Swirling clouds and mist veiled a graceful beauty. What a dreamlike scene.

Tu Xiao'an watched in astonishment. A tremor ran through him, and a wave of Qi surged outward, parting the veil of mist and revealing her clearly.

Her looks could only be described as stunning, her figure alluring and her grace almost celestial. A full head of ice-blue hair cascaded down to her waist. Her deep blue pupils held a hint of mystery, as if they could effortlessly see through anyone. Her snow-white skin was utterly flawless, and her cherry-red lips seemed to possess a magic that perpetually enticed. Her entire body radiated an icy aura; it felt like walking on thin ice, enough to freeze the heart.

"So this is what you really look like."

After a long moment, Tu Xiao'an looked up, took a deep breath, and spoke.

'She's truly beautiful, so beautiful it makes my heart race.' But Tu Xiao'an hadn't forgotten where he was or the kind of person he was facing.

He was just a little puzzled. 'Do all the beautiful women in this metropolis like to hide their true appearances?'

From the proprietress of the noodle shop to this leader of the Demon Management Bureau, they both seemed to have a taste for it.

The difference was that the noodle shop owner had used a new skin to transform herself, while the woman before him was even more advanced, capable of reverting to her childhood form.

But both of them were top-tier beauties, and neither was someone to be trifled with. When the noodle shop owner revealed her true face, she was enchanting and seductive.

As for this one, the little girl who had transformed into a beautiful young woman was as cold as frost, lofty and untouchable.

"Snake Spirit, I'm giving you two choices. The first is to prove you won't wreak havoc on human society and earn the recognition of my Demon Management Bureau. The second is simpler: be suppressed and locked away in the Demon Iron Prison."

Her ice-blue eyes were deep and beautiful, but her words were devoid of warmth, cold and impersonal.

Tu Xiao'an had no desire to oppose humanity. He had transformed into a snake, but he hadn't forgotten what he was at his core.

His snake body housed a human soul.

In truth, Tu Xiao'an could have used his system to break the Demon locking Shackles long before arriving at the Demon Management Bureau. But he wanted to come and see things for himself, to get a clear picture.

Any fool would know which of the two choices to pick.

"How do I earn your recognition?"

It meant proving that he, Tu Xiao'an the Snake Spirit, was a law-abiding citizen who wouldn't cause trouble and would submit to the Demon Management Bureau's authority.

Once he earned the Demon Management Bureau's recognition, he would officially be on their books. He'd no longer be an unregistered entity but would have a legal status.

Tu Xiao'an's direct question made the transformed beauty smile. She leaned lightly against the desk, revealing a pair of slender legs that seemed over a meter long.

They were dazzling to behold.

"Complete a mission for me to prove your sincerity."

"A mission?"

Tu Xiao'an understood. It meant doing some free, hard labor for them in exchange for a legal status.

'What a joke. I'm a Snake King. How could I stoop to compromising like this? They're dreaming.'

"I choose neither. Since you've already investigated me, you should know I don't kill indiscriminately. Why would a Snake King like myself need your recognition?"

"I come and go as I please. You can't stop me," Tu Xiao'an said, his gaze calm and unwavering.

An icy chill emanated from the beautiful young woman's body. "Such arrogance. This is the Demon Management Bureau. If I don't permit you to leave, you won't be able to take a single step. You won't even make it out that door."

"Is that so? I'd like to see you try."

Tu Xiao'an, his features as handsome as a painting, met her gaze coldly, completely unafraid.

True, this was the Demon Management Bureau, and Tu Xiao'an could faintly sense the auras of many powerful Martial Cultivators lurking in the shadows.

But so what? He possessed two attribute abilities; his combat strength was no less than that of Rank Three Creatures.

If a fight really broke out, they wouldn't come out on top either.

The only thing giving Tu Xiao'an pause was his reluctance to make an enemy of a special government department. Otherwise, he'd face enemies at every corner in Wencheng.

But he had his limits. The dignity of the Snake King was not something to be thrown away.

'You think a little intimidation will make me work for you?' Tu Xiao'an wasn't one to be easily scared.

