Returning to the Snake-People Tribe (41k)

He gazed at the perfectly round pill before him, about the size of a longan fruit. Several wisps of green air intertwined and circulated within it. On closer inspection, those currents gathered into a tiny green snake that swam inside the pill, brimming with life.

Pill energy condensing into a spirit—an extraordinary phenomenon found only in seventh-grade pills and above!

"A Transformation Pill!" Liu Yu sighed with a thousand emotions. It had been anything but easy!

Just to refine this one pill, he had expended so much Dou Qi that less than twenty percent remained. Between refining the pill and dealing with the pill lightning, the consumption had been enormous. And that was already with the help of the green lotus core flame! As his companion flame, it consumed far less Dou Qi to activate than ordinary heavenly flames did!

The drain on his Soul Power had also been considerable, though compared with his Dou Qi, it was "not too bad." This made Liu Yu realize that Soul Power at mortal realm great perfection could indeed refine a High-grade Seventh-rank Pill, but it still proved somewhat inadequate! Improving his soul realm needed to go on the agenda. Source Power...

All in all, the results were still gratifying. His first attempt at refining a seventh-grade pill—and a high-grade seventh-rank Transformation Pill at that—had succeeded! Even in the Central Plains, where geniuses gathered like clouds, he could claim to stand first among them!

At that moment, the Amethyst Winged Lion King eagerly flew over from the distance, staring hungrily at the pill before Liu Yu.

"No rush! Someone might come in a moment!"

A jade box appeared in Liu Yu's hand, and he placed the Transformation Pill inside. Then he took a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, removed a Qi Cultivation Pill, and swallowed it, rapidly recovering his Dou Qi.

The commotion caused by the appearance of this High-grade Seventh-rank Pill had been anything but small. Unless something unexpected happened, it would surely attract some uninvited guests!

"Let's go!" Liu Yu barked. Ignoring the Amethyst Winged Lion King's pleading gaze, he turned into a streak of blood-red light and vanished into the horizon.

The Tagor Desert.

"Little Purple, I'll give you the Transformation Pill once we reach our destination!"

High in the sky, a huge purple beast carried a man slowly toward the depths of the desert. The pair were none other than Liu Yu and the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

"Master, the depths of this desert are the Snake-People Tribe's territory. Are we still going farther in?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King asked. He was no longer in a hurry. The Transformation Pill wasn't going anywhere, after all.

"That's my home!" Liu Yu chuckled. After several months away, he had returned!

Home? The Amethyst Winged Lion King was baffled. Master is one of the Snake-People?

"Yes. I grew up there..."

An indescribable expression crossed Liu Yu's face. Though he had not been away long, he still felt that strange apprehension that grew as home drew near. Unbidden, his thoughts turned to the Queen. She had been asleep for so "long." He wondered when she would wake...

"Awooo..."

Just as Liu Yu approached a massive tribal fortress on the Amethyst Winged Lion King's back, a strange cry, somewhere between a wolf's howl and a fox's call, suddenly rang through the sky.

Liu Yu raised his head slightly. An odd, pitch-black bird circled ahead. It was one of the aerial sentries deployed by the Snake-People Tribe.

"Alarm! Alarm! A magical beast is approaching from above! Notify Lady Yue Mei! Spear throwers, ready yourselves! Apply poison and prepare to throw!" As the alarm wailed through the dark night, a cold shout immediately rang out from the walls.

In an instant, hundreds of fully armed Snake-People held their poisoned spears ready to launch.

Feeling those hundreds of hostile gazes, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was somewhat displeased. He hadn't done anything! He wanted to release his aura to intimidate them, but dared not, fearing that it would displease his master.

Just then, a powerful aura rapidly approached the outskirts from within the city.

"Lady Yue Mei!" a tall snake-woman respectfully greeted the alluring snake-woman who had arrived.

Yue Mei did not reply. Instead, she stared solemnly at the ferocious purple beast with wings on his back. The Amethyst Winged Lion King! The overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range! A sixth-rank magical beast!

"Lion King, what brings you to our Charm Snake Tribe? Our Snake-People Tribe and your Magical Beast Mountain Range have always kept our well water clear of each other's river water!"

After signaling the snake-woman beside her with her eyes, Yue Mei's seductive voice acquired a trace of hostility. Whatever the Amethyst Winged Lion King intended, if he truly dared invade their Snake-People Tribe, she would make certain his bones were buried in the desert!

The Amethyst Winged Lion King did not answer. Just as the atmosphere grew taut with drawn swords and strung bows, a teasing voice suddenly came from his back.

"Yue Mei, you ought to get your eyes treated. You actually failed to see me?"

Hearing that familiar voice, Yue Mei froze. Liu Yu?

A figure slowly flew down from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's back. Yue Mei's gaze briefly froze before she immediately put on a smile overflowing with charm. "Chief Liu, isn't that because your concealment skills are so impressive that I couldn't sense you? This Amethyst Winged Lion King is...?"

