The Snake Demon Long Qiqi

Long Qiqi's true form was that of a Shadowy Snake, a fourth-tier demon beast. However, "Shadowy Snake" was merely the name humans had given to her kind. Long Qiqi preferred to call herself the "Scaled, Hornless Crimson Dragon."

The deadliest trait of a Shadowy Snake was its venom, capable of corroding a cultivator's spiritual power and divine soul, even killing Golden Core cultivators. A Shadowy Snake like Long Qiqi, who had cultivated for a thousand years, was no weaker than the Lionheart Raging Flame Beast that had once severely wounded Huang Feiyu.

Yet, after witnessing countless demon beasts slaughtered at the whims of cultivators, she knew her fate would be no different—hunted, skinned, devoured, or used as cultivation material. She lacked any noble bloodline; a fourth-tier demon beast was her limit. No matter how strong a fourth-tier beast was, even one as formidable as the Lionheart Raging Flame Beast, it could only defeat Golden Core cultivators at best.

She realized that demon beasts had no future.

The future lay among humans.

In the end, she managed to obtain a method of shapeshifting and decided to take human form, blending into human society to become a cultivator.

If possible, she wanted to change the plight of demon beasts—to elevate them above cultivators, or at least achieve equality. At the very least, she wished to stop cultivators from wantonly slaughtering demon beasts.

However, she didn’t know that a demon beast’s human form was tied to its original body’s innate talents and potential. Nor did she realize that the shapeshifting method she obtained was incomplete.

Thus, when she successfully transformed, her human form was that of a young girl with abysmal cultivation aptitude, incapable of growing any older. Over a decade passed, and she hadn’t aged a single day.

What she didn’t realize was that human society was far more terrifying than the demon beast forests.

The law of the jungle, survival of the fittest—these were the terrors of the Hengduan Mountains and the demon beast forests. But human society possessed all these traits while adding a few more "advantages."

Human society devoured people without spilling blood.

A clueless little girl, appearing no older than seven or eight, stumbling into human society—her experiences were easy to imagine.

Qin Ran was, in essence, her master, but she never called him "Master."

A small part of it was due to her prideful nature; another reason was that the title "Master" belonged exclusively to Li Shiyin. But the biggest reason stemmed from her past experiences.

After years of wandering human society, she had once encountered a "master"—one who promised to guide her in cultivation.

In the end, however, he was nothing more than a monster with a taste for children and furries. Knowing she was a snake demon who would never grow up, he had intended to use her as a cultivation furnace.

How did she escape?

Sometimes, when consumed by desire and seeking thrills, people forget that a snake’s venom lies in its fangs.

She poisoned him to death.

She fled and continued wandering.

Just as Gu Yueming once remarked that Li Shiyin had exhausted several lifetimes of luck to meet Qin Ran, Long Qiqi had endured a thousand years of suffering before encountering Li Shiyin, who was then descending the mountain for the first time.

Had Long Qiqi met Qin Ran instead, she would have died on the spot. Had she met the later Li Shiyin, she wouldn’t have survived a single sword strike.

Sometimes, one had to believe in fate’s unseen hand.

Meeting Li Shiyin allowed her to survive. Meeting Li Shiyin led her to Qin Ran, giving her a new life.

Or rather, her life truly began the moment she met Qin Ran.

Qin Ran was undoubtedly terrifying, and she knew it well. But in a way, he wasn’t a monster—he was good.

He set her on the proper path of cultivation and taught her the art of alchemy. In fact, compared to the other alchemists of the Dao Sword Sect, she received the most guidance from Qin Ran. She was his true successor, the inheritor of his alchemical legacy.

In the end, Qin Ran even gave her the Heaven-Mending Pill.

The pill repaired the flaws in her transformed body, elevated her pitifully poor aptitude, and refined her spiritual roots.

After Qin Ran left, the title of the Dao Sword Sect’s top alchemist didn’t go to the Dan Peak’s chief—it went to the snake demon, Long Qiqi.

As time passed, the dark little loli gradually grew up. Now, she was a tall, elegant beauty with a serpentine face and phoenix-like eyes. Though not as peerless as Tushan Youyou, nor as breathtaking as Li Shiyin or Tian Wenjin, she was undeniably beautiful.

If she didn’t always wear a scowl, as if everyone owed her three hundred coins, she might have been even more attractive. If not for her terrible personality, perhaps many more would have liked her… though that wasn’t certain.

More time passed, and the snake demon Long Qiqi, having endured countless trials, finally overcame her Golden Core tribulation, reaching Golden Core cultivation.

In the past Dao Sword Sect, Golden Core cultivators were pillars of strength. But in the current Dao Sword Sect, they were utterly ordinary.

Now, the Dao Sword Sect was the undisputed top sect in the Land of Immortal Legacy. And it was charging full speed toward becoming the strongest in the region’s history.

As the tribulation clouds dispersed and the winds calmed, Long Qiqi descended from the sky, returning to the forbidden grounds of Dan Peak.

By the Sword Washing Lake, three people waited for her.

