Meeting the Queen

"Hmm?"

Zhu Kun, who had nearly fallen into despair, suddenly heard Jiang Xing's change in tone and abruptly raised his head.

"Could it be...?"

Jiang Xing did not beat around the bush with Zhu Kun and said directly, "Uncle Zhu Kun, the strongest experts of the Three Great Dragon Islands are only Three-Star Dou Saints, while my grandfather is a Six-Star Dou Saint. I can ask my grandfather to help East Dragon Island unify the Ancient Void Dragon clan and make Zi Yan the Dragon Emperor of the Ancient Void Dragon clan."

"Really?"

Hearing that Jiang Xing could help the Ancient Void Dragon clan unite, Zhu Kun asked in delight.

As for making Zi Yan the new Dragon Emperor, Zhu Kun was not displeased in the slightest that Zi Yan would take his position as Dragon Emperor. On the contrary, he was quite pleased.

"Of course. I've always treated Zi Yan as my own little sister, so naturally I'll help her unify the Dragon Islands and become the Dragon Emperor."

Jiang Xing did not forget to earn some goodwill in Zi Yan's heart at this moment.

Zhu Kun said, "Good! As long as you can help the Ancient Void Dragon clan unite, you can ask me for anything in the future!"

"Uncle Zhu Kun, I do have two matters I'd like to ask of you."

Zhu Kun waved his large hand and said readily, "You've helped your uncle so much. Just say whatever it is."

"I have a fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Jade, and I'd like you to help keep it safe for me."

"Huh? Since you have a fragment of the Tuoshe Ancient Jade, why not give it to the Soul Clan so they can gather all eight ancient jade fragments?"

At that moment, Zhu Kun suddenly felt that his brain was not quite keeping up.

"Uncle, I obtained this Tuoshe Ancient Jade fragment by killing someone. That person's beloved has an extremely powerful faction behind her. My strength is still insufficient, and I don't dare keep this ancient jade fragment on me. I'm afraid his beloved will find out, so I want to leave it with you for safekeeping."

"But if the ancient jade is kept with me, won't the Soul Clan be unable to gather all eight ancient jade fragments?"

Then Zhu Kun came to his senses, and his previously amiable expression vanished instantly.

"You brat, you don't want me to get out?"

"No, no, Uncle Zhu Kun, don't misunderstand. I just feel that it isn't safe to keep the ancient jade fragment on me. I want to leave it here temporarily. Once I have sufficient strength, I'll naturally come take the ancient jade and deliver it to the Soul Clan."

Jiang Xing did not want to lose Zhu Kun as a powerful helper, so he hurriedly explained.

Hearing Jiang Xing's explanation, Zhu Kun's expression finally eased somewhat, but he still asked, "Then when will you take this ancient jade and give it to the Soul Clan?"

"Fifteen years. Within fifteen years, I will definitely take the ancient jade fragment and give it to the Soul Clan, helping you get out."

Jiang Xing had originally wanted to say twenty years, because twenty years should be enough for him to cultivate to the High-Level Dou Saint realm. By then, he should be able to open the cave mansion.

But seeing Zhu Kun like this, Jiang Xing thought he might find twenty years too long, so he directly said fifteen years instead.

However, Jiang Xing was clearly overthinking it. Magical beasts were different from humans. Humans might consider twenty years a long time.

But magical beasts possessed long lifespans. To them, twenty years might only be the time it took to sleep a few times.

Sure enough, Zhu Kun agreed without hesitation.

"Fine. Then I'll keep it for you for fifteen years. I hope you'll keep your promise as well."

"Don't worry, Uncle Zhu Kun. I, Jiang Xing, am a man who keeps his promises."

After saying that, Jiang Xing tossed the Tuoshe Ancient Jade fragment in his hand to Zhu Kun, who caught it steadily.

"And the second matter?"

"When the Soul Clan opens the cave mansion, I hope Uncle Zhu Kun can help me."

"That won't be a problem!"

Jiang Xing had helped him so much that Zhu Kun readily agreed.

"Since that's the case, we'll take our leave first."

