The Snake-People Tribe's Past

"Die?"

At the sound of Die's name from Yun Zimo, Hai Bodong's listless aura stirred, and his frost-cold face finally showed a trace of life.

Yun Zimo had hurried back from the Black-Corner Region and found only Gu He and a few elders guarding the Snake-Person Tribe. Yun Shan had returned to the Misty Cloud Sect, apparently after receiving some kind of message!

Knowing that the gears of fate had begun to turn, Yun Zimo finally decided to stop hesitating.

He immediately began asking Queen Medusa about her past with Hai Bodong. Just as expected, the queen flew into a rage. The two fought, and Yun Zimo was ultimately no match for her.

But after she had calmed down, Queen Medusa still revealed what had happened back then...

"Mm. Medusa said that after Die tragically fell back then, she used a secret art to seal her in the Divine Temple. But Die's essence had been spent and her breath had ceased; her soul was locked away, and she could never awaken again."

The spirit Hai Bodong had just summoned sank once more. His raised head drooped heavily, his white hair swaying faintly as his eyes filled with a deep, deathly despair.

"Unless..."

Yun Zimo spoke again.

"Unless what?"

Hai Bodong abruptly turned around and stared at Yun Zimo, his eyes blazing.

"Unless Medusa can undergo spiritual bloodline reversion and become a Heaven-Swallowing Python. Only by condensing a Heaven-Swallowing Python body from pure soul power can her essence, energy, and spirit be made whole again. Then there's a chance..."

"Bloodline reversion?!"

Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan, and Yao Lao cried out at the same time.

Realizing that it was inappropriate, Xiao Yan gave an awkward chuckle and quietly retreated to the side to watch the spectacle.

"When Queen Medusa was born, she used a secret art to merge with the soul of her companion Purple Nether Flame Snake. The combined potential of their two talents allowed her to reach Dou Emperor at a terrifying speed—and even attain its peak!"

"But once she reached Peak Dou Emperor, the bloodline shackles of the Purple Nether Flame Snake also sealed off her hopes of breaking through to Dou Zong."

"And the Snake-Person Tribe's ancient teachings, passed down for countless years, say that when Queen Medusa reaches Peak Dou Emperor, she has two choices."

"Marry and have children, safely leaving behind a bloodline to raise the next Queen Medusa!"

"Or stake everything on a desperate gamble and try to produce a Dou Zong ancestor with limitless potential!"

As Medusa explained, the Snake-Person Tribe's ancestors had established extremely harsh ancestral teachings and clan rules to force a Dou Zong to emerge among their descendants.

"Of fraternal twins, keep one" was one such ancestral teaching.

After all, the Snake-Person Tribe's resources had been limited back then. Being able to fully nurture one Peak Dou Emperor was already impressive. How could they possibly raise a second?

Besides, Heavenly Flames weren't exactly easy to find!

But over the years, the elders had treated certain decayed clan rules as sacred commandments. The Snake-Person Tribe had fallen into turmoil and decline because of them, yet its elders seemed oblivious, pushing the rules ever more fanatically. Each generation of elders stubbornly believed that the tribe had regressed because the rules hadn't been enforced strictly enough...

It wasn't until this generation, when Medusa defeated the Four Great Elders and gained supreme authority over the clan's foremost rule, that the Snake-Person Tribe finally began to get back on track!

"Fraternal twins, two hearts as one. If Medusa succeeds in reverting into a Heaven-Swallowing Python, then, since the two hearts share the same origin, there's a very high chance that Die can also reform her soul and return!"

At this point, Yun Zimo couldn't help but admire the ingenious plan of the Snake-Person Tribe's ancestors. They had wagered everything on success, knowing failure meant death!

If it worked, the Snake-Person Tribe might gain two Heaven-Swallowing Python ancestors in one fell swoop!

"As expected of the Heaven-Swallowing Python's descendants..."

Yao Lao, watching from the side, shared the same sentiment. The Heaven-Swallowing Python had been extinct for thousands of years, yet its descendants still lived up to its fearsome reputation!

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

Hai Bodong's voice trembled with excitement. Even his Dou Qi seemed ready to run wild, but the snake-shaped seal on his brow held him firmly in check.

"Maybe. But I'll need your help."

Yun Zimo spoke softly.

Before coming here, he had already persuaded Medusa. Hai Bodong was, after all, the most outstanding ice-type Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire. Though he could be considered indirectly responsible for Die's death, the real culprit had been those damned clan rules. If Die returned, what would she choose between her sister and her beloved?

