Of course, that was something Chen Mo absolutely couldn't say to Ya Fei for now.
He could tell she was just throwing a little tantrum to hide her embarrassment, so he gently comforted her while changing the subject. "It's still early—why don't you sleep a bit longer?"
Ya Fei kept her eyes closed and didn't respond, her pouty expression radiating that familiar tsundere attitude.
Chen Mo chuckled softly, shook his head, and got out of bed. After putting on his robe, he picked up the clothes scattered all over the floor, folded them neatly, and placed them on the side table.
Then he walked over to the desk, took out paper and brush, and began copying down the medicinal ingredients for the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and the Three-Line Green Spirit Pill from memory.
A few minutes later…
Chen Mo pressed the list under a teacup and said a few words to Ya Fei before preparing to leave the room.
But just as he reached the door, Ya Fei opened her eyes, looking both aggrieved and serious.
"You're not allowed to leave. If you go to the auction house and I'm not up yet, the clan members will definitely talk behind my back. I'm just going to rest my eyes a little before getting up."
Chen Mo, of course, knew she wouldn't be up in just a "little while." As he stepped out of the room and was about to close the door, he said:
"I'm just going to the little hill outside to see what the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King is doing. I'll leave Mo Yan here to keep you company."
As soon as he spoke, Mo Yan, who had been quietly resting in the corner all night, transformed into her sword spirit form. Surrounded by demonic energy, she stood silently and sternly beside Ya Fei's bed.
"Mm." Ya Fei had gotten used to Mo Yan after yesterday's bath, so she no longer felt creeped out.
Outdoors, the sun had just risen.
"What's with all the noise so early in the morning? Don't you know this is prime time for getting some extra sleep?" Chen Mo complained as he walked toward the hill, looking at the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, who was roaring loudly while playing with its cub at the hilltop.
Though normally ferocious, the lion king actually seemed a little pitiful in front of Chen Mo. Its eyes were filled with grievance as it grumbled, "Master, when will you refine the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill for my son?"
And really, how could it not feel wronged? Its lair had been completely cleaned out by Chen Mo—its source of Companion Purple Crystal and Purple Spirit Crystals were all gone. It had even become Chen Mo's mount and still hadn't received any benefits in return.
"I'm collecting the ingredients for both the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill and the Three-Line Green Spirit Pill now. Just wait a little longer—you won't be left out."
Chen Mo walked up to the little Purple Crystal Winged Lion cub. Despite being just a cub, it was already much larger than Chen Mo himself. As he stroked its massive head, he asked:
"Did you use up all the pills that Sister Yun Yun gave you?"
"Most of them were just for Dou Qi recovery and healing," replied the lion king. "Hardly any helped improve strength. I gave the rest to my son."
"Ah…"
Chen Mo scratched his head, then used Dou Qi to cut his palm. He raised the cub's head and let his blue-colored blood flow into its mouth.
The moment the blood appeared, the lion king's pupils contracted sharply. A deep ancestral fear rose from within its bloodline, causing it to lower itself in a submissive posture. Terrified, it exclaimed:
"Master, why… why is there such a terrifying magical beast aura in your body?!"
"Magical beast?"
Chen Mo blinked, then realized—the lion must be sensing the aura from the ancient Undying Dragon Serpent bloodline he had fused with.
He didn't bother explaining. The Human Sovereign Bloodline was powerful beyond measure. Sharing some ordinary blood with the lion cub was no big deal—it wasn't even true essence blood.
After ten or so seconds, Chen Mo stopped. With a single thought, his wound began to heal, taking only five seconds or so to close up completely.
"Alright, stay here with your cub. Once I finish refining the pills, I'll bring them to you. But stop roaring so early in the morning."
After giving the cub another affectionate pat on the head, Chen Mo turned to leave.
"Yes, Master."
After Chen Mo left, the lion king looked toward its cub and asked, "My son, how's your body feeling?"
"Roar, roar, roar!"
"You want more?"
"Roar, roar, roar!"
"You want me to go ask for more?"
"Roar, roar, roar!"
Smack!
"You little brat!"
With a shiver, the lion king swatted the cub, knocking it to the ground.
The little lion whimpered pitifully.
Desert City.
The Snake-People Tribe had now completely emerged from the Tagor Desert, having conquered more than ten cities—including Daling City of the Jia Ma Empire.
And now, Desert City had become the new headquarters of the snake-people.
At the very center of Desert City stood a grand tower far larger than the surrounding buildings.
It was tall and majestic—high enough that from its peak, one could overlook the entire city. This was now the center of power for the snake-people.
Atop the heavily guarded tower, a woman in a crimson robe stood with her hands behind her back.
Her figure was absolutely stunning, and even the somewhat loose-fitting gown couldn't hide her bewitching curves.
The scorching sun illuminated her breathtaking face, making it impossible to look away. Her beauty exuded a natural allure—cherry lips curved into a faint, seductive smile—but her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, reflecting the regal authority she had long wielded.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
"Your Majesty, Commander Yue Mei requests an audience."
A young girl in a light green outfit—who appeared no more than eight or nine years old—had walked up from below. Her delicate face looked like a porcelain doll, and it was she who had spoken.
"Let her in," said Queen Medusa, turning around. Her gaze fell on the timid figure before her—Qing Lin, who resembled a frightened rabbit. The queen's brows furrowed again.
Qing Lin had been captured when Queen Medusa destroyed a mercenary group known as the Desert Iron Mercenaries. Originally, the queen had planned to kill her.
But after learning that Qing Lin was a child born from the union of a human and a snake-woman, something stirred in Queen Medusa's heart.
She spared Qing Lin's life and made her a personal handmaiden.
Soon after, a woman in a violet skirt—Yue Mei—appeared before the queen.
"Your Majesty," Yue Mei greeted respectfully.
"Qing Lin, you may go."
"Yes." Qing Lin was already terrified of Queen Medusa. She had personally witnessed the queen command her royal guards to execute the two leaders of the mercenary group.
Hearing the dismissal, she hurriedly withdrew.
Once Qing Lin was gone, Yue Mei bowed and reported, "Your Majesty, the opposing side has sent an envoy to seek peace. They are willing to cede the northwest provinces of the Jia Ma Empire and the Magical Beast Mountain Range to our tribe."
"Hmph."
Queen Medusa let out a cold snort. "They refused before, but now that they're losing the war, they want to give up land and make peace? The world doesn't work like that."
"Tell them—if they want peace, they'll have to add the northeast provinces to that offer as well."
****
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