"Now I'm strong enough to beat the Snake-People Tribe with one hand tied behind my back."
Earlier, Yao Chen had tested the power of his newly fused Heavenly Flame, the Ice Lotus Blazing Heart Flame, and was quite satisfied. But he remembered how the Snake-People Tribe had put out a wanted notice for him when he had first come to the desert to save Hai Bodong.
The Snake-People Tribe posed no threat to Yao Chen, but he felt that since they had put out a wanted notice for him, he ought to settle the matter.
"First, I'll put away this Green Lotus Platform and the Earth Fire Lotus Seeds inside it. They're all treasures."
With that, Yao Chen took a jade ruler from his Storage Ring. Carefully, he made a light cut where the lotus's base connected to its roots.
In an instant, the perfect Green Lotus, as beautiful as a work of art, detached and fell away.
Yao Chen also collected the eleven Earth Fire Lotus Seeds in a small jade bottle.
"I can give these treasures to Xiao Yan for his cultivation later. As for Xiao Yi Xian, I'll have to sort out her constitution first before giving them to that girl."
After putting away the treasures, Yao Chen decided to go to the Snake-People Tribe and settle the trouble.
"Time to go have a little fun with Queen Medusa!"
With that, Yao Chen's figure flickered, leaving only his shadow in the scorching magma.
Across the vast, boundless Tagor Desert, Snake-People Tribe settlements of all sizes were scattered throughout the sands.
Towering dunes surrounded the settlements, like natural barriers that shut out the clamor and dangers of the outside world.
From afar, beneath the blazing sun, the dunes gleamed golden, their contours smooth and graceful.
The place where Queen Medusa resided was the largest city in the region, a central hub the Snake-People Tribe called the Royal City.
The entrance to this city in the heart of the desert was formed by towering stone pillars intertwined with thick vines.
Ancient serpent patterns covered the pillars, telling of the Snake-People Tribe's long history and mysterious heritage.
The vines twisted and climbed, bursting into brilliant flowers that filled the air with a captivating fragrance.
The first thing one saw in this city at the heart of the desert was a cluster of houses arranged in pleasing disorder.
Most were built from sandstone and timber, with strange shapes: some resembled winding serpents, while others looked like enormous snake heads.
Thick thatched roofs provided shelter from both sun and rain.
The narrow lanes between the houses twisted and turned, their floors covered in fine sand that held deep footprints with every step.
At the center of the city stood a broad plaza paved with smooth flagstones, carved with exquisite serpentine designs.
On one side of the plaza was a huge pool, its crystal-clear water shimmering in the light.
All manner of strange plants grew around the pool. Some bore dazzling flowers, while others were laden with abundant fruit.
Deep within the city stood a magnificent temple.
The temple's architecture was solemn and imposing, and countless gems and pearls were set into its walls, glittering in the sunlight.
The temple's doors remained shut throughout the year, opening only for important meetings and ceremonies of the Snake-People Tribe.
Two enormous serpent statues stood before the doors, heads held high and gazes stern as they guarded the sacred hall.
Now, the temple doors stood open. Queen Medusa sat upon the throne at its center, her figure graceful yet radiating an awe-inspiring majesty.
Her gaze was sharp as two bolts of cold lightning, making anyone who met it look away.
The four commanders stood in two lines on either side below the throne. Mo Basi was broad and powerfully built, with bulging muscles and a rugged, resolute face; Yin Shi was tall and lean, his cold eyes hinting at unfathomable cunning; Yan Ci radiated a scorching heat, like a blazing flame; Hua She'er was graceful and alluring, with a hint of slyness beneath her charm.
The temple was so quiet that one could almost hear the sound of breathing. Queen Medusa was the first to break the silence, her voice cool and commanding.
"I summoned you all today to discuss the human Dou Huang expert who shattered my Snake Emperor Heart-Protecting Shield in the desert some time ago."
"Mo Basi! I ordered you to lead our warriors in searching for this person a few days ago. Have you found him?"
Mo Basi stepped forward and clasped his hands.
"Your Majesty, this person's whereabouts are as elusive as a phantom. I searched the desert for three days, but found no trace of him. It seems he fled back to a human city! If he dares set foot in the desert again, I'll lead our warriors and slaughter every last one of them!"
"Don't act rashly. We must consider this carefully. This human's strength is unfathomable. There are few in the Jia Ma Empire capable of breaking Your Majesty's Snake Emperor Heart-Protecting Shield," Yin Shi said, shaking his head slightly.
"Our most urgent task is to send spies among the humans to learn this person's strength and intentions before we decide what to do."
Yan Ci followed up at once. "Your Majesty, we can't just sit and wait. We should strengthen the Royal City's defenses and prepare for battle at any moment, in case this person comes to ambush us."
Hua She'er gave a light laugh and turned to the other three commanders.
"Don't be so hasty, everyone. Perhaps we can negotiate with this human Dou Huang expert and seek a peaceful solution."
Queen Medusa frowned slightly. After a moment of thought, she addressed the four commanders.
"Mo Basi, organize our warriors and intensify their training. Wait until we've determined this person's intentions before making a move. Yin Shi, you're responsible for gathering information on this human Dou Huang expert. Yan Ci, oversee the construction of our defenses. Hua She'er, once Yin Shi's people discover this person's whereabouts, try to meet with him first and sound him out."
"We will obey Your Majesty's orders!"
The four commanders answered in unison.
The atmosphere in the temple grew more tense as a decision that would shape the Snake-People Tribe's fate began to unfold.
After the four commanders left, Queen Medusa began coughing on her throne. Clearly, the injuries Yao Chen had inflicted on her earlier had yet to heal.
"Your Majesty, I fear this person poses a threat to our Snake-People Tribe," said four robed elders from the shadows behind Queen Medusa's throne.
Queen Medusa nodded in agreement and spoke.
"I know this person poses a great threat to our tribe. We've rarely had dealings with humans. Some time ago, the human Dou Huang expert Hai Bodong trespassed into our territory. I struck him and left him severely injured, but this person rescued him—and then turned around and destroyed our tribe's treasure."
"If Hai Bodong hadn't told us that you elders were on your way, I might have died right there."
Even now, recalling the incident filled Queen Medusa with lingering fear. The man's Dou Technique had been terrifying.
"As far as I know, there isn't a single human expert in the Jia Ma Empire who can match this person's strength," the Great Elder said.
"He must not be from the Jia Ma Empire. But appearing suddenly in our territory and rescuing Hai Bodong—he must have ulterior motives. He's clearly targeting our tribe!"
"Your Majesty, I believe this person's strength is extraordinary, and we must not make an enemy of him. We should send someone from our tribe to befriend him and seek peace. If he's willing to take a woman of our tribe as his partner, we won't have to fear the other forces in the Jia Ma Empire. He could surely protect our tribe's peace for a hundred years."
The Second Elder urged Queen Medusa to make peace with Yao Chen.
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