Systemless Villain

Long Tian and Alexia found themselves enveloped in the vast expanse of the forest, where the only sounds were the gentle chirping of insects and the subtle rustling of unseen creatures.

As they journeyed onward, a towering shadow suddenly loomed before them, halting their steps in an instant.

The silhouette revealed itself to be a colossal serpent, standing over 20 meters tall, reminiscent of a titanoboa but twice as imposing.

While Long Tian remained as tranquil as a serene lake, Alexia's demeanor betrayed a hint of tension. The serpent exuded an aura that unmistakably marked it as a formidable 3-star soul beast.

Long Tian had no immediate plans for action; instead, he turned to Alexia and inquired, "Do you wish to confront it? You mentioned craving a genuine challenge, correct?"

Alexia met his gaze, inquired, "And what about you?"

"Your cultivation base is now higher than mine, so you shouldn't worry about anything. Well, I'll watch over you if things get worse. I think that serpent is also a perfect opponent, considering it's a 3-star soul beast. With your strength, it shouldn't be a problem," Long Tian reassured her with unwavering confidence.

Hearing this, Alexia's eyebrows lifted in realization of her newfound power, now at the first level of the Nascent Soul realm.

With a deep breath, she focused her gaze on the serpent, her eyes sharpening with resolve.

"I'll take it on!" she declared decisively, her voice ringing with determination.

Long Tian's grin widened, and with unwavering resolve, Alexia propelled herself high into the air towards the dormant serpent. Her body became a blazing inferno as she descended upon the creature like a celestial firestorm.

Boom!

The earth shook beneath her as Alexia's fiery impact triggered an explosion, engulfing the serpent in swirling tongues of crimson flames. The creature's peaceful slumber shattered by the sudden onslaught, it emitted a deafening shriek of agony as it struggled against the searing heat.

Frantically, the serpent thrashed about in a futile attempt to extinguish the relentless inferno that consumed its resilient scales. But the flames persisted, stubbornly licking at its hide with unyielding ferocity.

Standing her ground amidst the chaos, Alexia watched with a vindictive smirk as the serpent writhed in torment. Adrenaline surged through her veins, reigniting the primal thrill that had long lain dormant within her.

This intoxicating rush, a distant memory from her days as a housewife, now coursed through her veins once more, awakening a primal hunger for battle.

"Come on, you ugly serpent!" she taunted, her voice echoing triumphantly amidst the crackling flames.

Despite being ensnared in the inferno, the serpent's eyes blazed with fury, regarding Alexia as a formidable adversary worthy of its wrath.

With a menacing hiss, the serpent bared its razor-sharp fangs and launched itself towards her with reckless abandon.

Reacting with lightning speed, Alexia leaped skyward, her graceful form landing deftly atop the serpent's massive head. With unyielding determination, she unleashed a relentless barrage of strikes upon her fiery foe.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Each blow reverberated through the air, a cacophony of destruction as Alexia mercilessly pummeled the serpent with all her might.

In this moment of fury, she forsook her weapons, opting instead to rely solely on her fists wreathed in the scorching embrace of hellfire. Their blistering intensity proved devastating against the serpent's unyielding defenses.

Thump!

The final blow, searing with hellfire, sent shockwaves rippling through the serpent's massive frame, its equilibrium shattered, its once-piercing gaze now clouded with defeat as its pupils faded into pools of milky white.

Alexia's grin widened with satisfaction as she remained perched atop the giant serpent's head, triumphant in her victory. But her moment of triumph was short-lived, as before she could descend to the ground, the serpent's pupils snapped back into focus, preventing her from finding her footing.

In a sudden and unexpected movement, the serpent jerked its head upwards, catching Alexia off guard. With lightning speed, it widened its monstrous jaws, its sheer size making it effortless for Alexia to be swallowed whole!

A heavy silence descended upon the scene, broken only by the crackling of the lingering flames that danced upon the serpent's charred form.

Then, in a deafening hiss, the serpent proclaimed its victory, a chilling declaration of its dominance.

Long Tian, a witness to this turn of events, adopted a grave expression, his right hand cloaked in dark energy as he braced himself for battle.

However, his advance was abruptly halted as he sensed a disturbance within the serpent's body, his features contorting in surprise.

The serpent too seemed to register this anomaly, its expression shifting dramatically as if wracked by internal agony.

BOOM!

Without warning, the serpent's belly erupted in a blaze of crimson fire, the force of the explosion echoing with a resounding blast that sent startled birds scattering into the sky.

The red flames consumed the verdant grasslands, painting a hellish tableau where the defeated serpent lay vanquished, its gaping maw rendered speechless as it was consumed by the merciless flames.

"HA HA HA, I feel so alive!" Alexia's laughter echoed through the clearing as she emerged from the serpent's gaping belly.

Her movements were graceful as she strode forward, bathed in the warm glow of the crimson flames.

Long Tian observed with a fond smile, captivated by Alexia's irresistible charm, which he was certain could enchant even the strongest of men.

Approaching her, he met her gaze. "You seem like a different person, Mrs. Alexia," he remarked.

"I can't explain it, but it feels invigorating. It's been ages since I've felt this kind of thrill. It's like I'm rediscovering my youth!" Alexia exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Well, I'm genuinely happy for you," Long Tian said, his smile genuine. Then he turned his attention to the serpent's lifeless form and suggested, "Any soul beast with three stars or more can have its abilities absorbed. Don't you want to give it a try? Since you defeated it, its powers are yours for the taking."

Upon hearing this, Alexia turned her gaze towards the serpent's remains. "I'll give it a shot," she decided.

With determination, she strode towards the serpent's head.

Long Tian watched her calmly; after all, Alexia had once been a formidable cultivator, so she undoubtedly possessed the knowledge to absorb a soul beast's abilities.

10 seconds, 30 seconds, 1 minute passed and Alexia was still pacing around the serpent's corpse.

Long Tian approached her. "What's the matter?" he inquired.

Alexia smiled sheepishly, scratching her head. "I'm not sure how to do it," she admitted.

Long Tian chuckled softly at Alexia's self-deprecating comment, but before he could respond, she interjected with a hint of annoyance, "I must seem quite foolish, don't I? Just insult me."

Long Tian's smile remained kind as he replied, "There's no need for embarrassment, and I certainly won't ridicule you. Your uncertainty is completely understandable given what you've been through all this time," he reassured her in a gentle tone.

Alexia's eyes widened slightly as she regarded Long Tian. For some inexplicable reason, her heart rate quickened.

But she quickly regained her composure and smiled. "It's no wonder my daughter fell for you," she teased.

"What? You've fallen for me too?" Long Tian teased back, grinned.

"Yes," Alexia replied without hesitation, her teasing smile widening as she leaned in closer, catching Long Tian off guard.

Then, with a mischievous grin, she added, "If it were 20 years ago, hehe."

With that playful remark, she swiftly turned on her heel and headed back towards the serpent's head, leaving Long Tian slightly bemused by her antics.