First Battle Against a Dou Huang

"Ah, what a bother."

Yun Zimo had more or less figured out what Medusa meant. So going a little too far wouldn't really be breaking the rules, would it?

He immediately stopped holding back. His blue-white Dou Qi swept around him, and he became a streak of wind and light. In an instant, he appeared before Yan Ci, who stood third from the left, and struck out with a no-frills whip kick!

Yan Ci was sent crashing off the platform. Before the crowd could even react, Yun Zimo flashed forward and punched Mo Basi hard enough to knock him off the platform and embed him in the floor.

"Outrageous!"

"Human, you're asking for death!"

It had all happened too fast. By the time the Snake-Person elders came to their senses, Yun Zimo had already returned to his spot. He casually shook out his hand and straightened his clothes, as though nothing had happened.

The Snake-Person elders all wanted to rush forward, but when they glanced at Medusa, they didn't dare act rashly.

Seeing this, Medusa raised a hand to stop the furious elders.

Beneath her veil, her expression remained as indifferent as ever. Her exquisite eyes were as deep as a still pool, not showing the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Your Majesty Queen Medusa, am I qualified now?"

Yun Zimo bowed once more, his handsome face wearing a smile. Mo Basi and Yan Ci, who had just climbed back to their feet, couldn't help wanting to tear him to pieces!

"You injured the elders of my Snake-Person Tribe right in front of me. You're acting as though you don't take me seriously!"

Medusa spoke slowly. Though her words were reproachful, her tone was calm, without the slightest hint of emotion.

"Ever since I entered the Snake-Person Holy City, Mo Basi has kept targeting me. Before Your Majesty had even spoken, Yan Ci insulted me. Is this how the Snake-Person Tribe treats its guests?!"

Yun Zimo showed no fear. Meeting the elders' gazes, he stared straight into Medusa's snake-like eyes and replied coldly.

"This is a matter of the Snake-Person Tribe. Even if we have breached etiquette, it's not your place, a mere human, to discipline us!"

Yin Shi, the Great Elder of the Snake-Person Tribe, grinned and spoke up. He was in charge of the tribe's laws and etiquette.

"Black Poison!"

Medusa softly called a name as she listened to the two men argue. At once, the elders' expressions tightened.

The Snake-Person Tribe's laws: the Divine Guard Etiquette!

"Black Poison, second commander of the Divine Temple Guard, requests your guidance!"

The dark-scaled Snake-Person who had stood motionless behind the throne like a statue leaped down. His muscular body was covered in many mysterious patterns, and his stern face held not a trace of a smile.

"Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Zimo. Please, enlighten me."

Yun Zimo returned the salute. It seemed they would have to fight another round.

Judging by his aura, the second commander before him was only around a Two-Star Dou Huang. Perhaps with the Snake-Person Tribe's secret techniques, he could fight a Three- or Four-Star Dou Huang.

After exchanging greetings, neither man hesitated. They collided head-on in the most brutal fashion. Yun Zimo curled his palm into a fist, and when it met Black Poison's claws, the impact rang out like metal striking metal.

Their first clash came to nothing. Black Poison licked his lips, a bloodthirsty glint shining in his triangular snake eyes.

They traded blow for blow, all flashy moves set aside as they collided with pure physical force. Fists and palms filled the air, overlapping in a vast storm of shadows.

Even the two elders who had climbed out of the ruins had to admit that Yun Zimo's strength far surpassed that of Dou Wangs like themselves!

"Let's not destroy this divine temple. How about we take this outside?"

Yun Zimo had gotten somewhat carried away in the heat of battle, but even as they fought with exhilarating abandon, he still managed to say this.

"Good!"

Black Poison agreed readily. One after the other, one blue and one black, they leaped out of the divine temple. The elders glanced at their queen as she rose, then hurried after her out of the hall.

"Wind Rises Clouds Surge!"

Once they reached the vast square outside the divine temple, Yun Zimo swiftly formed hand seals. He brought his hands together, then clapped them in midair. Gale after gale roared past, and clouds and mist spread from him, blanketing the entire Snake-Person Holy City in the blink of an eye.

