The Dragon God Clan, Phoenix God Clan, and Snake God Clan were all neighboring powers, so the journey from the Dragon God Clan’s territory to the Snake God Clan’s didn’t take much time at all.
Like their draconic and phoenix kin, the Snake God Clan resided amid a cluster of floating islands. The key difference was that the dragons and phoenixes lived atop their islands, while the snakes dwelled in vast caverns beneath theirs. The surface structures served only as defensive outposts.
These hollow floating islands together formed the shape of a colossal serpent, with each island representing a massive scale. The closer one got to the serpent’s head, the more strategically vital the islands became.
“Ba Snake Island,” nestled at the forehead of the snake’s head, was the dwelling of the Snake God Clan’s leader. Next to it lay “Spirit Snake Island,” home to the God Maiden herself.
At the height of noon under a blazing sun, Yan Zhen arrived at the main gate of the Snake God Clan’s territory alongside Cai Lian, Yan Yan, Jiu Youyue, and the three beautiful masters. They had stepped through a space portal.
The three beautiful masters had no prior ties to the Snake God Clan. Yan Zhen was there to accompany Cai Lian as she returned to her ancestral roots, so he took the lead.
But upon closer inspection, he realized the main gate was firmly sealed, with no guards in sight. The entire entry island lay eerily silent.
“Have they sealed off the island?” he wondered aloud.
Cai Lian strolled forward unhurriedly, a knowing smile on her face.
“It seems Qing’er really has been reborn. This lockdown is probably to root out any Demon Domain Hidden Agents in the clan—and to wait for our arrival.”
Yan Zhen furrowed his brow.
“So how do we get in now?”
Cai Lian shot him an exasperated glance.
“They’re closed up tight. Can’t you just knock?”
With that, she flicked her finger, sending a surge of potent mystic power slamming into the restraint seal on the gate. Ripples spread across its surface like waves on a pond.
They waited for quite a while. Suddenly, the seal rippled once more, then slowly dissipated. From within emerged two orderly columns of figures, who arrayed themselves neatly on either side of the gate.
Drums and pipes sounded in a grand fanfare as the Snake God Clan’s upper echelon stepped forth, approaching Yan Zhen and the others.
Leading them was a girl in an azure skirt. She had a sweetly pretty face, an air of pure innocence that evoked the thrilling innocence of a first-love girlfriend from one’s teenage years.
Yet as a member of the Snake God Clan, a faint wildness and allure lingered at the corners of her eyes and brows—a trait bestowed by her bloodline.
It was the same with Cai Lian; no matter how aloof her temperament, she could never fully conceal it.
This was the Snake God Clan’s God Maiden, named Qing Ling—nicknamed Qing’er. She was of the same generation as Cai Lian but a bit younger, closer in age to Yan Zhen.
In their previous life, when Cai Lian had returned to the Snake God Clan, most of the clan members had viewed the Myriad Snake Queen from the City of Water as little more than a “poor country cousin” come to beg for handouts and resources. They never said it outright, but the disdain simmered beneath the surface.
It wasn’t until Cai Lian underwent the Bloodline Awakening Ritual and revealed a bloodline concentration of ninety-five percent—shocking the entire clan—that she earned their respect.
Only the God Maiden had treated Cai Lian like a true elder sister from the start, fostering a close bond between the two women.
Later, when Yan Zhen founded the Radiant Heavenly Emperor Palace, the God Maiden led a small contingent of clansmen to answer his call, becoming core members. Her friendship with Cai Lian deepened further after that.
Of course, Yan Zhen himself had played a role in it.
The man had an uncanny knack for unwittingly seducing proper young ladies and married women alike, only to leave them pining without follow-through—maiden hearts aflutter and matrons stewing in their empty boudoirs.
“Lord Yan Zhen, Sister Cai Lian.” Spotting them, the God Maiden broke into a sweetly endearing smile, reminiscent of the cool, sweet bliss of scooping into the heart of a chilled watermelon. “You’ve finally arrived. Qing’er has been waiting so long.”
