Coming out of the cave, Han Feng leaped lightly onto a sand dune, looking down at the yellow sand.
"I'll make a trip to the Snake-People Tribe first."
Since Hai Bodong had already prepared most of the ingredients for the Calamity-Breaking Pill, Han Feng would refine it for him.
The missing ingredient was the fifth-tier Sand Mandala.
It only grew in the desert and needed to absorb geothermal heat, so it was very rare.
Han Feng had searched the Tagor Desert for nearly a month and hadn't come across a single one.
To find this Sand Mandala, he would probably have to go deep into the territory of the Snake-People Tribe.
Originally, Han Feng had no intention of causing extra trouble, because his main purpose was to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame. If he stirred up the situation too much, it would not be good for him.
But now it was different. Not to mention that he had to repay Hai Bodong's favor, he now had the Green Lotus Core Flame in hand and had even finished refining it. So what if the situation became chaotic?
Speaking of which, if he hadn't appeared, the future owner of this Green Lotus Core Flame would have been the Snake-Person Empress, Medusa.
Thinking of this, Han Feng actually felt a little embarrassed.
Had he intercepted her opportunity in advance?
Shaking his head, he threw the childish thought to the back of his mind.
Han Feng was not a pedant. Such things were too common in the cultivation world. Opportunities would not be delivered to your hands if you just waited foolishly in place.
Cultivation is a struggle against oneself, against others, and against the heavens!
The reason Han Feng had been able to remain calm and be kind to others along the way was, in the final analysis, because he was strong. Otherwise, who would have paid any attention to him?
Only by being strong can you set your own rules.
Han Feng opened the map and looked for the way to the Snake-Person Holy City.
An ordinary map would not have such a route marked, but the map Hai Bodong had given him was drawn very clearly. Even some desert supply points were marked.
He estimated that Hai Bodong had set these up himself while traveling the desert.
Han Feng spread his Dou Qi wings, turned into a stream of light, and shot into the sky.
————————
After half a day's effort, Han Feng arrived at the center of the Tagor Desert.
"Is that the Snake-Person Holy City?"
Looking down from high above, Han Feng saw a huge city built in the desert.
Towering city walls, patrolling snake soldiers, and a high tower that pierced the sky.
At least in terms of grandeur, Han Feng felt that it was worthy of the name Holy City.
Han Feng admired it for a moment, then flew at high speed and arrived at the gate of the holy city's wall.
"Who goes there?"
The Snake-People guarding the city wall immediately became alert, holding their bows and arrows and aiming at this uninvited guest, Han Feng.
Han Feng clasped his fist in a salute.
"I am Han Feng. I have come this time to seek an audience with Queen Medusa. I wonder if someone could go and announce my arrival?"
"Human, die!"
One of the Snake-Person guards seemed to have a deep hatred for humans and directly released his bowstring.
The sharp arrow whistled out, seeming to trigger the reaction of the other Snake-People. Swish, swish, swish, countless sharp arrows shot towards Han Feng.
Han Feng smiled faintly and snapped his fingers.
Exquisite Dou Qi spread out, instantly taking control of all the arrows, causing them to stop in mid-air and even slowly turn their arrowheads around.
However, Han Feng did not shoot them back, but just let them fall.
"I'll go and inform the commander. You guys hold the fort, don't let this human into the city!"
A Snake-Person who seemed to be a squad leader gave an order to the city-guarding snake soldiers, then hurriedly ran into the city.
Han Feng stood quietly, not making any excessive moves.
Those Snake-People had witnessed Han Feng's strength and did not dare to act rashly again. The two sides were at a stalemate. The Snake-Person who had shot the first arrow still looked at Han Feng angrily, as if he wanted to shoot another one, but he was stopped by his companion.
A moment later, a female Snake-Person with long, wine-red hair walked out of the city aggressively, followed by the Snake-Person who had gone to report.
"Your Highness, it's him."
Hua She'er stared at Han Feng and said, "Human, you have trespassed into our tribe's territory. What is your purpose?"
Seeing that the newcomer seemed to be someone he could talk to, Han Feng said, "I am an alchemist. I have come to the holy city in search of a medicinal ingredient and hope to get Queen Medusa's help."
"You're an alchemist?"
Hua She'er stared at Han Feng, unable to gauge his depth.
"Indeed."
"In that case, I won't kill you. But if you want to see the Queen, I'm afraid you'll have to wear this."
Hua She'er took out a pair of chains, a playful smile on her face.
Han Feng looked at her calmly, but this expression, in Hua She'er's eyes, seemed like contempt.
"Hmph!"
Hua She'er sneered. Dou Qi wings spread from her back, and she lunged fiercely at Han Feng.
Shaking his head gently, Han Feng closed his eyes and raised his hand.
Just as Hua She'er was about to touch his body, Han Feng's hand struck the chains as fast as lightning. The tyrannical force directly slammed Hua She'er to the ground.
"Chains are useless things."
Han Feng's indifferent voice sounded. The chains in Hua She'er's hand turned to dust and drifted down before her eyes.
The disheveled Hua She'er struggled to lift her body and subconsciously retreated several meters.
"You!"
She had not expected that this human would have such strength.
She, a newly advanced Dou King, couldn't even last one move in his hands.
Was she careless?
No.
It was that this person before her was terrifyingly strong!
Hua She'er took out a long spear from her storage ring and held it warily in front of her.
"I have no intention of making an enemy of the Snake-People Tribe."
The moment Han Feng spoke, his figure had already appeared by Hua She'er's side, his hand resting on her shoulder.
Hua She'er's body instantly stiffened. His action was tantamount to telling her—I can kill you in an instant.
Han Feng just patted Hua She'er's shoulder lightly, then looked at the high tower in the city.
Queen Medusa should be living in that most dazzling place, right?
Since he was already here, Han Feng was also a little curious to see what the Snake-Person Empress, who had dominated half of the Northwest Continent in his previous life, looked like now.
"I can go and report to the Queen, but whether the Queen is willing to see you or not, I don't know."
After being taught a lesson by Han Feng, Hua She'er's attitude was undoubtedly much better.
She knew that clashing head-on with Han Feng now would definitely not end well. This kind of matter was better left for the Queen to decide.
"Alright. The medicinal ingredient I'm looking for is the Sand Mandala. If Queen Medusa is unwilling to see me, can you help me find it?"
Han Feng thought that if Medusa happened to be in seclusion, then he really wouldn't be able to see her.
He couldn't possibly ask someone to come out of seclusion just to find a medicinal ingredient, could he?
Although the snake woman before him was a bit weak, she was a Dou King after all. Her status should be high enough to search for medicinal ingredients.
Hua She'er's eyelids twitched. Meeting Han Feng's non-negotiable gaze, she swallowed hard.
"O-of course."
"Wait here for a moment. I'll be right back."
Hua She'er fled in disarray.
She felt that she had completely lost face just now, but what could she do in the face of a human expert who could take her life at any time?
Left at the city gate again, Han Feng sighed.
It seemed that the conflict between the Snake-People Tribe and the human race was not something that could be resolved so easily.