"Are you really trying to make an enemy of the entire Demon Management Bureau? You're courting death," she threatened.

Tu Xiao'an didn't back down an inch. "Believe it or not, if I so desired, I could turn this little Demon Management Bureau of yours into a Snake Cave."

The ability of a Snake King to command all snakes was no myth.

How could he allow himself to be ordered around?

"You're just a mere Snake Spirit. Don't be ungrateful. I've already been more than courteous to you." The beautiful young woman's cheeks puffed out in anger as her icy aura intensified, looking as if she were about to strike.

She wasn't wrong. The Demon Management Bureau was the bane of Awakened Creatures. As enforcers, they never showed mercy when dealing with heteromorphic Spirit Monsters.

If you were captured and brought in, only two fates awaited you: imprisonment, or being forced to offer up your Essence Blood, which was the same as placing half your life in the hands of the Demon Management Bureau.

If you ever dared to cause trouble in human society, that very Essence Blood would become your death warrant.

These were incredibly harsh terms. Many Spirit Monsters would rather be locked in the Demon Iron Prison than agree to such a thing.

Who would want to place their life in another's hands? It was tantamount to selling your life to humanity.

Tu Xiao'an sneered. "Cut the act. I haven't committed any crime. I haven't killed a single person since coming to Wencheng. You must have had some other reason for luring me here."

'Unregistered entity? Needing the Demon Management Bureau's recognition? What a load of crap.'

It was a classic case of protesting one's innocence too loudly. He hadn't committed any crime, yet he'd been brought here against his will. The fact that he hadn't lost his temper was already a sign of his politeness.

The beautiful young woman was clearly furious, but her expression suddenly softened into a smile. "You're very strong, and very clever. You're right. I did indeed 'invite' you here because there is something I need your help with."

"If you're asking for a favor, you should ask nicely. Be sincere. Stop playing these pointless games," Tu Xiao'an sneered. 'Trying to pull these tricks on me...'

The beautiful young woman didn't get angry; her lovely eyes simply flickered.

"First, tell me who you are," Tu Xiao'an said.

"Leng Shuang, leader of Team Two of the Demon Management Bureau."

Tu Xiao'an nodded. "So tell me, after going to all this trouble to bring me here, what is it you want me to do?"

Leng Shuang paused in thought before speaking coolly. "In the western part of Wencheng, there's a place called Wen Mountain Ridge. A backward village is located there, home to three hundred and sixty villagers."

"According to reliable intelligence, several people in that village have died tragically in recent days. The village is permeated with Demon Qi. A Spirit Monster is wreaking havoc and harming the villagers. I want you to help me resolve this Spirit Monster incident and restore peace to the village."

As he listened, a strange look appeared in Tu Xiao'an's eyes. "This sounds like a job for your Demon Management Bureau, doesn't it? And you want to hand it off to me?"

This was a classic case of subduing Demons and exorcising evil. 'You can't be this lazy at your job, can you?'

'Is she treating me like some errand boy?'

'You people from the Demon Management Bureau aren't going to deal with this Demon, and you want me, another Demon, to do it for you?'

'That's like a cop telling a thief to go catch another thief. What the hell is this?'

Of course, it wasn't like Tu Xiao'an had never done this sort of thing before. Back in Bai Town, he had specialized in subduing Demons and monsters.

But he had done that willingly, and the system had issued missions for it.

"I sent people, but they couldn't find the Spirit Monster. This Demon is skilled at concealment, as elusive as a Divine Dragon that shows its head but never its tail," Leng Shuang said.

"And you're sending me, convinced that I'll be able to find it?"

She replied, "Our people's trip wasn't a complete waste. We determined that the Demon Qi permeating the village has the scent of the Snake Race."

Tu Xiao'an's eyes narrowed. "You're saying a Snake Spirit is wreaking havoc?"

"That's right. We're almost certain of it. It's just that this Snake Spirit's methods are bizarre, and my people can't locate it. Since you are also a Snake Spirit, you should be able to find its hiding place."

'So that's how it is.' Tu Xiao'an finally understood.