Exchange

Within the oasis, clouds and mist swirled, lending it a hazy beauty. Only those who came here knew that the trees had been snapped in half by the wind, broken branches and fallen leaves covered the ground, and the once-clear lake had frozen into an icy mirror. Though it was an oasis in the desert, it was now bone-chillingly cold.

All of this had naturally been caused by the plundering effect of Liu Xi's Nine Nether Spirit Flame Art during the battle. After driving Yue Mei's Snake Person guards back, Liu Xi lowered his head to glance at Yue Mei, who was too weak to rise after her Dou Qi had been sealed. Smiling, he said, "Now we'll see when your guards come to exchange for you!"

Looking at the tall, smiling Liu Xi, Yue Mei wished she could release snakes to bite him to death. When had I, Yue Mei, ever suffered such humiliation? To be taken hostage and threatened by a human... If Her Majesty the Queen and the others find out, how will I ever face them?

Seeing that Yue Mei was badly injured and pale from having lost her Dou Qi, Liu Xi bent down, pulled her up, slung her over his shoulder, and walked toward Qing Lin.

Yue Mei struggled incessantly after being hoisted up, but without her strength, her fists landing on Liu Xi did nothing at all. She cursed without pause, "Let me go! What are you trying to do? Don't think you can make me submit to you!"

Seeing Liu Xi approach, Qing Lin hurriedly stepped out from behind Ling Shuang.

"Young Master."

Liu Xi set Yue Mei on the ground, took out a bottle of pills, and handed it to Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, keep an eye on her. Don't let her die just like that—I still have use for her!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Seeing Qing Lin emerge from behind Ling Shuang and struggle somewhat with the freezing surroundings, Liu Xi gave it some thought. A Green Flame appeared in his hand, no longer plundering heat, and the temperature around them rapidly recovered.

Elsewhere, Yue Xing, the guard captain worried about Yue Mei's safety, was racing desperately toward the Charm Snake Tribe.

What should have been an hour-long journey took Yue Xing only half an hour, and she could already see the city where the Charm Snake Tribe was located.

At the city gates, a rugged male Snake Person stationed as a guard saw Yue Xing return. A fawning smile instantly appeared on his face as he stepped forward and said, "Captain Yue Xing, you're back?"

With an anxious expression, Yue Xing directly lashed the Dou Master Snake Person away with her whip and roared, "Get out of my way! I have something important to report to the elder!"

Yue Xing was a Da Dou Shi herself and also the captain of Commander Yue Mei's personal guards, giving her considerable status within the Charm Snake Tribe. Since she had spoken and looked so anxious, naturally no fool dared to obstruct her.

After passing through the city gates, the people who saw Yue Xing on the streets all moved aside. She rushed all the way to a somewhat imposing residence and, after announcing herself, was quickly brought before an elderly Snake Person.

The old woman's white hair was neatly groomed, and a faint smile rested on her wrinkled face. At first glance, she looked like an ordinary old lady. Watching Yue Xing run in frantically, she said unhurriedly, "Yue Xing, why have you come here instead of guarding Yue Mei?"

Seeing this old woman was like finding a pillar of support. Panting heavily, Yue Xing said anxiously, "Elder Yue Ying, Lady Yue Mei was captured by a human Dou Wang! That human demands that we bring Sand Mandara to exchange for her!"

Yue Ying's previously gentle face changed drastically. Looking at Yue Xing, she asked urgently, "What? How could a human Dou Wang have appeared in our territory? What exactly happened? Tell me everything in detail!"

Yue Xing hurriedly recounted everything that had happened that day to Elder Yue Ying exactly as it had occurred. Afterward, she said again, "Elder, we must hurry and save Lady Yue Mei!"

But wisdom flickered in Yue Ying's eyes as she rebuked Yue Xing, "You fool! He is a Dou Wang. If he goes back on his word, who among us can stop him?"

