Xihang is a remote yet vast lake.
The scenery here is exceptionally beautiful, in no way inferior to the famous lakes and scenic spots in Xihang.
But unlike those tourist attractions that are always bustling with visitors who explore every corner, this somewhat remote place is completely deserted.
This is because this area belongs to the Tang family of Xihang.
Under normal circumstances, outsiders are not allowed to set foot here.
Of course, the fact that this place is not open to the public is not only because it belongs to the Tang family, a prominent family in Xihang.
Furthermore, this is because the only remaining totem snake of the Great Xia Dynasty lives here.
Totem beasts are divided into sacred beasts and branch totems, both of which are ancient guardian beasts of China.
The sacred beast totems include the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird.
The four sacred beast totems had almost exhausted all their life force in the fight against the Siren Empire, and eventually either perished or disappeared without a trace.
Currently, apart from the White Tiger, which still has descendants with a high concentration of direct bloodline on Mount Tian, the direct bloodline concentration of the other sacred beast totems is mostly low, or even basically extinct.
There are still some collateral relatives.
For Su Lan, who knows the plot, it is currently unknown whether Baihu and Xuanwu are completely dead.
However, the Azure Dragon and the Vermilion Bird were not completely dead; they were still seeking a chance to be resurrected.
If given the opportunity in the future, Su Lan wouldn't mind helping to revive several sacred beast totems.
After all, if the Sacred Beast Totem hadn't fought so desperately, the Great Xia might have already been conquered by the Sea Demon Empire.
The place Su Lan is heading to now is the location of the Totem Black Serpent.
The Xuan Snake, a totem beast belonging to the Xuanwu lineage, survived the invasion of sea monsters thousands of years ago and has lived in the Xihang area ever since.
The totem snake is a group that is close to humans and does not reject human contact; in fact, it is willing to provide shelter for humans.
After the Tang Yue family moved to Xihang, they obtained permission from the totem snake and began to worship it.
They used the black serpent totem as a symbol of their family and worshipped it as a god.
Despite dynastic changes and invasions by powerful enemies, the Tang family has been able to continue to this day, thanks in no small part to the totem, the Black Serpent.
Tang Yue is the contemporary guardian of the Xuan Snake and one of the few humans in the Tang family who can directly communicate with the totem Xuan Snake.
To be honest, Su Lan didn't understand the plot of the Totem Serpent's molting stage, where the serpent would be attacked by outsiders but no one intervened forcefully.
Tang Zhong of the Tang family is the chief judge of the Lingyin Temple Tribunal, and he possesses super-level strength.
Even with his status as a former court monk and member of parliament, Zhu Meng could not easily suppress the local bully.
As a family that has operated in Xihang for over a thousand years, surely they wouldn't be so powerless as to offer no resistance whatsoever.
At least the Totem Serpent's strength is greatly reduced during its molting period. When Zhu Meng wanted to kill the Totem Serpent, surely he could have sent several high-level mages to stop him.
Once the totem serpent has passed its brief period of weakness after molting, even if Zhu Meng wanted to do something, he wouldn't be able to.
Moreover, Shao Zheng and Hua Zhanhong strongly support the harmonious coexistence of humans and totem beasts.
They even wanted to use the power of the totem beast to resist the invasion of the sea monster once again.
In short, Su Lan was very disappointed with the Tang family's weakness and incompetence.
...
Su Lan is currently on a small boat, heading towards the central island of the lake.
Su Lan wasn't the only one on the boat; Tang Yue, Apas, Lingling, and Serafina were also there.
The lake water is clear and tranquil, reflecting the white clouds in the sky, with ripples spreading as the small boat glides by.
Through the clear lake water, Su Lan, with her exceptional eyesight, spotted a huge dark shadow beneath the boat.
Suddenly, the small boat, which had been moving at a constant speed, swayed slightly.
The small boat then slowly began to rise, eventually even leaving the water surface by about a meter.
Even when the small boat was a meter above the water level, it maintained a constant speed as it headed toward the center of the lake.
The sudden situation did not surprise or worry the people on the boat, including Su Lan. Instead, they looked up at the water below.
What was on top of the small boat was a huge snake head, covered with hard black scales as tall as a person.
Ahead of the small boat, a pair of enormous snake eyes were looking as far as possible in Su Lan's direction.
At the same time, a hissing sound entered the minds of everyone present.
Although there were no specific written words, everyone knew from the general spiritual connection that the totem snake was greeting Su Lan and the others.
"Hey everyone, long time no see!"
Apas and Lingling happily greeted the Totem Serpent, receiving a warm response from it.
They had been here many times before, and at first they were strangers to each other and somewhat wary of one another.
However, after several visits, they actually became good friends through Apas, the beautiful snake.
It's unimaginable.
A twelve-year-old girl, a Great Monarch-level Golden-eyed Medusa, and a Supreme Monarch-level Totem Black Serpent.
It's unbelievable to outsiders that these three could become good friends.
Compared to Apas and Lingling, Xuan She is closer to Su Lan.
Su Lan came this time because the Totem Black Serpent asked Tang Yue to contact him.
Su Lan, who jumped out of the small boat, gently stroked the head of the black snake.
Feeling Su Lan's touch, the Xuan Snake's previously somewhat annoyed mood dissipated considerably, and the sound transmitted to its spiritual sea was filled with joy.
Soon, the small boat carried by the black snake arrived at the shore of the island in the middle of the lake.
The Tang family set up guards on the island in the middle of the lake to keep watch over the place at all times and prevent outsiders from disturbing the Xuan Snake.
And the island in the middle of the lake is not entirely forest or rock.
The island in the middle of the lake has a shape that intersects within a large circle, with many courtyards and houses built within it.
Green tiles and red pillars are the most representative architectural features of the Jiangnan region.
After passing through several courtyards, Su Lan and her group arrived at the very center of the island in the lake.
This is a large lake, which is also the dwelling place of the Black Serpent.
A lake was dug at the bottom of the island to allow the Black Serpent to come and go freely.
At this moment, the totem snake, like a spoiled kitten, gently rubbed its huge head against Su Lan's hand.
Ordinary people might find it hard to imagine that the totem snake, with only half its head showing, is already as large as a giant cruise ship.
And yet this enormous creature is now acting all cute and affectionate towards Su Lan.
Standing to the side, Tang Yue felt a pang of jealousy watching the black snake so close to Su Lan.
Serafina stood beside Su Lan, curiously staring at the totem snake.
The black snake sensed the gazes of Tang Yue and Serafina, nuzzled against them, and finally returned to Su Lan's hand.
As for Apas and Lingling, they were currently running in circles on the head of the Xuan Snake.
After catching up briefly, Xuan She began to explain why she had brought Su Lan here.
"You want me to protect you during your molting period?"
"Hiss~~~"
The totem snake nodded gently, its eyes filled with human-like expectation and prayer.
There was no trace of the majesty of a supreme monarch.
At the same time, Xuan She told Su Lan about her situation in detail, even more so than Tang Yue had told her.
The totem snake is a serpentine creature, and according to feedback from its bloodline power, it is about to enter its molting period.
Molting is a life-or-death crisis for all living things.
The totem snake is no exception!
Because the strength of the Totem Serpent will be greatly reduced in a short period of time after it enters the molting period.