"Satisfied."
Xiao Chen said.
"Then how are you going to thank me?"
Yue Mei moved a little closer and asked softly.
Xiao Chen looked at her but didn't answer.
He reached out and pushed Yue Mei down onto the bed.
Yue Mei let out a soft cry, caught off guard.
Xiao Chen had already leaned over her.
Yue Mei's cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't resist.
The candlelight flickered, casting shadows on the wall.
A long while later, Yue Mei leaned against Xiao Chen, her face still tinged with red.
"Tell me, what kind of woman do you think the queen will find for you while she's away?"
Yue Mei asked.
"I don't know."
Xiao Chen said, "But the queen's choice probably won't be bad."
"Aren't you afraid I'll get jealous?"
Yue Mei said with a soft laugh.
Xiao Chen lay down and gazed at the ceiling.
Nine-Star Dou Wang.
This was only the beginning.
Once the queen returned and he took a concubine, his strength could rise even further.
By then, he might even break through to Dou Emperor.
Xiao Chen closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
When he woke the next day, he opened his eyes, and a mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
"Ding! Multi-Child Multi-Blessing System reward settlement in progress."
Xiao Chen froze, then quickly focused.
"The host and Yue Mei have consummated their marriage, completing the marriage task."
"System reward being issued..."
"Ding! Congratulations, host! You have obtained a Heavenly Flame: Green Lotus Core Flame!"
Green Lotus Core Flame?
The Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking?
Xiao Chen's eyes widened, excitement surging in his heart.
A Heavenly Flame!
In the world of Battle Through the Heavens, Heavenly Flames were treasures coveted by every alchemist and powerful expert.
Xiao Chen looked at the cyan flame in his palm, unable to stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
With the Green Lotus Core Flame, his strength would increase dramatically.
The power of a Heavenly Flame was enough to let a Nine-Star Dou Wang expert contend with a One-Star Dou Emperor.
Or even someone stronger.
"As expected of the system..."
Xiao Chen said quietly, his eyes brimming with excitement.
Just then, Yue Mei woke beside him.
She sat up and was about to speak, but suddenly froze.
"This..."
Yue Mei's expression changed, shock filling her eyes.
She could feel that the Dou Qi within her was much stronger than it had been yesterday.
No, not just a little stronger—it had increased tremendously.
Yue Mei hurriedly examined her cultivation.
A moment later, her expression changed completely.
"Eight-Star Dou Wang?"
Yue Mei murmured in disbelief.
She clearly remembered that she had been a Seven-Star Dou Wang yesterday.
Moreover, she had been stuck at the bottleneck for a long time.
She hadn't even reached the peak of Seven-Star Dou Wang.
How had she broken through to Eight-Star Dou Wang overnight?
"How is this possible..."
Yue Mei exclaimed in shock.
She closed her eyes and carefully sensed the Dou Qi within her.
That was right. She really was an Eight-Star Dou Wang.
And the strength of her Dou Qi was greater than that of an ordinary Eight-Star Dou Wang.
Yue Mei opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Chen beside her.
"What on earth is going on?"
Yue Mei asked, bewilderment filling her voice.
Xiao Chen looked at her and smiled.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Chen asked.
"I broke through to Eight-Star Dou Wang."
Yue Mei said, "I was still a Seven-Star Dou Wang last night, but today I'm an Eight-Star Dou Wang."
"How is that possible?"
Xiao Chen's heart stirred.
The system's reward hadn't just given him a Heavenly Flame—it had also increased Yue Mei's strength?
Xiao Chen thought it over and figured it must be the Multi-Child Multi-Blessing System's feedback effect.
The system had said before that when his strength increased, there was a chance the people around him would receive a boost as well.
It seemed Yue Mei was the one who had benefited.
"What do you think caused it?"
Xiao Chen asked.
Yue Mei looked at him, suspicion filling her eyes.
"Could it... have something to do with you?"
Yue Mei asked tentatively.
Xiao Chen said nothing.
Yue Mei stared at him for a long while, then shook her head.
