With a serious expression, Xiao Yan flew swiftly across the desert sky, gradually calming himself as he descended in pace. Reflecting on his earlier attitude toward Yun Zhi, he couldn't help but chuckle softly—seemed he had indeed been rather overbearing. "She was only trying to help me by recommending a place for cultivation, thinking of me all along. How truly impetuous I've been," he murmured, lightly patting his forehead. "Now that I'm carrying this rare treasure, the Heterogeneous Fire, returning might actually bring her quite a few complications." After murmuring this to himself, just as Xu Xiao was about to retreat, the calm weather deep in the desert suddenly turned violent. Five powerful, fierce energies surged violently upward, coalescing into five massive, distinctly colored columns of energy—like five colossal pillars firmly supporting the vast,蔚 blue sky. "What?" With a serious expression, Xu Xiao's face tightened as he gazed at the towering light columns at the horizon. "The strong members of the Serpent People... five Battle Kings," an elderly, slightly astonished voice from Master Yao echoed in his mind. "It seems they've arrived quite swiftly. That woman, Yun Zhi, might be in for some trouble." "Five Battle Kings?" "Heard that, Xiao Yan's heart leapt and his face instantly darkened. He furrowed his brows, saying, 'These people are moving far too quickly... Yet, given Yunzhi's strength, shouldn't she be safe? After all, she's a Divinity Realm master.' 'Hard to say... Though Divinity Realm masters are strong, Divinity King-level fighters are no less capable, especially when five of them combine their efforts. Moreover, due to their bloodline, the Snake People's warriors can coordinate certain team techniques. With such synergy, Yunzhi will surely find it quite challenging to handle them.' The old pharmacist mused. His brows grew even more deeply furrowed. After a while, Xiao Yan pressed his lips tightly, eyes fixed intently on the five massive energy columns rising above the desert, and without hesitation declared, 'Then we'll return!' 'Well, that's up to you,' the old pharmacist replied, indifferent. Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan held the Qinglian Seat, and with a gentle flap of his purple cloud wings, turned around and began swiftly retracing his path." ... Amidst an endless expanse of golden desert, six figures floated in the void, each bearing a pair of wings infused with qi, their rhythmic flapping sending waves of strong winds that stirred yellow dust across the sand. Surrounded by five others, the cloaked figure stood calmly, his gaze gently scanning the five, speaking softly, "Your speed truly astonishes me." "Phh!" Inhaling with a breath that carried phlegm, Yan Ci spat out, his face slightly pale. At this moment, his garments were tattered, blood seeping from him in streams, and across his arms and abdomen, deep, striking wounds glistened like scars. Earlier, he and the gray-robed elder had successfully intercepted Yun Zhi. Yet, even before they could exchange a word, the woman completely enveloped in black robes—like a neglected wife suddenly turning against her husband—suddenly launched an attack. Caught off guard, Yan Ci bore the brunt of the assault first. Within just a few minutes, Yan Ci sustained some serious injuries under the assault of the black-robed warrior. Had it not been for the timely arrival of the three senior serpent people, even with the protection of the gray-robed elder, he would have ended up severely wounded. After all, while a Battle King could be considered a strong contender, he still fell one tier short of a Battle Emperor. With only two Battle Kings, it simply wasn't enough to match a Battle Emperor. Moreover, Yan Ci's fighting style was always direct and unyielding—facing off against a Battle Emperor in such a manner naturally meant he would suffer significant losses. Most importantly, however, it was the black-robed warrior's particularly ruthless tactics that proved decisive. Yet even if I wished to do so, I suspect you would never accept it—after all, if these are mere useless gestures, then why bother at all?" The cloaked man smiled calmly. "The Serpent People, having lost the Queen Medusa, may not make much of a ripple." "Base, unprincipled humans! Without your constant interference, how could the Queen's evolution have possibly failed?" Ina's anger surged as she shouted. "Hah! If you truly believe that, then you are mistaken. Though it appears the Queen's evolution has failed, I have raised her since childhood, and thus I can sense—faintly—that she has not truly perished. One day, she will return to the Tagoor Great Desert and lead us Serpent People once again out of this cursed place!" The gray-robed elder chuckled darkly. "Then, when that day comes, we shall settle every debt we have today, one by one!" "Your name is Yinshe, isn't it?" The venerable elder of the Serpent People, whose strength has now reached the rank of Eight-Star Duke, still holds a distinguished standing... what you've said... well, perhaps that's true... if such a day ever comes, I would indeed be delighted to face her personally. Observing the gray-robed elder's earnest expression, Yun Zhi slightly furrowed her brows, then gently shook her head, speaking softly. "Currently, the Garnet Empire boasts only three openly recognized