74: Chapter 74 Am I, this king, such a foolish snake, so easily deceived?

A barrier?

Left by a Dou Huang expert?

Hearing Xun'er's words, Xiao Ting immediately understood that Queen Medusa had already discovered this place.

"A Dou Huang barrier... that should be Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Clan," Xiao Ting stated his judgment.

At the same time, he used his spiritual power to record the scene, forming a live photo to upload into the Diary.

This was a new ability he had recently discovered, making recording easy and simple, allowing him to document important locations and events at any time.

He could also jot down key points in an instant while uploading.

[I originally intended to stroll through Mo City today and 'coincidentally' meet Hai Bodong, who is currently living in seclusion with his strength reduced to the Dou Ling level after being sealed by Queen Medusa. I planned to obtain another fragmented map of the pure lotus demonic flame and information about the Green Lotus Core Flame from him.]

Yun Yun: !

The Ice Emperor had been missing for over a decade; many people thought he had fallen. No one expected him to be living in seclusion in Mo City after having his cultivation sealed by Queen Medusa.

Surprisingly, the Ice Emperor actually possessed a fragmented map of the pure lotus demonic flame and information on the Green Lotus Core Flame.

According to the storybook tropes, the Ice Emperor and Xiao Yan would surely become close friends.

[As it turns out, Xun'er said the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame within her body sensed the presence of another Heavenly Flame nearby. I suspect it's the Green Lotus Core Flame.]

[Arriving in the sky above the desert entrance to search for the Green Lotus Core Flame, there is an energy barrier left by a Dou Huang expert here.]

[This Dou Huang should be Queen Medusa. She has already discovered this place but hasn't taken the Green Lotus Core Flame yet.]

[The Snake-People Clan's bloodline is cold, and they fear hot, extreme yang things. However, Queen Medusa's companion soul is the Purple Nether Flame Snake, so she isn't that afraid.]

[But to take away a Heavenly Flame, even a Dou Huang expert needs to make full preparations—and even more so for evolution—which is why she hasn't taken it yet.]

[Since Xun'er discovered it today, we'll take the Heavenly Flame first. Later, I can even use it to make a deal with Queen Medusa.]

"Heh, men."

In the Sacred City of the Snake-People Clan, Medusa stood up and stepped out of the bath. Changing into new clothes, she gazed into the distance toward the entrance of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

She had discovered the Green Lotus Core Flame first, yet he wanted to snatch it away and then come to trade with her to make her feel grateful.

Did he think she was a very stupid snake who was easily fooled?

He should ask Hai Bodong just how cruel she, Medusa, truly was.

---

"The Green Lotus Core Flame, huh."

In Cao City of the Pill Domain, Cao Ying took a hard bite of her bread, her eyes filled with envy.

She, Cao Ying, also wanted to possess a Heavenly Flame. She wondered when that dream would be realized.

---

"It seems Queen Medusa is also about to appear by Xiao Ting's side."

In an inn within a massive city near the Burning Flame Valley in the Southern Region of the Central Plains, Feng Qing'er's gaze was moody.

The Northwest Continent was too far away. With her current strength, trying to go there was beyond her reach.

Going to the Jia Nan Academy in the Black-Corner Region also required finding a good reason and opportunity.

Seeing those women one by one approaching Xiao Ting and surely gaining numerous benefits made her heart ache.

It was likely that strange psychological state where watching others make money felt worse than losing money oneself.

---

"This Gu Xun'er moves really fast."

In a city somewhere in the Central Plains, Huo Zhi, who was strolling through the streets, casually picked up a skewer of candied haws and left behind a gold coin.

A few steps later, she had already entered the void, rushing toward the northwest.

"Little Zhi'er, where are you planning to go?"

Countless flames condensed, transforming into a graceful figure.