So Medusa had agreed to undo Hai Bodong's seal, while Hai Bodong would help suppress the destructive power of the Heavenly Flame and increase the chances of a successful bloodline reversion!

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

Xiao Yan looked calm as he watched from the sidelines, but inside, his thoughts churned like a raging sea. Yao Lao chuckled too. This kid...

"I'll go!"

Hai Bodong rose to his feet and spoke with determination.

"Even if Die doesn't come back, I'll still fulfill my promise to her!"

"Stop grinning. You're coming too."

Yun Zimo grabbed Xiao Yan, who was standing nearby with a knowing smile, and scolded him as Xiao Yan stared back, utterly bewildered.

"Me?"

Xiao Yan blinked and pointed at himself, then said sheepishly,

"What could a Dou Shi like me possibly do there?"

"Bring your teacher. We need a high-level alchemist of at least the sixth rank to help. Master Gu He alone won't be enough!"

Yun Zimo grinned. Little Yanzi...

"My teacher is traveling the world..."

"So your teacher really is a high-level alchemist!"

"..."

Xiao Yan's face darkened. He'd been tricked into letting that slip again...

"Xiao Yan, we're going."

Yao Lao suddenly spoke inside Xiao Yan's mind, and his words left Xiao Yan stunned.

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

Xiao Yan quickly asked inwardly, though he kept a vacant, thoughtful expression on his face.

"This is the closest you've ever been to a Heavenly Flame. If we miss this chance, who knows how long it'll take to find another? Rather than pinning our hopes on the illusory Purifying Lotus Demon Flame, we..."

Yao Lao spoke earnestly, but before he could finish, Xiao Yan cut him off.

"No! You can't! Teacher, you said the fewer people who know about you, the better. Even if—even if I have to give up this damned Heavenly Flame, I can't let you put yourself in danger!"

Xiao Yan, usually mild-tempered, was stubborn and resolute now.

Yao Lao fell silent. He felt touched and guilty, but still tried his best to persuade Xiao Yan.

"Sorry, Big Brother Yun. I... I'll think about it!"

"Teacher!"

Xiao Yan shouted inwardly. He had been about to refuse, but Yao Lao had used his soul power to influence him into changing his answer!

"I'm sorry, Little Yanzi. For your sake—and for my own—I have to take this risk!"

Yao Lao spoke softly, his voice tinged with a rare bitterness.

"Little Yanzi, then let your teacher know as soon as you can. We'll wait for him in the Snake-Person Holy City!"

Yun Zimo smiled.

"We?"

"Of course. If you don't come with us, how long will it take you to reach the Snake-Person Holy City?"

"N-no, I can't. I still need to cultivate in the desert. There's only one year left until the Three-Year Agreement, and I... I..."

Xiao Yan hurriedly tried to explain.

"It's fine. There are plenty of Dou Wangs and Dou Emperors in the Snake-People Holy City. They can spar with you, and with all that time, we can train you slowly..."

Yun Zimo said kindly.

Little Yanzi, you weren't getting away today!

"No. More than twenty years have passed, and the seal has long since merged with him. Apart from breaking it by brute force, the only way is to find a secret art or pill that can turn the seal's power to one's own use. Otherwise, he'll be a Dou Ling for the rest of his life."

Inside the Divine Temple of the Snake-Person Tribe, Medusa withdrew her fair hand and shook her head, admitting she could do nothing. Though she had placed the seal herself, she could no longer undo it.

"This!"

At Queen Medusa's words, Hai Bodong immediately took out an ancient scroll.

The three characters "Break Calamity Pill" came into view.

"Master Gu He, could you take a look and see whether this might..."

Gu He took the Break Calamity Pill formula and studied it for a long while, then looked at Hai Bodong in astonishment.

"Where did you get this?"

The requirements for refining the Break Calamity Pill were so strict and bizarre that they were extraordinarily rare. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a seventh-rank pill!

"According to the formula, it can indeed solve the Ice Emperor's problem, but I'm not confident I can refine it, even though I already possess a Heavenly Flame."

Gu He shook his head. By his estimate, only an alchemy master of the seventh rank or higher could be confident of refining this pill.

"I'll do it!"

Just as the group reached an impasse, a deep, aged voice rang out. Everyone turned toward it.

A figure stood silently in the doorway of the main hall, shrouded in a Black Robe. This was Xiao Yan's teacher!

"Elder Qing Huo, the first requirement for refining this Break Calamity Pill is a Heavenly Flame. Do you... do you..."

Gu He's words caught in his throat as a cluster of pale-white flames came into view. He couldn't help crying out,

"Bone Spirit Cold Flame!"