Versatile Mage: Get the Desert Emperor clone at the start

Why did we leave in Chapter 144?

Tang Yue stepped forward and explained to the two that Qin Xiaonan was her student and also a totem guardian.

The two men did not stop them.

They then continued walking towards West Lake. Tang Yue said, "The totem beast Xuan She that I guard is currently in its molting period. There are still some people in the Judgment Council who harbor ill will towards the totem beast, so we need to escort her to a safe place during her molting period."

“Of course, no problem,” Qin Xiaonan said.

Tang Yue smiled gently. She believed that Qin Xiaonan was also a totem guardian, which was why she had asked her for help.

The island in the middle of the lake was shrouded in a thin mist in the rain, and the bluestone path glistened with moisture.

The two walked side by side on the path leading to the secret realm, the surrounding bamboo forest rustling in the wind and rain.

Suddenly, Qin Xiaonan stopped and made a light slash in the air with her right hand.

A stream of emerald green healing light poured out, interspersed with sparkling starlight.

These rays of light intertwined and swirled around him, eventually forming a translucent cocoon of light that gently enveloped his entire being.

"What are you doing?" Tang Yue stopped in surprise, the hem of her cheongsam soaked by the rain, clinging to her slender calves.

Qin Xiaonan's lips curled slightly: "Didn't you just say that the Xuan Snake is hostile to high-level mages and commander-level demons?" He raised his hand to look at the flowing cocoon of light, "I'm increasing intimacy."

"You've broken through to the advanced level?" Tang Yue's beautiful eyes widened, and the oil-paper umbrella in her hand tilted slightly involuntarily, with rain dripping down the umbrella ribs onto her high heels.

Seeing Qin Xiaonan nod in agreement, Tang Yue immediately became anxious: "Why didn't you say so sooner! The Xuan Snake is currently molting and is extremely sensitive to external energy fluctuations, which could potentially harm you!"

"How will you know if you don't try?" Qin Xiaonan smiled dismissively.

Soraka's healing starlight flowed through his palm. This healing energy, containing the power of the stars, had a natural affinity for demons, let alone a totem beast like the Xuan Snake, which was inherently close to humans.

Just then, the calm lake surface suddenly began to boil.

Amidst the gurgling sound of bubbles, a huge black shadow slowly rose from the bottom of the lake.

The water surface was broken, and the enormous head of the black serpent emerged, with glistening water droplets rolling down its bluish-black scales.

Xuan She first looked at Tang Yue gently, then turned her gaze to Qin Xiaonan.

To Tang Yue's surprise, those eyes, which should have been filled with wariness, actually revealed a clear sense of friendliness.

The black snake even lowered its head and gently rubbed against the starlight surrounding Qin Xiaonan.

"This—" Tang Yue gasped, covering her red lips in surprise, "How did you do that?"

Qin Xiaonan reached out and stroked the black snake's cool scales, smiling without saying a word.

Upon seeing Qin Xiaonan, Tang Yue didn't press further, knowing that her student harbored many secrets.

Qin Xiaonan's advanced cultivation level is also very advantageous for this mission.

The Xuan Snake can detect auras of higher ranks and above, and can actively avoid the palace guards and some members of the Inquisition.

In Tang Yue's view, she herself was a high-level mage, and together with Qin Xiaonan, who was also a high-level mage, this escort mission was basically a sure thing.

“Let’s go,” she whispered. “Let’s leave under the cover of night and take the big guys to a safe place.” Qin Xiaonan remained motionless, the scales of the black snake gleaming coolly in his palm.

"Why leave?" he countered, his voice exceptionally clear in the rain. "This is the Black Serpent's habitat; letting it shed its skin in peace is the right thing to do."

The moment Qin Xiaonan agreed to come to Hangzhou with Tang Yue, he had already contacted Lingling.

At that moment, Lingling arrived with Qingning, and Lanxi was with them as well.

“Councilor Zhu Meng from the trial committee has already come once,” Tang Yue said urgently, rain wetting her eyelashes. “They found two people injured by ‘snake venom.’ They will definitely make their move while the Xuan Snake is weakened.”

“Teacher Tang Yue,” Qin Xiaonan interrupted her, her gaze sharp, “do you really believe those two were injured by the Xuan Snake?”

“Of course not!” Tang Yue said firmly, her cheongsam fluttering in the wind. “We have never harmed the innocent.”

"Since that's the case, we have a clear conscience." Qin Xiaonan's voice was steady and powerful. "I've already sent my totem beast, Qingning, to protect the Xuan Snake. Hangzhou is the Xuan Snake's home; we shouldn't be the ones fleeing in disarray."

Tang Yue was stunned.

She had met Qing Ning and knew that the totem that could transform into human form was no less powerful than the Xuan Snake.

The rain blurred her vision, but Qin Xiaonan's eyes remained resolute.

After a few minutes of silence, Tang Yue took a deep breath: "Okay, we won't go anymore. I'll take you to see your uncle."

In the conference room of the trial.

Tang Zhong's wrinkled fingers tapped lightly on the armrest of the armchair.

When the old man heard that Qing Ning would personally protect him, a glint of light flashed in his cloudy eyes.

"Young friend."

Tang Zhong was still very hesitant. It wasn't that he didn't trust Qin Xiaonan; Leng Qing had praised the child to him more than once. He felt that taking the Xuan Snake away was the safest course of action.

Just then, four beautiful figures walked in.

Leading the group was Leng Qing, whose tall figure was accentuated by her court uniform. Her waist-length chestnut hair was loosely tied up with a silver hairpin, and a few strands of hair were wet from the rain and clung to her fair neck. Her features were exquisite, yet she exuded an air of authority, and her red lips were pressed into a straight line.

Lingling's hair, tied in pigtails, was still dripping with water. She was wrapped in an oversized raincoat, revealing only her tiny face.

Lan Xi wore a light blue dress, the knee-length hem fluttering in the wind, revealing her slender calves. A seashell hair clip adorned her hair, and her smile revealed two small tiger teeth, radiating youthful energy. Most striking were the faint blue scales peeking out from behind her ears, shimmering in the rain.

At the very back, Qing Ning held an oil-paper umbrella. Her antique-style cheongsam accentuated her exquisite figure, and a jade hairpin swayed gently with her steps. Tiny gold powder adorned the corners of her eyes, and her every glance exuded a natural and captivating charm.

Seeing that Qing Ning had actually arrived, Tang Zhong solemnly said, "Then I won't leave. I'll leave this matter to you."

At dawn the next day, Zhu Meng indeed led a large group of court monks in a menacing manner.

He wore a purple-gold robe, dazzling in the morning light. "This time, you won't be able to protect it again!" Zhu Meng's voice reverberated across the lake. "The evidence is irrefutable; your so-called deity is the culprit who caused the harm!"

Faced with Zhu Meng's aggressive questioning, Qin Xiaonan said, "Oh, so you knew the Totem Serpent was dangerous, why didn't you act sooner?"

"Isn't it because they heard that it's currently in a weakened state that they dare to make such a big fuss?"

(End of this chapter)