Five or six flying ships loaded with Tian Sha Hall believers broke into the vast desert. Under the cover of starry skies and the ships' formation arrays, they raced toward the signal emitted by Di Nü Feng.
"Boom—!!"
At this moment, battle erupted across the desert. The Snakefolk Tribe spotted the sudden appearance of flying ships and quickly reported the news to their various tribal leaders. Outside the shrine, three snakefolk chieftains had already engaged Di Nü Feng in combat.
Di Nü Feng's Tribulation Transcension cultivation suppressed the three snakefolk leaders, forcing them into retreat. The massive city wrapped in rules—the so-called shrine—stood revealed amidst the sands.
One snakefolk leader roared furiously, "Di Nü Feng of Tian Sha Hall! Our Snakefolk Tribe has no feud with you. Why attack us without cause?!"
"Spare me the nonsense!" Di Nü Feng threw a devastating punch.
The three snakefolk leaders burst forth from the sea of sand, unleashing sky-obscuring poison mist, ancient ice spanning millennia, and a thousand bone spikes that converged to twist the entire space into chaos.
Golden-red flames ignited around Di Nü Feng's right fist. Where her fist passed, space shattered like glass. The three snakefolk leaders were clearly no match for her as Di Nü Feng unleashed her full Tribulation Transcension power.
Just then, thunder exploded in the distance. From far to near, it arrived before their eyes in the blink of an eye. A Tribulation Transcension cultivator emerged from Yellow Sand City, stepping through the void and summoning heavenly thunder. Countless electric serpents formed a cage that descended upon them.
Mozi, fourth disciple of Zhongzhou's foremost fortune master Goushengzi, had reached Tribulation Transcension. This mighty figure usually resided in western Zhongzhou, secluded in Yellow Sand City. The last time Di Nü Feng had fought, it was against Mozi. As Di Nü Feng unleashed her full power, Mozi sensed it immediately from within Yellow Sand City.Di Nü Feng raised an eyebrow.
"Hall Master!!" Two figures streaked across the sky—two of Tian Sha Hall's Four Guardian Vajras.
Di Nü Feng planted her hands on her hips and let out a sinister "Hehehe" laugh.
"Rumble—!!" The shrine below trembled violently.
A rainbow-like streak shot from the bracelet on Di Nü Feng's wrist, plunging directly into the shrine. At this critical moment, a spine-chilling sound of scales scraping together emerged from deep within the earth's veins. The ground began shaking violently as soil flew everywhere.
The Snake God's thousand-zhang-long body loomed like a mountain, blotting out the sky and leaving onlookers stunned. When the Snake God's crimson serpent eyes lit up, an indescribable pressure surged forth like a tidal wave, forcibly reversing the surrounding spiritual energy into a terrifying vortex.
Countless snake heads of varying sizes covered the Snake God's body, each one grotesque and terrifying.
"Little brat! I showed mercy before only because of my past friendship with Tian Sha Hall's master," the Snake God's voice boomed. "I warned you repeatedly, yet you overstepped further. Don't blame me for showing no mercy now."
Di Nü Feng snorted disdainfully. "Mercy? You're bluffing!"
Multiple heads of the Snake God opened their maws simultaneously, spewing blazing flames that surged straight toward Di Nü Feng. Despite only being at Fusion Transcension realm, the Snake God's displayed power matched Di Nü Feng's Tribulation Transcension strength perfectly.
"............"
Amidst the chaos of battle, Li Xuanxiao had stealthily infiltrated the shrine under Xiao Qing's guidance.
"This way, this way... careful!" Xiao Qing led Li Xuanxiao through the shrine with perfect familiarity. After Li Xuanxiao eliminated several snakefolk guards, they headed toward the shrine's core palace—a structure that appeared built from gold.
Entering the palace, Li Xuanxiao found its interior far more spacious than expected. Still guided by Xiao Qing, Li Xuanxiao moved at speeds that astonished her. Standing atop his Lifebound Flying Sword, Li Xuanxiao's forehead beaded with sweat from the exertion. He popped two Qi Restoration Pills into his mouth.
Having learned from past failures, Li Xuanxiao had significantly improved his control over the Lifebound Flying Sword.
"Stop stop!!" Xiao Qing's vision blurred from the rapid movement, and she screamed urgently amidst the fleeting images. They barely managed to halt just before collision.
"We're here!" Xiao Qing announced.
The palace stood empty. Under the Snake God's rules, tribal members couldn't approach the shrine's palaces freely. The shrine, unaccustomed to such events, had descended into chaos.
Now stationary, Li Xuanxiao finally had time to observe the palace carefully. The dome's star map flowed like the night sky, while snake-shaped reliefs on the murals seemed alive, their vertical pupils containing millennia of frost as they coldly watched the intruders.
At the hall's center, countless chains pierced through the celestial tracks on the ceiling, suspending an ancient bronze mirror several zhang above the ground—the Burial Dust Reincarnation Mirror. Snakefolk bones littered the surroundings, evidence of the sacrifices Xiao Qing had mentioned—tribal members offered to assist the Snake God's molting and ascension to immortality.
"............."
On the battlefield, Huang Chengqian refrained from joining the fight, instead observing from a distance. Naturally, he wouldn't intervene in the battle between the Snake God, his senior brother, and Di Nü Feng—it exceeded his current capabilities. His gaze fell on the shrine below.
This marked Huang Chengqian's first glimpse of the Snakefolk Tribe's so-called shrine. What could they be making such a fuss about...? Narrowing his eyes slightly, Huang Chengqian hesitated briefly before leading his subordinates straight toward the shrine. With its gates wide open, nothing prevented their entry.
"........"
"Hum—!!" Sword energies struck the chains connecting to the Burial Dust Reincarnation Mirror, causing it to tremble. Li Xuanxiao stepped in the Seven-Star Formation stance, reaching to catch the falling mirror.
At that moment, his sharp instincts detected hostility from behind. Protecting Xiao Qing with one arm, he flashed away instantly. Several figures dashed into the hall.
Huang Chengqian smirked coldly. "Li Xuanxiao, we meet again!"
Forming a seal with one hand, Li Xuanxiao quickly assessed the situation: six Nascent Soul peak cultivators, one Transformation Spirit cultivator, and Huang Chengqian at Transformation Spirit peak. Against them stood Li Xuanxiao at Nascent Soul peak—one man facing six opponents of equal level and two superior cultivators.
Flying swords hovered around Li Xuanxiao as he took a deep breath. He had anticipated this scenario, but the risk was necessary. Today, he must obtain the Burial Dust Reincarnation Mirror. No—wait...
Li Xuanxiao glanced apologetically at Xiao Qing, his thoughts growing complicated about what was to come.