Queen Medusa, Seizing the Heavenly Flame?!

Mo Tie Mercenary Group headquarters hall.

Xiao Ding had his mercenaries lay out a table full of wine and dishes, and the three brothers sat around it.

Xiao Li raised his wine cup and looked at Xiao Chen.

"Third Brother, we haven't seen each other in years. Today, we have to drink our fill."

Xiao Chen raised his cup and clinked it with his.

They drained their cups in one gulp.

Xiao Ding raised his cup as well.

"Third Brother, how has Father been lately?"

"Not bad," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Ding nodded and asked again.

"Has anything major happened in the clan recently?"

Xiao Chen set down his cup and glanced at him.

"Something major? That would be Xiao Yan having his engagement called off."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged looks, their expressions darkening.

They already knew about it.

Although they were in the Tagor Desert, they had always kept track of the Xiao Clan's affairs.

Nalan Yanran had come to cancel the engagement, humiliating Xiao Yan in front of everyone.

The entire Jia Ma Empire was laughing at the Xiao Clan.

"The Nalan Clan has gone too far." Xiao Li gritted his teeth, nearly crushing the wine cup in his hand.

Xiao Ding's expression was equally unpleasant.

"When the old master was still alive, Nalan Jie had to be courteous whenever he saw him."

"Now that the old master is gone, they've turned their backs on us."

Xiao Li fiercely gulped down a mouthful of wine.

"Little Yan must be hurting badly."

Xiao Ding sighed.

"Having an engagement called off is the greatest humiliation for any man."

"Especially in front of so many people."

"Third Brother, Xiao Yan's cultivation..."

"Don't worry. I'm helping him," Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Ding was overjoyed upon hearing that.

Third Brother was now a Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak expert, perhaps even stronger.

With him helping Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan's strength certainly would not be lacking.

"Third Brother, thank you for your trouble," Xiao Ding said.

Xiao Chen waved his hand.

Xiao Li poured Xiao Chen another cup of wine, his face full of smiles.

"Big Brother, with Third Brother in our Xiao Clan, our rise is only a matter of time."

Xiao Ding nodded, his eyes filled with excitement.

"Yes, with Third Brother here."

Xiao Li looked at Xiao Chen, becoming more satisfied the longer he looked.

"Third Brother, you're at least a Nine-Star Dou Emperor Peak expert, right?"

"There are only a handful in the entire Jia Ma Empire who could defeat you."

"With an expert like you in our Xiao Clan, who would dare look down on us in the future?"

Xiao Ding also looked at Xiao Chen, his eyes full of gratification.

"Third Brother, you are the pride of our Xiao Clan."

Xiao Chen lifted his wine cup but said nothing.

Xiao Li spoke again.

"Third Brother, you're searching for the Heavenly Flame to help Little Yan too, right?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Xiao Li sighed with feeling.

"Third Brother, there's really nothing you wouldn't do for Little Yan."

"Even something as precious as a Heavenly Flame, you're thinking of Little Yan."

Xiao Ding looked at Xiao Chen, his heart filled with emotion.

Third Brother had truly grown up.

Not only was he powerful, he also took such good care of Little Yan.

Xiao Chen set down his wine cup, his gaze falling on a figure in the corner.

Qing Lin.

She stood in the corner with her head lowered, twisting her hands together, looking somewhat uneasy.

Xiao Chen looked at her and spoke.

"Come here."

Qing Lin froze for a moment, then raised her head to look at Xiao Chen.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, were you calling me?"

Xiao Chen nodded.

Qing Lin hurried over and stopped in front of him.

"Young Master Xiao Chen, what are your orders?"

Xiao Chen looked at her and said calmly.

"Come with me later to search for the Heavenly Flame. You have the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."

"The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils can sense the presence of snake-type magical beasts."

"The Green Lotus Core Flame is guarded by the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake."

Deep within the Tagor Desert.

