Death!

"Hiss, hiss, hiss..."

He excitedly flicked out his forked tongue, saliva spraying from it. Clearly, he had come up with some nasty idea again.

It had to be said that because the Snake-People Tribe in the Tagor Desert had constantly clashed with the Empire, the Empire had always enforced a strict material blockade against them. Aside from their naturally chaotic nature and refusal to engage in production, a large part of why the Snake-People Tribe had acted as desert bandits over the years was due to this policy of the Empire.

So, for a Snake-People Tribe that had to rob even for clothes, it was perfectly normal for a Da Dou Shi to covet a Storage Ring. Although a low-grade Storage Ring could be bought with enough gold coins, this Snake-Person Da Dou Shi was a pauper. Even after reaching the level of Da Dou Shi, he still did not own a Storage Ring.

"That brat has a Storage Ring. I've changed my mind. Go, kill that brat and take his Storage Ring," the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi said, shaking the disgusting scales on his face.

"Yes, Captain." A group of male snake-people answered, following the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi as they surrounded him.

"Seriously, sitting at home and disaster falls from the sky. I can get targeted just for drinking some water? What the hell..." Xiao Yan said speechlessly.

"Hehe, Yan brat, I bet these paupers have their eyes on the Storage Ring in your hand," Yao Lao said.

"Who knew these paupers would even rob someone for a low-grade Storage Ring!" Xiao Yan snapped.

"Fine, then. One Da Dou Shi, three Dou Masters, and three Dou Zhes. I'll deal with them all at once. Besides, I've never fought an expert from the Snake-People Tribe before. These trash might not count as experts, but they're good enough for practice."

"Human brat, hand over the Storage Ring on your hand, and we'll grant you a quick death," the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi said, flicking out his tongue.

Well then, these idiots could not even be bothered to say a few polite words before killing him.

"Heh, a quick death?" Xiao Yan licked his lips excitedly.

"Human brat, what did you say?" the Dou Master beside the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi continued provoking him.

Eight Extremities Collapse! Xiao Yan drove an elbow in at close range. The four layers of hidden force from Eight Extremities Collapse smashed the Snake-Person Dou Master's head apart like a ripe watermelon, splattering gore everywhere.

"I said, I like quick deaths." Xiao Yan stood in the middle of the snake-people's encirclement, his expression excited.

Mountain Leaning Strike! Another close-range blow sent a Snake-Person Dou Master flying.

"Attack! All of you, attack! Kill that brat!" Having finally come back to his senses, the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi hissed with all his strength. Yet the snake-people present seemed to have been frightened by Xiao Yan's ferocity, and for a moment, no one dared step forward to fight him.

"Hahaha, what an adorable flock of lambs." Xiao Yan laughed loudly as he looked at the snake-people, who were faintly afraid of him.

"This time, I'll choose you! My little darling." Xiao Yan fixed his eyes on the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi with the highest cultivation in the field, then his figure flashed.

Earth-Tier Dou Technique: Gale Swift Sword! Xiao Yan drew Wind Chaser, swiftly unleashing a fierce Dou Technique.

"Pfft!" The Snake-Person Da Dou Shi relied on his higher cultivation to dodge quickly, but Wind Chaser still chopped off one of his arms.

"Ah! Damned human! Kuili, send out a distress signal! Request reinforcements from the elders!" the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi wailed.

Long Wind Breaking Waves! Xiao Yan stepped forward and thrust straight ahead, intending to finish off the Snake-Person Dou Master who was sending the signal.

Clang! Seeing this, the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi raised his refined steel longsword and blocked Xiao Yan's path. He desperately entangled Xiao Yan, clearly placing all his hopes of survival on the Snake-People Tribe experts who might arrive nearby.

"Hmph, little worms, so what if you call someone over? The Tagor Desert is so vast. Do you really think a Snake-People Tribe expert will happen to be nearby to save you?" Xiao Yan attacked the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi's confidence as he fought, while his hands continued to unleash an unbroken barrage of attacks.

Forced by Xiao Yan's relentless offensive into having no time to defend himself, the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi finally revealed an opening. Xiao Yan sharply seized it.

Swift Wind and Thunder! Xiao Yan spun around and struck with a level slash. Wind Chaser pierced through the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi's defenses and cut open his throat.

"Cough... cough... My tribe's experts... won't let you go..." The Snake-Person Da Dou Shi clutched his throat, squeezing out the words in broken fragments.

"Hmph! Experts? Where are these experts?" Xiao Yan sneered coldly.

"I heard someone was looking for Yue Mei?" A seductive voice suddenly sounded across the battlefield.

"Oh, that's..." Xiao Yan's pupils contracted as he abruptly turned to look into the sky.

A snake woman with azure Dou Qi Wings spread behind her and a fiery figure was smiling as she examined Xiao Yan below. Her alluring, water-snake-like waist, taut curves, flawless skin, and long green hair scattered over her snowy white shoulders all made her seem enchanting and bewitching.

The snake woman in the sky withdrew her Dou Qi Wings and descended. The diamond-shaped pupils in her fair face examined Xiao Yan with great interest.

Then the snake woman, Yue Mei, parted her red lips and said, "This enormous sandstorm caused considerable losses to my tribe. Her Majesty the Queen ordered the Eight Great Snake-People Tribes to send out experts to aid our people. I originally intended to leave it to the tribesmen below, but I eventually decided to take a walk myself. And now, I've discovered an interesting little fellow."

Yue Mei did not care in the slightest about the Snake-People Tribe members lying all over the ground. Her gaze remained fixed solely on Xiao Yan before her.

Faced with this mysterious Snake-People Tribe expert who had suddenly appeared and kept staring at him, even Xiao Yan, who had always been bold, grew extremely nervous.

Snake woman? A Dou Wang expert?

Teacher, Teacher. Xiao Yan frantically called for Yao Lao in his heart, but received no response.

Teacher, people are going to die! This is a Dou Wang! Even if you're training me, this isn't how you should do it! After wailing for a long while, Xiao Yan still received no response from Yao Lao.

Left with no choice, Xiao Yan could only brace himself and meet Yue Mei's smiling gaze.

Xiao Yan raised Wind Chaser and lopped off the head of the Snake-Person Da Dou Shi, who had not yet drawn his last breath, cleanly ending him. Then he turned toward Yue Mei and forced a smile uglier than crying onto his face. "Hehe, I said... this is actually a misunderstanding."

At this sight, the smile on Yue Mei's face only became more beautiful.

"An interesting brat."

"Brat, big sister likes you very much. Will you come back to the tribe with big sister? Big sister will warm your bed for you."

Though Yue Mei spoke sweetly, her movements were incomparably vicious. She clenched her right hand fiercely toward Xiao Yan. Instantly, a powerful snake-shaped energy stream appeared out of thin air. Its enormous mouth revealed rows of blade-like teeth that gleamed coldly, and the giant snake seemed to come alive as it savagely bit down at Xiao Yan's head.

PS: This chapter felt especially smooth to write today. What do you all think?