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**
In the far distance ahead, a small oasis came into view—like a green gem, it was nestled quietly within the vast desert.
"Young Master, I recognize this oasis. Rock Desert City isn't far from here!" On top of the king cobra's head, Qing Lin stood up, pointing excitedly toward the oasis.
"We've finally made it back!" Wei Yang also stood, stretching his body as he spoke with emotion.
After more than a month of travel, they had at last returned to the outskirts of Rock Desert City.
By rough calculation, this entire journey had taken nearly a year and a half.
But—it was worth it!
This journey had finally come to a perfect end.
As they traveled a bit further, traces of human activity began to appear faintly within their sight.
Wei Yang said to Qing Lin, "Qing Lin, put away Big Eye. From now on, try not to let him appear in front of others unless necessary—we don't want to attract attention from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion."
"Oh." Qing Lin immediately became flustered upon hearing that, and quickly instructed the king cobra to halt.
In her eyes, that Heavenly Serpent Mansion wasn't any different from the kind of bad people who kidnapped children.
"Don't be afraid. I've already placed a soul seal on you, which conceals your aura. As long as someone from the Heavenly Serpent Mansion isn't near you, no one should be able to sense that you possess the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
Wei Yang stepped off the cobra's head, his feet sinking slightly into the sand. "From now on, just avoid using the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils on your own."
"In a few years, once Xian'er reaches the high stage of Dou Zong, we won't need to fear the Heavenly Serpent Mansion anymore. Worst case, we'll just fight them."
"I feel like I could break through to Dou Huang at any moment now! Three years—just give me three more years, and I'm confident I can reach the high stage of Dou Zong!" Xian'er said softly.
"Breaking through to Dou Huang requires a massive amount of energy and time. Let's wait until we get to the Ghostly Marsh—that place is perfect for your breakthrough."
Wei Yang chuckled. "If we can find the Ghostly Poison Flame smoothly, let alone Dou Zong, even Dou Zun will be as easy for you as eating or drinking."
"Big Sis Xian'er is amazing!"
Qing Lin, now a Nine-Star Dou Zhe, looked determined. "Young Master, I'll train hard too. I won't be a burden!"
Ever since forming a contract with the king cobra, her cultivation speed had soared.
In just over a month, she had gone from a Three-Star Dou Zhe to Nine-Star Dou Zhe.
If Wei Yang hadn't suppressed her, she might've already been preparing to break through to Dou Shi.
"Silly girl." Wei Yang smiled and patted her shoulder. "Why say that? We're a family—we support each other. There's no such thing as dragging anyone down."
Xian'er also nodded with a smile. "That's right. We're a family."
"Mhm! A family!" Qing Lin's eyes turned slightly red as she nodded firmly, a warm feeling rising in her chest.
Wei Yang muttered, "Honestly, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion might actually be the place that could help you grow the fastest right now. You'd receive proper training there... I don't know whether keeping you by my side is ultimately good or bad for your development."
He looked at Qing Lin. "Qing Lin, if you want to go to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, I can send you there. When you become a Dou Zong, I'll come bring you back."
Qing Lin quickly shook her head, clutching Wei Yang's arm tightly in panic. "I don't want to go—I just want to stay by your side forever! Please don't make me leave, Young Master! I'll work hard, I promise I won't slack off!"
Wei Yang was a little dumbfounded, but he quickly comforted her. "Okay, okay—you won't go if you don't want to. Since you don't want to, then forget it! Don't be nervous, I was just asking for your opinion. I'm just worried it might affect your growth…"
After soothing Qing Lin, Wei Yang let go of the thought.
If she didn't want to go, then so be it.
Staying by his side wouldn't necessarily be worse than going to the Heavenly Serpent Mansion anyway.
"Let's go. First, we'll return to the underground magma world and get some proper rest. There's a peak Rank 4 Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent down there—let's see if we can run into it. If we do, we'll capture it for Qing Lin as a pet."
