This time, the three emerald dots that appeared were clearer than ever before. A mysterious transformation followed, as if they were three small blooming buds.
Within Mu Chengfeng's pupils, the three green points suddenly emitted a strong glow. In the blink of an eye, each point morphed into a tiny green flower.
With the emergence of these eerie green flowers, a powerful beam of ghostly light shot out from within them, directly illuminating the Crimson Flame Python before him.
The python's once fierce and murderous eyes suddenly filled with terror as the strange light hit it. Its massive body froze in place.
The ghostly light glided slowly over the python's body before finally focusing on the center of its forehead. As it settled, the glowing beam began to shrink. And as its radius decreased, its brightness only intensified.
Eventually, the glow narrowed to the size of a palm. When it stopped shrinking, the light flared once more, and two small green flowers imprinted themselves onto the python's forehead.
With the flowers now visible, the eerie light began to fade. Moments later, the green blossoms in Mu Chengfeng's eyes vanished in an instant, and his gaze returned to normal.
At that moment, he had successfully signed a one-sided contract with the Crimson Flame Python. A faint, nearly invisible ripple of green light then spread out from his body, as if sending a signal.
As his vision returned to normal, Mu Chengfeng staggered. His eyelids drooped, and he nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Fortunately, Xiao Yixian rushed to catch him just in time.
Meanwhile, the massive python remained still. Its formerly savage and hostile glare had completely vanished. In its place was an oddly docile expression.
"Die, beast!"
Just then, Moba, still injured, charged from the sky with his long spear, aiming to kill the seemingly dazed Tier Two beast.
Clang!
At that critical moment, a faint glimmer flashed once again in Mu Chengfeng's pupils. The green flower mark on the python's forehead sparkled briefly. In the next instant, the enormous beast transformed into a cluster of green light and swiftly flew into Mu Chengfeng's eyes.
Perhaps because his soul force was overwhelmingly strong, he hadn't needed to train at all to unlock the pupil's ability to store beasts within his visual space.
"What in the world...?"
Moba, who had been sprinting forward with his spear, came to a screeching halt, stunned and speechless.
The physicians and mercenaries of the herb-gathering team stared wide-eyed, their jaws slack with disbelief at the python's sudden disappearance.
"Uncle Moba, today's trip hasn't gone well. We should head back to Qingshan Town. If we press on and run into more beasts, we could be in real trouble."
Xiao Yixian, still holding the weakened Mu Chengfeng in her arms, was just as shocked by what had occurred. But there was no time to process it all. Leaving this cursed place was far more important right now.
"Alright. We can't delay. Let's move before anything else happens."Moba glanced at the battered team behind him and nodded grimly.
A moment later, he gently clutched his chest and coughed softly, a sign that the earlier attack from the Crimson Flame Python had inflicted more damage than he'd let on.
"Everyone, prepare to head back the way we came!"Moba raised his hand and issued the order.
Hearing their leader's command, the group exchanged nervous glances, then quickly gathered their supplies, turned the carts around, and began the retreat to Qingshan Town.
"Hyah!"
Fortunately, because they had been forced to stop short by repeated beast attacks, they had not ventured any deeper. Had they done so, they might have ended up as prey to the terrifying Nine-Winged Serpent Python lurking nearby.
That Six-Star serpent-type magical beast was the same terrifying presence Mu Chengfeng had sensed earlier in the day.
The return journey went unusually smoothly. They encountered neither beasts nor animals. By dusk, they had made it back safely to Qingshan Town.
The moon was faint, crows flew south.
As night fell, inside the halls of the Wanyaozhai pharmacy, Mu Chengfeng lay unconscious on Xiao Yixian's bed. She sat by his side, gazing tenderly at his handsome face.
Bang!
Suddenly, a tired-looking middle-aged man kicked open the door and rushed in. He hurried to the bedside and reached out to check Mu Chengfeng's pulse.
After a few tense moments, he let out a long sigh of relief. The worry on his face softened into a gentle smile.
"He's just exhausted. A bit of rest and he'll be fine."
This man was, of course, Mu Chengfeng's adoptive father.
After returning to town late that night, Xiao Yixian had taken it upon herself to bring the unconscious Mu Chengfeng directly to the inner hall of Wanyaozhai.
She then sent someone to notify the Qingshan Mercenary Group. Meanwhile, she stayed behind to take care of him in case anything else happened.
"I checked his condition on the way back. There was nothing abnormal."Xiao Yixian spoke quickly, noticing the relief on Mu Yang's face.
"What exactly happened on your way into the Magic Beast Mountains today?"
Mu Yang looked down at the sleeping Mu Chengfeng, then turned his eyes toward Xiao Yixian, examining her up and down. Though she was safe and unharmed, his tone was filled with confusion.
In response, Xiao Yixian began recounting everything that had happened since they left town. She described every beast encounter and strange event in detail.
At first, Mu Yang remained calm. But the moment she reached the part where Mu Chengfeng's pupils emitted a mysterious green light, causing the Tier Two serpent to vanish, his expression changed.
Something flickered across his face. There was a tension in his eyes that couldn't be ignored, as if he were hiding something deep inside.
"Could he be... just like Qing'er?"Mu Yang muttered under his breath, his gaze distant, as though recalling a memory.
"Uncle Mu Yang? What's wrong?"
Xiao Yixian noticed his shift in demeanor and asked hesitantly.
"It's nothing. Girl, the hour is late. Let Chengfeng rest here tonight. When he wakes up tomorrow, send him to the training grounds of the Qingshan Mercenary Group."
With that, Mu Yang rose and turned to leave Wanyaozhai. Even as he stepped outside, he glanced back and gave his reply to the puzzled Xiao Yixian.
Clearly, there were secrets hidden within Mu Yang's heart. After all, he had never told anyone what had happened during the year he vanished in the Tagore Desert. What had he seen? What had he survived?