Moonlight cast bamboo shadows across the girl's flushed cheeks.
Xiao Yi Xian's fingertips dug deeply into the fabric on Xiao Yan's back.
Her purple snake tail unconsciously crushed three emerald bamboo stalks.
She suddenly shoved the young man's chest away, the tip of her tail nervously sweeping over the fallen bamboo leaves.
Her voice was soft and sweet.
"Who, who belongs to you!"
The purple crystal tassels hanging from her hair tangled around Xiao Yan's lapel, chiming softly with her movements.
Xiao Yan leaned against a mottled bamboo stalk and chuckled.
"Isn't that so?"
"Then in the lake just now, whose tail wrapped around me so tightly I could barely breathe?"
He suddenly leaned close to the girl's ear, his warm breath brushing over the lingering blush on her earlobe.
"Do you need me to help you remember?"
"Shut up!"
"If you keep this up, don't blame me for getting rough!"
The girl lightly rose onto her toes and bit her lower lip, her gaze wandering as she refused to look at Xiao Yan.
But Xiao Yan stepped even closer, gently pressing his forehead against hers.
"How are you going to get rough?"
"With that pretty little tail of yours, whip me?"
The blush at her ears had already spread across her cheeks, and the girl fell completely silent.
She merely lowered her head and let a certain scoundrel draw closer.
"All right, all right."
"I won't tease you anymore. Business comes first."
"Follow me carefully."
Holding one of the girl's hands, the two slowly moved forward.
As they passed through the last patch of bamboo forest, the moonlight poured down even brighter than before.
Concealed by Old Yao's soul aura, the two hid behind a massive boulder.
Xiao Yan cautiously poked his head out and looked toward the pool at the very center of the small island, five or six meters across.
The Ice Spirit Cold Spring, incomparably precious in the outside world, now filled the entire pool.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So much Ice Spirit Cold Spring."
"If we sold it, wouldn't we strike it rich?"
"But does this count as selling bathwater?"
At the center of the cold spring—
The Crystal Lotus Platform tightly sealed the Green Lotus Core Flame within it.
The instant green light erupted and Medusa's true form burst from the water—
Countless rays of moonlight seemed drawn to her, draping a layer of silver gauze over her fair shoulders.
Her long hair hung down to her slender waist, droplets slowly sliding along her collarbones...
Without the veil concealing her, her long lashes fluttered gently.
Those wine-red pupils were like the most beautiful roses blooming in the world.
Her purple snake tail emerged from the water, its scales shimmering with a dark violet glow beneath the moonlight.
Every scale reflected the cold silver moon.
Behind the boulder, Xiao Yi Xian looked at Medusa, radiating seductive charm, and lightly gritted her teeth.
"Vixen..."
But her vision suddenly went dark as Xiao Yan's large hand gently covered her eyes.
He softly spoke beside her ear.
"Not suitable for children!"
"Don't look."
Xiao Yi Xian froze. What a clever move, striking first.
She pulled Xiao Yan's hand away and glared at him angrily.
"You're the one who should be closing your eyes!"
Xiao Yi Xian turned and covered Xiao Yan's eyes, but Xiao Yan pried open a gap between her fingers to peek through.
The girl's cheeks turned peach-red.
"You're still looking right in front of me!"
"Are all men this shameless?"
Xiao Yi Xian pressed down hard with both hands, but Xiao Yan still removed them.
"Xiao Yi Xian, don't misunderstand me!"
"I'm observing the enemy's situation. Know yourself and know your enemy, and only then can you win!"
Hearing Xiao Yan's perfunctory tone, Xiao Yi Xian's little hands trembled with anger.
"Shameless."
"I knew it, Xiao Yan. You're nothing but a lecher!"
"Eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot!"
"If you really want to look..."
"No, no, there's also..."
Xiao Yan grasped her trembling fingertips and slowly lowered them.
"There's also what?"
"There's also me!"
Xiao Yi Xian suddenly raised her head and stared into Xiao Yan's eyes, her shy voice carrying resolve.
