Return to the City

"Well, I didn't do much. I just brought a snake out to get some fresh air."

The Seven-Colored Skyswallowing Python crawled out from Chen Mo's sleeve. It first rubbed itself against Chen Mo's thumb, then looked fearfully at the others.

Looking at the Seven-Colored Skyswallowing Python, Gu He and the others sensed a familiar aura from it.

Yun Yun frowned. Recalling the descriptions she had read in ancient texts, a possibility surfaced in her mind. In a grave tone, she said, "Could this Seven-Colored Skyswallowing Python be Queen Medusa?"

Yun Yun hoped to hear the word no from Chen Mo.

However, the result was exactly the opposite. Chen Mo nodded.

At this, Yun Yun, Gu He, and the others all stared at the Seven-Colored Skyswallowing Python in shock.

Then they all drew in sharp breaths.

Queen Medusa had successfully evolved.

After a long while, Yan Shi patted Chen Mo on the arm and gave him a thumbs-up. "Good lord. No wonder the leaders of those Eight Great Tribes hate you so much. You even brought the Snake People Race's queen out with you. That's awesome."

"I can't imagine it. The once-renowned Queen Medusa actually turned into such a cute little thing."

Seeing how adorable the little snake was, Feng Li actually reached out to pat its head. Yet the snake's body instantly stiffened, the flame mark between its brows flickered, and in the next moment, a green flame a hundred times more terrifying than the one used against Yan Ci shot from its mouth.

Fortunately, Feng Li dodged quickly. Only part of his robes was burned, and his body was unharmed.

"This is... a Heavenly Flame!" Gu He exclaimed in horror.

Chen Mo stared at the scene in shock and muttered inwardly, So you were putting on an act around me before.

Feng Li no longer found the little snake cute. His eyes were filled with wariness as he sighed, "As expected of Queen Medusa. Even after becoming such a little thing, she's still this terrifying."

"Old Li, serves you right for being so handsy. You nearly got yourself killed, didn't you?" Not only did Yan Shi show no concern, he burst out laughing.

Feng Li immediately punched Yan Shi, then looked at Gu He and said, "Old He, looks like there's no hope for that Heavenly Flame."

"Yeah." Gu He was somewhat dejected. He had not expected Queen Medusa to not only evolve successfully, but to refine the Heavenly Flame as well.

Gu He no longer dared to set his sights on Medusa, even in her current form.

Everyone had witnessed what had just happened.

"But Queen Medusa is so terrifying. How did you bring her out?" Gu He asked in astonishment.

"Yeah." Even the thick-headed Yan Shi noticed the issue. He looked at Chen Mo, who was teasing the little snake, with utter confusion.

"This little thing volunteered to come with me. Maybe she thought I was more handsome." Naturally, Chen Mo would not admit that he had abducted Medusa.

"Uh..." Yan Shi, whose burly build and appearance had nothing to do with being handsome, could only envy him.

"Let's go first. This is still Snake-People Race territory, after all," Yun Yun suddenly said.

"Mm, Sect Master Yun is right. The Snake-People Race's Great Priest hasn't appeared yet, and that combined Dou Technique is indeed not easy to deal with. We should withdraw first." The others nodded in agreement.

Just as they spread their wings and soared into the sky, Chen Mo looked at them pitifully. "Um, I can't fly."

The Green Beak Eagle he had left tethered at the oasis—whose exact location even Chen Mo had forgotten—had probably long since become snake food.

After saying that, Chen Mo thought Yun Yun would offer to carry him. Who would have thought that Yan Shi would instead put on an expression that said no need to thank me and declare, "That's easy."

He grabbed Chen Mo and tucked him under his arm at the waist before taking off.

This flat-on-his-back style of high-altitude flight left Chen Mo with a face full of black lines.

Desert City.

After several hours of Lingyan Pavilion persuading people with reason, more than half of the mercenary groups and gangs of all sizes in the city had agreed to be absorbed.

It was only a matter of time before they were all brought under its banner.

There had been no resistance either. The strongest members of those mercenary groups were merely Dou Shi; there was not even a Da Dou Shi among them.

Shaluo alone could sweep them all aside.

The tallest restaurant in Desert City.

The rooftop.

A young woman stood by the window. She was elegant and otherworldly, her features radiant. She wore a dark teal brocade dress, simple yet graceful, while her long black hair was pinned up with only a finely carved phoenix-patterned jade hairpin.

Yet at that moment, her beautiful eyes were fixed on the depths of the Tagor Great Desert, where the Snake People Tribe was located. Her brows were laden with deep worry.

Behind her, Shaluo, Xuelan, and the others were all momentarily captivated. Even Xuelan, herself a beautiful woman, felt inferior.

"The Overall Pavilion Master really has it good, to have such a woman worrying herself sick over him," Xuelan sighed.

"Do you think the Overall Pavilion Master will be all right? That's the Snake People Tribe. Their Queen Medusa is a peak Dou Emperor," one subordinate murmured.

"Impossible. The Overall Pavilion Master is incredibly capable. Have you forgotten that battle outside the city?" said a burly man who had been rewarded with two third-tier medicinal pills.

"What are you all talking about? Is the Overall Pavilion Master someone you can discuss?" Shaluo barked. The Overall Pavilion Master's senior sister was right in front of them, yet they still dared to gossip behind her back.

The two men lowered their heads and did not dare utter another word.

Just then.

Outside Desert City, five streaks of light cut through the pitch-black night sky.

Everyone's hearts jolted at the sight.

Dou Qi Wings—five Dou Wangs!

In the tiny Desert City, so many powerful figures had actually been drawn here in the span of a single day.

The five streaks of light ignored the guards at the city gate and flew straight into the city.

As they drew closer, everyone clearly saw that within one of the streaks of light, the Overall Pavilion Master was being supported by someone.

"Sixth Elder, Elder Gu He." Nalan Yanran recognized two of the five figures.

"The Overall Pavilion Master's senior sister knows them? Could it be..."

While Shaluo and the others were still stunned, someone within the streaks of light heard the cry. Upon discovering it was Nalan Yanran, they flew toward the tavern.

The pressure emitted by the Dou Wangs caused the city's residents to poke their heads out and look around, including several mercenary groups that had not yet been absorbed by Lingyan Pavilion.

When they saw the five streaks of light fly directly toward the tavern belonging to Lingyan Pavilion, then land and chat together amiably as though they were familiar with one another, their jaws nearly hit the ground.

Lingyan Pavilion, which had only made a name for itself today, had already become known to everyone. Just what kind of background did it possess to have so many powerful experts?

City Lord's Mansion.

"Someone, hurry and prepare a generous gift. Tomorrow morning, accompany me to pay a visit to Lingyan Pavilion's Pavilion Master."

"Wait. Notify Miss as well. Have her accompany me tomorrow."

"Teacher, Junior Brother, how did you two end up together?" When Nalan Yanran saw the black-robed figure remove their hood and reveal a breathtakingly beautiful face, her mind was filled with questions.

"Could it be that the place Teacher and Elder Gu He were going to was the Snake People Tribe?"

"As for Junior Brother, was it merely a coincidence? Or had he known all along that the place Teacher was heading to was the Snake People Tribe?"