Shapeshifting Infiltration, Confrontation!

Xiao Yan dismissed his Armament form, the armor slowly fading from his body.

His aura gradually steadied, settling at Eight-star Dou Spirit.

With a flap of his Four Wings, he traced a streak of light and landed lightly on the stone cliff.

Before Hai Bodong could ask, Xiao Yan raised his hand and tossed a scale to him:

"Someone beat us to it."

"An old acquaintance of yours."

The Seven-Colored Snake Scale glowed with eerie purple light in Hai Bodong's palm.

Under the red radiance, the patterns along the scale's edges writhed like living things.

Xiao Yan ignited the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame in his hand, his tone relaxed:

"The Snake People's Queen is probably preparing to devour a Strange Fire and evolve right now."

"How about we drop by and give her a surprise?"

"Are you insane!?"

Hai Bodong's Ice Wings burst with frost, and the stone platform beneath his feet cracked into a web of fissures:

"Do you think the Snake People are your backyard?"

"I admit your cultivation is impressive, but when I entered as a Dou Emperor, I barely escaped with my life!"

"The Eight Tribe Leaders are all high-level or peak Dou Kings!"

"And the Snake People Elder lurking behind the scenes is even more unfathomable."

"This is practically suicide!"

"So?"

Xiao Yan extinguished the Strange Fire in his palm, a teasing smile on his face:

"Is the great Ice Emperor backing out of the deal?"

Hai Bodong's expression froze.

He was a man who always kept his word, seeing things through to the end.

Betraying his own principles was something he couldn't do.

Seeing Hai Bodong still hesitating, Xiao Yan raised his hand and produced a scroll of pill formula, speaking softly:

"No need to worry. I never said we'd barge in."

"A Rank 4 Transformation Pill, using Snake People blood essence as the catalyst."

"It can perfectly mimic a Snake People's aura and transform us into their form."

"This pill lasts twelve hours—enough for us."

"Deal!"

Hai Bodong cut in sharply:

"I'll give it my all!"

"But if things go south, I'll prioritize saving myself!"

Xiao Yan smirked lightly:

"Deal."

"Xiao Yan, should I wait for you in Desert City?"

"With my current Seven-star Dou Master cultivation, I'd probably just hold you back..."

"Hey, what are you doing!?"

"Don't..."

Before Xiao Yi Xian could finish, Xiao Yan stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.

Soft warmth filled his embrace as he lowered his head, brushing against her earlobe.

The faint fragrance of her hair seeped into his nose:

"What's this? You said you'd be mine."

"Can you bear to leave me alone?"

The young man's warm breath hit her ear, and she felt the dampness against her skin.

Xiao Yi Xian's face flushed pink, and she leaned into his embrace without struggling anymore.

Her voice was low:

"But if I'm a burden..."

"You won't be. I'm here."

Hai Bodong:...

Seeing Hai Bodong's speechless expression, Xiao Yan gently released Xiao Yi Xian.

The group returned to the ground and spread their wings, flying toward the deepest part of the desert.

Two days later:

When moonlight gilded the Snake People Holy City with a silver edge, three figures emerged from the shadows of the dunes outside the city.

By now, all three had taken the Rank 4 Transformation Pill.

Beneath Xiao Yi Xian's slender waist, a purple serpent tail shimmered with a pearlescent luster.

Starlike poisonous mist seeped through the gaps between her scales.

A light veil covered her small face, and her star-bright purple eyes glowed under the moonlight.

Xiao Yan watched Xiao Yi Xian in this form and felt an inexplicable allure.

Was this... exotic charm?

"Ah, Xiao Yan!"

"You're doing it again!"

The Little Doctor's hushed, startled voice rang out.

Xiao Yan's fingertips brushed over the armor-like scales at her waist, the touch as cool as the finest silk.

Slowly, he traced down to the base of her tail:

"So, this is what a serpent tail feels like."

Xiao Yi Xian's whole body went limp, and she leaned lightly against Xiao Yan.

Grabbing his clothes, she bit her lip softly:

She had already promised herself to this scoundrel.

Now that he was acting like this, she couldn't really say anything.

