64: Covenants and Shadows

The morning sun of the Tagor Desert tore through the night, casting golden light across the entire Tagor Desert, and dispelling the last trace of blood and killing intent that lingered from the royal city last night.

Inside the bedchamber, on the cold jade bed, Queen Medusa slowly opened her eyes. Although her colorful pupils still held a hint of weakness, the confusion within them had faded, replaced by the clarity and sharpness befitting a monarch. She felt the faint but steady flow of Qi within her body, and the forcibly suppressed injury deep within her Soul, her gaze complex as it fell upon the green-robed figure sitting by the bed, meditating with closed eyes.

He still maintained his cross-legged posture, his complexion a little rosier than last night, but a hint of weariness that was difficult to erase still lingered between his brows. To remove the insidious Soul erosion from the Hall of Souls, he had clearly expended a great deal.

Medusa struggled to sit up, and the slight movement woke Li Ao.

He opened his eyes, his dark iron-colored pupils calm and unmoving, and looked at her: "How do you feel?"

"My life is not in danger, but my Origin is damaged; it will take time." Medusa's voice was still a little hoarse, but it had regained its usual coolness. She paused, then added, "Thank you."

This time, the thanks carried less of the usual calculation and transactional meaning, and more of an ineffable solemnity.

Li Ao nodded slightly, saying nothing more. He got up and walked to the window, looking at the undulating sand dunes in the distance: "The Hall of Souls' claws reached out last night."

Medusa's eyes turned cold: "They truly haven't given up their wicked intentions!"

"Killed a few, but they were just small fry." Li Ao's tone was indifferent. "The real trouble is at the Cloud Mist Sect. The spatial rift there might be related to the Hall of Souls' ultimate goal."

He briefly informed Medusa about the unexpected appearance of the spatial rift at the end of the Cloud Mist Sect battle, and the larger spatial fluctuations he sensed, which were of the same Origin as those in the Soul Burial Ravine and the Snake-People Clan ruins.

Upon hearing this, a layer of frost covered Medusa's exquisite face: "Three 'doors'... keys... welcoming a Venerable... the Hall of Souls' ambition is enormous! If they truly succeed, I'm afraid the entire Northwest Continent will be plunged into misery!" She looked at Li Ao, a hint of determination flashing in her colorful eyes, "My Snake-People Clan is willing to fight the Hall of Souls with you!"

This was not simple gratitude, but a choice based on the survival of her clan. Having experienced Protector Wu's attack and last night's assassination, she deeply understood that the Snake-People Clan could no longer remain aloof in the storm stirred up by the Hall of Souls. And forming an Alliance with Li Ao, whose strength was unfathomable and who was also at odds with the Hall of Souls, was currently the wisest and only option.

Li Ao turned around, looking at the unquestionable determination in Medusa's eyes, and nodded: "Alright."

The Alliance was thus formed, without formalities, based on the most realistic interests and a common enemy.

"How long do you need to recover?" Li Ao asked.

"With sufficient resources, I can recover seventy percent of my combat strength in half a month." Medusa estimated, "But to completely repair my Soul Origin, it's not something that can be done in the short term."

"I'll find a way to get resources." Li Ao said, "Half a month later, we'll go to the Cloud Mist Sect again."

This time, the goal would not only be Yun Shan, but also to thoroughly uncover the secret behind that spatial rift and thwart the Hall of Souls' conspiracy!

Just then, Elder Yin Shi's respectful voice sounded from outside the bedchamber: "Your Majesty, Your Excellency Li Ao, Young Miss Ya Fei of the Mittel Family is requesting an audience outside, saying she has important matters to discuss."

Mittel Family? Ya Fei? She actually found the Snake-People Clan's royal city?

Li Ao and Medusa exchanged glances.

"Let her in."

A moment later, Ya Fei walked into the bedchamber, led by Elder Yin Shi. Today, she wore a light purple, practical outfit suitable for movement, which made her appear less alluring than usual and more capable and travel-worn. When she saw Li Ao and Medusa standing side by side, a faint, almost imperceptible surprise flashed in her peach blossom eyes, but she quickly hid it, a perfectly appropriate smile appearing on her face.

