"Rest assured, Eight Leaders of the Snake-People. I will exhaust every possible method to help her and have no intention of causing her any harm."
Xiao Hua nodded and cupped his hands, his gaze calmly sweeping across the gathered leaders.
"There is one more matter I wish to bring up," he said, lowering his hands. "If possible, could you gather the entire tribes of Snake-People in this city?"
"May I ask the reason?" Yin Shi furrowed his brows in confusion.
Xiao Hua's expression softened slightly as he replied, "When I witnessed Queen Medusa's majestic evolution—her unwavering will and boundless determination—I swore to myself that I would help your tribe leave this barren desert."
As he spoke, a faint smile touched his lips, and he glanced subtly at the small, white snake coiled in slumber around his wrist.
Though he had made that promise to Queen Medusa, she had been fully focused on gathering her strength for a final stand. He doubted she even heard him. But that no longer mattered—whether she heard it or not, a vow once made must be fulfilled.
The nine Snake-People leaders were stunned into silence, completely at a loss for words. None of them could believe that Xiao Hua had made such a promise.
"That... may I ask, where does Young Master believe would be a suitable place for us to settle?"
Yin Shi was the first to regain his composure, his voice trembling slightly. After all, it had always been their greatest desire to leave the harsh, barren desert—a place wholly unsuitable for their kind.
"It would be safer and more suitable for the Snake-People to settle in the Jia Ma Empire, where my reputation and status can provide protection," Xiao Hua replied calmly.
"Furthermore," he added with a slight nod, "in the Jia Ma Empire, both the Xiao Clan and the Miteer Family will stand behind you. If anyone dares to stir trouble, they'll have to answer to us."
"That is indeed reassuring…" Yin Shi nodded in agreement. He had long heard that Xiao Hua was the Supreme Elder of the Xiao Clan, and that clan would surely act at his command.
Moreover, considering the close relationship between Xiao Hua and the current head of the Miteer Family, there was no doubt they too would lend their support without hesitation.
However, there was one issue with this plan—Xiao Hua was planning to leave the empire and head to the Central Plains. Once he departed, the Snake-People would have no guarantee that the Xiao Clan and Miteer Family would continue to protect them. That uncertainty was the source of their hesitation to immediately accept his proposal.
"Rest assured, Elder Yin Shi," Xiao Hua said calmly. "Since I've taken it upon myself to look after your tribe in Queen Medusa's absence, I will ensure that some of your members advance to the sixth-rank before I leave for the Central Plains."
He understood their concerns well, and thus offered them something far more valuable than simple protection—strength.
"Sixth rank?! You mean... you'll help us advance to sixth-rank magical beasts?!"
Several of the Snake-People stepped forward, their voices trembling with disbelief and excitement.
"Technically speaking," Xiao Hua replied with a small nod and a faint smile, "what I will be giving you is the Body-Transformation Pill, along with other suitable pills tailored for Snake-People."
He wasn't the kind of person to send others into unfamiliar lands—especially enemy territory—without any form of assurance, no matter how promising the place might seem compared to this barren desert.
"Then, we shall trouble Young Master with this matter," Yin Shi said, cupping his hands as the others followed suit with a slight bow.
"Haha, there's no trouble at all," Xiao Hua replied with a light shake of his head. He then asked, "How long will it take your tribe to prepare for the relocation?"
At the question, Yin Shi rubbed his chin thoughtfully before turning to discuss it with the other Snake-People leaders.
Xiao Hua blinked, a bit taken aback that they would openly deliberate right in front of him. With a faint smile, he decided to tune out their discussion, letting them speak freely without eavesdropping.
After a long exchange among the high-ranking members, they finally reached a consensus.
Turning back to face Xiao Hua, Yin Shi reported respectfully, "The distance between this city and our outer settlements is quite far. We estimate it will take around three weeks for the entire tribe to gather here."
"That is already good enough, Elder Yin Shi," Xiao Hua nodded. "In the meantime, I will speak with the Royal Family about lending you land, and I'll also approach the other major factions. Additionally, I'll inform the Xiao Clan and the Miteer Family to assist you should you need anything."
"Thank you, Young Master Xiao Hua," Yin Shi and the others said in unison, cupping their hands and offering a respectful bow.
As Yin Shi raised his head, he noticed the sky gradually darkening. He looked toward Xiao Hua and said, "Since evening is approaching, why not stay in the city for the night? It would be our honor to host you, and we shall offer you the highest hospitality."
Xiao Hua shook his head slightly, his gaze falling to the Green Lotus Core Flame gently flickering in his palm. "I have other matters to attend to."
