"How could this be!"
The chill inside the stone cell seemed to penetrate to the bone, forming a stark contrast to the scorching heat outside the desert.
The intricate binding runes on the wall flickered Youyou, like countless monitoring eyes, effectively isolating the energy fluctuations inside and outside the wall.
Xiao Huohuo frowned, feeling anxious because even Yao Lao couldn't detect the aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame.
"Teacher, even you can't sense the specific location at all?"
Xiao Huohuo asked again, somewhat unwilling to give up.
The feeling of the Heavenly Flames being so close yet so unattainable was like ants gnawing at my heart.
The illusory figure of the Yao Lao appeared within the cold, dark prison cell, his voice tinged with surprise as he addressed the two:
Queen Medusa's methods were more sophisticated than I had imagined.
She either sealed the Heavenly Flames in some ancient container or barrier that could completely isolate her aura, or... she was in a separate spatial interlayer or secret realm.
However, this Snake-People Holy City is their stronghold, especially the temple at the rear, which feels very strange to me. If Queen Medusa really hid the Heavenly Flames, these places are the most likely candidates."
Xiao Yan stood Xiao Yan to one side, his gaze sweeping over the flowing runes on the stone wall.
His Soul Power perception was also greatly suppressed, only able to extend a few feet beyond the stone prison, becoming blurry and indistinct beyond that.
"Let's wait a bit. Even if Queen Medusa wants to do something with the Heavenly Flames, we still have a chance now that we're here."
Xiao Yan calmly comforted Xiao Huohuo:
" Medusa hiding her Heavenly Flames is a good thing in a way; at least it shows she hasn't made a move yet."
As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, a peculiar energy fluctuation faintly emanated from outside the stone prison.
The fluctuation was extremely subtle, but it caused a momentary fluctuation in Xiao Yan's martial soul.
Furthermore, a lofty and imposing aura of coldness flashed by in an instant.
Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo both felt a chill run down their spines. Within the Snake-People Holy City, the two instantly understood what that aura represented.
That's the aura of Queen Medusa!
Although it was only a slight leak, it made the air in the entire dungeon seem to freeze for a moment.
"She's up there." The Yao Lao whispered, his eyes narrowing slightly. "The aura of Queen Medusa is truly terrifying; she's probably reached the pinnacle of power among the entire Snake-People Tribe."
The Yao Lao was somewhat surprised. This Snake-People Tribe queen of the Northwest Continent seemed to be even more powerful than the leaders of several other tribes he had heard of before.
Meanwhile, at the deepest part of the Holy City Temple.
This is not a palace room in the ordinary sense, but an incredibly spacious, circular domed hall that is tens of meters high.
In the center of the hall was a huge altar covered with ancient serpentine script.
Above the altar, the silhouette of an extremely alluring figure could be vaguely seen, enveloped in wisps of colorful energy, appearing and disappearing intermittently.
Below the altar, Yue Mei lay prostrate, her purple snake tail coiled respectfully.
She had changed into a more solemn outfit for the Snake-People Tribe chieftain, and the allure on her face had faded, replaced by absolute reverence.
"Your Majesty, I have captured two suspicious humans deep in the desert. Although they are young, their methods are extremely strange."
Yue Mei lowered her head and gave a detailed account of her encounter with Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo.
It particularly emphasizes Xiao Yan's "non- Dou Qi system power," "the strange halo that appeared beneath his feet," and " the Heavenly Flames."
The seven-colored cocoon of light rippled slightly, and a cold, authoritative, yet endlessly languid and magnetic female voice slowly echoed in the hall:
"Power outside of the Dou Qi system?"
Medusa's voice also carried a hint of surprise.
As a Peak Dou Emperor expert, her knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary people, and she also believed that Yue Mei, as the leader of a clan, would not speak carelessly.
This eerie presence sparked another thought in Medusa's mind: perhaps she didn't need to take this risky step...?
Where are those two now?
"He has been imprisoned in the lowest level of the temple's dungeon, and is being guarded in the ' Nine-Snake Seal ' dungeon personally set up by the elder."
Yue Mei quickly answered.
"Hmm..." Queen Medusa hesitated for a moment before continuing:
"Issue the order: the Holy City shall be placed on the highest alert level from today. No human being is permitted to set foot deep into the Tagor Desert. Anyone found doing so shall be expelled immediately."
You may leave now. Keep a close watch on the dungeon. Report any unusual activity immediately.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Yue Mei bowed respectfully and slowly withdrew from the main hall.
