Qing Lin

Ning Su ordered everyone to keep Medusa's imperfect evolution a secret. It absolutely could not be leaked.

The outside world now believed that Medusa had evolved successfully, and thus feared her.

But they did not know that her soul fusion was incomplete.

Many factions had raised their guard because of Medusa's evolution.

If they learned at this time that Medusa's condition was highly unstable, they might join forces to exploit the situation and completely crush the Snake-People Race!

Therefore, news of Medusa's imperfect evolution absolutely could not spread.

However, unless there was a traitor within the Snake-People Race, or the humans specifically sent someone in to gather intelligence, the news would not get out.

And Ning Su was already preparing his next plan.

"Little Black, you're going to the Jia Ma Empire?" Hua She'er was quite surprised.

This was a sensitive time. What was he going to the Jia Ma Empire for?

"I'm going to help the Queen find the pill formula for the Spirit Fusion Pill. Besides, humans have more methods. Maybe they have other ways to fuse souls."

"Our Snake-People Race has no solution right now. We can't just sit here waiting forever, can we?" Ning Su said.

"But the Jia Ma Empire is currently on alert against us..."

"Little Flower, I can fully take human form now. As long as I don't reveal my true form on my own, no one will recognize us," Ning Su said.

Hua She'er still wanted to say something.

Ning Su cut her off again. "Little Flower, don't worry. Even if I'm discovered, there are only a few people in the entire Jia Ma Empire who could keep me there."

Among the Jia Ma Empire's experts, Yun Shan was in seclusion. Only Jia Xing Tian posed even a slight threat to him.

Ning Su did not regard anyone else as a threat.

Hua She'er still wanted to persuade Ning Su to stay, but she could not find a good reason.

In the end, she could only agree.

"Oh, right. I don't plan to take the Queen with me. She'll stay here."

The Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python and Medusa were currently unstable. Staying with the Snake-People Race was safest.

If he took her out and the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python suddenly revealed itself, it would cause quite a bit of trouble.

"You're leaving the Queen behind? I thought you were taking her with you, so you could deal with danger together if you encountered any."

"I'm going to the Jia Ma Empire to look for a solution, not to attack the Gama Royal Family. The Queen's condition is too unstable right now. It wouldn't be safe to take her out."

"All right."

Fortunately, the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python was fairly obedient toward Hua She'er.

Ning Su even left behind several Fire Lotus Seeds, just in case they could not coax the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python.

After finishing all this, Ning Su officially left the Snake-People Race and set out for the Jia Ma Empire.

Stone Desert City.

"Little Yanzi, are you sure you're leaving? Won't you stay a few more days?"

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked at Xiao Yan with some reluctance.

The three brothers had only managed to spend a few days together before they had to part again.

Xiao Yan nodded. "Yes. I made the Three-Year Pact with Nalan Yanran. I can't waste time here."

His trip to the desert Snake-People Race had dealt him quite a blow.

It would have been one thing if he had failed to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame, but he had also been severely injured by the joint attack of Medusa and Ning Su, the two pythons.

He had spent a full five days recovering from his injuries.

He had truly tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to bait it.

"If Nalan Yanran knew about your current cultivation, Little Yanzi, I wonder if she'd regret it until her intestines turned green," Xiao Li said with a laugh.

Xiao Ding patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder. "Little Yanzi, rest assured. No matter what happens, your eldest and second brothers will always support you."

"Mm. Thank you, Big Brother, Second Brother."

"Oh, right. Where's Qing Lin?"

Xiao Yan wanted to say one last goodbye to Qing Lin, but he did not see the little girl anywhere.

"Oh, Qing Lin had something to do and went out with the others today. We didn't know you were leaving today, so we didn't have her stay behind," Xiao Li said.

"Then forget it. Just tell her for me when she gets back."

"All right."

After the three brothers exchanged a few final words, Xiao Yan left Stone Desert City alone.

Outside the city.

Recently, because of the incidents involving the Snake-People Race, the cities near the Tagor Desert had all been placed under the guard of troops belonging to the Gama Royal Family, to prevent any unexpected situations.

However, the troops were only responsible for monitoring the movements of the Snake-People Race and did not interfere much with ordinary people entering or leaving the city.

Snake-People and ordinary humans were easy to distinguish. Ordinary people could not blend in.

In the desert not far outside the city.

A squad from the Iron Mercenary Group was hurrying back toward Stone Desert City.

Qing Lin trailed at the very back of the group, struggling to keep up.

Everyone traveling with her was a Dou Zhe or Dou Shi. Only she had no cultivation.

Even on an ordinary journey, she could barely keep up.

"Person in the back, hurry up and catch up!"

the squad leader shouted.

Qing Lin gritted her teeth and desperately followed.

Although Xiao Yan's arrival had caused Qing Lin to receive some attention again within the Iron Mercenary Group.

Most people still did not treat her well—a creature with both Snake-People and human blood should never have existed in the first place.

Especially for those living in desert cities, their disgust toward such heretical bloodlines was etched into their bones.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had been the ones to take Qing Lin in back then.

But without them around, the others had never treated Qing Lin kindly.

Qing Lin knew that these people disliked her, but in order to survive, she could only endure the humiliation and struggle on.

Bang!

A blood-red surge of Dou Qi suddenly shot over from ahead, striking the desert and kicking up countless grains of yellow sand.

Everyone hurriedly stopped.

A large crowd emerged from the surrounding wind and sand, encircling them completely.

The leader immediately recognized them.

"Luo Bu?! What is the Sand Mercenary Group trying to do?"

The newcomer was none other than Luo Bu, leader of the Sand Mercenary Group—one of Stone Desert City's three major mercenary groups!

The people surrounding them were all elites of the Sand Mercenary Group.

"This leader is here for that little girl named Qing Lin at the back. Hand her over, and you may leave." Luo Bu's gaze fell directly on Qing Lin.

The little girl immediately felt a wave of fear.

The others were somewhat doubtful. "You're not here to rob us?"

"This leader's word is final. Either leave her behind, or die here together," Luo Bu said.

The Iron Mercenary Group members exchanged glances, unable to figure out Luo Bu's intentions.

But if they fought, they were definitely no match for Luo Bu.

And Luo Bu's target was only Qing Lin.

They looked at Qing Lin before finally silently retreating to the side.

Disbelief filled Qing Lin's eyes.

"Don't..."

They were clearly members of the same mercenary group, yet they had chosen to abandon her?!

"Qing Lin, sacrificing you alone is better than sacrificing all of us."

"You should be grateful. Even with Snake-People blood, you can still be useful at a time like this."

Those people had no intention of saving Qing Lin. They turned and prepared to flee...