Chapter 1268: Barbecued Scorpions

The Scorpion Clan’s Third Leader watched the entire process unfold, forcing him to shift his gaze from Queen Talia. His eyes settled once more on Xu Yang, a formidable and unprecedented foe. “Who exactly are you?” he demanded. “Why are you helping the Snake-Humans fight us? As far as we know, the Scorpion Clan has no quarrel with you.”

Xu Yang’s reply was firm and resonant. He snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on the Third Leader’s lecherous expression. “The Snake-Human female warriors also had no quarrel with you. Yet you slaughtered and humiliated them, batch after batch, using their lives to satisfy your own selfish desires? This world operates on the principles of cause and effect, a cycle of karma. The atrocities you committed against the Snake-Humans have finally caught up to you, bringing about divine retribution. I am here to represent the Heavenly Dao of Yingzhou Continent and punish you, you damned wretches.”

As soon as Xu Yang finished speaking, he casually waved his hand, sending the Third Leader flying a hundred meters to impact a massive high wall. The Third Leader was embedded halfway into the wall, left to watch as his two heinous brothers were roasted alive. Xu Yang’s power was immense; the primordial fire essence he unleashed was far more than those two vile scorpions could endure. About half an hour later, a rich, savory aroma of roasted meat wafted towards Queen Talia.

Meanwhile, Xu Yang and Queen Talia had appeared in the very heart of the Scorpion Clan’s headquarters. Soon, guards from within the compound gathered, surrounding them. But what did it matter? Xu Yang’s powerful Earth Law instantly erected a massive sandstone wall, hundreds of meters high, around them, isolating all the Scorpion warriors in the central area outside. Only he, Queen Talia, and the two leaders being roasted by the flames remained within the enclosed space. “I hate being disturbed while eating,” Xu Yang remarked. “It’s much quieter now, thankfully.” Witnessing Xu Yang’s incredibly domineering yet effortless display, Queen Talia once again felt completely captivated by this powerful man. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Xu Yang once more betrayed a captivating allure.

Alone, sheltered by the wall, Xu Yang was keenly aware of Queen Talia’s feelings for him, and they had already shared a near-perfect experience. In this unique setting, the flames of desire proved irresistible. And so, Xu Yang, in his unique way, once again helped Queen Talia enhance her bloodline power. They soon became entwined. Ironically, the two Scorpion Clan leaders, who had been Queen Talia's formidable enemies, were now reduced to mere burning embers, providing the fiery backdrop for Xu Yang and Talia's intimate encounter.

These two Scorpion leaders were certainly not fit to be Xu Yang's meal. Ultimately, Xu Yang and Queen Talia regarded them as mere charcoal, until the flames completely refined them into nothingness. The two leaders of the Scorpion Clan were utterly annihilated, no longer capable of posing any threat to the Snake-Humans.

As for the unfortunate Third Leader, he had already become one with the towering city wall. This was because the cultivation technique Xu Yang used to seal him was overwhelmingly powerful. His physical body rapidly decomposed under the scorching heat, reacting with the special material of the city wall's sandstone, causing him to quickly disintegrate. The Scorpion Clan could never have imagined that within a single day, their city-state would undergo such a drastic transformation, and that their three leaders, who had led their people in battle across the Gobi, would mysteriously meet their end.

When the hundred-meter-high sand wall in the central area finally receded, Xu Yang and Talia emerged, their faces flushed, radiating vibrant energy. Their cold gazes swept over the surrounding Scorpion Clan warriors, but neither moved to strike. This reflected the principle Xu Yang had instilled in Queen Talia: To ascend to a higher plane of existence, Queen Talia needed to learn inclusivity and embrace a broad-minded perspective. Otherwise, merely unifying the Snake-Humans would mark the pinnacle of her achievements. If she could adopt a new outlook and assimilate other wild tribes with a more expansive approach, that was the true path for Queen Talia to reach greater heights.

Facing the encirclement of thousands of Scorpion Clan warriors, Queen Talia now felt an incredibly powerful surge of confidence within her. It was this very confidence that elevated her queenly aura to its peak. At this moment, even standing before a multitude, she exuded an aura of absolute command, completely stunning the Scorpion Clan warriors.

“It is with regret that I inform you that your three leaders have fallen by our hands,” she declared. “From this moment forward, the entire Gobi Desert is under my control. However, I have no desire for the Scorpion Clan to be annihilated. You, the warriors of the Scorpion Clan, have the right and the right to continue living on this Gobi. You need only abide by one condition: acknowledge me as your queen and coexist peacefully with the Snake-Humans from this day forth. Naturally, whether it is here in the Gobi or in the larger territories this Queen may open up in the future, the Snake-Humans will hold the most exalted royal bloodline status. But as subjects under my rule, you too will retain the right to cultivate your powers, and if the need arises in the future, I will lead all your warriors to forge even greater territories.”

“Long live Queen Talia! Long live! Long live!” Indeed, Talia did not disappoint Xu Yang. With her incredibly powerful aura, formidable deterrence, and undeniable charisma, she completely subjugated the Scorpion race. From that moment on, the entire Gobi region was under Queen Talia’s dominion.

What followed was, without a doubt, a complete plunder and reorganization. However, since the entire Gobi region now belonged to Queen Talia, the exact location of these resources was no longer a major concern. Previously, Queen Talia had transformed the palace at the Scorpion Clan's royal city headquarters into a tomb simply out of spite. Now that it was all Snake-Human territory, there was no need for such defiance. Therefore, Xu Yang re-transformed the tomb-like palace, completely revitalizing the entire Scorpion Clan headquarters.

That same evening, the three Snake-Human armies, having received Queen Talia's signal, along with Xu Yang’s entire team, arrived at the new city-state to rendezvous with Xu Yang and Queen Talia.

Naturally, the Snake-Human female warriors were ecstatic, while Xu Yang’s team remained remarkably calm. After all, Queen Talia’s accomplishments held no personal significance for them. Their sole concern was how Queen Talia could help them get closer to the clues regarding the Heart of the Sacred Beast. The Queen, without further hesitation, directly outlined her subsequent plans and journey to Xu Yang’s team.

“Now that we have shared hardships, we are friends, and there is no need for me to hide anything from you,” Queen Talia began. “To uncover the secret of the Sacred Beast's Heart, you must make contact with the Ten Royal Clans, for they are the loyal defenders of the Beast Emperor Clan and the guardians of this great secret. Only by meeting with the Tiger King Clan swiftly will we have an opportunity to pursue the Heart of the Sacred Beast’s secret. Having now completed my full subjugation of the Scorpion Clan, regional rules dictate that I must go to the Tiger King Clan to explain the specific circumstances. After all, the Scorpion Clan had its own allies and trade network among the eight major clans under the Tiger King. By directly eliminating all the Scorpion Clan leaders without the Tiger King's permission, I have already violated the established rules here. However, it is precisely this transgression that allows me to swiftly create a perfect opportunity for you to make contact with the Tiger King Clan.”