Chapter 272: Killing the Demon Serpent Xia Mang
In the desolate desert, the wind howled, sweeping waves of sand across the endless horizon.
Two figures—one walking, the other floating—moved slowly forward.
On Xiao Yuan's forehead, a faint seven-colored serpent seal shimmered.
To prevent Xiao Yuan from regaining his full strength and escaping her control, Queen Medusa had used her full power to place the Serpent Seal on him.
This also slowed his recovery significantly.
Xiao Yuan was quite vocal in his complaints.
But the sultry beauty ignored him completely. When she got annoyed, she'd cover his mouth with her hand—his nose too—almost suffocating the mighty Dou Zong.
Unforgivable!
That said, her hands were soft and carried a unique fragrance—something like mandrake, but lighter.
Unfortunately, she didn't let Xiao Yuan intertwine fingers with her, which left him slightly disappointed.
They had traveled in this peculiar fashion for two and a half days now.
And they hadn't seen a single soul.
If not for their strong cultivation levels and the food and water stored in Xiao Yuan's spatial ring, they might've already fallen into panic or despair.
After all, unfamiliar territory meant they had no idea when—or if—they'd find a way out.
But Queen Medusa was quite familiar with desert terrain. After some scouting, she had found a path earlier that morning. Following it would eventually lead them out.
"There's a mountain ahead. Looks like we're almost out," Medusa said calmly.
"Mmm. Thank you for your effort, Your Majesty," Xiao Yuan replied with a grin.
Even with his Dou Qi sealed, he remained completely unbothered.
After all, he knew the Serpent Seal technique himself. Lifting it wasn't difficult.
But if this beauty wanted to play this way, he'd indulge her. With her strength, she could handle most threats.
If they ran into something she couldn't deal with, she'd definitely remove the seal and let him handle it.
Xiao Yuan completely understood the frustration Medusa must be feeling.
In just three years, she had barely finished merging with the Heaven Swallowing Python's soul and stepped into the Dou Zong realm. Meanwhile, this ungrateful Xiao Yuan had gone from Dou Shi to Dou Zong, and his combat power rivaled even peak Dou Zongs.
She, the proud queen, had finally come out wanting to assert herself, only to find herself overshadowed once more by the infuriating Xiao Yuan.
Not to mention the fact that Xiao Yuan also had terrifying souls like the Heavenly Flame Venerable and Yao Lao in his corner—both of Dou Sheng level when alive.
Still… as Xiao Yuan said, Queen Medusa didn't truly want to kill him.
In fact, even she wasn't quite sure how she felt about him.
She'd watched him grow step by step. For this bold youth who once dared flirt with her—he definitely left a mark in her heart. But his lecherous ways annoyed her.
And… she didn't seem to dislike it when he touched her.
Anyone else who dared approach her would be slapped to death. A second glance could cost them their lives.
Her thoughts wandered as they walked. For someone who'd spent most of her life focused solely on training and protecting her tribe, emotions like love were still foreign territory.
Medusa was… pondering life.
Xiao Yuan, quietly recovering his Dou Qi and injuries beside her, chose not to interrupt.
Before long, they reached the mountain range she had spotted.
She looked up. A steep mountain rose before them, split down the middle by a jagged chasm as if cleaved by brute force. The gorge was several dozen meters wide, forming a dramatic valley.
"There's serpent energy here," she said coolly, scanning the area.
"I'm still weak, Your Majesty must protect me~" Xiao Yuan said from his floating posture with a shrug.
"You'll soon learn the agony of being devoured by ten thousand snakes," she replied with a cold snort, moving forward.
Xiao Yuan's lips curled into a smile. His eyes narrowed slightly.
If someone was going to "devour" him, it had better be the queen herself. Anyone else trying it would probably die miserably.
"Hmph!"
Medusa saw his smug expression and felt like she was being played again.
Annoying.
Just then, the entire canyon trembled. The trees on both sides collapsed as massive serpents emerged.
Boom!
Several giant snake figures shot out from both sides of the canyon, sealing the road completely. Their vicious mouths hissed, flicking bloody-scented tongues. Their cold snake eyes locked onto the pair in the center.
Medusa's charming face darkened.
Even after she had used spatial force, they still didn't get the message?
She sighed and canceled the spatial energy holding Xiao Yuan up.
Thud
Xiao Yuan landed hard, aggravating his injuries. His lip curled.
Looking at the snakes blocking the path, Xiao Yuan's mood soured. He'd been in a decent mood and didn't plan on punishing these creatures—but if they insisted on death…
From the forest emerged a wave of smaller, colorful snakes, completely encircling them.
"Hehehe… Such beauties think they can sneak past Lord Xia's eyes?"
A creepy voice echoed above as a dark green figure descended from the canyon ridge, hovering above them.
The figure had a humanoid body, but was covered in dark green scales. Atop his shoulders sat a snake's head, eyes filled with wicked lust.
Behind him flapped dark green Dou Qi wings.
