Snakes work together to forge bonds, their fingertips touching with tender affection.

On the edge of the forest outside Suotuo City, the vegetation was lush, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

Qing Lin stood in an open space, tapping her fingertips lightly, commanding dozens of the snake swarm to practice a combined attack formation—this was specifically designed for her by Su Chen, which could both utilize the numerical advantage of the snake swarm and coordinate with her spirit power to form an offensive and defensive formation.

"Little Black, lead the left flank of the snake swarm to outflank! Little Red, use your poisonous fangs to contain the center!" Qing Lin shouted crisply, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead, her eyes focused intently on the snake swarm.

But as soon as the snake swarm formed the formation, because a few small snakes made a coordination error, the formation instantly collapsed, and even a few mischievous little snakes crawled toward Su Chen's direction.

"Oh no!" Qing Lin exclaimed, hurriedly trying to recall the snake swarm, but it was already too late.

A few small snakes crawled up Su Chen's pant legs, wrapping around his wrists and ankles, flicking their tongues, appearing exceptionally affectionate.

Su Chen looked down at the small snakes wrapped around him, then looked at Qing Lin's flustered appearance, and couldn't help but laugh: "Little fool, the snake swarm hasn't completely acknowledged you as their master yet. When you command them, you need to infuse more spirit power to resonate with them, letting them feel your instructions."

He walked slowly to Qing Lin's side, reached out to pinch her cheek, his tone carrying a bit of doting teasing: "Didn't I tell you before that the snake swarm also needs to acknowledge its master? Look at them now, they are actually closer to me instead."

Qing Lin's cheeks turned instantly red, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "I'm sorry, Su Chen... I didn't command them well and let them disturb you."

As she spoke, she reached out to pull off the small snakes wrapped around Su Chen, but was stopped by Su Chen.

"Don't rush." Su Chen held her hand, his fingertips feeling the coolness and delicacy of her palm, "Let me teach you how to use spirit power to establish a deeper connection with the snake swarm, so they will listen completely to your commands."

He raised Qing Lin's hand in front of him, and the black-gold God-Defying Power flowed through his fingertips into her body, guiding her spirit power to release slowly, resonating with the surrounding snake swarm.

"Concentrate, pass your thoughts to the snake swarm through your spirit power, and let them feel your will."

Feeling the warmth of Su Chen's palm and the gentle God-Defying Power, Qing Lin's cheeks turned even redder, but she obediently followed his instructions.

Under Su Chen's guidance, her spirit power transformed into a pale green halo, enveloping the entire snake swarm.

The previously mischievous little snakes instantly quieted down, all raising their heads, flicking their tongues toward Qing Lin's direction, their eyes full of obedience.

"Wow! Su Chen, they are listening to me now!" Qing Lin shouted in surprise, her eyes shining like stars, "I can feel it, I can communicate with them!"

"Well done." Su Chen smiled and let go of her hand, but deliberately let his fingertips lightly brush against her palm, "Now try commanding the combined attack formation again. Remember, you must let the spirit power be evenly distributed to every snake to form synergy."

Qing Lin took a deep breath and commanded the snake swarm again.

This time, the snake swarm's movements were uniform and orderly; the left flank outflanked, the center contained, and the right flank defended, perfectly forming the combined attack formation.

Some snakes even jumped up, spitting out faint Poison Mist to form a defensive barrier.

"I succeeded! Su Chen, I succeeded!" Qing Lin excitedly threw herself at Su Chen's side, hugging his arm tightly with both hands, her cheek pressed against his sleeve, her tone full of dependence and admiration, "It's all your credit; without you, I definitely couldn't have done it."

Su Chen patted her head, looking at the little cowlick swaying slightly on top of her head, and teased: "Our little snake girl is getting more and more impressive. In the future, the snake swarm will be our best reconnaissance team and vanguard team."

Not far away, Karin, Hinata, and Kushina were sitting under the shade of a tree, watching them.

Karin rested her chin in her hand, a smile on her lips: "Little sister Qing Lin is improving really fast, and Su Chen teaches well too."

Hinata nodded gently, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Su Chen is very patient with everyone, and we are all gradually becoming stronger."

Kushina leaned against the tree trunk, took a sip of water, her tone proud yet unable to hide her gratification: "This girl is finally not stupid and didn't waste Su Chen's guidance. However, next time it should be my turn; I still want to try the combination of Lightning Release and the snake swarm again."

Hearing their conversation, Su Chen smiled and shouted: "Alright, Qing Lin has practiced enough. Next, let's try team coordination together. Let the snake swarm coordinate with Kushina's Lightning Release, Karin will be responsible for healing, and Hinata will use the Byakugan for reconnaissance. Let's see how much our combat power has improved."

"Yay!" Qing Lin agreed happily, immediately commanding the snake swarm to adjust its formation, preparing to cooperate with the team training.

Just at this moment, Su Chen's brow furrowed slightly, his black-gold gaze sweeping toward the depths of the forest.

He felt a familiar fluctuation of spirit power, carrying the unique, chilling aura of the Spirit Hall, rapidly approaching this side, and it seemed to be mixed with a faint, painful fluctuation of spirit power.

"What's wrong, Su Chen?" Qing Lin noticed his abnormality and asked puzzledly.

Su Chen's eyes narrowed, his tone steady: "We have guests, and they don't come with good intentions."

He turned to the four Heroines and said, "Prepare for battle; it might be people from the Spirit Hall, and they seem to be hunting someone."

Kushina stood up immediately, her Lightning Release Chakra surging: "Perfect, let them have a taste of my new Lightning Release technique!"

Karin also gripped her healing potion tightly, her eyes firm: "I will protect everyone well; I won't let anyone get hurt."

Hinata activated her Byakugan, observing the situation deep in the forest, and whispered: "Su Chen, there are three Spirit Elder-level spirit power fluctuations, and one weaker spirit power fluctuation; it seems to be a girl who is being hunted by them."

A cold smile curled on the corner of Su Chen's mouth: "People from the Spirit Hall, they really are like ghosts that refuse to leave. Since they've delivered themselves to our doorstep, don't blame us for being impolite."

He turned to look at Qing Lin, "Let the snake swarm go scout first, figure out their position, and we will set up an ambush to catch them off guard."

"Understood!" Qing Lin immediately commanded the snake swarm, which quickly crawled toward the depths of the forest and disappeared among the vegetation.