My sincerest apologies for not being able to upload on Saturday and Monday. Due to a power outage in my area caused by nearby construction work, I was unable to access the internet. Although I could have gone elsewhere to upload, my schedule became unexpectedly tight, leaving me with little time to focus—let alone take a proper break or meal.
The electricity only returned late last night, which unfortunately caused me to miss this week's regular uploads. As an apology, I'll be posting two additional chapters today to make up for the delay.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding.
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Three weeks later, Xiao Hua returned to the Tager Desert. It was time to fulfill the promise he had made to the high-ranking members of the Snake-People tribe—to relocate them to the land granted by the Imperial Family, situated near the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
This time, Xiao Hua was not alone. He had brought someone with him—the one whom the Snake-People missed the most and longed to see again.
"It's unfortunate we couldn't find the medicinal ingredients to refine the pill in the few big city we went to," Xiao Hua said, turning his gaze to the lady in a black-coloured robe beside him.
"We expected as much. Still, I can't deny I feel a bit disappointed," The black-robed lady replied, shaking her head with a soft sigh.
'Disappointed, huh…' Xiao Hua smiled bitterly at her words. He, too, felt a trace of disappointment—not from the lack of ingredients, but from the fact that even his Gacha hadn't provided what he needed.
While he could buy the medicinal ingredients from the System's Shop, their prices had skyrocketed. Ingredients commonly used for Tier 6 medicinal pills now cost at least 200,000 ACP each, largely due to the Sign-In Function's arrival.
Even worse, each purchase only granted a single stalk, making it an inefficient and costly use of his ACP.
He might as well try his luck with the Gacha Draw instead of buying them one by one. After all, both the Gacha and Sign-In Functions would disappear once he reached the Dou Sheng realm. It made more sense to take advantage of them now rather than regret it later.
Naturally, the Shop's prices would revert to normal once the Sign-In Function and Gacha Event ends, but it would be foolish not to make the most of the Gacha and Sign-In while they were still available.
At present, he only had four tickets to obtain the Primordial Heavenly Flame for free. That meant he needed to use the Gacha more frequently to earn more tickets through the Pity Draw.
"Anyway, let's go meet them. I'm sure they've been worried sick about you," Xiao Hua said, brushing aside his lingering thoughts as he slowly descended from the sky.
The black-robed lady gave a silent nod and followed a step behind him, her expression calm yet expectant.
Below them stretched a vast plaza, densely packed with countless black dots—members of the Snake-People race. These were the tribespeople gathered from all corners of the desert by the Eight Leaders of the Snake-People.
At the forefront of the plaza stood a raised stone platform. Upon it were the Eight Tribe Leaders, standing side by side with Hua She Er, the leader of the Medusa Snake Guard Unit—an elite force akin to royal guards sworn to protect their sovereign.
"Elder Yin Shi, will he really come as promised?" Yue Mei whispered softly, her voice low enough for only those nearby to hear.
"He will," Yin Shi replied with a nod. "He sent word that he would arrive today. And… he mentioned he'd be bringing someone with him—someone we've all longed to see."
"Someone we want to see the most?" Mo Ba Si asked, raising his brows as confusion flickered across his face.
"Could it be… that purple-clothed little monster?" A faint frown of discomfort crept onto Nan She's face as the memory of a certain purple-robed girl resurfaced in his mind.
"I hope not… That girl is practically a walking nightmare," Yan Ci muttered. Despite his burly and rugged appearance, his body visibly shivered at the thought.
It wasn't just the two of them. Even the other Leaders of the Eight Large Tribes and Ha She Er showed subtle signs of fear and unease, silently praying that the one arriving was not that little girl.
"In any case, we can only wait and see," Yin Shi said with a helpless shake of his head. He, too, would rather avoid meeting that troublesome lass—but what choice did he have?
As the elderly snakemen entertained their thoughts, a light chuckle filled with amusement and intrigue echoed from above. They looked up to see Xiao Hua descending from the sky, accompanied by a figure cloaked in a black robe.
"Fortunately, Zi Yan didn't come," Xiao Hua said with a teasing smile. "But now I'm really curious—just what did she do to make all of you avoid her like the plague?"
"Master Xiao Hua, it has been a while,"
Yin Shi and the other leaders quickly cupped their fists and offered their respectful greetings as Xiao Hua and the robed figure descended slowly.
"Elder Yin Shi, Leaders of the Eight Large Tribes, Captain Hua She Er," Xiao Hua replied, returning their salutes with a smiling nod.
His gaze swept across the vast plaza, taking in the sight of countless Snake-People staring at him with a mix of caution and curiosity.
