Chapter 108

"What is this?!"

Xiao Yan was suddenly startled—Qing Lin's eyes erupted in an eerie green glow, and the previously wounded, frenzied Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake instantly calmed down at the sight of that light.

Only when Xiao Yan looked closely did he realize the giant Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake's pupils had turned the same shade of green as Qing Lin's.

Beside the green pupils of the giant Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, three tiny green dots suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

These three green dots were exceptionally clear—even upon close inspection, they seemed like three tiny flower buds.

Similarly, Qing Lin's eyes had also changed to match the snake's, revealing precisely the same three emerald flower buds.

The final two tiny green flowers were imprinted upon the two heads of the Fire Spirit Snake.

After the flower marks appeared, the faint light in Qing Lin's eyes gradually faded; moments later, the tiny flowers within his pupils swiftly dissipated, returning to their usual emerald hue.

Xiao Li quickly caught Qing Lin as he collapsed, limp and powerless, while Xiao Yan, ignoring the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, flew to the cave entrance to check the situation.

"What happened to Qing Lin?" Xiao Ding asked.

After examining Qing Lin's eyes and sensing his Soul Force, Xiao Yan said: "Nothing serious—just excessive Soul Force depletion. He'll be fine after a little rest."

Xiao Yan turned to look at the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake, now lying motionless like a puppet, its forehead bearing the flower mark—his expression grew grave.

Xiao Yan had once read in an ancient text within his storage ring about a rare Special Physique called Qi San Hua Tong—a condition capable of inducing illusions and even controlling an opponent.

"This isn't just an illusion," Xiao Yan muttered, staring at the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake he had brutally beaten—how could an illusion explain this? If it were an illusion, Qing Lin would've passed out already, and the effect should've broken—but this snake's expression was vacant, as if its mind had been completely usurped.

This was certainly not just an illusion.

Not long after, Mao Wu stepped forward, a sprig of Qing Lian's root in its mouth, walking daintily across the lava, head held high.

Meow! ψ(*｀ー)ψ

"I know, you'll get your Earth Core Fire Lotus seed—no need to eat it here. Let's go back first."

Satisfied, Mao Wu handed the entire Qing Lian plant to Xiao Yan—after all, the Earth Core Fire Lotus seed couldn't be swallowed raw; it was far better after being processed by Xiao Yan, the Alchemist chef!

"Xiao Yan, did you get the Strange Fire?" Xiao Ding asked anxiously.

"Sigh." Xiao Yan shrugged and shook his head—his sigh said it all.

"It was probably taken by the Mei Du Sha Queen—but at least I got a consolation prize."

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li patted Xiao Yan's shoulders to comfort him.

Yet a flicker of unusual resolve in Xiao Yan's eyes proved he had no intention of giving up so easily, contrary to what Xiao Ding and Xiao Li assumed.

Not long after, Qing Lin awoke—but after questioning him, Qing Lin himself didn't understand what had happened.

He only knew he had formed a Contract with the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake before him, allowing him to control its movements through that bond.

"Contract? Are there such things on the Dou Qi Continent?" This was a blind spot in Xiao Yan's knowledge—none of the ancient texts or Scrolls in his storage ring mentioned Contracts.

From Qing Lin's description, Xiao Yan guessed it might involve the Spiritual Soul, possibly even blood—but he couldn't draw a definitive conclusion.

Records of the Qi San Hua Tong Special Physique were even rarer than those of Xiao Yixian's Eternal Calamity Poison body.

"Let's go back."

Hearing Xiao Ding's words, Qing Lin blew a sharp whistle toward the lava lake—immediately, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake climbed up the rock layers and led the way ahead.

As they neared the exit, the Two-Headed Fire Spirit Snake flashed a green light, rapidly shrinking in size before slithering into Qing Lin's sleeve.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stared in amazement; Xiao Li remarked: "It seems Qing Lin is now our Mercenary Group's strongest member."

"I'm not worthy. The Grand Leader, Second Leader, and Young Master Yan are the true strongest."

