The Snake-People Tribe was unusually lively today.
The Snake-People had gathered, whispering among themselves about the Queen personally arranging for Xiao Chen to take a concubine.
The First Elder stood at the Stone Hall entrance, watching the Snake-People come and go, his face filled with satisfaction.
The Queen had found Xiao Chen a wife and arranged for him to take a concubine.
What did that mean?
It meant the Queen valued Xiao Chen!
As his grandfather, he could share in the honor.
The First Elder stroked his beard, grinning from ear to ear.
The Second Elder stood not far away, his expression far less pleased.
His face darkened as he looked at the preparations inside the Stone Hall, his eyes full of discontent.
"The Queen is far too indulgent toward that Xiao Chen."
The Second Elder muttered under his breath.
"First Yue Mei, and now she's arranging for him to take a concubine? And she's even got the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils."
"What makes him worthy? What right does he have?"
The several Snake-People beside him didn't dare respond.
The Second Elder wielded considerable power in the tribe; ordinary people wouldn't dare contradict him.
At that moment, at Mo Basi's residence.
"That loser—what makes him worthy?"
"I'm one of the Eight Great Leaders, and he's brought me to this!"
"And the Queen, too—she actually punished me for a loser!"
The angrier Mo Basi grew, the harder he punched the stone wall.
"Xiao Chen, just you wait!"
"I'll make you pay!"
Xiao Chen stood in the middle of the Stone Hall, dressed in a new outfit.
Qing Lin wore a red wedding dress, her head bowed, her little face flushed.
"Miss Qing Lin, you'll be Xiao Chen's wife from now on."
The First Elder said with a genial smile.
"Xiao Chen already has a wife, but don't worry. He won't mistreat you."
At his words, Qing Lin's face reddened even more. She softly replied, "Yes."
The Second Elder stood to one side, watching coldly.
He was seething, but with the Queen present, he didn't dare say anything.
Queen Medusa sat in the seat of honor, her face expressionless as she watched the wedding proceed.
She knew that the stronger Xiao Chen became, the more advantageous it would be for the Snake-People Tribe.
She hadn't fully understood the opportunity granted by the Multi-Child Multi-Blessing System, but Xiao Chen's rise from Three-Stage Dou Qi to Nine-Star Dou Wang was undeniable.
"The ceremony is complete!" someone shouted, and the wedding came to an end.
"Take the bride to the bridal chamber!"
Xiao Chen took Qing Lin's hand and led her toward the wedding chamber.
Qing Lin lowered her head and let him lead her, her heart pounding.
Queen Medusa had yet to leave the Stone Hall.
The Second Elder finally couldn't hold back. He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, there's something I don't understand."
Queen Medusa glanced at him. "Speak."
"Why are you so indulgent toward Xiao Chen?" the Second Elder asked.
"First you married Yue Mei to him, and now you're arranging for him to take a concubine..."
"What has Xiao Chen done to deserve such regard from Your Majesty?"
"And while Mo Basi did strike first, Xiao Chen provoked him first."
"Your Majesty punished Mo Basi and stripped him of his position as a leader. That seems a little..."
The Second Elder trailed off.
But his meaning was clear.
He felt it was unfair.
At his words, the First Elder's face darkened. "Second Elder, what do you mean by that?"
"Xiao Chen is my grandson. I know what kind of person he is."
"He would never start trouble. I can vouch for that."
The Second Elder sneered. "You can vouch for him? What can you possibly guarantee?"
"You know perfectly well how strong your grandson is."
"When he was at Three-Stage Dou Qi, he behaved himself."
"But now? He's just throwing his weight around in the tribe, relying on the Queen's favor!"
"Throwing his weight around?" The First Elder was so angry that his whiskers bristled.
"Mo Basi attacked my grandson first, and now he's the one in the right?"
The Second Elder replied, "Mo Basi is one of the Eight Great Leaders. What is Xiao Chen?"
"A loser who dares challenge a leader?"
"Enough!"
Queen Medusa's sharp rebuke cut off their argument.
The Stone Hall fell silent at once.
Queen Medusa swept her gaze over the Second Elder and said coolly, "I don't need to explain my decisions to you."
"I have my own plans for Xiao Chen."
"You need only know that everything I do is for the tribe."
