Woe Poison Body's First Display of Might and the Shadow of the Snake-People Tribe's Sacred Hall

Magical Beast Mountain Range, Nameless Valley, Night.

As the final trace of daylight was swallowed by the towering peaks of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the nameless valley plunged into an ink-like darkness. The night was thick, as if saturated with indelible ink, tightly wrapping the entire valley in its embrace. Cold mountain winds whistled through like blades, bringing not only a bone-chilling frost but also the low, eerie roars of distant magical beasts—warnings from the abyss that sent shivers racing down one's spine.

In the center of the valley floor, a bonfire crackled merrily. The orange-red flames danced like nimble spirits, casting flickering, distorted shadows across the weary yet tense faces gathered around it. This was the temporary campsite for the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion's herb-gathering team and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's escort squad, who had hunkered down here in hopes of finding a moment of peace within these treacherous mountains.

Xiao Yan leaned quietly against a cold rock, eyes closed as if resting, though his consciousness had long since submerged into the mysterious world within his body. Under the guidance of Yao Lao's gentle and wise voice, he carefully operated the Burning Mantra. Like a master alchemist, he meticulously attempted to refine the faint, almost imperceptible trace of fire-attribute energy he had absorbed during the day. Though the energy was as weak as a firefly, it held infinite possibilities. Yao Lao's voice echoed leisurely in his mind: "Not bad. Although this thread of energy is extremely weak, the Burning Mantra truly possesses the ability to refine foreign energies. As long as you persevere and accumulate it bit by bit, you will surely see results. However, the energy here is chaotic and impure, like a muddy pool; one must be extremely cautious, or you may find yourself in danger."

Not far away, Xiao Yi Xian sat alone on a rock far from the fire. She hugged her knees tightly, her small figure appearing exceptionally thin and lonely against the backdrop of the massive mountain shadows, like a delicate flower wilting in a gale. The firelight danced across her beautiful yet pale profile, her long eyelashes lowered like two exquisite little fans, concealing the unspeakable fear and faint, hidden resolve deep within her eyes, as if she were silently making a difficult and firm decision in her heart.

Manager Yao and several herb-gatherers sat huddled around the fire, whispering in low voices, each face etched with lingering fear. Recalling the day's encounter, their hearts still trembled. Earlier, they had stumbled upon a few rare Tier 2 medicinal herbs—Ice Crystal Grass—in a hidden mountain stream. The crystal-clear herbs had shimmered with a mesmerizing glow under the sun, like a precious gift from nature. However, they never expected that guarding these Ice Crystal Grasses was an Ice Crocodile with strength nearing the peak of Tier 2. The beast was massive, radiating a bone-chilling cold, and when it opened its blood-red maw, its sharp teeth looked capable of shredding anything. Had it not been for the captain of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group—the three-star Dou Shi Ka Gang—risking severe injury to lure the Ice Crocodile away, they would have long since perished beneath its fangs. The consequences were too horrific to contemplate. At this moment, Ka Gang lay quietly in a makeshift tent, while the mercenary group's resident apothecary carefully tended to his wounds; a faint scent of herbs permeated the tent.

He Meng, the vice-captain of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, was a man with a hideous scar across his face and eyes like a venomous snake. As a seven-star Dou Practitioner, he exuded an unsettling, ferocious aura. At this moment, he gulped down a mouthful of strong liquor; the spicy liquid rolled down his throat, churning his stomach. His gaze swept across the camp like a greedy wolf, finally locking onto the quiet, almost transparent figure of Xiao Yi Xian in the corner. A lewd light flashed in his eyes, as if he intended to devour her whole.

"Damn it, bad luck! Almost lost my life for a few blades of grass," He Meng cursed as he stood up, his boots thumping heavily against the ground as he swayed toward Xiao Yi Xian. With every step, the stench of alcohol grew more pungent, and his crude words sprayed out like foul sewage: "Little beauty, why sit here all alone? Come keep me company and have a drink to warm yourself up?"

The vulgar words and the nauseating, heavy scent of alcohol rushed toward her like a surging tide. Xiao Yi Xian's body shuddered violently, and like a startled rabbit, she shrank back in terror. Her clear eyes were instantly filled with disgust and fear, as if she were looking at the most terrifying thing in the world. Her voice trembled as she cried out, "You... you stay away!"