Cai Lian’s lips curved up in a grin.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, little sister Qing’er. Judging by this welcome, you’ve already explained everything about our previous lives and rebirths to the clan leadership?”
The God Maiden gave a soft hum of affirmation.
“They didn’t believe me at first. It took a series of verifications—and no small effort on my part—for them to come around.”
“You’ve had it rough, little sister Qing’er.” A flicker of sympathy entered Cai Lian’s eyes. “But now that we’re here, you don’t have to shoulder it all alone anymore.”
“Sister Cai Lian, you’re still as caring as ever.”
The God Maiden turned her gaze to Yan Zhen, noting his forced smile. A hint of puzzlement crept into her expression.
“Why is Lord Yan Zhen—”
“He hasn’t recovered his memories,” Cai Lian explained with a helpless sigh. “It seems the price we paid to retain ours was his amnesia.”
“How unexpected.” The God Maiden regarded Yan Zhen with shining eyes. “Poor Lord Yan Zhen.”
Yan Zhen chuckled lightly.
“It’s fine. Cai Lian and the others have filled me in on plenty. I know what I need to know.”
“I hope Lord Yan Zhen regains his memories soon. Otherwise, it feels a bit empty. Qing’er went to such lengths to build a good rapport with you, after all.”
“…”
Yan Zhen cleared his throat awkwardly. The girl had that first-love girlfriend vibe, but she was really like Lin Daiyu—a touch of green tea scheming, whether it was her natural disposition or something she’d picked up from his bootleg recreation of Dream of the Red Chamber.
“—Aunt Qing.”
Yan Yan called out sweetly from the side. The God Maiden blinked in surprise, then looked down. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the girl.
“Yan’er? Have you been reborn too?”
Yan Yan beamed with pride.
“Yup! Aunt Qing, I got reborn before I was even born.”
The God Maiden blinked again, utterly baffled.
Cai Lian quickly pulled her daughter close and clapped a hand over her mouth, before the girl could embarrass herself further with her innate silliness.
The God Maiden smiled faintly and shifted her attention to Jiu Youyue, her expression turning a touch complicated.
“This must be Lady Jiuyou?”
The demoness replied with breezy confidence.
“Nice to meet you, little sister Qing’er. This counts as our first proper encounter… but as Sister Cai Lian’s little sister, you’re my little sister too. No need to be so formal.”
“Then… should I call you Sister Jiuyou?”
“Of course.”
“Has Sister Jiuyou been reborn as well?”
“Yep. I don’t know how it happened, but suddenly all these memories came flooding back.”
“Rebirth is such a wondrous thing. Without experiencing it firsthand, it’s hard to believe.”
After all, in their previous life, Jiu Youyue had been utterly obliterated—smoke and ashes. For even that to return was beyond comprehension.
Composing herself, the God Maiden looked past the four in front to the three beautiful masters behind them. Her eyes first landed on the most familiar face, Chen Xi, then on the Jialan Fairy, radiant and pure as the Holy Mother, and finally on the one cloaked in darkness like a midnight goddess—
Her smile froze. Horror dawned in her eyes as she stared like she was facing a mortal foe.
“E-Evil Consort?”
The Evil Consort remained aloof and aloof, ignoring her entirely.
Jialan Fairy explained gently.
“There’s no need for alarm, God Maiden Qing Ling. The Evil Consort is a reincarnator too—and she’s turned over a new leaf. She’s one of us now.”
“Huh?” The God Maiden looked dazed. “But… wasn’t the Evil Consort and Star Saint Lord’s—”
Deadly enemies?
“Ahem, that’s all in the past.” To spare his Evil Consort Master any bruised feelings, Yan Zhen cut the God Maiden off before she could elaborate. “The point is, Evil Consort Master is now my master, just like the other masters and Saint Lord Master.”
At those words, the Evil Consort’s expression softened a fraction, a warm glow filling her heart.
The God Maiden, however, was left utterly dumbfounded.
Master? The Evil Consort? This…
