The oasis was shrouded in a misty haze, giving it a dreamlike beauty—yet anyone who entered would quickly see the truth.
Trees had been sheared in half, broken branches and leaves littered the ground, and the once-clear lake had frozen into a mirror of ice. Though this was supposed to be an oasis in the desert, the air here was now cold enough to pierce the bone.
All of this was the aftermath of Liu Xi's battle—the lingering effects of his Nine Nether Ghost Flame Technique, which had drained the surrounding heat.
After driving off Yue Mei's Snake-People guards, Liu Xi lowered his gaze to the woman lying powerless on the ground. Her Dou Qi had been sealed, her once-supple body pale from injury. With an easy smile, he said, "Well then, let's see how long it takes your subordinates to come trade for you."
Yue Mei glared daggers at him, hatred burning in her eyes. 'Me, Yue Mei, humiliated like this? Captured by a human and used as leverage? If Her Majesty or the others ever hear of this… how will I face them?'
Ignoring her fury, Liu Xi crouched, hauled her effortlessly over his shoulder, and started walking back toward Qing Lin's position.
Yue Mei struggled in his grasp, fists beating uselessly against his back. "Put me down, you bastard! You'll never make me bow to you!"
Qing Lin hurried out from behind Ling Shuang as Liu Xi approached.
"Young Master!"
Liu Xi set Yue Mei down on the ground and handed Qing Lin a small jade bottle. "Watch her. Don't let her die yet—I still need her alive."
"Yes, Young Master."
The cold air pricked at Qing Lin's skin, making her shiver. Liu Xi noticed and flicked his hand; a gentle wave of Green Lotus Core Flame emerged, no longer devouring heat but restoring it, quickly warming the area once more.
---
Meanwhile, the Snake-People guard captain Yue Xing, frantic with worry for her mistress, was racing across the desert toward her home—the Enchanting Serpent Tribe.
A journey that should have taken an hour was covered in half that time. When the towering city of the tribe came into view, she didn't slow.
At the gate, a burly male Snake-Man guard straightened and smiled ingratiatingly. "Captain Yue Xing, you've returned—"
Crack!
Her whip lashed out, sending him sprawling into the sand. "Out of my way! I have urgent business with the Elder!"
Even those who didn't know what had happened could sense her fury. No one dared block her path.
She stormed through the gates, the streets clearing before her, until she reached a stately mansion. After a brief report at the entrance, she was quickly ushered in to meet an elderly Snake-Woman.
The old matron, her hair as white as frost but neatly combed, smiled kindly—her face wrinkled but still composed. "Ah, Yue Xing. Why aren't you guarding Lady Yue Mei? What brings you rushing here in such a state?"
At that, Yue Xing nearly collapsed in relief. "Elder Yue Ying! Lady Yue Mei has been captured—by a human Dou Wang! He demands that we bring him a Sand Datura in exchange for her life!"
The elder's expression changed instantly, her tone sharp. "What!? A human Dou Wang? How could one appear so deep within our territory? Explain everything!"
Yue Xing relayed the entire encounter in detail, finishing with an anxious plea. "Elder, we must save Lady Yue Mei!"
Yue Ying's wise eyes flickered with thought. Then she snapped, "Foolish child! If he is truly a Dou Wang, what can we do if he breaks his word? None of us can stop him!"
Yue Xing froze, realization dawning. "Then what should we do, Elder?"
Taking a deep breath, Yue Ying replied gravely, "Inform Her Majesty. Prepare for both outcomes—if he cooperates, we exchange. If he turns hostile, we strike."
Yue Xing bowed deeply. "Elder Yue Ying is wise!"
The Sand Datura was a treasured plant of the Snake-People, cultivated only within the Holy City ruled by Queen Medusa herself. It helped the Snake-People harmonize with the serpent spirits within their bodies, enhancing cultivation potential. Normally, only those who had rendered great service to the tribe would be rewarded with one by the Queen.
But compared to the life of a Dou Wang-level warrior like Yue Mei, even the Sand Datura was expendable.
Yue Ying herself was only a High Dou Ling—aged and far past her prime. She couldn't afford to lose a Dou Wang under her command.
She ordered a Sand Datura fetched from the treasury while using a clan secret technique to contact Queen Medusa.
The Queen's fury, when she heard the report, was thunderous. That very night, she departed alone for the Enchanting Serpent Tribe. After hearing Yue Ying's plan—to let her and Yue Xing handle the exchange while Medusa hid nearby and struck once Yue Mei was safe—the Queen agreed.
---
The next morning
Before dawn broke, Yue Ying and Yue Xing set out toward the oasis, carrying the Sand Datura in a sealed box. To keep the affair quiet, Yue Ying had issued strict orders for silence—only she and Yue Xing would attend.
Queen Medusa followed silently from afar, her presence completely concealed. Against a Dou Wang, no one below that rank could intervene—but the Queen had absolute confidence in her strength.
---
At the oasis, dawn's light filtered through the fog.
