Chapter 1267: Great Battle of the Three Leaders

She clearly understood that Xu Yang would give her everything he intended, but he would not comply with requests that went beyond the limits he set for himself, even if she made them. Therefore, it was best to maintain their relationship in a delicate balance, which would be a comfortable experience for both.

Once the new mausoleum palace materialized, the three leaders stood proudly on its outer high walls. From their vantage point, they clearly saw Xu Yang and Queen Talia standing outside the palace gate.

“Hahaha, eldest brother, third brother, look who’s over there?”

The three Scorpion Clan leaders simultaneously cast their gazes below the wall, their eyes locking onto Queen Talia’s beautiful silhouette. However, among the three brothers, only the lecherous third one was truly captivated by her beauty. For the eldest and second brothers, Queen Talia represented the perfect leverage to control the entire Serpent People Clan.

“It’s truly incomprehensible how audacious this crazy woman is,” one exclaimed. “To willingly deliver herself right to our doorstep… we certainly can’t be blamed for what happens next.”

The three leaders reacted as if they had discovered an unparalleled treasure, completely forgetting the recent disgrace of their palace transforming into a mausoleum. They all focused their attention on Queen Talia and, without hesitation, descended, landing directly in front of Xu Yang and her.

“Hehehe, I must truly be dreaming,” one leader chuckled. “The high and mighty Queen of the Serpent People Clan actually has the audacity to march to our Scorpion Clan headquarters to meet her death? Don’t blame us then; you’re the one determined to jeopardize the future of your entire people. As long as we capture you, this puppet, the Serpent People Clan will crumble into disarray and never threaten us again. Even if all the warriors in the four fortresses are wiped out, as long as we seize you, our Scorpion Clan will still become the new kings of the Gobi!”

Queen Talia couldn't help but let out a snicker as she listened to the Scorpion leader prattle on. Her laughter, combined with her exquisite face, seemed filled with sarcasm and mockery.

“What are you laughing at, you old hag?” one snarled. “I’ve never seen anyone so happy when death is staring them in the face.”

Queen Talia completely ignored the three figures before her. She knew that with Xu Yang by her side, not only these three wretches but even the most powerful beasts of the entire wilderness, gathered together, could not harm her.

“I’m wondering if tonight’s Scorpion feast should be stewed or boiled?” she mused. “What do you think, Brother A-Yang? Whatever you like, Talia will like too.”

Hearing Talia’s suggestive voice, Xu Yang instinctively shivered. “Honestly, I don’t particularly like eating scorpion meat,” he replied. “Whether it’s poisonous is secondary; even the strongest venom can’t harm me. But that repulsive, fishy smell they carry is truly off-putting.”

The three leaders were enraged. Knowing little about Xu Yang, they attacked decisively and without hesitation. “What are you, some nobody?” one roared. “How dare you act so recklessly in our Scorpion Clan headquarters! Die!”

As soon as the eldest leader finished speaking, two black war hammers instantly materialized in his palms. Beside him, the second leader held a sword in his left hand and a shield in his right. The lecherous third brother, however, did not attack immediately but stared intently at Queen Talia’s body. The eldest and second brothers were incredibly swift. After locking onto Xu Yang’s aura, they immediately launched a combined assault.

Their powerful offensive aura would have required careful handling from anyone else. The oppressive force generated when these two brothers simultaneously targeted an opponent was equivalent to the power unleashed by a dozen Sand Ghouls. In Xu Yang’s team, apart from Xiao Hua, no one could withstand the combined attack of these two leaders. But for Xu Yang, such power was merely a tickle.

Xu Yang merely sneered, his left hand behind his back, as he slowly raised his right palm. A powerful spatial confinement force instantly erupted. The silent, pervasive deterrence from the space immediately spread outwards.

The two Scorpion leaders were utterly stunned; they had never imagined such a powerful individual would appear beside Queen Talia. His aura and his bone-chilling gaze—every action Xu Yang displayed brought immense deterrence to the two Scorpion leaders before him.

Their attack failed; the brothers couldn't even breach the weakest protective barrier around Xu Yang. Instinctively, they tried to retreat and regroup, only to find their movements completely immobilized by Xu Yang’s power.

“What do you two wretches take me for? Someone you can just come and go as you please?”

Xu Yang sneered again, gently activating a powerful Earth Law beneath his feet, which once again produced unparalleled effects. This time, however, the Earth Law’s irresistible devouring force was firmly locked onto the two brothers. In the next instant, the bodies of the two strongest Scorpion Clan leaders involuntarily compressed inward. Simultaneously, an endless amount of yellow sand from the ground began to furiously envelop their bodies. In no time, the two figures were completely coated in a thick layer of yellow sand, like tightly wrapped sticky rice dumplings. Then, Xu Yang used his immensely powerful cultivation technique to fully bind the sand to their bodies. Without his released mental energy, these two leaders would be unable to break free from this force, even after thousands of years.

“In the Central Region, there’s a delicacy called ‘Beggar’s Chicken,’ have you heard of it?” Xu Yang asked. “It involves cleaning a chicken, wrapping it in special clay, then roasting it over a fierce fire for several hours. When the outer layer of clay is peeled away, the meat inside is incredibly tender and delicious. You’ve lived in this Gobi for so many years; you probably haven’t tasted this delicacy, have you? Today, I’ll open your eyes and let you experience the culinary temptations from the Central Region.”

Talia wasn't a woman overly fond of food, but hearing Xu Yang’s description, she was genuinely intrigued. What’s more, today’s delicacy was none other than her long-standing archenemy.

Xu Yang was a man of his word. With a gentle wave of his hand, a colossal furnace materialized out of thin air before everyone. Then, Xu Yang began to draw upon the fire attribute power within him, furiously roasting the huge cocoon wrapped in sand, beginning to "preheat" the two Scorpion Clan leaders.