After leaving, Xiao Chen went straight to the plaza.
After an unknown amount of time had passed in the room,
Yao Yue hurried toward her sister's quarters, her steps light and her face full of excitement.
When she pushed open the door, Yao Ye was sitting beside the bed.
Seeing her younger sister rush in with a delighted expression, Yao Ye looked up.
"What is it? Why are you so happy?"
Yao Ye asked.
Yao Yue sat down beside her sister and grabbed her arm, excitement shining in her eyes.
"Elder Sister, my strength has increased."
Yao Yue said.
Yao Ye froze for a moment.
"It has?"
Yao Ye asked. "What level are you now?"
"Nine-Star Dou Ling."
Yao Yue said. "And I'm at the Nine-Star Dou Ling Peak, just one step away from becoming a Dou Wang."
Yao Ye's expression changed.
"How is that possible?"
Yao Ye said in disbelief.
"It's true."
Jia Ma Empire, palace hall.
Jia Xingtian's face was livid.
His hands gripped the armrests tightly.
Several people stood in the hall.
Nalan Jie, Nalan Su, and several powerful figures from the Jia Ma Empire.
Their expressions were all grim.
"Everyone, Yao Yue and Yao Ye were abducted by the Snake-People Tribe several days ago."
Jia Xingtian said in a low voice. "They are princesses of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, and now the Snake-People have forcibly taken them away to marry one of their own."
"This is the greatest humiliation the Jia Ma Imperial Family has ever suffered."
The angrier Jia Xingtian grew, the more his voice trembled.
Nalan Jie stood below, looking equally grim.
His granddaughter, Nalan Yanran, had also been captured by the Snake-People Tribe.
Just like Yao Yue and Yao Ye, she was to be married to that Snake-Person named Xiao Chen.
"Elder Jia, Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe has already broken through to Dou Zong."
Nalan Jie said in a low voice. "And that Snake-Person named Xiao Chen is a Dou Zong as well."
"Even if we combined our strength, I'm afraid we wouldn't be a match for them."
Jia Xingtian's expression darkened further.
He knew Nalan Jie was telling the truth.
That day in the hall, Queen Medusa had defeated him with a single palm strike.
Her terrifying strength was beyond what a Peak Dou Emperor could withstand.
"But are we supposed to just let this go?"
Jia Xingtian gritted his teeth. "My two granddaughters have been taken by the Snake-People. Am I, their grandfather, supposed to do nothing?"
Nalan Su stood to one side and spoke up.
"Elder Jia, it's not that we don't want to rescue them. The difference in strength is simply too great."
Nalan Su said. "Queen Medusa is a Dou Zong, and so is Xiao Chen."
"The Snake-People Tribe has two Dou Zong experts. The strongest person in our Jia Ma Empire is only a Peak Dou Emperor."
"Even if we all attacked together, we wouldn't be enough to take on either one of them."
Jia Xingtian clenched his fists and fell silent.
He knew Nalan Su was telling the truth.
But he couldn't stand by and watch his two granddaughters marry Snake-People.
The mood in the hall grew oppressive.
Just then, a voice came from outside.
Everyone froze and turned to look toward the entrance.
A figure walked in from outside.
Yun Shan.
The former sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect.
A flash of delight crossed Jia Xingtian's eyes when he saw Yun Shan.
"Yun Shan?"
Yun Shan walked to the middle of the hall and glanced around at everyone.
"I heard that the Jia Ma Imperial Family's two princesses were also abducted by the Snake-People Tribe?"
Yun Shan asked.
Jia Xingtian nodded, his expression heavy.
"Yes, my two granddaughters, Yao Yue and Yao Ye."
Jia Xingtian said. "Queen Medusa took them away to marry that Snake-Person named Xiao Chen."
Yun Shan's expression darkened.
"Xiao Chen again."
Yun Shan gritted his teeth.
He remembered the scene outside the Snake-People Tribe when Xiao Chen had defeated him with a single palm strike.
