A difficult problem

"Big brother, can you save her?"

Xiao Huohuo knew Long Xiao possessed heaven-reaching abilities. With Yao Lao refusing to come out, only he could save Xiao Yi Xian.

"Yes."

Long Xiao pressed his palm against Xiao Yi Xian's shoulder, and a surge of poisonous gas swiftly spread to his arm.

But as soon as the Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame emerged, the poisonous gas burned with a sizzling hiss.

Xiao Yi Xian's body seemed to be heating up, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on her skin.

"Move farther back. Don't go near her."

After speaking, Long Xiao added several more clusters of golden flame, surrounding Xiao Yi Xian.

Everyone hurriedly retreated at his words.

"Mmm..."

Xiao Yi Xian let out a painful moan, suddenly opened her eyes, and violently spat out a mouthful of poisonous blood. Her face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Xiao Yi Xian!"

Xiao Huohuo hurried forward and helped her sit up.

"You're Xiao Huohuo...? Cough, cough, cough..."

Xiao Yi Xian coughed violently, staining the clothes over her chest red.

"Yes, I'm Xiao Huohuo. Xiao Yi Xian, how are you feeling?"

Xiao Huohuo watched her anxiously, terrified that something might happen to her.

Xiao Yi Xian gave a weak smile. "I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me."

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Xiao Huohuo, then at the others before her, confusion crossing her face. Finally, her gaze settled on Long Xiao's hand.

"Were you the one who woke me?"

Long Xiao nodded gently.

Xiao Huohuo hurriedly told Xiao Yi Xian everything that had happened.

"Thank you, Big Brother Long Xiao," Xiao Yi Xian said gratefully.

"Xiao Yi Xian, do you remember what happened before? How did you end up here?"

Xiao Huohuo hurriedly asked.

Pain surfaced in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes. She clutched her chest, her face turning pale as tears streamed down. She lowered her head and remained silent.

"I... don't know how I ended up here either. After I arrived in the Chu Yun Empire, I met an elderly couple. They treated me very well, and I lived with them... But one day, my Woeful Poison Body erupted, and everyone in the village died. They died at my hands."

Xiao Yi Xian spoke slowly, her eyes filled with deep sorrow and self-reproach.

"Afterward, I brought their bodies up this mountain to bury them, but some unknown force brought me here. I can't remember what happened after that."

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes reddened, and her voice choked with sobs.

The elderly couple's kindness to her had been as weighty as a mountain, yet she had killed them. To her, it was an unforgivable mistake.

Xiao Yi Xian cried harder and harder, her eyes growing wet and her face pale.

"Xiao Yi Xian, don't cry. No matter what, I'm your friend. I'll definitely find a way to resolve your Woeful Poison Body."

"Can you really save me? I don't want to lose any more loved ones."

Xiao Yi Xian raised her head and looked at Xiao Huohuo, a light of hope flickering in her eyes.

"If it's a matter of resolving the Woeful Poison Body, I do have a way."

Long Xiao's calm voice sounded beside Xiao Yi Xian's ear.

"Really?" Xiao Yi Xian immediately grabbed Long Xiao's hand, her face filled with delighted surprise.

The Woeful Poison Body had plagued her for so many years, and at last, she had heard some good news.

The corners of Long Xiao's mouth lifted slightly. "What's so difficult about that? I'll help you resolve it once we're out. For now, let's find a way to leave."

"Thank you, big brother."

Xiao Huohuo solemnly bowed to Long Xiao.

Long Xiao waved a hand, indicating there was no need for such courtesy. Wasn't it merely a matter of resolving a poison body? If he truly wanted to, he even had ways to bring the dead back to life.

"By the way, Xiao Yi Xian, you've been here so long. Do you know what exactly is in this place?"

Long Xiao asked.

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head. She didn't know what was here either.

"Although I don't know what secrets this place holds, I do know the path leading farther down. But..."

"But what?"

Seeing Xiao Yi Xian hesitate, Long Xiao pressed her.

"But to get through, you have to pass a test. It's very, very difficult."

At her words, Xiao Huohuo immediately perked up. "Tests are what I do best! Don't worry. Even if I can't manage it, there's still my big brother!"

"All right."

Xiao Yi Xian hesitated for a moment, then nodded and led everyone onward.

After walking through the cave for roughly ten minutes, they finally reached a large door. Written on it were the words: answer three questions to pass.

At the sight, Long Xiao instantly didn't know whether to laugh or cry. There was even an intelligence test? What sort of bizarre fellow's cultivation grounds were these?

"The test is just answering questions? What's so hard about that?"

Excitement filled Xiao Huohuo's face as he rolled up his sleeves, ready to show his stuff. He was determined to answer every last question.

Seeing Xiao Huohuo about to step forward, Xiao Yi Xian hurriedly stopped him.

"The questions are really difficult."

Xiao Yi Xian said.

Xiao Huohuo refused to believe it and insisted on trying. Unable to dissuade him, Xiao Yi Xian could only let him go.

Xiao Huohuo touched the stone door, and a line of text immediately appeared.

Question one: which is the longest-the Nine Nether Python, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, the Fire Spirit Snake, the Black Water Mysterious Snake, or the red snake?

The question made Xiao Huohuo's head spin. What the hell kind of bullshit trap was this?

He didn't even recognize these magical beasts. How was he supposed to know which was longest?

How vast a store of knowledge would that require?

Besides, didn't it depend on which one ate well and grew big?

Seeing Xiao Huohuo's expression, Xiao Yi Xian and Long Xiao couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"I only recognize the red snake and the Fire Spirit Snake. Comparing those two, the Fire Spirit Snake can grow to two hundred meters, so it should be the longest, right?" Iron Protector said after a moment's thought.

Elder Hai was even more lost in the fog. If Medusa had been among the choices, he would definitely have picked her. That beautiful snake-woman was vicious as hell.

Holy shit!

Long Xiao looked at them helplessly. Were you... actually taking this question seriously?

Wasn't the answer obvious?

"I'll do it!"

Utterly speechless, Long Xiao stepped forward, pulled Xiao Huohuo back, and wrote on the door: Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.

The words "correct answer" immediately appeared on the stone door.

"As expected of my big brother! You're truly knowledgeable, recognizing so many snakes. Someone from the Snake-People Tribe really is different."

Seeing Long Xiao get it right on his first try, Xiao Huohuo offered his flattery with heartfelt admiration.

"Are you all idiots?"

Before Xiao Huohuo could finish flattering him, Long Xiao gave him an enormous eye roll.

"Wasn't the answer written right there? Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python has five characters. Of course it's the longest of all the answers."

Everyone froze. What the hell?

You could play it like that?

After comparing the answers, they found there really didn't seem to be anything wrong with his reasoning!

Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python really was the longest!

It was actually that simple!

Iron Protector looked embarrassed. A dignified Soul Hall Protector, and he hadn't even spotted it!

"You can actually answer questions like that!"

Xiao Huohuo also felt annoyed with himself for not thinking of it.

Xiao Yi Xian giggled to herself at the side. Long Xiao really was the most handsome and the smartest.