Old Tales of the Snake-Person Tribe

"Die?"

When the name Die left the lips of Yun Zimo, Hai Bodong's withered aura jolted, and a glimmer of life finally returned to his frost-bitten face.

Yun Zimo had rushed back from the Black-Corner Region only to find that Gu He and a few elders were the only ones guarding the Snake-Person Tribe; Yun Shan had already returned to the Misty Cloud Sect, seemingly having received some news.

Knowing that the gears of fate had already begun to turn, Yun Zimo finally decided to hesitate no longer.

He immediately began questioning Queen Medusa about her past with Hai Bodong. As expected, the Queen flew into a rage, and after the two clashed, Yun Zimo ultimately proved no match for her.

Yet, once she had calmed down, Queen Medusa revealed the truth of what happened back then.

"Hmm, Medusa says that after Die unfortunately perished, she used a secret technique to seal her within the temple. However, Die's essence and spirit were extinguished; her soul was locked away, making it impossible for her to ever wake again."

The spirit Hai Bodong had just managed to muster withered once more. As he lowered his head, his white hair swaying, his eyes were filled with a profound, deathly stillness.

"Unless..."

Yun Zimo spoke up again.

"Unless what?"

Hai Bodong snapped his head up, his gaze burning as he stared at Yun Zimo.

"Unless Medusa can undergo soul-atavism to become a Heaven-Swallowing Python, condensing a body of pure soul power as a Heaven-Swallowing Python. Only then could her essence, energy, and spirit be made whole again. At that point, there is a certain chance..."

"Atavism?!"

Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan, and Yao Lao shouted in unison.

Realizing his lack of composure, Xiao Yan gave a sheepish grin and retreated to the side, quietly playing the role of a spectator.

"When Queen Medusa was born, she used a secret technique to fuse with the soul of a companion Purple Nether Flame Snake. The superposition of these two innate potentials allowed her to reach the Dou Emperor realm at a terrifying speed and ascend straight to its peak!"

"But upon reaching the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, the bloodline shackles of the Purple Nether Flame Snake also locked away her hope of breaking through to the Dou Ancestor realm."

"And in the ancestral teachings passed down for countless years within the Snake-Person Tribe, it is mentioned that a Queen Medusa who reaches the peak of the Dou Emperor realm faces two choices."

"Take a husband and bear children, successfully leaving behind a bloodline to cultivate the next Queen Medusa!"

"Or, burn the bridges and gamble everything to produce a Dou Ancestor ancestor with limitless potential!"

According to Medusa's account, the ancestors of the Snake-Person Tribe had established extremely harsh ancestral rules in order to force a Dou Ancestor out of their descendants.

'Of twins born from different eggs, keep only one' was one of those ancestral rules.

After all, the resources of the Snake-Person Tribe were limited back then; being able to fully cultivate one peak Dou Emperor was already impressive enough—how could they possibly cultivate a second?

Besides, that thing called Heavenly Flame wasn't something one could just find whenever they pleased!

Yet, after so many years, those elders treated certain decaying tribal rules as the absolute standard. The Snake-Person Tribe had fallen into chaos and decline because of it, but the elders seemed oblivious, pushing the rules even more fanatically. Every generation of elders stubbornly believed that the tribe's regression was simply due to the rules not being enforced strictly enough...

It wasn't until this generation's Medusa defeated the four great elders in one fell swoop and seized the supreme authority over the tribal rules that the Snake-Person Tribe finally began to return to the right path!

"With twins born from different eggs, two hearts become one. If Medusa successfully undergoes atavism into a Heaven-Swallowing Python, the two hearts will emerge as one. There is a very high probability that Die could also reshape her soul and return!"

Speaking to this point, even Yun Zimo had to admire the genius plan of the Snake-Person Tribe's ancestors—succeed or perish!

Once successful, the Snake-Person Tribe might very well possess two Heaven-Swallowing Python ancestors at once!

"Worthy of being the descendants of the Heaven-Swallowing Python..."

Yao Lao, who was eavesdropping from the side, sighed with emotion. The Heaven-Swallowing Python had been extinct for thousands of years, but its bloodline descendants had not tarnished its reputation!

"So you mean, Die, she... she can still come back?!"

Hai Bodong's tone was agitated, his Dou Qi even showing signs of going berserk, though the snake-shaped seal on his brow suppressed him firmly.

"Perhaps, but this will require your help!"

Yun Zimo said softly.

He had already persuaded Queen Medusa before coming here. Hai Bodong was, after all, the most outstanding ice-attribute Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire. Although he was indirectly responsible for Die's death, it was ultimately those damned tribal rules to blame. If Die could return, facing her sister and her lover, how would she choose?

Thus, Medusa agreed to undo Hai Bodong's seal, while Hai Bodong would assist in suppressing the destructive power of the Heavenly Flame, increasing the chances of a successful atavism!

