Chapter 109: The Short End of the Stick

"This kid is always like this." Xiao Li shook his head with a helpless smile.

Xiao Ding looked at the envelope Qing Lin had hurriedly brought over. He didn't even need to read the contents inside to know what his younger brother was going to do.

"He's been this way for more than a decade. If he sets his mind on something, he'll go to any lengths to get it, even if it's Queen Medusa standing in his way." Xiao Ding casually set the letter aside.

"But... that's Queen Medusa! Will the Young Master be alright?" Qing Lin's eyes brimmed with tears. She clasped her hands together as if praying for Xiao Yan.

"Don't worry. He's not the type to die easily. He'll come back."

…

Two days later.

Xiao Yan, clad in his Soul Robe and ready to navigate these turbulent waters, had been flying for the past two days. He had made several stops along the way, taking quite some time, as the Tager Desert was no longer human territory. Flying non-stop would attract attacks from Rank 4 or even Rank 5 magical beasts.

If an ordinary person were to travel on foot, it would probably take half a month to get from Rock Desert City to this place.

It was fortunate that the Flame Mantra had evolved, otherwise his Dou Qi would not have been able to sustain such a long flight.

Xiao Yan looked at the red dots on the map representing dangerous areas. There were a total of eight such red dots scattered in different directions of the desert.

In the Snake-People of the Tager Desert, besides some small and medium-sized tribes, there were Eight Large Tribes represented by the eight red dots on the map. They were the most powerful tribes among the Snake-People, holding extremely high status in the desert. Except for Queen Medusa, they didn't even acknowledge each other's authority.

The leaders of these Eight Large Tribes were all Rank 5 magical beasts, possessing the strength equivalent to a Dou King.

And at the very center of the eight red dots was the Holy City of the Snake-People Tribe, which was also Queen Medusa's palace.

Therefore, if Xiao Yan wanted to reach the Holy City, he had to pass through one of these major tribes.

"If the Snake-People possess the same heat-sensing ability as snakes, then the effectiveness of the Soul Robe will be greatly reduced." Xiao Yan frowned as he looked at the somewhat crimson red dots, then sighed helplessly.

The biggest difference between magical beasts and humans lay in their souls. The Spiritual Strength of magical beasts was indeed very weak, but when heaven closed one door, it would open a window. Magical beasts often possessed other 'physical' sensing abilities.

For instance, the tongues of snake-type magical beasts were extremely sensitive to changes in temperature, wind direction, and humidity in the air.

The Soul Robe could only shield against the perception of Spiritual Strength.

Xiao Yan's powerful Spiritual Strength sensed a group of Snake-People drawing water at a distant oasis. He thought, 'Perhaps I can use my identity as an alchemist to infiltrate the Snake-People Tribe.'

The oppressive heat in the air became noticeably cooler as he gradually approached the oasis.

Xiao Yan scanned the area and, after some thought, leaped into the lush forest, his figure gradually concealed by the dense foliage.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrance of the small grass beside him.

In the desert, even a small patch of green could feel incredibly precious.

Xiao Yan's gaze swept out from the gaps between the trees. At the end of a small path outside the thicket, several Snake-Women with graceful figures stood motionless, their faces cold and vigilant. Their sharp eyes constantly scanned the surrounding forest, and their tightly gripped weapons seemed ready to strike down anyone who dared to trespass.

'These are all guards. They'll probably attack on sight if they spot me. I must find a way to make them capture me instead.' To enter the Holy City without causing a commotion, naturally the best method was to have the Snake-People bring him in themselves.

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes and revealed a crafty smile. Suppressing his aura and Dou Qi, he stealthily bypassed the guards like a ghost and snuck into the water source.

He could sense there was an even more powerful Snake-Person inside the water source.

Taking off the Soul Robe, he took out a water flask and clumsily walked to the water's edge, pretending to be timid as he began to draw water.

Suddenly, a faint sound of water splashing rang out. A figure emerged from the originally mirror-like surface of the lake, and a woman with a voluptuous figure shot out from the bottom of the clear lake.

Her smooth, beautiful back was turned toward Xiao Yan as she shook her long hair that clung to her fair shoulders. Beads of water slid down her healthy, wheat-colored skin, finally gliding past her extremely seductive waist.

As the woman turned around, her perfect body with visible abs was fully exposed to Xiao Yan's sight. Even though he had mentally prepared himself, a surge of desire still rushed straight to his brain.

He forcibly suppressed his most primitive inner urge and put on the act of a pure and innocent young man who had accidentally intruded. He quickly covered his eyes with his hands and stammered, "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to peep at you bathing, Miss."

"Hehehe, Miss? Take a closer look. You humans don't call me, Yue Mei, 'Miss,' you know." Yue Mei slowly walked out of the lake. Her amber-colored tail was revealed as she emerged from the water.

Xiao Yan spread his fingers and peeked through the gaps. He instantly fell on his butt and exclaimed in shock, "Y-You're a Snake-Person!"

He was so frightened that he scrambled to get away, crawling and rolling in his haste. Just then, a snake's tail wrapped around his ankle with a whoosh.

Yue Mei's eyes, as gentle as spring water, glinted with amusement as she looked at Xiao Yan. After a moment, she covered her red lips with her slender hand and laughed, "Little human boy, do you think you can just leave like that after taking advantage of your elder sister?"

"Ah! I-I really didn't mean to! I just came to get some water!" Xiao Yan put on a face that looked like he was about to cry, his expression a mixture of three parts fear, three parts regret, and four parts lecherousness.

 His acting skills were worthy of an Oscar-winning performance!

"Hehehe, you didn't mean to? You managed to pass through so many guards outside, and you still claim it wasn't on purpose?" Yue Mei reached out and gently lifted Xiao Yan's chin, teasing him.

"I'm an alchemist, so my Spiritual Strength is quite strong. That's how I was able to walk in."

"An alchemist?"

At the mention of the word 'alchemist,' Yue Mei's expression immediately changed and became more serious. Her eyes flashed as she asked, "How can you prove it?"

Xiao Yan hurriedly took out a pill bottle from his storage ring and handed it to Yue Mei.

She opened the bottle and took a light sniff. A cool and refreshing sensation immediately spread throughout her body.

"3rd-tier medicinal pill?!" Yue Mei was shocked. She never expected that the somewhat delicate and immature-looking youth before her was actually a 3rd-tier alchemist!

Although a 3rd-tier pill was not particularly useful to her, it was a priceless treasure for Rank 3 Snake-Person. Moreover, if properly nurtured, an alchemist with his potential could reach the 4th or even 5th tier, which could greatly increase the strength of the entire tribe.

Especially enticing was the 5th-tier Dou King Pill, which could increase a Dou King's strength by one star without any side effects. Even she could hardly resist such a temptation.

Yue Mei revealed a greedy expression as she looked at Xiao Yan and smiled, "Hehehe, so it turns out you're an Alchemist. Do you know that although we Snake-People are cold-blooded by nature, our bodies become very hot when we're in heat? Yue Mei fell for the esteemed alchemist at first sight and is now filled with desire. Don't believe me? Feel for yourself."

Xiao Yan swallowed hard and actually reached out to touch Yue Mei's arm. An icy coldness instantly transmitted from his fingertips.

Yue Mei's voice, now laced with coldness, rang out, "Hehe, you actually dared to touch me."

"Someone, come! Take this ignorant fool back with us!"

Ka ka ka, several large blades were pressed against Xiao Yan's neck from behind.

'Sigh, a 3rd-tier medicinal pill only lets me touch her once. I really got the short end of the stick this time.' Xiao Yan inwardly sighed at his loss.