Opening Up Space

The next day, the morning light began to peek through.

The gate to the small courtyard of the Xiao Clan was gently knocked upon.

Yao Chen, who was in the middle of instructing Xiao Yan in the cultivation of a Dou Technique while simultaneously keeping a distracted eye on Xiao Yixian as she attempted to nurture a medicinal herb with her newly acquired poison fire, felt his soul perception stir slightly, a trace of surprise appearing on his face.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian also looked toward the courtyard gate in confusion; who could it be at such an early hour?

The figure of Lin Hai appeared silently in the courtyard, as if he had long since expected this. He spoke indifferently: "Come in."

The courtyard gate was pushed open.

A figure, enchanting to the extreme yet equally cold to the extreme, slowly stepped into the courtyard.

She wore a purple dress that outlined breathtaking curves, her face possessing an alluring beauty that could make a hundred flowers lose their luster.

However, what was most striking was not her beauty, but that innate queenly aura—cold, noble, disdainful—and the complex emotions hidden deep within her light purple eyes: struggle, humiliation, helplessness, and a faint, lingering hope for the future.

It was none other than Queen Medusa!

Her appearance seemed to cause the very air in the courtyard to freeze.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian instantly felt a tremendous sense of oppression, subconsciously taking half a step back as the Dou Qi within their bodies began to circulate autonomously in resistance.

Even the soul form of Yao Chen became slightly solemn; he could sense the formidable power and the cold, resolute determination contained within this Snake-Person Tribe queen.

Medusa's gaze swept over the soul form of Yao Chen and the two youths, finally settling on the green-robed man standing with his hands behind his back, his expression calm.

She took a deep breath, as if having made a certain decision, and walked step by step toward Lin Hai.

Under the gaze of all present, this incredibly arrogant queen, whose fierce reputation had spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire, slowly and with extreme difficulty, knelt down on her coiled tail, lowering the head that had never bowed to anyone before.

Her long purple hair fell, obscuring half her face, but it could not hide the slight tremor in her voice.

"Medusa... is willing to lead the Snake-Person Tribe to submit to Your Excellency."

"I beg Your Excellency... to fulfill your promise."

These two short sentences seemed to drain her of all her strength, carrying endless humiliation, yet also a hint of relief.

For the future of her tribe, for the hope of breaking through to the Dou Zong realm and beyond, she had cast aside all her pride.

The small courtyard fell into a dead silence.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian were dumbfounded, simply unable to believe the scene unfolding before their eyes!

This was the notoriously fierce Queen Medusa! She had actually... actually knelt in submission to their uncle?!

What on earth did their uncle do when he went out yesterday?!

Yao Chen's pupils also constricted, his heart filled with inexplicable shock.

This gentleman not only possessed heaven-defying resources, but his methods were also unfathomable—he had actually managed to subdue Queen Medusa herself!

Lin Hai looked at Medusa kneeling before him, his expression remaining indifferent, without the slightest hint of surprise.

He spoke calmly: "Rise. Since you have made your choice, I will naturally not treat you or your tribesmen poorly."

Medusa slowly stood up and raised her head once more, her eyes having already returned to their icy state, though deep within that coldness, there was now a trace of complex emotion that was difficult to detect.

"Where are your tribesmen gathering?" Lin Hai asked.

"Outside the Holy City, thirty thousand elites are already prepared to set out, and the remaining elderly, women, and children are also ready for migration," Medusa replied with high efficiency.

"Very good." Lin Hai nodded. "Lead the way to the Magical Beast Mountain Range."

Without offering any further explanation, his figure floated into the air first.

Medusa followed immediately.

Seeing this, Yao Chen said to Xiao Yan and Xiao Yixian: "You two stay in the courtyard and cultivate diligently." After saying this, his soul form also drifted upward, following them; he was truly curious as to how this gentleman intended to settle the entire Snake-Person Tribe.

