What Did You Say, an Earth Tier Dou Technique?

Outside the Snake-People Tribe's grand hall.

Several elders stood at the entrance, looking at one another.

Great Elder frowned as he looked toward the tightly shut doors.

"How long has that human brat been inside?"

Second Elder counted on his fingers. "Almost half an hour."

Third Elder paced back and forth twice. "He stole the Green Lotus Core Flame, injured Yue Mei, and now he comes claiming he can help Her Majesty break through to Dou Zong. Who would believe that?"

Fourth Elder leaned against a pillar. "Her Majesty too—she actually let him in."

Second Elder was about to respond when his expression suddenly changed.

A vast, imposing aura surged out from the hall, pressing down on everyone.

Great Elder's pupils shrank sharply. "Dou Zong."

Third Elder cried out, "Why is there a Dou Zong aura? That brat attacked Her Majesty!"

"Get inside!"

The elders rushed toward the hall at once and shoved the doors open.

Great Elder took the lead and saw Xiao Chen standing in the center of the hall.

Queen Medusa sat across from him, her face pale and her forehead drenched in sweat.

"Outrageous!"

Great Elder roared, his battle qi surging wildly within him.

Second Elder followed close behind and said coldly, "You dared raise a hand against Her Majesty? Don't even think of leaving here alive today."

Third Elder and Fourth Elder also closed in, trapping Xiao Chen in the middle.

The elders simultaneously activated their battle qi and were about to attack.

"Stop."

Queen Medusa's voice came from behind them.

The elders froze for a moment and turned around.

Queen Medusa rose to her feet and stared at them.

"Who allowed you to enter?"

Great Elder hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, we sensed a Dou Zong aura and feared this human brat meant you harm."

"Withdraw." Queen Medusa's voice was cold.

Great Elder opened his mouth. "But..."

"I said, withdraw." Queen Medusa's tone turned even colder. "Do not be disrespectful to Xiao Chen."

The elders were all stunned.

Great Elder did not recover his senses for a long while.

Her Majesty was actually protecting this human brat.

Second Elder nearly dropped the weapon in his hand.

Third Elder frowned, his gaze shifting back and forth between Queen Medusa and Xiao Chen.

Fourth Elder stood there with his mouth open, unable to utter a single word.

Great Elder suppressed the shock in his heart and was about to speak.

Then his gaze suddenly fell below Queen Medusa's waist.

Great Elder's voice trembled. "Your Majesty, your... your snake tail..."

Second Elder saw it as well, his eyes widening round. "It turned into human form?"

Third Elder and Fourth Elder looked over at the same time.

The elders' expressions changed from shock to wild joy.

A snake tail taking human form was the mark of breaking through to Dou Zong.

"Your Majesty, you broke through to Dou Zong!"

Queen Medusa did not answer, which was as good as admitting it.

The elders exchanged glances, all of them too excited to speak.

Dou Zong.

The Snake-People Tribe had finally produced a Dou Zong expert.

Great Elder took a deep breath, though his voice still trembled. "After so many years, our Snake-People Tribe finally has a Dou Zong expert."

Third Elder looked at Xiao Chen, his expression turning complicated. "Did... did he help Her Majesty break through?"

Queen Medusa nodded.

The elders looked at one another. The excitement on their faces faded, replaced by embarrassment.

Just moments ago, they had charged in aggressively, intending to attack Xiao Chen.

Yet he had come to help Her Majesty break through to Dou Zong.

Great Elder could not bring himself to save face. He opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Queen Medusa looked at them. "All of you, leave."

Feeling as though they had been granted amnesty, the elders quickly cupped their hands.

"Yes."

The elders left the hall and stood on the steps outside its entrance.

The four of them looked at one another, but no one spoke first.

After a long while, Great Elder finally let out a long breath.

"Dou Zong... Her Majesty has finally broken through to Dou Zong."

The excitement had yet to fade from Second Elder's face. "Our Snake-People Tribe finally has a Dou Zong expert. In this Jia Ma Empire, let's see who still dares look down on us."

Third Elder nodded. "Her Majesty breaking through to Dou Zong is an immense blessing for the Snake-People Tribe."

Fourth Elder echoed, "Yes, this is truly a joyous occasion."

Great Elder suddenly sighed. "Weren't we too harsh in our attitude toward that human brat just now?"

The elders fell silent at once.

Second Elder scratched his head. "We didn't know he had come to help Her Majesty break through. He stole the Green Lotus Core Flame and injured Yue Mei, so it was only natural for us to be hostile toward him."

Third Elder added, "No blame can be placed on the ignorant. Besides, he did have grievances with our Snake-People Tribe before."

Great Elder shook his head. "Regardless of any past grievances, he helped Her Majesty break through to Dou Zong. That is a tremendous favor."

Fourth Elder said quietly, "Should we go in and apologize to him?"

The elders exchanged glances, all somewhat hesitant.

Asking them to lower their heads to a human was truly more than they could bear.

Great Elder was silent for a moment. "There is no need to apologize. Her Majesty will handle it herself. But if he visits the Snake-People Tribe again, we should treat him better."

Second Elder nodded. "Great Elder is right. If he comes again, we will treat him with courtesy."

Third Elder and Fourth Elder nodded as well.

Great Elder turned to look at the tightly shut doors. "Do not spread word of Her Majesty's breakthrough to Dou Zong yet. We will decide what to do after Her Majesty has stabilized her realm."

The elders answered in unison.

Inside the grand hall.

Queen Medusa looked at Xiao Chen and remained silent for a moment.

"About what just happened, I'm sorry."

Xiao Chen looked at her without speaking.

Queen Medusa continued, "The elders did not know you came to help me. They thought you meant me harm, which is why they rushed in and tried to attack you. I apologize to you on their behalf."

Her voice was not loud, but her tone was sincere.

The queen of the Snake-People Tribe was apologizing to a human.

If word of this got out, no one in the entire Jia Ma Empire would believe it.

Xiao Chen waved a hand. "It's nothing."

Queen Medusa looked at him, and a trace of complexity flashed through her eyes.

"What I said before still stands," Queen Medusa said.

Xiao Chen looked at her.

"I owe you a favor," Queen Medusa said. "If you ever need the Snake-People Tribe's help, just ask."

Her tone was solemn, not like empty politeness.

A favor from the Snake-People Tribe's queen carried tremendous weight.

Xiao Chen nodded and was about to speak.

Then the system's voice sounded in his mind.

[New mission issued.]

[Mission objective: Help Queen Medusa successfully cultivate an Earth Tier high-grade Dou Technique.]

[Mission reward: One opportunity to receive Queen Medusa's reciprocation.]

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

An opportunity for reciprocation.

Though there was only one chance, Queen Medusa's reciprocation should not be of poor quality.

Without hesitation, he immediately chose to accept the mission.

[Mission accepted.]

[Please complete the mission within three days.]

Xiao Chen gathered his thoughts and looked at Queen Medusa.

"You just broke through to Dou Zong, and your realm is still unstable," Xiao Chen said.

Queen Medusa looked at him, not knowing what he was getting at.

"I have an Earth Tier high-grade Dou Technique here," Xiao Chen said. "It is suitable for you to cultivate."

Queen Medusa froze.

An Earth Tier high-grade Dou Technique.

In the entire Snake-People Tribe, even the highest-grade Dou Technique was only Xuan Tier high-grade.

He was actually going to give her an Earth Tier high-grade Dou Technique?!