"What... what's going on?"

Many residents of the Snake-Person Holy City were thrown into a panic. But when Hua She'er's voice rang out, they calmed down again.

"By the queen's order, everyone is to carry on with their duties and stay at their posts!"

The queen had given the order, so there was no need to worry. They simply had to return home and keep to themselves.

Threads of soft, moist mist settled gently against Black Poison's dark skin, bringing with them a faint chill.

Standing in the clouds and mist, Black Poison realized that even with his Dou Huang strength, he could see only a few meters ahead. Beyond that, everything was a vast expanse of white.

"Clang!"

Noticing that his reactions seemed to have slowed as well, Black Poison immediately drew a long, dark spear and held it diagonally across his chest.

At one moment, relying on the battle instincts he had honed over many years, Black Poison thrust his spear through the air and blocked Yun Zimo's sword strike.

Black Poison stood firm, wielding his spear in a flurry that stirred the wind. Clanging strikes rang out as blue Dou Qi and ink-black Dou Qi clashed and parted again and again in the white mist.

There was truth to the saying that a longer weapon had the advantage. Though Yun Zimo's swordsmanship was exquisite, the spear's natural reach kept him from getting within Black Poison's defenses. If Black Poison's vision and senses hadn't been hindered, Yun Zimo might have struggled to win with swordsmanship alone.

"Wind Sweeps Away Clouds!"

Blue Dou Qi circled around Yun Zimo, stirring the surrounding clouds and mist into a swirling mass. In the blink of an eye, the blue gale became a heaven-piercing tornado dozens of zhang tall, roaring toward Black Poison.

The clouds and mist before Black Poison were swept away, revealing the sky-darkening tornado right before him. If Medusa hadn't raised a protective barrier, the tornado might have destroyed the entire Holy City.

Black Poison's fingers flashed through hand seals as he chanted under his breath. He drew his spear across the ground, and ink-black energy surged from it with a force no weaker than the tornado's.

A wall of black water rose from the earth, stretching across the sky. The blue tornado crashed against it, neither side giving way. Waves of force and sound rolled outward, leaving even the weaker Snake Guards struggling to endure them.

Between the tornado and the wall of water, two figures clashed repeatedly in midair. The dark spear and the black-and-white sword flashed back and forth. Their Dou Qi Wings beat so rapidly that they seemed not to be moving at all.

"That kid's a freak! He's only a Dou Wang, yet he can fight our Dou Huang without falling behind. If humanity has a genius like this, and he becomes our enemy, the Snake-Person Tribe will be in grave danger..."

Yin Shi, Great Elder of the Yin Snake Tribe, stood beside the queen, leaning on his cane. Though hunched over, he spoke with a strong, steady voice. He had plainly made this pointed remark in the queen's presence because he didn't want Yun Zimo to leave the Snake-Person Holy City alive.

Medusa held her hands in front of her abdomen, her expression as calm and undisturbed as a still well. Seeing that the queen remained unmoved, Yin Shi could only retreat and stand quietly at her side.

"Great Wind Hand Seal!"

Seeing that he could gain no advantage through martial skill, Yun Zimo changed his mind. He instantly withdrew and began forming hand seals.

Three copies of Yun Zimo split off, flashing to positions around Black Poison as they formed the same mysterious seals.

In an instant, three enormous cyan palm prints, each dozens of zhang across, hurtled toward Black Poison. The powerful pressure they carried made his skin prickle with pain.

Black Poison's spear whirled rapidly, sweeping him into a dark whirlwind. In the blink of an eye, his figure disappeared.

A black Ba Serpent, more than a dozen zhang long, appeared in midair. It opened its maw and tore into the palm prints, shattering them inch by inch like ice in spring. Gusts of wind sliced between the Ba Serpent's teeth, but only sent sparks flying; they failed to do any real damage.

The giant Ba Serpent fixed Yun Zimo with a cold gaze. A glimmer of black flashed in its slitted eyes.

"Hm?"