"Hehe, why so shy? Out here in the wilderness, let me show you some affection..." A lewd grin hung on He Meng's face, twisted like a demon's, making one's skin crawl. He reached out a hand as rough as tree bark, grabbing directly toward Xiao Yi Xian's slender arm with an irresistible, barbaric force.

"Stop!"

At that critical moment, a sharp shout rang out like a thunderclap! Xiao Yan's figure flashed out from behind the rock like an agile leopard, instantly blocking Xiao Yi Xian's path. His eyes were as cold as winter blades, locked onto He Meng, his voice frigid and firm: "She told you to stay away!"

He Meng was momentarily stunned by Xiao Yan's sharp, sword-like aura, as if a snarling hound had suddenly been throttled. But soon, shame turned into rage, and he roared hideously, "You brat, who do you think you are? Daring to meddle in my business? If our mercenary group hadn't risked our lives to protect you today, you bunch of trash would have already become food for the magical beasts! Get lost!"

In his eyes, Xiao Yan was just a kid with only seven or eight stages of Dou Zhi Qi (Xiao Yan had intentionally hidden part of his strength) and was not worth mentioning. He didn't take Xiao Yan seriously at all, raising his hand to shove hard at Xiao Yan's chest. Dou Qi surged within him like an undercurrent, carrying a sharp force as if to knock Xiao Yan flat in an instant.

Xiao Yan's eyes turned icy, like the sharpest blades of winter, radiating a bone-piercing chill. The Dou Qi within his body began to circulate like a nimble dragon, and he was just about to strike and teach this reckless fool a lesson.

"Don't!"

Just then, a sharp, tearful scream erupted from behind him, like the mournful cry of an owl, piercing the tense atmosphere.

Xiao Yi Xian stood up abruptly, her movements hurried and frantic. Unbeknownst to anyone, her slender, pale fingers were clutching a few unremarkable, grayish-white withered leaves she had gathered earlier. The leaves looked ordinary, yet they emitted an indescribable aura—cold, dead, and seemingly containing an endless power of destruction, like a dormant volcano suddenly erupting.

Fear! Extreme fear gripped He Meng's heart like an invisible hand, leaving him unable to breathe. His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, as if he had been hit by a binding spell. His pupils contracted as if he had seen the most terrifying ghost in the world; it was a primal fear of absolute death that made his very blood seem to congeal.

"Sss-sss-sss!"

Xiao Yi Xian flicked her fingers gently, and the withered leaves seemed to come to life, transforming into several grayish-white streaks of light, almost invisible to the naked eye, shooting toward He Meng's outstretched arm like lightning!

There was no earth-shattering sound, no overwhelming momentum; everything happened silently, yet it was filled with a hair-raising, terrifying power.

The moment He Meng's arm touched those strange grayish-white streaks, it began a gruesome transformation, as if a wax figure had been dropped into a vat of strong acid. His tough leather armor, which could normally withstand sword strikes, became as fragile as paper, rapidly corroding and dissolving. His knotted muscles, symbols of his strength, crumbled and collapsed like melting snow in spring under the influence of this incomprehensible power. Even his white bones, which should have been the hardest part of the human body, were not spared, turning into gray powder at a visible rate and scattering into the night wind.

"Ah—!! My arm! My arm!!" He Meng let out a shriek so shrill it didn't sound human, a wail from the depths of hell filled with endless pain and despair. He stumbled backward, every step feeling like treading on blades, watching in horror as his arm, now reduced to a stump, continued to vanish upward. The excruciating pain surged like a tide, and the bone-deep terror brought him to the brink of collapse, as if he were trapped in an inescapable nightmare.

This bizarre and horrific scene exploded in the camp like a heavy bomb, plunging the entire area into a deathly silence. The air seemed to freeze; not even a breeze stirred, leaving only the gray powder drifting in the dim firelight and He Meng's inhuman screams echoing through the valley.

Everyone stared in shock at the gruesome sight. The drifting gray powder and He Meng's bloody, vanishing arm were like scenes from a nightmare, sending a chill from their soles to their scalps, making their blood run cold. Manager Yao and the herb-gatherers were pale as ghosts, their teeth chattering and their bodies trembling uncontrollably. The other Wolf Head mercenaries acted as if facing a great enemy, drawing their weapons and glaring in terror at the slender girl standing there trembling, as if looking at a peerless demon in human skin that might open its maw to devour them at any moment.

