The Serpent King's Trial with Azure Scales, the Heart of Ruler of All Serpents

The fourth trial ground on the back mountain of Nishen Hall was a bottomless Snake Cave, inhabited by tens of thousands of highly venomous snakes and guarded by an Ancient Snake King. Qing Lin's trial required her to gain the recognition of the Ancient Snake King and master the power of ten thousand snakes to unlock the God-Defying Snake Empress Form, all without harming the snake swarm.

Qing Lin stood at the entrance of the Snake Cave, her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils spinning slightly as she attempted to control the approaching venomous snakes. However, the snake swarm showed no reaction to her control; instead, they flicked their tongues and bared their fierce fangs. The aura of the Ancient Snake King emanated from the depths of the Snake Cave, carrying an overwhelming pressure that made Qing Lin's body tremble slightly.

"This snake swarm has been infected by the hostility of the God Realm and has lost its sanity; ordinary snake pupil control is useless." Su Chen's voice came from behind her as he handed Qing Lin a black god-defying rune. "Use this to connect your God-Defying Power with the life essence of the snake swarm, letting them feel your goodwill."

Qing Lin took the rune, recalling the scene when Su Chen had taken her deep into the Snake Cave to subdue the Ancient Snake King. Back then, her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had just awakened, and she was being besieged by the snake swarm. It was Su Chen who stood before her, using his God-Defying Soul Power to disperse the hostility of the snakes. From that moment on, she vowed to become Su Chen's sharpest blade, leading her snake swarm to fight for him.

Qing Lin merged the god-defying rune into her brow, and nishen markings flashed within her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. She slowly walked into the Snake Cave, no longer forcibly controlling the snake swarm. Instead, she knelt down and gently stroked an injured green-scaled snake. A pale green healing glow emanated from her palm, repairing the snake's wounds while transmitting her God-Defying Power to it.

The green-scaled snake's body gradually relaxed, and it no longer showed hostility toward Qing Lin, instead affectionately nuzzling the back of her hand. Seeing this, the surrounding venomous snakes swarmed around her. Qing Lin treated the injured snakes one by one, using her God-Defying Power to soothe their hostility. By the time she reached the depths of the Snake Cave, tens of thousands of venomous snakes followed behind her, forming a long serpentine formation.

The Ancient Snake King was coiled at the core of the Snake Cave, its massive body blocking the path, its golden pupils filled with wariness. Qing Lin stopped and bowed to the Ancient Snake King. "Lord Snake King, I have no intention of being your enemy. I only wish to ask you to join me in protecting the Douluo Continent and the person most important to me."

The Ancient Snake King let out a low roar and suddenly lunged at Qing Lin. She did not dodge but instead fully released her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils and God-Defying Power. The green snake pupils intertwined with the black nishen markings, forming a massive snake phantom. The phantom collided with the projection of the Ancient Snake King, producing a deafening boom.

Just then, Su Chen's God-Defying Soul Power was quietly injected into Qing Lin's body, merging with her own strength. Her body erupted with a brilliant jade-green light as her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils evolved into the God-Defying Snake Empress Pupils. Behind her, the phantom of the Netherworld Snake Empress emerged. Tens of thousands of venomous snakes hissed simultaneously and bowed to her—the Ancient Snake King also slowly lowered its head, acknowledging her status as the Snake Empress.

God-Defying Snake Empress: Ten Thousand Snake Command Form officially unlocked! Not only could Qing Lin control all snakes, but she could also merge the power of the snake swarm for her own use, and even share power with the Ancient Snake King to unleash might surpassing that of a Titled Douluo.

Qing Lin rode on the back of the Ancient Snake King as she emerged from the Snake Cave, her face beaming with an excited smile. "Su Chen, look! I've subdued the Ancient Snake King. My snake swarm is now your army!"

Su Chen stepped forward and gently ruffled her hair. "Well done. Our Snake Empress, from now on, all the snakes of the Douluo Continent will be under your command."

Qing Lin's cheeks flushed slightly as she nodded, her eyes full of admiration for Su Chen.

Meanwhile, at the Mass Grave in Cangyun Town, Xiao Ling lay beside a pile of rotting corpses, barely clinging to life. Because he had stolen a chicken from a landlord's house while begging, he had been beaten by the servants, his legs broken, and thrown into the Mass Grave. Mosquitoes and rats were everywhere, and his wounds had festered, emitting a foul stench, yet he lacked even the strength to find water.

Xiao Ling watched the crows flying in the sky, a strong desire to survive surging in his heart. He wanted to crawl out, seek revenge against Su Chen, and live again. But as soon as he moved his body, the pain caused him to black out. A second before losing consciousness, he seemed to see Xiao Wu's silhouette, but it quickly turned into Su Chen, wearing a mocking smile.

"Su Chen... I hate you..." Xiao Ling's final words dissipated into the cold wind of the Mass Grave.

Back at the trial grounds, Su Chen watched Qing Lin's interaction with the snake swarm and said to Xiao Yi Xian beside him, "Next, it's your turn. Your Poison Body trial will be more dangerous than the others. Are you ready?"

A flash of determination crossed Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, the markings of the Poison Body faintly appearing on her face. "For Su Chen, for the Nishen Hall, I fear nothing."