Mo Ba Si

Elder Yin Shi nodded. The other party was a Dou Emperor expert second only to Her Majesty the Queen; it would be best not to provoke him.

Besides, he had heard that the Drunken Sword Immortal, Lin Che, was free-spirited by nature and enjoyed making close friends across the land. If the Snake People Clan could befriend an expert who might break through to the Dou Zong realm in the future, it would bring nothing but benefits to the clan's future.

He accepted the list of medicinal herbs Lin Che handed over, then arranged for the Snake People Clan experts behind him to search for them.

Over a thousand years of accumulation, the Snake People Clan had acquired countless incomparably precious medicinal herbs and magical beast cores. Most of them had come from treasures obtained by the Medusa Queens throughout the generations.

However, since the Snake People Clan had no use for them, they had remained stored away in the great treasury, gradually left unattended over time.

No one knew how long had passed when seven pairs of Dou Qi Wings in different colors suddenly flew across the sky. The instant they appeared here, a vast surge of energy erupted outward.

At their head was a seductive-looking woman. Her long hair lay against her snow-white fragrant shoulders, and her exquisite face was no less beautiful than Ya Fei of the Mite'er Family.

She was Yue Mei, one of the Snake People Clan's Eight Great Leaders.

A genuine Dou Wang expert.

Beside Yue Mei stood a burly man gripping two blades, his face brimming with ferocity.

He was Mo Ba Si, leader of the Mo Ba Snake Clan.

The remaining Snake People Clan leaders were Yan Ci, Kui Xing, Nan She Hua, Snake King, and Hei Du.

Yue Mei's gaze settled on Lin Che. A trace of surprise flickered in her pale violet eyes. "A Dou Emperor expert?"

"Human expert, this is sacred ground of the Snake People Clan. What are you doing here?" Mo Ba Si lightly flapped the energy wings behind him, sweeping Lin Che with a cold gaze as he sneered.

"You are the chief of the Mo Ba Snake Clan, Mo Ba Si, correct? I've heard of you." With one hand behind his back, Lin Che glanced at the Snake People Clan's Eight Great Leaders and replied indifferently.

Mo Ba Si tightened his grip on his two long blades. Just as he was about to make a move, Yue Mei at his side blocked his path.

Yue Mei spoke in a soft, bewitching voice, "Your Excellency is a dignified Dou Emperor expert, yet you barged into our Snake People Clan settlement so openly. Isn't that rather arrogant?"

Elder Yin Shi struck the ground with his cane and rebuked them, "Lord Lin Che is Her Majesty the Queen's friend. Are you threatening him because you intend to provoke a war between the Snake People Clan and the Jia Ma Empire?"

As a wise man, he knew Lin Che's strength all too well. Lin Che had slaughtered the Chu Yun Empire's three Dou Emperor experts all by himself. His strength was enough to shake every expert of the same realm. Offending him would be far from a wise decision.

The other Snake People Clan leaders exchanged looks. The First Elder's words still carried considerable authority, so they withdrew their wings and landed steadily on the ground.

"First Elder, are you saying this fellow is Her Majesty the Queen's friend?" Mo Ba Si was clearly unconvinced. "Since when did Her Majesty the Queen become friends with a Dou Emperor from the Jia Ma Empire?"

Elder Yin Shi shook his head. "I do not know either. But Her Majesty the Queen did indeed return with him. She has gone to meet the four elders and instructed us to wait here."

Hearing this, Mo Ba Si frowned deeply and stared at Lin Che before him. He had not expected this fellow to have some connection to Her Majesty the Queen, and a bitter feeling immediately rose in his heart.

His love for Her Majesty the Queen was beyond words. Now that this fellow had some connection to her, he naturally found it difficult to accept.

He stepped forward, and surging Dou Qi spread in all directions.

Lin Che narrowed his eyes. "What, do you want to make a move?"

"I have heard that Your Excellency is a Dou Emperor expert of the Jia Ma Empire. Would you be interested in exchanging pointers with me?!"

"Not interested." Lin Che took a sip of wine and said flatly, "Forget it. You are too weak."

"How ridiculous. I would like to see what is so extraordinary about the Jia Ma Empire's new Dou Emperor expert."

Mo Ba Si's lips twitched. He shot toward Lin Che like a cannonball, clenching his fist as the powerful muscles in his arm writhed. The two black giant python tattoos seemed to come alive, releasing a towering murderous aura.

Lin Che raised the sword sheath at his waist. As he stepped forward, his right hand turned, and a peculiar wave of energy came whistling forth.

Though this wave of energy was inferior to Sword Qi, it was not far behind.

Boom!

Mo Ba Si had no time to control his body. The instant the wave of energy struck him, he spun several times through the air before crashing heavily to the ground.

"If you dare act so presumptuously again, I would not mind making your Mo Ba Snake Clan choose a new chief."

Mo Ba Si spat blood, lying on the ground and trembling. A single casual strike had left him seriously injured.

"Damn human... this is the Snake People Clan..."

Pfft!

He spat out another mouthful of crimson blood.

Mo Ba Si felt as if his internal organs had all suffered severe damage. He lay flat on the ground, unable to move in the slightest.

Yue Mei and the others looked at one another. Was this the true strength of the Jia Ma Empire's Drunken Sword Immortal?

Though Mo Ba Si was only in the Dou Wang realm, his strength was second only to Dou Emperor experts. Yet today, he had been defeated so utterly.

"All of you, stop!"

At that moment, the Medusa Queen, now dressed in a clean set of robes, suddenly appeared.

The Snake People Clan's Eight Great Leaders were overjoyed. Ignoring Mo Ba Si's condition, they immediately cupped their hands and bowed. "Greetings, Your Majesty."

Medusa turned her head, her delicate brows slightly furrowed as she looked at Mo Ba Si lying on the ground. She rebuked, "Mo Ba Si, you are becoming more and more unruly. He is a guest of our Snake People Clan. How dare you provoke him so casually?"

Mo Ba Si wore a miserable expression, his heart full of grievances he could not voice.

The Medusa Queen shifted her gaze to Lin Che. "And you were too harsh. After that strike, he will probably have to spend half a month in bed."

"If not for your sake, Mo Ba Si would already be dead. Your Majesty, you should understand the price of provoking a Dou Emperor." Lin Che shook the wine gourd in his hand.

The Medusa Queen did not continue speaking.

Mo Ba Si had indeed gone too far. Knowing full well that Dou Emperor experts were proud and arrogant, he had still challenged Lin Che so disrespectfully. The fact that he was alive was already fortunate.

Elder Yin Shi respectfully asked, "Your Majesty, what did the elders say?"

"The clan's affairs have all been arranged. Next, This Queen must leave the Tagor Desert for a time. The Snake People Clan will be relying on all of you."

As soon as those words fell, the Snake People Clan experts erupted in an uproar.

Yue Mei hurriedly bowed and asked in confusion, "Your Majesty, where are you going?"

The Medusa Queen answered in an even tone, "This Queen must go to the Jia Ma Empire... to break through to the Dou Zong realm."