What Is This Human Plotting?

Several days later.

Xiao Chen sat cross-legged on the back mountain of the Xiao Clan, Dou Qi slowly circulating within his body.

Cycle after cycle, the Dou Qi in his meridians grew increasingly condensed.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

Two-Star Dou Zong.

Having broken through from One-Star to Two-Star, his strength had advanced another step.

Xiao Chen felt the abundant power within him, a satisfied expression appearing on his face.

Just as he was about to rise, the system's voice sounded in his mind.

[New mission issued. Please proceed to the Tagor Desert and help Queen Medusa break through to the Dou Zong realm.]

[Reward upon mission completion: three feedback opportunities.]

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up when he saw the reward.

Three feedback opportunities.

Previously, helping Qing Lin master the method of control had only earned him one feedback opportunity, which had given him a sixth-tier medicinal pill formula.

This time, he would receive three at once.

Xiao Chen did not hesitate and immediately accepted the mission.

He rose to his feet, patted the dust from his clothes, and headed down the mountain.

Xiao Chen left the Xiao Clan and activated his Dou Qi, flying toward the Tagor Desert.

The mountains and rivers below rapidly receded.

Several hours later, the outline of the desert appeared at the edge of his vision.

Xiao Chen withdrew his Dou Qi Wings and landed at the edge of the desert.

He stepped toward the depths of the desert.

Before he had gone far, a group of Snake-People appeared ahead.

More than a dozen Snake-People held weapons as they patrolled the area.

The Snake-Person at their head was tall and had a cold expression. She was Yue Mei, one of the Snake-People Tribe's commanders.

When Yue Mei saw Xiao Chen, her pupils contracted.

She recognized this human.

He was the one who had barged into the Tagor Desert last time, seized the Green Lotus Core Flame, and even injured Her Majesty the Queen.

"It's you." Yue Mei's voice was cold.

Xiao Chen stopped and looked at her.

Yue Mei's eyes were filled with killing intent, her snake pupils narrowing into slits.

"You stole the Green Lotus Core Flame, injured Her Majesty the Queen, and still dare to come to the Tagor Desert."

The Snake-People behind her also raised their weapons, staring at Xiao Chen.

"Her Majesty the Queen spared your life last time. Not only are you ungrateful, you dare to come back."

"Since you're here today, don't even think of leaving."

Yue Mei waved her hand.

"Capture him."

More than a dozen Snake-People attacked at once, pouncing toward Xiao Chen.

The Snake-Person charging at the front wielded a spear and thrust it toward Xiao Chen's chest.

Xiao Chen sidestepped the attack and struck the Snake-Person's shoulder with his palm.

The Snake-Person groaned, his entire body flying backward. He crashed onto the sand and slid several meters before falling still.

Another Snake-Person lunged from the side, swinging the curved blade in his hand at Xiao Chen's neck.

Without even turning his head, Xiao Chen struck back with his palm.

The curved blade flew from the Snake-Person's hand. His chest caved in, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before collapsing to the ground.

A third Snake-Person launched a sneak attack from behind, gripping a dagger as he stabbed toward Xiao Chen's lower back.

Xiao Chen turned and struck him across the face with his palm.

The Snake-Person fell backward, his dagger dropping onto the sand.

The remaining Snake-People exchanged glances, all somewhat fearful.

With Yue Mei watching from behind, they did not dare retreat.

Several Snake-People charged at once, their weapons striking toward Xiao Chen from all directions.

Xiao Chen did not waste words and unleashed several palm strikes in succession.

With every palm strike, another Snake-Person fell.

Some died on the spot, while others lay on the ground groaning in agony.

In the span of a few breaths, more than a dozen Snake-People lay scattered across the ground.

Only Yue Mei remained standing.

Yue Mei's face turned deathly pale.

She turned and fled, leaving an afterimage across the sand.

Xiao Chen did not pursue her. He withdrew his hand and continued toward the depths of the desert.

Snake-People Tribe settlement, main hall.

Yue Mei staggered into the hall, wounded and breathing unevenly.

Several elders were discussing matters in the hall. When they saw her condition, all their expressions changed.

The Great Elder spoke first. "Yue Mei, what happened?"

Yue Mei dropped to one knee, her voice full of hatred.

"The human who stole the Green Lotus Core Flame just killed many of our tribespeople."

Yue Mei gritted her teeth.

The elders' faces all darkened.

Yue Mei continued, "I was no match for him."

The Great Elder heavily slapped the armrest.

"He stole the Green Lotus Core Flame, injured Her Majesty the Queen, and now he has killed our tribespeople."

The Second Elder said coldly, "This human is too presumptuous."

The Third Elder added, "He is openly making an enemy of our Snake-People Tribe."

"But a Dou Zong powerhouse is not someone our Snake-People Tribe can afford to offend."

The Fourth Elder gritted his teeth. "Are we just going to let this go?"

The Great Elder took a deep breath and looked toward Queen Medusa on the throne.

"Your Majesty, this human has provoked our Snake-People Tribe time and again."

"If we do not teach him a lesson, humans will only grow more and more audacious."

The Second Elder also spoke. "The Great Elder is right. Your Majesty, please take action and give this human a ruthless lesson."

The Third Elder echoed, "Her Majesty was injured in her clash with him last time because she was unprepared. If she attacks with her full strength this time, she will surely capture him."

The Fourth Elder nodded. "Our Snake-People Tribe has stood for centuries and has never suffered such humiliation."

The elders all spoke in turn, asking Queen Medusa to take action.

The main hall was filled with noise.

Queen Medusa sat on her throne, expressionless.

Only after the elders had all finished speaking did she slowly open her mouth.

"Leave."

The Great Elder froze. "Your Majesty?"

"I said, leave." Queen Medusa's voice turned several degrees colder.

The Great Elder opened his mouth, still wanting to say something.

Queen Medusa glanced at him.

The words at the Great Elder's lips were swallowed back. He cupped his hands, turned, and left the main hall.

The Second Elder sighed and followed him out.

The Third Elder still wanted to speak, but the Fourth Elder tugged at him.

"Go," the Fourth Elder said quietly.

The two left together.

Yue Mei clutched her wound and looked at Queen Medusa.

"Your Majesty..."

"You leave as well," Queen Medusa said.

Yue Mei gritted her teeth, turned, and withdrew.

The main hall fell silent.

Queen Medusa sat alone on the throne, a trace of complexity flashing through her snake pupils.

That human...

During their last clash, she had not even been able to withstand a single palm strike from him.

The strength of a Dou Zong was simply not something she could contend against.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Queen Medusa opened her eyes, rose to her feet, and walked out of the main hall.

Xiao Chen entered the Snake-People Tribe settlement. The surrounding Snake-People retreated when they saw him.

No one dared step forward to stop him.

He passed through the settlement and arrived before the main hall.

Queen Medusa stood at the entrance, looking at him.

"Human, you have quite the nerve to trespass into my Snake-People Tribe settlement."

Queen Medusa spoke coldly.

Xiao Chen looked at her and replied calmly.

"Queen Medusa, you have been stuck at the Peak Dou Emperor bottleneck for a long time, haven't you? I can help you break through to Dou Zong."

Queen Medusa froze for a moment, thinking she had misheard.

"What did you say?"

"Help you break through to Dou Zong," Xiao Chen repeated.

Queen Medusa stared at him, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Clearly, she did not believe what Xiao Chen had just said.

"You stole the Green Lotus Core Flame, injured my tribespeople, and now you say you want to help me break through to Dou Zong?"

What trick was this brat trying to play?