Chaotic Battle Imminent, Small Island in the Lake!

The moon climbed to the spire of the Snake People Holy City when eight serpentine shadows suddenly cut across the night sky.

Sensing the Queen's presence behind her, Yue Mei let out a quiet breath.

With a subtle sway of her waist, her amethyst earrings caught the moonlight:

"Does Master Gu He intend to wage war on our clan?"

"Hiss!"

The Snake People commander's tail tip twitched lightly, and a hundred-meter python formed from poison mist reared up with a piercing shriek.

Drool dripping from its emerald venom fangs corroded the stone slabs into honeycomb-like pits.

Gu He's palm lit up with the dan-marked radiance unique to a Sixth-grade Pill.

He gently lifted the Jade Box, and the overflowing medicinal fragrance was intoxicating:

"I have no intention of offending," he said aloud, confidence gleaming in his eyes, his gold-embroidered black robe snapping in the night wind.

Few could resist the allure of a Sixth-grade Pill.

And Merged Exotic Fire was a near-death gamble—even if the Snake People obtained it, it would be useless to them.

Today, he was determined to claim that exotic fire!

"A Sixth-grade Pill is enough to elevate the Snake People Clan's strength to the next level."

"Furthermore, I can offer three Imperial Pills."

As Gu He's words fell—

The graceful silhouette within the sacrificial pillar's light suddenly flickered.

Medusa Clone stepped barefoot through the air, her serpent tail scales gleaming with a cold purple light:

"I wonder what Lord Gu He wishes to trade with my Snake People?"

Gu He smiled lightly and bowed:

"I've heard the Snake People happened upon an exotic fire."

"To an alchemist, it's a dream come true, but to your clan, it's useless."

"Might I ask you to part with it?"

Medusa lifted her gaze, her bewitching red eyes shimmering beneath her veil:

"And if I say no?"

Gu He's expression hardened:

"I've pursued this exotic fire for a long time. If the Queen refuses to part with it..."

"Then today may not end peacefully."

Medusa let out a light scoff. The amethyst crown on her brow suddenly burst with spiderweb cracks.

An overwhelming pressure sent Gu He hurtling back a hundred zhang:

"Then take your trash."

"And get out of the Holy City!"

Gu He straightened himself, his aura exploding outward:

"Move!"

"Hold them off—I'll enter the city to find the exotic fire."

"A mere clone—what is there to fear!"

"Shing! Shing! Shing!"

At that moment, the night was torn apart by ten thousand Azure Luan sword energies.

The longsword in Yun Yun's hand blazed with brilliant cyan light!

Boundless sword energy, carrying the might of a Dou Emperor, plunged downward!

"ROAR!!!"

The eight tribal leaders roared in unison.

The hundred-meter python formed by the Snake Merging Array met the sword energy head-on!

But as if pushed by an invisible hand, its ferocious serpent head slammed into the eastern city wall!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Countless sword energies rained down, splitting mountains and shattering stone!

"Now! Charge into the Holy City!"

Old Yao's aged voice transmission exploded like thunder in Xiao Yan's mind!

Xiao Yan's crimson-gold serpent tail slammed the ground, exotic fire flowing between his scales into arcane runes.

The moment he swept Xiao Yi Xian into the air, Hai Bodong's Ice Wings had already condensed hundreds of prismatic ice crystals.

"Keep up!"

Xiao Yan barked, his Four Wings trailing streaks of flame.

He was actually a third faster than Hai Bodong!

Gu He's figure had already plunged into the city.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

On the ground, chaos erupted everywhere from the Snake People Clan warriors and residents.

The three of them darted like fish through a storm of flying techniques and light.

Xiao Yan could clearly sense the Dou Qi fluctuations behind him.

Ignoring the aerial melee, they swiftly pressed into the city.

Though Gu He had means to track Strange Fire, the Snake People Clan's method of hiding it was still too secretive.

He could only rely on resonance between Strange Fires to get a faint reading.

Gu He probably couldn't even tell the direction.

Xiao Yan's crimson pupils reflected the moonlit lake behind the temple, glowing with an eerie blue.

That was where the Strange Fire's aura was strongest!

Clearing the temple smoothly, he relied on Old Yao's Soul Perception to navigate.

They successfully bypassed over a dozen patrols of Snake People.

And made it to the rear of the temple.

Xiao Yan turned to Hai Bodong and said:

"Elder Hai, I'll trouble you to hold this spot. If anyone comes to disturb us..."

"Hold them off as best you can!"

