In the heart of the desert, outside the Holy City of the Snake-People.
High in the sky, under the blazing sun, two groups of people with wings of Dou Qi faced each other in a tense standoff.
One group consisted of the eight great chieftains of the Snake-People Tribe. The other was composed of four powerful cultivators at the Dou Wang level or higher.
Below, the Queen's Guard of the Snake-People and a contingent of human Dou Lings eyed each other with equal wariness, looking as if they were ready to slaughter one another at any moment.
The atmosphere was heavy with killing intent, so much so that even the scorching desert air failed to bring a trace of warmth.
"Humans! You dare trespass upon our tribe's sacred land! Are you seeking death?!"
A furious roar, infused with immense Dou Qi, thundered across the plains, causing the very air to ripple. A tall, powerfully built Snake-Person, clad in heavy armor woven from special scales and wielding a sword in each hand, glared at the party not far from him. A long scar ran across the bridge of his nose.
"Heh, Chieftain Mo Basi, we have no intention of offending the Snake-People Tribe," a handsome, middle-aged man in elegant, cloud-patterned robes stepped forward, cupping his hands with a polite smile. "It's just that I have a very important matter that requires an audience with Her Majesty, the Queen. Would it be possible for you to pass on a message?"
Hearing this, one of the eight chieftains opposite him, Yue Mei, let out a cold laugh. "A message? Do you think you can see the Queen just because you ask? If you don't wish to provoke a war between the Snake-People Tribe and the Jia Ma Empire, I suggest you go back the way you came!"
The handsome middle-aged man's brow furrowed slightly. He knew the Snake-People despised humans, but he hadn't expected them to refuse even to deliver a simple message. Still, thinking of his objective, he maintained his courteous tone. "Could you not make an exception? I, Gu He, have come with the utmost sincerity. As long as Her Majesty, Queen Medusa, is willing to meet, I will offer a reward that will satisfy her, regardless of the outcome."
"I'm sorry, but we cannot convey that request for you."
At that moment, from among the eight chieftains, an old man in a red robe and hat, his face a web of wrinkles and his hair and beard snow-white, took a step forward. This was Yin Shi.
Yin Shi was clearly more level-headed and did not wish for a true conflict. He tried to reason with them. "Grandmaster Gu He, whatever your purpose may be, seeing the Queen is impossible. You should take your people and go back."
"Otherwise, if you anger Her Majesty, you will no longer have the chance to leave."
"Heh, old He, when are you going to change that personality of yours? Why are you wasting your breath on them? Just smash this city to pieces. You really think that Medusa woman won't show herself then?" a burly man standing next to Gu He sneered.
This man had a thick beard and a rugged face. He was dressed in tight-fitting combat attire with a tiger-head belt cinched at his waist and brilliant gold bracers of high-quality metal on both wrists. He looked like a veritable lion.
Upon hearing his words, the faces of all eight chieftains instantly turned cold, their gazes locking onto him with chilling intent.
Mo Basi pointed his longsword directly at the man and said icily, "You brainless, muscle-bound lion, are you looking to die?!"
"Heh heh, you filthy, pitch-black snake. I'm right here. Why don't you come and try me? I'm quite curious to see how much you've improved over the years."
"Damn it, I can't take this anymore! What's the point of talking to these humans? Let's just kill them!" one of the eight chieftains, Yan Ci, roared with impatience. He was the most rugged-looking of them all, with the strongest build, dark skin, and spiked gauntlets on his hands. He ground the spikes on his weapons together, eager to start a massacre.
"Yan Ci, don't be rash," Yin Shi said, raising a hand to stop him. He then turned back to Gu He. "Grandmaster Gu He, you've seen for yourself. You are not welcome here. If you do not leave now, it will be considered a provocation against our tribe. At that point, war will be our only option, and once it begins, I cannot guarantee that any of you will leave this place alive."
"Old fool, if it's war you want, it's war you'll get! You think we're afraid of you?"
