Li Xuanxiao repeated his words once more.

Only then did Di Nü Feng react, closing her eyes before reopening them.

"I can't sense anything."

This fell within Li Xuanxiao's expectations - the Snake God's shrine wouldn't be found so easily.

Back when Mount Shushan had attempted to locate the Snakefolk Tribe's shrine, their efforts had been equally fruitless.

At this moment, Xiao Qing stood up confidently.

"Leave this to me!"

"Aside from the Snake God himself, I'm probably the only one in the entire tribe who knows the shrine's moving patterns!"

Li Xuanxiao fixed his gaze on Xiao Qing.

Her upper body was wrapped only in a translucent gauze that shimmered under the blazing sun, creating a distorted halo of light.

Through the semi-transparent fabric, one could vaguely make out the serpentine tattoo winding across her chest.

Below her waist flowed a green serpent's tail.

Xiao Qing had been planning this for a long time.

Perhaps ever since witnessing her parents' murder by her uncle.

When she presented the evidence to the tribe's law-keeping priests, she was told the Snakefolk Tribe operated on survival of the fittest.

Thus was born the audacious plan in Xiao Qing's heart.

Over countless days and nights, she meticulously observed the shrine's every movement.

Each relocation was carefully recorded, with no detail overlooked.

Gradually, she discerned patterns in the shrine's movements amidst its complex variations.

Discovering order in billions of possible movements was no simple feat.

Finally, she seized her chance - escaping with a fragment of the Burial Dust Reincarnation Mirror.

The Snake God would never have dreamed that after generations of tribal history,

a mere girl would steal a shard of the sacred mirror for such an absurd reason.

".............."

Half a month later.

Dusk saw the setting sun swallowed by shifting sands.

Desert storms began whipping across the dunes.

Three snakefolk walked through the desert.

Xiao Qing led the way, pausing intermittently.

She held a compass, frequently glancing skyward.

Di Nü Feng busied herself admiring her new tail accessory - a beautiful crimson serpent's tail.

As evening fell, Xiao Qing suddenly halted.

"Here. This is the spot." Her eyes gleamed brightly.

"Di Nü Feng," Li Xuanxiao called.

The woman ignored him, swaying her red tail playfully.

Li Xuanxiao tapped her shoulder.

Di Nü Feng turned with a cheerful expression (^▽^)

"Hurry up, stop playing around!"

Taking a deep breath, Di Nü Feng focused her spiritual sense on the location.

After a moment, she announced:

"Still nothing."

"Not there - here!"

Xiao Qing stamped her foot emphatically.

Di Nü Feng scoffed, "Little girl, do you really think this distance would escape my perception?"

Xiao Qing shook her head solemnly.

"Don't underestimate the shrine!! This exact spot faces the entrance. Any detectable energy would concentrate here - you wouldn't sense it elsewhere."

"Do you even understand what Tribulation Transcension means?" Di Nü Feng arched a perfect eyebrow.

"I may not understand Tribulation Transcension, but I understand the shrine."

The words left Xiao Qing's mouth before she remembered the overwhelming pressure Di Nü Feng had exuded during their first meeting.

Di Nü Feng gnashed her silver teeth. "Fine! If I don't detect anything, I'll eat you!!"

Xiao Qing cowered behind Li Xuanxiao. "And if you do?"

"Then I'll eat the entire desert!" Di Nü Feng declared.

Now uncertain, Xiao Qing hesitated.

But Di Nü Feng gave her no chance to reconsider.

Positioning herself where Xiao Qing had stood, Di Nü Feng concentrated, condensing her spiritual awareness.

Like a beam of light, her consciousness pierced through the sand, probing the depths below.

The luminous probe traveled through darkness, delving deeper into the desert's bowels.

One moment passed... then another...

Di Nü Feng remained silent.

Li Xuanxiao studied her, confirming his suspicion within half a second.

Xiao Qing, unfamiliar with Di Nü Feng's mannerisms, trembled with fear of being devoured.

Expressionless, Di Nü Feng stepped aside and crouched, suddenly appearing very busy with nothing.

(・ε・)

"So this is it. How do we enter?"

Li Xuanxiao ignored Di Nü Feng's earlier vow.

Xiao Qing exhaled in relief, explaining:

"I only know the shrine's entrance moves here tonight. Once we leave, we can't return."

Li Xuanxiao nodded. "Finding it is what matters."

The shrine must have special concealment arrays that even Di Nü Feng couldn't penetrate.

Only from this precise location could its presence be detected.

Without Xiao Qing's guidance, they might have searched the endless desert forever.

"Can Di Nü Feng break through here?"

"Of course I can," Di Nü Feng said nonchalantly.

But unleashing her full power would inevitably alert Yellow Sand City's Tribulation Transcension expert.

Moreover, they'd be trespassing in another's domain.

The Snake God's apparent cultivation was Fusion Transcension.

Yet according to Xiao Qing's account of tribal legends,

this was the ancient Snake God who once ruled Zhongzhou's western territories.

Through repeated moltings with the Burial Dust Reincarnation Mirror,

he sought ascension to Great Ascension realm.

Thus even at Fusion Transcension, his power remained unfathomable.

With home territory advantage,

he could rival a Tribulation Transcension cultivator.

In other words, if conflict erupted,

Di Nü Feng would face at least two peak Tribulation Transcension opponents,

plus unknown numbers of Fusion Transcension snakefolk.

Meanwhile, Li Xuanxiao needed to infiltrate the shrine during the chaos.

Di Nü Feng alone wouldn't suffice - she'd need support from her Heavenly Fiend Hall forces.

Li Xuanxiao glanced at Di Nü Feng.

Noticing his gaze, she gave him a guilty look.

Then her voice echoed in his mind:

"I'm not eating sand! Whose side are you on? You didn't even back me up!"

Li Xuanxiao smiled.

Di Nü Feng's stare grew more reproachful.

After a pause, Li Xuanxiao said, "Di Nü Feng, I need reinforcements from the Heavenly Fiend Hall."

"Oh."

Her response was curt.

"I've already signaled Zhang Tianxin. They can mobilize anytime."

At this, Di Nü Feng cracked her knuckles eagerly.

"That lightning-wielding bastard was too arrogant last time. No mistakes this round!"

"This could get dangerous. Prioritize survival if things turn dire," Li Xuanxiao cautioned.

Di Nü Feng nodded, crushing a communication talisman in her hand.

"........."

Numerous flying ships patrolling the western deserts abruptly changed course.