Xiao Yi Xian's face was paler than the cold moonlight, her petite body swaying as if a light breeze could topple her. Her clear eyes were filled with tears of pain, despair, and helplessness, which rolled down her cheeks like broken pearls. She looked at her own trembling hands as if they were not her own, but the claws of a demon, her heart filled with fear and confusion regarding her own power.

"Mon... monster! She's a monster! Kill her! Quickly, kill her!" He Meng's wails broke the suffocating silence. He pointed at Xiao Yi Xian, shrieking hysterically, his voice filled with hatred and fear, as if he wanted to vent all his pain upon her.

Though the Wolf Head mercenaries were terrified by the bizarre and horrific scene, the sight of their vice-captain being crippled ignited their ferocity like gunpowder. Several mercenaries exchanged glances, their eyes burning with malice. In an instant, their Dou Qi erupted like a bursting dam, and they brandished their weapons, charging toward the isolated and helpless Xiao Yi Xian like a pack of wolves. In their minds, this "monster" radiating such a strange aura had to be torn to pieces to quell their fear and anger.

"Who dares touch her!"

At this critical, perilous moment, Xiao Yan's roar exploded like thunder, shaking the valley. His figure cut through the night like lightning, instantly blocking Xiao Yi Xian's path. His eyes burned with a rage that could set the world aflame. He no longer hid his nine-stage Dou Zhi Qi strength; pale yellow Dou Qi covered his fists like a sturdy suit of armor, radiating a sharp aura.

"Mountain-Splitting Palm!"

Xiao Yan shouted, his fist whistling through the air with the force of a thousand jun, carrying an unstoppable, majestic momentum as he slammed it into the mercenary at the front. That mercenary was only a five-star Dou Practitioner and was as fragile as a paper doll against Xiao Yan's enraged strike. With a loud "bang," the mercenary screamed, blood spraying from his mouth as he was sent flying like a broken kite, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to rise again.

However, the attacks of the other mercenaries were already descending like a storm. The flashing blades and swords, carrying a chilling murderous intent, formed a net of death that threatened to engulf Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian.

At this critical, life-or-death moment!

"Hmph! A bunch of ants, daring to make such noise!"

A cold, elderly snort, filled with supreme majesty, rang out like a thunderbolt from the heavens. It carried an unquestionable dominance that exploded deep within the soul of every mercenary. The voice seemed to come from another mysterious world, bearing an endless pressure that made every mercenary feel as if they had fallen into an ice cellar, their blood freezing in their veins.

"Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!"

Following this, a series of dull thuds echoed, like the hammer of fate striking.

All the mercenaries who had charged at Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian like wolves, along with the still-screaming He Meng, were instantly struck in the chest by an invisible, immensely powerful force. They all spat out mouthfuls of blood, which traced shocking arcs through the night sky. Their faces turned paper-white, as if all life had been drained from them, their eyes filled with boundless fear and shock, as if they had witnessed the most terrifying sight in existence.

They felt their souls frozen by frost and torn apart by sharp blades. An supreme pressure, originating from a higher level of existence, weighed down on them like a massive mountain, leaving them unable to move even a finger. Their knees buckled, and a series of "thuds" echoed as they all fell to their knees, their bodies trembling uncontrollably like leaves in the wind.

It was Yao Lao who had acted! A single snort containing soul pressure had been like a sharp bolt of lightning, piercing the night, stunning the entire field, and making everyone's heart tremble.

The valley fell into a deathly silence once more, as if time itself had frozen. Only the bonfire continued to burn reluctantly, crackling as if recounting the heart-stopping events that had just transpired. The heavy, fearful breathing of the mercenaries echoed in the silent valley, sounding particularly jarring. Manager Yao and the others had long since collapsed to the ground, their strength drained, looking at Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian with awe and terror, as if watching two demons who had emerged from a catastrophe.

Xiao Yan was also shaken by Yao Lao's sudden, domineering pressure, his heart churning with turbulent waves. But he quickly regained his composure, suppressing the turmoil within, and grabbed the cold, small hand of the trembling, hollow-eyed Xiao Yi Xian. Her hand was as cold as ice, stirring a wave of pity in Xiao Yan's heart.

"Let's go!" Xiao Yan whispered, his voice filled with resolve. Without hesitation, he pulled her along, turning and dashing into the ink-like darkness of the forest outside the valley like a black bolt of lightning, vanishing without a trace.

