[Confirmed: 1× One-Star Dou Sheng Experience Card]
"Confirmed."
As the man's slightly helpless words fell, the surging Dou Qi within him stirred the energy of heaven and earth. The space around him twisted, and faint cracks appeared.
[Name: Zhang Nian] [Age: 20] [Items: None] [Current strength: Peak One-Star Dou Sheng; countdown: 00:59:59]
After glancing at the status panel before him, Zhang Nian didn't dare waste a moment. The Experience Card had instantly granted him the strength of a peak One-Star Dou Sheng, along with full mastery of the corresponding abilities. But the thing had a time limit, so he had to get started on his next major task right away.
With a sweep of his hand, he stirred up a gust of wind with his powerful energy. Amid a swirl of dust, the space before him seemed to split open under the force of an invisible pair of hands, forming a crack wide enough for him to enter.
He stepped inside. As his figure disappeared, the crack vanished too, as if he had never existed in this world.
Tagor Desert
Amid the endless yellow sands, faint traces of life could be seen. Under the leadership of two elders and the chiefs of their various tribes, the Snake-People Tribe had put down roots in this barren land.
"Medusa, you have great talent, but if you want to unite the eight tribes, you'll still need strength. Elder Li and I are nearing the end of our lives. We can protect the tribe for ten more years at most. After that, the Snake-People Tribe will be in your hands."
The old woman in a gray robe gazed at her with warmth and expectation. Her face, etched with the marks of time, held an expression of comfort. The little girl before her was the hope of the entire Snake-People Tribe.
"Don't worry, Granny Snake. I'll do my best. You'll definitely break through to the next level. I'll wait for you to see me take the throne of the Snake-People Tribe with your own eyes."
Medusa still looked rather young. She wore a green robe, beneath which her graceful figure was faintly visible. Though not yet ripe, she was as alluring as an apple in May. Her gaze toward the two elders was resolute.
The two elders exchanged a smile, both seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes. What troubled them most was the lack of capable successors in the Snake-People Tribe. As for breaking through to a higher level, they had long since given up hope.
"Rumble!"
A tremendous boom rang out in the sky. The people inside the room froze, looking surprised as they turned toward the doorway.
A moment later, urgent shouts came from outside. A Snake-People subordinate rushed into the room, panic-stricken, as if he had seen something terrifying. He cried out,
"Elders, something's wrong with the sky outside!"
Granny Snake frowned. The Snake-People Tribe wasn't strict about etiquette, but she was displeased by his reckless behavior. She said coldly,
"What's wrong with the sky? Why are you acting so rashly, as if you've lost your wits?"
The subordinate knew he had acted rashly and hurriedly bowed his head in apology. When he looked up, he was still panicked. Pointing outside, he said urgently,
"Granny Snake, the sky outside... the sky has split open!"
Astonishment!
Medusa didn't understand what was happening, but she could tell from the expressions of Elder Li and Granny Snake that it was serious. She was already a Nine-Star Dou Wang, but she had yet to reach a higher realm, so she naturally didn't think in those terms.
"Come on, let's go take a look."
Granny Snake hurried outside, her tail leaving a long trail across the ground. Elder Li followed close behind, and driven by curiosity, Medusa went with them.
When she saw what was happening in the sky, her mouth fell open in astonishment.
"Heavens!"
An irregular opening had split the sky. Peering inside, they saw only darkness, with faint flashes of lightning sparking within.
Granny Snake glanced at Elder Li beside her, then looked around and lowered her voice.
"Space... torn open?"
"Yes. It must be a Dou Sheng Expert..."
Dou Sheng...
It was a realm that struck fear into people's hearts. No Dou Di had appeared on the Dou Qi Continent in many years, so everyone considered Dou Sheng the highest realm a cultivator could currently attain. For a powerhouse like that to come to a place as remote as this was enough to put the two elders on guard.
Granny Snake immediately called out, "All Snake-People, prostrate yourselves! Do not raise your heads without an order!"
At her words, the two elders spread their wings and flew into the sky, leaving Medusa behind, still full of questions.
After all, before a powerhouse like that, even looking up could be a crime.
"Yes!"
Granny Snake's word was law to all the Snake-People. In an instant, the entire sandy plain was filled with Snake-People, every one of them pressing their faces to the ground.
"Whoosh~"
A figure flew out, and the sound of a man grumbling could faintly be heard.
"What a strange thing. I've nearly searched the whole Tagor Desert. Where's the Snake-People Tribe?"
Granny Snake and Elder Li, flying to meet him, heard every word. The fear on their aged faces deepened, but they didn't dare delay. To a Dou Sheng Expert, the vast desert was crossed in an instant. Even if they wanted to hide, where could they possibly go?
If the Snake-People Tribe couldn't be spared, then they would simply die here today. There would be no other outcome.
"We didn't know a powerhouse was arriving, so we failed to welcome you properly. I, Granny Snake, elder of the Snake-People Tribe, have come to beg your forgiveness!"
Her voice, wrapped in Dou Qi, rang in every direction. Zhang Nian stopped and looked down. Wasn't this the very Snake-People Tribe he had been searching for?
He quickly flew over to the two elders. A casual glance brought immense pressure crashing down on them. Space rippled around them, and with just one look, they felt the suffocating nearness of death and the helplessness of standing before a powerhouse.
He calmed himself, glanced at the countdown on the panel in his mind, and took a deep breath.
"I'm in a hurry. I've come here today to take on a disciple. Where is Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe?"
???
The two elders' aged faces were covered in question marks. A Dou Sheng Expert wanted to take Medusa as his disciple?
Wasn't this a tremendous blessing?
The Jia Ma Empire had always been hostile to the Snake-People Tribe's presence in the Tagor Desert, and small-scale conflicts had broken out between them. If Medusa could successfully become his disciple, it would be like bringing the Snake-People Tribe a powerful backer!
Their joy was impossible to hide. Tears streamed down both elders' faces. This wasn't an invader at all—it was a blessing from heaven for the Snake-People Tribe!
Seeing the two elderly Snake-People standing before him with tears in their eyes, yet saying nothing, Zhang Nian thought they were unwilling. He couldn't help wondering what was going on. He was a Dou Sheng, lowering himself to take on a disciple. They didn't have to be grateful, but couldn't they at least say thank you?
Neither of them seemed to have the complete Battle Through the Heavens script he had. Why were they making such faces?
"You're unwilling?" His tone grew impatient. Time was short and the task was urgent. He had already wasted quite a while searching for the Snake-People Tribe in the Tagor Desert. After this, he still had to visit Jia Nan Academy in the Black-Corner Region, and on the way back, he could stop by the Misty Cloud Sect. He really was pressed for time.
Granny Snake was desperate to answer, but her body was bound tight. How could she speak? If Zhang Nian could have heard her thoughts, he would have heard:
"Sir, please take the child with you! We couldn't be more willing!"
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