17: Holy City

The clamor of Stone Desert City was cut off by the heavy stone door; only the slightly suppressed breathing of two people remained in the quiet room. The disturbance brought by Mo Ba Si was like a stone thrown into stagnant water; after the ripples dissipated, what remained was an even deeper silence and undercurrent.

Medusa sat back on the stone bed, her purple eyes closed, and the faint purple energy glow around her body flickered unsteadily, clearly not fully entering a meditative state. Li Ao's words, "the jealousy of seeking and not getting," were like the sharpest ice pick, not only piercing through Mo Ba Si's disguise but also casting a stone into her icy heart. She needed time to calm this unexpected disturbance, and even more time to re-examine this human in front of her, as well as the absurd and dangerous cooperative relationship between them.

Li Ao remained cross-legged in the corner. The cultivation method of Black Iron Hegemon Body surged endlessly within his body. Under the dual action of the system-exchanged medicine and his innate healing ability, the charred dead skin on his left arm was slowly peeling off, revealing tender new skin underneath. The broken bones were forcibly reset and fused by an invisible force, emitting faint "crackling" sounds. The intense pain persisted, but it was within his tolerance.

Most of his mind was immersed in the system.

host: Li Ao

Realm: Black Iron Hegemon Body Second Layer (recovering from severe injury)

Cultivation Methods: Basic Body Tempering Art (Perfected), Black Iron Hegemon Body First and Second Layer, Furious Wind Quick Blade (Proficient), Thunder Sound Steps (Proficient)

System Points: 2100 points

Current Task: Ensure the safety of yourself and Queen Medusa, and establish initial contact (Completed). Next Stage: Head to the Snake-People Clan's Holy City and attempt to suppress the Green Lotus Core Flame.

He still had over two thousand points left. The third layer of Black Iron Hegemon Body required 5000 points, so it could not be exchanged for now. His gaze swept over the dazzling array of items in the system store, finally stopping on a special category of items—[Formation and Restriction Analysis Assistant].

The Snake-People Clan's Holy City, a forbidden area for successive queens, would undoubtedly be filled with seals and restrictions. Even with Medusa leading the way, unforeseen circumstances, or even… deliberate "accidents," were not impossible. That Mo Ba Si would definitely not give up.

Exchange 'Primary Formation Breaking Talisman' x3, 'Restriction Insight Scroll' x1, total cost 1200 points. Confirm?

Confirm.

A faint flash of light, and several jade talismans emitting strange fluctuations and engraved with profound patterns, along with an ancient-looking leather scroll, silently appeared in the system space. Better safe than sorry.

Three days passed quickly amidst silent healing and their respective thoughts.

When the morning light of the third day shone through the crack in the stone window onto the floor of the quiet room, Li Ao slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp yet restrained, and his aura was calm and profound. He moved his left arm; although he could still feel a faint soreness and stiffness, the bones had reconnected, and the flesh was new. Basic exertion was no longer an issue. His combat power was at least seventy percent.

Almost at the same time, Medusa also finished her meditation. She stood up, the fatigue and weakness in her purple eyes completely gone, replaced by her usual cold and majestic demeanor that looked down upon the world. However, when her gaze swept over Li Ao, beneath that icy exterior, there seemed to be a hint of complexity, extremely difficult to detect.

"We can depart now," her voice was clear and cold, leaving no room for doubt.

The two walked out of the quiet room. Elder Yin Shi was already waiting outside. Seeing Medusa's aura restored, a hint of joy flashed in her eyes, but when she saw Li Ao following closely behind, that joy was quickly replaced by worry. She opened her mouth, but in the end, only bowed and said, "Your Majesty, everything is prepared."

Medusa nodded slightly, said nothing more, and led the way out.

Outside Stone Desert City, a guard of ten elite Snake-People warriors was already lined up, waiting. These warriors had fierce auras, all at least Great Dou Master level, and their gazes towards Medusa were filled with fanaticism and loyalty. And at the very front of the team, Mo Ba Si's burly figure was prominently among them! His face was grim, and when he saw Li Ao emerge, his eyes almost spat fire, but after Medusa's cold gaze swept over him, he forcibly suppressed his anger. However, his tightly clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil.

"Your Majesty, the path to the Holy City is long and perilous. Please allow Mo Ba Si to escort you!" he said in a booming voice, his eyes fixed on Li Ao, full of provocation.