Yun Zimo immediately sensed trouble. The air around him suddenly grew damp and viscous, and he felt as though he had sunk into a swamp, powerless to move. Blue Dou Qi swept up a cutting gale, cleaving through the water mist like an axe through wood before he finally broke free.

"Boy, do you know the greatest difference between a Dou Wang and a Dou Huang?"

Black Poison's deafening voice boomed from the Ba Serpent's mouth.

"The heavens and earth lend me their strength; that's what makes me emperor!"

Two enormous energy serpents appeared on either side of Black Poison and instantly flew toward Yun Zimo, their jaws snapping at him.

This was what gave Yun Zimo the most trouble. In essence, there wasn't much difference between a Dou Wang and a Dou Huang. The gap came down to how much Dou Qi they had accumulated and how well they could wield it.

But Dou Huangs were called emperors because they could not only summon their own Dou Qi, but also draw on the power of the world and channel the energy of heaven and earth to strengthen themselves. They could unleash Dou Techniques with greater force and manipulate the energy permeating the air to cause immense trouble from a distance.

After dodging the energy serpents' bite once more, Yun Zimo felt helpless. He formed hand seals again and unleashed a Dou Technique. Several spikes of gale force spiraled out before him, narrowly veering away from the Ba Serpents' snapping jaws.

"Cyan Gale Thousand Blades!"

With the energy serpent's jaws gaping as it lunged at him, and nowhere left to dodge, Yun Zimo swung his sword. Countless blue wind blades flew from the Judgment Sword, crossing and streaking into the serpent's maw. A series of explosions rang out. The serpent's body burst apart, and waves of blue-black energy swept across the sky, rippling through the air.

"Boy, I admit you're impressive. But from here on, I'm getting serious!"

The Ba Serpent Black Poison spoke in a deep, muffled voice, its body lashing through the air like a long whip.

"Earth-Splitting Python God Strike!"

A sea of serpentine shadows tore through space, their tails sweeping toward him like whips. Fierce gusts of wind, wrapped in dark Dou Qi, carried the power to rend mountains and split stone!

Yun Zimo floated through the air like a willow catkin, then like a tiny boat tossed by raging seas. He nimbly evaded the enormous serpent tails as they tore through space amid a storm of wind and rain.

A fierce gust slammed into him. Caught off guard, Yun Zimo suffered a shallow gash across his arm.

"Ba Python Swallows Elephant!"

The Ba Serpent's true form appeared before Yun Zimo as his body momentarily faltered. Its enormous phantom loomed over his tiny figure.

Facing the Ba Serpent's colossal head, towering like a mountain, Yun Zimo suddenly grew utterly calm. Every emotion vanished from his eyes, and the mark between his brows flashed and disappeared.

"Boom!"

The Ba Serpent phantom swallowed him whole and crashed violently onto the square. Cracks spread out from its center like a spiderweb. Amid the dense water mist and dust, Black Poison landed lightly at the edge of the square and bowed to report to Queen Medusa.

"Whoosh!"

A streak of blue light shot out of the dust. Swordlight soared into the sky, illuminating the world in every direction. The sword's cry resounded through the heavens, and a strange force bore straight toward Black Poison.

"This is... soul power?"

At last, Queen Medusa showed a trace of interest. A Dou Wang taking on a Dou Huang head-on—she thought she could see a faint reflection of her younger self in him.

"The sword follows the heart; when a thought stirs, the sword arrives..."

Yun Zimo closed his eyes slightly. The divine Xiezhi beast between his brows roared in an instant, and thirty-six sword intents formed from soul power pressed down upon Black Poison. He was overcome by the false impression that there was nowhere to dodge. Before he could summon another Ba Serpent phantom, Yun Zimo's sword had already fallen straight toward his brow.

"When did he—?!"

Black Poison had clearly only just seen Yun Zimo raise his sword. How could he possibly have crossed space and taken his head?!

Crossing through space was a "privilege" reserved for Dou Zong powerhouses!

"My apologies, Commander Black Poison."

