When Xiao Chen opened his eyes, a mechanical voice sounded in his mind.
[Ding! The Multi-Child Multi-Blessing System is calculating rewards.]
Xiao Chen quickly focused, waiting for the system's message.
[Host, you have fulfilled your duty to spread your branches and leaves. Reward received: Heavenly Underworld Asura Hand.] [Heavenly Underworld Asura Hand, an Earth-Rank High-Level Dou Technique, originating from the Heavenly Underworld Sect.]
Xiao Chen looked at the message on the system panel, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
An Earth-Rank High-Level Dou Technique.
Heavenly Underworld Asura Hand.
He was very satisfied with this reward.
In the world of Battle Through the Heavens, Earth-Rank High-Level Dou Techniques were already exceedingly rare treasures.
There wasn't a single Earth-Rank Dou Technique to be found in the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Let alone an Earth-Rank High-Level one.
And this was a Dou Technique from the Heavenly Underworld Sect.
The Heavenly Underworld Sect was a force from the Central Plains.
It was countless times more powerful than the sects in remote places like the Jia Ma Empire.
Xiao Chen clenched his fist, sensing the Dou Technique knowledge that had appeared within him.
The cultivation method and techniques for using the Heavenly Underworld Asura Hand had all been imprinted in his mind.
He only needed to activate his Dou Qi to use it.
This Dou Technique was incredibly powerful. With a single palm strike, it could condense Dou Qi into an Asura's hand.
Few people at the same level could withstand it.
Xiao Chen felt a surge of delight and couldn't help laughing.
As expected of the system.
The more Xiao Chen thought about it, the happier he became. He couldn't suppress the smile on his face.
He sat up and glanced at Yun Yun beside him.
Yun Yun was still asleep, breathing evenly. She hadn't woken up.
Xiao Chen didn't disturb her.
He got dressed and quietly left the room.
The door closed with barely a sound, and Yun Yun didn't notice.
Not long after Xiao Chen left, Yun Yun woke up too.
She opened her eyes and was just about to sit up when she suddenly froze.
Her Dou Qi had increased again.
Yun Yun quickly closed her eyes and carefully sensed it.
Dou Qi flowed slowly through her meridians, far more substantial than it had been yesterday.
Peak Eight-Star Dou Emperor.
Yesterday, she had still been an Eight-Star Dou Emperor. In a single night, she had reached the peak of the Eight-Star Dou Emperor level.
She was only one step away from becoming a Nine-Star Dou Emperor.
Yun Yun opened her eyes, filled with shock.
If she had cultivated on her own, it would probably have taken years, or even decades, to reach this point.
But now, it had taken only a few days.
Yun Yun sat on the bed, her heart full of complicated feelings.
She remembered what Queen Medusa had said earlier.
If she married Xiao Chen, her strength would improve.
She got dressed and walked out of the room.
Standing in the doorway, she looked up at the sky.
Yun Yun bit her lip.
She no longer objected to marrying Xiao Chen.
In fact, she was even a little relieved.
If she hadn't married Xiao Chen, she would still be a Three-Star Dou Emperor.
Who knew how many years of cultivation it would have taken to reach the peak of the Eight-Star Dou Emperor level?
Inside the main hall.
Queen Medusa sat on her throne, lightly tapping the armrest with her fingers.
Her gaze fell on the two people standing in the center of the hall.
Yao Yue and Yao Ye.
The two princesses of the Jia Ma Imperial Family.
Their hands were bound, and they stood in the center of the hall.
Yao Yue's face was livid, her eyes full of anger.
Yao Ye stood beside her, looking displeased as well.
Several elders stood to either side, watching the two princesses.
The First Elder spoke first.
"Your Majesty, are these two princesses of the Jia Ma Imperial Family?"
The First Elder asked.
Queen Medusa nodded.
"Yao Yue and Yao Ye."
Queen Medusa said indifferently.
At her words, the First Elder smiled.
"The Jia Ma Imperial Family has been arrogant for so many years, and now their princesses have been captured by us."
The First Elder said, "This is truly satisfying."
The Third Elder spoke up as well.
"Indeed. The Jia Ma Imperial Family has opposed our Snake-People Tribe time and again over the years."
"Now that we've captured their princesses and are making them marry Xiao Chen, they can help our Snake-People Tribe continue its bloodline."
The Fourth Elder said, "It's also the greatest humiliation we could inflict on the Imperial Family."
