Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate, Mobilizing Troops

Chu Yun Empire, Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate.

Inside the gloomy main hall, the atmosphere was as heavy as storm clouds before a downpour.

Xie Shan sat high in the seat of honor, his fingers unconsciously tapping against the metal armrest.

A dull "thud, thud" echoed through the hall. Several elders with powerful auras sat below, all of them Dou Emperors.

"Has all the information been confirmed?"

Xie Shan's voice broke the silence.

An emaciated elder replied gravely, "Gate Master, multiple sources have verified that a shocking burst of energy did occur deep within the Tagor Desert, followed by the spread of Dou Zong pressure.

The Snake People Holy City has been under strict guard lately and has expelled all outside spies.

All signs indicate that Medusa may truly have succeeded."

"Dou Zong..."

Another hot-tempered elder slammed his hand against his chair's armrest and roared, "If that demoness stabilizes her realm, how could she possibly spare us?

Back then, the Four Great Empires joined forces to encircle and exterminate the Snake People Clan. That blood feud was forged long ago! We must kill her before her foundation is secure!"

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in the hall voiced their agreement. Worry and ruthlessness appeared on their faces.

If the Snake People Clan produced a Dou Zong, it would inevitably shatter the balance of power in the surrounding region.

The first to suffer would be forces like theirs, whose hands had been stained with Snake People blood.

Xie Shan frowned deeply and raised a hand to suppress the commotion. "Kill her? Easier said than done. Even if she has only just entered the Dou Zong realm, she is not someone we Dou Emperors can contend with.

Although I am at the Dou Huang Peak, the gap between a Dou Emperor and a Dou Zong is like that between clouds and mud."

His gaze swept over the crowd before settling on the emaciated elder. "What do you think we should do?"

The emaciated elder pondered for a moment. "At present, the only way to ensure success is to invite the Supreme Elder out of seclusion. It's just..."

Before he could finish, an ancient voice carrying immense power suddenly rang through the hall like a ghost, taking over his words:

"Just what?"

Space rippled faintly, and a hunched figure in a gray robe appeared in the center of the hall without warning.

With his hands clasped behind his back, the aura surrounding him made every Dou Emperor present feel their breathing falter.

"Supreme Elder!" Everyone, including Xie Shan, immediately rose and bowed respectfully.

The pillar of the Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate, Xie Biyan, at the Three-star Dou Ancestor Peak!

Xie Biyan's cloudy yet sharp gaze swept over Xie Shan. "I sensed part of the matter from my place of seclusion.

Medusa... she truly has courage and fortune."

Xie Shan hurried forward and laid out all his concerns. "Supreme Elder, Medusa's Breakthrough Dou Ancestor is a grave threat to our Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate.

Should we join forces with the Misty Cloud Sect of the Jia Ma Empire, Mulan Valley, and other factions to send troops together?

Only then can we wipe out the Snake People Clan with thunderous force while sharing the risks."

Though the Four Great Empires occasionally fought over territory, the three human empires still shared a common understanding when it came to exterminating the Snake People Clan.

"Share the risks?" Xie Biyan sneered and shook his head. "You considered the risks, yet forgot the opportunity."

"For Medusa to evolve successfully, her bloodline must have undergone an astonishing transformation. She is certainly no ordinary Dou Zong.

And what she required for that evolution must have been a heavenly treasure such as a Heavenly Flame! If we can capture her..."

"Join forces with others? When the time comes, who gets Medusa? And who gets the Heavenly Flame? Yun Shan can be ignored, but those three old fools from Mulan Valley and Luo Yantian are not people who can be casually dealt with."

"Especially that Luo Yantian. He is lecherous by nature and has long had designs on Medusa! If he had not feared that the snipe and clam would fight while the fisherman profited, he would have captured Medusa long ago."

Xie Biyan commanded, "Pass down my order. Gather all combat strength in the Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate at the Dou Wang realm and above!

At the same time, in my name, order the major and minor factions of the Chu Yun Empire, such as Wu Tian Mansion and the Du Du Sect.

They must send at least half of their Dou Wangs and Dou Emperors with us! Those who disobey will be treated as traitors to the sect!"

"Supreme Elder..." One elder seemed to think this was too risky and hesitated to speak.

Xie Biyan cast him a cold glance. "What could possibly go wrong?

Even if Medusa was fortunate enough to break through, she would only be a newly advanced Dou Zong. How could she be a match for me, a Three-star Dou Ancestor Peak?

If I had not feared that the other two would reap the benefits back then, I would have personally killed her long ago. Why would we have today's trouble?"

"Besides... the secret arts of poison control and beast taming of our Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate are not useful only against scorpions.

Medusa's true form after evolving must be extraordinary. If we can use our secret art to control her.

Then our Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate will possess a Dou Zong combatant with limitless potential! Even the Heavenly Flame that aided her evolution will become mine!"

His words stirred everyone in the hall, and their earlier worries were replaced by greed.

A controlled Dou Zong combatant and a Heavenly Flame of heaven and earth were enough to make the Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate's strength soar. They could then lead the Chu Yun Empire into becoming a first-rate power on the Northwest Continent.

It would not be impossible for them to rival Sky Snake Mansion!

Hearing this, Xie Shan no longer hesitated and bowed. "I understand! I will make the arrangements at once. The Snake People Clan will be wiped out, down to the last dog and chicken!"

Xie Biyan nodded in satisfaction.

Jia Ma Empire, deep within the Imperial Palace.

"Elder Jia, there have been abnormal energy fluctuations in the direction of the Tagor Desert. Medusa is suspected to have already achieved a Breakthrough Dou Ancestor.

The Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate of the Chu Yun Empire is secretly gathering manpower and appears to be planning something."

Jia Xingtian stood before the window with his hands behind his back, listening to his subordinate's report as his brow gradually furrowed.

"Ten Thousand Scorpions Gate... They actually did not contact us in advance this time?"

"Back then, the three empires agreed to suppress the Snake People Clan together. Now they want to leave Jia Ma aside and act alone?"

The person below did not dare reply.

After a moment of silence, Jia Xingtian shook his head. "If Medusa has truly become a Dou Zong, then she is no longer someone a few Dou Emperors like us can easily shake.

Yun Shan remains in seclusion, and there is no need for the Jia Ma Empire to wade into this mess."

After considering it briefly, he ordered, "Send this information to the Misty Cloud Sect and let them decide for themselves. We... will remain still."

After the man withdrew, Jia Xingtian sighed softly and gazed into the distance.

He looked upon the Imperial Capital, the most prosperous place in the entire Jia Ma Empire, yet that prosperity was ultimately built on unstable ground. Without powerful experts to suppress it, it could be overturned at any time.

"Hai Bodong... if you had not been sealed, you should have become a Dou Zong by now."

He muttered softly, regret in his voice. "If you were here, why would the imperial family need to fear the Misty Cloud Sect?"

"Ah, I heard the Misty Cloud Sect made another joke of itself recently. A broken engagement." Jia Xingtian frowned slightly, suddenly feeling a little curious.

The Nalan Family was at least a Dou Wang family. Why would it have a marriage alliance with such an obscure little family?

"Oh, right. Have someone investigate the family allied by marriage with the Nalan Family."

Jia Xingtian called out to the person who was about to leave and gave the order.

"Yes!"

The upheaval caused by Medusa's Breakthrough Dou Ancestor had already spread through the Four Great Empires, but aside from the Chu Yun Empire constantly mobilizing personnel.

The other three empires remained still.