Chapter 142: Journey to the Snake-People!
Within the royal city, inside a great hall, Medusa, clad in a luxurious, extravagant purple brocade robe, reclined lazily upon the throne.
The brocade robe wrapped her graceful, enchanting figure within it. Her voluptuous, exquisitely curvaceous frame exuded a bewitching, seductive allure. A pair of long, narrow, pale-violet eyes, brimming with enticement, were lightly closed.
On her flawless, jade-like, slender palm, a tiny nine-colored serpent wandered about nonchalantly. Between the woman and the serpent, an incomparable, irresistible power of seduction radiated forth—an allure that could practically seize and pull over the gaze of every single man.
Suddenly, the slithering nine-colored serpent raised its head in delighted surprise. Its serpentine body transformed into a bolt of lightning, shooting swiftly beyond the great hall.
Simultaneously, Medusa opened her pale-violet eyes. A flicker of joyful surprise flashed within their depths. Watching the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python, which had already darted ahead, a wave of helplessness passed through her heart. With a slight stir of her feet, in a few flickering blinks, her figure had already vanished from within the great hall.
"Who dares trespass into my Snake-People Temple!"
Finally, the enormous body of the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor drew the attention of the Snake-People Royal City's guards.
A Dou Wang aura surged from within the city, swiftly arriving atop the city wall. This was a female warrior of the snake-people, dressed in an equally unrestrained, bold manner. One had to admit—the snake-people's genetics dictated that they only existed in two extremes: hideous and beautiful.
At this moment, this female Dou Wang of the snake-people, gazing up at the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor in the sky, suddenly realized: "It's you, that foul snake!"
Noticing it was an acquaintance, her expression only grew icier. "Bai Ya! You actually dare come to the snake-people! Aren't you afraid Her Majesty the Queen will kill you?!"
Bai Ya did not answer her. Instead, Zi Yan, reclining on his back, rose with dissatisfaction. A sharp, fierce aura erupted from her entire being, sweeping over the snake-people guards.
Noticing the anomaly on Bai Ya's back, the female Dou Wang's expression changed. The visitor had actually made the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor his mount—his status was surely no trivial matter.
"Medusa! If you don't come out, I'm going to fight my way in!" Zi Yan abruptly shouted toward the interior of the royal city. Mixed within her voice was a terrifying dragon's roar, causing the surrounding snake-people warriors acute discomfort.
"Ngh—"
The snake-people female Dou Wang at the lead felt a stifling oppression in her chest. She stared in horror at that purple silhouette. This person's strength was exceedingly terrifying.
"Though you few are indeed very powerful, my snake-people are not weak either. It would be best if you left early. Otherwise, once Her Majesty the Queen emerges, it won't be so easy for you to leave!"
Knowing these newcomers were not to be provoked lightly and wishing to avoid bringing trouble upon the snake-people, the snake-people's Dou Wang advised, attempting to dissuade them.
Ever since Her Majesty the Queen had returned, she had already broken through to Dou Zong. In her eyes, though these few were strong, Her Majesty the Queen was even more invincible.
Her words didn't faze Jiang Yun and the others in the slightest. Just then, the sound of rushing through the air arrived. Sensing the familiar aura, both Zi Yan and Jiang Yun simultaneously revealed a joyful expression.
"Swoosh!"
A figure, quick as lightning, shot directly into Jiang Yun's embrace.
"Xiao Jiu..." Zi Yan beside him was overjoyed at the sight. But watching the little Heaven-Devouring Python bypass her entirely and dive into Jiang Yun's arms to start acting spoiled—her entire mood instantly soured.
"You little one—such a gluttonous creature!" Watching the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python coil around his storage ring, and seeing the longing, craving look in its eyes, Jiang Yun helplessly retrieved a seventh-tier pill and fed it to this yet another major grain consumer.
Right at that moment, the space before the group twisted and distorted. A curvaceous, gracefully alluring figure slowly appeared under the gaze of countless eyes.
"Her Majesty the Queen!"
After Medusa appeared, the area below the city walls was instantly filled with a dark, kneeling mass of snake-people. Even that Dou Wang knelt in reverence without the slightest hesitation. Her status was truly unparalleled.
"I truly wonder what magic you possess to make Xiao Jiu so infatuated!" Watching the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python swallow the pill and then hang upside-down in Jiang Yun's hand, acting spoiled—as a being of one body with twin souls, her heart fluttered with a restless, unfamiliar flutter... Yet outwardly, she maintained her usual calm, unruffled demeanor.
"Perhaps I'm just rather likable!" Jiang Yun replied with a grin, offering an answer that left one speechless.
Shooting Jiang Yun a roll of her eyes, Medusa turned her head toward the multitude of snake-people and declared, "They are my guests. Withdraw!"
"Come. We'll speak further inside the hall!" After calming the startled snake-people warriors, Medusa turned and said to the group.