Yue Mei, who had spent the night recovering under Qing Lin's care, could now move freely. But whenever she tried to stir her Dou Qi, she felt the seal—an invisible blue veil—still locking her dantian tight. She was, for all intents and purposes, no stronger than a mortal.
Liu Xi sat cross-legged atop a stone, his Spiritual Power spread outward, alert for approaching enemies. Then, sensing movement, he opened his eyes—deep as the night sky—and smiled faintly at Yue Mei. "Looks like your people have come for you."
Before long, Yue Xing and Yue Ying appeared, their faces taut with concern. Seeing Yue Mei unharmed, both women exhaled in relief.
Yue Ying stepped forward and inclined her head slightly.
"Respected Dou Wang, I am Elder Yue Ying of the Enchanting Serpent Tribe. As agreed, I've brought the Sand Datura. May I ask that you now release Commander Yue Mei?"
Liu Xi studied the shrewd old Snake-Woman carefully. For one of her kind to speak to a human so courteously—she clearly knew when to yield. "Of course," he said lightly. "Where's the item?"
Yue Ying smiled faintly, her tone humble but cautious. "Once I confirm Lady Yue Mei's safety, the Sand Datura will be yours. With your strength, you could easily destroy us—so surely there's no need for deception, is there?"
Liu Xi waved lazily. "Fine, go ahead."
Yue Mei walked halfway between them, then turned to glare at him. "If you're letting me go, then remove the seal on my Dou Qi!"
Liu Xi snorted. "Your elder said to confirm your safety, not your strength. Once they hand over the herb, I'll undo it."
"You—!" Yue Mei's voice trembled with fury, but Yue Ying caught her arm.
The elder produced a wooden box from her ring, flipped it open, and revealed a coiling yellow plant—its vines twisted like a serpent, a bulbous node at its top shaped like a raised snake head.
"This is the Sand Datura," Yue Ying said calmly. "Once you unseal Lady Yue Mei, it's yours. But don't try anything reckless. Even as a Dou Wang, you won't move faster than I can destroy it."
Liu Xi's expression darkened, his aura rippling dangerously. "You're bold to threaten me. Do you think I won't kill you where you stand?"
But Yue Ying only smiled thinly. "This plant is priceless. If destroyed, only Her Majesty's Holy City holds more. Dare you trespass there, human?"
As she spoke, her fingers tensed, ready to crush the herb.
Liu Xi chuckled coldly. "Cunning old snake. Every word of yours presses my limits… Fine. Put the box down, and I'll release her."
Relieved, Yue Ying knelt and set the box on the ground within reach.
Liu Xi raised his hands, weaving a rapid series of seals.
"Release!"
The seal shattered, and Yue Mei's Dou Qi surged back with a roar. Her aura exploded outward as she prepared to strike—
—but Yue Ying was faster. She grabbed Yue Mei's arm and hissed a single word.
"Go."
Though her pride screamed otherwise, Yue Mei obeyed. Gritting her teeth, she allowed Yue Ying to pull her away at speed.
Liu Xi didn't bother chasing. He stepped forward, picked up the box, and examined the herb. "Hm. Good preservation, potent energy—authentic indeed."
He had just stowed the Sand Datura when an immense killing intent engulfed the oasis. The sheer pressure froze him mid-motion, and even Qing Lin's face turned pale.
Above them, a graceful figure descended from the sky—stunning beyond compare. Her beauty was flawless, her aura regal, her eyes cold and imperious. The faint sway of her violet serpent tail left no doubt as to her identity.
The Queen of the Snake-People—Medusa.
Her voice, smooth yet frigid, rolled across the oasis. "Human. Have you decided how you wish to die?"
Liu Xi slowly straightened, scooping Qing Lin into his arms. When he met the Queen's gaze, there was no fear—only admiration. Her beauty was divine, her presence intoxicating.
'So this is Queen Medusa… no wonder she's both feared and worshipped.'
His lips curved in a teasing smile. "I haven't thought that far ahead," he said lightly. "But I have been wondering how to win the favor of the famed and fearsome Queen Medusa of the Northwest."
"Then let me grant you death instead," she replied icily.
With a flick of her jade-like finger, a surge of violet Dou Qi condensed at its tip. The sky itself seemed to fold inward as the energy gathered—wind howled, clouds churned, and the world dimmed under her power.
Then—
A beam of pure destruction lanced downward, striking Liu Xi squarely in the chest. His body was pierced through effortlessly, the blast carving a hole deep into the ground beneath him.
Yet—no blood flowed. His form shimmered, fading away like mist.
From the vanishing illusion, his calm voice echoed faintly, "We'll meet again."
Medusa's eyes flashed in surprise. She darted to where he had stood moments before. The faint traces of energy in the air made her pupils narrow.
"Escaped…" she murmured. "But that aura—yes, it was a Heavenly Flame."
Her gaze turned cold, the corners of her lips curling into a deadly smile. "We will meet again, human. And next time… I'll make sure you die."
(End of Chapter)
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