Plan to return to Northwest China

Shen Wen temporarily suppressed the thoughts in his heart and turned to look down.

Zi Yan and Qing Lin had already run over and were standing nearby, looking at the transformed and incomparably docile true form of Demon Crow with curiosity and a bit of wariness.

"Now," Shen Wen pointed at Demon Crow and said to the two girls, "Should I kill him? To vent your anger."

Hearing this, Zi Yan clenched her small fists and gave Demon Crow a huffy glare, but then she looked at Qing Lin.

Although she held a grudge, she also knew that this matter was mainly targeted at Qing Lin.

Qing Lin looked up at the massive python body, a struggle flashing through her jade-green eyes before she finally shook her head gently.

She tugged on Shen Wen's sleeve and whispered, "Brother Shen Wen, let's not kill him yet. He... he is useful to you now; it would be a waste to kill him."

She paused, her voice even softer, yet carrying a calm reasoning that belied her age: "Besides, becoming like this is probably more... painful for him than being killed directly, right?

Brother Shen Wen, if you keep him, maybe later you can... you can slowly learn about the affairs of the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python side."

Shen Wen looked at Qing Lin with some surprise, and then a gratified smile appeared in his eyes.

He rubbed Qing Lin's head and said warmly, "Alright, we'll listen to our Qing Lin.

Then we'll keep him for now."

He then added an encouraging remark: "In the future, when you Breakthrough to the Dou Zong Realm and your Soul strength is strong enough, I will hand him over to you to control completely, okay?

Let him be your guard or mount."

Qing Lin's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously: "Mhm! I will Cultivate hard!"

At this time, Shen Tian walked over stumblingly, supported by Xiong Tao.

His face was still pale and his breath weak, but his injuries had been stabilized by the power Shen Wen had previously funneled into him.

He walked up close and bowed deeply to Shen Wen, his face full of shame: "Venerable... your subordinate was incompetent and failed to protect Young Miss Zi Yan and Young Miss Qing Lin, nearly causing a catastrophe. Please punish me, Venerable!"

Shen Wen raised his hand to gesture for him to stop and shook his head: "The fault in this matter does not lie with you. The opponent was a Three-Star Dou Zun and hailed from the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python; his strength was inherently above yours. Being able to desperately delay him for a moment was already not easy."

His gaze turned toward Demon Crow, who was imprisoned to the side, and his tone turned cold: "Moreover, since the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python knew of the existence of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils,

and had obtained definite information, they must have started secretly monitoring my movements long ago.

Even if it wasn't you today, they would have found another opportunity to strike.

It was impossible to guard against."

Hearing this, Shen Tian felt slightly more at ease, but the sense of guilt had still not completely dissipated.

"This place is not suitable to stay for long." Shen Wen looked around the messy valley and made a decision, "Return to Holy Pill City first. Demon Crow."

He looked at the prostrate giant python.

"Subordinate is here." Demon Crow lowered his head.

"Immediately send a message back to the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python tribe, saying that you have arrived near the target, but Shen Wen and the guards around him are very vigilant.

You haven't found a suitable opportunity to strike yet and need more time to lurk and observe.

Be sure to keep them steady; do not alert the enemy."

"Yes, Venerable."

Demon Crow agreed without hesitation.

For him, who had already been converted, Shen Wen's orders were the highest decree, even if those orders required him to deceive his own tribe.

Shen Wen said no more and waved his sleeve, and the silver-gray Space Power once again diffused outward.

It enveloped Shen Tian, Xiong Tao, Zi Yan, Qing Lin, and Demon Crow, who had reverted to human form and had the bleeding at his severed wrist simply stopped.

The next moment.

Space distorted slightly, and the figures of several people vanished... The spatial ripples settled in the main courtyard, and the figures of Shen Wen's group appeared.

Almost at the same moment they appeared, two gazes filled with urgency and worry were cast over.

Cai Lin was standing under the porch in front of the hall, one hand unconsciously protecting her lower abdomen, her purple eyes locked onto the direction where Shen Wen appeared.

Although she didn't know specifically what had happened, the sudden disappearance of Shen Wen's aura and the spatial fluctuations a moment ago

made her immediately realize that something had gone wrong, and she had at once sent someone to notify Cao Ying.

