Shi-Mo City, City Lord's Mansion.
Shi Jian was seeking Hai Bodong's advice on cultivation and breaking through to the Dou Emperor realm when he suddenly sensed an immense pressure coming from the direction where Xiao Jie was in seclusion. Shi Jian and Hai Bodong immediately rose to their feet and exchanged a glance before Shi Jian spoke first.
"It seems Brother Xiao has successfully broken through. Brother Hai, shall we go take a look?"
"Alright." Hai Bodong nodded.
With that, the two left the mansion, leaped into the sky, and flew toward the place where Xiao Jie was in seclusion.
Xiao Jie had just emerged from the secret chamber when Shi Jian and Hai Bodong arrived. Xiao Jie said to them,
"Brother Hai, Brother Shi, I intend to head deep into the Tager Desert and spar with Medusa. Please look after Qing Lin for the time being. I should be back soon."
"Brother Xiao, if you simply wish to find someone to spar with, Senior Hai Bodong and I would both be good choices. Going alone into the depths of the Tager Desert is far too dangerous. I have guarded Shi-Mo City for many years and know full well the strength of the Snake-People Tribe's eight major tribes. Not only does the Snake-People Tribe have Queen Medusa, a peak Dou Emperor expert, but their First Elder and Commander-in-Chief are also Dou Emperors. Each of the other seven major tribes has at least one Dou Wang holding the fort. Though you are powerful, if you venture alone into the depths of the Tager Desert, Queen Medusa may hold you back until the experts of the other eight tribes arrive and trap you there. You must consider this carefully," Shi Jian advised Xiao Jie.
"City Lord Shi Jian is right. That woman Medusa is far too strong. My cultivation was sealed by her, which is why I have remained in the Tager Desert all these decades. Moreover, the Snake-People tribes are extremely united. If Medusa holds you up, the other eight major tribes will reach the Snake-People Holy City as quickly as possible. By then, the leaders of those eight tribes may join forces to unleash the Snake-People Tribe's combined Dou Technique, the Snake Seal. Even peak Dou Emperor experts may be forced to stay behind. The more people who cast the Snake Seal together, the stronger it becomes. At most, nine people can cast it at once. Nine Dou Wang experts casting it together can entangle a peak Dou Emperor for a short time. If those Dou Wangs were replaced by Dou Emperors, then... So you should think this over carefully," Hai Bodong said gravely. He did not want such a promising alchemist, whom he had only just befriended, to perish at the hands of the Snake-People Tribe.
"Heh heh, Brother Shi, Brother Hai, rest assured. I value my life far more than you think. How could I joke with it? Back when I was a Seven-Star Dou Wang, I exchanged dozens of moves with the Amethyst Winged Lion King, overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, wounded it, and then left calmly. Now, I am already at the peak of the Four-Star Dou Emperor realm. I dare say that beneath the Dou Zong realm, I have few equals. That is why I wish to spar with Queen Medusa. Still, you are right. Once the other Dou Emperors and Dou Wangs of the Snake-People Tribe arrive, I will leave immediately. With my movement Dou Technique, even an ordinary Dou Zong would be unable to catch me. So, rest easy," Xiao Jie said with a smile.
Xiao Jie had a clear understanding of his own strength. If he truly went all out, then with the threefold Heavenly Fire Three-Mysterious Transformation, the Flame Mantra, his many Earth-tier Dou Techniques, and the Mysterious Yellow Lotus Core Flame, even a low-level Dou Zong would likely meet their end at his hands. His reasons for heading to the Snake-People Holy City this time were, first, his curiosity about the famously beautiful Queen Medusa; second, to test his own strength and the Heaven-Burning Fist he had just learned; and third, to see what was so different about the Snake-People Holy City, a place comparable to a forbidden zone for humans.
"Since you insist, Brother Xiao, I will say no more. Then I shall accompany you on this trip. Decades ago, Medusa sealed my cultivation. Today, I will go with you and recover a little face by causing trouble for their Dou Wangs and Dou Emperors!"
Seeing that he could not dissuade Xiao Jie, Hai Bodong decided to accompany him. First, seeing Xiao Jie's confidence, he believed him halfway. After all, no one would recklessly clash with an opponent they could not defeat unless driven into a corner. Second, he wanted to vent the resentment he had built up over the decades his cultivation had been sealed.
"I'll go as well. Since neither of you fears this, I'll risk my life to accompany you gentlemen. I can witness Brother Xiao's battle prowess and perhaps offer some help."
Seeing Hai Bodong prepare to accompany Xiao Jie into the depths of the Tager Desert, to the Snake-People Holy City, Shi Jian refused to be outdone. He too did not believe anyone would joke with their own life. He would treat it as a gamble. As long as they returned safely this time, he would truly be connected to this high-tier alchemist, and his future would be smooth sailing.
"Good. Since you two are willing to take this risk with me, then let us go together. If you ever need pills refined in the future, come to me. I will give your requests priority."
Hearing that the two wished to go with him, Xiao Jie understood their thoughts. However, he did not mind. In the adult world, there was rarely pure friendship; there were more often interests and networks. As an alchemist, he himself was the source of such a network, so he made them this promise.
"Brother Xiao, what are you saying? We hit it off at first sight. What does such a small favor amount to?"
"Shi Jian is right. Why don't we set off now? I can hardly wait to beat up those Snake-People Dou Wangs and Dou Emperors again."
"Good! Let's depart, then. The sooner we go, the sooner we return."
After speaking, Xiao Jie bent his knees slightly and shot into the sky. The Dou Qi wings on his back unfolded as he flew toward the depths of the distant Tager Desert.
Seeing this, Hai Bodong and Shi Jian also shot into the sky. Dou Qi wings appeared behind them as they swiftly followed Xiao Jie.
An hour later, in a Snake-People tribe, a Snake-People woman with an azure serpent tail and a voluptuous figure sensed three immense auras rushing toward the Snake-People Holy City deep in the desert. She hurried out of her residence and looked toward the three auras, which had already vanished from sight.
"I wonder which foolhardy Dou Emperors dare trespass into my Snake-People Holy City. They are simply courting death."
The speaker was that voluptuous and alluring Snake-People woman. Her azure tail swayed gently, giving off a wild, seductive charm. Her face was gorgeous, her skin fair and tender, while her long emerald-green hair fell straight to her hips. Above those hips, her slender waist, so narrow it could barely be grasped in one hand, twisted with the movement of her snake tail. Even from behind, she was enough to make one's blood race. Above that slender waist, her proud breasts were covered only by palm-sized strips of cloth, leaving most of her skin exposed beneath the sunlight. Yet no one nearby dared admire such a sight, showing just how imposing her authority was.
"Lady Yue Mei, should we go to the Holy City and provide support?" a guard at the Da Dou Shi level asked.
"No need. Continue guarding and patrolling here. I alone am enough to go to the Holy City. Two Dou Emperors and one Dou Wang are no match for our Snake-People Tribe."
Yue Mei waved dismissively at the guards behind her. Then Dou Qi wings immediately appeared on her back, and she flew toward the Snake-People Holy City deep in the desert.
This woman was one of the leaders of the Snake-People Tribe's eight major tribes: the Snake Woman, Yue Mei!
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