Naturally, no one objected. Led by Medusa, they smoothly entered the snake-people's most core location—the Temple.
Along the way, it was evident that the snake-people's security was exceptionally tight. Yet the closer they approached the center of the Temple, the fewer people there were, until in the end, there wasn't a single soul.
The snake-people's ultimate battle strength was Medusa. If the enemy had already fought their way here, it would also mean the intruder's strength was so great that placing any further guards here would be utterly meaningless.
This was also the consistent understanding of these fantasy worlds!
Arriving at the entrance of the Temple, Medusa's elegant brows furrowed slightly. Ultimately, she stepped inside.
Jiang Yun and the others exchanged glances and followed closely behind. Upon entering, they saw four figures within the great hall.
They were four aged matriarchs with deep, heavy auras—precisely the four Great Elders of the snake-people at the peak of Dou Huang.
"Her Majesty the Queen!"
Upon seeing Medusa, the four first offered a respectful salute. In the past, such formality wouldn't have been necessary. Though Medusa was the queen of the snake-people, they were the snake-people's elders, and Medusa's seniors to boot.
Back when all were at the peak of Dou Huang, it had always been Medusa who showed deference as the junior!
Now, things were different. Medusa had shattered the shackles, and her strength was unfathomably deep. Thus, the roles had now reversed.
Facing Medusa's inquiry, the First Elder among the four swept a glance over Jiang Yun's group of four and explained, "We were originally in secluded cultivation. Just now, we felt a terrifying, imposing aura and feared some upheaval had occurred. That is why we emerged and came here..."
As she spoke, she glanced at Jiang Yun's group and smiled. "Now, it seems we were mistaken!"
Nodding, Medusa turned toward Jiang Yun's group and said, "They are my friends."
"Since they are Her Majesty's friends, we shall take our leave first!"
As hurriedly as they had come, the four snake-people elders departed just as swiftly. Confirming that the snake-people had not encountered any crisis, they returned to continue their secluded cultivation.
"Sit!"
After sending off the four elders, Medusa lazily settled into the main seat and addressed the group. Attendants naturally served fragrant, delicious tea.
"During my time in the snake-people's territory, I sensed quite a few powerful auras appearing in the Jia Ma Empire. Did something happen?" Once everyone was seated, Medusa was the first to ask, looking at Jiang Yun.
"A minor incident occurred. To explain that, we'll have to start from when we entered the ruins..."
Following that, Jiang Yun recounted the matters of the Northwest Continent, the Soul Hall, the Gu clan, and other such events to Medusa in detail.
"In other words... there are now few safe places left in the Northwest Continent. Then what of my snake-people?" Recalling the Soul Hall's might as just described by Jiang Yun, Medusa's willow-leaf brows furrowed. She spoke with some worry.
Even as a three-star Dou Zun, confident that with her methods she was not inferior to a six-star Dou Zun—the Soul Hall's strength was unfathomably deep. If they continued stirring such storms across the Northwest Continent and one day threatened the snake-people, relying on herself alone would likely lead to a grim outcome.
"Then strike out! Cripple them!" Zi Yan, that war-loving militant, slammed the table and declared loudly.
Hearing this, Medusa rolled her eyes. Irritated, she said, "The Soul Hall's strength is beyond question. For my snake-people to confront them would be no different from an egg striking a rock!"
"The Soul Hall won't be making any major moves on the Northwest Continent in the short term!" Jiang Yun slowly spoke up at this moment.
"Why?" The four women all looked at Jiang Yun with puzzled expressions.
Why?
Because I have inside information!
Muttering this inwardly, Jiang Yun offered his analysis aloud: "Because of the Gu clan. This time, the Gu clan's young miss was humiliated. The Gu clan will inevitably respond. The two great ancient clans can't possibly go to all-out war—the consequences would be far too severe. Thus, naturally, any clashes will only be between their subordinate forces."
"The Hun clan has the Soul Hall. The Gu clan has the Black Annihilation Army. The Soul Hall's high-end combat power will inevitably be tied down and restrained. Coupled with the Northwest Continent just having been reaped and harvested, the supply of high-quality souls has sharply dwindled. The Soul Hall, in all likelihood, won't invest too many resources in the Northwest."
Hearing this well-reasoned, logical analysis, Qing Lin, Xiao Yi Xian, and Zi Yan all looked at Jiang Yun with admiring gazes. Even Medusa's eyes were brimming with unusually bright, colorful light.
Medusa believed Jiang Yun's analysis to a fair degree. Thus, she let out a long sigh of relief. Then, looking at Jiang Yun, she said, "There's no time to lose. I'll trouble you to start setting up my clan's Protective Clan Array!"
"Not so urgent!" Yet Jiang Yun slowly shook his head at this moment.
"Why?" Medusa's brows furrowed slightly. She asked, puzzled.
