Snake-People Tribe

Upon reaching the bottom of the magma, Jia Lie Jun hurriedly jumped onto the Lotus Platform, but the sight atop it left him dumbfounded. The Lotus Platform was completely empty.

"Damn it, I really was too late." Jia Lie Jun cursed inwardly a few times, then said hatefully, "Medusa, you little wench, you actually dared steal my Heavenly Flames. Just wait until I catch you. I'll show you how I'll deal with you." Hearing this, the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake looked at him with open contempt.

"What's with that look? Looking down on me? Even if I can't deal with Medusa, don't tell me I can't deal with you, you stupid snake." Jia Lie Jun felt stifled inside, so he could only use the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake as a punching bag. After venting for a while, his mood finally eased quite a bit. In truth, he knew very well that even if he had come early to search for the Green Lotus Core Flame, it would have been useless. With insufficient strength, he probably could not even have descended into the magma, let alone absorb the Heavenly Flames.

Looking at the empty Lotus Platform, Jia Lie Jun sighed. Then he leaped down, wrapped both arms around the Lotus Platform, and exerted his strength, actually uprooting it completely. Jia Lie Jun clapped his hands, jumped onto the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's head, and clamped down hard with his legs. Seeing that the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake did not move an inch, he patted its head and said unhappily, "Hey, why are you such a stupid snake and so bad at taking a hint? Look at how sensible horses are." The Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake let out a few low whimpers, as though venting its dissatisfaction.

On the shore, Qing Lin squatted on a rock, her two eyes faintly glowing green as they stared unblinkingly at the surface of the magma. Her pretty face was tense, her brows tightly furrowed, and worry covered her features. With a splash, a man and a beast surfaced.

"Brother Jun, did you find the Heavenly Flames?" Qing Lin hurriedly stood up, and the worry on her pretty face immediately vanished, replaced by a bright smile.

Jia Lie Jun shook his head. After pondering for a moment, he said solemnly, "Qing Lin, I'm going deep into the Tagor Desert. For the days ahead, stay here and don't go anywhere. With the Twin-Headed Fire Spirit Snake guarding you, I imagine there won't be any danger."

Hearing this, tears instantly filled Qing Lin's eyes. Her eyes reddened, her mouth turned down, and she sobbed, "Brother Jun, you don't want me anymore?" Her tone carried a trace of grief and pleading.

Jia Lie Jun crouched down and gently wiped the tears from the corners of Qing Lin's eyes, saying softly, "Brother Jun won't abandon you. It's just that I'm going into the depths of the desert, and it's full of danger. I don't have absolute confidence that I can protect you there."

"Really?" Qing Lin's eyes held a hint of doubt. She had never met anyone who did not despise her. In the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, everyone had treated her with eyes full of hatred and attacked her with vicious words. This was the first time she had met someone who treated her so well, and she was extremely reluctant to part.

"Of course it's true. Brother Jun will pinky swear with you." One large and one small little finger hooked together, their thumbs pressed against each other, and only then did Qing Lin break into a smile through her tears. Then Jia Lie Jun took out the Divine Movement Chapter from his Storage Ring and handed it to Qing Lin, saying with a serious expression, "For the next while, cultivate the Divine Movement Chapter properly."

Qing Lin took it and hugged it to her chest, as though she were holding a rare treasure, then obediently nodded. Jia Lie Jun then took Qing Lin's soft little hand, took out a Storage Ring, and placed it on her jade-like finger, which resembled a tender green onion. He instructed, "Inside the Storage Ring is some food and clothing, as well as some medicinal pills that nourish the soul. Also, remember this no matter what: don't run around outside. Stay by the Fire Spirit Snake's side at all times. Once I find the Heavenly Flames, I'll come back for you."

He stroked Qing Lin's forehead, then spread his Purple Cloud Wings and flew out of the cave entrance. "Brother Jun, I'll wait for you." Qing Lin placed her soft little hands by her mouth, forming them into a trumpet, and shouted loudly toward the cave entrance, until Jia Lie Jun's figure disappeared into the sky.

The vast, boundless desert was nothing but monotonous yellow as far as the eye could see. It was noon, and the enormous blazing sun hung high in the sky like a ball of fire, freely releasing its heat. Scorching sunlight spilled over the golden desert, baking it until smoke seemed to rise from the sand. The air was exceptionally dry, without the slightest trace of moisture. Occasionally, a breeze blew past, stirring up waves of yellow sand.

In the endless desert, a figure slowly appeared. The person was disheveled, his hair covered in yellow sand, and he looked rather wretched. Dragging heavy footsteps, he slowly climbed onto a towering dune and looked around. Under the blazing sun, Jia Lie Jun took out the map and studied it for a while. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and cursed, "Still this far away. Medusa, you stinking wench, just you wait. Queen, huh? Hmph, watch me whip you."

After traveling for more than ten days, he had only covered a little over half the distance. Originally, he had used the Purple Cloud Wings to hurry along, but over the course of the journey, he discovered that there was a Snake-People Tribe every few kilometers, all fully armed and seemingly on guard. Jia Lie Jun worried that flying through the air would make him too easy to spot, so he advanced on foot. Even so, he had experienced several battles along the way. Fortunately, Jia Lie Jun struck extremely quickly and dealt with the snake-people before they could send out word.

Jia Lie Jun licked his dry, cracked lips, took out the water pouch tied at his waist, and shook it, only to find it completely empty. He looked at the several oases marked on the map; they were extremely far from his current location, and getting water would probably take dozens of days of walking. The nearest oasis was also close to a Snake-People Tribe.

"Damn it, I'm going for it. I even dare to go to Medusa's castle, so a mere Snake-People Tribe doesn't scare me." Jia Lie Jun steeled his heart, then rushed toward the Snake-People Tribe dozens of li away.

Night fell, and a bright full moon slowly climbed high into the sky. Clear moonlight spilled over the desert, as though draping the great desert in a thin silver veil. Countless stars, with darkness as their backdrop, were scattered across the entire sky like pearls. A Milky Way stretched across the heavens, as though splitting the night sky in two.

Beneath the moonlight, a purple figure sprinted wildly at high speed. Because the desert night was too cold, Jia Lie Jun had no choice but to summon Purple Fire to resist the chill. Suddenly, Jia Lie Jun stopped atop a small dune. Standing on the high dune and looking ahead, he saw a lake, neither large nor small, glittering under the starlight, its surface shimmering with ripples. Beside the lake, there was actually a dense little grove. Jia Lie Jun took a deep breath, and the fresh air carried a faint fragrance of green grass.

Jia Lie Jun changed into night-traveling clothes. Using the dim sky as cover, he swiftly and silently crept toward the lake, finally leaping into the dense grove. Lying on the grassy ground, lightly smelling the fragrance of the grass, Jia Lie Jun carefully parted the concealing branches and looked toward the tents. Outside the tents, several graceful snake-women stood on guard, their vigilant gazes sweeping the surroundings from time to time. The weapons in their hands gleamed coldly under the moonlight.