"My mount. He's one of us," Liu Yu replied lightly.

"Your mount?!" Yue Mei was quite astonished. Using a sixth-rank magical beast as a mount—truly worthy of their Snake-People Tribe's Chief Liu! But then she lowered her voice and asked him, "Can you keep him under control? Should we have the elders help you train him?" (Amethyst Winged Lion King: ...)

"Haha, I'm very strong, and Little Purple is very obedient!" Liu Yu did not know whether to laugh or cry. Let the elders train him? He could already imagine Little Purple's miserable fate.

"Really? How strong? Your big sister would like to give you a try too!" Yue Mei's tone held an elusive meaning.

"Heh, strong enough to slap you dead without any trouble!" Liu Yu chuckled. Who did she think she was teasing?

"Then your big sister really does want to give it a try!" Hearing Liu Yu's words, Yue Mei became somewhat indignant. I admit your talent is extraordinary, she thought, but she was still a Three-Star Dou Wang. They were both Dou Wangs. She did not believe Liu Yu could defeat her in an instant!

"You're too weak! Here, take this." A jade bottle appeared in Liu Yu's hand, and he tossed it to Yue Mei.

Yue Mei caught it instinctively. Looking at the pill inside, she asked curiously, "What's this?"

"A Sixth-grade Dou Ling Spirit Pill. Something that can raise a little Dou Wang like you by one star!"

The moment Liu Yu finished speaking, Yue Mei's red lips parted slightly as she stared at the jade bottle in astonishment. This was a Sixth-Grade Pill that could make any Dou Wang's eyes burn with envy! Liu Yu was a Grade Six Alchemist now?!

This information gap... Ignoring Yue Mei's "ignorant" expression, Liu Yu looked into the distance. He could sense several powerful auras rushing toward them, one of which was even at the Peak Dou Emperor level!

"Yue Mei, which blind fool dares invade our Snake-People Tribe?!" a rough voice called from afar.

The first to appear before Liu Yu was a burly male Snake-Person with a fierce face. Two enormous black python tattoos covered his arms. As his arms moved, the pythons seemed alive, exuding a chilling, savage aura.

Behind him were three Dou Wang experts of the Snake-People Tribe, along with an elderly figure whose aura was difficult to fathom!

"Mo Bass, watch what you say. Chief Liu is listening!" Yue Mei teased. She wanted to see how Mo Bass would react upon learning that the "blind fool" he had mentioned was Liu Yu!

Upon hearing the words "Chief Liu," Mo Bass stopped short, his expression turning somewhat awkward. "Chief Liu, I thought..."

"Mo Bass, it's been a while!" Liu Yu did not mind. He then greeted the other three tribal leaders before finally turning to the old woman. "Third Elder, I didn't expect you to come!"

"You jest, Chief Liu. With the Queen absent, us old women can only come out and stretch our limbs a little." The old woman's hoarse voice sounded like stone scraping across glass, sending an uncomfortable sensation through anyone who heard it. Then she raised her head to look at the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the sky.

Under the old woman's scrutiny, the Amethyst Winged Lion King felt uncomfortable all over, his beastly eyes filled with wariness.

Seeing this, Liu Yu explained once again. Then the group set out for the Snake-People Holy City, with the Amethyst Winged Lion King following silently behind.

The Snake-People Holy City, Elder Hall.

Liu Yu was discussing several matters with the four elders. Meanwhile, after receiving the Transformation Pill, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had gone to an undisturbed place arranged by Hua She'er to take it.

"Elders, what do you think about the relocation?" Liu Yu asked, looking at the four old women.

All four old women nodded, expressing their agreement with Liu Yu's proposal to relocate the Snake-People Tribe. They had no reason whatsoever to refuse.

The Snake-People Tribe's bloodline was cold and yin in nature, making the Tagor Desert unsuitable for them in the first place. The Magical Beast Mountain Range would be much better. Its environment was relatively favorable, and most importantly, its abundant resources would benefit their tribe's development. Besides, Chief Liu had already arranged most things. All that remained was to "say hello" to the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Family, and everything would be settled!

"Chief Liu, might we ask about the Queen?" The old woman seated in the middle, the Grand Elder, looked at Liu Yu and asked.

"The Queen is doing very well. Her bloodline has undergone another transformation, and she's currently asleep. When she wakes again, her strength will probably have reached a terrifying level!" Liu Yu explained to the Grand Elder, feeling somewhat envious himself. If the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's bloodline advanced another step, wouldn't that make her eight-colored? Her strength would at least reach Dou Zun, surely!

This was the benefit of possessing a powerful bloodline. The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python already had boundless potential and the aptitude to become a Dou Sheng. By developing steadily, she would most likely become a Dou Sheng-level expert in the future! But magical beasts with such bloodlines had another shortcut to improving their strength: elevating their bloodline! That was what Liu Yu envied.

