Wan Yunting followed Ji Ruxue as they left the magnificent and imposing palace and arrived at the back mountain of Snake Island. The surrounding primeval rainforest was crossed by a uniquely styled wooden bridge that snaked its way into a natural hot spring.
This circular hot spring, fifty meters in diameter, was constantly gushing with clear spring water. The rising steam created an ethereal atmosphere, making one feel as if they were ascending to immortality while standing on the wooden bridge in the center of the pool.
Along the edges of the hot spring, amongst the grass and sand, various colorful snakes could be seen comfortably slithering in the grass and soil…
Suddenly, the water in the hot spring erupted, and a yellowish-brown snake, ten meters long and as thick as a water bucket, emerged from the pool. Wan Yunting jumped in surprise and then focused on the large snake as it crawled towards Ji Ruxue along the bridge. Its two large, amber-colored eyes glowed, and its long tongue flickered rhythmically. The large hot spring snake seemed very excited upon seeing Ji Ruxue.
"What, scared?"
Seeing Wan Yunting's guarded expression, Ji Ruxue, while stroking the large head of the snake, smiled and said, "Don't worry, this hot spring snake is gentle and won't attack people. I raised it from a young age, and it has always lived in the hot spring."
Hearing that the snake didn't attack people, Wan Yunting breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The snakes on your Snake Island have truly opened my eyes."
Ji Ruxue chuckled and said, "Most of these snakes are from Snake Island, but some rare ones have been brought back from the outside world. Our Divine Snake Tribe has coexisted with these snakes for so many days, and since the snakes have no natural predators, they naturally do not fear humans."
Wan Yunting observed the large hot spring snake before him and nodded with a smile, "Even ordinary people, upon seeing so many snakes on your Snake Island, would probably be scared to death."
Ji Ruxue turned her head, casting a sidelong glance at him with her alluring eyes, and smiled, "Let's go. I'll take you to my residence. It's just ahead."
Wan Yunting smiled and nodded, following Ji Ruxue. The hot spring snake also followed, seeming to have sensed a special aura on Wan Yunting that made it wary of approaching him.
"What do you think of our Divine Snake Tribe?"
Ji Ruxue asked Wan Yunting with a smile as they walked.
"Not very good!"
Wan Yunting knew what she wanted to say and smiled, "Don't try to persuade me to cooperate with your Divine Snake Tribe. After all, none of you Divine Snake Tribe members are good people!"
"Heh heh…"
Ji Ruxue chuckled, glancing at him with her alluring eyes, and said, "After we dual cultivate, I'll let you leave Snake Island!"
Wan Yunting narrowed his eyes, looked at her, and smiled, "You plan to just let me go like this?"
"Yes."
Ji Ruxue turned to face Wan Yunting, walking backward, and smiled charmingly with her fiery red lips, "Because I don't want you to die."
Wan Yunting looked into her captivating, alluring eyes and understood Ji Ruxue's meaning. He nodded and smiled, "Alright, then we're even. Let's not trouble each other anymore."
Ji Ruxue nodded with a smile, then cast a flirtatious glance at Wan Yunting with her alluring eyes, pouting her small lips and said playfully, "What if I come to China to find you later, will you not see me?"
Wan Yunting smiled, "That depends on your purpose for finding me in China."
"Heh, of course, to find you…"
As she spoke, Ji Ruxue lunged at him. Wan Yunting immediately placed his hands on her shoulders, causing Ji Ruxue to roll her eyes at him and let out a soft huff, "You're so unromantic. I wanted to build up some excitement before dual cultivating with you."
Wan Yunting pushed her away and smiled, "You might as well stop wasting your time."
"Tch."
Ji Ruxue stopped teasing him and turned towards a mansion ahead, "This is it. Come in…"
Wan Yunting followed her into the mansion. Besides the attending maidservants, there were no male guards. Ji Ruxue led Wan Yunting directly to the back of the mansion. He asked curiously, "They call you Mother of Snakes. What is your status in the Divine Snake Tribe?"
Ji Ruxue turned and glanced at him, smiling, "Of course, the Great Shaman!"
"I see. No wonder they respect you so much," Wan Yunting nodded in understanding.
Ji Ruxue's fiery red lips curled into a cold smile, and a sinister glint flashed beneath her alluring eyes, but she said nothing more. She led Wan Yunting to the backyard, where a natural sinkhole appeared before them…
The sinkhole was adorned with various snake-shaped decorations. It was circular, just like the previous hot spring, with a diameter of about fifty meters. A wooden staircase led down into it…
"Come down with me," Ji Ruxue led Wan Yunting down the staircase into the sinkhole. As they descended into the sinkhole, which was sixteen meters deep, they saw a hexagonal stone platform built from large stones, with a stone pillar standing at each corner. Each pillar, about six meters high, was carved with bas-reliefs of the divine snakes worshipped by the Divine Snake Tribe. Although the carving craftsmanship was rough, it still gave a sense of awe.
