Invincible Snake Emperor

It must be said, the Flame attribute ability was very useful. It could not only kill but also destroy all traces of the body.

In just a dozen or so breaths, the hook-nosed man had completely vanished from the world.

Just then, Tu Xiao’an saw something sparkling amidst the pile of ashes on the ground.

The Jade Flute?

Tu Xiao’an glanced over, and the Jade Flute automatically floated into the air.

’It really is a fine item. To survive being burned by my Flame and remain perfectly intact.’

Tu Xiao’an reached out and grasped the Jade Flute. An icy, clear sensation immediately shot through him. The body of the flute was translucent and flawless, with a brilliant light swirling within. Its quality was superb; a single glance told him it was no ordinary item.

If he were to sell it, it would surely be a priceless treasure.

Tu Xiao’an put it to his lips and tried blowing gently. A musical note suddenly drifted out, causing the air to ripple slightly.

His eyes lit up. He continued to play, and the flute’s song grew vast and sonorous. The air around him began to churn violently, creating the illusion that the world itself was being turned upside down.

In an instant, countless hidden creatures near the large green rock silently perished.

’This...’

Tu Xiao’an stopped, falling into thought. ’Playing this flute can generate a Formless killing power, but it consumes an incredible amount of Consciousness Power.’

It looked as if one played it with their mouth, but it was actually played using Consciousness Power—or Spiritual Power.

An ordinary person wouldn’t be able to play it at all. A single attempt would likely leave them dizzy and disoriented.

The hook-nosed man had used the flute’s music to control mosquitoes, a kind of insect manipulation art. Wherever the sound of the flute traveled, the mosquitoes were instantly controlled, enslaved.

Tu Xiao’an didn’t actually know how to play the flute. His blind attempts just now had already caused spatial vibrations, but they had also severely drained his Consciousness Power.

The Jade Flute contained a terrifying killing power. Used properly, its music could kill. The hook-nosed man had only used it to control insects, which was a gross underutilization of its power.

But unleashing its full potential was not so simple. It required the support of immense Consciousness Power.

It was just like needing profound Inner Strength; without enough of it, there was even a risk of backlash.

No wonder the hook-nosed man’s face had turned pale after playing for only a short while earlier.

However, Tu Xiao’an’s Consciousness Power was now strong enough to be controlled externally. In his hands, the Jade Flute was like adding wings to a tiger; they complemented each other perfectly.

By using his Consciousness Power to play the flute, he could truly kill without a trace.

’A good thing, a true treasure.’

Tu Xiao’an accepted it with a clear conscience. He would study this Jade Flute properly when he had the time.

The tune he had produced by just blowing randomly was obviously not up to par; he couldn’t control it as he wished.

Today’s Snake King Festival had more or less come to an end. After the panic caused by the poisoning incident, no one was in the mood to celebrate.

Fortunately, no one had died. And thanks to Tu Xiao’an’s decisive action in eliminating the source of the trouble, there was no need to worry about it happening again.

He couldn’t be bothered to go to the Snake King Temple now. The trouble was resolved, after all. Tu Xiao’an turned, left the foot of the mountain, and headed for home.

What made Tu Xiao’an happiest was that none of the people he knew had been among those harmed by the mosquitoes. ’I wonder if Mom and Sis are home yet,’ he thought.

The Tu Family Residence.

「Around 10 PM.」

The Tu family residence was brightly lit. A guest had arrived late at night, and Wen Qiu was personally entertaining him with great formality. Even Tu Xiaoyue had made herself scarce.

”Sister Qiu, I can’t believe you still recognize me after all these years.”

A man in a wheelchair said gently, looking at the woman opposite him.

Wen Qiu offered a polite smile. ”Dr. Chen, you and my husband were very close back then. How could I possibly forget? It’s just... we suddenly lost contact with you. I never imagined I’d see you again.”

”I left Bai Town more than ten years ago. Now that I’m back, I naturally had to visit an old friend. I just never imagined that after all this time... Brother Tu and I would be separated by death.”

The man in the wheelchair was none other than Dr. Snake, Chen Mo.

Once the poisoned victims at the Snake King Temple had all awoken and the matter was resolved, he had come to the Tu family’s residence.

