Conflict with the Snake-People Tribe

Xiao Ding looked at the returning Xiao Li and Xiao Yan and said with a smile, "Qing Lin said there might be traces of a Heavenly Flame here, so I had the brothers start digging."

Xiao Yan glanced at the deep pit below and nodded.

Xiao Ding continued, "No problems with the Sand Mercenary Group, right?"

Xiao Li said, "With that Dou Ling senior there, there's nothing to worry about. The Snake-People Tribe is the problem."

"Don't worry about either the Snake-People Tribe or the Sand Mercenary Group. I'll handle them both," Xiao Yan said with a smile.

"Just now, one of our men reported that some snake people had already discovered what was happening here. Since there were two Dou Masters among them, our people couldn't keep them. The Snake-People Tribe probably already knows about this place." Xiao Ding was clearly worried, which was why he kept weighing the matter of the Snake-People Tribe.

Xiao Yan patted Xiao Ding's shoulder and reassured him, "Big Brother, trust me. None of this is a problem. As long as we can obtain the Heavenly Flame."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li both nodded and continued directing the men at work.

Meanwhile, inside the Sand Mercenary Group in Stone Desert City.

Sha Luo was trembling as he carried a cup of tea over and set it on the table.

Hai Bodong casually picked it up, brought it to his lips, took a sip, and immediately spat it out.

"Your tea really tastes awful!"

Sha Luo instantly dropped to his knees and tearfully said, "My lord, you don't understand. Nothing good can grow in an environment like ours. If I'd known you were coming, I would have prepared the finest tea long ago."

Hai Bodong sighed. "I know you mean well, but I didn't come here for tea. You know the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, don't you?"

"This humble one does. I was foolish before. Starting today, I'll disband the Sand Mercenary Group, then select the elite members to join the Desert Iron Mercenary Group!" Sha Luo said through his tears, looking utterly sincere.

Even Hai Bodong was stunned for a moment. He had not expected Sha Luo to be so cooperative. It saved him a great deal of trouble. Talking to smart people really was comfortable.

"Then get to it." After saying that, Hai Bodong spread his Dou Qi wings and left.

After Hai Bodong departed, Sha Luo looked at the dozen or so ice sculptures in the courtyard and let out a breath of relief. If he had surrendered any later, he probably would have been standing alongside them.

Inside the Snake-People Empire's temple, a beautiful figure reclined upon the main seat.

It was none other than Medusa, Queen of the Snake-People Tribe.

Below her stood Yue Mei, one of the eight great tribal leaders, along with Mo Basi, Yan Ci, and Hua She'er, captain of Queen Medusa's personal guards.

These four powerful members of the Snake-People Tribe were all at the peak of the Dou Wang realm. They were among the finest of the tribe's eight great leaders.

They were also Queen Medusa's trusted confidants.

Yue Mei spoke first. "Your Majesty, there seems to be some unusual activity near the human territory close to Stone Desert City. Should we investigate?"

Yan Ci said instead, "Your Majesty, the activities we've been carrying out in the Tagor Desert lately have already drawn the attention of human experts. And you still haven't told us why we're doing this."

Mo Basi added, "Yes, Your Majesty. What have we gone through all this trouble for? There should at least be a reason."

Hua She'er snorted. "The Queen always has her reasons for what she does. Are you questioning Her Majesty?"

That single remark left Yan Li and Mo Basi speechless.

Queen Medusa then spoke. "Enough. Stop talking. Just do as I say."

The four snake-people experts answered in unison, "Yes."

"Since something is happening, we cannot ignore it. Yue Mei, go and take a look," Medusa ordered.

Yue Mei dropped to one knee. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will investigate it thoroughly."

After speaking, Yue Mei spread her Dou Qi wings and flew toward Stone Desert City.

Xiao Yan's side also encountered a development. Sha Luo had indeed arrived with the Sand Mercenary Group, but they had come to help.

At first, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li were suspicious, believing that Sha Luo had some ulterior motive.

However, when they saw Sha Luo strip off his shirt and personally climb into the pit with tools to dig through the sand, both of them were dumbfounded.

"Big Brother, what's Sha Luo trying to pull here? What does he mean?" Xiao Li carefully asked Xiao Ding.

Xiao Ding was equally puzzled. "It's probably related to Xiao Yan. Maybe it's because of that Dou Ling expert."

After hearing this, Xiao Li understood. With Sha Luo's people joining in,

the enormous pit was quickly almost finished, and many tunnels appeared beneath it.

Sha Luo said happily, "Commander Xiao Yan, we dug out a lot of tunnels."

Xiao Yan walked down, patted Sha Luo's shoulder, and said, "Good work."

Then Xiao Yan stood before the many tunnels, somewhat at a loss.

"Master, which of these tunnels is the right one?"

Elder Yao said, "The energy here is rather mixed. Even I can't determine the Heaven Flame's exact location."

Just as Xiao Yan was troubled, Qing Lin tugged on his sleeve.

"Young Master Xiao Yan, let me go in with you. I can help."

Xiao Yan had nearly forgotten about Qing Lin.

"Alright. Then thank you, Qing Lin."

Qing Lin happily agreed.

Xiao Ding said worriedly, "Xiao Yan, why don't I go down with you?"

Xiao Yan turned and smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Big Brother. I can handle it. Just help me guard the outside."

After saying that, Xiao Yan led Qing Lin into one of the tunnels.

Meanwhile, in the Tagor Desert, Yue Mei was about to reach the outskirts of Stone Desert City when she suddenly felt a chill in the air around her.

A sudden sense of danger rose within Yue Mei, and she immediately activated her Dou Qi wings, turning and flying more than a dozen body lengths away.

A massive ice spike suddenly pierced through the place she had just left.

Yue Mei silently thanked her quick reaction. If that attack had hit her, even if it did not kill her, it would have severely injured her.

Yue Mei glared furiously at the elderly figure in the distance. "Old bastard, you actually dared to ambush me!"

Hai Bodong smiled. "The history between me and your Snake-People Tribe runs far deeper than that. It can hardly be called an ambush."

Fear rose in Yue Mei's heart, and she immediately contacted Queen Medusa.

"Your Majesty, there is a human expert here. Send reinforcements quickly!"

Inside the Snake-People Tribe's temple.

Medusa suddenly opened her eyes and said, "Yue Mei has encountered a human expert. The three of you, hurry and save her."

Mo Basi, Yan Ci, and Hua She'er were all startled for a moment before swiftly activating the Dou Qi wings behind them and rushing over.

After they had all left, Medusa's expression grew grave. "So the news about the Heavenly Flame is true. Damn it, how could the humans get there first?"