The blazing sun hung overhead, while yellow sand filled the sky.

Xiao Chen walked at the front, with Xiao Yi Xian following behind him.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li walked on either side, protecting Qing Lin in the middle.

Qing Lin closed her eyes.

An invisible ripple spread from her body, radiating in all directions.

A moment later, Qing Lin opened her eyes and pointed southeast.

"Over there."

Xiao Chen nodded and headed in that direction.

After traveling for about an hour, Qing Lin stopped.

"It's nearby."

Xiao Chen looked around.

This was a stretch of flat sand, no different from any other part of the desert.

Yet he could sense a faint trace of heat beneath the ground.

"Are you sure?" Xiao Chen asked.

Qing Lin nodded. "I'm sure."

"There's something underground, and it's very strong."

Xiao Chen said no more. He circulated the Dou Qi within him and struck the ground with his palm.

Boom.

The sand exploded into a massive pit, revealing the rock layer beneath.

There was a crack in the rock layer, and waves of scorching heat poured from it.

Xiao Chen stared at the crack, a glint flashing through his eyes.

This was the place.

At the same time, in the Snake-People Tribe settlement.

Queen Medusa sat upon her throne in the great hall.

She wore a long red dress that accentuated her seductive figure and peerless beauty.

Her snake-like pupils glimmered with a faint light, and a powerful aura radiated from her entire body.

A Dou Emperor Peak expert.

The queen of the Snake-People Tribe.

At that moment, her brows were slightly furrowed, and a hint of irritation showed on her face.

Dou Emperor Peak.

She had been stuck at this bottleneck for far too long.

She had yet to break through to the Dou Zong realm.

Queen Medusa clenched her fists, her heart full of unwillingness.

Just then, a snake-person entered from outside.

"Your Majesty."

Queen Medusa raised her head and looked at him.

"What is it?"

The snake-person dropped to one knee and lowered his head.

"Your Majesty, several humans have been discovered deep in the desert."

"They were acting suspiciously there. We don't know what they're up to."

Queen Medusa frowned upon hearing this.

"Several humans? What are they doing?"

"They seem to be searching for something," the snake-person said.

Queen Medusa's expression darkened.

Searching for something?

What in the Tagor Desert could possibly be worth humans searching for?

The Green Lotus Core Flame.

Those words instantly surfaced in her mind.

It was no secret that the Green Lotus Core Flame was in the Tagor Desert.

But after all these years, she had never found any trace of it.

Could those humans have found it?

Queen Medusa rose to her feet, a cold glint flashing through her eyes.

"Where are they?"

"Deep in the desert, toward the southeast," the snake-person said.

Queen Medusa said nothing and strode out of the great hall.

The Green Lotus Core Flame was something the Snake-People Tribe had sought for many years, and it was also the key to her advancement into the Dou Zong realm.

She could not let humans beat her to it.

Deep in the desert.

Xiao Chen stood before the crack, feeling the heat pouring from within.

He could sense that there was something beneath it.

And it was very powerful.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood behind him, both wearing grave expressions.

"Third Brother, is the Heavenly Flame down there?" Xiao Li asked.

Xiao Chen was about to speak when his brows suddenly furrowed.

He raised his head and looked toward the distant sky.

A powerful aura was approaching from that direction.

That aura was extremely powerful and carried an overwhelming pressure.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sensed it too, and their expressions changed drastically.

"This is..."

Before he could finish, a red figure flew in from the horizon.

It was a woman clad in a long red dress, with a seductive figure and peerless beauty.

Her snake-like pupils glimmered with a faint light, and a terrifying aura radiated from her entire body.

Queen Medusa.

A Dou Emperor Peak expert.

She landed on the sand and looked at Xiao Chen and the others, her eyes filled with coldness.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's faces instantly turned pale.

Queen Medusa.

The queen of the Snake-People Tribe.

A Dou Emperor Peak expert.

Why was she here? Was she after the Heavenly Flame too?