The Second Elder, standing nearby, spoke as well.
"That old fool Jia Xingtian is the guardian of the Jia Ma Empire."
The Second Elder sneered. "Now that we've captured his granddaughter, he doesn't even dare let out a peep."
"How ridiculous."
The elders grew more and more animated as they spoke, each wearing a delighted smile.
The Snake-People Tribe had been oppressed by humans for years and had long been simmering with resentment.
Now their Queen had broken through to the Dou Zong level and captured two princesses of the Imperial Family.
At last, they had gotten their revenge.
Yao Yue's face darkened further as she listened.
She gritted her teeth and glared at the elders.
"You Snake-People, don't get too cocky."
Yao Yue shouted angrily. "My Imperial Grandfather won't let you get away with this."
Yao Ye spoke up too.
"The Jia Ma Empire won't let you get away with this."
Yao Ye said, "You've captured us. The Jia Ma Empire will definitely send people to rescue us."
"When that happens, not one of you from the Snake-People Tribe will escape."
The First Elder sneered at her words.
"Send people to rescue you?"
The First Elder said, "The strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire is Jia Xingtian, a Peak Dou Emperor."
"Our Queen is a Dou Zong. If Jia Xingtian comes, he'll only be walking to his death."
The Third Elder spoke as well.
"Exactly. The Jia Ma Imperial Family can barely protect itself right now."
The Third Elder said, "And you think they'll come to save you? Dream on."
Yao Yue's face went pale.
She knew the First Elder was telling the truth.
Her Imperial Grandfather was no match for Queen Medusa.
That day in the main hall, Queen Medusa had defeated her Imperial Grandfather with a single palm strike.
He hadn't even had a chance to fight back.
Yao Ye bit her lip and said nothing.
Queen Medusa looked at them and spoke slowly.
"I hereby announce that Yao Yue and Yao Ye will marry Xiao Chen."
Queen Medusa said indifferently. "The wedding will take place on a date to be chosen."
Yao Yue's expression changed drastically.
"Don't even think about it."
Yao Yue shouted angrily. "We're princesses of the Jia Ma Imperial Family. How could we marry a Snake-Person?"
Yao Ye spoke as well.
"Even if we die, we won't marry a Snake-Person."
Yao Ye said.
The Second Elder spoke coldly.
"Marrying Xiao Chen is your good fortune."
The Second Elder said, "Most people aren't even worthy of marrying Xiao Chen."
Yao Yue gave a cold laugh.
"Good fortune?"
Yao Yue said, "How is marrying a Snake-Person good fortune?"
The Third Elder looked at her and spoke calmly.
"Lord Xiao Chen is a Dou Zong."
The Third Elder said, "There isn't another Dou Zong as young as him in the entire Jia Ma Empire."
"You're lucky to marry him. You're marrying above your station."
Yao Yue and Yao Ye froze at his words.
Dou Zong?
Xiao Chen was a Dou Zong?
"What did you say?"
Yao Yue asked incredulously. "That Xiao Chen is a Dou Zong?"
"Exactly."
The Third Elder said, "Lord Xiao Chen is already a Dou Zong at such a young age."
Yao Ye's expression changed.
"Impossible."
Yao Ye said, "The strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire is a Peak Dou Emperor. Apart from Medusa, how could there be another Dou Zong?"
"And a Dou Zong this young, at that?"
Yao Yue spoke too.
"You're lying to us."
Yao Yue said, "Queen Medusa is already the limit of what the Snake-People Tribe can manage. She's the only Dou Zong you could possibly have."
"How could there be a second one?"
The strongest person in the Jia Ma Empire was only a Peak Dou Emperor.
If the Snake-People Tribe really had two Dou Zong experts, then...
Just one Dou Zong would be enough to sweep across the Jia Ma Empire.
Two Dou Zong experts would utterly crush it.
Yao Yue was so shocked she couldn't speak.
Yao Ye fell silent too.
Just then, Xiao Chen walked in from outside the hall.
His footsteps weren't loud, but everyone in the hall turned to look.
Yao Yue and Yao Ye froze again when they saw Xiao Chen.
He was so young?
They had thought Xiao Chen was an older Snake-Person, at least middle-aged.
But the Xiao Chen before them didn't look much older than they were.
At most, he was in his early twenties.
"He's Xiao Chen?"
"How could someone so young be a Dou Zong?"
Yao Ye spoke too. "Impossible."
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