"Alright, Old Lion, now is not the time for bickering," Gu He said, shaking his head. He looked at the eight chieftains, who were ready to draw their weapons at a moment's notice, and then at the hot-tempered Yan Shi. A headache was starting to form. If a real fight broke out, they wouldn't gain any advantage, even with *that person* present.
Taking a deep breath, Gu He looked toward the city below, took a step forward, and shouted with all his might.
"Your Majesty, Queen Medusa! I am Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire! I have come with no hostile intent! I implore you to show yourself and grant me an audience!"
His powerful voice, wrapped in Dou Qi, echoed across the sky, rolling like thunderous waves over the entire city.
"Gu He, you dare!" Yue Mei's face darkened as she cried out. She formed a hand seal, and a massive amount of Dou Qi erupted from her body, coalescing into a giant purple serpent that lunged toward Gu He.
Beside Gu He, an old man in green robes, Feng Li, snorted coldly. "A mere parlor trick!" He waved his hand, gathering a vast amount of green Dou Qi that formed a wind blade to meet the attack.
Boom!
The two powerful attacks collided in an instant, creating a deafening explosion and sending terrifying shockwaves rippling outward. The scene was like a cataclysmic detonation. The gale it kicked up was so strong that it forced both the Snake-People and the humans on the ground to stumble back a great distance.
"Kill them!"
That single clash was the spark that lit the fuse. The eight chieftains exploded into action.
The remaining seven—Yin Shi, Mo Basi, Yan Ci, Kui Xing, Flower Serpent King, South Serpent, and Black Poison—instantly channeled their Dou Qi and charged toward Gu He and his companions.
The combined aura of eight Dou Wangs erupting at once was incredibly powerful. Everyone, from the warriors on the ground below to the inhabitants of the Holy City, felt the terrifying, shudder-inducing pressure.
"Has it really come to the worst-case scenario? Sect Leader, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you now," Gu He sighed, turning to look at the black-robed figure behind him. The person's face was completely obscured by their hood.
Hearing Gu He's request, the black-robed figure nodded, their voice cool and detached. "It is no trouble. Leave it to me."
As the words fell, the black-robed figure flickered and, in the next instant, appeared at the very front of their group.
Immediately after, an aura even more formidable than that of the eight chieftains combined erupted from their body, pressing down on the approaching Snake-People.
The moment the overwhelming pressure appeared, the eight charging chieftains all paled, their assault faltering for a split second.
That aura was far stronger than theirs—it completely suppressed the momentum of all eight of them combined.
A Dou Huang expert!
"This person is indeed a Dou Huang expert!"
"So what if he's a Dou Huang? If the eight of us combine our strength and use *that* technique, we can still put up a fight against one!"
They exchanged thoughts via spiritual transmission, rapidly discussing their strategy.
Yan Ci showed no fear. "Let's do it," he said bluntly.
Yin Shi frowned. Even if they could tie down this Dou Huang, the enemy still had Gu He and two other Dou Wangs. On their side, apart from the eight of them, there was only one other mid-tier Dou Wang, Hua She'er.
They had already learned from Hua She'er when they first gathered that Her Majesty the Queen was not in the Holy City.
The situation was extremely unfavorable for them.
...
Outside the Holy City.
Somewhere within the circle of giant boulders surrounding the area, under a yellow blanket that blended perfectly with the desert sand, a youth was staring intently at the battle unfolding in the sky, a brilliant smile on his face.
"Teacher, have you sensed the aura of the Heavenly Flame?"
"Mm, I've sensed it. But something is strange."
"Is there another complication?" the youth's heart tightened.
"No, to be precise, it's too easy. The aura of the Heavenly Flame is completely unconcealed. But the easier it is, the stranger it feels."
"Queen Medusa shouldn't be so foolish as to leave the Heavenly Flame's aura exposed without any form of concealment."
"Then what should we do?"
"Let's wait a little longer. I don't sense Queen Medusa's presence. We can't act rashly."
"Alright. I hope those guys can make an even bigger commotion. That'll give me the perfect cover to slip in."