Tagor Desert!

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

As he stepped into the courtyard, a system notification popped up before his eyes.

[Triggered Quest: Travel to the Tagor Desert and copy the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline of Queen Medusa.]

[Upon completion of the quest, you will receive a random increase in strength.]

Xiao Chen stared at the system panel before him, frozen in place.

Queen Medusa, the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline—she was the queen of the Snake-Person Tribe and a powerhouse at the Dou Emperor level; her Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline was top-tier across the entire Dou Qi Continent.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

The Tagor Desert was the territory of the Snake-Person Tribe and the domain of Queen Medusa; as an outsider, he would likely face trouble if he barged in recklessly.

However, since the system had issued the quest, there must be a way to complete it.

Xiao Chen pulled back his thoughts and turned to walk toward the Xiao Clan hall.

In the Xiao Clan hall, Xiao Zhan sat in the main seat, reviewing an account book.

Several elders sat on either side, whispering about clan affairs.

The Great Elder sat in his chair looking much better than he had two days ago; although he had been injured by Jialie Bi, he had recovered most of his strength after two days of rest.

Xiao Chen walked into the hall and approached the Great Elder.

"Grandfather," Xiao Chen said.

The Great Elder looked up at him. "Chen'er? Is something the matter?"

Xiao Chen pulled a thin booklet from his robe and handed it over.

"This is for you."

The Great Elder took the booklet and flipped it open to take a look.

His pupils constricted violently, and he stood up from his chair.

"This is... a Profound-Tier Advanced cultivation technique?" The Great Elder's voice trembled.

The other elders were stunned upon hearing this.

A Profound-Tier Advanced technique? In the entire Jia Ma Empire, such techniques could be counted on one's fingers.

The Misty Cloud Sect had been passed down for hundreds of years, yet their strongest technique was merely Profound-Tier Advanced.

Xiao Chen was a youth of fifteen or sixteen; where could he have possibly obtained a Profound-Tier Advanced technique?

"Chen'er, where did you get this technique?" The Great Elder stared at Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen did not answer.

"Chen'er, this is no laughing matter," Xiao Zhan also stood up. "You can't find more than a few Profound-Tier Advanced techniques in the entire Jia Ma Empire."

Xiao Chen looked at them and said calmly, "You don't need to worry about where I got it; just take it and cultivate."

The Great Elder was stunned, and Xiao Zhan was equally dumbfounded.

The elders looked at one another, seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

"Chen'er..." the Great Elder started, wanting to say more.

"Grandfather, I am going out for a few days," Xiao Chen interrupted the Great Elder.

"Going out? Where to?" the Great Elder asked.

Xiao Chen did not answer.

"Chen'er, it is not safe for you to go out alone," the Great Elder said.

"Rest assured, Grandfather, I will be fine," Xiao Chen said.

The Great Elder wanted to say more, but seeing Xiao Chen's firm attitude, he swallowed his words.

"Then take care of yourself," the Great Elder said.

Xiao Chen nodded and turned to walk out of the hall.

The Great Elder stood at the main seat, still holding the technique in his hand, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he watched Xiao Chen's retreating figure.

Xiao Zhan sat in his chair, silent.

The elders were buzzing with discussion.

"A Profound-Tier Advanced technique—where on earth did Xiao Chen get it?"

"I don't know; this child is becoming increasingly impossible to fathom."

The Great Elder listened to their debate without speaking.

He looked in the direction Xiao Chen had left and sighed in his heart.

Xiao Chen walked out of the Xiao Clan gates, passed through the streets of Wutan City, and arrived outside the city walls.

He glanced back at Wutan City once before withdrawing his gaze.

Xiao Chen channeled the Dou Qi within his body, and a pair of Dou Qi wings unfurled from his back.

Xiao Chen tapped his toes against the ground, his figure soaring into the sky as he flew toward the Tagor Desert.

The Tagor Desert lay in the eastern part of the Jia Ma Empire, a boundless expanse of yellow sand.

The climate there was scorching and barren, serving as the territory of the Snake-Person Tribe.

Xiao Chen had not been flying for long before he saw a golden expanse ahead.

He had arrived at the Tagor Desert.

Xiao Chen retracted his Dou Qi wings and landed on the sandy ground.

His feet crunched against the sand, emitting a soft, rustling sound.

Xiao Chen looked up at the desert before him; the wind was fierce, whipping sand into the sky, and in the distance, several rolling sand dunes were vaguely visible.

Just as he was about to open his system panel, a notification popped up before his eyes.

[Host has arrived at the Tagor Desert.]

[Copying Queen Medusa's Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline...]

[Copying successful.]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline of Queen Medusa.]

The moment the system prompt faded, Xiao Chen felt a violent transformation surging within his body.

A massive force erupted from Xiao Chen's Dantian, flowing through his meridians to every limb and bone.

His blood was boiling, his bones were burning, and his muscles were constantly expanding.

The sensation was peculiar, as if he were being reshaped from the ground up.

Xiao Chen closed his eyes, sensing the changes within.

He did not know how much time had passed before that power finally calmed down.

He opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance flickering within them.

Xiao Chen sensed the Dou Qi within his body, and the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

Seven-Star Dou Emperor; he had jumped directly from a Three-Star Dou Emperor to a Seven-Star Dou Emperor, a leap of four full star levels.

The Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline was truly formidable.

He flexed his palm, feeling the surging power within his body.

A Seven-Star Dou Emperor was already the pinnacle of existence in the Jia Ma Empire; even the Misty Cloud Sect leader, Yun Yun, was only a Three-Star Dou Emperor.

Xiao Chen smiled with satisfaction.

Just as he was preparing to leave, he heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the distance.

Xiao Chen looked up and saw a squad of Snake-People from the Snake-Person Tribe walking toward him.

Leading them was a female Snake-Person with a tall figure, wearing tight-fitting leather armor that exposed a slender waist.

There were small snake scales on the woman's face, and her vertical pupils radiated a cold, icy light.

Hua She'er, a guard of the Snake-Person Tribe and a powerhouse at the Dou King level.

Behind her followed a dozen Snake-Person warriors, each holding a weapon and eyeing him with hostility.

"Human, you have a lot of nerve," Hua She'er said, her voice cold. "The Tagor Desert is the territory of the Snake-Person Tribe. Who gave you permission to enter?"

Xiao Chen looked at Hua She'er but remained silent.

Hua She'er looked Xiao Chen up and down, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes.

This human looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, yet the aura radiating from him made even Hua She'er feel a sense of oppression.

"Which faction are you from?" Hua She'er asked.

Xiao Chen replied indifferently, "Just passing through."

"Passing through?" Hua She'er sneered. "What is there to pass through in the Tagor Desert? You are clearly here to spy on our Snake-Person Tribe."

She took a step forward, and the Dou Qi within her body began to surge.

The aura of a Dou King erupted from Hua She'er, a pressure so intense that the Snake-People behind her retreated a few steps.

With a wave of her hand, the Snake-People behind her immediately surrounded him.

Xiao Chen looked at the Snake-People and sighed.

"I don't want to fight."

"Then come with us obediently," Hua She'er said.

Xiao Chen did not speak; he stood there, motionless.

Seeing that Xiao Chen would not budge, Hua She'er felt a surge of irritation.

"Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite."

Hua She'er flashed forward, striking out with a palm toward Xiao Chen.