"Ya Fei greets Your Majesty the Queen, and Mr. Li Ao." She curtsied gracefully, her gaze quickly sweeping over Medusa, keenly noticing the latter's weak aura. She had some guesses about the changes that might have occurred last night.

"Young Miss Ya Fei is well-informed to have found this place." Li Ao said indifferently.

Ya Fei smiled charmingly: "You flatter me, sir. It's just that my Family also has some business in the desert. When news of yesterday's earth-shattering battle at the Cloud Mist Sect arrived, coupled with the simultaneous disappearance of you, sir, and Her Majesty the Queen, Ya Fei boldly speculated that you two might have come to the royal city. I hope you'll forgive my presumptuous visit."

She paused, her expression turning serious: "Ya Fei's purpose in coming here is, first, to represent the Mittel Family and once again express our sincerity in forming an Alliance with you, sir, and Her Majesty the Queen. My Mittel Family is willing to spare no effort to provide all the resources and intelligence support you need."

As she spoke, she took out a storage ring and presented it with both hands: "These are some healing elixirs and rare treasures for nourishing the Soul from the Family's treasury, as well as the latest intelligence regarding the Hall of Souls' recent activities within the Empire. I hope they can be of some help to Her Majesty's injuries."

Medusa glanced at Li Ao. Seeing him nod slightly, she motioned for Elder Yin Shi to accept the storage ring.

"The second matter," Ya Fei lowered her voice, her tone more serious, "is concerning the Cloud Mist Sect. According to urgent news from our informants in the Holy City, since the appearance of the spatial rift yesterday, the Cloud Mist Sect has completely sealed its mountain gate. That rift seems not to have disappeared; instead, Yun Shan has temporarily stabilized it through some means! Moreover, the aura of a powerful expert, suspected to be from the Hall of Souls, secretly entered the Cloud Mist Sect's back mountain last night!"

Li Ao's eyes narrowed. Yun Shan had indeed colluded even deeper with the Hall of Souls! They actually wanted to stabilize that rift? Were they trying to forcibly open that 'door'?

"And also..." A strange expression appeared on Ya Fei's face, "Young Master Xiao Yan was taken away by his teacher after yesterday's battle and is now missing. But based on some scattered information, they might have... gone to the Black-Corner Region."

"Black-Corner Region?" Medusa frowned slightly. That was a region even more chaotic and lawless than the Jia Ma Empire.

Li Ao's eyes, however, flashed with understanding. The Black-Corner Region... it was a place where Opportunity and danger coexisted, indeed a good place to quickly improve one's strength. Xiao Yan's choice was within his expectations. This was good; let him walk his own Dao.

"The information is very useful." Li Ao said to Ya Fei, "Tell Elder Teng Shan that I have received his sincerity. The details of the cooperation can be discussed between you and Her Majesty the Queen."

Ya Fei's heart swelled with joy, knowing that this investment had finally received a clear response: "Ya Fei understands! I will not fail the trust of you, sir, and Her Majesty!"

After seeing Ya Fei off, the bedchamber returned to quiet.

"Black-Corner Region... it seems your 'little fellow countryman' is also someone who can't stand idleness." Medusa looked at Li Ao, her tone carrying a hint of inexplicable meaning.

Li Ao was noncommittal: "Everyone has his own Dao." He walked to the window, his gaze seemingly piercing through endless distance, falling upon that broader and darker region. "Our Dao is at the Cloud Mist Sect, at the Hall of Souls."

He felt the strength gradually returning to his body, and a deeper grasp of the Annihilation Rule.

Half a month later, at the Cloud Mist Sect, there would surely be a true reckoning!

Meanwhile, ten thousand miles away, at the entrance to a dark region filled with chaos, slaughter, and Opportunity, a young man carrying a massive black ruler stepped in with firm strides. In his eyes, the flame of becoming stronger burned, along with a deep-seated pain and determination.

The storm never ceased; it was merely accumulating destructive power in a wider world. Li Ao and Xiao Yan, these two threads of fate, after a brief intersection, once again headed towards their respective unknown and thorny paths.