Yun Zimo lowered his sword and held it behind his back. His blue-white battle armor scattered away like windblown gauze and drifting rain. His unbound hair, falling down his back, fluttered in the breeze. The indifference on his handsome face faded, replaced by the vigor of youth.

"Young people really are formidable..."

Black Poison sighed, then bowed once more before the queen.

"Black Poison of the Divine Temple Guard begs Your Majesty to punish me!"

The Snake-Person Tribe's laws decreed that anyone who failed the Divine Guard Etiquette had to request punishment in accordance with the tribe's rules!

Those chosen to take part in the Divine Guard Etiquette were always among the tribe's top experts. If they still lost to someone of equal or lesser strength, then the fault lay with them.

"By the queen's order, Black Poison, second commander of the Divine Temple Guard, was negligent in his cultivation. He is to receive thirty strokes and forfeit one month's pay as punishment."

Perhaps Yun Zimo was simply too strong, or perhaps Medusa had seen something of herself in him. Whatever the reason, the female attendant beside Queen Medusa announced the sentence aloud, and Black Poison's punishment wasn't too severe.

Yet Yun Zimo still sensed how strict the Snake-Person Tribe's laws were.

"Human, your name is Yun Zimo?"

There was a touch more softness in Medusa's voice. She had remembered Yun Zimo's name; his potential had earned him the right to her regard.

"Your Majesty Queen Medusa, can we talk about working together now?"

Perhaps the effects of his absolute calm hadn't completely worn off yet. Yun Zimo's voice was even colder than Medusa's.

"Heh..."

"Everyone, leave!"

Medusa gave a soft command. All the Snake-People bowed and withdrew, while she led Yun Zimo back into the divine temple.

"You're the first person who's ever dared to give me the cold shoulder."

After dismissing everyone else, Medusa's voice took on a rare touch of warmth. She even joked with Yun Zimo.

"Go on. What is so important that you need to discuss it with me alone?"

Seeing this seemingly transformed Medusa, Yun Zimo froze for a moment. He remembered a certain suspicion.

Only when her two hearts became one would Medusa be truly complete. A perfect union of humanity and the other side was what gave her the potential to return to her ancestral form.

"Your Majesty Queen Medusa, please forgive my boldness."

Yun Zimo couldn't help wanting to ask her something, but remembering the beating he had taken last time for running his mouth, he forcibly steered the conversation in another direction.

"I once read a secret account about the Snake-Person Tribe in an ancient text..."

Yun Zimo began to speak of the mystery behind Medusa's evolution. To his surprise, Medusa didn't interrupt him, though she knew the matter by heart.

"I know—the news about the Heavenly Flames!"

Only Yun Zimo's final words made Medusa, who had gradually begun to lose interest, feel that the conversation might be worthwhile.

"Oh? Heavenly Flames?"

Medusa had been reclining lazily, but now she sat upright again.

"That's right, Heavenly Flames. Two of them!"

"Interesting."

Queen Medusa was somewhat surprised. Heavenly Flames—two of them, no less—what a rare find. She had remained at the Peak Dou Huang level for more than twenty years.

She had spent all those years seeking to break through to Dou Zong and lead her people out of this accursed desert. Medusa had never stopped searching for Heavenly Flames, but just when she was nearly losing hope, they had come knocking on her door!

"An elder of our sect, the renowned Pill King Gu He, recently obtained Fire Cloud Water Flame, sixteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking. And beneath this desert, a vein of subterranean magma conceals Green Lotus Core Flame, nineteenth on the ranking!"

Yun Zimo revealed the news of the two Heavenly Flames. Medusa showed no reaction to Gu He obtaining Fire Cloud Water Flame, but the news of Green Lotus Core Flame truly caught her interest.

"Green Lotus Core Flame..."

Medusa murmured the name, a faint glimmer appearing in her beautiful eyes as she looked toward Yun Zimo.

"You didn't bring me this news out of pure kindness, did you? Tell me what you want!"

"Help me break through the Dou Huang realm!"

"What?"

"Help me break through the Dou Huang realm!"