"Her bloodline has begun transforming again?!" Even the Grand Elder could not help exclaiming. Queen Medusa had only just transformed into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, and it was already happening again?

After giving Liu Yu a long, searching look, the Grand Elder suppressed her doubts. She was certain this had something to do with him!

"Elders, I have another gift for you!" Liu Yu suddenly smiled mysteriously, took four jade boxes from his Storage Ring, and handed one to each elder.

"This is...?" The Grand Elder gently opened her jade box, revealing a round pill resting inside.

"A Sect Breaking Pill!" The corners of Liu Yu's lips rose slightly. If all four elders used these Sect Breaking Pills to become Dou Zongs, the Snake-People Tribe would rank among the first-rate powers of the entire Northwest Continent!

The four elders moved in astonishing unison, fixing their eyes on Liu Yu. Of course they knew what Sect Breaking Pills were. These were high-grade sixth-rank pills! Their voices were hoarse and shocked. "You've become a Grade Six Alchemist!"

"Grade six? I'm not! Why don't you guess again?" Liu Yu gave a "wicked" smile. Showing off in front of the elders felt pretty good!

The four elders ignored Liu Yu's antics. An idea as fantastical as a tale from the Arabian Nights suddenly surfaced in their minds. The words seemed to possess an invisible magic that prevented them from saying them aloud.

Finally, the Grand Elder, the eldest sister among them, drew a deep breath. Her voice trembled slightly. "A Grade Seven Alchemist!"

"As expected of the Grand Elder. You even guessed that!" Liu Yu chuckled. There was no need to hide it from the four elders. He certainly wouldn't admit that Little Purple, that clueless fellow, had thought only of the Transformation Pill and shown no surprise whatsoever that he was a Grade Seven Alchemist! So he wanted to make his presence felt a little before the four elders...

"Heaven has blessed our Snake-People Tribe..."

Upon hearing Liu Yu's confirmation, the four elders began murmuring incessantly, as though bewitched.

Watching the four elders behave this way, Liu Yu felt a strange pang in his heart. With a soft sigh, he took seven jade bottles from his clothes and "forcibly" interrupted their murmuring. "These are seven Dou Ling Spirit Pills. Please take them for now and give them to the leaders later. I've already given Yue Mei and Hua She'er theirs!"

The four elders did not immediately accept them. Instead, they all bowed deeply to Liu Yu!

"Elders, I'm part of the Snake-People Tribe too. What are you doing? You'll shorten my lifespan like this! If you really want to thank me, why not offer something practical? Hehe!"

Liu Yu hurriedly helped the four elders straighten up and changed the subject.

Hearing his words, the four elders actually began considering the matter seriously. But after thinking carefully, they realized their Snake-People Tribe currently seemed to have nothing they could offer Liu Yu. Suddenly, all four thought of Queen Medusa! They all knew perfectly well about Liu Yu's relationship with the Queen...

After exchanging glances, the Grand Elder finally spoke. "Chief Liu, we have decided to establish a marriage engagement between you and the Queen, then announce it to the Snake-People Tribe. Once the Queen awakens, we can discuss the wedding date. What do you think?"

"Ah! This..."

Liu Yu was utterly dumbfounded. Wasn't this... just too cool?!

Seeing Liu Yu's expression, the Grand Elder understood immediately and made the decision on the spot. "Then it's settled!"

Does this mean I have an official status now? Hehe. Liu Yu was delighted. The four elders understood him all too well.

The Magical Beast Mountain Range. After spending a month with the Snake-People Tribe, Liu Yu had left alone.

The four elders were in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Dou Zong realm. The Eight Leaders and Hua She'er had all gained at least one star with the help of the Dou Ling Spirit Pills. The one thing he had not expected was that Mo Bass would break through two stars in a single push. He wondered whether it was thanks to his deep accumulated foundation or some provocation...

Meanwhile, Little Purple, who had successfully taken human form, had used his status as Chief Liu's mount to earn the chance to select suitable cultivation methods and Dou Techniques from the Snake-People Tribe's treasury. He had also received an Emperor's Extreme Pill from Liu Yu. With his deep foundation and the pill's high quality, he had broken through two stars directly, reaching Five-Star Dou Emperor! Afterward, he remained to guard the Snake-People Tribe on Liu Yu's behalf.

Liu Yu was now preparing for the Snake-People Tribe's relocation. First, he would find several suitable settlement sites deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Then he would seek out Jia Xingtian to "discuss" the Snake-People Tribe's situation. Finally, he would draw on the Mittel Family and the Alchemist Guild's resources to gather supplies and send them to the Magical Beast Mountain Range...

Thanks to Yandong Huashi and Reader 20220625173909708 for the monthly votes!

A quick reminder: the Green Lotus Core Flame has now evolved, so its green color contains traces of blue. When the flame is small, the blue is invisible unless you look carefully. Thus, I'll describe small flames as green from now on. When the flame grows larger, the blue becomes visible, so I'll describe it as a blue-green flame.