"I understand," Yin Shi replied, his eyes following Xiao Hua's gaze to the flame. He mistakenly assumed Xiao Hua intended to refine the Heavenly Flame.
Naturally, the other Snake-People thought the same, but none of them made any move to covet it.
After all, the Heavenly Flame held little benefit for their kind. In fact, due to the repelling nature of their cold Yin blood, attempting to refine it would only lead to violent resistance—and possibly death.
Besides, even if they had coveted it, Xiao Hua's strength was simply too overwhelming. In the face of such power, all one could do was accept their misfortune and resign themselves to the fact that the Heavenly Flame was his.
"Then, I shall take my leave." Xiao Hua cupped his hands in farewell to Yin Shi and the others, and in the next instant, his figure vanished without a trace.
"So that's a Dou Zong… the strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire right now…" Yan Ci murmured softly, his voice filled with awe, amazement, and deep respect.
Unlike earlier, when anger clouded his mind, he could now clearly sense the unfathomable depth of Xiao Hua's presence—even though the man hadn't released a shred of aura or pressure.
"Indeed," Mo Ba Si nodded in agreement. "We're truly fortunate that Her Majesty and that ruthless little girl in purple have a close bond. Without it, we wouldn't have gained his support."
"Without his help, our dream of leaving this cursed, barren desert would've been delayed even longer…" Yue Mei added, a faint smile gracing her lips.
"Regardless, the next few weeks will keep us quite busy," Yin Shi said, cutting their admiring conversation short. He then issued orders for the group to begin moving toward the other Snake-People settlements and gather everyone in the Sacred City.
"Elder Yin Shi… will the other side truly agree to let us settle within the Jia Ma Empire?"
Unlike the others, who were visibly excited, Nan She remained cautious. He leaned in and whispered quietly to Yin Shi, careful not to dampen the group's enthusiasm.
Naturally, Yin Shi understood what troubled Nan She. It wasn't that he doubted Xiao Hua's sincerity—it was whether the people of Jia Ma Empire would actually accept such a migration.
"Let's see how things unfold first," Yin Shi replied with a soft sigh and a shake of his head. "However, with Xiao Hua's status and strength, I doubt anyone will dare voice opposition. In fact, they'll likely try to curry favor instead."
"Still, to be cautious, once we've settled, we'll assign strong guards to patrol the area."
"Understood," Nan She replied with a firm nod, acknowledging the plan.
Over the next few days, countless Snake-People began to quietly disappear from the surrounding areas. This strange phenomenon quickly drew the attention of the other mercenary groups scattered across the Tager Desert.
Rumors began to spread. Some believed the Snake-People were preparing for a large-scale operation, and tensions in the desert swiftly escalated as mercenaries braced themselves for the unknown.
…
Meanwhile, inside a grand hall, Xiao Hua stood calmly at its center. Before him stood three young men, and his gaze naturally fell upon the youngest among them.
"It's been a while, Cousin Xiao Yan."
"It has, hasn't it? Probably more than two years already, Cousin Xiao Hua."
The two cousins exchanged warm greetings, the kind shared by family members long separated by time and distance.
Xiao Hua then turned to the other two and offered a polite nod. "It has been half a year since we last met, First Young Master, Second Young Master."
"Ha ha, Supreme Elder! I never expected you to visit us in person," Xiao Ding said with a cupped-fist salute, smiling warmly. "Had we known in advance, we would have prepared a banquet in your honor."
"Ha ha, we can just hold it after this, Big Brother," Xiao Li laughed with excitement. He clapped Xiao Yan's shoulder, his voice filled with genuine joy.
"Supreme Elder, please don't turn us down this time. Let us brothers properly express our gratitude for what you've done to help our little brother's condition. If you refuse, even though I'm weaker than you, I'll do everything I can to keep you here until you accept it!"
Xiao Hua and Xiao Yan exchanged glances, a faint flicker of awkwardness passing between them.
They both understood that, technically speaking, even without Xiao Hua's intervention, Xiao Yan's condition would have been resolved—since the root of the problem lay in Yao Lao absorbing Xiao Yan's Dou Qi…
Because of this, the topic had become a slightly awkward one for both of them to bring up.
Even so, Xiao Yan's gratitude toward Xiao Hua remained deeply rooted in his heart. Xiao Hua had gone to great lengths to help him—refining an eighth-tier pill that smoothing his training and even allowing his body to safely absorb a Heavenly Flame, albeit one of lower rank.
According to his master, Xiao Yan's physical body was now incredibly robust, comparable to that of a high-ranked magical beast. This granted him the ability to battle those of higher class without being easily suppressed.
