Chapter 44: The Green Serpent

“This is the control core of your entire residence, and it will also serve as your entry and exit point for the game in the future. Try it out.”

Try what? As Wang Liang was pondering this, the very model he’d seen from above appeared before him.

Pointing at the model, the other explained, “This represents your authority over the residence. From now on, no one but you can enter this place, and without this model, even if someone were to break in, they’d have no means to seize control from you.”

As Wang Liang extended his hand, a seal materialized in his grasp—it was his own “Wang’s Imperial Dragon Seal.”

At the same time, he sensed an absolute control over the entire residence, as if its every corner was under his dominion and his safety within these walls was guaranteed. Furthermore, he discovered another peculiarity: so long as he remained inside his residence, he could exit the game at any moment.

This revelation gave Wang Liang pause. Could he really leave this place? Would exiting the game return him to the mountain villa where he’d been held captive?

As these thoughts circled his mind, Sanjin, who had been standing beside him, appeared to be forced out by some unseen power, vanishing from the room.

Setting aside these questions, Wang Liang decided to test his newfound abilities. He stepped forward—and instantly found himself in the main hall on the first floor.

Sanjin was waiting there, and, upon seeing Wang Liang appear, promptly approached him. “Young Master Wang, now that you have control of the residence, we can let the Azure one in.”

Wang Liang still didn’t quite understand what Sanjin meant by “Azure” and “White,” but he maintained a calm demeanor and replied, “Go ahead.”

Receiving his assent, Sanjin gave a signal, and Wang Liang watched as the newly built scenery of his residence shifted, reverting to the ruined state it had been in before. He was about to ask for an explanation when he realized these were mere illusions—a subtle reminder from the residence itself. Accepting this, he let the matter rest.

At that moment, he saw a massive azure serpent gliding in through the left door. In terms of size, it could be called a python, but its teal scales and triangular head marked it clearly as a bamboo viper—though one that had grown to an impossible size.

Could this be the “Azure” Sanjin referred to?

But what was so special about a green snake?

While Wang Liang was still mulling this over, the serpent slithered into the main hall, gliding about as if oblivious to both Wang Liang and Sanjin. Wang Liang realized this was the residence’s protection at work: not just this little serpent, even an immortal would be blind to his presence unless he chose to reveal himself.

Satisfied there was no danger, the azure snake moved to the center of the hall, opened its maw, and with a rhythmic contraction of its body spat out a silver ingot weighing about fifty taels.

Wang Liang’s eyes lit up at this display—so this was the benefit Sanjin had mentioned. It made sense; with a treasure-bringing azure serpent, anyone could live in comfort.

The serpent continued to disgorge silver, the pile growing into a small mountain. Judging by the size of each ingot, it had produced at least three thousand taels of silver. When it had finished, the snake coiled atop the pile, rubbing its body against the shining ingots.

At that moment, Sanjin suddenly called out, “Now!”

Before Wang Liang could react, the great geomancer sprang forth, pressing a hand against the serpent’s neck. The snake writhed desperately atop the silver, but there was no escaping the geomancer’s grip. With a tap to its brow, the massive serpent rapidly shrank, soon becoming an ordinary bamboo viper.

“Quick, mark it with your seal!”

Still watching in astonishment, Wang Liang heard Sanjin’s urging. Without hesitation, he flipped his hand, and the “Wang’s Imperial Dragon Seal” landed atop the snake’s head.

Immediately, a chime sounded in Wang Liang’s ears, and a message appeared before him:

[Contract successfully formed with Demonized Azure Snake, Level 1 (formerly 59).]

[Note 1: This Demonized Azure Snake had previously reached Level 59, but its power has been scattered. You may restore its level through, but not limited to, energy transfer, sacrifice, or direct empowerment.]

[Note 2: This Demonized Azure Snake bears a special fate, granting it strong immunity to all fatal effects. Any experimentation or modification performed upon it is guaranteed to succeed for the first three attempts.]

What followed was a display of the serpent’s details:

[Name: None (Demonized Azure Snake)]
[Gender: Female]
[Class: None]
[Level: 1 (0%)]
[Status: Demon Pet (Loyal)]
[Attributes (Unarmed): Strength: 3, Agility: 5, Constitution: 7, Spirit: 3, Condition: Good, Free Attribute Points: 0]

[Talent: Demonization (Activated)]
[Skills: Poison Mastery Lv3, Enlightenment Mastery Lv1, Exorcism Mastery Lv1, Human Form Mastery Lv1, Devour Mastery Lv1, Moonlight Infusion Mastery Lv1, Serpent Venom Sword Mastery Lv1]
[Subclass: None]
[Description: An Azure Snake Demon possessing eight centuries of cultivation. Though her powers have been scattered, her wisdom and experience remain.]

Upon reading the serpent’s attributes, Wang Liang’s eyes flickered with interest.

Sanjin winked at Wang Liang, signaling that he was free to deal with the little azure snake as he wished.

Most people, upon encountering such a legendary being—even if it wasn’t the famed white one—would be ecstatic. But Wang Liang was a man from the Tang Dynasty, a time before the legends of the green and white snakes had emerged.

Thus, the “Demonized Azure Snake” meant little to him; to his mind, Sanjin had simply arranged another servant or steward for him. Since the serpent was now utterly loyal, Wang Liang saw no harm in granting her an official position.

With this in mind, he reached into his backpack and withdrew the [Hybrid Gene Serum]. It had been said that the Azure Snake demon’s first three modifications were guaranteed to succeed—this would be the perfect opportunity.

Sanjin’s pupils contracted when he saw what Wang Liang held. He hadn’t expected Wang Liang to possess such an item, let alone use it immediately on a newly tamed demonized azure snake.

Many had set their sights on the green and white serpents, but most were after the white one. Few ever bothered with the azure. When they did, it was generally to use her as a battle companion—rarely would anyone strengthen or transform her with rare items like inner cores.

At most, they might leverage their connection with the azure snake to approach the white one and pursue her quests instead.

Wang Liang was the first Sanjin had ever seen to act this way. Such a gesture could only mean either Wang Liang was unaware of the serum’s value, or he possessed so many of them he simply didn’t care.

Given Wang Liang’s impassive demeanor and his casual disposal of the Loom of Fate earlier, the latter seemed more likely.

Clearly, Wang Liang’s resources ran deep.