As the heavy temple doors closed again, the figure within the seven-colored cocoon seemed to move slightly. An even more powerful soul perception silently swept across the entire temple area, pausing briefly in the direction of the dungeon.
Xiao Yan's unique Soul Power fluctuations, despite being weakened by layers of sealing, still appeared somewhat incongruous under the deliberate probing of a powerful figure like Queen Medusa, like a faint firefly in the dark.
"A strange power... it's not Dou Qi, yet it possesses a considerable spiritual foundation..."
Within the cocoon of light, Queen Medusa's eerie purple vertical pupils slowly opened, a hint of doubt and wariness flashing across them:
"Looks like I'll have to take a look for myself..."
Inside the stone dungeon, the moment Medusa's Spiritual Soul Power swept across the dungeon, Yao Lao noticed and alerted the two:
" Xiao Xin, Medusa is scouting this area!"
Time passed slowly in a state of repression.
After a long while, Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo finally dared to breathe freely, exchanged a glance, and showed a hint of lingering fear in their eyes.
The two of them naturally couldn't detect Queen Medusa's terrifying Spiritual Soul Power, but Yao Lao didn't hide it from them.
It wasn't until the other party left and the Yao Lao spoke that they belatedly realized what had happened.
Such powerful individuals don't even need to show their faces if they want to kill them.
"We need to get out of here as soon as possible."
The Yao Lao slowly opened his mouth and said to the two of them:
"Although Medusa is powerful, I am not afraid. After leaving the dungeon, I will be able to completely hide your presence."
However, once we leave this place, the Snake-People outside will probably realize what's happening very quickly. At that point, the entire city will be under martial law, making the search for the Heavenly Flames much more difficult.
Let's get away first.
Xiao Yan was not used to being under someone else's surveillance; he didn't want to experience that feeling of being a fish on a chopping board a second time.
"Good."
Xiao Huohuo nodded, and both of them looked at Yao Lao at the same time.
Without the slightest hesitation, Yao Lao unleashed a terrifying Spiritual Soul Power, like a tranquil deep sea, instantly enveloping the entire stone prison and isolating it from all sound and energy leakage.
Immediately afterwards, an extremely pure pale white flame emerged, split in two, and merged into the bodies of Xiao Yan and Xiao Huohuo.
"Note that I'm using Heavenly Flames to conceal your aura fluctuations and avoid his detection of the dungeon's array."
The Yao Lao controlled the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to merge into the two of them.
Xiao Yan felt this power was both gentle and strong, guiding his own Bone Spirit Cold Flame to weave a thin, extremely cold energy membrane on his body surface, the membrane's frequency of which subtly resonated with the earth's veins.
"Actually, I don't need it..."
Xiao Yan spoke, startling Yao Lao and Xiao Huohuo. Then, under their gaze, Xiao Yan's Martial Soul clone suddenly reverted to the form of his Martial Soul, transforming into a flame.
Then, to Xiao Huohuo's surprise, it landed directly on his shoulder.
"This..."
Xiao Huohuo was taken aback, but this made it even easier to hide.
"That makes things much easier." Yao Lao said, though surprised, he attributed it to the special nature of Martial Soul in the Douluo World.
Manipulating a wisp of pale flame, it slowly probed towards the dungeon door lock.
The runic light flowing on the stone prison walls dimmed for an extremely slight, almost imperceptible moment!
"Walk!"
The Yao Lao gave a low shout in Xiao Huohuo's and Xiao Huohuo's hearts, and at the same time, a powerful surge of Spiritual Soul Power flowed into Xiao Huohuo's body.
Xiao Huohuo walked towards the stone door, and the lock on it, which was equipped with special Dou Qi, seemed to melt away. With a gentle tug, Xiao Huohuo broke it!
Xiao Huohuo sensed the outside passage. The Snake-People warriors hadn't noticed anything amiss here. He gently pushed open the cell door and stepped into the shadowy, dimly lit passageway of the dungeon!
Immediately, he suppressed his breathing to a minimum and pressed himself tightly against the wall.
The two Snake-People guards, both at the Da Dou Shi level, remained oblivious and continued their hushed conversation.
The Yao Lao's Spiritual Soul Power was like the most sensitive radar, quickly scanning the surroundings, and his voice rang in their ears:
"Turn left at the third fork in the road. It leads directly to the outside. The patrol teams are still some distance away, so you can temporarily avoid the main patrol routes!"