”It’s very thoughtful of you to come.”

Wen Qiu eventually led Chen Mo to a small room where a Spiritual Rank was displayed, then silently withdrew.

Chen Mo stared blankly at a black-and-white photograph on the wall. In the picture, a man with a heroic air was smiling at him.

”Brother Tu, I’ve come to see you.”

Chen Mo’s voice was desolate and hoarse, neither loud nor soft, yet it was laden with complex emotions. ”More than a decade has passed. You’re gone... and I’ve become a cripple.”

Of the two most talented Snake Catchers in Bai Town back then, one was now dead, and the other, crippled.

But now, upon this reunion, the people and the world they knew were gone.

In truth, Chen Mo had always wanted to visit the Tu family, but he had never forgotten a bet they made all those years ago.

He had wanted to bring the peerless Snake Species of his own creation to show his old friend.

Alas, the dream was beautiful, but reality was cruel.

In the end, they were both brought down by snakes. As the saying goes, if you play with snakes all day, you’re bound to get bitten eventually.

Chen Mo gazed at the Spiritual Stele, looked at the photograph, and murmured softly to himself, as if recounting one scene after another from years gone by.

His eyes filled with a mix of fleeting glory and sorrow, and in that moment, he seemed to age a dozen years.

The so-called peerless Snake Species... neither of them had succeeded in creating it.

Outside the door, Wen Qiu waited quietly. Tu Xiaoyue snuck up to her and asked, ”Mom, who is that? You’re being so formal with him.”

Wen Qiu sighed. ”An old friend of your father’s. They became friends through their shared interest in snakes.”

In wuxia novels, people make friends by crossing swords. Here in Bai Town, people make friends through snakes. Many people could even develop a bond by pitting their snakes against one another.

”Then his relationship with Dad must have been pretty average. Dad’s been gone for over a decade, and this is his first time visiting,” Tu Xiaoyue pouted.

Wen Qiu shook her head. ”Their relationship was strange. On a day-to-day basis, they almost never interacted, but it seemed they both held the other in very high regard.”

Sometimes, it’s hard for women to understand the bonds between men.

All she knew was that back then, her husband and this man in the wheelchair were constantly battling their snakes against each other, never tiring of it. Sometimes they seemed to hate each other’s guts, yet at other times, her husband would go on and on about how much he admired the man.

But now, over a decade later, her husband was gone, and this man had suddenly reappeared in a wheelchair, catching her completely by surprise.

”You should go to bed. This old friend has likely finished paying his respects to your father and will be leaving soon.”

Wen Qiu sent her daughter away.

A full half-hour later, Chen Mo wheeled himself out of the small room. He looked at Wen Qiu and said, ”Sister Qiu, my apologies for disturbing you so late.”

The two went to the living room, where Wen Qiu served tea. Chen Mo wiped the wistful look from his eyes and took out a bank card with no PIN, holding it out. ”Sister Qiu, these past years can’t have been easy for you. This is just a small token of my respect.”

Both men of this house were gone. Though Chen Mo hadn’t visited in all these years, he had been paying attention and knew that Brother Tu’s son had also passed away.

”Dr. Chen, what is this? Your thoughtful visit has already made Old Tu and me very happy,” Wen Qiu said, quickly shaking her head in refusal.

Chen Mo smiled. ”It’s just a small gesture. Sister Qiu, you must accept it.”

He placed the bank card on the table, his expression resolute.

Just as Wen Qiu was unsure of what to do, Chen Mo suddenly asked, ”Sister Qiu, I’d like to ask... are you still raising snakes in this house?”

”Snakes?” Wen Qiu looked confused for a moment before answering, ”It’s just me and my daughter here now. We’re just women. Why would we be raising snakes?”

Chen Mo’s expression grew solemn. ”Then why do I sense the powerful aura of the Snake Race in this house?”

He had noticed it the moment he came in.

”No, not at all,” Wen Qiu said, shaking her head. Then, she suddenly recalled something. ”Although, if you’re asking about snakes... I don’t know if it’s the Lord Snake King taking pity on us, but a House Snake appeared in our home a few days ago. It’s very intelligent.”

”Ever since this House Snake appeared, our family’s luck has started to turn around.”