At a critical moment, needing Hai Bodong's help, Xiao Yan thought better of using his name directly.

Hai Bodong nodded in agreement.

He and Xiao Yi Xian then headed toward the great lake.

But just as they neared the shore, Xiao Yan barked:

"Hold your breath!"

He suddenly shoved Xiao Yi Xian toward the bamboo grove by the lake.

"Splash!!!"

A twenty-zhang-long Purple Striped Giant Snake burst from the water.

Its stinking saliva sizzled as it corroded the purple crystal bamboo on the shore.

The giant snake opened its mouth, but before it could let out an enraged hiss, Strange Fire from the youth's palm coiled into a crimson chain, binding its head.

Xiao Yan didn't want to alert Medusa here.

Killing it outright would cause too much noise. So he shot forward like an arrow from a bow, straight into the giant snake's gaping maw!

"Xiao Yan!"

Xiao Yi Xian's cry was cut off by a swallowing sound.

Inside the giant snake's belly.

Xiao Yan raised his hand and clenched, the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame forming a barrier that sealed off the corrosive venom.

His pupils blazed with crimson fire as the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame surged backward through the Demonic Beast's Meridians!

Every scale gap glowed with red light.

"Five, four, three..."

The youth counted silently in his mind.

Outside, the roar of collapsing rock echoed as the giant snake thrashed wildly.

But on the fifth breath, it went rigid.

Crimson beams burst from the gaps between its scales, and its massive body ignited like fireworks.

It split apart in silence.

Xiao Yan stepped out from the ashes, not even a speck of dust on his clothes.

The Strange Fire dancing on his fingertip condensed into a lotus, spinning slowly.

"Is this... the combat power of a Dou Ling?"

Hai Bodong's Ice Wings froze in the distant sky.

His cheek twitched slightly.

A freak like Xiao Yan was probably the only one of his kind he'd ever see in this lifetime.

Without wasting time, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian quickly made their way toward the lake.

By the moonlit lakeshore, the water shimmered with a faint blue poisonous mist. Xiao Yi Xian's purple snake tail lightly tapped the surface.

As ripples spread, the mist rose.

"Corrosive poison—touch it and you're dead."

Xiao Yan furrowed his brow. There was an Anti-flight Restriction here; they couldn't just fly over.

The moment he finished speaking, the girl's tail tip suddenly coiled around Xiao Yan's waist.

The Calamity Poison Mist condensed into a curtain, wrapping around them both:

"Hold me tight."

It was rare for the girl to take the initiative. Xiao Yan pressed close, holding Xiao Yi Xian firmly.

They jumped straight into the lake.

The moment her soft body pressed against his chest, Xiao Yan could clearly see her trembling lashes.

The poison marks on her neck glowed purple, deepening with each heartbeat:

"Scared?"

The young man deliberately tightened his arm around her waist, the unique fragrance of her hair filling his nose.

The hand around his waist quietly shifted.

A warm sensation spread across his side.

"Not at all!"

Xiao Yi Xian suddenly bit his earlobe, her canine teeth pricking his skin:

"At a time like this, you're still messing around!"

"Touch me again, and I'll throw you in to feed the fish!"

She didn't notice her snake tail unconsciously tightening around his waist, scales scraping with faint sounds.

Xiao Yan chuckled silently, staying in that position.

When they reached the islet in the middle of the lake, the two leaped out of the water.

Xiao Yan suddenly pinned her against a green bamboo.

Moonlight pierced through the poison mist, illuminating her flushed cheeks. Xiao Yan's fingertip traced the poison marks on her neck:

"What, nothing to say now?"

"You were bold enough when you bit me just now."

Amid the rustling bamboo leaves, he clearly felt the skin beneath his palm heat up instantly.

"None of your business."

Her pout was suddenly sealed between his lips. The tips of Xiao Yi Xian's ears glowed a bright red.

Xiao Yi Xian gently closed her eyes and raised her hand to wrap around Xiao Yan's back.

She had no strength to push him away now, nor did she want to.

Her entwining snake tail cracked the bamboo, but he caught it just before it toppled.

Only when the roar of the Snake Merging Array echoed from afar did the two snap back to reality and part.

Xiao Yi Xian breathed softly and rapidly. Xiao Yan leaned close to her ear:

"You're mine now. Just a little touch and you're this shy?"

"Don't blame me for losing control—blame yourself for being too tempting..."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan's fingers gently twined around Xiao Yi Xian's hair:

"I really want to devour you right now..."

His soft, warm words landed on her ear.

Xiao Yi Xian's pupils suddenly dilated...