Setting Out for the Snake-People Tribe, Meeting Medusa!

"You brat, you really are a handful."

Yao Lao sighed softly and extended his illusory palm, giving Lin Chen a symbolic handshake.

Although he was currently only a soul, he could still touch physical objects if he wished. The sensation of a hand fashioned from Dou Qi was essentially no different from that of a real one.

Lin Chen withdrew his hand, then nodded. "Then it's settled: one scroll containing an eighth-tier alchemist's legacy, one Earth-tier Middle-grade Body-Refinement Dou Technique, one Spirit Ascension Method, and one secret method capable of resurrecting a Dou Zun expert."

"Senior, how about paying a deposit first?"

"Why not give this junior the Spirit Ascension Method?"

The corner of Yao Lao's mouth twitched. "Absolutely not," he snapped. "Only after you obtain the green lotus core flame can I give you everything. Before that, however, I can give you the secret method for resurrecting a Dou Zun expert."

With that, he waved his sleeve. An ancient yellow scroll appeared and floated over to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen accepted the scroll and probed it with his soul power. After briefly examining its contents, he feigned surprise. "It requires three heavenly flames? The eighth-tier Bone-Melting Blood-Fusion Pill?"

"And the body of a Dou Zong expert, along with the blood essence of an eighth-rank magical beast?"

"What extravagant requirements. No wonder you agreed so readily, Senior. Tsk, tsk, three heavenly flames-your bone spirit cold flame, the green lotus core flame in Queen Medusa's possession, and this junior's heavenly flame. That makes exactly three."

"You certainly know how to work the abacus, Senior."

Yao Lao stroked his beard with a rather smug smile. "You asked for this yourself, brat, so you can hardly blame this old man. Did you really think resurrecting a Dou Zun expert would be simple?"

With that, he turned to Xiao Yan, whose expression was blank. Clearly, such stringent requirements had stunned him as well.

"My disciple, the deal is settled. Let's head back first. We leave for the Snake-People Tribe tomorrow, and there are a few things I need to explain to you beforehand."

"Yes, Teacher."

Only then did Xiao Yan come to his senses. He hurriedly nodded and cupped his hands toward Lin Chen. "Senior Lin Chen, we'll take our leave, then."

"Go on, go on. A pleasure doing business with you, young friend Xiao Yan."

Smiling warmly, Lin Chen waved to Xiao Yan and watched the two leave through the courtyard gate.

Then he swept his sleeve, opened the door behind him, and called inside:

"Zi Yan, Qing Lin, let's continue."

Zi Yan pulled Qing Lin along and came skipping out, her expression rather solemn. "Lin Chen, there's another important matter I need to discuss with you."

"What important matter?"

"I'm hungry."

Lin Chen's eyes widened, and he exclaimed, "Heavens, that truly is a matter of earth-shattering importance! Quick, I must refine pills for my darling Zi Yan. We can't let her go hungry."

Zi Yan's eyes instantly lit up, and she said happily, "At least you know what's good for you. I'll give you a reward."

With that, she rose onto her tiptoes and planted a smacking kiss on Lin Chen's cheek, making Qing Lin cover her eyes.

Feeling shy, she thought, Big Sister Zi Yan is completely shameless. How could she do that...

And Brother Lin Chen, honestly! What's with that look of enjoyment on his face...

The next day, the sky was clear, the air fresh, and a gentle breeze blew pleasantly.

At the gates of Stone Desert City, seven figures in different attire gathered together-four men and three women.

One of them was a handsome young man in blue robes, his bearing clearly extraordinary. As their leader, he swept his hand toward the distant Tagor Desert and laughed. "Let's set out! Our destination is the Snake-People Holy City!"

With that, a pair of deep-blue ice-and-fire wings unfurled behind him. They resembled exquisite works of art, shedding countless ice crystals with every beat and leaving a dazzling crystalline trail across the sky.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The next instant, streaks of various colors flashed across the sky. The other six also unfurled their Dou Qi Wings and followed closely in the direction Lin Chen had flown.

High in the sky, a bald, burly man beat the pitch-black wings on his back. He seemed rather unaccustomed to them, his speed wavering as he lagged behind everyone else, visibly struggling.

Before long, he called to the green-robed woman ahead, "Lu Man, give me a hand! It's been ages since I transformed, and I'm not used to this human form. I can barely keep up!"

Hearing him, the green-robed woman looked back helplessly. With a wave of her delicate hand, a long, supple whip appeared in her grasp and instantly coiled around the bald man's waist.

