

As they delved deeper, the crowd grew denser. Yin Tianfang dismounted and patted the tiger’s head. Understanding his intent, the beast shrank until it was only a foot long, turning into a streak of white light that vanished into Yin Tianfang’s sleeve.

Moving with the grace of the wind, Yin Tianfang followed behind the others. Though they were all heading in the same general direction, they kept their distance, wary of one another due to their differing faction loyalties. After observing their trajectory, Yin Tianfang slowed his pace. He stopped following them, changed his path, and headed in a different direction.

Weaving through the thickets, he kept his divine sense extended to remain alert. After traveling some distance, the faint sound of rushing water reached his ears.

Intrigued, Yin Tianfang moved toward the source of the sound. However, just as he was about to emerge from the brush, he froze. He instantly dropped into a crouch, suppressed his breathing to the lowest possible point, and withdrew his divine sense.

Carefully moving forward, he parted the dense foliage. At the end of a small path beyond the thicket, several lithe figures with human bodies and serpentine tails stood with cold, stern expressions. Their sharp gazes scanned the surrounding forest, and the weapons gripped tightly in their hands suggested they were ready to strike down any intruder.

"Snake-women in a place like this?" Yin Tianfang frowned, surprised by the encounter. Among these serpent-kin, four had reached the middle stage of the Golden Core, while the rest were all in the early stage.

Observing the formidable lineup, Yin Tianfang’s expression tightened. He shifted his gaze, suppressed his aura to the absolute minimum, and began to move stealthily toward the source of the water.

As darkness began to fall, Yin Tianfang skirted around the snake-women and eventually drew near the water source.

He quietly parted the leaves to peer out. Before him lay a clear, tranquil lake, its pristine surface bringing a sense of serenity to his heart.

*Splash!*

Just as he prepared to step out of the forest, the sound of water breaking echoed. Yin Tianfang followed the noise, and the next moment, his body went rigid. His mouth slightly agape, he stared blankly at the figure emerging from the lake.

From the depths of the clear water, a woman with a voluptuous figure rose. With her back to Yin Tianfang, she tossed her long hair, droplets of water clinging to her flawless, porcelain-like skin. The water traced a path down her shoulders, across her alluring, slender waist, and finally dripped back into the lake, creating circles of ripples.

Even from a distance, Yin Tianfang could clearly see the supple flexibility of her waist. She ran her delicate fingers through her long hair before slowly turning around.

As she turned, her perfect form was fully exposed to his sight. Even someone with a will as firm as Yin Tianfang’s felt his blood rush.

Her body, as if carved from white jade, was a masterpiece of the heavens. Her full, firm breasts were proudly exposed to the slightly damp air. In the faint moonlight, her face was captivating and enchanting, her almond-shaped eyes shimmering with a watery, seductive light. Among all the women he had ever seen, none could compare to her in charm and allure.

"Gulp." Watching this enchanting woman, Yin Tianfang’s throat moved. He drew a slow breath, gradually calming the turmoil in his heart. His gaze swept over the lake water beside her, where, beneath the clear surface, a green snake tail swayed slightly, exuding a wild, primal temptation.

"Snake-kin," Yin Tianfang whispered softly.