"The Dou Technique in Queen Medusa's hands was definitely Earth-Rank."
He gritted his teeth as he spoke.
Nalan Jie sighed.
"There's no point talking about it now."
"Queen Medusa is a Dou Zong, and that Xiao Chen is one too."
"We're no match for either of them."
Jia Xingtian gave a bitter laugh.
"Xiao Chen..."
He murmured the name.
"So young, yet already a Dou Zong—and a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, too."
"How could someone like him have been born among the Snake-People? If only he'd been born in one of our human empires..."
Yun Shan stood there, his resentment practically spilling across his face.
He had finally managed to break through to Dou Zong.
First, Xiao Chen had beaten him with a single palm strike.
Then Queen Medusa had sent him flying with one palm strike.
He had gone to the Snake-People Tribe twice, and both times he had returned in defeat.
Yun Shan clenched his fists.
But what good did his resentment do?
The Snake-People Tribe was now beyond his ability to challenge.
Jia Xingtian leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.
"Forget it."
"Don't provoke the Snake-People Tribe again."
Everyone fell silent.
Nalan Jie nodded.
"Elder Jia is right."
"Those two Dou Zongs in the Snake-People Tribe are beyond our ability to handle."
Yun Shan said nothing, but he didn't object.
The hall fell quiet.
At dusk.
Xiao Chen left the Snake-People Tribe alone and headed into the desert.
He unfurled his Dou Qi Wings and flew low over the ground.
His gaze swept across the dunes as he searched for medicinal herbs.
He had used up quite a bit of the stock in his System Inventory and needed to replenish it.
Sea Buckthorn Root.
Sun Vine.
Desert Lotus.
These herbs could only be found deep in the desert.
Xiao Chen landed on a dune and bent down to pull a medicinal herb from the sand.
Sun Vine.
He put it into his System Inventory and continued onward.
He found several more Sea Buckthorn Roots.
He put them away one by one.
Further on, he found two Desert Lotuses.
He collected those as well.
His System Inventory was stocked with quite a few more medicinal herbs.
Xiao Chen gathered his Dou Qi and flew back toward the tribe.
The Moti Mercenary Group's camp.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sat inside a tent.
They had just received word that Jia Xingtian and Yun Shan had joined forces to attack the Snake-People Tribe, only to suffer a crushing defeat.
"Even Jia Xingtian and Elder Yun Shan, working together, were defeated."
Xiao Li spoke with undisguised shock.
"Just how powerful are those two Dou Zongs in the Snake-People Tribe?"
Xiao Ding remained silent.
He remembered the day Qing Lin had been taken away by Queen Medusa.
Queen Medusa had merely stood there, yet the aura she radiated had left them unable even to move.
"Queen Medusa was already a Peak Dou Emperor."
Xiao Ding said.
"Now that she's broken through to Dou Zong, she's naturally even stronger."
Xiao Li shook his head.
"It's not just Queen Medusa."
"I heard that the Snake-Person called Xiao Chen is even stronger than her."
Xiao Ding's brow furrowed even deeper.
Xiao Chen.
He had never heard that name before.
When had such a young Dou Zong appeared in the Snake-People Tribe?
Xiao Li continued.
"Jia Xingtian and Yun Shan joined forces, and they couldn't even withstand one move from Queen Medusa."
"That Xiao Chen hadn't even made a move."
"If he had joined in, I'm afraid none of the strong fighters from the Jia Ma Empire would have made it back."
Xiao Ding drew a deep breath.
The Snake-People Tribe's strength had far surpassed their expectations.
"Forget it."
Xiao Ding said.
"This isn't something we can get involved in."
Xiao Li nodded.
The two fell silent.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a glance.
They could both see the shock in each other's eyes.
The Snake-People Tribe had two Dou Zongs.
Once word got out, it was bound to shake the entire Jia Ma Empire.
Several days later.
Xiao Chen arrived at the Tagor Desert.
He planned to visit Shimo City to buy some medicinal herbs.
Once he reached Shimo City, he went around the city's herbal shops and bought the herbs he needed.