"As long as, as long as you want it, I'll give you anything!"
"I only ask that you look at me more, all right?"
Seeing the mist shimmering in Xiao Yi Xian's violet eyes, Xiao Yan's heart softened.
He hurriedly bent down and pulled her into his arms.
"All right, all right, I won't look anymore."
"Trust me. I'll always be by your side."
"Mm."
Xiao Yan had only just soothed Xiao Yi Xian—
When a sudden anomaly erupted from the pool.
Boom!
The Crystal Lotus Platform suddenly exploded.
The Green Lotus Core Flame transformed into a fire dragon and shot into the sky.
Dou Qi surged wildly within Medusa's body, and in an instant, she transformed into a gigantic serpent a hundred zhang long!
Her dark violet scales gleamed as she swallowed the Heavenly Flame in a single gulp!
She soared straight into the clouds!
Rumble!!!
In an instant, the heavens and earth abruptly changed color!
Dark clouds spread like ink through the sky, blanketing the entire area in moments!
Countless lightning serpents slithered through the clouds, exploding with thunder!
Every flash lit up Holy City as brightly as day.
"It's begun!"
Old Yao's phantom suddenly solidified at Xiao Yan's side.
"Kid, seize the opportunity."
"The instant she fails, collect the Heavenly Flame immediately!"
"Don't give the Snake People Clan time to react!"
The giant serpent churned through the sky, her scales turning scarlet after only a few breaths!
The seven-colored reflections on her scales intertwined with the green flames, forming a cocoon of light.
A rain of blood fell from the sky, every drop scorching a deep crater into the ground.
"Hiss!"
A shrill cry rang out.
Medusa's true body writhed madly within the flames.
Her hundred-zhang serpent body ignited, plunging into the dark clouds.
A few breaths later, she fell back toward the ground!
The earth swept by her tail tip melted into a swamp of magma.
Suddenly, a clear serpent cry pierced through the clouds. The instant the cocoon of light exploded—
The remains of the hundred-zhang giant serpent turned charred black and crashed to the ground!
All the flames curled back and contracted, becoming a palm-sized Green Lotus Core Flame.
It quietly burned in midair.
Xiao Yan appeared like a ghost at the point of impact. The massive snake body had already become mangled remains.
And amid the ashes lay a tiny unconscious snake.
Its rainbow-like scales were beautiful and dreamlike. The instant his fingertips touched them—
He felt a silky smoothness.
Xiao Yi Xian appeared beside him, and Xiao Yan quickly handed the little snake to her.
"Watch her for now. If you have any questions, ask later."
The instant his words fell, the four wings on Xiao Yan's back beat fiercely!
He transformed into a streak of Flowing Fire and, in an instant, flew toward the Green Lotus Core Flame burning in the air.
Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped the flames.
The Heavenly Flame that had tortured Medusa beyond endurance—
Was now as obedient in Xiao Yan's hand as a child meeting his father.
It merged into Xiao Yan's body with extraordinary ease.
Just as Xiao Yan finished all this, a heart-rending wail rose from outside Holy City!
It seemed the Snake People Clan had mistaken it for their Queen failing her advancement.
But even without Medusa personally joining the battlefield, Gu He's side would ultimately lose.
After all, the leaders of the eight major tribes and merely one or two scattered Snake People Clan Dou Wangs—
Had already held them at a stalemate for so long.
Once the elders hidden behind the scenes by the Snake People Clan emerged, their defeat would be inevitable.
But that was no longer Xiao Yan's concern. He needed to leave first.
Afterward, he would go to Yun Yun and collect the reward from before.
After securing the Heavenly Flame, Xiao Yan did not rush to refine it!
He merely spread his four wings and wrapped an arm around Xiao Yi Xian.
Then he sped toward the southeast!
Behind him, an ice-blue streak of light followed closely!
"Elder Hai, keep up!"
Xiao Yan was extremely fast, but just as he was about to leave the temple grounds—
He ran into someone unexpected.
Xiao Yan stopped in midair and frowned slightly.
"Gu He!"
Before you continue