The Snake-People Tribe's Plot

"Strange. I remember there being some snake-type magical beasts around here. How come we haven't found a single one after all this time?"

Xiao Yan had spent a long time searching with Qing Lin, only to discover that wherever the wind and sand swept, there wasn't a single target to be found. He couldn't help feeling puzzled.

Qing Lin said nothing when she heard him. She merely lowered her head, full of disappointment at having failed to help Xiao Yan.

Just then, a rustling sound rang out.

The two looked toward the sound and saw a group of figures slowly approaching from afar.

But the way they moved was very strange.

They twisted their waists and swayed their bottoms, moving with a mincing gait.

Seeing this, Qing Lin was just about to ask about them when Xiao Yan suddenly covered her mouth.

"Shh, don't make a sound. Those are Snake-People."

Xiao Yan carried Qing Lin behind a nearby cactus, holding an index finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.

Qing Lin nodded, and only then did Xiao Yan put her down.

Xiao Yan poked his head slightly through a gap and caught sight of the passing Snake-People out of the corner of his eye.

His mind jolted, and he immediately concentrated his soul power around his ears and listened carefully.

"Hiss~ Lady Yue Mei really is brilliant! She actually thought of using a secret method to refine the souls of snake-type magical beasts, then release bait to provoke a beast tide."

"Isn't she? Once we sweep up all the rare snake-type magical beasts in the surrounding area in one net, the Jia Ma Empire's end will be at hand."

"Then who's our first target?"

"Stone Desert City, I'd say! I hear it's well situated and is one of the important defensive lines on the Jia Ma Empire's border. Once we take it, we can take advantage of the opening and move in."

"Good idea. It looks like our Snake-People Tribe will soon be living in a real world of oases."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan's face darkened as he hid beside the cactus.

Just then, a conversation he had had with Xiao Ding in his previous life flashed through his mind, and his brows furrowed.

"Your second brother used to complain all the time that I didn't keep you by my side. But now that I think about it, we nearly lost our lives during our travels through the Jia Ma Empire. If you'd been there, I'm afraid it would have been even more dangerous..."

Xiao Yan clutched his chest, a mixture of emotions in his heart as he thought:

So what he said back then was true... They really did go through a war.

He clenched his fists and muttered to himself, a vicious look in his eyes:

"Snake-People Tribe, you'll pay for what you've done today."

In his previous life, he had met Queen Medusa by chance, so he had some ties to the Snake-People Tribe.

But now that the Snake-People Tribe meant to harm the people around him, he naturally wouldn't hold back.

"Young Master Xiao Yan..."

Seeing the strange look on Xiao Yan's face, Qing Lin spoke with concern.

Xiao Yan waved a hand. "It's nothing. I just remembered some things from the past."

Qing Lin breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good!"

The youth smiled, then pointed an index finger in the direction the Snake-People had gone and said calmly:

"Let's go. We don't need to look for snake-type magical beasts anymore. Catching a few Snake-People who've strayed from the group will do just as well."

In the north of the continent, there were barbarian tribes capable of merging with beast souls, and similar races also existed on the Northwest Continent.

Every member of the Snake-People Tribe had the soul of a snake-type magical beast implanted at birth.

So, in essence, they would all eventually assimilate into true snake-type magical beasts; only their forms were different.

"Oh, so that's how it is..."

Qing Lin murmured thoughtfully, the tip of her index finger in her mouth.

"Stay here and don't run around. Your young master will catch one for you to control right now."

As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, he leaped up and used his movement technique, stepping across the yellow sand as he raced toward a spot not far away.

"Ah! Young Master, be careful..."

Watching Xiao Yan's departing figure gradually swallowed by the wind and sand, Qing Lin called out softly in alarm. She held her two little pink fists before her chest and prayed.

"Suction Palm!"

Xiao Yan gave a low shout and clenched his hand. A burst of Dou Qi suction surged from his palm, pulling over a Snake-Person at the very back of the group.

"Ah~"

The Snake-Person was just about to scream when Xiao Yan knocked the Snake-Person out with a palm strike. The Snake-Person fell to the ground, unconscious.

After watching the other Snake-People walk away, Xiao Yan withdrew his gaze, picked up the Snake-Person, and turned to bound away.

A short while later, Xiao Yan returned to the cactus and tossed the Snake-Person to the ground.

Qing Lin rushed over, threw her arms tightly around Xiao Yan, and sobbed:

"Young Master, you're finally back! Qing Lin was so scared! Boo-hoo~"

Patting Qing Lin on the head, Xiao Yan comforted her:

"Don't be afraid. I'm here."

Once the girl had calmed down, Xiao Yan brought her over to examine the Snake-Person.

To their surprise, the Snake-Person was a beautiful snake woman, with a rather lovely face and a fiery figure. The pink scales on her tail were especially enchanting.

Xiao Yan pointed at the Snake-Person and opened her left eye, then asked Qing Lin:

"Give it a try and see if you can control her."

The girl nodded slightly, then raised a hand to cover her heart and recalled the complicated emotions that had surged within her at the inn.

She soon entered the proper state. Green light shot from her eyes, locking onto the vertical pupil in the Snake-Person's left eye.

The next moment, three exquisite green petals rotated in the white of her eye and were copied onto the Snake-Person's eye.

A moment later, the girl withdrew her gaze and signaled Xiao Yan to open the other eye.

After he did so, the girl repeated what she had just done, then said:

"Young Master Xiao Yan, Qing Lin thinks there's no problem now, but to be safe, we should tie her up first."

Xiao Yan snorted. "There's no need. She can't get away..."

With that, he signaled the girl to step back a few paces, then took a bucket of water from his Storage Ring and splashed it over the beautiful snake woman.

The shock of the cold water quickly roused her. She looked at Xiao Yan in terror and said:

"Who are you! Where am I? What did you capture me for?"

Because of the different paths they chose as they grew, male Snake-People tended toward violence, while female Snake-People placed more emphasis on cultivating their physical advantages. As a result, the seductive looks of female Snake-People were extremely well known in the Jia Ma Empire.

To make money, mercenaries also frequently captured female Snake-People and sold them at high prices to people in the interior for their amusement and pleasure.

That was why the female Snake-Person lost her composure at the sight of Xiao Yan.

But Xiao Yan had no intention of showing her any tenderness. He simply gave a cold snort, grabbed her head, and turned it toward Qing Lin.

"What are you doing? Let go of me!"

The female Snake-Person struggled, trying to break free of Xiao Yan's grip, but it was no use.

The moment Xiao Yan turned her head far enough for her to see Qing Lin, three green petals abruptly appeared in her eyes, giving off an eerie green glow.

The female Snake-Person soon lost consciousness and remained motionless beside Xiao Yan.

The youth breathed a sigh of relief. "Looks like it worked!"

Then he called out to Qing Lin, "Come over here, Little Qing Lin."

The girl took small steps across the scorching sand with her jade feet and slowly approached Xiao Yan.

Peeking out from behind him, Qing Lin studied the female Snake-Person's face with a pair of big, curious eyes.

Xiao Yan reached out and rubbed the girl's little cheek, then pointed at the female Snake-Person. A triumphant smile appeared on his face as he said:

"Little Qing Lin, help me question this female Snake-Person and find out what plot the Snake-People Tribe is hatching this time!"