A dozen snake tribe guards tried to intercept Gu He, only to be reduced to ashes by the pale blue beast flame in his hands. The black-robed figure blocked Hua She'er, the snake tribe's guard captain, allowing Gu He to charge into the city in search of the Heavenly Flame. Xiao Yan, seizing the chaos, slipped in as well.
Gu He's perception couldn't compare to Yao Lao's. Fooled by Queen Medusa's little trick, he went astray, while Xiao Yan, guided by Yao Lao and bolstered by Xiao Heng's earlier advice, found the correct location with calm precision.
Soon, they infiltrated a small lake. The guards along the way were no match for Yao Lao's perception, rendered as good as invisible. The lake's water was laced with deadly poison, and an aerial energy array guarded the skies. Protected by the Bone Spirit Cold Flame, Xiao Yan reached the island at the lake's heart.
The island hosted a small garden, home to a pool of Ice Spirit Cold Spring that made Xiao Yan's heart race. Had it not been for the lotus-shaped cyan flame nearby, he might've stopped to bottle a few vials. The Green Lotus Core Flame was trapped within a light shield fueled by the Ice Spirit Cold Spring's energy. In Xiao Yan's line of sight, Queen Medusa appeared, her form shifting into a massive purple serpent over ten zhang long, beginning her Heavenly Flame-fueled ascension.
Her purple body shrank within the cyan flames, nearly roasting into a charred snake. It dwindled drastically in size. A colossal silver lightning bolt struck from the sky, engulfing the cyan flames and stirring a mist of green vapor.
As the lightning faded, Xiao Yan saw only a blackened serpent corpse on the ground, thoroughly scorched. Just as he moved to claim the Heavenly Flame, a faint aura emerged from the charred remains. The dark corpse suddenly exploded, forcing Xiao Yan to leap back.
All eyes turned to the scene, searching the wreckage for signs of life. A flash of seven-colored light streaked past, and a tiny snake, barely two centimeters long, appeared before Xiao Yan. Its body shimmered with elegant, regal seven-colored scales.
"This must be what Brother Heng told us to find!" Xiao Yan said.
"That's it. That kid knows a lot!" Yao Lao praised.
"But why does this seven-colored snake's soul feel… off? It's not Queen Medusa's. It's like an idiot's!" Xiao Yan poked the snake.
"Probably amnesia," Yao Lao said offhandedly.
"Makes sense. Just don't know when it'll recover," Xiao Yan agreed.
"Who cares? It's what that kid wants. He's surely got a plan," Yao Lao said nonchalantly, noting it wouldn't recover anytime soon.
"Right, the Heavenly Flame's the priority!" Xiao Yan stuffed the seven-colored snake into his robes. It offered no resistance.
Using the Green Lotus Seat, Xiao Yan secured the Green Lotus Core Flame. "Hurry and leave. You can't store the Heavenly Flame in a storage ring," Yao Lao warned.
Queen Medusa's defensive barrier shattered, and Xiao Yan, clutching the Green Lotus Seat, fled the city at breakneck speed. The remaining leaders of the snake tribe's eight major tribes began to converge.
The outer purple light curtain collapsed, and Gu He's group rushed in to investigate, finding nothing. With the snake tribe's eight Dou Wang leaders assembled, Gu He's party was in trouble.
Unable to store the Green Lotus Core Flame in a ring, Xiao Yan's escape drew attention. Gu He's group spotted him, and the snake tribe leaders, unwilling to let them flee, gave chase. The black-robed figure held them off, allowing Gu He's group to pursue Xiao Yan.
The snake tribe's three Dou Wang leaders couldn't stop the black-robed Dou Huang. Sensing more reinforcements arriving, the black-robed figure withdrew. Yue Mei and two others, aided by the newcomers, broke through the black-robed figure's techniques. Five streaks of light chased after the black-robed figure, with Xiao Yan in the lead, followed by Gu He's trio, then the black-robed figure, and finally the snake tribe's five Dou Wangs.
Four groups of powerhouses tore through the desert. Xiao Yan's flight speed, reliant on his own power, couldn't match the Dou Wang-level Gu He trio. When the black-robed Dou Huang closed in, Yao Lao possessed Xiao Yan.
With a Dou Huang "experience card," Xiao Yan's speed surged, stunning Gu He's group. It rivaled a wind attribute Dou Huang's pace, leaving them helpless.
Still, Gu He's trio didn't give up, trailing Xiao Yan's path, though falling further behind. The black-robed figure caught up, but with the snake tribe's five Dou Wangs closing in, they had to pursue alone.
Gu He's trio split up to escape, while their earlier Dou Ling followers were likely done for. Xiao Heng, who'd been lying low, finally appeared. A faint silver glow enveloped him, and his speed skyrocketed.
He caught up to Xiao Yan. Having stayed on the outskirts, he couldn't immediately track Xiao Yan's escape route. Fortunately, his Di Class High-Level movement technique made up for it, or he might not have beaten Yun Yun to Xiao Yan. Wind attribute Dou Huangs were faster than fire attribute ones, after all.
"Little Yan-zi, not bad speed!" Xiao Heng said, with faint blue wings tinged with silver light.
"Here's the snake. The pursuers are yours!" Xiao Yan tossed the sleeping seven-colored snake to Xiao Heng.
"Keep running. Don't worry about me. We'll meet in Stone Desert City," Xiao Heng said, catching the snake and tucking it into his sleeve. Startled awake, it dozed off again after a drop of energy liquid.
Newborn snakes are so easy to handle, Xiao Heng thought.
"Got it. Stone Desert City!" Xiao Yan vanished in a few blinks.
Xiao Heng hovered in place, blood-red saber in hand, waiting for Yun Yun. The snake tribe's Dou Wangs? With his Heavenly Flame, they'd be no trouble.
A distant black dot grew larger. As it neared, Yun Yun tried to zip past with her speed advantage, but Xiao Heng blocked her. His movement technique was superior.
"Such a young Dou Huang!" Yun Yun, in her black robe, marveled at the youthful figure who'd thwarted her repeatedly.
"Why stop me? What did he offer you? I can pay more," she said, opening with a bribe.
"He's my dearest kin!" Xiao Heng said, feigning reluctance.
"So you won't budge?" Yun Yun's tone turned icy.
"Add some coin. You're not bad—spend a night with me, and I'll step aside," Xiao Heng teased.
"Do you know who I am? Aren't you afraid of making enemies?" Yun Yun's voice carried urgency. If she didn't hurry, she'd lose her chance.
"Even if you're Yun Shan or Jia Xing Tian, you're staying here," Xiao Heng said with a grin. Pale blue Dou Zhi Qi surged within him, ready for a fight.
"Let's see your strength, then!" Yun Yun said coldly. A faintly glowing cyan sword appeared in her hand. Cyan Dou Zhi Qi erupted, and with a swing, a cyan tornado roared toward Xiao Heng.
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