Dragging him along, she said impatiently, "You oaf! You can't even manage your human form after eating transformation grass. Keep up with me, and don't delay the master's business!"

With that, Dou Qi surged around her, and she turned into a dazzling streak of green light, accelerating forward.

Bai Ya chuckled as she dragged him along, then circulated his Dou Qi to lighten his body and flew forward with all his might.

In the Tagor Desert, windblown sand filled the air. A great silver moon hung high overhead, its pale radiance spreading across the desert and draping it in a veil of silver.

Whoosh!

Several sounds of rushing wind suddenly broke the desert's silence, approaching from afar as their sources sped toward an enormous tribal fortress nearby.

"Enemy attack..."

A spear-wielding Snake-People Tribe warrior inside the fortress suddenly seemed to sense something. Looking up, he spotted the dark figures swooping toward them and was about to shout a warning.

Whoosh!

An inconspicuous white crystal shot forward and pierced the warrior's throat. His eyes widened before he collapsed limply to the ground, as though he had fallen asleep.

A white gleam flashed through the eyes of "Xiao Yan," who was possessed by Yao Lao. He nodded to the others behind him, then waved his hand. The white ice crystal instantly melted, sealing the wound and leaving a flawless disguise.

"Suppress your auras and keep quiet. There's no need to invite unnecessary trouble. Once we pass through the Charm Snake Tribe, the Snake-People Holy City will be ahead."

At the front, the black-robed Lin Chen saw this and condensed his Dou Qi into sound, warning those behind him.

Hai Bodong and the others nodded. They drew in their Dou Qi Wings, yet flew forward even faster.

Apart from Lin Chen, Zi Yan, and Qing Lin, everyone in the group could unleash Dou Emperor-level strength. Concealing themselves from the Snake-People Tribe guards, whose strongest members were merely Dou Ling, was naturally no difficult task.

Soon, they passed through the enormous fortress and raced toward the Snake-People Tribe's heartland nearby.

Half a month later,

A majestic city stood in the heart of the desert. Ancient and weathered, the vast city was covered in mysterious, intricate snake patterns. Countless Medusa Snake Guards in exquisite armor patrolled its walls.

Over a dozen pitch-black birds circled overhead, their keen eyes sweeping the surroundings outside the city. Any sound of alarm could alert these sharp-sensed flying magical beasts to intruders.

Suddenly, a cluster of tiny black dots appeared on the distant horizon. In the blink of an eye, they hurtled toward the enormous city with piercing whistles.

As soon as those black dots appeared, the guards on the walls stiffened. They readied their venom-coated spears to hurl them at the approaching enemies.

The next instant,

"Roar!"

A tremendous roar rang out as an enormous black snake with colorful markings appeared above the Snake-People Holy City. His voice boomed like thunder, carrying the terrifying pressure of a sixth-rank magical beast as he called toward the city:

"Where is Queen Medusa? I am Bai Ya of the Heavenly Snake Mansion! Come out and meet me at once!"

As his words faded, the tension atop the walls abruptly eased. The Snake Guards visibly sighed in relief, and whispers arose among them.

"Bai Ya? The same Bai Ya who tried to court Her Majesty last time, only to be beaten into a panicked retreat?"

"Tsk, tsk, he actually dares to come back. So many warriors in our tribe admire Her Majesty without winning her favor. Even Chief Mo Bass failed to court her. How could we let an outsider have her?"

"Enough, keep your voices down. He's still sixth-rank, after all..."

The whispers below made Bai Ya, who had returned to his magical beast form, blush with embarrassment. He turned toward Lin Chen beside him and said sheepishly, "Please wait a moment, my lord. I still have some standing with the Snake-People Tribe. Just let me..."

Before he could finish, a terrifying pressure erupted from the previously silent Snake-People Holy City. A dazzling streak of purple light shot into the sky and took the form of a graceful, curvaceous woman.

Immediately afterward, a cool voice rang out through the surroundings.

"Bai Ya, you dare to come back?"

The terrifying fluctuations of Dou Qi slightly distorted the surrounding space. Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a woman of regal elegance appear high in the sky.

She wore purple brocade robes, her voluptuous figure exuding mature allure, round and full as a ripe peach. A subtle seductive charm radiated from her entire body. Long, dark tresses cascaded down, and beneath her slender waist stretched a wild, untamable purple snake tail.

As her snake tail swayed, the two ample curves of her bosom moved with it. Her exquisite face was bewitchingly beautiful. Though her phoenix eyes now flashed with anger, she remained exceptionally captivating, with a regal dignity that commanded respect without any need for wrath.