This hexagonal stone platform faced the center of the sinkhole. It was the sacrificial altar of the Divine Snake Tribe, where the Mother of Snakes, Ji Ruxue, performed sacrificial rituals and prayed to the divine snakes during major seasonal festivals…
However, on the altar tonight, a large snakeskin mat was spread on the ground. An old woman, accompanied by two maidservants, finished arranging everything. Upon seeing Ji Ruxue and Wan Yunting descend, the old woman and the maidservants bowed and said, "Mother of Snakes, everything is ready."
Ji Ruxue looked at the large snakeskin spread on the altar and nodded, "You may come forward. Without my command, no one is allowed to come down and disturb us, not even the Clan Leader!"
"This old servant understands."
The old woman nodded, and she and the two maidservants ascended.
Ji Ruxue walked towards the altar and then looked at Wan Yunting, who was standing still, and smiled, "Come up."
Wan Yunting surveyed the environment within the sinkhole. It was dark all around, with only fire basins atop the six stone pillars of the altar providing illumination. However, the darkness could not hide Wan Yunting's eyes. He could see many cave openings of varying sizes on the stone walls surrounding the sinkhole, which appeared to be snake holes.
"Heh heh, you don't think I'm going to sacrifice you, do you?" Ji Ruxue's alluring eyes curved into crescent moons as she teased him playfully.
Wan Yunting ascended to the altar and smiled, "You plan to dual cultivate with me here? It's open-air, aren't you afraid of rain?"
"Pfft…"
Ji Ruxue covered her mouth and chuckled, casting a flirtatious sidelong glance at him with her alluring eyes, "The weather forecast said there won't be rain for the next two days."
Wan Yunting awkwardly avoided her gaze, looking up at the starlight appearing in the sinkhole, and said, "It would be so awkward if someone were watching from above…"
"You fellow, it's not your first time. Besides, you have so many girlfriends, you don't need me to be so proactive…"
Ji Ruxue pounced into Wan Yunting's arms, starting to undress him as she chuckled playfully, making Wan Yunting's face flush. Seeing the tempting glimpse of her proud snowy peaks as she unbuttoned her collar, he quickly averted his gaze, not daring to look directly…
"Heh heh…"
Seeing his awkward and embarrassed demeanor amused Ji Ruxue greatly. Her alluring eyes stared intently at Wan Yunting, and her left hand pulled open her collar, smiling enchantingly, "You men are all talk and no action…"
Faced with the proactive advances of this enchantress, Wan Yunting felt quite passive. However, he was not so foolish as to be seduced by Ji Ruxue's beauty and lose his reason. Therefore, he remained vigilant, lest this enchantress suddenly make a move, in which case he wouldn't know how he died.
"Kiss me!"
Ji Ruxue threw herself into Wan Yunting's embrace, actively demanding a kiss…
Wan Yunting looked at her alluring fiery red lips. Faced with Ji Ruxue's stunning beauty and extreme charm, in this situation, even a highly enlightened monk would likely feel his blood boil, his mind wander, and his heart become restless.
However, Wan Yunting maintained his composure and pushed Ji Ruxue down onto the large snakeskin mat, saying calmly, "Let's just begin!"
Her crescent-shaped alluring eyes gazed at the man before her. She chuckled charmingly and said, "What's the rush? Let's flirt a bit before we start…"
"Uh…"
Wan Yunting's eyes widened, and his mouth was covered by Ji Ruxue's主动 embrace. Her arms wrapped around his neck like two snakes, and they became entangled…
At this moment, above the sinkhole, Clan Leader Xiao Yuku and Great Elder Tong Pala arrived. The old woman who had been guarding the area went up to pay her respects, "Clan Leader, Great Elder…"
Xiao Yuku nodded and asked, "Where is Mother of Snakes?"
The old woman replied truthfully, "Mother of Snakes is below the altar, and she ordered me not to let anyone disturb her."
Xiao Yuku nodded, knowing that Mother of Snakes Ji Ruxue and Wan Yunting were performing a secret dual cultivation ritual below the altar in the sinkhole. He then said to the Fourth Elder Zong Sheng, "Send more guards to secure the area. Everything is to be arranged according to Snake Granny's instructions. No one is to be allowed to disturb Mother of Snakes."
"Yes." The Fourth Elder nodded and sent his accompanying son to make arrangements.
"Let's go…"
Xiao Yuku glanced at the sinkhole, turned, and left the area. The Great Elder and the others quickly followed, leaving the old woman, Snake Granny, and a group of maidservants to guard the surroundings of the sinkhole…
Soon, many guards arrived outside and surrounded the mansion where Ji Ruxue resided…
Xiao Yuku walked out and then said to the Great Elder, "Great Elder, you and the Second Elder and the others shall stay here and guard. Notify me immediately when Mother of Snakes finishes!"
Great Elder Tong Pala's old face stiffened, seemingly understanding the meaning of the Clan Leader's words. He and the Second Elder nodded in acknowledgment.
Xiao Yuku said nothing further, and with his two sons, departed…