Medusa's purple eyes narrowed slightly, and she was about to refuse.

Li Ao, however, suddenly said indifferently, "One more person, one more strength."

Medusa glanced at him, saw that his expression was calm and not feigned, and after a brief thought, she no longer objected: "Follow."

Mo Ba Si was stunned, not expecting Li Ao to speak on his behalf, but immediately a ferocious smile appeared on his face. In his opinion, this human must have been scared! Once they reached the Holy City, that would be his territory!

The team set off, leaving Stone Desert City and venturing deep into the vast desert once more.

Unlike their arrival with only two people, this time the team was quite large, and their traveling speed was much slower. Medusa was in the center of the team, Li Ao walked beside her, and Mo Ba Si led the guards, spreading out to be vigilant.

There was no conversation along the way, only the wailing of the wind and sand, and the rustling sound of snake tails sliding across the sand.

Mo Ba Si tried several times to approach Medusa, to strike up a conversation, or subtly disparage Li Ao, but Medusa merely closed her eyes in meditation, her occasional responses extremely brief and cold. Li Ao, even more directly, ignored him, as if he were just air.

This complete disregard made Mo Ba Si more uncomfortable than any rebuttal, and the jealousy and murderous intent in his heart burned even more fiercely.

Several days later, the surrounding scenery began to change. It was no longer monotonous sand dunes; some huge black stone mountains, like sharp swords piercing the sky, began to appear. An ancient and desolate aura permeated the air. The temperature also seemed to have dropped, and the wind carried a bone-chilling cold.

"Ahead is the Holy City region," Medusa opened her eyes, her purple gaze fixed on the black mountain range in the distance shrouded in a faint grey mist, her voice carrying a hint of solemnity, "Stay close to me. One wrong step, and even a Dou Emperor could be doomed forever."

The team's speed slowed again, and everyone became alert.

Stepping into the grey mist, the light suddenly dimmed, as if entering another world. Underfoot was hard black rock, covered with various strange, seemingly naturally formed patterns. The surroundings were eerily quiet; even the sound of wind and sand had disappeared.

Medusa's snake tail swayed, and her path became extremely strange, sometimes winding, sometimes pausing, seemingly following a specific pattern. She occasionally shot out several purple energy imprints, which disappeared into the void or the ground ahead, causing ripples to appear in those places before returning to normal.

Li Ao followed closely behind her, his sharp gaze sweeping the surroundings. In his perception, this area was filled with countless obscure and dangerous energy nodes, interconnected, forming an invisible net covering heaven and earth. If not for Medusa leading the way, a forced intrusion would instantly trigger a devastating attack. He quietly injected a wisp of spiritual power into the Restriction Insight Scroll. The scroll immediately displayed the subtle trajectories of the surrounding energy flow, which corroborated Medusa's guiding method, giving him a deeper understanding of the restrictions here.

Mo Ba Si and the guards were even more cautious, even their breathing was light, clearly knowing the terror of this place.

After another hour or so of travel, a huge canyon fissure appeared ahead, as if cleaved open by a god with a giant axe. The depths of the fissure were dark, bottomless, with only gusts of cold wind howling out from within.

"Beyond this 'Nirvana Wind Gorge' lies the core area of the Holy City," Medusa stopped before the gorge, her expression solemn, "The gorge contains 'Bone-Corroding Yin Wind' and 'Soul-Bewitching Illusory Mist.' Guard your minds, follow my steps closely, and do not deviate!"

She was the first to leap into the gorge.

Li Ao followed closely behind.

Upon entering the gorge, the bone-chilling Yin Wind swept in like countless icy knives. Even with Li Ao's physique, he felt a hint of coldness. This wind not only acted on the physical body but also seemed to erode Dou Qi and the soul. At the same time, a faint grey mist began to permeate the surroundings. The mist churned, and within it, countless distorted figures and mournful wails faintly echoed, interfering with one's mind.

Medusa's body erupted with purple light, forming a protective shield that isolated the Yin Wind and Illusory Mist. Her speed undiminished, she sped down a very narrow, single-person-wide rocky path.

