Battle Through the Heavens: I can solidify the talents of all things

Night falls—

Inside the west side hall, Xiao Qing sat cross-legged on a soft, thick, dark-patterned animal hide, his eyes slightly closed.

The luminous crystals inlaid in the roof emitted a soft glow, elongating Xiao Qing's slightly slender yet upright figure and casting it onto the cold stone wall carved with a coiled snake totem.

Within Xiao Qing's body, the Earth-rank, low-level "Burning Technique" was slowly circulating with a unique rhythm.

The fighting spirit of the Three-Star Fighting King flowed rapidly through his broad and resilient meridians, carrying a strong vitality and power.

The newly broken through realm requires this kind of painstaking effort to solidify it completely.

The soul power of the peak initial stage of the Spirit Realm spread quietly from Xiao Qing, like an invisible spider web, clearly reflecting back to his mind every subtle change in every inch of the side hall.

The dust floating in the air, the sand scorpions occasionally crawling in the cracks of the rocks, and even the faint, rhythmic breathing of the guards outside the hall were all clearly visible.

Deeper still, the [Devouring Law], which had evolved to the initial stage of the Heavenly Rank, reappeared.

Xiao Qing did not release the devouring power, but instead revealed a trace of black devouring intent.

Even so, the thin energy permeating the surrounding space, whether it be the scorching fire energy inherent in the desert.

It was a strange, chilling aura that seemed to seep from beneath the holy city's earth.

It was as if they were all being drawn together by an invisible force field, converging in strands.

Subsequently, this energy silently merged into Xiao Qing's entire body, being powerfully refined and absorbed, becoming a resource for him to consolidate his cultivation.

Only by being strong enough can one truly take the initiative in this complex situation, rather than relying solely on a fragile agreement.

"I wonder just how terrifying the [Devouring Law] would be when unleashed at its full power?"

Xiao Qing stopped being distracted and focused all his attention on his body, guiding the battle qi of the laws to cleanse and fill the vortex of qi in his dantian, making the battle qi of his whole body more and more solid and radiating a dazzling light.

Outside the palace, four snake-woman guards stood tall and straight, their hands gripping forged spears, the cold tips gleaming in the moonlight.

Their gazes kept drifting toward the tightly closed, heavy palace door carved with ferocious snake heads, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity, vigilance, and a hint of something indescribable...excitement.

"Captain Lisa, is that person inside really human?"

One of the guards, who looked the youngest, couldn't help but ask in a whisper, his voice filled with barely suppressed curiosity.

The captain, known as Moon Lisa, is a snake woman with an exceptionally graceful figure and a natural allure in her eyes.

She glared at her subordinate and snapped, "Silence! Have you forgotten Her Majesty's orders? Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, and don't look at what you shouldn't look at!"

Even so, Lisa's gaze couldn't help but linger on the palace gate for a moment longer.

The human boy named Xiao Qing was indeed handsome, but what was even more remarkable was his composure despite being in the heart of the alien race's territory; he was no ordinary person.

Her Majesty the Queen placed Xiao Qing next to her bedchamber, and the implications of this were too much for her personal guards to ignore.

The holy city had been peaceful for too long. This sudden change was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, and the ripples were spreading unseen.

Meanwhile, inside Queen Medusa's palace.

A magnificent purple veil hung low, blocking out outside prying eyes.

The air was filled with a rich aroma of medicine and a faint smell of blood.

Queen Medusa removed her magnificent purple robes, wearing only a thin silk undergarment, and lay on her side on a jade couch covered with a thick velvet carpet.

Queen Medusa's face was still pale from blood loss, and fine beads of cold sweat seeped from her smooth forehead.

Although the wound in her abdomen pierced by the Annihilation Finger had healed, the excruciating pain that felt as if her soul had been torn apart, the humiliation of having her power forcibly stripped away and her life and death in the hands of others, gnawed at Queen Medusa's heart like a venomous snake.

Her slender, jade-like fingers gripped the blanket beneath her tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. A complex and unfathomable emotion churned within her captivating pale purple eyes.

While filled with anger, he also felt a deep concern for the future of his people.

Ten years of service!

Collect medicinal herbs!

Help her evolve!

The conditions proposed by that young man were etched into Queen Medusa's mind like a brand.

Reason told her that this might be the only way out for the Snake-People race at present, an opportunity to break the shackles of bloodline with the help of external forces and give birth to a Dou Zong powerhouse.

But emotionally, her pride as a queen made it difficult for her to accept this coercion that was almost a "treaty of surrender".

"Xiao Qing".

Queen Medusa's red lips moved slightly as she silently uttered the name, her pearly teeth gently biting her lower lip.

Queen Medusa recalled the earth-shattering Earth-rank combat technique, the three completely different yet gentle strange flames surrounding her, and the unfathomable soul power that even she felt her heart tremble.

Who exactly is this human?

What was Xiao Qing's purpose in demanding the medicinal herbs?

Is there an even more terrifying force behind Xiao Qing?

Was the "high-level Dou Zong" who pierced through the earth's crust really his teacher, as Xiao Qing said?

Countless questions swirled in her mind, making her restless.

But in any case, the injury must be healed as soon as possible.

Queen Medusa took out a deep blue pill that emitted a refreshing coolness, put it in her mouth, then closed her eyes and guided the little remaining battle qi in her body to slowly repair her damaged meridians and internal organs.

A faint purple aura of battle qi enveloped her graceful body, like a giant cocoon of light, rising and falling within the silent palace.

That night, inside and outside the holy city, the two, one in the light and one in the dark, were racing against time.

As the first rays of dawn broke through the desert darkness like a golden sword, bringing warmth back to the land, Xiao Qing opened his eyes precisely on time.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, like a shooting star in the dark night, before returning to the deep, still gaze of a deep well.

A night of cultivation not only solidified Xiao Qing's three-star Dou Wang realm, but also made his control over the newly added power more refined and perfect, and restored his spirit to its fullest state.

Xiao Qing got up and stretched his muscles a little. He immediately heard a faint crackling sound from his body, like the gentle vibration of a bowstring, which was a sign of abundant power.

Almost at the same time that Xiao Qing finished his cultivation, the sound of Hua She'er walking deliberately heavy came from outside the palace gate, along with her voice, which still carried a complex meaning:

"Mr. Xiao, are you awake? Her Majesty the Queen requests your presence."

Xiao Qing straightened his perfectly wrinkle-free clothes and calmly pushed open the palace door.

The morning sunlight was a bit dazzling, and Xiao Qing squinted slightly. He saw Hua She'er standing respectfully outside the door with two guards, but the way they looked at him was more indescribably probing than the night before.

"Alright, lead the way."

Xiao Qing nodded and said, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

As Xiao Qing walked through the palace corridors once more, he noticed an increase in the secretive gazes directed at him, and even the whispers, though kept extremely low, could not escape his notice.

Xiao Qing seemed oblivious, and simply followed Hua She'er to Queen Medusa's palace once again.

Unlike the tranquility of last night, the palace gates are wide open today, and the interior appears bright and solemn.

Queen Medusa was already seated on the serpent-headed throne that symbolized supreme power.

She changed into a new purple brocade robe, still as luxurious as ever, which perfectly accentuated her breathtaking curves.

After adjusting her breathing and using makeup to conceal her pale complexion, she regained some of her former coldness and majesty. However, upon closer inspection, a trace of fatigue and weakness remained in her eyes that was difficult to completely hide.

Those pale purple eyes were calmly watching Xiao Qing walk in through the door, their gaze sharp, as if they wanted to see right through Xiao Qing.

"It seems you got some rest."