The island spanned several hundred miles, and even though these serpent women moved with remarkable speed, walking to the center would undoubtedly take quite some time.
However, under Yanwu’s lead, after traveling just a few miles inland, the group came upon a simple structure resembling a tea shed. Inside, several male and female serpent people were tending to a dozen lizard-like beasts. At one end of the shed, there was even a pitch-black carriage covered with an unknown black fabric.
As soon as the serpent people noticed the striking woman approaching, two of them rushed out to greet her respectfully.
Yanwu gave a few brief orders and then pointed toward the black carriage.
The two serpent people exchanged surprised glances, stealing a quick look at Han Li before nodding in agreement.
They immediately returned to the shed, hitching two of the lizard beasts to the black carriage and leading three others forward.
Han Li was carefully placed inside the black carriage by the serpent women, while two of them took their seats at the front. The remaining three rode separately on the lizard beasts.
Since the serpent women lacked legs, the saddles on the lizards were uniquely designed—barrel-shaped to accommodate their serpentine tails.
With everything ready, the group set off once more.
Despite their seemingly clumsy appearance, the lizard beasts moved with surprising speed, their four legs propelling them forward in leaps of over twenty zhang at a time. Though the ride was bumpy, their pace was undeniably swift.
Thanks to this, the group’s speed increased severalfold.
In just two hours, they arrived before an earthen city.
A genuine earthen city it was—small in size, spanning only about ten miles, with walls built from pale yellow mud. Peering through the city gates, Han Li saw rows of similarly constructed mud houses, with very few stone buildings in sight.
Though inwardly puzzled, Han Li showed no outward reaction. Instead, his gaze shifted to the dozen or so serpent guards stationed at the gate.
Most of them were female, clad in armor of unknown material, wielding gleaming silver halberds and carrying shorter silver javelins on their backs. Further along the walls, more armed serpent people stood watch, suggesting an unusually tight security presence.
Yanwu halted her lizard beast at the gate and dismounted.
A particularly spirited female guard stepped forward, smiling as she greeted the priestess.
Yanwu responded with equal enthusiasm, exchanging a few words before gesturing toward the carriage behind her, her expression turning serious.
The guard’s smile faded as she nodded, then signaled for the others to clear a path.
Yanwu remounted, leading the black carriage into the city.
From inside, Han Li observed the surroundings.
Though small, the city’s main street was unusually wide, paved with pale white stones that starkly contrasted with the surrounding earthen buildings.
Serpent people moved along the street—men appearing strong and robust, women agile and armed. Even the children, barely a few feet tall, carried miniature spears and tridents made of hard wood.
Han Li pondered silently.
This was his first encounter with the “Wa Clan,” but it was clear they were a militarized society. If their population of cultivators was as numerous as their armed civilians, their strength would be formidable. Yet, he had never heard of such a powerful race before.
He also noted that female serpent people vastly outnumbered the males—roughly two to one.
Additionally, the color of their serpentine lower bodies varied. Most were pale green or yellow, seemingly of lower status, while the rarer white and black serpent people appeared to hold higher positions, often surrounded by others.
Han Li had yet to see any other colors.
As he analyzed these observations, the carriage arrived at a stone-paved square. At one end stood a hall constructed from wood and mud, adorned with colorful shell-like decorations.
But Han Li’s attention was drawn to a peculiar object in the center of the square—a bronze-colored cone, about ten zhang tall, covered in strange patterns and faintly glowing with white light.
Around it stood seven or eight white-robed serpent people, their hands shimmering with spiritual light as they placed fist-sized, multicolored blocks into its base—clearly not spirit stones.
Though these white-robed figures emitted spiritual fluctuations, their cultivation levels were inferior to Yanwu’s.
Two of them approached as Yanwu and the carriage arrived.
Han Li was then carefully lifted from the carriage and placed onto a bamboo chair.
Though he couldn’t understand their conversation, the white-robed serpent people seemed to treat Yanwu with great respect.
Suddenly, two rows of white-robed serpent people—one male, one female—emerged from the hall and approached.
At the sight, Yanwu and the others immediately stepped aside, their expressions turning reverent.
Once the two rows had taken their positions, a red-robed figure stepped forward.
Han Li’s eyes flickered with surprise.
It was an ordinary-looking, frail woman—but unlike the others, she had human legs instead of a serpent’s tail.
Even more startling, she radiated the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
This was unexpected.
The strongest among the white-robed serpent people had only been at the Foundation Establishment level, with most at Qi Condensation. The sudden appearance of such a high-ranking figure was a stark contrast.
The woman’s gaze swept over Han Li, her initial shock quickly replaced by composure as she hurried forward.
“Junior Huoyue pays respects to Senior Han!” she said, bowing deeply—in flawless Feiling language.
“You are the high priestess of the Fire Sun Tribe?” Han Li asked slowly.
“Indeed, I am. This is no place for discussion—would Senior care to join me inside the hall?” she replied with a smile.
“Very well. I have many questions for you,” Han Li agreed without hesitation.
“Many thanks for your grace!” Delighted, she turned to the white-robed serpent women. “Escort Senior into the hall!”
Two of them hurried forward, carefully lifting Han Li’s chair and carrying him inside, followed by the others.
Soon, Han Li found himself in a modestly decorated hall.
Only he and the priestess were seated, while the white-robed serpent people stood respectfully along the walls.
“Senior seems to be in discomfort. I have some self-refined Blood Qi Pills that could help restore vitality—would you care to take some?” the priestess offered politely.
“Unnecessary. A minor issue in my cultivation. It will resolve in time,” Han Li replied, his lips curling slightly.
“Ah, that eases my mind. Earlier, I received word from Wu’er that Senior wished to ask me some questions. Please, feel free to inquire—I will answer truthfully,” she said, shifting the topic.
“First, I’d like to know which sea this is, and if there are any notable fellow cultivators nearby,” Han Li said after a brief pause.
The priestess looked slightly puzzled but answered honestly, “This is the Fire Coral Archipelago. There are no particularly powerful cultivators nearby—at most, those of my level.”
“Fire Coral Archipelago? Do you have a map of the surrounding seas?” Han Li frowned at the unfamiliar name.
“I do, but it’s inscribed in the Wa Clan’s script. Perhaps Senior could first learn our language before examining it?” she suggested with a smile.
“Very well,” Han Li agreed after a moment’s thought. Though his divine sense was weakened, reading jade slips posed no issue.
Pleased, the priestess reached into her robes and produced a glossy black stone slab, tossing it toward Han Li.
Despite his weakened state, Han Li exhaled a wisp of azure mist, drawing the slab to his forehead as he prepared to examine its contents.
But then—
*Bang!*
The slab exploded, releasing a cloud of inky black mist that enveloped Han Li entirely.
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