Chapter 1569

The island spans several hundred li, and although these snake-women move with astonishing speed, if they were to walk all the way to the island's center on foot, it would certainly not be a matter of a moment or two.

But under Yanwu's leadership, after the group advanced several li into the island, a simple structure resembling a tea shed appeared ahead, inside which several male and female snake-people were tending to over a dozen beasts resembling lizards, and at the far end of the canopy, there was even a pitch-black vehicle covered with an unknown black 'colored' fabric.

Upon seeing the beautiful woman approach, the snake-people immediately had two of them run out to greet her respectfully.

But Yanwu gave a few light instructions, then pointed with her finger at that black 'colored' vehicle.

The two snake-people showed a look of surprise, and couldn't help but glance toward Han Li's side, responding repeatedly in agreement.

They immediately returned to the shed, harnessed the black 'colored' vehicle with two lizard-beasts, and additionally led over three more.

Thus, Han Li was once again carefully lifted by the snake-women into the black vehicle, and then two snake-women sat in front of the vehicle, while the remaining three each rode separately on lizard-beasts.

Since these snake-women lack legs on their lower bodies, the lizard-beasts' backs are all fitted with a peculiar bucket-style beast saddle, allowing them to place their snake tails inside.

The group then immediately set off again.

These lizard-beasts appear somewhat clumsy, and their running is exceptionally bumpy, but with the movement of their four legs, they can leap over twenty zhang in an instant. Their speed is truly not slow!

Consequently, the group's speed instantly increased severalfold.

After only two hours, they arrived before a earthen city.

Indeed, it is a genuine earthen city!

Its area is not large, only about ten or so li in size, the city walls are gray and dim, entirely piled up with pale yellow 'colored' earth. And looking through the city gate inward, the interior is also filled with earthen houses of various sizes, with stone structures rarely seen.

Han Li observed all this through the window, feeling somewhat surprised in his heart, but showing no strange 'color' on his face, instead gazing at the dozen or so snake-people guarding the city gate.

These guards are similarly mixed in gender, but each is covered with a layer of armor made of unknown material, holding in their hands gleaming silver long halberds, and on their backs carrying shorter silver forked spears and other throwing weapons, presenting a fully armed appearance. Moreover, in the distance, many armed snake-people can be vaguely seen standing on the nearby earthen walls.

It seems the defenses are extraordinarily strict!

Yanwu arrived at the city gate, halted her lizard-beast, then leapt down from it.

Immediately, one of the gate-guarding snake-people, a heroic and vigorous female snake-person, stepped forward and smiled as she greeted the priestess.

Upon seeing the other party, the priestess was also overjoyed, stepped forward and said something joyfully, but shortly afterward pointed at the vehicle behind her, and her expression suddenly became solemn.

The gate-guarding female snake-person likewise had her smile fade, nodded, then waved her hand behind her, whereupon the guards immediately stepped aside to clear a path.

Thus, the beautiful snake-woman once again mounted her lizard-beast, leading the black 'colored' vehicle into the earthen city.

Han Li sat in the vehicle, continuously observing everything in the earthen city.

Although the earthen city is not large, its main street is exceptionally wide, paved with pale white 'colored' stone, starkly different from the surrounding earth-yellow 'colored' houses, making it strikingly conspicuous.

And along both sides of the street, many snake-people walk back and forth.

The males are each strong and vigorous, the females also exceptionally agile, and most carry weapons. Even some young snake-people, only a few chi tall, similarly hold spears and forks, though much smaller in size, and appear to be made of ordinary hard wood.

Seeing this, Han Li could not help but begin to ponder!

"The Wa clan" — this foreign race, though he had never heard of it before, clearly consists of a people where everyone is a soldier. He does not know how many cultivators exist among them. If the proportion of cultivators is astonishing, and combined with the fact that ordinary clanspeople are this strong, then this clan must possess considerable strength. And yet, how could such a powerful foreign race have never come to his attention?

Han Li also noticed that in this Huoyang tribe, female snake-people vastly outnumber males.

Upon observation along the way, the number of female snake-people appearing on the road is roughly more than twice that of male snake-people.

Moreover, the snake-people's lower-body snake-skin colors also show some differences.

Among them, pale green and pale yellow 'colored' are the most numerous, but their status appears lowest, while white and black 'colored' ones are fewer, mostly surrounded by other snake-people, suggesting they hold a certain status in the tribe.

As for snake-people of other colors, Han Li has also seen them.

Han Li silently analyzed everything he saw in the vehicle, but not long afterward, the vehicle was driven to a flat stone-paved square. At one end of the square, a hall constructed of wood and earth mixed together stood prominently. Its surface was coated with a layer of multicolored 'colored' shell-like ornaments.

However, these did not attract Han Li's attention; his gaze fell upon a strange object in the center of the square.

It was an object resembling a bronze-made conical shape, over ten zhang tall, pointed at the top and broad at the base, its surface covered with strange patterns, with a faint layer of Bai Guang flashing intermittently.

Around this object stood seven or eight male and female snake-people in white robes, their hands faintly flashing with spiritual light.