"To the Northwest Continent!" Huo Zhi replied with a smile. "Auntie, didn't you say that the Xiao Clan's ancestral land was once in the Northwest Continent? During its peak, it wasn't inferior to the Central Plains. But the great war between the Xiao and Hun clans a thousand years ago caused the natural energy of the Northwest Continent to become barren. I want to go and see for myself."

"That is fine too," Huo Ling said, her eyes showing a look of reminiscence.

Meanwhile, within the Tagor Desert.

Xun'er tilted her head to look at Xiao Ting and asked curiously, "How does Brother Xiao Ting know it's Queen Medusa?"

"This place is near the Snake-People Clan. If a Dou Huang expert appeared and set up a barrier, it would definitely not escape Queen Medusa's perception," Xiao Ting answered solemnly. "The fact that this barrier remains means it was set up by Queen Medusa."

"Should we break it then?" Xun'er nodded slightly, seeking Xiao Ting's opinion. "If it really was set by Queen Medusa, she might sense it after it's broken."

"Break it. What's there to fear from a mere Queen Medusa?" Xiao Ting took Xun'er's hand and said with a relaxed expression, "The senior protecting Xun'er can even kill an Amethyst Winged Lion King at will. Killing Queen Medusa would be no different."

The guards in the shadows: "..."

You know we are the Young Miss's guards, so why do you make it sound like we're your hired thugs?

Xun'er covered her mouth and chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Brother Xiao Ting is right. A mere Queen Medusa isn't worth worrying about. If she doesn't come, then so be it. If she does, killing her would just be a casual matter."

The guards: Young Miss, please don't be so head over heels.

Xiao Yi Xian and Qing Lin shared another knowing look.

It was lucky Medusa wasn't here; otherwise, one wonders how she would feel hearing this conversation.

To the speechless surprise of both them and Xun'er, Xiao Ting recorded this dialogue into the Diary.

[If Queen Medusa were here and heard Xun'er's words, I wonder how she would feel.]

Queen Medusa: I wouldn't dare to feel anything.

One sneeze from the girl's father, and the entire Snake-People Clan would be gone.

"Aunt Ling," Xun'er called out.

Ling Yue flashed in front of Xun'er and waved her hand forward.

The space rippled with a surge of vibration, directly shattering the energy barrier left by Queen Medusa.

Medusa immediately sensed it. Transforming her Dou Qi into wings, she rushed toward the entrance of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"Aunt Ling, you lead the way. Let's go down and check the situation," Xun'er said.

Under the protection of a Dou Zong, the group of five entered the entrance hidden by the desert and went into the underground passage.

After traveling for what felt like half a world, they arrived at a world of lava.

"It's right down there." Xun'er pointed her finger toward the lava below.

"Are you sure?" Xiao Ting asked.

"I'm certain." Xun'er's tone was very firm. After all, Xiao Ting had said so "personally," and she indeed had a sensation. "I deliberately released the aura of the Golden Emperor Sky Burning Flame. The Green Lotus Core Flame below has already sensed me and is showing hostility."

Every kind of Heavenly Flame is a natural enemy to another, each wanting to devour the other to grow stronger, but without the Burning Technique, devouring is very difficult.

"Then let's go back up," Xiao Ting said.

"Huh?" Xun'er and the other two girls all showed expressions of surprise.

Shouldn't they go down and take the Green Lotus Core Flame?

Xun'er asked directly.

"How hot would it be to travel through the lava? Besides, we'd have to trouble the senior to take us down, and there might be other risks if we try to forcibly take the Heavenly Flame," Xiao Ting said as if it were only natural. "Confirming that the Heavenly Flame is here is enough. We'll go back and tell the information to Senior Yao Lao and see what he says."

"Even if we eventually have to trouble the senior to act, we only need to take Brother Yan down and have him refine the Heavenly Flame directly down there."

"Xun'er, don't look for hardship where there is none."

Xun'er, Xiao Yi Xian, Qing Lin: "..."

That makes so much sense.

There was no way to refute it.