Battle Through the Heavens: The Young Master of the Heavenly Serpent, intercepts Yao Lao at the star

As the Xiao family members gazed in the direction where Ling Ying had disappeared, their gratitude towards Bai Chuxiao reached its peak.

They all believed that this was a Dou Huang powerhouse that Bai Chuxiao had deliberately left behind to secretly protect the Xiao family, and they were all deeply grateful.

Xiao Yan secretly vowed that if he had the chance in the future, he would definitely repay Bai Chuxiao's great kindness.

At this moment, Bai Chuxiao, who caused all of this, was completely unaware of what was happening in Wutan City.

After leaving Wutan City with Green Barbarian, he headed west and soon met up with the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King, who was already waiting outside the city.

After the three reunited, they didn't linger and headed straight towards the Monster Mountain Range. Once they crossed the Monster Mountain Range, they would reach the Tagor Desert...

Bai Chuxiao stood on the broad back of the Serpent King, unfolding the yellowed map in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the markings on it.

The location of Stone Desert City was clearly visible on the map. He put away the map and solemnly instructed the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King beneath him, "Just keep flying in this direction."

The Eight-Winged Black Serpent King let out a deep hiss, and its eight jet-black wings suddenly flapped, increasing its speed once again, like a black lightning bolt that tore through the sky above the Monster Mountain Range.

After flying for an unknown period of time, just as they were about to reach the border of the Tagor Desert, the Serpent Spirit Seal in Bai Chuxiao's palm suddenly burst forth with dazzling golden light without warning.

The light was not dazzling, but it carried an extremely gentle power that instantly merged into his limbs and bones.

Immediately afterwards, a sense of perception that seemed innate and deeply ingrained in his soul arose spontaneously, clearly outlining two completely different directions in his mind.

One direction was to the south, which was his destination—Stone Desert City. The feeling was clear and strong.

The other direction is to the north, deep into the heart of the Tagor Desert, where the sensation is relatively weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, barely perceptible.

Bai Chuxiao was overjoyed: What is this perception? Could it be that the ability he used as an excuse before leaving home has actually worked? Can he really sense opportunities related to snakes?

Whether it is true or not, we'll find out by going to verify it. Bai Chuxiao chose to go to Shimo City in the south first.

As they approached Stone Desert City, Bai Chuxiao signaled the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King to lower its altitude.

Behind a hidden sand dune outside the city, the massive body of the Eight-Winged Black Serpent King disappeared into the yellow sand, leaving only Bai Chuxiao and Lü Man to walk towards the city gate.

The Stone Desert City is located on the edge of the desert. Its walls are made of rough rocks and have been eroded by wind and sand, making it look particularly desolate.

Caravans came and went at the city gate in an endless stream, mostly merchants who came to buy local specialties such as sand snake skin and sand scorpion tails. The air was filled with a faint smell of leather mixed with yellow sand.

There are even some shady dealings involving the trafficking of beautiful snake-people for the enjoyment of those in high positions of power.

Bai Chuxiao and Lü Man entered the city side by side. The snake spirit seal on his palm still emitted a faint golden light, like a precise compass, guiding him in the direction he was going.

He walked through the bustling streets, avoiding the crowds, and the guidance eventually led him to a relatively secluded alley.

At the end of the alley was an inconspicuous leather shop, with bundles of dried leather piled up at the entrance, emitting a strong, fishy smell.

Beside the pile of leather, Bai Chuxiao's gaze suddenly froze.

He saw a figure that was extremely small and weak.

It was a little girl who looked only eight or nine years old. She was wearing a faded blue dress covered in stains. The fabric was so rough that its original color was no longer visible.

Her hair was dry and messy, like withered weeds, and her face was covered in dust. Only her eyes, which appeared unusually large on her dirty face, were filled with a timidity and numbness that were beyond her years.

At that moment, the little girl was using all her strength to move a bundle of leather that was taller and heavier than herself.

Her small body was bent into a bow, her legs trembled slightly, and every step she took was extremely difficult. Her tender shoulders were marked with deep red marks from the rough leather, but she gritted her teeth and dared not make a sound.

Her name is Qinglin.

Bai Chuxiao understood that this was one of the most important people he was looking for on this trip, and the unusual sensation of the Serpent Spirit Seal pointed to her as the ultimate target.

Humans and snake people of mixed blood are the lowest and least respected beings in the Tagor Desert.

The snake people considered her a disgrace, discarded her like trash, and drove her out of the tribe; humans, on the other hand, loathed the snake people blood flowing in her veins, regarded her as a monster, and often beat and bullied her.

At a young age, she lost her only mother. In order to survive, she had to put aside all her dignity and struggle bitterly in this stone desert city.

Serving as a guide for visiting caravans, navigating through sandstorms, and risking beatings and scoldings for the slightest mistake; doing the hardest and most tiring work in leather shops, moving, drying, and washing leather, working from dawn till dusk, just to earn a meager scrap of food to barely fill one's stomach.

She had seen too many cold stares and heard too many insults: "bastard," "monster," "ominous creature"—these vicious words cut into her young heart like knives day after day.

No one cared for her, no one loved her, and no one treated her like a human being.

In this world, she is like an insignificant speck of dust, who could be swept away by a raging wind and disappear into the vast desert at any moment.

Just then, a tall, slender figure blocked her path, shielding her from the scorching sun overhead.

Qinglin was startled and stopped what she was doing. She timidly raised her head and looked at the person in front of her.

He was a young man dressed in white, with a handsome face and a gentle temperament. There was no disgust or disdain in his eyes, only peace and gentleness.

This was the first time Qinglin had ever seen such a gaze from a stranger in her entire life, leaving her somewhat flustered. She instinctively shrank back, her eyes filled with wariness.

"Don't be afraid, look." Bai Chuxiao slowly squatted down, gently extended his right hand, and opened his palm.

In his palm, the serpent spirit seal was clearly visible, its golden patterns resembling fine serpent scales, gleaming with a warm luster in the sunlight.

When Qinglin's gaze fell on the snake scale mark, she froze completely.

The patterns, the scent—they were so familiar, so comforting.

It was because her small arms also had similar blue snake scales!

For so many years, she was rejected and scorned by everyone. She thought she was the only alien in the world, an orphan not accepted by any group.

But the unfamiliar boy in front of her had the same scales on his hands as she did!

In an instant, all the grievances, all the suffering, all the loneliness, surged into my heart like a flood bursting its banks.