Han Li narrowed his eyes and immediately saw these people placing something into the base of this strange object — although fist-sized block-like objects, their colors were variegated, and they did not appear to be spirit stones.

These white-robed male and female snake-people, like the beautiful snake-woman who led the way, had spiritual energy fluctuations on their bodies, but in terms of cultivation level, they were still inferior to the beautiful snake-woman.

However, upon seeing Yanwu and the convoy appear, the white-robed people immediately had two of them walk over.

At this moment, Han Li was also lifted down by others and carefully placed onto a bamboo chair found from somewhere unknown.

Han Li glanced indifferently at the conversation before him, though he could not understand a word, it was clearly evident that the two white-robed snake-people showed considerable respect toward the beautiful snake-woman.

At this very moment, two rows of snake-people in identical white robes suddenly walked out from the hall opposite the square.

One row female, one row male, they slowly advanced toward Han Li's side.

Upon seeing this, the beautiful snake-woman and the other snake-people in the square changed expression, immediately stepped aside, and became reverent in demeanor.

After the two rows of white-robed snake-people took their positions on either side, another person in red robes walked out from within.

Upon seeing this person, Han Li flashed a hint of surprise on his face.

It was actually a woman with an ordinary appearance and a gaunt figure, whose lower body was exactly like that of a human — two legs, not a serpent body.

What surprised Han Li even more was that he sensed Nascent Soul-level magic power fluctuations from this woman.

This truly came as something beyond his expectations.

For although the white-robed snake-people in the square all had spiritual energy fluctuations, the highest among them was at most a Foundation Establishment cultivator — a male snake-person — while the rest were at the Qi Refining level, just like the beautiful snake-woman.

Under such circumstances, the sudden appearance of such a high-level being was too great a disparity.

After this woman's gaze swept over Han Li, she likewise showed a look of surprise, but after a moment calmed down and hurried over.

"Junior Huoyue, pays respects to Senior Han!" the woman said upon arriving before Han Li, actually bowing deeply, her words in flawless Feilongyu.

"Are you indeed the High Priestess of the Huoyang tribe?" Han Li's eyes flashed, and he asked slowly.

"I indeed am! This is not the place for talk, Senior, please follow me into the hall for a conversation?" the woman said, her face showing a smile.

"Good, I have many things I wish to ask you." Han Li nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"Thank you, Senior, for granting me face! You few, please do not delay in inviting the Senior into the great hall." The woman, overjoyed, turned her head and instructed those white-robed snake-women nearby.

Immediately, that row of snake-women fell into a great 'chaos', then hurriedly rushed forward two of them, carefully lifting Han Li's bamboo chair, and proceeded toward the hall.

Then the woman waved her hand, and those standing on both sides also quickly followed in.

After a short while, Han Li found himself in a simply decorated hall within the palace.

Inside, aside from Han Li and the 'woman' seated there, the other white-robed snake people, whether male or female, stood respectfully with hands clasped at their sides.

"Senior, your movements seem rather inconvenient—is your health unharmed? Junior here still has some self-refined qi and blood pills that can nourish the essence and replenish qi; perhaps Senior would like to take some?" After the 'woman' had seated herself properly, she respectfully inquired.

"No need, I merely encountered a minor cultivation issue. It will be resolved after some time." Han Li glanced at the 'woman', the corner of his mouth revealing a half-smile.

"Hehe, then Junior can rest easy. Earlier, I received a message from Dancer saying Senior wished to inquire about some matters. I do not know what doubts Senior may have, but Junior will certainly speak without reservation." The 'woman' gave a dry laugh, then suddenly shifted the topic.

"Oh, I would first like to know what sea region this is, and whether there are any renowned fellow cultivators nearby." Han Li pondered briefly before speaking.

Upon hearing Han Li's question, the 'woman's expression remained calm as she revealed a hint of strangeness, yet she answered truthfully:

"This is the Fire Coral Islands. Nearby, there are no particularly formidable fellow cultivators—at most, those of cultivation level similar to Junior's."

"Fire Coral Islands? Do you have a map of the surrounding seas?" Upon hearing such an unfamiliar place name, Han Li frowned and asked.

"Naturally, I do. However, Junior's maps are inscribed using the script of the Wa Clan; Senior would do well to first learn this clan's language and writing, after which the sea chart would become clear." The 'woman' blinked her eyes and said with a smile.

"Hmm, that will do." Han Li furrowed his brow slightly, then after a moment nodded. Although his residual divine sense could not be projected outward, reading jade slips and similar objects posed no obstacle.

Upon hearing these words, the 'woman' revealed an apologetic expression, immediately sweeping a hand across her body; a flash of spiritual light appeared, and she produced from somewhere a piece of jet-black, lustrous stone tablet, which she then tossed toward Han Li.

After such a prolonged rest, although Han Li had recovered a trace of magic power, his limbs remained weak and feeble.

His gaze swept over the stone tablet, which indeed resembled a jade slip; he then opened his mouth, and instantly a stream of green mist erupted, drawing the tablet to his forehead, after which he prepared to close his eyes and examine its contents.

But just then, with a "thud," the stone tablet suddenly shattered, releasing a jet-black mist like ink that spread outward, instantly enveloping Han Li beneath it.

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