Hai Bo Dong's Astonishment

Upon hearing the Queen's words, the Snake People Clan experts froze where they stood, scarcely believing their own ears.

Going to the Jia Ma Empire to break through to Dou Zong?

And with this human before them?

Yue Mei stepped forward, her willow brows raised, and gave a deep bow. Her voice carried a trace of gravity as she said, "Your Majesty, isn't this matter a little too hasty? This human has yet to break through to Dou Zong himself. How could he possibly help Your Majesty break through...?"

The other snake people nodded in succession, expressing their confusion.

Medusa Queen herself was unwilling to believe Lin Che's one-sided words, but breaking through to Dou Zong and leading the Snake People Clan toward a better future had been her lifelong wish.

But if Lin Che truly had a chance of helping her break through to Dou Zong, wouldn't she be missing her only opportunity?

Moreover, he possessed the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. No matter what, she did not want to let such a good opportunity slip away.

"This is This Queen's only chance to break through to Dou Zong... This Queen cannot miss it." Medusa Queen lowered her head slightly and looked at the free-spirited Lin Che. A faint curve lifted at the corners of her red lips.

In an instant, her exquisite face became brimming with seductive charm. Every frown and smile of hers left several of the Snake People Clan's eight great leaders momentarily dazed.

Worthy of being Her Majesty the Queen. She truly was breathtakingly beautiful.

Medusa Queen blinked her long eyelashes, turned to Elder Yin Shi beside her, and transmitted her voice, "This man's strength is extraordinary, comparable to a Dou Zong expert. If anything happens to This Queen, follow the arrangements of the four elders. Do not rashly attack the Jia Ma Empire."

Elder Yin Shi nodded heavily. He had watched Her Majesty the Queen grow up, and no one understood her feelings better than he did. In order to lead the Snake People Clan toward a better future, Her Majesty had paid far too great a price.

"Let's go." Medusa Queen raised her head and looked at Lin Che. Her slender fingers brushed aside the loose strands of hair before her forehead. Then, summoning her blood-red Dou Qi Wings, she shot into the distance.

Lin Che put away his wine gourd, accepted the Snake People Clan's medicinal herbs and some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures from Elder Yin Shi, then vanished from the Snake People Clan settlement alongside Medusa Queen.

Mo Ba Si climbed to his feet unwillingly and said, "First Elder, are we really just letting this human leave the Snake People Clan?"

Elder Yin Shi answered coldly, "Her Majesty has said that no one is qualified to speculate on her affairs. Mo Ba Si, you were quite bold just now."

"Do you know that his strength is already infinitely close to Dou Zong? If he had wanted to kill you, you would have been dead long ago."

Elder Yin Shi slammed the staff in his hand forcefully against the ground, then said with a grim expression, "I sentence you to reflect on your mistakes before the Snake Cave for one month. Without my orders, no one is to release you."

Though Mo Ba Si was unwilling, he ultimately nodded. Elder Yin Shi held an extremely high position within the Snake People Clan, so he could only agree.

The other leaders naturally did not dare say anything either. After giving a few instructions, they quietly turned and left.

Before the empty grand hall stood a solitary figure. On his aged face, a relieved smile appeared at this moment.

"Perhaps... Her Majesty truly can become a Dou Zong expert. When that time comes, the Snake People Clan's bitter days will finally be over."

Deep within the boundless Tagor Desert, two figures streaked across the night sky like meteors, sending ripples through the air.

Sitting atop the sword, Lin Che sampled his brewed grape wine and smacked his lips. "Sweet on the tongue, rich in aroma. It's only a shame it hasn't aged long enough, but it's still not bad."

Flecks of surprise shimmered in Medusa Queen's beautiful, faintly violet eyes. "Sword Riding? In the entire Jia Ma Empire, I'm afraid you're the only one capable of it."

"Hehe, using Dou Qi Wings is far too tiring. This is much more relaxing and pleasant. Why not come aboard, Your Majesty? We can chat about life together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Medusa Queen gave a cold snort, turned her gaze away, and ignored Lin Che.

Seeing how cold Medusa Queen was, Lin Che said nothing further. Medusa Queen's aloof temperament was already common knowledge, so he had not truly intended to invite her to chat about life with him.

Above the pitch-black sky, a silver moon hung high. Its faint glow draped the endless Tagor Desert in a veil of silver, making it seem especially mysterious.

After being scorched by the blazing sun, the desert had fallen into coldness and silence in the depths of night.

After an unknown amount of time had passed, Medusa Queen finally could not help asking, "Where are we going? This doesn't seem to be the route out of the desert."

"To meet a friend. You know this friend too."

"A friend?"

Medusa Queen's brows remained furrowed. She had no friends at all in the human world and did not understand what Lin Che meant.

After passing through the depths of the Tagor Desert, the two soon arrived at its border.

As though she had sensed something, Medusa Queen raised her brows and said, "Could the friend you speak of be that old man?"

Images from twenty years ago surfaced in her mind. She would never forget that day, nor would she ever forget who had caused her younger sister's death!

Inside the shop, Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, who had been sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes. Watching the seal on his left hand flicker continuously, a look of horror appeared on his aged face.

"It's her... Why has she left the Snake People Clan?"

Hai Bo Dong's expression turned grave. His withered hands clenched slightly, and the icy mist around him rapidly condensed, finally solidifying into a snow-white ice spear between his palms.

He immediately rushed out of the shop and fixed his gaze on the two figures speeding toward him.

When he saw Lin Che, Hai Bo Dong's face filled with astonishment. "Little Brother Lin Che?"

"Hehe, Elder Hai, it's been a few days. Have you been well?"

Hai Bo Dong stared at the alluring, seductive woman, the corners of his mouth twitching as he gritted his teeth. "Little Brother Lin Che, are you trying to get me killed faster?"

Thick killing intent appeared on Medusa Queen's exquisite face. "Ice Emperor Hai Bodong, one of the Jia Ma Empire's ten greatest experts. Twenty years have passed, and you're still in the desert?!"

Medusa Queen's invisible aura frightened Hai Bo Dong into taking half a step back. What had happened back then had always been his nightmare. He did not dare think of it, yet he could not avoid thinking of it.

But the moment he saw Medusa Queen, memories like scenes from a film flooded his mind. He even saw her shadow in this woman.

After all these years, Hai Bo Dong had never been able to forget the fact that that woman had died in his arms.