Lin Hai, Medusa, and Yao Chen (in soul form) transformed into streaks of light, quickly arriving at the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Under the powerful divine sense scan of Lin Hai, he soon found a very remote valley, surrounded by mountains on all sides with a massive basin in the center.

The environment here was secluded, the energy was reasonably abundant, and it was far away from human cities.

Lin Hai hovered directly above the valley basin, looking down at the area spanning several dozen miles below.

Medusa and Yao Chen watched him quietly, not knowing what he intended to do.

They saw Lin Hai slowly raise his hands, aiming them at the massive valley basin below, and make a grasping motion in the void.

Rumble—!!!

A terrifying power, indescribable and seemingly originating from the very essence of the world, descended abruptly!

The space across the entire mountain range began to twist and vibrate violently!

The valley basin below seemed to turn into a piece of dough being kneaded by an invisible giant hand!

The earth let out a groan under the unbearable pressure, and the surrounding mountain peaks shook violently, as if they could collapse at any moment!

In the horrified and stunned eyes of Medusa and Yao Chen, they witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives!

The spatial structure of the massive valley basin below was being forcibly altered, expanded, and reinforced!

It was as if an invisible, unimaginably massive spatial bubble was being forcibly embedded and fused into that basin!

The scene inside the basin became blurred and distorted, as if viewed through a layer of rippling water, while the space within expanded and pioneered outward and downward at a speed that defied all reason!

The landscape was effortlessly reshaped by an invisible force; rivers were diverted, and the ground was compacted and reinforced...

This process lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

When those terrifying spatial fluctuations and the mighty power of heaven and earth gradually subsided, the scene below had completely changed!

The valley basin, which had originally spanned only a few dozen miles, seemed little changed from the outside, but the spatial fluctuations emanating from within were now more than ten times as profound!

It was as if the entrance led to another vast world entirely!

Lin Hai slowly lowered his hand, his expression remaining calm, as if he had merely straightened his robes.

He looked at Medusa and Yao Chen, who were completely petrified beside him, their very souls trembling, and spoke indifferently:

"The space has been opened."

"Inside, there are natural water sources, woodlands, and fertile soil for cultivation. The area is sufficient for your tribe to live and multiply, and the concentration of energy far exceeds that of the outside world."

"I have placed a restriction at the entrance; without your permission, outsiders will find it difficult to detect, let alone enter."

Medusa stared blankly at the valley entrance below, which radiated strange spatial fluctuations, then suddenly turned to look at Lin Hai. Her bewitching vertical pupils were filled with incomparable shock, fear, and an indescribable fanaticism!

To open a small world with a mere wave of his hand?!

What god-like means were these?!

The trace of unwillingness and humiliation she had harbored in her heart vanished completely at this moment, replaced by absolute awe and submission!

To be able to follow such an existence might be the greatest fortune the Snake-Person Tribe had ever known!

Yao Chen's soul body shivered so violently it nearly dissipated; he finally had a vague yet terrifying realization of this Excellency's strength—this was no ordinary Spirit Saint!

He might even be... that legendary Peak Spirit Saint!

"Go," Lin Hai said to Medusa, "and relocate your people inside. From now on, this shall be the new holy city of the Snake-Person Tribe. Once you are settled, I will assist you in breaking through to the Dou Zong realm."

Medusa took a deep breath, suppressing the raging waves in her heart, and bowed to Lin Hai once more, deeply and with sincere conviction: "Medusa, on behalf of all the Snake-People, thanks Master for this grace!"

This time, there was no humiliation in her voice, only immense respect and excitement.

She transformed into a streak of purple light and flew rapidly toward the direction where the Snake-Person Tribe was gathered; she had to tell her people this monumental good news immediately!

Yao Chen watched Medusa's retreating back, then looked at the opened spatial entrance below, and finally at the unfathomable Lin Hai beside him, letting out a long, long sigh.

"Your Excellency's ability is truly... a theft of the very creation of heaven and earth."