After Qin Ran left—no, even before he left—Long Qiqi had taken over much of the teaching duties for Dan Peak’s disciples. One could say that the disciples halfway up Dan Peak were all her students or grand-students.

Yet, when she underwent her tribulation, no one came to witness it—because she forbade it.

The three by the lake were none other than Tushan Youyou, Zhang Junyi, and Liu Xiaoji.

Long Qiqi landed gracefully, her smooth hair cascading over her shoulders.

Zhang Junyi stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Congratulations, Master, on successfully forming your Golden Core and stepping onto the path of immortality."

The current Zhang Junyi was a refined gentleman, a far cry from his former malnourished, scrawny self. With dignified bearing and an air of authority from years of managing Dan Peak, he exuded undeniable charm.

While Qin Ran always maintained the appearance of a youthful scholar, Zhang Junyi had taken on the demeanor of a middle-aged Confucian scholar.

A middle-aged Confucian scholar, already preparing for his Nascent Soul tribulation, congratulating his master on her Golden Core breakthrough—it was a strange sight.

The beautiful Long Qiqi lifted her chin, glanced at Zhang Junyi, and gave a slight nod. "Mhm."

"Master has been at the Foundation Establishment stage for years, with a stable foundation. A minor tribulation was naturally no challenge," Zhang Junyi said with a smile.

Long Qiqi countered, "If you knew that, why bother coming? Do you have nothing better to do?"

Zhang Junyi stiffened.

"But since you’re here…" Long Qiqi continued, "There’s something I’ll tell you directly."

Zhang Junyi bowed again. "Please speak, Master."

She had something to say, yet didn’t say it immediately. Instead, she turned and gazed at Dan Peak, where she had lived for over twenty years. The usual arrogance on her face faded, replaced by sorrow and reluctance.

Zhang Junyi watched, a sense of foreboding growing in his heart.

After slowly surveying the peak, Long Qiqi turned back, meeting Zhang Junyi’s eyes. Looking at the disciple she had raised, watched grow into a distinguished man, her narrow phoenix eyes shimmered with emotion. She sighed.

"I’ve decided to leave the Dao Sword Sect."

"What?" Zhang Junyi's heart sank as his ominous premonition came true. He urgently asked Long Qiqi, "Master, where are you going?"

It had been over twenty years since Long Qiqi joined the Dao Sword Sect, and she had never once stepped outside.

Long Qiqi hesitated for a moment before replying, "I will head east, to the Demon Region."

"The Demon Region?!" Zhang Junyi gaped, momentarily at a loss for words to dissuade her.

He knew why Long Qiqi bore the surname "Long."

"The Lingnan Region is, after all, human territory... while the Demon Region is home to demons and beasts. I believe that is where I truly belong," Long Qiqi said. "Besides... Dan Peak has grown too quiet now that some are gone. Dan Peak has changed."

"Master..." Zhang Junyi sighed. "At least wait until you reach the Nascent Soul stage before leaving. It would be safer."

"The Nascent Soul stage... who knows how long that will take?" Long Qiqi sighed in return. "It's too long. I can't wait."

"It's too dangerous," Zhang Junyi pressed.

Long Qiqi paused, her phoenix-like eyes suddenly widening. She glared at Zhang Junyi and snapped, "I’ll leave when I wish, stay when I please. What concern is it of yours? I’m merely informing you! Since when do you have the right to question me?"

Back when they practiced alchemy and cultivation together, Zhang Junyi had endured many scoldings from Long Qiqi. Even now, after so many years—despite having long held authority over Dan Peak—he still carried that psychological shadow.

Being berated again made him flinch inwardly, and he dared not speak further.

...Truly, as the saying goes, "If the heavens decree rain, or a mother wishes to remarry, who can stop it?"

"I’ll leave in a few days. Don’t trouble yourself over it. Just take good care of Dan Peak, and don’t let Qin Ran down," Long Qiqi added.

"There’s no need to see me off either. What’s with this sentimental fussing? A grown man shouldn’t carry on like a lovesick maiden. For all Qin Ran’s virtues, this one was downright nauseating."

"Yes..." Zhang Junyi could only acquiesce. "Master!"

Long Qiqi ignored him now, turning instead to Tushan Youyou. "Will you return with me?"

Tushan Youyou shook her head. "I’ll wait a little longer."

"Wait?" Long Qiqi scoffed. "Had he wanted to take you, he would have done so years ago. Men are the cruelest—once their hearts harden, they’re colder than a thousand-year frost!"

Did Tushan Youyou not understand?

She remained silent for a long while before sighing. "I’ll leave once I finish planting the peach blossoms."

"Never thought a fox spirit could be so sentimental," Long Qiqi mocked.

Three days after Long Qiqi successfully formed her Golden Core, she quietly departed Dan Peak, carrying a Qiankun pouch prepared by Zhang Junyi, and embarked on her journey to the Demon Region.

Thirty years later, Long Qiqi finally arrived in the Demon Region—only to find it nothing like she had imagined.

With civilization now in place, the world of demon beasts had become another human society in all but name.

Yet, for Long Qiqi, who had been taught by Qin Ran, navigating this society would become an entirely new tale...