Chapter 107: Set the Tiger Against the Wolf

'What is this?!'

Xiao Yan was greatly shocked. Qing Lin's eyes were now emitting a strange green light. The severely injured and frenzied Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent actually calmed down in a bizarre way upon seeing that green light.

Only when Xiao Yan looked carefully did he discover that the huge serpent's pupils had also turned the same green color as Qing Lin's!

Beside the green serpentine pupils, three small green dots suddenly and abruptly appeared.

This time, the three small green dots were very clear. Upon careful observation, one could even see that these three green dots seemed to resemble three tiny flower buds.

Similarly, Qing Lin's eyes had also changed to resemble those of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent. Her eyes had strangely developed the exact same three emerald green flower buds.

Finally, two small green flowers were imprinted on the two heads of the Flame Spirit Serpent.

The eerie light in Qing Lin's eyes gradually faded as soon as the flower imprints appeared. Moments later, the tiny flowers in her pupils quickly dissipated and her eyes returned to their original emerald green.

Xiao Li hurriedly caught Qing Lin as her entire body went limp. Xiao Yan also ignored the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent and flew over to the cave entrance to check on the situation.

"What happened to Qing Lin?" Xiao Ding asked.

After examining her eyes and sensing her condition with his Spiritual Strength, Xiao Yan said, "It's nothing serious. She's just exhausted from overusing her Spiritual Strength. She'll be fine after resting for a bit."

Xiao Yan turned his head to look at the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent lying on the ground motionless and dazed like a puppet. His expression was somewhat solemn as he observed the flower imprints on its forehead.

He remembered reading about a peculiar physique in the strange tales and ancient records stored in his storage ring called the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. This unique constitution could cause others to experience illusions and could even control opponents.

'This is more than just an illusion.' Xiao Yan looked at the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent he had brutally beaten. How could this be explained by an illusion? If it were merely an illusion, it would have been broken when Qing Lin fainted. Yet, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent appeared dull-witted, as if its mind had been completely taken over.

This was definitely more than just a simple illusion.

Soon after, Mao Wu returned with the stem and root of the green lotus clamped in its mouth. The little cat strutted over the magma with its head held high and its chest puffed out as it approached.

Meow! ψ (*｀ー)ψ

"Alright, alright. I'll share the Core-Fire Lotus Seeds with you. But this isn't the place to enjoy them. Let's talk about it when we get back."

Only then did Mao Wu contentedly hand over the entire green lotus to Xiao Yan. After all, it was a waste to eat those Core-Fire Lotus Seeds raw. It was better to let Xiao Yan, the grandmaster alchemist chef, process them first to make them tastier!

"Xiao-Yan-Zi, how did it go? Did you get the Heavenly Flame?" Xiao Ding asked with concern.

"Sigh." Xiao Yan spread his hands and shook his head. His sigh said it all.

"It was probably taken by Queen Medusa. But at least I brought back a little consolation prize."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li patted Xiao Yan's shoulders to comfort him.

However, the gleam in Xiao Yan's eyes proved that he was not going to give up as easily as Xiao Ding and Xiao Li had imagined.

Qing Lin regained consciousness not long after. But after Xiao Yan's questioning, even she herself didn't know what had happened.

She only knew that she had established a kind of contractual bond with the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent before her, and through this connection, she could control the serpent's actions.

'Contract? There's such a thing in the Dou Qi Continent?' This was a blind spot in Xiao Yan's knowledge. None of the various ancient books and scrolls in his storage ring had any records about contracts.

From Qing Lin's description, Xiao Yan roughly guessed that it should have something to do with the soul and possibly be related to blood as well. But as for the specifics of the situation, he had no way to reach a definitive conclusion.

Records of the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils constitution were even rarer than those of Little Fairy Doctor's Woeful Poison Body.

"Let's head back."

Upon hearing Xiao Ding's words, Qing Lin hurriedly whistled in the direction of the magma lake. The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent immediately began to climb along the rock layers as it cleared the path for everyone.

When they were about to reach the exit, a green light flashed on the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent's body as it rapidly shrank in size and slithered into Qing Lin's sleeve.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li clicked their tongues in amazement. Xiao Li sighed and said, "It seems the strongest person in our mercenary company now is Qing Lin."

