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--- Chapter 68 ---
The news about a person called Golden Monarch defeating the Poison Grandmaster spread faster than wildfire. Almost every neighboring empire was startled because they didn't know the Jia Ma Empire possessed such a monstrous powerhouse.
Even after a few weeks, the news about this mysterious expert is still lingering around the Northwest Area of the Dou Qi Continent.
Far from the Ji Ma Empire, Baek Ain and his four companions rested in a bar. They enjoyed their lunch as some people babbled about his Golden Monarch Title.
"How was your meal, Golden Monarch? Do you like fancy~?" Yi Xian teased Baek Ain.
Baek Ain smiled wryly and replied, "Aih, stop it."
"You know that I didn't like the grand nickname."
"Of course, you're a Golden Pervert, after all." Yi Xian elaborated with a wink, causing Lan Rou and Yafei to choke on their food.
"Yeah, yeah. Call me whatever because this Golden Pervert makes you plead more in the bedroom." Baek Ain smirked confidently at her.
"Also, Who said she couldn't live without me anymore?"
"Hehe."
"Hmph." Yi Xian blushed because of how shameless Baek Ain was.
Yafei laughed and commented, "He got you this time, Yi Xian."
"What makes Sister Xian plead more?" Qing Lin tilted her head in confusion.
"You'll know in a few years, Qing Lin." Lan Rou placed down a sweet steamed bun before Qing Lin.
"Oh..." Qing Lin nodded, eating the sweet steamed bun like a cute little squirrel. Three to four years isn't a long time for her.
After paying for their lunch, Baek Ain stretched and commented, "This place is surely farther than I expected. If we have more time, I can sneak Qing Lin into the Sky Serpent Mansion."
Snake Sky Serpent is a faction within the Sky Serpent Empire located in the center of the Northwest Region. It's a faction stronger than Mystic Cloud Sect.
It's also the most suitable place for Qing Lin to cultivate her innate ability and cultivation. Baek Ain planned to let Qing Lin train in the Sky Serpent Mansion for a year or two before letting her catch him up on the Central Plain.
He talked about this matter with Qing Lin, and she agreed. The adorable young lady realized her strength wasn't enough to help Baek Ain, so she chose a conscious action and focused on her training.
Qing Lin is the weakest in the group.
Not because Qing Lin's cultivation is the lowest but because she is inexperienced with her Three Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. It's her source of strength, so Baek Ain can't leave it wasted.
The same goes for Yi Xian's Woeful Poison Body.
The group wandered around Sky Serpent City and compared it to the Jia Ma Imperial City. This place is surprisingly pleasant and peaceful, with people able to walk around with smiles.
The authority that Sky Serpent Mansion holds in this place is also absolute, which is what Baek Ain wants to achieve in Jia Ma Empire.
Unfortunately, Baek Ain received news a while ago about Mystic Cloud Sect entering an in-door phase and won't let anyone enter the peak besides some exceptions like Imperial Family and some disciples.
It aroused Baek Ain's strange suspicion, but he couldn't do anything about it. At least Nalan Yanran will keep him updated about the Mystic Cloud Sect's situation.
Yes, Nalan Yanran apparently fell head over heels in love with Baek Ain, but he didn't respond to her feelings yet. He merely used her for information.
Was it cruel?
Yes.
However, Baek Ain doesn't have nor grow a single attachment toward Nalan Yanran. Maybe in the future if they ever crossed paths, but Baek Ain knows that's more likely not to happen.
They arrived at the Sky Serpent Mansion and were "immediately." greeted with a massive gate connected to tall gates surrounding the area.
Baek Ain walked to the guards and intimidated them with his slaughter aura to call someone with high ranks. He didn't want to deal with cliche guards' moments in the cultivation world, where the main protagonist got looked down upon everywhere.
After a few minutes, a disciple-looking young woman walked out and glared at Baek Ain hostilely.
Baek Ain shrugged and said, "I want to meet with the elders. You better call them fast."
"How dare-!" The disciple was about to shout, but Baek Ain's hazel-gold eyes released a fiery hue.
"Fast." Baek Ain pressured her.
As the young disciple ran away inside, Yafei sighed because she expected a civil conversation, but BAek Ain's method was more effective.
They waited another minute and saw a green-haired woman in a black dress walking out. She appeared to be twenty and fair-skinned.
