Queen Medusa's Shock!

Xiao Xuan rose from the stone bench. The mission on the system panel was crystal clear: bind Queen Medusa.

The ruler of the Snake-People Tribe, a Dou Emperor-level powerhouse.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he headed toward Xiao Xun'er's room.

He knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Xiao Xuan pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Xun'er was sitting cross-legged on the bed. She had just emerged from her cultivation state, and a smile appeared on her face when she saw Xiao Xuan.

"Brother Xiao Xuan."

Xiao Xuan walked to the bedside.

"Xun'er, I'm going out for a while."

Xiao Xun'er paused.

"Where to?"

"The Tagor Desert," Xiao Xuan said.

Xiao Xun'er's brows furrowed slightly.

"The Snake-People Tribe's territory?"

"Mm," Xiao Xuan said. "I have some matters to deal with."

Xiao Xun'er looked at him without pressing for details.

If Brother Xiao Xuan didn't want to say, she wouldn't ask.

Xiao Xun'er murmured to herself inwardly.

"Brother Xiao Xuan, then be careful."

Xiao Xuan nodded, turned, and left the room.

The Tagor Desert.

At the border of the Jia Ma Empire stretched an endless sea of yellow sand.

Xiao Xuan spread his Dou Qi Wings and shot into the sky, flying toward the depths of the desert.

A hot wind rushed against his face, while the yellow sand beneath him glimmered gold beneath the sunlight.

His gaze swept across the land below as he searched for the location of the Snake-People Tribe's Temple.

The system had provided guidance. The direction was very clear.

He continued flying forward.

After an unknown amount of time, an oasis appeared in the distance.

At the center of the oasis stood a massive Temple.

He had arrived at the Snake-People Tribe settlement.

The Snake-People Tribe Temple.

Inside the main hall.

Queen Medusa sat upon her throne. She wore a long purple dress, her beauty peerless and her temperament cold. A faintly bewitching gleam shone in her narrow eyes.

Three elders stood below, reporting the latest information to her.

The Grand Elder raised his head to look at Queen Medusa.

"Your Majesty, news has come from the Jia Ma Empire."

Queen Medusa looked at him.

"What news?"

"The Mittal Auction House auctioned off a medicinal pill today," the Grand Elder said. "A Peak Sixth-Rank Dou Huang Pill."

Queen Medusa's brow lifted slightly.

"Peak Sixth-Rank?"

"Yes." The Grand Elder nodded. "A Dou Zhe of any level can take it and temporarily gain the strength of a Dou Emperor. It lasts for one hour."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with gravity.

Queen Medusa lightly tapped her fingers against the throne's armrest.

"Who refined it?"

"Rumor has it that it was refined by a teenage youth," the Grand Elder said. "An Eight-Star Dou Huang, and very likely a Seventh-Rank Alchemist."

Queen Medusa's pupils contracted slightly.

A teenager, an Eight-Star Dou Huang, and a Seventh-Rank Alchemist—she had never heard of anyone possessing all three identities.

"Is the information reliable?" Queen Medusa asked.

"It is," the Grand Elder said. "The news has already spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire. That youth is called Xiao Xuan, from the Xiao Clan of Wutan City."

Queen Medusa fell silent as countless thoughts flashed through her mind.

The emergence of such a monstrous genius among the humans was not good news for the Snake-People Tribe.

The Second Elder stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, with such a powerhouse emerging among the humans, he may pose a threat to our Snake-People Tribe in the future."

The Third Elder also spoke up.

"The Second Elder is right. The humans are growing stronger and stronger. We have no choice but to remain on guard."

Queen Medusa glanced at them.

"What is there to fear?"

Outside the Snake-People Tribe settlement.

Xiao Xuan landed and withdrew his Dou Qi Wings. After walking some distance forward, he came upon a patrolling guard unit.

At its head was a woman in silver armor. She was tall and slender, with a cold, stern face—Hua She'er, captain of the Snake-People Tribe guards.

The moment she saw Xiao Xuan, she raised a hand. The guards behind her all came to a halt.

Hua She'er stared at Xiao Xuan, her eyes full of vigilance.

"Who are you?"

Xiao Xuan looked at her.

"I want to see your queen."

Hua She'er's brows knitted together.

"See the queen? Who do you think you are? Is the queen someone you can see just because you want to?"

Xiao Xuan said nothing.

Hua She'er sized him up from head to toe.

"Human, this is Snake-People Tribe territory, not a place for humans like you. Leave at once, or don't blame me for getting rough."

Xiao Xuan stood where he was without moving an inch.

"I said I want to see your queen."

Hua She'er's expression darkened.

"You're courting death."

She abruptly waved her hand.

"Take him down."