The Snake-People Tribe, on the day of the wedding.
The tribe was festooned with lanterns and decorations, red silk draped along the corridors and eaves.
The tribespeople bustled about, putting the finishing touches on the wedding.
The celebration was no less grand than the one for Yao Ye a few days earlier.
After all, like Yao Ye, Yao Yue was a princess of the Jia Ma Imperial Family.
For both princesses to marry Xiao Chen, one after the other, was a tremendous honor for the Snake-People Tribe.
The First Elder stood at the entrance to the main hall, watching the tribespeople come and go with a broad smile on his face.
"Xiao Chen sure is a lucky kid."
The First Elder stroked his beard and chuckled.
The Third Elder stood to one side and nodded as well.
"First the Misty Cloud Sect Master, and now two princesses of the Imperial Family."
"Xiao Chen has earned them with his own ability. A Dou Zong powerhouse and a Seventh-Rank Alchemist—he's worthy of these women."
The Fourth Elder said.
The elders discussed it among themselves, their voices brimming with pride.
The Second Elder stood to one side without saying a word, but he looked much less troubled than before.
He no longer dared show Xiao Chen the slightest disrespect.
Xiao Chen's strength spoke for itself: he was a Dou Zong powerhouse and a Seventh-Rank Alchemist.
He couldn't afford to offend him, whatever the reason.
In the middle of the main hall, Xiao Chen stood dressed in a red robe.
Yao Yue stood beside him in a red wedding dress.
Unlike her older sister Yao Ye, who had been calm when she married, Yao Yue still looked a little awkward, but the resistance she'd shown before was gone.
She lowered her head and sneaked a glance at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen did look rather handsome in his red robe...
Yao Yue quickly looked away, her heart inexplicably beating faster.
Queen Medusa sat in the seat of honor, watching the two of them.
Her gaze lingered on Yao Yue for a moment, and the corners of her lips lifted slightly.
The little princess had softened her attitude quite a bit.
The First Elder called out loudly.
"The ceremony is complete!"
Xiao Chen took Yao Yue by the hand and led her toward the bridal chamber.
With him holding her hand, Yao Yue's palm grew slick with sweat.
She wanted to pull her hand away, but Xiao Chen had a firm grip. She couldn't free it at all.
Yao Yue bit her lip and let him lead her onward.
Inside the bridal chamber.
Xiao Chen closed the door and turned to look at Yao Yue.
She stood in the room, hands clasped together, head lowered as she avoided his gaze.
The red candles flickered, casting a rosy glow over her face.
Xiao Chen stepped forward and lifted her chin with a finger.
Yao Yue had no choice but to look up and meet his gaze.
Her heart beat even faster.
"W-what are you doing?"
Yao Yue asked softly, her voice trembling.
Xiao Chen looked at her and said calmly,
"Didn't you have something you wanted to ask me?"
Yao Yue froze for a moment.
She did have plenty of questions for Xiao Chen.
She'd been thinking about them throughout the wedding.
"Who's your teacher?"
Yao Yue asked.
Xiao Chen looked at her but didn't answer.
"How can you refine Seventh-Rank pills?"
Yao Yue asked again. "Gu He, the most accomplished alchemist in the Jia Ma Empire, is only a Sixth-Rank Alchemist."
"You're so young. How can you be a Seventh-Rank Alchemist?"
Xiao Chen didn't explain.
Yao Yue watched him, her curiosity growing.
She'd been deeply interested in alchemy since childhood.
The Imperial Family had even hired the best alchemists to teach her.
She was quite talented, and at a young age, she had already reached the Third-Rank Alchemist level.
Among her generation in the Jia Ma Empire, her talent for alchemy was considered outstanding.
She'd always been proud of it.
But after meeting Xiao Chen, her pride had been shattered completely.
A Seventh-Rank Alchemist in his early twenties.
Her little bit of talent was nothing next to his.
Yao Yue bit her lip and hesitated.
"Xiao Chen, I want to ask you something."
Yao Yue said.
Xiao Chen looked at her.
"Go ahead."
Xiao Chen replied.
"Could you... teach me alchemy?"
Yao Yue asked, her voice growing softer.
Xiao Chen raised an eyebrow.