Xiao Yan gently patted Qing Lin's small head without speaking.

Once everyone had left, the vast lava cavern sank back into eternal stillness.

Stepping out of the cave, Xiao Yan smiled and said: "Big Brother, Second Brother, you two take Qing Lin back to Shimo City—I'm going to Mo City for something."

"Mo City? Why are you going to Mo City?" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged glances—why would Xiao Yan suddenly head to Mo City?

Xiao Yan flashed a bright smile: "To visit an old friend."

Unfurling EagleWings, Xiao Yan locked onto his target and shot through the sky like a streak of fire toward Mo City.

In Mo City, Xiao Yan had no old friends—his only acquaintance was Hai Bodong.

Xiao Yan needed to confirm something with Hai Bodong.

He had not abandoned the Qing Lian Earth Core Fire—SnakeTribe didn't need Strange Fire; they were cold-blooded by nature, and Strange Fire was poison to the Mei Du Sha Queen—meaning there was still room for negotiation.

Outside Hai Bodong's shop, Xiao Yan stepped in and said: "Shopping."

Hai Bodong, still bent over mapping, didn't even look up: "Closed."

"Hai Lao, if you run your shop like this, can you even pay rent?" Xiao Yan shut the door behind him and walked up to Hai Bodong.

Hai Bodong looked up and recognized Xiao Yan—hadn't this kid just left days ago? Why was he back already?

Frowning, Hai Bodong asked: "Did the Medicinal Materials go wrong?"

"I haven't even looked for them yet—I found the location of the Strange Fire based on your clues," Xiao Yan said with a grin.

Hai Bodong shot upright, utterly astonished: "You… you actually found it?!"

"I found the location—but six months ago, the Mei Du Sha Queen took it," Xiao Yan shrugged.

Hearing this, Hai Bodong finally understood—no wonder Gu He had searched endlessly; the Mei Du Sha Queen had beaten him to it.

"So what's your real reason for coming?" Hai Bodong frowned—he knew Xiao Yan never showed up without wanting something.

"I want to ask you about the Mei Du Sha Queen's activities over the past six months. You're surely the one who's watched her most closely," Xiao Yan said bluntly, striking straight at Hai Bodong's sore point.

Who cared more about the Mei Du Sha Queen than Hai Bodong, who had been sealed by her for over twenty years?

"You want information on the Mei Du Sha Queen? You're not trying to find the Strange Fire's whereabouts, are you? You want to steal it from her?!" Hai Bodong's eyes widened in alarm.

But then Hai Bodong remembered the power behind Xiao Yan and relaxed.

"Wait a moment—I'll look." Hai Bodong pulled out a thick stack of intelligence reports and began flipping through them—undoubtedly, he had been monitoring the Mei Du Sha Queen all along.

"Now that you mention it, the SnakeTribe has been unusually quiet these past six months—not a single large-scale war!"

"Also, I heard that six months ago, the SnakeTribe's tribal chieftain went to Chu Yun Empire seeking Elixirs—likely to heal the Mei Du Sha Queen's injuries from the Strange Fire. And three months ago, two tribes launched an expedition to the Northern Cold Lands, returning only half a month ago. Rumor says they were searching for the Ice Spirit Cold Spring."

!!!!!!

Xiao Yan's expression instantly turned grim; he seemed to understand why Mei Du Sha Queen sought the Strange Flame.

Xiao Yan sat on the chair, lost in thought for a long while, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked at Hai Bodong with a smile.

That smile sent a chill down Hai Bodong's spine.

"Hai Lao, you also want to get the Medicinal Material quickly and lift the Flame Sealing, don't you?"

"Just say what you're thinking—I'll listen first."

"I want you to find Gu He and tell him that Mei Du Sha Queen has obtained the Lotus Earth Core Fire and will soon use the Ice Spirit Cold Spring to devour the Strange Flame in pursuit of bloodline evolution."

Hai Bodong leapt to his feet in shock, exclaiming: "Kuang?! You're trying to set the wolf on the tiger?!"

(End of Chapter)