Xia Mang looked down with a lecherous grin. "Why don't you both stay and become my wives?"
Xiao Yuan frowned.
This guy got hit in the head?
Couldn't even tell male from female?
"Don't think your disguise fools me, sweet thing," Xia Mang chuckled, leering at Xiao Yuan.
"Wanna lose your manhood and have it shoved down your throat—then wear your head in your ass?"
Xiao Yuan cursed, brushing dust off his robes. A faint Dou Wang aura emerged.
"Oho, still playing tough? But I could smell your sweetness from miles away! Just surrender!" Xia Mang laughed.
Xiao Yuan turned and grabbed Medusa's arm.
"Screw you."
With a wave, he sent a condensed soul force slap that struck Xia Mang mid-air, slamming him to the ground.
Pfft!
Xiao Yuan spat a mouthful of dark blood to the side. Blue lightning sparked at his feet. He appeared beside the stunned serpent and, with a perfect football kick, launched him straight into a cliff.
Boom!
Xia Mang was embedded in the mountain wall.
Xiao Yuan followed up like a raging beast, fists hammering down as he cursed with each blow:
"Just a Dou Wang?!"
"You want me to be your concubine?"
"And you want my queen too?"
"You've got guts, I'll give you that!"
"You think I'm weak just 'cause I'm nice?!"
"I finally get some alone time with her, and you show up to ruin it?"
"DIE!"
"DIE!"
Each shout was punctuated by explosive blows. His monstrous physique—just slightly weaker than Zi Yan's—unleashed gusts that shattered rock. Xia Mang's aura quickly dwindled.
The surrounding snakes stared in horror. The man who looked like an invalid had turned into a mad beast, pummeling their boss to death.
They turned and fled.
Can't mess with him!
Queen Medusa watched Xiao Yuan's rampage with interest, a faint smile surfacing in her alluring gaze.
Moments later, drenched in green snake blood, Xiao Yuan finally stopped. He glanced at the pulp that used to be Xia Mang, sneered, and incinerated it with dark-golden flame.
As for Xia Mang's magic core?
Sadly, it had been smashed to bits.
Exhale…
That felt good.
He glanced at the fleeing snakes and the ashen remains of Xia Mang.
Then, dizziness hit.
Thud
He collapsed backward—
Into a very soft, warm embrace.
Ahhh… so comfy.
A satisfied grin appeared as darkness claimed him.
"Foolish brat."
Medusa shook her head, channeling Dou Qi to soothe his turbulent qi and blood.
Then, she resumed their journey, floating forward with spatial force, cradling Xiao Yuan along the way.
After crossing the Canyon of Ten Thousand Serpents, the road was much smoother. A few minor hiccups, but nothing slowed them down.
Thanks to some rest and medicine, Xiao Yuan's strength had recovered to nearly 80%. His internal injuries were healing faster than expected.
Finally, once fully recovered, the two arrived at a city called Tianbei City.
Given how eye-catching Medusa's appearance was, they both donned black robes before entering.
At the gate, the guards performed a routine check, but Xiao Yuan casually released a Dou Wang aura and was quickly welcomed in.
They found an inn and settled in.
Then Xiao Yuan stepped out to gather intel.
He vaguely remembered… someone familiar was supposed to be in this region.
—
Tianbei City, Han Family.
In the main hall, tension thickened the air.
A group of Hong Family cultivators stood with arms crossed, sneering at the Han Clan members. At their head was a man in a green robe, around twenty-six years old—not exactly handsome, but he had a roguish charm. His eyes brimmed with arrogance.
"Hong Chen, storming into the Han estate like this—isn't that too much? Don't think that being from the Wind Lightning Pavilion means you can act without consequence. We've stood tall in Tianbei City for years, not by bowing to pressure," said a stern-looking middle-aged man in golden robes.
"Uncle Han, no need for threats. I'm just here to ask: has your clan decided on our proposal?"
Hong Chen's eyes suddenly turned to a silver-haired beauty nearby—her expression cold and unreadable. He grinned.
"My Han Clan will never marry a daughter to someone she doesn't love. Your Hong Clan's demands—absolutely not!" the elder snapped.
"Heh… Then don't blame us for being forceful," Hong Chen's smile turned cold.
"Even if your Hong Clan surpasses ours, trying to devour the Han Clan will cost you dearly," the elder growled.
"Oh, perhaps you didn't know—I've just become a Wind Lightning North Pavilion core disciple."
Boom.
His words landed like a bomb.
Everyone froze—even the usually stoic Han Yue's long lashes trembled.
The elder's face darkened with bitterness. Since joining the Pavilion a year ago, Hong Chen's backing had allowed the Hong Clan to grow cocky. If he truly joined the inner sect, their influence would skyrocket again.
"And when that day comes, Han Yue won't be enough. I want Han Xue too."
Hong Chen's gaze grew heated.
The Han Clan's twin flowers had long caught his eye.
(END CHAPTER)
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