He dragged its twitching body to the sunlight near the entrance. The moment the light touched its flesh, its thrashing slowed and the glow from its scales dulled.
Victor quickly retrieved the enchanted chains he had brought, reinforced with qi to suppress beasts.
He wrapped the creature tightly while avoiding its horned head and bit at his arm for a drop of blood to seal the binding talisman.
He heard the hissing from outside.
Dozens of serpents were closing in. They had heard the shrieks and were coming fast.
Victor strapped the chains across the creature and tapped into his wind arts. He dashed down toward the lower ridge, while twisting in the air and dodging the incoming serpents.
He grunted as claws and tails struck near-misses against his robes.
He reached the familiar caved in area—his hiding place from before.
Using every ounce of his strength, he dragged the unconscious beast in, slammed the rocky boulder behind him, and dropped to the ground while gasping.
A majestic gong echoed as the announcer's voice rang across the palace:
"Announcing the arrival of… the Cultivator who brought the Mythical Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent!"
Gasps filled the celebration courtyard.
The city lord, Xuan Wenzhou, stood quickly from his throne.
And Xuan Qing, who had been on the verge of storming out, turned around.
Fang Chen was the name that rang through the palace grounds like a gong blessed by the heavens.
"The cultivator who brought the Mythical Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent… is Fang Chen!"
All eyes turned to the figure at the grand entrance. Whispers rippled through the crowd like wind brushing over a still lake, each murmuring with shock and curiosity.
Victor stepped into the massive hall with his green robes slightly dirtied from the journey but still noble in presentation.
Behind him, bound with reinforced spiritual chains and gently slithering along with restrained dignity, was the Mythical Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent. It drew collective gasps from the hall.
The serpent was as breathtaking as the legends had described—silver scales tinged with lavender glittered under the illumination of the surrounding and its eyes gleamed like moonlit pools.
The celebrant, Xuan Qing, froze in place.
Her lips parted as her gaze locked onto the creature. "That's… it! That's the one!" she shrieked joyously with a high pitch due to excitement.
She didn't walk—she practically skipped down from the high platform up ahead.
Her long silken robes trailed behind her, and her glossy dark hair flowed like a waterfall.
Victor was surprised to see the supposed 200 year old celebrant.
'Hmm? If this was how 200 year old women looked in reality, Danny would try smashing every granny in sight...' Victor said internally.
Several cultivators who had been rejected earlier watched bitterly as she dashed toward Victor.
"That's him!" one of them shouted.
"Yes! That's the rogue cultivator that ruined our hunt!"
"He must've stolen the serpent! It was ours to catch!"
More complaints poured out from those bitter and embarrassed.
Victor stood calmly with his hands behind his back. He didn't flinch as the voices rose around him. Xuan Qing, however, whipped her head around toward the complaining cultivators.
"SHUT UP!" she shouted, and everyone did. "None of you brought it. He did!"
With that, she grabbed Victor by the wrist and yanked him toward the creature. "You're the best!" she beamed while hugging him suddenly.
Victor blinked. "Uhh…"
The guards twitched, uncertain if they should intervene, but Xuan Qing waved them away with a glare. She then turned toward the serpent with immense excitement.
But then, her brows furrowed. "What's this?" she muttered.
She pointed at the faint scorch marks around the serpent's eyes and horns. "Why is it injured?!" she demanded while turning to Victor with her lips puckered in a displeased pout.
Xuan Wenzhou quickly stood from his throne. "Qing'er, someone has at least brought you what you asked. Let us not be—"
"No! No no no! It's injured! It's not perfect!" she protested like a spoiled child denied a toy.
Victor sighed and approached the beast. "It got a little rowdy," he said. Then, under the silent gaze of the hall, he nonchalantly spat into his palm and rubbed the burn marks and wounds.
In seconds, the injuries vanished. Scales regrew and the beast hissed softly in comfort.
The entire hall gasped. The spiritual masters in attendance leaned forward.
The City Lord narrowed his eyes. 'He is certainly the one…' he voiced internally.
Xuan Qing's eyes lit up even more, and without hesitation, she leapt up again and hugged Victor—this time planting a kiss on his cheek.
Victor stood stunned. "…Uhh, thanks?"
She beamed. "Now I love you even more!"
The other cultivators fumed. One, unable to take it anymore, took a step forward. "This is unfair! He should be punished for interfering!"
"Oh, shut up already!" Xuan Qing snapped, then waved at the guards. "Give him a thousand lashes!"
The guards immediately moved forward.
Victor held out his hand. "Wait. That seems a bit too much... you really don't have to."
Surprisingly, the spoiled heiress tilted her head. "Why not?"
"Because it's your birthday. Don't ruin your mood over idiots."
She stared at him. Then huffed. "Fiiiine. Guards! Just throw him out instead."
The guards obeyed, and the cultivator was dragged out kicking and screaming.
The celebration continued, and Victor was escorted to a special golden-seated section near the high table. An area marked for honored guests.
Servants rushed to and fro, presenting him with exotic wines, golden fruits, spirit beast meat platters, and all sorts of delicacies. Victor sat there, trying to blend in despite the obvious attention.
A server handed him a tall crystal cup filled with a twinkling blue wine. "This is Azure Ember Nectar, honored guest."
Victor took a sip. A cool sensation swept down his throat and exploded through his meridians.
[Notification: Azure Ember Nectar consumed.]
[Effect: +3% Qi Recovery Speed for 12 hours.]
[Effect: +1.5% Increase in Vitality.]
[Effect: Qi Reserves Expanded Slightly.]
Victor smiled. "Now this is the kind of wine I like."
More notifications appeared in his line of sight:
[Congratulations! You have successfully captured the Mythical Shadow-Eyed Moon Serpent.]
[Quest Completed: The City Lord's Request (Hidden Event)]