Just as he was about to head back, a mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[New Mission Issued: Take a Wife and Concubines. Target: Xiao Yi Xian. Earn Xiao Yi Xian's initial favor. Reward: One use of Multi-Child Multi-Blessing.]
Xiao Chen looked at the prompt on the system panel and accepted it without hesitation.
He gathered his thoughts, summoned his Dou Qi, and flew toward Qingshan Town.
Qingshan Town.
Xiao Chen landed outside the town, concealed his aura, and walked in.
He hadn't gone far when he saw a crowd gathered ahead.
He walked over and saw Xiao Yi Xian crouched on the ground, bandaging an injured mercenary's wound.
The man had a gash on his arm deep enough to expose the bone. Xiao Yi Xian carefully applied medicinal herbs and wrapped it with a strip of cloth.
"All done. Keep it dry for the next few days."
Xiao Yi Xian said.
"Thank you, Miss Xiao Yi Xian."
The mercenary hurriedly thanked her.
"If it weren't for you, I might have lost the use of this arm."
Xiao Yi Xian shook her head.
"It was nothing."
She stood up and went to tend to another mercenary's wound.
Several mercenaries gathered around her, their eyes full of gratitude.
"Miss Xiao Yi Xian is such a kind soul. Us rough folk rely on her whenever we get hurt."
One mercenary said.
"That's right. Without Xiao Yi Xian, who knows how many times we'd have died by now."
Another mercenary chimed in.
Xiao Chen stood outside the crowd, watching Xiao Yi Xian work.
Just then, a voice came from behind them.
"Out of the way."
Several mercenaries were shoved aside, and Mu Li came over with a few of his men.
An obscene smile played across Mu Li's face.
"Xiao Yi Xian, come with me."
Mu Li said.
Xiao Yi Xian glanced at him, her expression darkening.
"I'm busy."
Xiao Yi Xian replied coolly.
"Busy?"
Mu Li gave a cold laugh.
"My father is the head of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. You think you can refuse when I tell you to come with me?"
Xiao Yi Xian ignored him and continued tending to the mercenary's wound.
Mu Li's expression darkened.
"You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."
He stepped forward and reached for Xiao Yi Xian's wrist.
Xiao Yi Xian stepped back and dodged his hand.
"Mu Li, don't go too far."
Xiao Yi Xian said coldly.
"Too far?"
Mu Li laughed.
"In Qingshan Town, there isn't a woman I've set my sights on who's ever gotten away from me."
He waved a hand.
"Take her away."
His men immediately closed in.
The mercenaries Xiao Yi Xian had just treated stepped forward.
"Master Mu Li, Miss Xiao Yi Xian doesn't want to go. Don't force her."
One mercenary said.
"Get lost."
Mu Li slapped him across the face.
The mercenary staggered back a couple of steps, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
The other mercenaries' expressions changed, but none dared speak again.
The Wolf Head Mercenary Group wielded considerable influence in Qingshan Town. They couldn't afford to offend them.
Mu Li's men surrounded Xiao Yi Xian.
Her face had gone pale, but she didn't back down.
Just then, Xiao Chen stepped out of the crowd.
He walked up to Xiao Yi Xian and stood in front of her.
Mu Li saw Xiao Chen and frowned.
"What are you supposed to be?"
Mu Li said coldly.
Xiao Chen looked at him without speaking.
"I asked you a question."
Mu Li said.
"If you know what's good for you, get out of the way. Don't stick your nose where it doesn't belong."
Xiao Chen still said nothing.
Mu Li's expression darkened.
"You're asking for death."
He waved his hand.
"Get him!"
Several of his men immediately charged at Xiao Chen.
One mercenary drew his blade and swung it at Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen raised a hand and struck out with his palm.
The mercenary was sent flying, crashing heavily to the ground. He died on the spot.
The other men froze.
Xiao Chen gave them no time to react.
He struck out with his palm several more times.
All of the men fell to the ground. Two were killed on the spot, while the rest lay there groaning in pain.
Mu Li's expression changed drastically.
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