"I take it the Snake-People have all been gathered?" he asked, shifting his attention back to Yin Shi.
"That's correct," Yin Shi replied with a nod. He glanced across the plaza and continued, "These are all the Snake-People we managed to gather from the various settlements."
"In that case…" Xiao Hua said, turning to the robed figure behind him, "it's time for all of you to greet your queen."
"Our Queen?! Then that means…?" Yin Shi exclaimed in shock, his trembling eyes fixed on the black-robed figure with barely contained anticipation.
The other Leaders of the Eight Large Tribes also coiled their snake-tails and instinctively moved closer, their eyes burning with emotion—as if afraid the black-robed figure might vanish before revealing herself.
Yin Shi's voice echoed through the sacred city of the Snake-People, stirring a wave of excitement throughout the plaza. The gathered Snake-People leaned forward eagerly, eyes wide with disbelief and hope, longing to catch a glimpse of their long-lost queen.
Queen Medusa sighed softly at their overwhelming reaction and shook her head helplessly. She had chosen to wear the robe because, back in one of the major cities, she had encountered a group of fools who acted entirely on lust.
Naturally, she had killed them without hesitation. But afterward, Xiao Hua warned her that such incidents wouldn't be the last and advised her to conceal her figure to avoid unnecessary trouble. Though reluctant, she agreed and draped a robe over herself—not out of fear, but because she didn't wish to bring further problems to Xiao Hua.
Queen Medusa stepped forward and gracefully removed the black robe concealing her figure, revealing her true appearance before her people.
"It's Her Majesty! It truly is Her Majesty!"
"Her Majesty has returned!"
"Haha! Our Queen has truly succeeded!"
The moment Queen Medusa unveiled herself, her presence ignited a spark that erupted into a wildfire of voices across the plaza. Overwhelmed by joy and relief, the Snake-People erupted into a thunderous uproar.
"Ah… Our Queen…!" Yin Shi's aged voice trembled, his eyes wide with disbelief and emotion. Relief surged through him as tears welled up—she had returned, and stronger than ever.
"Her Majesty…!" Yue Mei's eyes turned misty, her nose reddened as emotion overtook her. The joy and comfort she felt were written plainly across her face.
The same held true for the other Eight Tribe Leaders and Hua She Er. Their proud, battle-hardened faces were streaked with tears, unable to contain the joy and happiness that surged within them. Their queen had returned, and their hearts could finally rest.
Naturally, the uproar drew the attention of four imposing figures within the shrine—each wearing a large ceremonial mask that obscured their face. Their serpentine tails coiled beneath them as they strode forward with dignified grace.
Their aged eyes swept across the plaza, curious about the cause of the commotion. The moment their gazes landed on Queen Medusa, a ripple of shock passed through them.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty," the four masked elders said in unison, appearing before Queen Medusa and cupping their hands in respectful greeting.
"I've returned, Elders," Queen Medusa replied with a slight nod. She then turned to Xiao Hua and said, "These are the Elders of our Snake-People Tribe. In terms of seniority, even Elder Yin Shi is considered a junior before them."
"Xiao Hua of the younger generation greets the four honored Elders of the Snake-People Tribe," Xiao Hua said with a respectful nod, cupping his hands in a proper salute.
"Haha, how unexpected. We've finally met the one who's been stirring up waves across the North-West Region," spoke the central Elder of the Snake-People. His voice was that of an aged man—hoarse and grating, like sand scraping against stone.
Yet none of the Snake-People Commanders dared to show even the slightest hint of discomfort or displeasure on their faces.
Xiao Hua, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm, effortlessly filtering out the unpleasant tone. Compared to the terrifying strike of Heavenly Lightning, what was a rough voice? Not even worth flinching at.
Still, he found the Elders rather intriguing. In both the novel and manhwa, they were clearly depicted as elderly women. But in the Donghua, they had suddenly been portrayed as old men instead.
'Could it be that even the Ninth Tianzun of the Hall of Souls might have their gender changed too?' he mused, recalling a certain Tianzun whose gender had been altered to a woman in the Donghua. The thought left him amused.
Not for any particular reason—just sheer entertainment. After all, it wasn't every day one witnessed such a sudden and unexplained change. 'Perhaps I should create and refine a gender-changing pill… just to mess with that Tianzun a little.'
While Xiao Hua was lost in his thoughts, the central elder began to speak. "This old man is the First Elder of the Snake-People Tribe. These are the Second Elder, the Third Elder, and the Fourth Elder."