The Second Elder flushed at her words, but he didn't dare say anything more.
The Queen's authority was not something he could challenge.
"Leave."
Queen Medusa waved a hand.
The Second Elder gritted his teeth and bowed before withdrawing.
As he left, he shot the First Elder a furious glare.
The First Elder returned it in kind.
Inside the wedding chamber, red candles burned, bathing the room in crimson.
Qing Lin sat on the edge of the bed, her head lowered, her hands twisting together.
Her heart raced, and her face felt hot.
Xiao Chen walked over and gently lifted her chin.
"Are you shy?"
At his words, Qing Lin's face grew even redder. She whispered, "N-no..."
Xiao Chen smiled and reached to remove her wedding dress.
Qing Lin trembled and instinctively tried to draw away, but she held herself back.
"Don't be afraid."
"I'll be gentle. Don't worry."
Xiao Chen murmured.
Qing Lin bit her lip and gave a slight nod.
The red candles flickered, casting the shadows of two people.
They spent the night together.
The next morning.
Xiao Chen opened his eyes, feeling refreshed from head to toe.
He instinctively sensed the Dou Qi within him, then froze.
"Host has received a Multi-Child Multi-Blessing reward. Strength increased to Six-Star Dou Huang."
"Six-Star Dou Huang?"
A flash of surprise crossed Xiao Chen's eyes, then gave way to satisfaction.
He had been a Three-Star Dou Huang before. In a single night, he had advanced to Six-Star Dou Huang.
At Six-Star Dou Huang, he was already among the strongest in the Jia Ma Empire.
The Multi-Child Multi-Blessing System really lived up to its name.
A smile tugged at Xiao Chen's lips.
He turned to look at Qing Lin beside him and saw that she was awake, too.
Qing Lin opened her eyes, stared blankly for a moment, then abruptly sat up.
"My... my Dou Qi..."
Qing Lin's eyes widened in disbelief.
Her strength now...
"Nine-Star Great Dou Master?"
Qing Lin cried out in shock, unable to believe it.
In just one night, she'd gone from not even being a Dou Zhe to reaching Nine-Star Great Dou Master?
How was that possible?
"Xiao Chen, how did my strength...?"
Qing Lin looked at Xiao Chen, bewilderment in her eyes.
Xiao Chen got dressed and left the wedding chamber.
By taking Qing Lin as a concubine, he had earned a Multi-Child Multi-Blessing reward, raising his strength to Six-Star Dou Huang.
Xiao Chen was in an excellent mood.
"Xiao Chen!" But just then, a shout rang out.
Xiao Chen's gaze shifted slightly.
He looked ahead and saw Mo Basi storming toward him.
He was seething with hostility.
"Xiao Chen, you're the reason the Queen punished me so severely and stripped me of my position as one of the Eight Great Leaders."
"You're just a junior. What right do you have to take my place? What right do you have to replace me?"
"You're a loser who got lucky and managed to reach your current strength. If I hadn't underestimated you and misjudged your strength last time, how could I have lost to you?"
"No matter what, I'm killing you today!"
Mo Basi roared.
He was about to attack Xiao Chen.
A sharp cry rang out, and Yue Mei stepped in front of Xiao Chen.
She glared at Mo Basi and demanded, "Mo Basi, what are you doing?"
"Aren't you afraid the Queen will punish you for attacking Xiao Chen?"
Mo Basi's expression darkened even further when he saw Yue Mei.
"Yue Mei, move!"
"This is between him and me. It has nothing to do with you."
Yue Mei sneered. "Nothing to do with me? Xiao Chen is my man. How is this not my concern?"
"Mo Basi, the Queen already punished you once. Haven't you learned your lesson?"
"If you attack Xiao Chen again, the Queen won't go easy on you."
At her words, the fury in Mo Basi's eyes burned even hotter.
He had been in love with Queen Medusa for a long time, and plenty of people in the tribe knew it.
He had worked himself to the bone cultivating and finally climbed to a position among the Eight Great Leaders, all so he could be closer to the Queen.
But what about the Queen?
She had never spared him a second glance.
And now, for the sake of that loser Xiao Chen, the Queen had punished him and stripped him of his position as a leader.
He couldn't take it anymore!
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