An Invitation from the Imperial Family

Yue Mei walked in from outside the main hall, bandages still wrapped around her body and a hint of pallor on her face.

She stopped in the middle of the hall.

"Your Majesty."

Queen Medusa raised her head and looked at her.

"Where is Xiao Xuan?"

"He left."

Yue Mei froze. "He left?"

"Yes. He left behind a prescription and told me to gather the medicinal ingredients on it."

Yue Mei frowned. "What prescription?"

Queen Medusa handed over the scroll in her hand.

Yue Mei took it, unfolded it, and took a glance. Her expression changed instantly.

"A Break-Zong Pill."

Even her voice trembled. "Your Majesty, did he say he could refine a Break-Zong Pill?"

Queen Medusa looked at her. "That was what he said."

Yue Mei's hands were trembling.

The Break-Zong Pill was a peak seventh-grade medicinal pill, one capable of allowing a peak Dou Emperor expert to break through to the Dou Zong realm. There were only a handful of people in the entire Northwest Continent who could refine it. Could that human boy, barely in his teens, truly do so?

"Your Majesty, do you believe him?"

Queen Medusa fell silent for a moment. "He has no reason to deceive me."

Yue Mei froze.

"He is a Dou Zong expert. If he had wanted my life, that palm strike earlier could have taken it. But he did not."

"He gave me the prescription and asked me to gather the ingredients, which means he truly intends to help me."

Yue Mei said nothing as countless thoughts flashed through her mind.

The Queen had a point. Xiao Xuan was a Dou Zong expert, so there was no need for him to deceive them, yet she still found it hard to believe.

A boy in his teens defeating the Queen was already absurd enough. Now he was saying that he could refine a Break-Zong Pill.

Just who was this Xiao Xuan? Yue Mei muttered to herself inwardly.

Queen Medusa withdrew her gaze.

"Yue Mei."

"Here."

"Pass down the order. Have the entire tribe gather the ingredients for the Break-Zong Pill."

Yue Mei froze. "The entire tribe?"

"Yes. Search for them one herb at a time and gather them bit by bit. If the Jia Ma Empire does not have them, search beyond its borders. If the Northwest Continent does not have them, search elsewhere on the continent."

Yue Mei's eyes were filled with shock. The Queen was determined to place her trust in Xiao Xuan.

"Yes."

After responding, she turned and headed out of the main hall.

Queen Medusa sat upon her throne, looking at the prescription in her hand. A trace of anticipation flashed through her eyes. A Break-Zong Pill—if she could obtain it, she would be able to break through to the Dou Zong realm. Then the Snake-People Tribe's situation would improve greatly.

She clenched the prescription in her hand. Xiao Xuan was her only hope.

The Imperial Capital of the Jia Ma Empire.

Xiao Xuan landed outside the city gates, withdrew his Dou Qi Wings, and walked along the streets toward the Mittal Auction House.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

When he arrived at the Mittal Auction House, its doors were wide open and people streamed in and out. He stepped inside.

The main hall was filled with all kinds of medicinal ingredients, cultivation methods, and Dou Techniques. Several maidservants were receiving customers who had come to purchase items.

Xiao Xuan swept his gaze across the shelves. They were all ordinary, low-grade medicinal ingredients, nothing that interested him.

He found a seat in a corner and sat down, intending to see whether anything worthwhile would appear today.

Not long after he sat down, a figure entered through the front doors—Yao Yue, the little princess of the Jia Ma Empire.

She wore a pale purple dress, her hair tied into a ponytail. Her face carried the liveliness of a young girl. Her gaze swept across the hall before finally landing on Xiao Xuan, and her eyes lit up.

She hurried over and sat down beside him.

Xiao Xuan glanced at her but said nothing.

Yao Yue did not mind and looked at him with a cheerful smile.

"Young Master Xiao, we meet again."

Xiao Xuan withdrew his gaze.

Yao Yue pouted. "Can't you be a little friendlier to me?"

Xiao Xuan said nothing.

Yao Yue sighed. "Fine, fine."

After a brief pause, she continued, "Young Master Xiao, I came to see you today because I have something to discuss."

"What is it?"

"My grandfather wants to invite you to visit the Imperial Family. He said I had to bring you there."

Xiao Xuan said nothing.

Yao Yue looked at him. "Young Master Xiao, just come along. My grandfather personally asked for you. If you refuse, I won't be able to explain myself when I return."

Xiao Xuan withdrew his gaze. "I don't have time."

Yao Yue pouted. "What is wrong with you? My grandfather is the ancestor of the Jia Ma Empire, a Dou Emperor expert. He personally invited you, and you still refuse to go?"

Xiao Xuan looked at her. "So what?"

Yao Yue opened her mouth but could not find anything to say. She stared at Xiao Xuan for several seconds before finally sighing.

"Fine, fine. If you won't go, then you won't go. I'll tell my grandfather that you refused."

She stood up and dusted the dirt from her skirt.

"Then I'm leaving."

She turned toward the front doors. After taking a few steps, she looked back at Xiao Xuan again.

Xiao Xuan sat in his chair without the slightest expression on his face. Yao Yue bit her lip and stamped her foot in anger before she could only turn around and leave the auction house.