Chapter 141: The Snake-People Tribe

Yin Tianfang lay unconscious, his breathing growing progressively weaker. A golden longsword stood quietly beside him, emitting a brilliant golden glow.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!" In the distance, several streaks of light cut through the air. Upon landing, they transformed into women with human upper bodies and serpent tails. The leader was none other than Yue Mei, the snake-woman Yin Tianfang had encountered earlier.

"Lady Yue Mei, that ray of golden light just now seemed to fall somewhere around here," a snake-woman said.

"Could that golden light be connected to the golden dragon from before? If we manage to obtain it..."

"Search the surrounding area thoroughly. Make sure you find whatever fell from that light," Yue Mei commanded the snake-women.

"Understood!" the snake-women immediately acknowledged, quickly dispersing to search the vicinity.

"Lady Yue Mei, there's someone here!" A snake-woman scaled the peak where Yin Tianfang lay and called out to Yue Mei below a moment later. Hearing this, Yue Mei's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Her body levitated into the air and landed upon the peak, her gaze fixing on the unconscious Yin Tianfang lying on the ground.

"Lady Yue Mei, could this sword be the object from that golden light earlier?" The snake-woman beside Yue Mei asked, staring at the golden longsword planted next to Yin Tianfang.

Yue Mei shifted her gaze from Yin Tianfang to the golden longsword. Looking at the weapon, her eyes danced with ripples of wonder.

Taking light steps, Yue Mei walked over to the golden longsword and extended her delicate hand, slowly reaching toward the hilt. The moment her fingers were about to touch the blade, an overwhelming pressure suddenly erupted from the sword. A noble and terrifying aura instantly enveloped everyone present.

*Thump! Thump!*

Under this horrifying pressure, the snake-women were forced to their knees, unable to resist. Even one as powerful as Yue Mei felt her body tremble uncontrollably until she, too, slowly sank to her knees.

Trapped within the terrifying aura, Yue Mei and her companions trembled involuntarily. Their faces turned slightly pale, cold sweat beaded on their foreheads, and their eyes were filled with absolute terror—a fear stemming from the deepest recesses of their souls. It was the instinctive dread and reverence felt by lower-tier species in the presence of a supreme entity.

Upon the golden longsword, the golden light flashed, and a hazy golden dragon materialized, hovering before them. Its golden pupils radiated intense majesty as they swept over Yue Mei and the other snake-women.

Silence blanketed the peak. Caught in the golden dragon's gaze, Yue Mei and her companions lowered their heads involuntarily.

Suddenly, the terrifying pressure vanished from their bodies. The golden dragon dissolved back into the longsword, and the blade shrank into a streak of golden light that shot straight into Yin Tianfang's glabella. Yue Mei and the others raised their heads, slowly rising to their feet. They looked at the unconscious Yin Tianfang, their eyes flickering with complex emotions.

"Lady Yue Mei, what should we do now?" a snake-woman asked, glancing at Yin Tianfang.

"Take him back to the tribe." After a long silence, Yue Mei drew a deep breath, still feeling lingering fear at the thought of the golden dragon from moments before.

"Yes, Lady Yue Mei."

"Wait!" A snake-woman stepped forward, preparing to lift Yin Tianfang onto her back, but Yue Mei suddenly interrupted, "I'll carry him."

Amid the astonished gazes of the others, Yue Mei walked over to Yin Tianfang. Her delicate fingers traced his face, a faint, mysterious smile blooming on her lips. Gathering him into her arms, her figure flickered, transforming into a streak of light that soared into the sky.

A short while later, Yue Mei—carrying Yin Tianfang and followed by the snake-women—arrived at a picturesque valley. Surrounded by overlapping mountains, rows of dwellings were built upon various peaks and nestled within the valleys.

Countless serpent-tailed snake-people roamed the mountain paths. Yue Mei descended directly onto a specific peak with Yin Tianfang and entered a grand palace.

"Keep watch out here. No one is allowed to enter," Yue Mei instructed the snake-women after entering the main hall.

"Understood, Milady," the snake-women replied, taking their positions at the entrance of the hall. Yue Mei carried Yin Tianfang past the main hall and into a secluded chamber.

To call it a secret room would be inaccurate; it resembled a luxurious boudoir more than anything else. The room was suffused with a faint, elegant fragrance. A massive pool sat in the exact center of the chamber, and floating above the water was a circular crystal bed. Countless glowing stones were embedded in the surrounding walls, bathing the room in a gentle, clear light.

Ying Tianfang was gently laid upon the bed by Yue Mei. After checking his condition, she furrowed her delicate brows, her eyes shimmering with concern. Glancing at Yin Tianfang, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she slowly leaned down.

Parting her vermilion lips, she brought her mouth close to Yin Tianfang's. A strand of pure white brilliance emanated from her mouth, and a round, milky-white bead slipped into Yin Tianfang's lips.

Her eyelashes fluttered softly. Such intimate physical contact with a man made Yue Mei's face burn with heat, her tender earlobes turning a brilliant crimson.

After a long while, the white bead emerged from his lips and returned into Yue Mei's mouth. She slowly straightened up, lifting a hand to support her forehead as a wave of dizziness washed over her.

That white bead was her Golden Core. Using her Golden Core to heal Yin Tianfang's injuries heavily taxed her vital energy, leaving her feeling profoundly weak.

"Has Yue Mei returned?" Outside the grand hall, a serpent-tailed man approached the entrance and asked the two snake-women standing guard.

The man was exceptionally handsome with fair skin, delicate facial features, eyebrows that swept up into his temples like painted blades, and eyes as brilliant as stars. A formidable aura emanated from him, one that was not the least bit inferior to Yue Mei's.

As he spoke, the man made a move to enter the hall.

"Lord Heiming, please stay your steps. Lady Yue Mei has given strict orders that no one is allowed to enter," a snake-woman said, stepping forward to block Heiming's path with a respectful bow.

Hearing this, Heiming frowned deeply. He looked past her into the hall, a faint trace of anger flashing in his eyes.

"Are you saying even I cannot enter?" Heiming asked in a deep voice.

"No, you cannot. Without Lady Yue Mei's command, not even the Chieftain may enter."

"Then tell me, did Yue Mei bring someone back with her?"

The two snake-women exchanged glances, momentarily at a loss for how to respond. At that very moment, Yue Mei walked out from the interior of the hall. Seeing Heiming at the entrance, she furrowed her brows slightly.

"Heiming, why are you here?"

"I saw you return and came to see you, but these two claim that without your permission, no one is allowed to enter the hall," Heiming said, walking up to Yue Mei and looking at her closely.

"What happened? Why is your complexion so pale?" Noticing Yue Mei's pallor, Heiming furrowed his brow and asked.

"It's nothing. I need to go into seclusion to cultivate. If there's nothing else, you should head back first," Yue Mei said, a trace of fatigue showing on her face as she waved her hand dismissively and turned to leave. Before she could take a step, however, Heiming reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Did you bring a man back with you? I can smell the scent of an outsider in here."