Sky Serpent Empire, Medusa Awakens

Lu Xia walked ahead, with Qinglin following closely behind him.

Medusa was still asleep.

The period of weakness after her bloodline evolution had lasted longer than expected.

These past days, she had spent most of her time sleeping, stabilizing her One-Star Dou Zong realm.

"Brother Xia, how much farther do we have to go?"

Qinglin caught up to Lu Xia and looked up at him as she asked.

They had already left Peace Town three days ago.

Over the past three days, the two had traveled north through the chaotic lands of the Black-Corner Region.

"Not much farther."

Lu Xia raised his head and glanced ahead, his gaze passing through the wind and sand to settle on the outline of a distant pass.

"Once we pass that checkpoint, we'll enter the Sky Serpent Empire."

"The Sky Serpent Empire?"

Qinglin blinked curiously.

"Mm."

Lu Xia nodded and explained as they walked.

"The Sky Serpent Empire lies north of the Black-Corner Region. It is a nation that reveres snakes above all else. There are countless snake-type magical beasts within its borders, and many of its cities and checkpoints are named after snakes."

"The Sky Serpent Mansion we're going to is located in the central region of the Sky Serpent Empire."

The two did not stop walking. After another two hours, the checkpoint ahead became clear.

The walls at the pass towered high and were dark red. Three vigorous characters were carved into the gate tower: Red Serpent Pass.

The patrolling soldiers atop the walls wore armor and carried sabers at their waists. All of them possessed respectable cultivation.

"Red Serpent Pass..."

Qinglin softly repeated the name, her eyes full of wonder.

It really was named after a snake.

Lu Xia led Qinglin toward the city gate at an unhurried pace.

The guards merely swept their eyes over the two of them and did not ask any questions.

Lu Xia concealed his aura and looked like an ordinary youth. Qinglin was only a Two-Star Dou Master, so neither of them appeared dangerous.

After passing through the city gate without incident, the two officially entered the Sky Serpent Empire.

"Brother Xia, there are... so many snake-type auras here."

Lu Xia remained calm. "Within the Sky Serpent Empire, snake-type magical beasts number several times more than in other places. The closer we get to the center, the more snakes there will be."

"Besides, the people here revere snakes greatly. Many families take pride in raising snake-type magical beasts."

Qinglin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils possessed a natural affinity for snakes. Walking through a place like this, she felt comfortable all over.

The two continued north along the main road.

Everything they saw along the way was indeed as Lu Xia had said.

The walls of villages and towns bore all manner of snake-shaped totems, while the signs of shops were often decorated with snake patterns.

The entire nation carried a distinctive air of coexistence with snakes.

Lu Xia patiently explained the Sky Serpent Empire's customs and local culture to Qinglin.

The two walked and took in the sights as they went.

Beyond Red Serpent Pass lay Jade Serpent City.

Jade Serpent City was far more prosperous than Red Serpent Pass. There was even a dedicated snake market within the city, selling all kinds of snake-type magical beasts, snake eggs, and snake venom in dazzling abundance.

After leaving Jade Serpent City, the two continued north.

Along the way, they passed through Silver Serpent Commandery, Black Serpent Ridge... Large and small cities alike were almost all connected to snakes.

Occasionally, low-tier snake-type magical beasts shot out from the roadside, attempting to attack passing travelers.

Before Lu Xia could make a move, Qinglin only needed to cast them a glance, and those snake-type magical beasts obediently flattened themselves on the ground, trembling.

The bloodline pressure of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils had begun to reveal its edge within the Sky Serpent Empire.

Lu Xia watched this, growing ever more satisfied.

It seemed that sending Qinglin to the Sky Serpent Mansion truly was the most correct choice.

Here, her talent could be brought out to the fullest extent.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, half a month passed.

On this day, the two finally arrived at the heart of the Sky Serpent Empire: Sky Serpent City.

From afar, Sky Serpent City rose majestically. Enormous stone snake reliefs coiled along its walls, radiating an imposing grandeur.

"We're finally here..."

Qinglin looked at the gigantic city before her and let out a long breath.

After traveling for so long, she was nearly exhausted.

Traveling every day and sleeping outdoors had been somewhat too much for a Two-Star Dou Master like her.

Lu Xia stopped walking, but his gaze did not fall upon Sky Serpent City. Instead, he looked toward the vast, rolling mountain range outside the city.

Mists and clouds curled around the mountains, whose terrain was steep and perilous. Faint hisses of snakes could be heard coming from within.

The Entwining Snake Mountains, where the Sky Serpent Mansion was located.

"We're not going into the city."

Lu Xia withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.

"Huh?"

Qinglin froze. "We're not going in? I thought the Sky Serpent Mansion was inside the city."

"The Sky Serpent Mansion isn't in the city."

Lu Xia explained, "It is in the Entwining Snake Mountains outside Sky Serpent City. That is where the Sky Serpent Mansion's main base lies."

As he spoke, he raised his left hand and looked at Medusa around his wrist.

More than half a month had passed, and Medusa's aura had become increasingly stable.

At this rate, she would awaken before long.

"We'll go to the Entwining Snake Mountains."

Lu Xia made his decision. They would head straight to the outskirts of the mountains, find a place, and wait for Medusa to awaken.

He did not have absolutely no concerns about this trip to the Sky Serpent Mansion.

The Sky Serpent Mansion's ancestor was a Dou Zong. Lu Xia did not know exactly how strong he was.

One more Dou Zong combatant meant one more measure of confidence.

"Alright."

Qinglin nodded obediently, without any objection.

The two bypassed Sky Serpent City and headed east toward the Entwining Snake Mountains.

The closer they came to the mountain range, the denser the auras of snake-type magical beasts became.

Snakes of every color could be seen everywhere—coiled in the roadside grass and on tree branches, flicking their tongues and watching passing travelers warily with vertical pupils.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at the outskirts of the Entwining Snake Mountains.

Lu Xia found a cave and gave it a simple cleaning.

"Let's rest here for a while."

He walked into the cave, and Qinglin followed him inside and began tidying up.

Used to roughing it during their journey, she took out a waterskin and dry rations from her Storage Ring and placed them on a nearby stone.

Only after finishing all this did she sit beside Lu Xia and wait quietly.

At this moment, the fluctuations in Medusa's aura had become increasingly obvious.

Her seven-colored scales glimmered faintly, and her snake body squirmed gently. She was clearly about to awaken.

Qinglin noticed it as well and asked softly.

"Brother Xia, is Sister Medusa... about to wake up?"

"Mm."

Lu Xia nodded. "Very soon."

"Bzzzt—"

A powerful aura suddenly erupted from the seven-colored little snake!

The pressure of a One-Star Dou Zong swept outward!

Qinglin's face turned pale, and she instinctively shrank back.

Fortunately, Lu Xia blocked the pressure, preventing it from disturbing the outside world.

The seven-colored radiance flared brilliantly!

The little snake around Lu Xia's wrist transformed into a streak of light and flew out, hovering in midair.

Within the light, its snake body rapidly expanded.

One foot... one zhang... three zhang...

In the blink of an eye, a massive Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python appeared within the cave.

Its body stretched more than ten zhang long and was as thick as a water barrel, its seven-colored scales gleaming brilliantly.

Its enormous snake head lifted slightly, its vertical pupils cold and noble. Coiled there, it radiated a terrifying pressure that made hearts tremble.

"Hiss—"

The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python flicked out her tongue and let out a hiss.

After sleeping for more than half a month, she had finally awakened!