"You want to become my disciple?"
Xiao Chen asked.
Yao Yue's face turned bright red.
"I don't want to become your disciple."
Yao Yue hurriedly explained. "I just... I just want you to teach me."
"I'm only a Third-Rank Alchemist. I'm nowhere near your level."
Yao Yue's voice grew quieter with every word, and her head dipped lower and lower.
Xiao Chen watched her embarrassment, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"I'll consider it."
Xiao Chen said.
Yao Yue suddenly raised her head, a glimmer of delight in her eyes.
"Really?"
Yao Yue asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
"Really."
Xiao Chen nodded.
Warmth welled up in Yao Yue's heart, and she couldn't help smiling.
But she didn't want Xiao Chen to notice, so she quickly hid her smile.
"Th-then it's settled."
Yao Yue said, trying to sound nonchalant.
Xiao Chen watched her feigned composure and put an arm around her waist.
Yao Yue shuddered, her whole body going rigid.
"W-what are you doing?"
Yao Yue's voice trembled.
Xiao Chen lowered his head and whispered into her ear,
"Let's spend the night as husband and wife first. Then I'll give it some serious thought."
Yao Yue's face turned red all the way to her ears.
She tried to push Xiao Chen away, but she couldn't muster any strength.
Xiao Chen's hand roamed over her waist. Even through her wedding dress, she could feel the warmth of his palm.
Yao Yue's breathing grew faster and faster.
He reached out and undid Yao Yue's wedding dress.
The red dress slipped to the floor, revealing her fair skin beneath.
Yao Yue squeezed her eyes shut in embarrassment, her whole body trembling slightly.
In all her years, she'd never been like this in front of a man.
Xiao Chen saw her tightly shut eyes and trembling lashes, and a surge of tenderness welled up in his heart.
He lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Yao Yue's mind went blank.
She could feel how warm Xiao Chen's lips were, and sense an indescribable aura about him.
Her body grew softer and softer until she could barely stand.
Xiao Chen lifted her up and gently laid her on the bed.
Yao Yue opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Chen as he leaned over her.
Her eyes were filled with shyness, and a hint of nervousness.
"Don't be afraid."
Xiao Chen said softly.
Yao Yue bit her lip and nodded lightly.
At first, Yao Yue still bit her lip, trying hard not to make a sound.
The night passed.
The next morning.
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.
[ The host has completed the wedding with Yao Yue. Reward: cultivation base increased to Six-Star Dou Zong. ]
Xiao Chen's heart jolted.
Six-Star Dou Zong.
He'd gone straight from Five-Star Dou Zong to Six-Star Dou Zong.
Xiao Chen clenched his fist, feeling the immense power welling up inside him.
He was much stronger than he'd been as a Five-Star Dou Zong.
Xiao Chen couldn't help smiling.
The Multi-Child Multi-Blessing System really lived up to its name.
Marrying Yao Yue had raised his cultivation by another star.
He'd gone from Four-Star Dou Zong to Six-Star Dou Zong in just two days.
No one would believe it if he told them.
Xiao Chen glanced at Yao Yue beside him.
She was still asleep, breathing steadily, a faint blush on her face.
The marks from last night were still on her neck.
Xiao Chen sat up and got dressed.
Just then, Yao Yue woke up too.
She opened her eyes and started to sit up, then suddenly froze.
The Dou Qi in her body was surging wildly.
Yao Yue quickly closed her eyes and focused on sensing it.
Her strength climbed rapidly, stopping only when she reached Nine-Star Dou Ling.
Yao Yue opened her eyes, stunned.
Nine-Star Dou Ling.
She'd only been a Dou Master before.
In a single night, she'd broken through to Nine-Star Dou Ling.
How was that possible?
Yao Yue sat on the bed, completely dumbfounded.
She thought of her older sister, Yao Ye.
After marrying Xiao Chen, her sister had also gone from a One-Star Dou Ling to a One-Star Dou Wang overnight.
At the time, she'd wondered whether her sister's increase in strength had something to do with Xiao Chen.
But now the same thing had happened to her.
That made her even more suspicious of one thing.
Could it be...
"Could my increase in strength really have something to do with Xiao Chen?"
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