Moreover, after becoming an alchemist himself—though only a second-tier one—Xiao Yan had come to understand just how difficult it was to climb the ranks. Reaching a high tier demanded immense talent, effort, and time. It was no wonder so many revered Xiao Hua.
With all the benefits and help Xiao Hua had given him, Xiao Yan could never see him as just another figure who passed through his life. To him, Xiao Hua was family—someone who had remained constant and would always hold a place in his heart.
"Fine. I'll stay here until tomorrow," Xiao Hua said, shaking his head with a resigned sigh. He could already imagine himself being dragged into drinking with them.
"But before that, I have something for Xiao Yan." With a gentle motion, Xiao Hua tossed the lotus-shaped object in his hand toward Xiao Yan.
Catching it carefully, Xiao Yan looked down at the Lotus Seat with slight confusion. But in the next moment, his expression changed. His eyes widened, and he gulped nervously—clear traces of excitement and joy flashing across his face.
Xiao Hua immediately understood from the change in Xiao Yan's expression that Yao Lao must have informed him about the true nature of the turquoise-colored flame nestled in the center of the Lotus Seat.
Though Xiao Hua sense the spiritual fluctuations Yao Lao had used to communicate with Xiao Yan, it was clear from his reaction that the message had been delivered even if Xiao Hua didn't sense it.
Lifting his head, Xiao Yan asked, "Cousin Xiao Hua, why are you giving me a Heavenly Flame? Is there some kind of trial I need to pass before I can earn it?"
At his words, Xiao Hua let out a wry smile. It was clear that Xiao Yan had completely misunderstood him, assuming he would be tested before receiving such the Heavenly Flame.
'Not that I can blame him…' Xiao Hua thought helplessly to himself.
He had already given Xiao Yan four trials in order to obtain a Heavenly Flame. Each one was progressively more challenging and difficult to accomplish in a short amount of time.
The first trial involved the Fallen Heart Flame, which was in the possession of Jia Nan Academy. To be eligible for it, Xiao Yan had to rank among the top ten in the Strong Ranking Competition.
As for the other three Heavenly Flames, Xiao Hua had entrusted them to Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, instructing them to pass them on to Xiao Yan. These Heavenly Flames were obtained through the System and sealed within special orbs.
The System had crafted these orbs to safely contain Heavenly Flames without letting their power leak, and Xiao Hua had left his spiritual imprint on each one.
That imprint served as a condition: Xiao Yan needed to prove himself by completing specific tasks before the orb would unlock and reveal the Heavenly Flame within.
Reaching the Dou Ling class would unlock the first orb. Within the first one contained the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, ranked twenty-second on the Heavenly Flame Ranking.
Reaching the Dou Wang class would unlock the second orb, granted him the Wind and Thunder Fury Flame, ranked eighteenth.
Successfully refining a sixth-tier medicinal pill without Yao Lao's assistance would unlock the last one, earning him the Sea Heart Flame, ranked fifteenth.
Xiao Hua shook his head and glanced at Xiao Yan, a faint smile forming on his lips. "It seems you've reached the peak of Dou Shi. Just one more step, and you'll break through to Da Dou Shi."
"It's nothing special," Xiao Yan replied calmly. "After all, reaching Da Dou Shi is just the basic standard at Jia Nan Academy. I can't be complacent, especially with the trials you've given me still ahead."
"The Green Lotus Core Flame is something I found in the Tager Desert," Xiao Hua casually explained, waving his hand. "I have no use for it—it's meaningless to me. So naturally, I thought of the only person in the Tager Desert who truly needs a Heavenly Flame."
"With this Green Lotus Core Flame, you'll not only break through to Da Dou Shi but may even advance by several stars," he added with a faint smile.
"I understand. Thank you, Cousin Xiao Hua," Xiao Yan said as he gently placed the Lotus Seat on the table and cupped his hands in gratitude.
He might still be inexperienced in the ways of the world, but as a fellow alchemist, he knew well that a Heavenly Flame was a priceless treasure to any alchemist.
Even if it served no purpose for Xiao Hua, there were countless others who would be willing to empty their entire storage rings just to obtain the one he held.
And yet, Xiao Hua had given it to him freely, without asking for anything in return.
It was only natural that Xiao Yan overwhelmed with gratitude. Among everyone in the clan, he held Xiao Hua in the highest regard—on par with his own blood relatives—and had always considered him true family.