"Qing Lin doesn't dare. The Company Leader, Second Company Leader, and Young Master Xiao Yan are the most formidable."

Xiao Yan lightly patted her small head without saying anything.

Once everyone had departed, this vast magma cave once again returned to its perpetual stillness.

After exiting the underground passage, Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, you and Qing Lin should head back to Rock Desert City first. I have some business to attend to in Desert City."

"Desert City? What are you going to Desert City for?" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li glanced at each other. Why was Xiao Yan running off to Desert City for no reason?

Xiao Yan revealed a brilliant smile and said, "To visit an old friend."

With a flap of his Eagle Wings, Xiao Yan oriented himself and transformed into a streak of fire as he flew straight toward Desert City.

Xiao Yan didn't actually have any old friends in Desert City. The only person he knew there was Hai Bodong.

He needed to find the latter to confirm a few things.

The Green Lotus Core Flame was something he hadn't given up on yet.

…

Outside Hai Bodong's shop.

Xiao Yan stepped inside and called out with a smile, "I'm here to buy something."

Hai Bodong was still engrossed in making maps and didn't even look up as he replied, "We're closed."

"Old Hai, can you even afford the rent with this kind of business attitude?" Xiao Yan casually closed the door and walked up to Hai Bodong.

Only then did Hai Bodong lift his head and realize it was that fellow Xiao Yan. Hadn't he just left a few days ago? Why was he back already?

Frowning, Hai Bodong asked, "Is there a problem with the medicinal ingredient?"

"I haven't gone to find the herb yet. But I found the location of the Heavenly Flame based on the clues you gave me." Xiao Yan said with a grin.

Hai Bodong was greatly startled and said in disbelief, "You... you actually found it?!"

"I did find it, but I only found the location. The Heavenly Flame was taken away by Queen Medusa half a year ago." Xiao Yan spread his hands.

Realization dawned on Hai Bodong. No wonder Gu He couldn't find it no matter how hard he searched. It turned out Queen Medusa had already snatched it.

"So your purpose in coming to find me is…?" Hai Bodong frowned. He knew this Xiao Yan was not the type of person who would come looking for him without a good reason, and now that he had come, it definitely meant trouble.

"I want to ask you about all the intelligence regarding Queen Medusa over the past half year. I think you should be the person paying the most attention to her," Xiao Yan spoke bluntly, directly jabbing at Hai Bodong's sore spot.

If anyone was most concerned about Queen Medusa, it would undoubtedly be Hai Bodong, who had been sealed by her for over twenty years.

"You want information on Queen Medusa? Don't tell me you're after the whereabouts of the Heavenly Flame. Are you planning to steal it from her?!!!" Hai Bodong's eyes widened in shock.

 But then he considered the backing Xiao Yan had and felt a bit more at ease.

"Wait a moment, I'll look for it." Hai Bodong took out a thick stack of intelligence reports and began flipping through them. Without a doubt, he had been keeping an eye on Queen Medusa's affairs.

"Now that you mention it, the Snake-People Tribe has been unusually quiet for the past six months. There have been no major conflicts during this period!"

"And I heard that half a year ago, the First Commander of the Snake-People Tribe went to the Chu Yun Empire to seek medicine. It was probably to help Queen Medusa recover from the injuries caused by the Heavenly Flame. Also, three months ago, two tribes went on an expedition to the Northern Cold Lands and only returned half a month ago. Rumor has it they went to search for the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain."

! ! ! ! !

Xiao Yan's expression instantly turned solemn. He seemed to understand why Queen Medusa wanted to find the Heavenly Flame.

He sat in the chair, deep in thought for a good while. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Hai Bodong and smiled.

That smile made Hai Bodong's back involuntarily turn cold.

"Old Hai, you want to get the medicinal herb and remove the seal as soon as possible, right?"

"Just say what you have in mind. I'll hear you out first."

"I want you to find Gu He and tell him that Queen Medusa has obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame. She will soon use the Ice Spirit Cold Fountain to devour the Heavenly Flame and seek the path of bloodline evolution."

Hai Bodong abruptly stood up from his chair and exclaimed, "What the hell?! Are you trying to set the tiger against the wolf?!"