Yue Xing had only lost her head in panic. Once she came to her senses, she asked, "Elder, what do we do now?"

Yue Ying drew a deep breath and slowly said, "Notify the Queen. We must make two preparations. If he turns hostile, then we need not be courteous either!"

Only then did Yue Xing flatter her, saying, "Elder, you are wise!"

Sand Mandara was also a precious item to the Snake People Race. Only the Holy City where Queen Medusa resided had cultivated it before. It could help the Snake People Race harmonize with the Serpentine Magical Beast souls within their bodies and improve their cultivation aptitude. Only tribespeople who had rendered service to the Snake People Race would receive Sand Mandara from Queen Medusa as a reward. But compared to a true Dou Wang, Sand Mandara was nothing.

Yue Ying herself was only a high-level Dou Ling, and old age had left her frail. She could not support a large Snake Person Tribe, so she could not let go of any opportunity to save Yue Mei.

On one hand, she retrieved a Sand Mandara from the tribe's treasury. On the other, she used the secret arts of the Snake People Race to notify Queen Medusa. As expected, the Queen was enraged. She then set off alone and arrived at the Charm Snake Tribe that very night.

After learning the full details and Yue Ying's plan, Queen Medusa concealed herself in the shadows first. Yue Ying and Yue Xing would use the Sand Mandara to exchange for Yue Mei, and once Yue Mei's safety was confirmed, Queen Medusa would deal with the human who had dared provoke the Snake People Race. To preserve one of the few Dou Wangs in her tribe, Medusa agreed to the plan.

The next day.

Before dawn had fully broken, Yue Ying brought the Sand Mandara and, led by Yue Xing, headed for the oasis. This matter was hardly honorable, so after issuing a gag order to the Snake Person guards who knew about it yesterday, Yue Ying went to the oasis with only Yue Xing.

Medusa hid behind the two of them, waiting until the final moment to reveal herself. In a battle between Dou Wangs and above, those below the Dou Wang realm could not interfere at all, and Medusa had absolute confidence in her strength.

Back at the oasis, a night had passed. Under Qing Lin's care, the severely injured Yue Mei had regained the ability to move freely. However, whenever she tried to mobilize the Dou Qi within her body, she sensed that her Dantian seemed to be covered by a green curtain of light. At that moment, she was no different from an ordinary mortal.

Liu Xi sat cross-legged atop a rock, releasing his soul perception to check whether anyone else was approaching. At a certain moment, Liu Xi opened his starry, profound eyes and looked at Yue Mei with a faint smile. "Look, the people here to exchange for you have arrived!"

Before long, Yue Xing arrived with Yue Ying. When they saw that Yue Mei was still unharmed, both of them breathed a sigh of relief. Yue Ying stepped forward and said to Liu Xi with slight respect, "Honorable Dou Wang, I am Yue Ying, an elder of the Charm Snake Tribe. I have brought the Sand Mandara as agreed. Could you release our Commander Yue Mei?"

Liu Xi gave the shrewd old Snake Person a deep look. She could be so respectful even toward a human; she was someone who knew when to yield and when to stand firm. He said calmly, "Of course. Where is what I asked for?"

Yue Ying's gaze flickered as she continued humbly, "Once I confirm that Lady Yue Mei is safe, I will naturally hand it over to you. After all, with our strength, we cannot resist you, can we?"

Liu Xi waved his hand indifferently, signaling that Yue Mei could leave. But when Yue Mei reached the space between Liu Xi and Yue Ying, she turned to Liu Xi and gritted her teeth. "If you're letting me go, then remove the seal on me!"

Liu Xi explained casually, "Your elder only wanted to confirm that you were safe. She never said she needed to confirm whether your strength remained! Hurry up. Once your safety is confirmed, give me the Sand Mandara!"

