The Enchanting Serpent Yue Mei

Shi-Mo City, City Lord's Mansion.

Shi Jian was currently seeking advice from Hai Bodong on cultivation and breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm when he suddenly sensed a massive pressure emanating from the direction where Xiao Jie was in seclusion. Shi Jian and Hai Bodong stood up instantly, exchanged a glance, and Shi Jian was the first to speak.

"It seems Brother Xiao has successfully broken through. Brother Hai, shall we go and take a look?"

"Agreed," Hai Bodong nodded and said.

With that, the two walked out of the mansion, leaped into the sky, and flew toward the direction of Xiao Jie's seclusion.

At this moment, Xiao Jie had just stepped out of the secret chamber, and Shi Jian and Hai Bodong arrived just as he did. Xiao Jie addressed them both.

"Brother Hai, Brother Shi, I intend to head into the depths of the Tager Desert to spar with Medusa. Please look after Qing Lin for me for the time being; I should be back soon."

"Brother Xiao, if you merely wish to spar, Hai Bodong and I would be excellent choices. It is far too risky for you to venture into the depths of the Tager Desert alone. Having guarded Shi-Mo City for many years, I am well aware of the strength of the eight great tribes of the Snake-People. Not to mention that the Snake-People have Queen Medusa, a powerhouse at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, their Great Elder and Great Commander are also Dou Emperors. Each of the other seven tribes has at least one Dou King guarding them. While your strength is formidable, if you go alone, you will likely be pinned down by Queen Medusa and then surrounded by the experts of the other eight tribes. You must be cautious," Shi Jian warned Xiao Jie.

"City Lord Shi is right. That woman Medusa is terrifyingly strong; my own cultivation was sealed by her, which is why I have been stuck in this Tager Desert for decades. Moreover, the Snake-People tribes are incredibly united. If you are held up by Medusa, the other eight tribes will rush to the Snake-People Holy City in the shortest possible time. If their leaders join forces to execute their combined battle skill, the Snake Seal, even a peak Dou Emperor would likely be trapped. The more people who execute the Snake Seal, the greater the power; it can be performed by up to nine people. Nine Dou Kings working together can entangle a peak Dou Emperor for a short time. If you replace those Dou Kings with Dou Emperors, then... you really should reconsider," Hai Bodong said gravely. He did not want a promising alchemist he had just befriended to be buried at the hands of the Snake-People.

"Hehe, Brother Shi, Brother Hai, please rest assured. I value my life far more than you think; why would I make a joke of it? When I was a seven-star Dou King, I could exchange dozens of blows with the overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, wound it, and then depart leisurely. Now that I am a four-star peak Dou Emperor, I consider myself hard to match beneath the Dou Ancestor realm, which is why I wish to spar with Queen Medusa. However, what you say is not wrong; the moment the other Dou Emperors and Dou Kings of the Snake-People arrive, I will leave immediately. With my movement techniques, even an ordinary Dou Ancestor would find it impossible to catch me, so please be at ease," Xiao Jie said with a smile.

Xiao Jie had a clear understanding of his own strength. If he were to get serious, relying on the triple Heavenly Fire Three-Mysterious Transformation, the Flame Mantra, his numerous Earth-tier battle skills, and the Mysterious Yellow Lotus Core Flame, even a low-tier Dou Ancestor would likely meet their end at his hands. His trip to the Snake-People Holy City was threefold: first, he was curious about the renowned Queen Medusa; second, he wanted to test his strength and the newly learned Heaven-Burning Fist; and third, he wanted to see what was so different about the Snake-People Holy City, which was considered a forbidden zone for humans.

"Since Brother Xiao insists, I will say no more. I shall accompany you on this trip. Decades ago, I had my cultivation sealed by Medusa; today, I will follow you to settle the score and give their Dou Kings and Dou Emperors some trouble!"

Seeing that he could not dissuade Xiao Jie, Hai Bodong decided to go with him. Firstly, he was half-convinced by Xiao Jie's confidence—after all, no one would recklessly challenge an opponent they couldn't beat unless they were in a desperate situation. Secondly, he wanted to vent the frustration of having been sealed for decades.

"I will go as well. Since both brothers are not afraid, I shall risk my life to accompany you. I want to witness Brother Xiao's fighting prowess and perhaps contribute a little effort myself."

Seeing Hai Bodong's decision to accompany Xiao Jie to the Snake-People Holy City, Shi Jian was unwilling to be left behind. He also did not believe anyone would joke with their own life, so he decided to treat it as a gamble. If he returned safely, he would have truly established a connection with this high-level alchemist, paving the way for a smooth future.

"Very well. Since both brothers are willing to take this risk with me, let us go together. If you need any pills refined in the future, feel free to come to me; I will prioritize your requests."

Hearing their desire to join him, Xiao Jie understood their motives, but he did not mind. In the adult world, pure friendships were rare; there were more interests and networks, and as an alchemist, he was the source of this network. Thus, he made them this promise.

"What are you saying, Brother Xiao? We hit it off immediately; what is a little help like this?"

"Shi Jian is right. Why don't we set off now? I can't wait to beat up those Snake-People Dou Kings and Dou Emperors again."

"Good! Then let us depart. The sooner we go, the sooner we return."

After saying this, Xiao Jie bent his knees slightly and launched himself into the sky. His Dou Qi wings unfurled, and he flew toward the depths of the Tager Desert in the distance.

Seeing this, Hai Bodong and Shi Jian also surged into the sky, their own Dou Qi wings manifesting as they quickly followed Xiao Jie.

An hour later, at a Snake-People tribe, a snake-woman with a cyan tail and a fiery figure sensed three massive energies rushing toward the Snake-People Holy City deep in the desert. She hurriedly rushed out of her mansion and looked toward the three auras that had already vanished from sight.

"I wonder which ignorant Dou Emperor dares to intrude upon our Snake-People Holy City. They are simply courting death."

The speaker was none other than that fiery and sexy snake-woman. Her cyan tail swayed slightly, releasing a wild allure. She had a beautiful face, fair skin, and a head of emerald-green hair that hung straight down to her hips. Above her tail, her slender, supple waist twisted with the movement of her tail. Even from behind, the sight was enough to make one's blood boil. On her slender waist, her proud breasts were covered by only a palm-sized piece of cloth, leaving most of her skin exposed to the sunlight. Yet, no one around dared to admire this beautiful sight, which showed just how much authority she commanded.

"Lady Yue Mei, do we need to go to the Holy City to provide support?" a guard at the Dou Grandmaster level asked.

"No, you continue to keep watch and patrol here. My presence at the Holy City is enough. A mere two Dou Emperors and one Dou King could never be a match for our Snake-People."

Yue Mei waved her hand at the guard behind her, and then her Dou Qi wings manifested, and she flew toward the Snake-People Holy City deep in the desert.

This woman was one of the leaders of the eight great tribes of the Snake-People, the snake-woman Yue Mei!