Li Ao circulated Black Iron Hegemon Body, and a dark iron glow flowed beneath his skin, warding off the bone-corroding Yin Wind. As for the Soul-Bewitching Illusory Mist, his soul power was already extraordinary, and with the system's assistance, those illusions were like reflections in a mirror, unable to sway him in the slightest. His steps were steady, and he followed closely behind Medusa.

Mo Ba Si and the guards also used various methods, barely keeping up.

However, just as the team reached the middle section of the gorge, on a relatively open platform covered with jagged rocks, a sudden change occurred!

Mo Ba Si, who had been following at the side and rear of the team, suddenly had a ruthless and resolute glint in his eyes! He fiercely gritted his teeth, and his Dou Qi erupted without warning, not forward, but with a forceful palm strike on a seemingly ordinary black boulder beside him!

"Buzz—!"

The boulder violently shook, and countless dense, blood-red patterns, like blood vessels, appeared on its surface! A violent, chaotic, and destructive energy fluctuation instantly spread out from the boulder as its center!

"Mo Ba Si! What are you doing?!" Medusa suddenly turned her head, her purple eyes erupting with astonishing killing intent!

But it was too late!

That blood-red energy, like a giant stone thrown into water, instantly disrupted the originally balanced restriction energy within the gorge!

"Crack! Crack!"

On the surrounding rock walls, countless hidden restriction runes flashed wildly, then shattered one after another! The Bone-Corroding Yin Wind, originally confined to a certain area, instantly intensified tenfold, sweeping across the entire platform like a black storm! The Soul-Bewitching Illusory Mist also became thick and substantial, even condensing into terrifying, menacing demonic shadows within it, emitting shrieks that pierced the soul!

"Ah—!"

Several Snake-People guards were caught off guard and swept into the violent Yin Wind, instantly their skin and flesh tore open, emitting agonizing screams. They were then swallowed by the illusory mist, their eyes becoming crazed, and they began to attack their companions!

The entire platform instantly transformed into a chaotic, desperate purgatory of death!

"Your Majesty, be careful!" Elder Yin Shi was horrified, desperately urging her Dou Qi to protect Medusa.

And Mo Ba Si, after striking that palm, retreated violently, a crazy and venomous smile on his face, staring fixedly at Medusa and Li Ao in the center of the storm: "Hahaha! Queen! You forced me to do this! And that human bastard, let's all be buried here together!"

He had calculated well; igniting this hidden restriction node to create chaos, he might be able to take Medusa away amidst the confusion (he was confident he had a secret treasure that could temporarily resist it), and that hateful human would undoubtedly die!

However, in this desperate situation where restrictions were out of control, storms raged, and illusions proliferated—

Li Ao moved!

He seemed oblivious to the world-destroying scene around him, his gaze terrifyingly calm. The moment the restriction erupted, he had already captured the core trajectory of the energy disruption and the fleeting, not fully affected safe path through the Restriction Insight Scroll!

Thunder Sound Steps!

Thunderous sounds exploded beneath his feet, and his figure transformed into a distorted stream of light, not retreating, not dodging, but with an almost impossible trajectory, against the violent energy Turbulence, instantly passing through the gaps in several energy storms, appearing beside Medusa, who was fully resisting the Yin Wind and Illusory Mist, her face slightly pale!

"Go!"

He let out a low roar, allowing no argument, and grabbed Medusa's cold wrist (slippery to the touch, but with a hint of resistant stiffness). His other hand unhesitatingly crushed a Primary Formation Breaking Talisman!

"Buzz!"

A soft yet resilient white light shield instantly enveloped the two, temporarily isolating the violent Yin Wind and the soul-eroding Illusory Mist!

"This way!"

Li Ao pulled Medusa, relying on the guidance provided by the Restriction Insight Scroll and the temporary safe zone opened by the Formation Breaking Talisman, like a prophet, he forcibly carved out a path to survival through the chaotic energy storms and shattered restriction fragments, speeding towards the deeper parts of the gorge!

Medusa was pulled by him, following involuntarily. She looked at the figure ahead, calm and resolute amidst the destructive storm, as if he could see through all illusions, and felt the undeniable strength coming from her wrist. In her purple eyes, the icy shell finally shattered completely, revealing the surging, unprecedented turbulent waves beneath!

He... how could this be possible?!

Behind them, Mo Ba Si's disbelieving, beast-like roar of despair echoed: "No—!!!"