Seeing Qing Lin, encouraged by him, tugging at Hai Bodong's white beard while Hai Bodong's smile remained unchanged, Xiao Feng felt at ease.
Before leaving, he first comforted Qing Lin for a while, then called Hai Bodong aside.
"Old Mister, don't be angry either. Building a good relationship with this little girl will do you no harm," Xiao Feng said seriously.
"Just a moment ago, it was 'Old fellow'."
At this moment, Hai Bodong had no temper left. With a bitter smile, he looked back at Qing Lin and didn't sense anything unusual. However, coming from Xiao Feng's mouth, he had to take it seriously. "What makes this little girl so different?"
Xiao Feng looked at Hai Bodong with a half-smile until the latter stopped asking and promised to take good care of Qing Lin. Only then did Xiao Feng nod. "I don't know how long this trip to find the sand mandara will take. Please put in some effort, Old Mister."
The corners of Hai Bodong's eyes twitched. With a knife practically at his throat, what else could he do besides putting in effort?
...The Tagore Desert was vast and boundless. Even a Dou Master wouldn't dare explore it alone. Besides the threat of the Snake-People, the endless sea of sand itself was a danger.
People getting lost in the desert were common. Even shortly after stepping into it and not having traveled far, Xiao Feng had already seen many skeletons half-buried in the yellow sand.
Ding!
Another Yellow Sand Magic Scorpion lunged from the sand, thrusting its tail stinger at Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng ignored it completely, letting the stinger strike his ankle, leaving only a faint white mark before bouncing off.
This Rank 1 Yellow Sand Magic Scorpion, refusing to believe its failure, stung again. Finally, it could only watch as the man walked further away. It crawled out of the sand, scratched its head in confusion, and crawled back in.
"The aura of earth and fire is so dense." Xiao Feng sighed. By now, Stone Desert City was almost invisible behind him. He couldn't help but open the map to re-confirm his direction.
"Snake-People, Queen Medusa, Sealing Techniques..." A hint of anticipation flashed in Xiao Feng's eyes.
Having confirmed his direction, Xiao Feng set off again, heading straight for the Sacred City of the Snake-People Tribe!
The sand mandara grew in the Sacred City, but Xiao Feng was too lazy to search for it; he planned to talk directly with Queen Medusa.
Xiao Feng cultivated as he traveled. Now, there was no need to deliberately sit cross-legged in meditation; the Cultivation Technique within him operated spontaneously at all times. Just as blood carries oxygen to the body, his Dantian absorbed Dou Qi every moment.
Relying on the supplies in his storage ring, it took Xiao Feng twelve days to finally encounter the Snake-People.
A marvelous species with a human upper body and a snake lower body. After seeing them with his own eyes, Xiao Feng couldn't help but marvel.
Of course, the Snake-People being scrutinized with such a gaze didn't have pleasant expressions. Their eyes, already full of hatred, gained an extra layer of disgust.
"Human! What exactly are you doing here! Do you want to start a war!"
That Snake-Person was blustering but didn't dare step forward.
When his companions had rushed forward just now, he hadn't even seen what happened before they were all on the ground in the blink of an eye. That was why he stood there talking to this human. Otherwise, he would have rushed up and stabbed him twice already.
Xiao Feng looked at the Snake-Person standing among his fallen companions, his face showing a look of wanting to attack but not daring to. He found it somewhat amusing, but he wouldn't trouble such a minor character. "Go back and report to your leader. I've come to have a chat with Queen Medusa."
The Snake-Person's expression changed. Without saying more, the companions supported each other and quickly retreated.
Just then, a wild wind rose and yellow sand danced. A figure suddenly appeared behind the group of Snake-People, dressed in a purple royal robe. Those enchanting, narrow eyes were looking coldly at Xiao Feng.
"What business do you have with this Queen?"
The voice was cold, carrying the majesty of one who had long held a high position.
"Queen!"
The group of Snake-People guards immediately knelt all around, their faces filled with excitement and respect.
This was the King who protected them!
"Go back for now."
With a light flick of her purple snake tail, Queen Medusa's tone remained unchanged.
"Yes!"
The Snake-People slowly retreated, leaving only the two of them.
Wearing a purple-gold crown, her long hair flowing behind her, her robes covered her body, revealing only an exquisite face and a porcelain-white neck.