"You—"

Yue Ying stopped Yue Mei from saying anything further. She then took out a Wooden Box from her Storage Ring and opened it. Inside was a twisting, coiling plant that resembled a yellow serpent curled into a ball. At its top was a raised snake head, and atop that head protruded a fist-sized tumor.

After showing it to Liu Xi, she said, "This is the Sand Mandara you requested. Once you remove the seal from Commander Yue Mei, I will hand it over. You would do best not to entertain thoughts of snatching it by force. Though you are a Dou Wang, I can still destroy it before you act."

Liu Xi narrowed his eyes, and the aura around him became increasingly dangerous, as though terrifying power might erupt at any moment. He said in a low voice, "You dare threaten me? You keep making demands before me again and again. Do you really think I don't dare act?"

Yue Ying remained neither servile nor overbearing. "Naturally, I would not dare. But this Sand Mandara is exceedingly precious. If it is destroyed, only the Holy City where the Queen resides will have it. Would you dare go to the Holy City?"

As she spoke, Yue Ying made as if to destroy the Sand Mandara.

Liu Xi sneered. "You really are an old fox. Every word you say presses against my limits. Put the box on the ground, and I'll remove the seal!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Ying inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. She immediately placed the box on the ground before her, close enough that she could destroy it at any time.

After seeing this, Liu Xi extended his slender hands and formed the Unsealing Seal.

"Unseal!"

Finally sensing the Dou Qi within her body once more, Yue Mei unleashed her Dou Wang power without restraint and immediately moved to fight Liu Xi to the death.

But Yue Ying reacted quickly and stopped her, gripping Yue Mei's arm tightly. She said only one word.

"Go!"

Though Yue Mei felt stifled and unwilling, she still had to respect an elder of her tribe. She could only let Yue Ying drag her away quickly.

Liu Xi watched their retreating figures and could not be bothered to chase them. The only thing he cared about was the Sand Mandara. He stepped forward, picked up the box, and began examining it.

"Mm, the medicinal herb has been preserved well. Its medicinal potency is intact. It's genuine."

Just as Liu Xi put away the Sand Mandara, an overwhelming killing intent swept over him. Sensing that killing intent, even Liu Xi could not help drawing in a cold breath. Qing Lin, who had been following behind him, turned pale as well.

In the sky, a noble and magnificent figure slowly appeared. Her body was graceful, her features exquisite, like the most perfect jade sculpture carved by heaven itself. Her eyes carried the cold indifference of one who looked down upon all living things and the domineering aura of one who ruled alone. Together with the purple Snake Tail swaying faintly beneath her, everything revealed her identity as Queen Medusa. Her cold voice slowly rang out.

"Human, have you decided how you wish to die?"

Liu Xi first bent down and picked up Qing Lin, whose little face was pale, before raising his head to look at Queen Medusa in the sky. His eyes were filled with amazement. It was not merely her figure and beauty—her empress-like bearing in particular stirred an uncontrollable urge to defile her.

A desire for possession rose in Liu Xi's heart. His gaze grew somewhat heated as he said, "I haven't decided that. I was instead wondering how I might win the favor of Queen Medusa, whose fierce reputation and beauty are renowned throughout the Northwest Continent!"

Upon hearing this, Medusa gave a light shout. "Then I'll send you to your death!"

She immediately extended a slender jade finger, and terrifying purple energy condensed there. In an instant, wind and clouds churned between heaven and earth as the Heaven and Earth Energy throughout the entire area was drawn toward her fingertip.

When the energy gathered to its limit, a terrifying purple beam shot toward Liu Xi and easily pierced through his body before plunging into the ground.

Yet not a drop of blood spilled. Liu Xi's figure gradually faded away, and his final voice drifted out.

"We will meet again!"

A trace of astonishment flashed through Medusa's cold eyes. Her figure flickered, and she appeared where Liu Xi had originally been standing.

"He escaped. But this aura... there can be no mistake. It is a Heavenly Flame. Yes, we will meet again. Next time, I will definitely kill you!"