Xiao Hua's gaze followed the shriveled finger of the First Elder as he gestured to each one. With courteous respect, Xiao Hua cupped his hands and greeted them all. No matter how powerful he was, proper etiquette was something he would not neglect.
"Master Xiao Hua," the First Elder continued, his triangular eyes narrowing with a glimmer of hope, "now that Her Majesty has returned to her original appearance… does it mean her condition has been cured?"
The anticipation in his voice was clear—not just in him, but in the other three Elders and the many Commanders of the Snake-People as well.
"This…" Xiao Hua and Queen Medusa exchanged a glance, both feeling a touch of awkwardness. They understood the hopeful gazes now fixed on them would soon be met with disappointment.
Naturally, the Elders and Commanders were sharp enough to sense the hesitation and discomfort in their expressions. And with that, they understood—what they had hoped for was not yet reality.
Queen Medusa let out a soft sigh before speaking in a gentle voice, low enough that the crowd in the plaza could not hear her clearly. She began to explain her current condition and the circumstances surrounding it.
After hearing her explanation, the Elders could only shake their heads helplessly. Though they recognized the medicinal ingredients she listed, they possessed none of them. Even with their status and knowledge, aiding their queen in this matter proved to be beyond their capabilities.
Truly, resolving Her Majesty's condition was no simple task. And so, once again, they were left with no choice but to part ways with their queen.
"Then… should we take it that Her Majesty will be traveling with Master Xiao Hua to seek a solution to her condition?" the First Elder asked with a weary sigh.
"That's correct," Queen Medusa replied with a nod. "Even if there are no immediate threats within the Jia Ma Empire due to Xiao Hua's presence and strength, the surrounding empires may not be so cautious. To avoid drawing unnecessary attention—or worse, assassination attempts—we must leave."
Her eyes grew cold and sharp at the thought of the neighboring empires, each filled with ambitious and powerful forces.
Though none of them could hope to match Xiao Hua directly, they were more than capable of stirring trouble for a small empire like Jia Ma.
"If that is the case, then we must trouble Master Xiao Hua to aid Her Majesty with her condition," the First Elder said, turning toward Xiao Hua. He cupped his hands and offered a respectful bow.
Naturally, the other elders and leaders followed suit, their expressions sincere and solemn as they paid their shown their gratitude.
"Rest assured, First Elder. I will help Queen Medusa no matter what it takes. That is a promise I intend to keep," Xiao Hua replied with a calm smile, his voice firm and unwavering.
"Ha ha! Thank you, Master Xiao Hua. We of the Snake-People Tribe are deeply grateful for your assistance. This favor shall never be forgotten," the First Elder laughed heartily, his gratitude evident.
"Thank you, Master Xiao Hua!" the others echoed in unison, their voices filled with heartfelt appreciation.
While the others expressed their gratitude, a subtle ripple stirred within Queen Medusa's heart—a gentle warmth blooming quietly in her chest. It was faint, almost imperceptible, yet undeniable.
The others might not notice it, but she knew it well. This man—this Xiao Hua—was someone who would keep his word even if it meant risking his life.
Because of that, a rare softness surfaced in her eyes as she looked at him—a warmth, a gentleness she had never shown to anyone before. But the moment passed quickly. She buried it deep, ensuring that no one, not even the young man himself, would glimpse it.
'Xiao Hua… he truly is different from the other humans,' Queen Medusa thought, feeling that unfamiliar warmth surge again. She suppressed it quickly, but it lingered like an ember in her heart.
Each time her thoughts drifted to him, that same warmth and tenderness would rise unbidden, no matter how hard she tried to resist it. She hated it—hated how easily he unsettled her—but she could not push it away.
And though she claimed to loathe the feeling, deep down, a part of her was quietly drawn to it, unconsciously welcoming the warmth she pretended to reject.
No one knew of the silent turmoil within Queen Medusa's heart. If they did, they would be shocked—astonished that such tender feelings could take root in their proud and aloof queen. And without doubt, they would curse the young man in envy, for being the one who made the cold-hearted serpent queen begin to fall.
"Anyway, as part of my promise, I'll now take you to the land granted by the Imperial Family," Xiao Hua said, steering the conversation to the main matter.
"That's good and all, but there is one issue," the First Elder replied with a nod. A faint trace of hesitation appeared on his aged face as he continued.
"If word spreads that we Snake-People are migrating, others might take interest and come to the Jia Ma Empire seeking trouble. In the worst case, they may pressure the Empire to turn against us…"
Given the number of Snake-People gathered here, it would be difficult to go unnoticed from the prying eyes of other empires. Naturally, this presented a serious concern.
