Gu He's Regret!

After leaving the Snake-People Tribe's Sacred Hall, the two elders, Snake Ji and Ji Xuan, along with the two chiefs, Yue Mei and Mo Bass, flew straight out of the Holy City.

Sending two Dou Emperors and two Dou Wangs of the Snake-People Tribe to capture Pill King Gu He was already paying him quite an honor.

Chen Xuan had arranged it this way to leave nothing to chance. After all, as a Sixth-Grade Alchemist, Pill King Gu He might well have a few means of protecting himself.

"Pill King Gu He split up with Jia Xingtian and the others, but he shouldn't have gone too far yet."

Great Elder Snake Ji narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke slowly as she sensed the lingering traces in the air.

The Snake-People Tribe's senses were naturally sharper than those of humans, all the more so for a Dou Huang expert like Snake Ji.

A moment later, her eyes snapped open, and she looked in one direction across the Tagor Desert. "This way!"

Hearing her, Yue Mei and the others exchanged glances. Their Dou Qi Wings beat, and they turned into streaks of light, racing in that direction.

The Tagor Desert was immensely vast, with raging winds and sand. Even with the Snake-People Tribe's senses, finding someone in that boundless desert was difficult.

After pursuing him through the desert for a long time, Snake Ji and the others suddenly stopped, their eyes growing grave.

"His trail is gone!"

Great Elder Snake Ji's expression darkened as she spoke.

Pill King Gu He truly lived up to his name. He naturally left no cracks for anyone to slip through.

The fact that he dared venture into the Snake-People Tribe's territory meant he had plans of his own. Naturally, he had ways to evade pursuit and conceal his presence.

"Gu He may have concealed his presence, but he can't have gone far. He must still be somewhere nearby. Split up and search. We must capture Pill King Gu He!"

Beside her, Elder Ji Xuan pondered for a moment before speaking, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Snake Ji, Ji Xuan, Yue Mei, and Mo Bass scattered in four directions, extending their senses to ensure they overlooked not a single inch of land.

Shortly after the four departed, a figure slowly emerged at the spot where Snake Ji had split off.

It was none other than Pill King Gu He!

"The Snake-People Tribe... I'm in serious trouble now!"

Watching the four members of the Snake-People Tribe go their separate ways, Gu He spoke with a grim expression.

Just as Elder Ji Xuan had guessed, Gu He had concealed his presence.

Not long after leaving the Snake-People Holy City, he suddenly sensed someone powerful tracking him. A moment's thought told him he had been marked.

He swiftly swallowed a Concealment Pill, masking his presence.

Although he had harbored suspicions, he had not expected his pursuers to truly be experts from the Snake-People Tribe.

Pill King Gu He now understood the Snake-People Tribe's strength. They had five Dou Huang experts and were immensely powerful.

Now, to deal with a mere Dou Wang like him, they had dispatched two Dou Emperors and two Dou Wangs. They must have set their sights on what he possessed.

The Transformation Pill and the Emperor's Extreme Pill.

These were both high-grade pills that could greatly strengthen the Snake-People Tribe.

"It seems I was too impatient. This really might be throwing a meat bun to a dog-gone, never to return!"

At that thought, Gu He could not help giving a bitter smile.

In pursuit of the Heavenly Flames, he had revealed enough wealth to make even the Snake-People Tribe's eyes burn with greed. It would have been strange if they hadn't come to capture him.

Looking toward where Elder Snake Ji had departed, Gu He thought briefly, then headed straight for the nearest Human Race city. As long as he could enter the city, his chances of escaping pursuit would improve greatly.

"Damn it, we were fooled."

After searching dozens of miles around without success, Great Elder Snake Ji suddenly realized what had happened. Her expression darkened, and she headed straight back to where they had split up.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

At the same time, Yue Mei and the others also noticed something amiss and returned to their original spot.

"A presence appeared here just now. It was definitely Pill King Gu He."

Although the trace was extremely faint, Elder Snake Ji still discovered the telltale threads.

"After him!" The four exchanged glances, then flew straight in the direction Gu He had taken.

Meanwhile, Gu He was already straining with every ounce of strength he possessed, racing toward the nearest human city.

He knew his little trick could not fool Snake Ji and the others for long. They would probably catch up very soon. Only by entering a human city would he have a sliver of hope.

"Gu He!"

"Where do you think you're running?!"

Suddenly, a shout rang out from the sky behind him, and several terrifying presences accelerated toward him.

Damn it!

That fast?!

Hearing the shout, Gu He's expression changed drastically. His aura surged from his entire body, revealing his strength as a Late-Stage Dou Wang.

He pushed his speed to the limit, hoping against hope to escape their pursuit.

But...

The gulf in strength was enormous. For two Dou Emperors like Snake Ji and Elder Ji Xuan, catching a Dou Wang like Gu He was naturally a simple matter.

Rumble!

Terrifying auras shook the air as surging Dou Qi energy poured from the two elders' bodies.

Soon, Gu He was surrounded by Yue Mei and the other three.

"Snake-People Tribe elders, may I ask why you've stopped me?"

Looking at Snake Ji and the others surrounding him, Gu He's expression darkened.

"Master Gu He, Her Majesty, the queen of our Snake-People Tribe, wishes to catch up with you. We hope you will pay our tribe a visit."

Great Elder Snake Ji smiled as she spoke.

Catch up?!

Gu He's face was full of helplessness. He had only just left the Snake-People Tribe. What was there to catch up on?

If he truly went back into the Snake-People Tribe, he feared even his life would be in danger.

"Please inform Her Majesty that I have urgent matters to attend to. I will certainly visit the Snake-People Tribe another day."

As he looked at Snake Ji and the others, Gu He's expression shifted.

"Gu He, listen to me! You're coming today whether you like it or not. Do you really want us to use force?"

Watching Gu He's shifting expression, Mo Bass could not help roaring in anger.

The moment Mo Bass finished speaking, Snake Ji and the others unleashed their auras.

The auras of two Dou Emperors and two Dou Wangs shook the surrounding space, their terrifying pressure instantly bearing down on Gu He.

"Elders, if you want the Transformation Pill and the Emperor's Extreme Pill, I'll give them to you. Just let me leave."

Facing Great Elder Snake Ji and the others' surging auras, Gu He spoke through gritted teeth, his face livid.

These could be considered his entire fortune. He had never imagined they would end up benefiting these members of the Snake-People Tribe.

"You jest, Master Gu He. We certainly aren't here for your personal wealth. Her Majesty merely instructed us that she wished to see you."

"As long as you return with us, Master Gu He, nothing will happen. Otherwise, don't blame us for being discourteous."

Great Elder Snake Ji looked at the livid Gu He and spoke in an even voice.

Hearing Great Elder Snake Ji's words, Gu He's heart sank.

What are they planning?!

Do they want not only my pills, but to keep me imprisoned as well?

To make me refine pills for their Snake-People Tribe?

But faced with the encirclement of these four experts-two Dou Emperors and two Dou Wangs-he had no chance of escaping.

At that moment, he could not help regretting coming to the Snake-People Tribe to trade for the Heavenly Flames.

He had brought this upon himself, throwing a meat bun to a dog. If things went badly, he might even lose his life in the Tagor Desert.