While Xiao Feng was sizing up Queen Medusa, Medusa was also sizing up Xiao Feng.
So young, yet his eyes were full of composure and calm. His aura was hazy; even she, as a Peak Dou Huang, could not see through him. With this leisurely expression, just what kind of backing did he have?
"Queen Medusa, I have long heard of your great name." Xiao Feng cupped his hands in greeting. "I had to take action and injure your clansmen just now, I hope for your understanding."
Xiao Feng knew this woman's temperament well. It wasn't that she could tolerate him harming the Snake-People, but that the height from which she considered matters was beyond what ordinary people could reach.
As soon as he finished speaking, Queen Medusa struck the ground with her purple tail. A violent aura rose from there, splitting the yellow sand as it surged forward, converging on Xiao Feng from eight directions.
This was a full-strength strike from a Peak Dou Huang!
Xiao Feng remained composed and took a step forward with his right foot. An invisible aura spread in all directions. His long hair and robes fluttered without wind, as if an invisible shield was dispersed five meters around him. The attacks from all sides exploded there and then vanished, unable to get even a fraction closer.
Queen Medusa gave Xiao Feng a long look, and her cold voice rang out again. "This is no place to host a guest. Please take a seat in the Sacred City, Your Excellency."
After speaking, Queen Medusa's body didn't move, but in the next moment, her figure gradually dissipated, and her aura reappeared below the Sacred City.
Xiao Feng murmured, "Inviting the guest into a trap?"
He then began to walk forward.
The massive city walls were filled with Snake-People guards. Their eyes were unfriendly as they looked at Xiao Feng, but they all seemed to be suppressing their anger, and their etiquette was flawless.
"Mister, this way please."
An enchanting snake-woman walked over gracefully. She was first surprised by the person's age but quickly suppressed the thought and led the way in front of Xiao Feng.
Xiao Feng nodded. His gaze inevitably fell on the snake-woman leading the way; that waist, seemingly without bones, swayed left and right, naturally seductive and charming to the core.
"Huo Huo's waist strength isn't bad." Xiao Feng suddenly started laughing.
In the great hall, Medusa had already been waiting for a long time. She was reclining on a wide, bed-like chair, the tip of her tail flicking occasionally like a playful little snake.
"Serve tea."
Following Queen Medusa's cold voice, someone immediately brought tea.
Xiao Feng accepted it with a smile but didn't drink. He just looked at Queen Medusa. "I once heard of Queen Medusa's fierce reputation in Stone Desert City. Seeing you today, I feel it was all false rumors."
Medusa's gaze shifted. "My Snake-People Tribe and your Human Race have a blood feud. To me, your Human Race is also a group of unreasonable devils who eat snakes without spitting out the bones. However, Your Excellency's face is unfamiliar; you shouldn't be a local, right?"
Xiao Feng smiled. "You will know my origins in the future. I came to see the Queen today for nothing more than two things."
"Let's hear them."
"The first thing, I want to find some sand mandara."
Medusa was noncommittal, quietly waiting for Xiao Feng's next words.
"The second thing, a deal."
As soon as he spoke, whispers instantly rose around the hall. Even the guard beside Queen Medusa, Hua She Er, let out a cold laugh.
Medusa reached out her hand to silence the discussions. She sized up Xiao Feng from head to toe. "Regarding the deal, why don't you elaborate?"
"I don't want to care about the affairs of the Jia Ma Empire, and I won't touch the affairs of the Snake-People Tribe. This deal is only between the two of us." After Xiao Feng finished, his gaze fell on Medusa's face, waiting for her answer.
Medusa frowned, her gaze and voice becoming even colder. "I am the leader of the Snake-People Tribe, I am Queen Medusa. What do you mean by those words?"
Xiao Feng glanced around and remained silent.
Medusa understood immediately and waved her hand, dismissing everyone.
"Hua She Er, you go down too."
"Queen!"
"Go down."
Hua She Er hesitated for a moment, gave Xiao Feng a fierce look, and left unwillingly.
In the empty hall, only two people remained.
Oh, that's not right—one and a half people, and half a snake.
"Speak." Queen Medusa met Xiao Feng's gaze.