Behind them, only a scene of chaos remained. The terrified mercenaries were still slumped on the ground, as if under a binding spell; the air was still thick with the lingering gray powder, a testament to the horrific scene; and the heavy scent of blood, like the breath of a demon, refused to dissipate. The terrifying pressure contained in Yao Lao's snort was branded deep into the souls of every survivor, unforgettable for the rest of their lives. The seemingly ordinary youth and the strange girl beside him had become their inescapable nightmare, haunting their minds like ghosts.

Deep within the Tagor Desert, on the outskirts of the Snake-People Tribe's Holy City.

The night was like thick ink, slowly spilling over the vast, boundless Tagor Desert. As night fell, the temperature in the desert plummeted, and the cold moonlight, like a layer of thin frost, fell gently yet ruthlessly upon the endless sea of sand. The fine grains of sand reflected a cold and lonely radiance under the moonlight, as if the earth were recounting its endless vicissitudes.

The silhouette of an ancient city, unimaginably vast, loomed in the hazy moonlight like a prehistoric beast dormant in the depths of the sand sea, radiating a mysterious and dangerous aura. Towering snake-shaped stone carvings coiled along the city walls, each in a different posture—some raising their heads to flick their tongues, others coiled and winding. Each was carved with such lifelike detail that it seemed they might awaken from their slumber at any moment, exuding a primitive and majestic aura that made one's hair stand on end.

The entire city was shrouded in a pale purple barrier, invisible to the naked eye yet radiating powerful energy fluctuations. Like a massive, transparent bowl inverted over the desert, the barrier held the city firmly within its protective embrace. Pale purple light rippled across its surface, seemingly imbued with endless mystery and power.

Xiao Zhan's figure, ghost-like and silent, crouched in the shadow of a massive sand dune several miles from the Holy City. His aura was retracted to the absolute limit, as if he had merged with the surrounding sand and stone; even the faint sound of his breathing had vanished without a trace. His gaze was heavy as iron, fixed intently upon the magnificent and dangerous city in the distance, his eyes revealing a flicker of vigilance and contemplation.

[Warning! Large-scale energy barrier detected ahead (Snake-People Tribe Holy City protective barrier). Strength: Capable of withstanding a full-force attack from a peak Dou Emperor. Forcing a breach will trigger a violent alarm and a counter-attack from the barrier!]

[Warning! Dense, high-energy reactions detected within the barrier range! Dou King level aura: four (located in the western towers). Dou Emperor level aura: one (located in the central temple), extremely dangerous! Host is advised to proceed with caution!]

The system's warnings were like cold tides, constantly refreshing in Xiao Zhan's mind. Each word struck his heart like a heavy hammer.

"Four Dou King elders, and Queen Medusa sitting in the center..." Xiao Zhan's brows locked together, his already stern face appearing even more grave. He knew well that forcing his way into this Holy City was an act of suicide. Even as a Dou Zong powerhouse, being surrounded by a group of experts on their home turf would surely lead to a grim fate; it was like walking into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, making it nearly impossible to escape unscathed.

His gaze, like a sharp beam of light, settled steadily upon the slow-moving, dreamlike pale purple energy on the barrier's surface. He channeled his soul power, which acted like the most precise and agile probe, carefully extending toward the barrier as if touching a mysterious and dangerous treasure, attempting to perceive the subtle patterns of the energy flow.

"Hum..."

In an instant, a faint yet clear energy fluctuation fed back to him. The fluctuations were as complex as billions of tangled energy threads, intricate and difficult to unravel. Attempting to force an analysis would not only be time-consuming and exhausting—like searching for a specific pearl in the vast ocean—but would also easily trigger the hidden alarms and invite unnecessary trouble.

Suddenly!

Xiao Zhan's eyes narrowed instantly, flashing with the sharpness of two keen daggers. Relying on his acute perception, like a hunter catching a glimmer of light in the dark, he precisely pinpointed a relatively remote section of the city wall in the northwest corner of the barrier. There, the energy flow exhibited a trace of extremely subtle, almost imperceptible "lag." It felt as if a rushing river had a hidden, inconspicuous backflow vortex beneath its bed.

