Chapter One Hundred: The Six-Winged Flying Serpent

Early the next morning, the group set out swiftly, intending to return to the site where they had previously discovered the encampment of the Kurast dwarves. They hoped to search for further clues before Lü Shang returned.

However, Liu Zong and his companions had not anticipated that the journey back would be anything but peaceful. Perhaps the earlier confrontation had roused the three peculiar flying serpents—this time, they lingered nearby, occasionally attracting wild beasts to the party’s vicinity.

As Liu Zong and the others dealt with these beasts, the three serpents would suddenly dart out from some hidden spot to attack Yuan Ying.

A few times passed without incident, but as the attacks grew more frequent, Liu Zong and the others began to suspect something was amiss. Was there something about Yuan Ying that drew the flying serpents to her?

Yuan Ying herself wondered at this. Once they found a safe place to rest, she began to examine her belongings.

After searching for some time, she found nothing strange—everything she carried was familiar, and she had never encountered such a situation before.

It was clear, however, that the three serpents were targeting Yuan Ying; the others were merely collateral.

At that moment, Xu Ying and Liu Zong approached, keeping watch on their surroundings to prevent a sudden attack from the serpents, while observing Yuan Ying’s investigation.

Reina, meanwhile, had released several summoned creatures resembling falcons, which circled overhead, seemingly in search of the serpents’ whereabouts.

Seeing her companions so concerned, Yuan Ying felt moved. She did not wish to burden them, and quickly laid out everything she had collected over the past few days, hoping to find something unusual.

It was then that Yuan Ying suddenly noticed among the gemstones she had gathered from the Perennial Grass, a thumb-sized egg with a silver shell, its surface encrusted with numerous emeralds.

When she first acquired it, Yuan Ying had thought it might be an Easter egg. Unable to open it, she had weighed it and found it solid, so she dismissed it as something to sell later.

Now, as she examined her belongings, this seemed the most likely candidate for the serpents’ interest.

Thinking this, Yuan Ying picked out the egg and showed it to Liu Zong and Xu Ying.

Liu Zong, seeing what she held, understood her reasoning. He glanced at Xu Ying and quietly asked, “How should we handle this?”

At that moment, Reina strode over and took the egg from Yuan Ying’s hand. She held it up to the sky, then said, “No wonder.”

Liu Zong asked curiously, “You recognize it?”

“It’s a Six-Winged Flying Dragon egg. Though called a ‘dragon,’ it’s actually a serpent with a trace of dragon lineage—like the two-legged drake or dragonfly, but higher in rank than those three serpents.

“This egg is already dead and cannot be hatched. The three flying serpents intend to consume it to stimulate their own bloodline growth.”

“So what should we do?” Liu Zong asked, after hearing Reina’s explanation.

Reina considered for a moment. “If you don’t mind, I could tame the three flying serpents and make them my pets.”

Before Liu Zong could reply, he noticed his game interface light up, a new party quest appearing: [Tame the Six-Winged Flying Serpent].

[Six-Winged Flying Serpent]
[Species: Serpent]
[Level: Lv0 (5-star)]
[Attributes: Strength 2, Agility 5, Constitution 4, Spirit 2]
[Description: A subspecies of the Six-Winged Flying Dragon, bearing no true dragon blood, yet possessing an ancestral longing for it.]

A quick glance at the quest details revealed it was centered on Reina; she was the main quest line, likely tasked with taming some or all of the three serpents, with the reward being their obedience.

Liu Zong and the others were more like protectors; their task was to ensure Reina’s attempt was not interrupted.

Thus, their rewards were modest—merely some experience points.

Still, to have such a quest at this moment, with experience gained and the current problem solved, was not to be missed. Liu Zong nodded to Reina, signaling her to accept the quest.

As soon as Reina did so, the party received notification that the quest had begun. Yuan Ying and Xu Ying readied themselves for battle, while Liu Zong summoned his demon loli to stand guard.

The four surrounded Miao Na in the center, guarding against any sudden moves from the serpents.

Reina herself began her preparations. She placed the egg on the ground, her right hand moving deftly around it. Liu Zong and the others saw silver-white threads drawn from Reina’s fingers, spiraling around the egg.

It was obvious that she was weaving a three-dimensional magic circle. Yet, unfamiliar with her profession, Liu Zong and the others could only stand guard, unable to comprehend its purpose.

Just then, a strange screech echoed from the woods, piercing straight through their eardrums.

Reina looked up, tossing the egg skyward. Instantly, three green threads shot out from all directions toward the egg.

As the threads lashed out, Reina opened her book. Liu Zong, well positioned behind her, saw that the previously blank page now bore a complex magic circle drawn in silver thread.

The circle was intricate beyond comprehension. Liu Zong could only recognize perhaps one percent of its runes; the rest were unfamiliar, many never seen before.

He realized then how lacking his foundations were, how much he had yet to learn.

While Liu Zong pondered, Reina acted. The egg, thrown upward, began to fall, now entangled with the three Six-Winged Flying Serpents.

At this moment, the serpents themselves were wrapped tightly in silver thread—not an offensive bind, but one that held them to the egg, preventing escape.

Reina turned a page, letting the egg and serpents drop onto it. The magic circle on the page activated with full force, attempting to draw the three serpents into an alternate space.

Oblivious to their imminent peril, the serpents continued to fight amongst themselves, each seeking to claim the egg.

Watching their behavior, Reina smiled faintly, closed her book, and turned to Liu Zong. “I’ve caught the three Six-Winged Flying Serpents. In eighteen hours, the quest will be complete. For now, I lose one summoning slot, so I’ll be relying on you.”