Feeling the warm touch sliding over her body, a faint blush crept up her neck unbidden:

But, but this was too...

She looked up, glaring at Xiao Yan, trying to put on a fierce expression.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan grew even more excited:

"Mmm, just as I thought."

"Xiao Yan, you're still that lecher!"

Xiao Yan gave a gentle squeeze:

"Ah, don't touch!"

The girl's serpent tail suddenly went rigid, its tip flailing in panic, slapping the sand.

A flush spread from her earlobes to her collarbone, and venom patterns emerged on her scales in shame and anger:

"If, if you keep groping, I'll poison you to death!"

"Really?"

Xiao Yan lowered his head, staring into her purple eyes with a half-smile:

"Would you really?"

His tone carried a hint of teasing, and his hand didn't move away.

But on Xiao Yi Xian's venom-laced serpent tail, all the poisonous mist deliberately avoided that hand.

It never truly touched him.

Xiao Yi Xian glared at Xiao Yan, her face flushed red.

Her voice was a mix of shame and anger as she finally stammered out two lines:

"Xiao Yan, you—you scoundrel...!"

"You're, you're bullying me!"

"Hahaha."

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian's shy expression, as if she wanted to burrow into a crack in the ground, Xiao Yan finally let go of his hand, wrapped it around her waist, and gently pulled her into his arms.

He stroked her back:

"Alright, alright, I won't bully you anymore."

"Call me 'husband.'"

Xiao Yi Xian curled up in his arms, weakly pounding his chest with her hand.

Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum:

"Lang..."

"Enough!!!"

A sharp rebuke rang out. Hai Bodong, who could no longer bear to listen, emerged from the other side of a sand dune with a dark expression.

His gray-brown snake tail was caked with sand grains:

"I was scouting enemy movements over there, observing the Holy City."

"And you two are here flirting, quite leisurely."

"Stop. Let's enter the city, enter the city, alright!"

Xiao Yan hastily cut off Hai Bodong's words, letting go of Xiao Yi Xian as if nothing had happened.

He didn't dare meet Hai Bodong's grievance-laden gaze now.

If he let him keep going, he'd probably be scolded for several quarters of an hour!

"Let's enter the city."

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted into vertical slits:

"Remember, I'm Flame Snake, and you two are my servants."

After settling on their plan, the three emerged from behind the sand dune.

They headed straight for the city gate of the Snake People Holy City.

But they had only walked a short distance when a shout, infused with Dou Qi, rang out across the sky:

"I am Gu He. I request an audience with the Queen of the Snake People Clan!"

As the voice sounded, within the Snake People Clan:

Eight figures, bearing Dou Qi Wings, shot into the sky in an instant!

Xiao Yan, Xiao Yi Xian, and Hai Bodong turned their heads to look:

Above the desert outside the Snake People Holy City, Gu He hovered in midair with his Fighting Wings spread.

Beside him and behind him, ten black-robed figures floated in total!

Xiao Yan frowned. Logically, Gu He shouldn't have arrived this early.

In the high sky:

Gu He's gaze fell upon the city, his eyes brimming with longing:

Ever since a few days ago, when he received a message from Ge Ye, an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, Claiming that Xiao Yan, the Young Master of the Xiao Family, seemed to possess a flame suspected to be a Strange Fire, He had wanted to go investigate.

But unfortunately, Xiao Yan had already left for training, and there was no news of him.

This, however, only fueled his craving for a Strange Fire, driving him to gather information even more frantically.

Thus, he learned of the Snake People Clan's situation ahead of time.

And that led to Gu He appearing here early!

Opposite him, the eight Snake People Clan leaders spread their Dou Qi Wings, confronting him.

Yue Mei eyed the ten black-robed figures behind Gu He with wariness.

Putting on a fierce front, she said:

"Human! On the territory of the Snake People Clan, aren't you being a bit too presumptuous!?"

"Are you trying to start a war with our Snake People Clan!?"

Gu He's expression hardened. He was about to speak when:

"Boom!"

The central altar of the Holy City suddenly erupted with a rainbow-colored light.

A blurry figure slowly materialized within the pillar of light!