Chapter 327: Chapter 326: The Snake Emperor Yields

"How do I know you’re not trying to trick me? You humans are all a bunch of treacherous liars. Besides, the Transformation Pill is a Seventh Grade High Level Elixir. How could a mere Fifth Grade Alchemist like you possibly refine something like that?" The Snake Emperor was no fool and questioned him coldly.

"You don’t have to worry about that. I’m just a lowly Spirit Marquis. If you find out I’ve tricked you, killing me would be a simple matter, wouldn’t it? Besides, while I may be a Fifth Grade Alchemist now, give me three years, and I’m confident I can successfully refine the Transformation Pill!" Shen Haoran said confidently.

"Three years?" The Snake Emperor snorted. "Hmph. I’d be better off trading my Profound Yellow Fruits for a Transformation Pill. Three of them should be more than enough!"

"Trade for a Transformation Pill? You’re being naive. The main reason the Transformation Pill is so difficult to refine is that very few people have the Pill Recipe. And even if you had the recipe, getting a Seventh Grade Alchemist to refine a pill for you? Forget three Profound Yellow Fruits—even ten wouldn’t be enough!" Shen Haoran scoffed.

At his words, the Snake Emperor’s shapely brows knitted together. ’What Shen Haoran said isn’t without reason.’

"So you’re saying you have the Pill Recipe for the Transformation Pill?" the Snake Emperor asked.

Seeing the Snake Emperor was still hesitating, Shen Haoran pulled a scroll from his Storage Ring. As an Alchemy Master, Elder Yan naturally had a large collection of Pill Recipes, and the one for the Transformation Pill was among them.

The Snake Emperor examined the Pill Recipe. After confirming its authenticity, she said to Shen Haoran, "Fine. In that case, I’ll accept this deal. You give me the recipe, I give you the people!"

"Deal!" Shen Haoran agreed, tossing the Pill Recipe over. He wasn’t afraid of the Snake Emperor going back on her word. If she dared to renege, he would risk severe injury again to turn her into snake soup!

The Snake Emperor, for her part, was true to her word. Seeing Shen Haoran toss the Pill Recipe over, she threw Murong Wanqing and the others to him.

After catching Murong Wanqing and the others, Shen Haoran got them settled, then shouted to the Snake Emperor, "You should know the rules for Alchemists! If you want a pill refined, you provide the Spirit Medicine. Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, come find me!"

"Oh, right! I forgot. In your current condition, you can’t possibly last three years! Here, take this!" Shen Haoran suddenly seemed to remember something and tossed an elixir to the Snake Emperor.

"Take it," Shen Haoran said loudly. "It can temporarily suppress the chaotic energy in your body and allow you to maintain your human form for a while!"

At his words, the Snake Emperor shot Shen Haoran a skeptical glance before tossing the elixir into her mouth. As soon as it entered, it dissolved into a stream of pure energy that surged toward her legs, instantly clearing her blocked meridians. The cyan scales on her jade-like legs slowly receded, revealing a pair of long limbs as smooth as polished jade.

As the volatile energy within her vanished, the excruciating pain wracking her body was also purged. Her aura began to steadily strengthen until, a moment later, she reached the rank of a Tier Two Spirit Emperor.

Feeling the change in her aura, the Snake Emperor was overjoyed, and the look she gave Shen Haoran lost some of its chill. Shen Haoran’s expression as he watched her, however, was a little odd.

Only after the Snake Emperor had completely absorbed the elixir did Shen Haoran speak, his tone casual. "Oh, my dear Snake Emperor, I forgot to mention one little thing. That elixir isn’t a Transformation Pill, so it does have a minor side effect. You’ll need to take one every three months. If you don’t, that energy inside you will rebound, and the pain you’ll suffer will be twice as severe!"

"What?!" At his words, the Snake Emperor’s face instantly darkened, and any goodwill she felt toward Shen Haoran evaporated. The aura of a Tier Two Spirit Emperor erupted from her as she transformed into an afterimage, lunging straight for him.

But the instant she moved, Elder Bai appeared in front of Shen Haoran, blocking her path. Elder Bai’s power surpassed the Snake Emperor’s, and he forced her back with a single move. Left with no choice, the Snake Emperor stopped, glaring coldly at Shen Haoran. "Hand over the antidote!"

"You misunderstand me, Snake Emperor," Shen Haoran said, stepping out from behind Elder Bai to face her directly. "That wasn’t poison. I was only trying to save you. At my current level, I’ll need at least three years to become a Seventh Grade Alchemist. Can you honestly say you would have survived for three years in your previous condition?" He wasn’t the least bit afraid she would kill him. ’Only I can refine that elixir. If I die, she dies too!’ This, of course, was one of the main reasons he’d had her take it in the first place.

’After spending the last few days with Murong Wanqing and Elder Bai, I’ve gotten a general idea of the Murong Clan’s power. They’re even stronger than I imagined. To make those old bastards in the Murong Family release my mother, I have to display a level of strength that makes them hesitate. I’m still too weak on my own. If I can bring the Snake Emperor to my side, she’d be a powerful ally. A Spirit Beast that has achieved human form has immense potential for growth!’

Listening to Shen Haoran, the Snake Emperor’s face turned ashen. She wanted nothing more than to tear the boy before her to shreds, but she couldn’t refute his words. He was right; in her previous state, she truly wouldn’t have been able to hold on until he could refine the Transformation Pill. Still, the feeling of her fate resting in someone else’s hands was unbearable.

"Hmph. I’ll let you live for now. Three years from now, I will personally tear you to shreds!" The Snake Emperor shot Shen Haoran one last, cold glance, and her figure slowly vanished from sight. ’I can’t stand the sight of him. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop myself from killing him...’

"Remember to come back for your medicine every three months! Don’t blame me for not reminding you if you happen to forget!" Shen Haoran yelled after her.

WHOOSH!

A moment later, a flash of light appeared where the Snake Emperor had vanished. A shard of razor-sharp Powerful Qi shot toward him, and Shen Haoran hastily threw up a hand to block it.

CLAP!

After a soft thud, Shen Haoran opened his hand. In his palm lay a Five-Colored Scale, still radiating gentle warmth and a faint, clean scent.

"Take this scale. I’ll find you when the time comes." Her cool, clear voice echoed around him. Shen Haoran closed his hand around the Five-Colored Scale, a faint smile touching his lips. ’The Snake Emperor is subdued, for now.’

Once the Snake Emperor was long gone, Elder Bai stepped forward. He looked at the Five-Colored Scale in Shen Haoran’s hand and chuckled. "Young Master, that’s her life-bound scale! Impressive. You’ve subdued her with a single elixir. She’ll be sure to protect you, at least until you refine the Transformation Pill."

At this, Shen Haoran simply shook his head. He gazed at the spot where the Snake Emperor had vanished and said quietly, "This is only the first step. We’ve merely made a deal. The moment I hand her the Transformation Pill three years from now will be the moment she comes to take my life."

"But in three years..." Shen Haoran licked his lips, a sharp glint in his eyes. "...who knows who will be stronger." In three years’ time, he was confident he could raise his strength to a whole new level!