With the matter settled, Jiang Xing naturally did not want to stay with Zhu Kun any longer. He took Zi Yan by the hand and left.

After leaving the magma with Zi Yan, he had Lin Shan take them away from Jia Nan Academy and back to the Snake-People Tribe.

After returning to the Snake-People Tribe, Jiang Xing sent Zi Yan and Lin Shan away before returning to his room to cultivate.

Inside the cultivation chamber, Jiang Xing took out the Fire Pearls he had obtained beneath the magma.

He had acquired these Fire Pearls back when he was still a Dou Emperor. He had originally intended to refine them and break through to the Dou Venerate realm, but unexpectedly, he had stumbled into the Gate of Life and Death.

The wind-attributed Dou Qi within the Gate of Life and Death had been dense enough already, leaving no need for these Fire Pearls.

Now that he had already broken through to the Dou Venerate realm, he wondered how much these Fire Pearls could still improve his cultivation.

Jiang Xing swallowed a Dou Zong-level one. As soon as the pearl entered his stomach, that familiar scorching sensation flowed down his throat and into his body. Soon afterward, his skin gradually began to redden.

Five minutes later, Jiang Xing finally refined all the fire-attributed energy within the pearl.

The effect was quite good. Refining a Dou Emperor-level Fire Pearl was equivalent to an hour of cultivation for him.

He still had over a hundred Dou Emperor-level Fire Pearls, nearly a hundred Dou Zong-level Fire Pearls, more than ten Dou Venerate-level Fire Pearls, and one Half-Saint-level Fire Pearl.

As for Fire Pearls below the Dou Emperor level, they no longer had much effect on Jiang Xing's cultivation, so he simply ignored them.

Jiang Xing planned to give those low-level Fire Pearls to Zi Yan for refining. Zi Yan's true form was an Ancient Void Dragon, so she should be able to refine these Fire Pearls as well.

With these Fire Pearls, even without absorbing Heavenly Flames, they would still be enough for him to cultivate to the Nine-Star Dou Venerate realm.

Seeing that it was still early, Jiang Xing continued taking Fire Pearls and refining them.

Why was he checking the time?

Of course, it was because he had something to do tonight. Jiang Xing had not forgotten his date with Medusa, the Queen!

Cultivation was certainly important, but he could not miss his date with the Queen either.

After refining twenty Dou Emperor-level Fire Pearls, Jiang Xing finally broke through from a Two-Star Dou Venerate to a Three-Star Dou Venerate.

Jiang Xing was not surprised. After all, he had already reached the peak of the Two-Star Dou Venerate realm while in the Gate of Life and Death.

Breaking through after absorbing twenty Dou Emperor-level Fire Pearls was well within his expectations.

After reaching Three-Star Dou Venerate, Jiang Xing stopped cultivating.

It was already getting late. Time to keep his appointment!

It would not do to keep the Queen waiting too long.

He left his residence and headed toward Medusa's residence.

Jiang Xing did not deliberately hurry. Instead, he strolled along at an unhurried pace.

"Young Master, where are you going?"

At that moment, a clear voice came from behind him.

Jiang Xing turned around and saw Qing Lin. He greeted her, "Qing Lin, why are you still up so late?"

"No, I couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk. Young Master, can't you sleep either?"

"That's right. I can't sleep either, so I came out to see the Queen."

Jiang Xing was not lying. He really could not sleep.

Since he had insomnia, he would go talk things over with the Queen. If they were honest with each other, he should be able to fall asleep.

Qing Lin asked in confusion, "You're looking for Queen Medusa? Isn't Queen Medusa asleep?"

Jiang Xing rubbed Qing Lin's head without answering her question.

Children should not know too much.

"Then enjoy your walk. I'll be going now."

Humming a little tune, Jiang Xing made his way to Medusa's residence with light steps.

He knocked on the door.

Knock, knock, knock!

Thanks to Prodigal Romantic for 2 recommendation votes.

Thanks to reader 20210301106582630634 for 2 recommendation votes.

Thanks to reader 20220331130353488 for 1 recommendation vote.