Actually, if Tu Xiao'an were a bit more ambitious, he wouldn't even need to wait. He possessed a ridiculously powerful one-time use skill.

That skill was Unconditional Subjugation.

No matter how badass a major boss was, all Tu Xiao'an had to do was go over, lock eyes, and they would become his pet.

But he had to be cautious about using this skill. Tu Xiao'an wanted to subjugate a human Martial Cultivator to be his underling.

His ideal target was the leader of some Hidden Clan. Subjugating one would be like subjugating the whole nest—it would be absolutely incredible.

There was no rush to deal with the Ancient Demon in the Barrier. Sooner or later, it would be his for the taking.

To put it arrogantly, the Ancient Demon could never escape Tu Xiao'an's Five Finger Mountain.

"Are you up to something?"

Luo Ziyun frowned. The floating Purple Gold Snake's Snake Gaze flickered, revealing a very human-like cunning.

Tu Xiao'an gave the woman a strange look. 'Maybe locking eyes with this mysterious woman wouldn't be a bad idea,' he thought.

'I don't care what your identity is. Once I subjugate you, I'll know everything.'

'If only I had two chances at Unconditional Subjugation, I would generously use the first one on this woman.'

'Keep acting all mysterious with me. We'll see about that.'

"Pi Pi Snake, you owe me for my soup ingredients," Luo Ziyun suddenly blurted out, pouting.

Obviously, with the commotion Tu Xiao'an had caused, she couldn't continue her leisurely octopus fishing. That octopus wasn't going to just wait around for her to catch it.

'Who's the real victim here?'

Tu Xiao'an shot her a sideways glance. 'Don't think you're all that just because you have long legs, a slim waist, a perky butt, and a face you could use like a credit card.'

'If she really pissed him off, he could just learn a thing or two from that Ancient Cultivated Snake and impregnate her with his own Snake Embryo.'

'With his powerful genes, paired with this woman's mysterious nature, they could probably produce a Dragon.'

"Go on, keep fishing. If you manage to catch that giant octopus, I'll even give you a thumbs-up," Tu Xiao'an said, exasperated.

Luo Ziyun shook her head. "That octopus is lucky. With you as a scapegoat snake, I'll let it off the hook for now. Good thing I have a backup option."

'She has a backup?'

Tu Xiao'an asked with great interest, "And what kind of creature is this backup?"

'This woman only used Awakened Creatures for her soup base. He wondered which unlucky soul had caught her eye this time.'

"Come with me. You'll see when we get there." Without waiting for his consent, Luo Ziyun reached out and snatched the floating Purple Gold Snake, pulling it into her arms.

Tu Xiao'an was about to resist, but he found himself nestled against her warm, soft, fragrant body. Surrounded by softness and an intoxicating aroma, he decided to give up.

'It made sense why this woman usually wore such a cold, widow-like expression. She possessed every single desirable female trait.'

'Her chest was as vast and surging as the ocean. Lying there was enough to make even a snake unwilling to move, ready to willingly sink into depravity.'

Tu Xiao'an couldn't resist nudging his Snake Head against her large, soft chest, feeling the skin bounce back.

Luo Ziyun let out a shy cry, her delicate brows furrowing. With a flirtatious smile, she asked, "Feels nice, does it?"

The snake in her arms, covered in purple and gold stripes, nodded vigorously in deep agreement, a very human-like expression of satisfaction on its face.

Luo Ziyun's flirtatious smile turned into a cold sneer. She rapped him on the head as a warning.

"Damn it! Let me go if you have the guts! I am the great Snake King! You think I enjoy being held like a pet?"

Tu Xiao'an was furious. 'Did she have no respect for his pride?' 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"Hee hee... Let's go. I'll take you to see something eye-opening."

It was late at night, a little after three in the morning. The city's clamor had long been cradled to sleep by the darkness. The night was hazy and black, illuminated by the faint, ghostly light of the moon.

Half an hour later, Luo Ziyun, still carrying the absurdly beautiful Purple Gold Snake, appeared furtively outside the wall of a grand, luxurious villa.

"This is the place." Her eyes lit up, her face as radiant as jade, glowing like a new moon.

Tu Xiao'an's Snake Head poked out lazily from her large chest. He glanced around and asked wryly, "Are you planning on making me a thief?"

'How exciting.'

"My backup soup ingredient is in there."

Huh?

Hearing this, Tu Xiao'an sent out his powerful Consciousness Power. He was surprised to discover Demon Qi inside the villa—the aura of Awakened Creatures.

And there were quite a few of them. The auras of many Awakened Creatures were emanating from within, imperceptible to most.

Ordinary people wouldn't be able to sense it, but to Tu Xiao'an, it was incredibly obvious.

'So this damn luxurious villa is actually a den of Demons.'

Luo Ziyun clearly knew the whole story. She whispered, "On the surface, the owner of this villa is a real estate tycoon, a successful businessman. But in reality, he's a Rank Three Demon Spirit that has undergone Transformation. He's been hiding in the Human World for years, acting like a tyrant, and he has many underlings at the Spirit Monster Level."

"A Rank Three Demon Spirit is hiding here, and the Demon Management Bureau doesn't know?"

Tu Xiao'an frowned. That shouldn't be possible. When he had first arrived in Wencheng, he was discovered immediately, and they had thoroughly investigated his background.

Especially not a Rank Three Demon Spirit.

"Even if the Demon Management Bureau knows, they turn a blind eye."

"Why? Is it a kind-hearted Rank Three Demon Spirit?"

Luo Ziyun looked as if she had just heard the world's biggest joke. "Innocent humans die at the hands of this Rank Three Demon Spirit every month," she said sarcastically. "Does that sound kind-hearted to you?"

"If that's the case, why does the Demon Management Bureau still turn a blind eye?" Tu Xiao'an's expression darkened.

Luo Ziyun wrinkled her nose. "Whether it's a regular police department or the Demon Management Bureau, there will always be corrupt officials. This Rank Three Demon Spirit has been hidden in the Human World for many years and understands human greed. He acts like a true businessman, knows how to make trade-offs. Every month, he pays several million to people in the Demon Management Bureau, so naturally, they turn a blind eye."

"Besides, a Rank Three Demon Spirit isn't that easy to deal with. If things get out of control, it could lead to a devastating disaster and a lot of deaths."

"This way is so much better, isn't it? Everything is calm and peaceful. The Rank Three Demon Spirit 'behaves' itself on a daily basis, only doing a few wicked things behind the scenes. No big deal, right?"

As she spoke, Luo Ziyun's body soared lightly, and like a swift swallow, she vaulted over the courtyard wall.

"You're saying humans and Demons are colluding?" Tu Xiao'an was a little surprised. 'He has to give them gifts?'

Luo Ziyun looked down at the snake in her arms. "And here I was, thinking you were naive. What's so strange about it? In a huge, prosperous metropolis like Wencheng, danger lurks behind the splendor. Humans and Demons have been mixing for a long time."

It just isn't done out in the open.

After all, this is a scientific, atheistic age. As long as no one tears through the paper-thin facade, anything can be negotiated.

This was especially true for those at Rank Three. Because they could use Transformation, they were basically indistinguishable from people and could easily blend into a crowd.

The so-called "subjugating Demons and vanquishing evil" was just a catchy slogan. In the Human World, only self-interest mattered.