Snake People Clan

"Fine, but after you successfully evolve, you'll have to come with me to lift a seal for a Dou Emperor," Xiao Yan said.

"The Ice Emperor?" Queen Medusa frowned. After thinking for a moment, she recalled the Dou Emperor she had once pursued.

"Back then, he obtained a Fragmented Map that might be related to Heavenly Flames—did he use that map to ask you to break the seal?"

"He asked me to refine pills for him, so I'll also take his Pill Recipe and the Medicinal Herbs he has already gathered while I'm at it—either way, the result is the same."

"...Fine."

Queen Medusa paused, her snake tail swaying back and forth in slight agitation. It was unclear what she was thinking.

"If there's anything you need for your evolution, go prepare it now! Just send me a Soul Message when the time comes. It'll also be more convenient to contact you about things in the future."

Xiao Yan finally received a response from Old Yao. He took out a Jade Slip and, using a particular method, left his Soul Power upon it, eventually forming a faint Flame Mark.

Soul Messages were a minor technique developed by alchemists. Since most alchemists devoted themselves wholeheartedly to pill refinement and were not particularly strong in combat, whenever a fight was needed, they would often choose to call for backup.

After an alchemist sent a Soul Message, the holder of the Jade Slip could follow its guidance to find the alchemist.

Likewise, alchemists often searched through remote mountains and forests for Medicinal Herbs. If a Jade Slip holder made a valuable discovery or needed pills refined but could not find the alchemist, they could also use a Soul Message to contact the alchemist directly.

As for the range, it naturally depended on the alchemist's own Soul Power.

With Xiao Yan's current Soul Power, real-time communication throughout the Jia Ma Empire was no problem.

Queen Medusa accepted the Jade Slip. Thinking back, Gu He did not seem to possess such an ability, making her believe a little more firmly that Xiao Yan had a terrifying teacher behind him.

"You've just finished refining a Heavenly Flame. This should be the time for you to familiarize yourself with its power. Why not come to my Snake People Tribe?"

"Although the Snake People Clan has fallen on hard times, we still have some ancestral reserves. Perhaps there are things that could be of some help to you."

Queen Medusa's tone softened.

Xiao Yan thought for a moment, then recalled the small pool Queen Medusa had used when evolving with the Green Lotus Core Flame. The entire pool had been filled with Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

Judging by what lay ahead, perhaps the Snake People Clan still possessed an upgraded form of Ice Spirit Cold Spring—Ice Spirit Cold Marrow?

The chill from a single bottle of Ice Spirit Cold Marrow could freeze a Dou Zong to death alive. If Ice Spirit Cold Marrow protected him while he refined Heavenly Flames, the chance of success should increase considerably.

At that thought, Xiao Yan could not help revealing a shy smile. "Sure! I've also coveted... admired the Snake People Clan for a long time. I'm quite interested in your arts of poison control and snake taming as well."

Seeing Xiao Yan's shy smile, Queen Medusa's heart suddenly trembled, and a chill ran down her back.

But the words had already left her mouth, and Queen Medusa could not very well go back on them. She could only wrap her snake tail around Xiao Yan's waist, flap her Dou Qi Wings, and fly with him toward the Snake People Clan.

"..."

Xiao Yan was speechless. Queen Medusa's movements were actually very gentle, and she even used Dou Qi to shield him from the wind, but... Old Yao was already laughing himself breathless.

"Teacher, you're still laughing! Wouldn't it have been fine if you'd just acted and captured her directly?"

"Hahahaha!"

"..."

"Alright, I'll stop teasing you. I originally only wanted to see how long you could hold out against Queen Medusa. I never expected you to talk her into going lame. A Dou Zong making a move for just one Sixth Grade Pill—you won't find a cheaper deal anywhere."

"What do you mean, talk her into it! I simply couldn't bear to see the naturally cold-natured Snake People Clan living in a scorching desert, so I resolved to save them!"

"...Oh, I understand. To fool others, you must first fool yourself."

Queen Medusa flew extremely fast. In less than half a day, she brought Xiao Yan into the depths of the desert.

The Snake People Clan did not actually live clustered together in the depths of the Tagor Desert. Instead, they were scattered across numerous Snake People Tribes of varying sizes.

Queen Medusa's residence lay at the center of all the tribes. Surrounding it were eight Snake People Tribes with Dou Wangs, guarding the city where Queen Medusa resided.

One rather absurd thing was that Queen Medusa's residence was called the Temple, yet no matter how Xiao Yan thought about it, he could not recall anyone on the entire Dou Qi Continent calling themselves a god.

Those powerful figures were generally titled something-or-other Saint, something-or-other Venerable, or some sort of elder. Their titles might even include the word Heaven.

As for gods... he had no impression of any.

Xiao Yan was puzzled by this, but Queen Medusa said it was a secret of the Snake People Clan, so he did not press further.

After Queen Medusa brought Xiao Yan flying into the Temple, Hua She'er, the security Captain who had sensed the Queen's aura, immediately came forward to pay her respects.

"This is an alchemist I invited. From today onward, he is the Chief Alchemist of our Snake People Clan. He has the authority to requisition all Medicinal Herbs belonging to the Snake People Clan, and his status is second only to mine."

"Until our clansmen fully accept him, you will be responsible for protecting his safety."

"I will soon enter seclusion to cultivate and prepare to break through to the Dou Zong realm. Pass down the order and tell the entire clan to keep themselves in check."

Hua She'er scrutinized Xiao Yan, instantly spotting the Fifth Grade Alchemist badge on his chest. She lowered her head and complied with Queen Medusa's arrangements.

"Heh, before we came here, you never said I'd have the right to requisition the Snake People Clan's Medicinal Herbs."

"But I promised to help you familiarize yourself with Heavenly Flames—I imagine that for an alchemist, the best way to become familiar with a Heavenly Flame is through pill refinement, right?"

"What boldness!" Xiao Yan accepted this gesture of goodwill.

"Your Majesty, isn't this somewhat inappropriate? At the very least, he should work for our Snake People Clan for several years before..." Hua She'er grew anxious. By the Queen's meaning, even if Xiao Yan successfully refined pills using the Snake People Clan's resources, they would still go into his own pocket and have nothing to do with the Snake People Clan.

"It is entirely appropriate. With the bearing of our Chief Alchemist, he will not care about such petty profits. He will only build a stronger Snake People Clan, one better able to protect you. Am I right?"

Queen Medusa's lips curved slightly as she looked at Xiao Yan with smiling eyes.

Queen Medusa had originally wanted to say "more valuable," but fearing the clansmen would not be able to accept it, she changed it to "better able to protect you."

But Queen Medusa believed Xiao Yan could understand what she meant.

Xiao Yan took out an Ice Heart Pill and swallowed it, signaling his agreement.

Thus, Xiao Yan left with Hua She'er. Hua She'er summoned a Dou Ling, relayed Her Majesty's orders to him, and instructed him to spread them among the major Snake People Tribes. Then she followed closely behind Xiao Yan without leaving his side.

Xiao Yan glanced at her. Yeah, this was a normal Snake Person. She didn't possess the kind of seductive charm that came with Medusa's bloodline, so they could interact normally.

Xiao Yan sighed in relief, took out the Pill Recipe for the Dou Ling Pill, and handed it to Hua She'er. "Go see how many sets of Medicinal Herbs the Snake People Clan can gather right now."

I'm feeling a little weak today, so I'm writing really slowly.