"The snake-people's most pressing task is to find a good territory and walk out of this desert region!" Jiang Yun looked at Medusa, feeling that this woman had somehow become duller!
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Medusa felt momentarily dazed, spiritually adrift. The thousand-year-long cherished wish of the snake-people—was it about to be realized, in her hands?!
"Yes! You're right! It's time the snake-people walked out of the desert! Whoever blocks us—I will kill!" At this moment, a fierce, intense yearning erupted in Medusa's eyes. This time, no one could stop her.
"I'll go discuss the target with the elders right now!" Medusa rushed off like a whirlwind to consult with the snake-people's four Great Elders, leaving the others staring at one another.
"Honestly! That woman just abandoned us like this?! Not even a meal provided—infuriating!" Zi Yan stared at the bland, insipid tea before her and grumbled with righteous indignation.
"Hehe!" Watching Zi Yan's indignant, fuming appearance, Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian immediately burst into giggles.
"Alright, you two! Daring to laugh at me! Take this!" The laughter naturally drew Zi Yan's attention. Her cheeks slightly flushed, she glared at Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian and huffily charged at the two girls.
"Ah—"
Instantly, the sounds of playful frolicking echoed throughout the great hall. Jiang Yun leisurely and contentedly sipped his tea, occasionally offering commentary. It was quite the feast for the eyes!
Three days later.
The snake-people mobilized. Medusa personally led the troops, taking the warriors of the Four Great Tribes with her. For this operation, half of the snake-people's combat-capable soldiers had been deployed—showing just how much importance the snake-people placed on this matter.
And their target was the territory of the former Chu Yun Empire, the Mu Lan Empire, plus a small portion of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
The environment of this region was extremely suited for the survival of the snake-people. Moreover, the former Chu Yun Empire's territory still harbored residual toxins—which the snake-people didn't fear at all, for they themselves were masters of poison.
As for whether the current rulers of the Chu Yun Empire and the Mu Lan Empire would agree—that was entirely outside Medusa's consideration.
If they didn't agree, she would simply cut them down with a single sword strike!
Under the joint, coordinated efforts of Zi Yan and Medusa, spatial passageways were torn open. In merely a single day, Medusa had led the snake-people to seize sufficient territory for their survival.
"Medusa! How dare you! To actually invade the territory of my Mu Lan Empire!"
Just as Medusa took the territory, the Mu Lan Empire was the first to react. Led by the Mu Lan Three Elders, they charged murderously right before Medusa and her forces.
By now, the Mu Lan Three Elders had already broken through to Dou Zong. Upon hearing that the snake-people, under the leadership of the newly Dou Zong Medusa, were invading the Mu Lan Empire, they immediately decided to come together, all three of them.
If only one had come, given Medusa's ferociously formidable combat ability, they might not truly have been able to repel her.
"What do I dare not do?! Old fools—since you've come, let's settle old accounts together!" Medusa stared at the Mu Lan Three Elders and the great army behind them. She sneered coldly. The pressure of a Dou Zun erupted with a boom.
The snake-people, wedged between several great empires, had never lived well. They had frequently clashed, erupting into wars, with the great empires. Medusa had also had past disputes with the Mu Lan Three Elders.
Now was the perfect time to settle everything together!
"Dou Zun..."
"You've broken through to Dou Zun! This is impossible!"
Sensing the pressure that erupted violently from Medusa, the Mu Lan Three Elders stared at her in disbelief, their eyes filled with deep terror.
"Run—"
Without further inquiry, the three fled with exceptional tacit understanding, each shooting rapidly in a different direction. A Dou Zong—they could still put up a fight. But a Dou Zun...
They had absolutely no chance of victory!
"Hmph!"
Seeing this, from the distant horizon, Medusa let out a cold snort. Extending her palm, she clenched it fiercely from afar in the direction the three had fled.
"Bang!"
As Medusa's palm clenched, the space around the three men instantly twisted and distorted. In the next instant, an incomparably terrifying, irresistible force wind directly pierced through space, abruptly descending upon the three.
"Boom!"
Three explosive booms rang out in succession. Three masses of deep-crimson blood mist abruptly appeared in the sky. The three men were nowhere to be seen.
After annihilating the Mu Lan Three Elders, Medusa gazed at the distant Mu Lan Empire army, still frozen in shock and unable to recover. A single palm strike descended ferociously.
Not long after, word spread: Medusa had single-handedly wiped out the Mu Lan Empire's three Dou Zongs, over a dozen Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs, and an army of tens of thousands.
This ruthless, vicious method once again reminded the surrounding nations of this formidable, ferocious queen of the desert snake-people.
After this, the snake-people faced no further obstacles. They smoothly seized the entire territory of the Mu Lan Empire, plus over half of the Chu Yun Empire. After a seven-day migration, the snake-people entered their new territory.