"I heard that Queen Medusa was already at the Peak Dou Huang many years ago. After so many years, you are still stuck here. I wonder if the Queen has thought of any solutions?"
As soon as Xiao Feng finished, Queen Medusa's aura changed. Dust even fell from the ceiling of the hall. Xiao Feng felt as if there were countless snakes around him, staring at him, ready to strike and bite at any moment.
"Heavenly Flame!" Xiao Feng spoke again. "Perhaps it can help the Queen shed her old body and welcome a new life."
The cold aura surrounding them slowly dissipated. The cold-faced Queen Medusa actually broke into a smile, though her voice remained icy. "Hehe, human, you have quite some nerve to come to the Sacred City and advise this Queen to commit self-immolation!"
Xiao Feng simply closed his eyes, looking indifferent.
After a long silence, Queen Medusa spoke again. "Fine, you have indeed piqued this Queen's interest. I wonder what you want this Queen to do in return?"
"In the future, if you meet a person possessing a white Heavenly Flame, if the Queen is in a good mood, just protect him a bit." Xiao Feng laughed.
Confusion filled Queen Medusa's eyes. This kind of deal, where the cost and reward were completely disproportionate, made her uneasy. She felt there was a trick.
"Just that?"
"Feel like you're getting the better end of the deal?" Xiao Feng had a smile in his eyes. "That is no simple matter. Be careful that the one who ends up suffering a great loss is yourself."
"Aren't you afraid this Queen won't keep her word after taking the Heavenly Flame?"
"Since the Queen has agreed, I'm naturally not afraid. Besides, it's just a Heavenly Flame." Xiao Feng laughed. "Compared to these matters, what I'm about to say next is the real point."
"What is it?" The tip of Queen Medusa's tail flicked and then froze there.
"A marriage proposal."
...In the entire Sacred City, no one knew what Xiao Feng and the Queen discussed. They only knew that in less than half an hour, the sound of fighting came from the hall.
A few minutes later, the hall doors suddenly shattered, and Xiao Feng's figure stumbled out. Many experts of the Snake-People Tribe immediately surrounded him, ready to take him down.
"Stop!" Queen Medusa's voice came.
Everyone looked up and saw that the Queen had already slithered to the doorway at some point. They immediately stopped and hailed the Queen.
"Hua She Er, take the guest down to rest." Queen Medusa coldly dropped this sentence and slithered away.
"Yes."
...Xiao Feng stayed in the Sacred City for two days, agreeing to take Queen Medusa to find a Heavenly Flame in three years. He then left with a bunch of sand mandara and some medicinal herbs.
Watching Xiao Feng's departing figure, Hua She Er looked worried. "Queen, this person acts completely erratically. He's very suspicious and totally untrustworthy!"
Medusa shook her head gently. "Hua She Er, your prejudice against humans is too deep. Just from the fact that he has strength comparable to mine at such a young age, how could he possibly do things by the book?"
At this point, Medusa's tone shifted. "However, a bit of investigation is necessary."
She reached down and pointed; an illusory snake shadow sank into the yellow sand, racing toward the distant Xiao Feng... Returning to Stone Desert City, Xiao Feng dispersed the energy snake shadow behind him with a finger, then found Hai Bodong.
"Young Master!"
After not seeing her for a while, Qing Lin had filled out a bit and was no longer so scrawny.
The little girl lunged into Xiao Feng's arms and refused to come out.
Hai Bodong walked out from behind the counter with a smile. "To be able to rush back in a month, I still underestimated you. But it's good that you're back now. If you had delayed any longer, this girl would have dragged me into the desert!"
Qing Lin's face flushed red, and she lowered her head, not daring to speak.
Xiao Feng smiled and patted Qing Lin's head, handing several sand mandara plants to Hai Bodong. "Thank you for taking care of her during this time, Old Mister."
Hai Bodong shook his head, only asking curiously, "I've also observed this girl during this time. It's just that her eyes are different from ordinary people, but that's a trait descendants of humans and Snake-People should have. Exactly what about her drew so much of your attention?"
Xiao Feng looked at the curious Old fellow before him. "What if I said she is Queen Medusa's daughter?"
Hai Bodong's pupils shrank. He instinctively retreated several steps, his aura erupting, and fear flickered in the depths of his eyes. "You said... she... she... she is..."
"Fooled you! Haha!"