Yan Zhen naturally agreed. In fact, even if the Beautiful Female Master hadn’t suggested it, he would have volunteered anyway.
The Myriad Snake Queen’s evolution this time carried enormous risks, so he had to help wherever he could. Besides, there was a System task that needed completing.
As for why they had to strip, it was because their clothes would be burned away by the Great Crimson Heaven Flame otherwise—just like in the script. The moment the Great Crimson Heaven Flame erupted, their garments turned to ash, leaving the two of them stark naked. What had started as a solemn cultivation scene suddenly turned indecent, leaving Yan Zhen mortified.
However, with the Beautiful Female Master there, along with the other three women, stripping in front of everyone felt downright strange.
Yan Zhen said shyly, “Um, Master, could you put up a wall to block me off a bit?”
Chen Xi couldn’t help but smile. “You silly child, there are no outsiders here. Why are you still so shy?”
Yan Zhen glanced intentionally toward Yun Xiu and Jiu Youyue, only to find both women staring at him intently. When they noticed his gaze, they quickly looked away, their expressions awkward.
—There are perverts here! Not saying who!
“…Master~”
“Such a fuss. Yun Xiu, Jiu Youyue, come over to This Seat’s side.”
The two women obeyed and walked to Chen Xi’s side.
Chen Xi raised her hand, and a wall as tall as a person rose up in front of the pool, separating them.
“Alright, Zhen’er, stop dawdling. Take off your clothes quickly and get in the water—She Ji, you too.”
The two exchanged a glance before walking to the other side of the wall, one on each side. Then they turned their backs to each other and began undressing.
Once they were done, they turned around simultaneously, their eyes lighting up slightly.
There was no need to strip completely, so Yan Zhen had kept on his boxer shorts patterned with long-trunked little elephants. They revealed his pronounced six-pack abs and sexy V-line, while his limbs, though somewhat slender, were quite toned and muscular.
No one could tell from his usual innocent-looking boyish face that he hid such a powerfully built body underneath.
Meanwhile, the Myriad Snake Queen had foolishly stripped bare. Her curvaceous and alluring figure was fully exposed to the air, vast expanses of snowy skin dazzling Yan Zhen’s eyes.
Her cheeks flushed faintly, her silky black hair cascading naturally down her back. One lotus-root arm pressed against her proudly heaving breasts, while the other covered the spot three inches below her navel. Though she meant to cover herself, the gesture only made her seem more enticing.
A rich, intoxicating fragrance spread through the air, drawing Yan Zhen’s attention and quickly stirring his desires.
“Gulp.”
The sound of him swallowing was clear and loud, making the Myriad Snake Queen’s heart tremble. She kept her head slightly lowered, not daring to meet his eyes.
But she soon noticed his long-trunked little elephant boxer shorts and realized with sudden clarity that going fully naked wasn’t necessary.
The Myriad Snake Queen felt a twinge of regret for not asking Chen Xi beforehand.
—Whatever. It’ll burn off soon anyway.
She steadied herself and stepped into the pool first, sitting cross-legged at its center.
Yan Zhen followed, taking a seat behind her.
The pool water was cool, which somewhat calmed his urges.
“Are you ready, She Ji? Zhen’er?”
Chen Xi’s voice came from the other side of the wall. Once both confirmed they were, the high wall slowly descended, revealing the scene in the pool to their eyes.
Even with her back to them, the Myriad Snake Queen could feel Yun Xiu and Jiu Youyue’s scorching gazes, as if they were deliberately provoking her.
Chen Xi said calmly, “Then let’s begin. This Master is summoning the Great Crimson Heaven Flame.”
With that, she formed a mudra with her hands. The entire altar lit up as the array patterns activated. Far beyond the Heavenly Pillar, a blazing blood-red star streaked straight toward them.
Boom!
The blood-red star descended overhead, bathing the whole altar in a deep crimson glow. Terrifying heat enveloped everything.
Yun Xiu and Jiu Youyue immediately circulated their cultivation to resist the heat. The Myriad Snake Queen instinctively sank deeper into the icy water, while Yan Zhen felt like he’d been tossed into a furnace—it was sweltering, but still within his tolerance, so he showed little reaction.
“She Ji, circulate your cultivation. Use your bloodline avatar to receive the Great Crimson Heaven Flame’s baptism.”
The Myriad Snake Queen tensed and began operating her Bloodline Secret Art. Her Snake God Bloodline fully activated, her blood-red slit pupils nearly aflame. Red snake scales emerged on her cheeks, and her Mystic Power naturally transformed into a blood-red serpent shadow that enveloped her.
Chen Xi changed the mudra in her hands. The flames from the blood-red star gathered below, then cascaded down like a slow-motion waterfall.
Sensing it, the Myriad Snake Queen arched her back slightly. The blood-red serpent shadow around her lifted its head as well, welcoming the Great Crimson Heaven Flame’s infusion.
The fiery magma enveloped her body. The horrific heat and clashing attributes drew a muffled groan of pain from her lips.
“Zhen’er, use your Mystic Power to protect her.”
“Got it!”
Yan Zhen circulated the Emperor Flame Technique, gathering thick Mystic Power in his palms before reaching forward.
The magma parted automatically, allowing his hand to press smoothly against the Myriad Snake Queen’s smooth back. His Mystic Power—gold and silver laced with a hint of gray qi—formed a thin veil over his future wife’s flawless body.
The Mystic Power of the Emperor Flame Technique, bolstered by the superior aura of the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Flame, was enough to suppress the Great Crimson Heaven Flame’s ferocity.
Feeling the familiar warmth around her, the Myriad Snake Queen opened her eyes. A flicker of tenderness passed through her pupils before she closed them again, focusing on absorbing the Great Crimson Heaven Flame’s energy to complete her bloodline evolution.
—She didn’t even need Yan’er’s help. Having her Father Emperor was enough.
Seeing the Myriad Snake Queen’s aura stabilize, Yan Zhen let out a slow breath of relief and continued channeling his Mystic Power to shield her.
Time passed—he didn’t know how long. His Mystic Power nearly depleted, so he quickly poured a bottle of Mystic Power Recovery Pills into his mouth.
About a day later, Yan Zhen felt utterly drained, his face pale as paper.
“That’s enough, Zhen’er. Withdraw your cultivation.”
The Beautiful Female Master’s voice rang out suddenly. Yan Zhen rallied his spirits and checked on the Myriad Snake Queen. She had absorbed enough of the Great Crimson Heaven Flame’s energy and was now slowly refining it.
The crisis had passed.
Yan Zhen withdrew his hand and collapsed onto the pool’s edge, gasping weakly.
…
In the script, his future wife had been tormented badly by the Great Crimson Heaven Flame. If he hadn’t arrived just in time, she might have perished.
Yan Zhen had always worried something would go wrong during She Ji’s evolution. Now it seemed she was fine.
He tried to climb out of the pool, but his body floated uncontrollably into the air. The water on his skin evaporated rapidly.
“Come here, Zhen’er.”
Chen Xi beckoned gently.
Yan Zhen floated over like a balloon, still in a cross-legged position, and landed lightly in front of the Beautiful Female Master.
Yun Xiu, standing beside Chen Xi, blushed and turned her head away. Even Jiu Youyue shyly bowed her head.
Yan Zhen sensed something and looked down. His boxer shorts had burned away, leaving only the long-trunked little elephant pattern exposed. He was utterly mortified.
He buried his face in embarrassment, cheeks burning bright red.