With a wave of his hand, Wei Yang gave the order.
"Hehe, okay!" Qing Lin nodded happily.
As long as she could stay by Young Master's side, she didn't care where they went—she was happy either way.
She turned to look at the king cobra beside them, which was resting with its eyes closed. She waved and called out, "Big Eye!"
At that moment, a surge of bright green light burst from the cobra's forehead. A verdant three-petaled flower emerged, and in the blink of an eye, its massive body rapidly shrank. In a flash of green light, it shot into Qing Lin's sleeve.
"When you reach the Dou Zong stage, Qing Lin, you'll be able to open a subspace within your eyes. It can serve as a place for them to live," Wei Yang said casually, glancing at Qing Lin's sleeve.
"Come on, let's stroll back." As he spoke, Wei Yang took the lead and walked ahead.
"You can actually shrink a magic beast and carry it with you? That's amazing," Xian'er exclaimed with a bit of surprise, giving Qing Lin's sleeve a curious look before following after Wei Yang.
Qing Lin, too, curiously patted her sleeve. A faint smile appeared on her delicate face as she gently reminded, "Big Eye, you better behave and stay inside. No causing trouble, okay? If you upset Young Master, I'll throw you away."
Hiss~
A faint hissing sound came from within the sleeve, laced with a hint of discontent—it was clear the King Cobra felt a bit aggrieved by its master's warning.
"Heehee." Covering her mouth, Qing Lin let out a soft giggle. With her hands clasped behind her back, she skipped after Wei Yang and Xian'er. The three of them strolled leisurely in the direction of Shimo City.
Their figures gradually faded into the drifting sands.
Entrance to the underground magma world.
Soul power swept through the sand, pushing it aside to reveal a deep tunnel entrance.
A faint wave of heat slowly emanated from within the passage.
This tunnel was the very one Wei Yang had opened back then.
"We're home." Seeing the familiar entrance, Xian'er stretched lazily. With age, her figure had grown ever more enchanting, her curves forming the perfect silhouette. Smiling sweetly, she spoke.
"Heehee." Qing Lin was all smiles too, her face full of joy.
For them, calling this place home wasn't wrong at all.
"I miss that big soft bed. I'm going to sleep for a whole day and night," Xian'er said as she held Qing Lin's hand. The two of them whispered and chuckled as they eagerly darted into the tunnel.
Wei Yang shook his head with a wry smile, but then his brows furrowed slightly.
His soul power had detected several newly formed tunnels in the area.
And not far away—just a few hundred meters under a sand dune—was an exposed tunnel entrance, left completely uncovered.
Even more suspiciously, a group of mercenaries was currently guarding it.
"These tunnels... were they created by Medusa?" Wei Yang muttered to himself.
It seemed that just like in the original story, Medusa had come here before.
As for the Green Lotus Core Flame... there was no way she'd be able to find it now.
He wondered whether the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent would be able to escape from her hands again this time.
In the original, Medusa had spared it simply because she'd found an Heavenly Flame and had no time to bother with it.
Now... he could only hope it survived. After all, they were old acquaintances by now.
Wei Yang's gaze turned toward the exposed tunnel entrance guarded by mercenaries a few hundred meters away.
Although the sand dune blocked his line of sight, his soul perception easily swept across the area.
He could "see" everything clearly.
Before long, he had already discerned the identity of those mercenaries.
The Desert Metal Mercenary Group!
"The mercenary group founded by Xiao Yan's two older brothers, huh?" Wei Yang raised an eyebrow.
"Interesting. That means Xiao Yan must be down there right now? Heh, long time no see."
With that, Wei Yang withdrew his soul perception and stepped into the tunnel. His figure gradually disappeared from sight.
Behind him, soul power swept across the sand, causing it to whirl and fall once more—sealing the tunnel entrance completely.
Looks like... a guest had come to visit while he was away.
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