"Don't get carried away by your excitement," Xiao Hua warned, his voice calm but firm. "Refining a Heavenly Flame is an extremely exhausting and excruciating process. One small mistake can decide life or death. To enjoy such a treasure, you must first survive it."
He wanted to ensure Xiao Yan fully understood the gravity of what lay ahead and didn't let his emotions cloud his judgment.
"Don't worry, Cousin Xiao Hua. I won't let my excitement make me careless," Xiao Yan nodded seriously, understanding the weight of his cousin's words.
"Good. Now that everything's settled—" Xiao Ding stepped forward and patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder, a wide grin on his face.
He might not fully grasp the intricacies of Heavenly Flames, but he knew well enough that they were priceless treasures for alchemists. At first, he and Xiao Li had been confused about why Xiao Hua entrusted not just one, but three Heavenly Flames to them. Only after Xiao Yan explained everything did they truly understand.
Sweeping his gaze across the room, Xiao Ding declared with a hearty laugh, "Tonight, we drink until we drop! No one's allowed to leave sober!"
…
As the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, Xiao Hua quietly left Rock Desert City while the brothers remained soundly asleep, drunk from the night before. Without making a sound, he made his way toward Jia Ma Sacred City.
His first stop was the Miteer Family. Upon arriving at their main building, he was immediately recognized by the guards and respectfully led to Ya Fei's room.
When the guard opened the door, Xiao Hua saw that Ya Fei wasn't alone—Primer Tengshan and Hai Bodong were also present.
"Ke ke, Young Master Xiao Hua. I didn't expect to see you so soon," Primer Tengshan greeted him warmly, a joyful smile spreading across his face.
"Primer Tengshan, it's been a while. Congratulations on your breakthrough to the Dou Huang class," Xiao Hua said as he cupped his hands in a polite gesture of respect.
"Ke ke, it's all thanks to you, Young Master Xiao Hua," Primer Tengshan said with a light chuckle, his voice carrying both amusement and gratitude.
"I'm just glad I could help," Xiao Hua replied with a soft chuckle, before turning his gaze to Hai Bodong, who stood quietly beside Primer Tengshan.
The man before him was no longer the frail old elder with a long white beard, wrinkled face, and hunched back. After regaining a portion of his strength and returning to the Dou Huang class, Hai Bodong's appearance had undergone a remarkable transformation.
He now stood tall and broad-shouldered, his frame solid and muscular. His long, silver-white hair flowed freely past his shoulders, and his once-wearied eyes now gleamed with a cool, detached sharpness. He wore a light blue robe with a deep V-neck, trimmed with elegant, intricate patterns. The robe was fastened at the waist with a golden belt, adorned with a fierce beast motif.
His forearms were guarded by dark, intricately crafted gauntlets, further emphasizing his readiness for combat.
Though his expression retained its usual indifference, there was now a subtle but unmistakable hint of respect and admiration in his eyes. Compared to his former aged appearance, this was the Hai Bodong that Xiao Hua was more accustomed to—the formidable Dou Huang of the past.
"Old Hai, it's been quite some time. It seems your appearance has changed considerably since your condition stabilized," Xiao Hua said with a chuckle, cupping his hands in greeting.
"It is thanks to you, Young Master, that I've regained my Dou Huang strength," Hai Bodong replied. A rare, warm smile appeared on his usually expressionless face.
"I'm glad to hear that your strength has returned." Xiao Hua nodded. "I've gathered all the medicinal ingredients needed to refine the Core Recovery Essence Pill. Once it's ready, I'll send it to Xiao Tao and Xiao Yang so they can deliver it to you immediately."
Hai Bodong was visibly startled by those words. Although the change in his expression was subtle, it was significant for someone as emotionally reserved and cold as he was—especially given his reputation for showing no emotion under any circumstance.
"Thank you," he said, cupping his hands. Though his voice remained cold, there was a rare trace of heartfelt gratitude in his tone.
With the formalities with the elders concluded, a warm, bright smile bloomed on Xiao Hua's face as his gaze shifted to the woman standing quietly nearby.
Her auburn hair cascaded down her back, and the black robe she wore hugged her slender waist and mature, graceful figure. She radiated an enchanting charm, like a fox exuding seductive allure, her peach blossom eyes fixed on him with a playful glint.
"Sister Ya Fei, your charm is even more captivating since we last met—it's hard to look away now."
"As usual, you've got quite the glib tongue, Xiao Hua," Ya Fei replied, rolling her eyes in feigned exasperation. Yet the joy on her face betrayed her true feelings—clearly, she enjoyed his flattery.
-------|
Read 20 Advanced Chapters in Patreon:
http://patreon.com/GodYato