"As long as no one sees you move, how will they know where you've gone?" Xiao Hua replied calmly.
As he finished speaking, his back trembled slightly. Suddenly, two pairs of wings unfolded behind him—one pair radiant and vibrant, the other majestic and awe-inspiring. The sight left the Snake-People utterly mesmerized.
But he wasn't finished yet.
With a wave of his hand, thin spatial cracks lined the air. In an instant, they widened into a rift, revealing a spatial tunnel shimmering with energy. As the Snake-People stared in astonishment, the tunnel rippled and revealed a glimpse of their new home.
On the other side of the spatial crack was a vast, open area nestled at the foot of a towering cliff, beside a wide and tranquil river. The space was more than large enough to accommodate all the Snake-People present, offering a sense of freedom that the desert never could.
Lush greenery surrounded the area—tall trees, dense shrubs, and thick grass grew along the river's edge, creating a peaceful and vibrant environment. Compared to the barren desert they had lived in, this place felt like paradise.
"I've already inspected the location and its surroundings personally," Queen Medusa spoke up, her tone calm and reassuring. The area had been handpicked by Xiao Hua and granted by the Imperial Family.
"The land is fertile, the water is clean, and the nearby magical beasts are not too powerful. They'll serve as excellent training opponents for the younger generation."
Though she was still surprised by Xiao Hua's two pairs of wings and the sudden appearance of a spatial tunnel, she knew it was best to keep the focus on the more important matter at hand.
"We also have two powerful allies supporting us—the Xiao Clan and the Miteer Family. It's a good place for the Snake-People to settle," she added softly.
With the Queen's reassurance, the stunned and disbelieving expressions of the Snake-People gradually transformed into overwhelming joy. Their emotions surged, and before long, laughter erupted from the crowd filled with genuine happiness.
For thousands of years, they had endured life in the barren desert, oppressed by both the harsh environment and the constant threat of human hunters seeking to kill or enslave them. But now, they no longer had to fear the cruelty of nature or live in constant vigilance against those who sought their extinction.
At last, they had a chance to grow and thrive without fear. While ill-intentioned enemies might still come, they now had powerful allies standing with them. How could they not rejoice in such a future?
And all of this—this peace, this hope—was thanks to the young man standing beside their Queen. If the Snake Spirit had blessed their Queen with advancement, then surely it had blessed their tribe by allowing them to meet Xiao Hua.
"We, the Snake-People, will forever remember the immense favor Master Xiao Hua has granted us!" the First Elder declared, cupping his hands and bowing deeply toward the young man, who stood calmly with a faint, casual smile as he gazed at the spatial tunnel.
"We, the Snake-People, will forever remember this great favor!" the others echoed in unison, their voices full of heartfelt gratitude as they too bowed respectfully.
Xiao Hua, momentarily lost in the pleasant sensation of having formed the spatial tunnel using the Four Mysterious Body, blinked and snapped out of his thoughts.
Turning around, he was greeted by the sight of countless Snake-People bowing deeply toward him, their faces filled with respect and appreciation. He gave a small shake of his head and smiled. "Alright, it's time to move in."
Without hesitation, he stepped into the spatial tunnel first, intending to reassure them that it was safe. But in truth, he didn't need to—by this point, their trust in him was absolute.
Following his lead, the Snake-People began entering the tunnel in an orderly manner, smiles lighting their faces as they left the harsh desert behind, stepping into a new future filled with hope.
Queen Medusa's eyes grew misty as she watched the joyful smiles of her people vanish one by one into the spatial tunnel. Her gaze then shifted, settling on the young man who stood quietly on the other side. His faint smile—calm, steady, and full of quiet strength—seemed to melt something deep within her.
In that fleeting moment, the gentle ripple in her heart deepened into waves—soft, yet profound.
But she did not resist them.
Instead, she let her heart soak in the warmth they brought, embracing the unfamiliar comfort. A soft, graceful smile blossomed on her lips, the kind of smile she rarely allowed herself. Her gaze lingered on the young man whose calm presence and striking features could so easily steal a woman's breath.
As she gazed at him, a particular memory surfaced unbidden, painting a delicate blush across her cheeks. 'Using the Heavenly Flame to merge my spirit with the Swallowing Heaven Python… huh.'
In the past, such a proposal would have filled her with scorn. But now… now she no longer felt the instinct to refuse. In fact, a strange calmness settled over her at the thought. Yet, just as her heart began to drift toward that possibility, a flicker of uncertainty surfaced in her eyes.
'If I remember correctly, Zi Yan have said that he has a fiancée. But that fiancée doesn't mind him having more than one. But will he accept this…?'
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