Cao Ying had hurried back from the Pill Tower and was currently standing by Cai Lin's side. Seeing Shen Wen and the others return safely, the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally lowered slightly.

However, when her gaze swept through the crowd and landed on that strange, wrist-severed, cold-auraed yet exceptionally obedient Demon Crow, her brows furrowed imperceptibly.

Cai Lin's feeling was even more direct and intense.

As a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, her perception of her own kind was extremely acute.

This Black Robed Man before her gave her a sense of profound, cold pressure originating from the depths of her Bloodline; he was by no means an ordinary snake, and his cultivation... was actually at the Dou Zun level!

"Husband, this is..." Cao Ying took a step forward, her gaze moving between Shen Wen and Demon Crow.

"Let's go inside to talk." Shen Wen took her hand and squeezed it gently to reassure her, then nodded to Cai Lin.

The group entered the hall and took their seats.

Shen Wen did not delay and briefly recounted the events of the assassination attempt by the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python Elder, Demon Crow, in the Snake-People Mountain Range, how the target was directly Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, and how the clues behind the scenes pointed to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion in the Northwest.

Upon hearing that the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python had actually sent a Three-Star Dou Zun Elder specifically to stifle Qing Lin,

both Cao Ying and Cai Lin's faces darkened, and a chill condensed in their eyes.

Especially Cai Lin; as a possessor of a top-tier snake Bloodline, she could better understand the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python's wariness and killing intent toward the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

When Shen Wen mentioned that he had used the "Great Universal Salvation Technique" to convert and control Demon Crow, and had learned that the information likely came from within the Heavenly Serpent Mansion,

the two women's expressions softened slightly, but the look of gravity did not diminish.

Shen Wen's tone was decisive: "The matter of returning to the Northwest can no longer be delayed.

Conveniently, the core formation base for the spatial teleportation array to the Northwest is already complete. This time going over, I also need to completely construct the other end to open up this passage."

Cao Ying immediately said: "Then I will accompany you back."

Although Cai Lin did not speak, the meaning in her purple eyes was also very clear.

Shen Wen, however, shook his head: "Ying'er, the Pill Tower cannot do without you.

The affairs of the Council of Elders, the properties in Holy Pill City, and the interactions with various parties all need you to sit in and preside over them.

During my absence, this place needs you even more to stabilize the situation."

He then looked at Cai Lin, his gaze falling on her already noticeably protruding abdomen, his voice soft but firm: "Cai Lin, your body is heavy now, so it is not suitable for long-distance travel, and traversing space requires even more caution.

This trip back to the Northwest will inevitably involve conflict. If you stay here to peacefully nurture the child, I will have no worries."

Cao Ying still wanted to say something, but seeing the look in Shen Wen's eyes

and thinking that there were indeed undercurrents inside and outside the Pill Tower, it was indeed more appropriate for her to stay and coordinate the overall situation, so she could only sigh softly: "Alright then, Husband, please be careful in everything."

Cai Lin also understood Shen Wen's concerns; she reached out to gently stroke her abdomen and nodded, her cool voice carrying concern: "Go and return quickly, do not push yourself too hard."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Shen Wen reassured her, then changed the subject, "This time can also be considered a blessing in disguise.

Demon Crow has been converted and has become a chess piece for us to infiltrate the interior of the Nine Serene Earth Nether Python.

With him there, we can at least know some of the opponent's movements in advance, and we can even use him to transmit information we want them to know."

Cao Ying's eyes brightened slightly: "This is indeed a hidden move.

Good, I will pay attention to the contact with Demon Crow to ensure this line is not broken."

"There is no time to lose." Shen Wen stood up. "I will prepare a bit and set off with Qing Lin tomorrow.

Shen Tian, Xiong Tao, you stay and guard the Snake-People Mountain Range, cooperate with Demon Crow, and strengthen vigilance. If there is any movement, immediately inform Ying'er through the Message Jade Talisman."

"Yes! Venerable (Young Lord)!" Shen Tian and Xiong Tao responded solemnly.

Demon Crow also bowed and said: "Subordinate obeys your command and will certainly not fail the Venerable's trust."