Duke-level warriors, all of whom I have personally met. Therefore, I can certainly recognize you—ah, your background indeed belongs to a powerful force. But wait, just wait—I, the Serpent People, will surely retaliate!" the gray-robed elder coldly remarked. "Mindless threats..." With a light laugh, Yun Zhi naturally wasn't someone who would falter or go pale at a single threat from the other side. She smiled gently, slowly lifting her long sword, which shimmered with a faint green glow, and a slightly cold, composed curve appeared on her beautiful face. "Well, since you've already made your strong statements, I won't hesitate any longer. Today, let's see how many of you five can make it out of this." "Hmph! Though you're a Duke-level warrior, I doubt you'll find it easy to handle five of us—each of us is a King-level combatant!" Hearing Yun Zhi's words, a middle-aged serpent clad in green robes flushed with irritation and roared. "Then... let's see how it goes." Her slender fingers gently brushed the sharp edge of the sword, and a crisp, resonant sound of the blade rang out, suddenly swelling through the air. At the very instant the sound emerged, Yun Zhi's body vanished—reappearing moments later directly behind the green-robed serpent warrior. A surge of pale blue sword energy erupted three feet high, striking with a precise, vicious thrust aimed at the latter's vital points. The sharp blade swept up a gleam of cold light, lightly slicing through the green-robed serpent's waist. The sturdy serpent scales covering that area, seemingly fragile under the intensely compressed sword aura—so compressed it only manifested in such form—offered no resistance at all, as if they were mere sheets of paper. "Shhh…" the soft sound of the blade severing flesh echoed steadily in the sky. The green-robed serpent clutched his waist tightly with both hands, blood seeping steadily from between his fingers, dripping continuously. The intense pain caused him to sweat profusely. From the moment Cloud Zhi launched her sudden attack until the green-robed serpent was wounded and retreated—only a matter of mere seconds—when the others regained their composure, the serpent of high standing in the serpent clan had already been injured and was now retreating awkwardly. "Her speed is too swift! Don't face her alone—form the Five Serpent Venom Stasis Seal!" the gray-robed elder said, his face darkened with urgency. As he sipped, the gray-robed elder swiftly formed a series of hand seals that appeared dizzying in their rapidity. With each seal activated, a vast expanse of deep azure light rapidly coalesced within his palms. At the very instant the elder completed his hand seals, the other four members also swiftly finished their own seals—having practiced these intricate sequences countless times before—so that upon receiving the command, they executed them with remarkable speed. As the five seals came to life simultaneously, a faint aura of azure energy spontaneously materialized, enveloping them tightly, clearly a measure to defend against any sudden ambush. Gazing at the increasingly potent energy in the hands of the five, Yun Zhi's eyes sparkled with keen interest. She had long heard that the Snake People's combat techniques were uniquely strange and distinct in their own right, especially when fused—capable of merging the strengths of multiple individuals and projecting them simultaneously to counter elite opponents. Observing the current fused technique they were employing, she judged it to be at the upper level of the Xuan Stage. Such a refined level of fused technique was already among the most advanced within the Snake People's tradition, and thus only the leaders of the Eight Great Tribes possessed the strength and qualification to master it. At the very moment the energy pillars shot out from the five cultivators' palms, they began weaving together, and within a short while, an exceptionally massive energy pillar suddenly rose into the sky. As this towering pillar appeared, fierce winds surged across the desert, carrying with them a potent atmosphere thick with blood and raw fury, vividly emerging from the pillar itself. The colossal energy pillar then began to swirl violently, and instantly transformed into a long, emerald-green energy serpent stretching over ten zhang in length! "Hssss!" As the green serpent materialized, the winds across the desert intensified dramatically, visible gusts spiraling rapidly around its body, their roaring sounds echoing throughout the dunes. Gazing up at the magnificent green serpent in the sky, Yun Zhi's eyes flickered with astonishment and seriousness—she had never expected five cultivators of the Battle King rank to manifest such powerful energy. "The Snake People's combat technique is no surprise—it's well known across the Qi Continent. Such an unusual fusion of techniques truly leaves one in awe..." Taking a deep breath, Yun Zhi gripped her sword hilt tightly, and her overall aura instantly sharpened, becoming as keen and piercing as a sword's edge. Massive waves of vibrant green wind began rapidly gathering around her. Fixing her gaze on the towering green serpent charging forward, Yun Zhi lightly tapped the void with her foot, preparing to unleash her powerful attack. As she poised to surge forth, her expression suddenly softened slightly, and she swiftly turned her head.