She exuded the presence of an expert, staring at Baek Ain and his group calmly.
Baek Ain beamed and greeted, "Good evening, Senior."
"My name is Baek Ain, and I'm here to offer you something."
The green-haired woman maintained a poker face and responded, "Not interested. You came here and intimidated my people."
"I've seen enough unruly people in my life. And your acts aren't so different from theirs."
"Is that so?" Baek Ain chuckled, telling Qing Lin to become closer.
"Likewise... I don't want to deal with a meddlesome exchange between the guard and your disciple. I'm sure they are reasonable people who might be willing to talk with me, but I'm not taking any chances for them to look down on someone, especially me."
"Their acts could be not so different from people who couldn't accept guests properly, no?"
"What a smart ass." The green-haired woman commented while releasing her Dou Emperor Cultivation, but Baek Ain didn't budge. He still smiled at her.
Baek Ain glanced at Qing Lin and said, "Show her."
"This is my younger sister, Qing Lin."
"She has something your Sky Serpent Mansion had been interested in for years."
"I don't-! Three Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils!!" The green-haired woman was shocked. As Qing Lin's eyes activated, she could see the three-flower petal patterns.
There was no mistake. It's the Legendary Three Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
Baek Ain approached the shocked senior from the Sky Serpent Mansion and slipped a pill into her hand. "Beautiful Senior, take this as an apology from me." He whispered sincerely, making her blush instinctively.
"This is..." The green-haired woman looked at her palm, seeing the 5-Tier Beauty Pill. She swallowed her saliva nervously and looked at Baek Ain solemnly.
'This young fellow. He's not simple.'
"What do you think now? Am I not convincing enough?" Baek Ain said while crossing his arms. "By letting my sister become the Sky Serpent Mansion's Saintess, I'll support your faction within her discipleship period."
"Of course, with the same grade of the pill you currently hold."
"I'm giving you more benefit in this bargain, you know? My cute sister is talented. However, she lacked experience in her innate ability's control."
Hiding the pill in her hand, the green-haired woman coughed and responded, "F-Fine."
"I'll take her as a Core Disciple and make her saintess within a year. She has innate ability and talent to do so."
"Qing Lin greets your teacher." Baek Ain tapped Qing Lin's shoulder.
Qing Lin nodded and bowed respectfully, "This girl named Qing Lin pays respect to the gorgeous teacher."
"G-Gorgeous." The green-haired woman coughed once more. She liked the praise.
"Then, I, Elder Lu Man, will accept Qing Lin as my disciple."
Staring at Baek Ain, Lu Man opened her mouth and asked, "How will you contact Sky Serpent Mansion?"
"Through my sister. She'd receive my update from time to time." Baek Ain replied confidently. "So, treat her right because if something bad happens..."
Lu Man flinched as the surrounding air became alarmingly hot and filled with the image of a great white tiger, golden crow, massive snake-man, and mighty ape covered in a murderous aura.
ROOOOOOARR!
"Ah!" Lu Man raised her guard instinctively but found nothing wrong happened afterward.
Baek Ain smiled and said, "Well, happy cooperation, Senior."
"I hope we can do more business in the future."
Even though Baek Ain could intimidate Lu Man now, she could still mess up and do a horrible job at training/protecting Qing Lin. That's why he slipped a dormant parasite inside the 5-Tier Beauty Pill.
Well, she wouldn't know for now.
"O-Okay." Lu Man sighed in relief. She could feel cold sweat running down her neck.
Baek Ain looked at Qing Lin and said, "Be a good girl and train diligently, okay?"
"Mm." Qing Lin smiled with decisiveness.
"I'll do my best."
Qing Lin tip-toed and reached for Baek Ain's ears. "A-Also, does Boss Ain really think Qing Lin is cute?"
"Yes, you are." Baek Ain laughed, giving her a pat on the head.
"I see, hehehe~!" Qing Lin happily giggled.
After giving Qing Lin a few more pats, Baek Ain waved his hand alongside his three soon-to-be wives and said see you soon to her.
They disappeared, leaving Qing Lin and Lu Man alone on the streets.
Qing Lin's green eyes became slightly moist as she wiped them with her sleeve. "Don't worry. I'll be more powerful and stand beside you(Boss Ain)!" She vowed to herself.