Is it a barrier node? Or a weak point in the energy caused by years of neglect? Thoughts raced through Xiao Zhan's mind like lightning, each one filled with exploration of the unknown and vigilance against danger. Without hesitation, he focused all his soul power, like a spotlight, locking onto that small area for a deep scan, attempting to uncover the secret hidden behind the energy.

[Scanning...]

[Weak spatial energy residue detected... Suspected that an entity proficient in spatial power (at least Dou Zong level) briefly penetrated the barrier recently, causing local energy rule disturbances and forming an imperceptible, temporary "fissure." Fissure status: Unstable, slowly self-repairing. Estimated time to full repair: 12 hours.]

Spatial power? A Dou Zong? A storm surged within Xiao Zhan's heart, causing it to tremble violently.

Besides himself, another Dou Zong powerhouse had recently infiltrated this mysterious and dangerous Snake-People Holy City? What was this expert's goal? Was it the high and mighty, unfathomable Queen Medusa? Or the legendary Green Lotus Core Flame, said to contain endless power? Or perhaps some other unknown secret? A series of questions bubbled up in his mind.

This sudden, unexpected discovery struck Xiao Zhan's heart like a heavy hammer, causing his strings of vigilance to tighten instantly as alarm bells rang deep within him. The situation before him was far more complex than he had anticipated, like a tangled mess of thread where every strand could hide a fatal crisis. However, as the saying goes, "crisis and opportunity coexist"; this complex situation had unexpectedly provided him with a once-in-a-lifetime chance—the mysterious "fissure" left behind by the unknown Dou Zong.

Yet, the risks accompanying this opportunity were chillingly immense! If the fissure were to close while he was passing through, or if he were detected by the Snake-People experts guarding the barrier, he would instantly fall into a desperate situation, exposed to the siege of four Dou Kings and a peak Dou Emperor. He would be like a lamb falling into a pack of wolves, with no power to fight back.

"System, calculate the success rate and optimal path for infiltrating through this fissure immediately," Xiao Zhan commanded internally, his eyes revealing an unquestionable resolve.

[Calculating...]

[Success rate: 67.8% (This data is based on the current stability of the fissure and a comprehensive assessment of the host's spatial control ability). Optimal path has been precisely planned. The host must complete the spatial traversal within 0.3 seconds at a specific angle and speed to ensure success...]

67.8%! This number was like a glimmer of dawn in the darkness. Exceeding a fifty-percent chance meant he was not without a fighting chance.

A look of determination flashed in Xiao Zhan's eyes, as if he had made a final, desperate resolve. As the saying goes, "wealth is sought in danger." For the Heaven-tier Dou Technique he dreamed of, and for his subsequent grand plan of "many children, many blessings," even if a mountain of blades and a sea of fire lay ahead, it was worth a gamble!

He no longer hesitated, his body sliding silently down the sand dune like a light feather. Using the shadows of the undulating dunes as cover, he moved like the most seasoned desert predator, stealthily creeping toward the deadly yet promising "fissure" in the northwest corner of the barrier. Every step was cautious, as if walking on thin ice, for fear of making the slightest sound.

The closer he got to the barrier, the more intense the invisible pressure became, weighing on his heart like a giant boulder and making it hard to breathe. The air was filled with the cold, chilling aura unique to the Snake-People Tribe, along with the low humming of the barrier's energy, as if whispering of unknown dangers. Xiao Zhan pushed his Dou Zong-level soul power to the limit, sensing everything around him. With every step, he precisely avoided soft patches of sand that might leave tracks, while perfectly blending his own energy fluctuations with the environment to avoid leaving any flaws.

Less than a hundred meters from the target point!

Xiao Zhan could clearly see the Snake-People warriors patrolling the walls, their long spears in hand. Their shadows, stretched long by the moonlight, seemed like a harbinger of death. He could even hear the hissing sounds of their conversation in the Snake-People language, like vipers flicking their tongues, sending shivers down his spine. He remained as still as stone behind a weathered boulder, his heartbeat seemingly suspended, holding his breath as he waited for the perfect moment, like a hunter waiting for the prey to enter the trap.

A patrol squad marched with rhythmic yet somewhat lazy steps, having just passed slowly over the target area. The sound of their footsteps in the silent night was like a tolling bell, yet it vanished into nothingness in an instant.

Now! This fleeting opportunity, like a lamp suddenly lit in the darkness, was precisely captured by Xiao Zhan.

