Chapter 52: I'll Take on Your Heavenly Snake Mansion!
"My friend, I am Gu He," Gu He said with a grim expression, his voice raised. "Perhaps you have heard of me?"
"Jie... An alchemist?" Lu Bu replied with a faint smile.
"Humbled by the title, they call me the Pill King," Gu He said with a light bow. As a sixth tier alchemist, he had every right to be proud, a title that demanded respect everywhere except in the Pill Tower.
"Jie!" Lu Bu let out a cold laugh as an overwhelming surge of soul power erupted from his brow, roaring like a storm.
Everyone present felt their chests tighten as if a massive boulder was pressing down on them. The six Dou Kings instinctively lowered their altitude, unable to resist dropping a level.
"..."
Gu He's face darkened further, his heart silently cursing his misfortune. He had spent so much time and effort searching for the Heavenly Flame, only to have it snatched away at the final moment. The frustration gnawed at him, filling him with rage.
"My lord," Yue Mei interjected urgently, wisely pretending not to recognize Lu Bu, "what has become of our Queen?"
Hearing this, Mo Ba Si, Hua She, and Yan Ci also tensed up and turned to Lu Bu. Though furious at his intrusion into their temple, their primary concern remained their queen's wellbeing.
"Her evolution was successful. She has advanced to the Dou Ancestor level..."
The Snake People warriors were instantly overjoyed, their entire bodies trembling with excitement. It was all they could do not to celebrate with cheers and drinks for days on end.
On the other hand, the group from the Jia Ma Empire felt a sinking feeling.
But Yue Mei, always the cautious one, didn't let her joy cloud her judgment. "And where is Her Majesty now?" she asked.
"I don't know," Lu Bu replied with a straight face, lying effortlessly. "Though she advanced, she was severely injured. Upon seeing me take the Heavenly Flame, she vanished."
"She's alive, though; that much is certain. Your elders should have ways of confirming her life or death."
The Snake People's expressions shifted wildly. The Queen's survival was undoubtedly good news, but her absence in this situation made it almost as bad as if she had died.
"Sir," Gu He began, his unwillingness evident as he tried one last time. "I've been searching for the Green Lotus Core Flame for a long time. Would you consider granting me this opportunity?"
"Are you kidding me?" Lu Bu sneered. "If it's yours, why don't you call it and see if it answers?"
Gu He trembled with rage, his eyes bloodshot. To lose the Heavenly Flame just when it was within his grasp how could he possibly swallow this bitterness?
Feng Li and Yan Shi exchanged glances, their Dou Qi already gathering once more.
Seeing this, Gu He straightened his back and smirked. With two Dou Kings and two Dou Sovereigns on his side, the advantage was his.
From under her black robe, Yun Yun glanced at Lu Bu, then at Gu He, her sword of peculiar blue light trembling faintly in her hand. She didn't understand why, but she decided to help that troublesome brat it was a favor repaid, after all.
On the other side, the four Snake People exchanged knowing looks, their lips curling into savage grins. The enemy of their enemy was a potential ally, and if it could benefit them, even former foes could set aside their differences.
The Snake People's survival in their harsh environment was thanks to this pragmatic mindset. And while Lu Bu's intrusion into the temple had angered them, forging a connection with a sixth tier alchemist wasn't a bad trade off.
"That scumbag Gu He!" Mo Ba Si roared, his Dou Qi surging as he charged forward. "How dare you bully us with numbers! Let's fight this out again!"
Gu He's face alternated between pale and green as he cursed internally. The Snake People were truly despicable.
"Damn it! A bunch of filthy "
Before he could finish, his words were cut off as he instinctively turned his gaze northward. Lu Bu and Yun Yun did the same.
"Ha ha ha! My darling wife, Medusa, I'm here to find you!"
A shrill laugh accompanied by a sonic boom pierced the air as a massive serpent shaped magical beast flew into view. Atop it sat a woman clad in green.
Behind his mask, Lu Bu's expression darkened. People from the Heavenly Snake Mansion?
Inside his robe, the tiny Seven Colored Heaven Swallowing Python blinked with its innocent, wide eyed gaze before shifting to one of disdain and contempt. But in an instant, its pure, guileless look returned, as if the previous expression had never been.
"Whoa, so many people here!" The Eight Winged Black Serpent Emperor, White Fang, exclaimed, his surprise evident as he scanned the crowd. Why was the Snake People's city so lively all of a sudden?
"Hey, Mo Ba Si, what's going on here?" White Fang snorted, directing his words toward Mo Ba Si.
Mo Ba Si's face turned an angry shade of blue. "White Fang, show some respect!"
"Ha! And who the hell are you?" White Fang retorted disdainfully. "Where's my wife? I sensed her aura earlier, but it felt... odd."
"Shut up! Her Majesty the Queen has nothing to do with you!" Hua She screeched. "If you dare insult her again, I'll kill you myself!"
"Ha, you think you can?" White Fang sneered as his gaze swept over the four Snake People Dou Kings, the four members of the Jia Ma Empire, and finally Lu Bu, his expression brimming with mockery.
"What's wrong? You don't like that?" White Fang added. "A few Dou Kings and low tier Dou Sovereigns think they can fight me?"
Even Yun Yun's usually calm face darkened at this point. This magical beast… truly deserved a beating.
But before anyone could act, Lu Bu stepped forward, appearing directly in front of Mo Ba Si.
"Snake Spirit Envoy Green Python, Eight Winged Black Serpent Emperor White Fang?" Lu Bu's voice was cold.
It seemed they had come for Qing Lin. Regardless of their true intentions, they could not be allowed to leave unscathed.
With Hai Bodong and the Twin Headed Flame Spirit Serpent by Qing Lin's side, the Mo Clan was no threat. As long as he dealt with these two from the Heavenly Snake Mansion, Qing Lin would be safe.
"Whoa, you actually know us?" White Fang said, surprised as he studied Lu Bu.
"What powerful soul energy," he muttered. "But hiding your face isn't that cowardly?"
"White Fang, quiet," Green Python said, her tone slightly tense. "That one… seems hostile toward you."
"Hmm?" White Fang locked eyes with Lu Bu, but his expression quickly changed.
Whoosh!
A sudden gale tore through the air!
On the Green Lotus platform, a pale green flame serpent rose, roaring as it surged toward White Fang.
"Ah!" White Fang screamed, hurriedly releasing a burst of black light to intercept the fire serpent.
But the flame serpent deftly swerved, ignoring White Fang entirely as it sped toward Green Python.
"Damn it!"
Green Python's face paled. Her wood based Dou Qi was naturally suppressed by the Heavenly Flame. She retreated rapidly, forming a thick wooden shield in front of her.
Boom!
The flame serpent struck, shattering the shield into splinters, which quickly burned to ash under the Green Lotus Core Flame.
"Fool! We're from the Heavenly Snake Mansion!" Green Python shouted, her expression shifting to panic as she assessed Lu Bu's power.
"From the Heavenly Snake Mansion?" Lu Bu sneered, his voice chilling. "I'll take on your Heavenly Snake Mansion myself!"
(End of Chapter)
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