"Probably not."
Yue Mei said, "How could you have anything to do with my breakthrough?"
"I must be overthinking it."
After saying that, Yue Mei got up and got dressed.
She walked to the door and glanced back at Xiao Chen.
"I'll head out first."
Yue Mei said.
Xiao Chen nodded.
After Yue Mei left, Xiao Chen raised his hand, and the cyan flame appeared again.
"Green Lotus Core Flame..."
Xiao Chen murmured, "With this, even a Dou Huang expert won't be beyond my reach."
He clenched his fist, and the flame vanished.
A figure approached from afar in the Snake-People Tribe.
Mo Basi.
One of the Snake-People Tribe's Eight Great Leaders, he was an Eight-Star Dou Wang.
He had been stationed outside for many days and had only returned to the tribe today.
As soon as he entered the tribe, Mo Basi sensed that something was amiss.
The tribe members were looking at him strangely.
Mo Basi furrowed his brow and stopped one of them.
"What happened?"
Mo Basi asked.
The tribe member hesitated, then said, "Lord Mo Basi, you haven't heard?"
"Lord Yue Mei... got married."
Mo Basi's expression changed.
"Got married?"
Mo Basi cried out. "Who did she marry?"
"Xiao Chen."
The tribe member replied.
Mo Basi froze.
Xiao Chen?
That good-for-nothing Three-Star Dou Zhe?
"What did you say?"
Mo Basi asked in disbelief. "Yue Mei married Xiao Chen?"
"Yes."
The tribe member nodded. "It was Her Majesty the Queen's order. The wedding was held yesterday."
Mo Basi's face turned ashen.
Without another word, he turned and headed straight for Yue Mei's residence.
Yue Mei had just stepped out of her residence when she saw Mo Basi approaching.
"Mo Basi?"
Yue Mei was slightly surprised. "You're back?"
Mo Basi looked at her, his expression grim.
"Yue Mei, I heard you married Xiao Chen?"
Mo Basi asked in a low voice.
"Yes."
Yue Mei replied calmly.
"Why?"
Mo Basi demanded. "Even if it was the queen's order, he's still not worthy of you!"
"What right does a good-for-nothing Three-Star Dou Zhe have to marry you?"
Yue Mei frowned.
"Mo Basi, this is my business. It has nothing to do with you."
Yue Mei said coldly.
Just then, Xiao Chen walked out of the residence.
Mo Basi saw Xiao Chen, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
"Are you Xiao Chen?"
Mo Basi said coldly.
Xiao Chen looked at him and replied calmly, "I am."
"What right do you have to marry Yue Mei?"
Mo Basi snarled. "You're a good-for-nothing Three-Star Dou Zhe. What makes you worthy?"
"You're not worthy!"
Xiao Chen looked at him without speaking.
Mo Basi was an Eight-Star Dou Wang, a first-rate expert among the Snake-People Tribe.
But to Xiao Chen now, an Eight-Star Dou Wang... was nothing special.
"Mo Basi, that's enough."
Yue Mei said coldly. "Xiao Chen is my husband. Watch your tone."
"Yue Mei, you..."
Mo Basi looked at her in disbelief.
"I told you, this is my business."
Yue Mei said calmly. "You don't get to decide whether Xiao Chen is worthy."
Mo Basi's face turned ashen.
He looked at Yue Mei, then at Xiao Chen. The hostility in his eyes grew even stronger.
Just then, the Second Elder walked over.
"Mo Basi, you're back?"
The Second Elder smiled.
"Second Elder,"
Mo Basi said in a low voice.
The Second Elder glanced at Xiao Chen, then at Yue Mei, the corners of his mouth lifting in a faint smile.
"Mo Basi, you haven't heard?"
The Second Elder said, "Her Majesty the Queen has gone to the human empire in person."
"What did she go to the human empire for?"
Mo Basi frowned.
"To help Xiao Chen take a concubine,"
the Second Elder said calmly.
Mo Basi's expression changed dramatically.
"What?!"
Before you continue