A brilliant light erupted in Xiao Zhan's eyes, like two flashes of lightning across the night sky, dazzling and sharp. Without hesitation, he unleashed his Flowing Cloud Steps with full force. In an instant, his body seemed to be enveloped by a mysterious power, transforming into a blurred afterimage that nearly merged with the moonlight. His speed surpassed the limits of visual perception, like a meteor streaking across the sky, leaving only a fleeting trail as he shot toward the subtle energy lag point on the barrier that only soul perception could "see."

At the same time, his hands moved like agile butterflies, rapidly forming an obscure and complex hand seal. Every bend of his fingers, every touch of his fingertips, seemed to contain the profound truths of heaven and earth. The Dou Qi within his body surged like a bursting dam, circulating according to the path provided by the system, instantly rousing the surrounding spatial power. That spatial power, like a sleeping giant beast, was awakened by Xiao Zhan's Dou Qi, beginning to surge and churn around him.

"Sshhh—!"

A faint, almost inaudible sound rang out, like fabric being gently torn, yet it carried a chilling sharpness. Though small, it sounded like the opening of a gate of fate, signaling the start of a heart-stopping adventure.

The moment Xiao Zhan's body touched the barrier, the tough pale purple energy rippled like a pond disturbed by a pebble. The ripples spread gently, as if the barrier were making a final resistance. However, relying on his powerful strength and precise control, Xiao Zhan transformed into a distorted ray of light, "squeezing" into the barrier at an angle that defied physics. Like a nimble fish passing through a fine net, he vanished on the other side of the barrier.

The entire process was as swift as a spark in the night, completed in less than 0.3 seconds! The speed was so fast that one could barely blink, as if time itself had frozen in that moment.

When Xiao Zhan's figure appeared silently like a ghost in the shadows of the wall inside the barrier, the clothes on his back were already soaked through with cold sweat, clinging to his skin and bringing a bone-chilling cold. In that fleeting instant just now, he had truly and clearly felt the violent spatial turbulence and the barrier's energy rushing past him like a surging tide. The power was so immense that it felt as if it could tear everything apart in an instant; one slight mistake would have resulted in being smashed to pieces, beyond any hope of salvation!

"Hoo..." Xiao Zhan let out a long breath, which formed a faint white mist in the silent air. He struggled to suppress his churning blood and calm his wildly beating heart. Immediately after, he retracted his aura to the absolute limit, becoming like a lifeless stone, merging perfectly with the surrounding environment.

He slowly looked up. The true Snake-People Holy City, like a prehistoric beast crouching before him, revealed itself in all its ancient, eerie, and powerful glory. Narrow streets wound and twisted like the complex blood vessels of a giant beast; strange, snake-shaped buildings stood in rows like the scales on the beast's body, radiating a mysterious and sinister light. The air was filled with an even denser, cold aura and a faint, fishy scent that made one shudder.

In the distance, at the center of the city, a massive, pyramid-shaped temple rose into the clouds, radiating a majestic and mysterious light under the caress of the moonlight. That light seemed like an invisible summons, yet also a dangerous warning. There lay the residence of Queen Medusa, and the place where the legendary Green Lotus Core Flame was most likely to be found—like a brilliant yet dangerous pearl, attracting countless people to flock toward it, while causing many others to shrink back in fear.

Xiao Zhan's gaze became incredibly sharp, like two keen daggers flashing with cold light in the darkness. Infiltration was only the first step, like crossing the first steep mountain peak; the true journey, filled with challenges and dangers, lay ahead. Like a leopard merging into the shadows, he moved with light and agile steps, creeping silently toward the temple. Every step was cautious, for fear of making the slightest sound.

However, what he did not know was that less than half an hour after his successful infiltration, an elite Snake-People guard unit led by the Dou King elder Yue Mei appeared like ghosts in the northwest corner where the barrier had shown abnormal fluctuations. Their eyes were sharp, their steps rhythmic, as they conducted a tight and meticulous search, not letting any possible clue slip by, like a pack of keen-scented hounds searching for a hidden prey.

At the same time, deep within the temple, a pair of cold, majestic purple eyes, seemingly containing endless authority and allure, slowly opened. Those eyes were like deep, frigid pools, radiating a chilling aura. They slowly looked toward the northwest, a flicker of doubt flashing within them as if pondering something. Then, that doubt was instantly replaced by cold killing intent, like the biting wind of midwinter, making one's blood run cold...