"Heavenly Flame! There really is a Heavenly Flame!"

Xiao Yan, who was watching from the sidelines, appeared calm, but his heart was churning like a stormy sea. Yao Lao chuckled to himself; this kid...

"I'll go!"

Hai Bodong stood up, his eyes resolute.

"Even if Die doesn't return, I will fulfill the promise I made to her!"

"Stop smiling, you're going too!"

Yun Zimo grabbed Xiao Yan, who was standing to the side with a knowing smirk, and spoke sharply while the boy looked on in bewilderment.

"Me?"

Xiao Yan blinked and pointed at himself, then said shyly.

"What can a mere Dou Master do if I go?"

"Invite your teacher. We need a high-level alchemist of the sixth rank or above to help; Master Gu He alone is simply not enough!"

Yun Zimo grinned. Little Yanzi...

"My teacher, he is wandering..."

"Your teacher is truly a high-level alchemist!"

"..."

Xiao Yan's face darkened; it seemed he had been tricked into revealing information again.

"Xiao Yan, we're going!"

Yao Lao suddenly spoke within Xiao Yan's heart, though his words left Xiao Yan stunned.

"Teacher, didn't you say that high-level alchemists have powerful souls and might discover your presence?"

Xiao Yan asked quickly in his mind, while maintaining a blank, thoughtful expression on his face.

"This is the closest you have ever been to a Heavenly Flame. If we miss this, who knows how long it will take to find another? Rather than pinning our hopes on the ethereal Purifying Demonic Lotus Flame, we..."

Yao Lao spoke with earnest gravity, but he was interrupted by Xiao Yan before he could finish.

"No! Absolutely not! Teacher, you said the fewer people who know of your existence, the better. Even if it means giving up this damn Heavenly Flame, I cannot let you fall into danger!"

The usually gentle-natured Xiao Yan appeared stubborn and obstinate at this moment.

Yao Lao's voice paused, a sense of being moved and a twinge of guilt rising in his heart, yet he still tried his best to persuade Xiao Yan.

"I'm sorry, Brother Yun, I... I need to consider it!"

"Teacher!"

Xiao Yan shouted in his heart. The words he had intended to use to refuse were changed because Yao Lao had used his soul power to influence him!

"I'm sorry, Little Yanzi. For your sake, and for my own, this risk must be taken!"

Yao Lao whispered, his tone carrying a rare hint of bitterness.

"Little Yanzi, then let your teacher know as soon as possible. We will wait for him at the Snake-Person Holy City!"

Yun Zimo said with a smile.

"We?"

"That's right. If you don't come with us, who knows how long it will take you to reach the Snake-Person Holy City?"

"No, I can't. I still need to cultivate in the desert. The Three-Year Agreement is only a year away, and I... this..."

Xiao Yan hurriedly explained.

"It's fine. There are plenty of Dou Kings and Dou Emperors in the Snake-Person Holy City. With them to spar with, and all this time, we can train slowly..."

Yun Zimo said kindly.

Little Yanzi, you aren't escaping today!

"It's impossible. Over twenty years have passed; the seal has long since merged with him. Aside from breaking it with brute force, the only way is to find a secret technique or medicinal pill capable of absorbing the power of the seal. Otherwise, he will remain a Dou Ling for the rest of his life!"

Inside the temple of the Snake-Person Tribe, Queen Medusa withdrew her fair palm and shook her head, indicating her helplessness. Even though she was the one who had placed the seal, she could no longer undo it.

"This!"

Hearing Queen Medusa's words, Hai Bodong immediately took out an ancient-looking scroll.

The three large characters, Break Calamity Pill, came into view.

"Master Gu He, please take a look and see if this can..."

Gu He took the Break Calamity Pill recipe and studied it for a long time, then looked at Hai Bodong with an expression of astonishment.

"Where did you get this?"

The requirements for refining this Break Calamity Pill were so harsh and bizarre that they were truly rare; it would be no exaggeration to call it a Tier 7 medicinal pill!

"According to the records in the recipe, it can indeed solve the Ice Emperor's problem, but I have no confidence in being able to refine it, even with my Heavenly Flame."

Gu He shook his head. By his estimation, perhaps only an alchemist master of Tier 7 or higher would have the confidence to refine this pill.

"I will do it!"

Just as the situation reached a stalemate, a deep, aged voice echoed through the hall, and everyone turned their gaze toward the source.

A figure shrouded in a black robe stood silently at the entrance of the hall. This person was Xiao Yan's master!

"Old Mister Qing Huo, the primary condition for refining this Break Calamity Pill is the need for a Heavenly Flame. Do you... do you..."

Gu He's words choked in his throat, for a cluster of ghostly white flames had already come into view, and he could not help but gasp aloud.

"Bone Chilling Flame!"