"Young brother, such impressive talent at such a young age… Which faction's young master are you from? And those wings on your back — is that a flying Dou Technique?"
The moment Pill King Gu He laid eyes on Xiao Tian, an inexplicable irritation surged in his chest. For some reason, he simply couldn't stand the sight of this young man.
Xiao Tian halted in mid-air, hands clasped behind his back, and looked calmly at the group. His gaze, however, lingered mostly on the cloaked figure among them.
"Everyone has flown all this way just to reach my side. Do you have some instructions for me?"
"Kid, Pill King Gu He is speaking to you. Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit…" A Dou Ling expert behind Gu He immediately stepped forward, eager to curry favor.
A cold glint flashed through Xiao Tian's eyes.
The Dou Ling suddenly felt as if an ancient, terrifying existence was staring straight into his soul. The words he wanted to say died in his throat.
Before he could recover, a slender rapier was already pressed against his neck, the sharp edge drawing a thin line of blood.
"Yun—" The man tried to call out, but the rapier pressed closer.
"One more word and you die," a cold, hoarse voice came from beneath the black cloak. "I'm here for the reward, not to watch you show off."
Yun Yun slowly withdrew her rapier, adjusted her cloak, and spoke in the same hoarse tone:
"Don't go any further. It won't be peaceful here recently. Leave the Tagore Desert as soon as possible and do not linger."
Xiao Tian looked at Yun Yun, who was fiercely protecting him while hiding their relationship, and a warm joy bloomed in his heart. He struggled to maintain his calm expression.
Yun Yun returned to the back of the flying magical beast and said coldly, "Let's go. Don't waste time."
Pill King Gu He and the rest were full of doubts, but they could only urge their beast forward, exchanging puzzled glances.
"How strange… When did Sect Master Yun's temper become so explosive? And why is she suddenly so concerned about a stranger? Although that young man looks peerless, Sect Master Yun doesn't seem like the type to judge by appearance… Could this be a fake?"
After watching the group fly away, Xiao Tian stood silently in the air for a moment, then spoke toward the empty space beside him.
"Old Wen, let's go. The rest of the journey is up to you."
Wen Yan's figure silently materialized. He grabbed Xiao Tian's arm and enveloped them both in a layer of spatial energy to shield against the fierce desert winds.
In an instant, they shot forward at terrifying speed and easily overtook Gu He's group.
Just as they passed overhead, at a subtle signal from Xiao Tian, Wen Yan casually flicked a strand of Dou Qi downward.
A powerful oppressive force descended upon the flying magical beast.
The Dou Ling who had spoken rudely earlier was struck squarely in the chest. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flew backward, and he crashed heavily onto the desert sand below.
"Which fellow Daoist is this? Have we offended you somehow?" Pill King Gu He stood up and shouted toward the sky.
There was no response. The terrifying aura had already vanished along with the two figures.
Gu He ordered the beast to land near the injured man. The Dou Ling's chest and arms were pierced, but his life was not in danger.
"He's still alive because the attacker had no intention of killing him," Gu He said after examining the wounds. He fed the man a healing pill, then turned to Yun Yun with a grave expression.
"I really don't understand why they suddenly attacked us. Can you sense that person's strength?"
"Extremely terrifying," Yun Yun replied calmly. "I have a feeling… I wouldn't be able to withstand even one move from him."
Everyone's faces changed dramatically.
"Mo Yu, have you offended any powerful expert recently?" Dou Wang Feng Li asked the injured man.
"If I had offended someone that strong, my ashes would have been scattered long ago," Mo Yu answered bitterly.
"Could it be the protector of that young man with the flying wings we saw earlier?"
"It shouldn't be. If he was his protector, he would have acted immediately back then."
The group discussed the matter for a long time but couldn't reach any conclusion. Pill King Gu He's expression grew increasingly heavy, worried this unexpected incident would affect their plans for the Heavenly Flame.
Yun Yun stood silently to the side, her eyes flickering with complicated emotions as she gazed in the direction Xiao Tian had disappeared.
...
One day later.
With Wen Yan's full speed, Xiao Tian arrived near the territory of the Eight Great Tribes of the Snake-People Race.
"Palace Master, I sense a Dou Wang level snake-person nearby," Wen Yan reported.
"Oh? Take me there. She might make a good guide."
Wen Yan brought Xiao Tian above a group of five snake-women. Four were Great Dou Masters acting as guards, while the leader — a woman with an alluring, fiery figure and a long green snake tail — was a genuine Dou Wang expert.
Yue Mei, leader of the Charm Snake Tribe.
"Palace Master, do you want this old servant to capture her and 'discipline' her a little?" Wen Yan asked with a teasing smile, noticing Xiao Tian staring at the snake-woman below.
"Cough… Old Wen, just capture her," Xiao Tian said with a righteous expression. "When visiting someone's home, one should bring a proper gift. She should be sufficient to show our sincerity. She possesses a Dou Technique that allows her to split into energy snakes. Use Spatial Lock to trap her. As for 'disciplining'… that won't be necessary. I am a true gentleman."
Xiao Tian and Wen Yan descended from the sky.
Yue Mei immediately sensed their powerful auras and looked up sharply, her expression turning cold.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass deep into my tribe's territory!"
Her gaze landed on Wen Yan floating in the air, and her pupils shrank. "Dou Zong?!"
"You guessed correctly, but there's no reward," Xiao Tian said calmly from above. "We need to meet your Queen, but we require a suitable gift. Are you willing to be that gift?"
Yue Mei was stunned for a moment, then her beautiful face flushed with rage.
"You're going too far!"
"Since you won't cooperate willingly, we'll have to do it ourselves. Old Wen, take action."
Knowing she faced a Dou Zong, Yue Mei didn't hesitate. She quickly formed hand seals.
"Snake Skill: Split!"
Her body trembled violently and exploded with a loud bang. Instead of blood and flesh, hundreds of green energy snakes shot out in every direction, attempting to flee.
Xiao Tian and Wen Yan watched the scene from above with mild interest.
The energy snakes, seeing that the two didn't immediately pursue them, began to feel delighted.
These two fools actually didn't move. Then this queen won't be polite! Escaping from a Dou Zong will greatly increase my prestige when I return.
However, just as the energy snakes spread out and thought they had escaped, every single one of them slammed heavily into an invisible spatial wall.