That strike had not only sent him reeling, but had also dropped his strength from Dou Zong to Nine-Star Dou Huang Peak.
It was a great humiliation.
Yun Shan had never suffered such disgrace in all his years.
What was more, he had only just managed to advance to Dou Zong.
That bastard!
"Sect Leader Yun Shan, have you fought Xiao Chen before?"
Jia Xingtian asked.
Yun Shan's face darkened, but he didn't answer.
Nalan Jie stood to one side and explained how Xiao Chen had defeated Yun Shan.
Jia Xingtian's expression changed drastically when he heard the story.
"Even Sect Leader Yun Shan couldn't defeat Xiao Chen?"
Yun Shan was a Dou Zong expert.
If even he had lost, just how powerful was Xiao Chen?
Yun Shan spoke coldly.
"Last time, I was careless."
Yun Shan said. "When I go again, I'll make sure to wipe away that shame."
A flash of delight crossed Jia Xingtian's eyes.
"Are you willing to help us, Sect Leader Yun Shan?"
Jia Xingtian asked.
"Of course."
Yun Shan nodded. "I'll defeat that Snake-Person Xiao Chen with my own hands."
Nalan Jie and Nalan Su exchanged glances, each seeing a glimmer of hope in the other's eyes.
Though Yun Shan had lost last time, he was still a Dou Zong expert.
Even after his strength had fallen, he was still a Peak Dou Emperor.
With him on their side, their chances of success would certainly improve.
"With Sect Leader Yun Shan joining us, our chances are much better."
"There's no time to waste. Send someone to the Snake-People Tribe at once and demand that they hand over the princesses and Yun Yun's party."
Yun Shan said. "Otherwise, in three days, we'll launch a full-scale attack on the Snake-People Tribe."
Jia Xingtian nodded.
"Good. I'll give the order at once."
Jia Xingtian said.
In the hall of the Snake-People Tribe,
Queen Medusa sat on her throne, her expression grave.
Several elders stood on either side, their expressions grim as well.
The First Elder held a letter in his hand. He had just finished reading it.
The Jia Ma Empire had sent someone to deliver the letter.
It demanded that the Snake-People Tribe hand over the two princesses, Yao Yue and Yao Ye, as well as Yun Yun and her disciple, Nalan Yanran.
Otherwise, in three days, the Jia Ma Empire would launch a full-scale attack on the Snake-People Tribe.
"That old fool Jia Xingtian really doesn't know when to quit."
The First Elder said coldly. "Queen Medusa spared his life last time, and instead of being grateful, he dares to provoke us again."
The Third Elder spoke up too.
"I heard that Yun Shan has joined them."
The Third Elder said. "That old man must still be smarting from his defeat at Xiao Chen's hands."
The Fourth Elder nodded.
"Though Yun Shan's strength has fallen to Nine-Star Dou Huang Peak, he was once a Dou Zong expert."
The Fourth Elder said. "We can't underestimate him."
The Second Elder stood to one side and spoke up as well.
"The Jia Ma Empire has gathered quite a few experts this time: Jia Xingtian, Yun Shan, Nalan Jie, and Fa Ma of the Alchemist Guild."
The Second Elder said. "They're set on going to war with the Snake-People Tribe and forcing us to hand people over."
Queen Medusa listened to the elders' discussion, her expression calm.
With her strength now, even all the Jia Ma Empire's experts combined wouldn't be a match for her.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall.
Xiao Chen walked in.
Queen Medusa looked at him and was about to speak, but suddenly froze.
She sensed the aura coming from Xiao Chen.
It was much stronger than yesterday.
"Your strength..."
Queen Medusa's voice trembled.
The elders sensed it too.
The First Elder's eyes widened.
"Xiao Chen, your strength has increased again?"
The First Elder said in disbelief.
"Six-Star Dou Zong?"
The hall fell silent.
Everyone stood frozen, unable to say a word.
Six-Star Dou Zong.
Yesterday, Xiao Chen had still been a Four-Star Dou Zong.
In just two days, he had advanced by two stars?
Before you continue