Snakefolk Tribe.

Li Xuanxiao observed from the shadows as several black-robed figures captured multiple snakefolk, apparently intending to refine demon pills.

One snakefolk lay weakly on the ground, voice feeble. "Does Yellow Sand City truly wish to wage war against our Snakefolk Tribe again?"

A black-robed figure snorted coldly. "What if we do? Your tribe's continued survival depends solely on our sect leader's mercy. Without it, you'd have no chance to live."

The snakefolk gritted its teeth. Suddenly, a white mist rose from the ground, allowing the snakefolk to swiftly escape.

Two black-robed figures moved to pursue, but their leader stopped them. "Let's go."

"But-"

"Why not give chase?" Hidden in the shadows, Li Xuanxiao grew curious. Letting them escape would invite trouble later. Unless... someone wanted to provoke conflict between the Snakefolk Tribe and Yellow Sand City.

With this thought, Li Xuanxiao's doppelganger swiftly pursued the departing black-robed figures.

...........

Rustling sounds echoed across the sandy terrain.

The black-robed group stopped at a mountainside, kneeling before a cave entrance.

"Mission accomplished?"

"Only six snakefolk captured today."

"Worthless!" A cold voice echoed from the cave.

"This subordinate is incompetent."

"You didn't even notice being followed."

The black-robed figures looked around in confusion.

"Come out. I see you!" the cave voice commanded again.

Li Xuanxiao remained hidden, surprised. How had they detected him? Their cultivation must be formidable. Fortunately, this was just a doppelganger.

"Still hiding?" The cave dweller snorted.

The ground tore apart as if struck by tremendous force, sending sand flying to create a dense, vision-obscuring cloud.

When the sand settled, Li Xuanxiao remained concealed.

"My lord... where is this enemy?" a black-robed figure hesitantly asked.

"Hmph. Nothing. Just testing." The cave voice sounded unhurried. "If anyone followed, this would flush them out."

The black-robed figures' lips twitched. "...My lord is wise!"

Meanwhile, Li Xuanxiao frowned. This... this technique felt so familiar~

"Enough. Begone."

After they left, Li Xuanxiao focused on the cave. His spiritual sense couldn't penetrate - some array protected it.

Proceeding cautiously, he probed the array with his spiritual sense, gradually deciphering and bypassing it.

Yet when his senses finally slipped through, the cave stood empty. Nothing remained.

...........

Endless desert stretched before him.

Moving stealthily, Li Xuanxiao retrieved a map from his storage ring. At this pace, reaching the Snakefolk Tribe's first outpost would take five or six days.

Deciding to attempt summoning his Lifebound Flying Sword again, he recognized this barren desert as ideal training ground - no witnesses to detect energy leaks unlike in cities.

Concentrating, tremendous power surged from his core, coalescing at his brow as radiant golden light.

The blinding glow illuminated the surroundings like daylight as razor-sharp sword energy erupted from him, tearing the air with hissing sounds.

His spiritual sea churned violently, spiritual energy seeming to ignite...

As the flying sword gradually emerged, controlling this power grew increasingly difficult.

...........

Figures streaked across the sky.

Their silhouettes crisscrossed amid flashes of magical treasures, like meteors briefly lighting the night.

Among the pursuers, a young snakefolk woman stood out.

Her graceful form darted through the air, yet powerful auras doggedly chased her.

Multiple flying swords surrounded her.

The snakefolk woman formed hand seals, murmuring incantations as faint cyan light enveloped her like a protective shield.

But moments later, the shield shattered under poisonous miasma.

Her expression changed, but before she could react -

White light pierced her shoulder. Had she hesitated, it would've struck her heart.

Gritting through pain, she fled.

"After her!"

The pursuers closed in when suddenly -

A golden streak erupted from the distant sands, approaching with terrifying speed.

The snakefolk woman paled, too late to evade.

Death seemed certain... until the golden light abruptly curved mid-flight, sparing her.

Her pursuers weren't so lucky.

The golden light obliterated their leader's protective treasures, piercing straight through.

"Retreat!" the remaining pursuers screamed upon witnessing this.

Though spared direct impact, the snakefolk woman still suffered grazing injuries from the golden light's residual energy.

Already battered from her escape, her last reserves spent, she plummeted from the sky.

Li Xuanxiao had realized his mistake mid-swing, desperately redirecting his flying sword to avoid killing the snakefolk woman - inadvertently saving her instead when he couldn't fully retract the strike.

Finding the unconscious snakefolk woman, he treated her injuries, confirming she'd survive.

Then he noticed the half-mirror fragment at her waist.

Attempting to examine it, he found the artifact inexplicably opaque to his senses.

This treasure clearly didn't belong to her - likely the reason for her pursuit.

...........

Xiao Qing awoke groggily.

Noticing her bandaged wounds and recalling the golden light, she realized someone had saved her.

Then her hand flew to her waist.

"It's gone!?"

Immediately suspecting her rescuer, she angrily stood up.

That fragment had cost her life-threatening risks to retrieve from the forbidden zone.