The Snake-Person Empire, Yue Mei!

Hua She'er struck out with her palm, the wind from her blow whistling as it roared toward Xiao Chen's chest.

Xiao Chen didn't even look, merely waving his hand dismissively.

A formidable surge of Dou Qi erupted from Xiao Chen's palm, instantly shattering the force of Hua She'er's strike.

Hua She'er's expression shifted.

She had used seventy percent of her strength in that palm strike; even an expert of the same rank would not dare to take it head-on, yet this youth had neutralized it with a casual flick.

"I said, I don't want to fight," Xiao Chen said indifferently.

Hua She'er gritted her teeth. "You trespassed on the territory of the Snake-Person Tribe and killed our people, and you think you can just walk away?"

Xiao Chen looked at Hua She'er. "You were the ones who attacked first."

"So what?" Hua She'er said coldly. "This is the territory of the Snake-Person Tribe. For an outsider to enter is a capital offense."

Xiao Chen shook his head, too weary to waste any more breath on Hua She'er.

Xiao Chen turned around and began walking toward the depths of the desert.

"Stop!" Hua She'er shouted.

Xiao Chen did not stop.

"Block him!" Hua She'er waved her hand.

Over a dozen Snake-People immediately rushed forward, surrounding Xiao Chen in a tight circle.

The Snake-People held long spears, their tips aimed directly at Xiao Chen's vital points.

"One last time, come with us," Hua She'er said.

Xiao Chen halted his steps and turned his head to glance at Hua She'er.

"You won't let me pass?"

"I will not," Hua She'er replied.

Xiao Chen sighed.

He raised his hand and struck out with a palm.

A terrifying surge of Dou Qi erupted from Xiao Chen's palm, blasting toward the Snake-People.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several loud explosions rang out almost simultaneously as the bodies of the dozen Snake-People were sent flying, crashing onto the sand where they lay motionless.

Hua She'er's pupils constricted violently.

One move—in just a single move, all dozen Snake-People had been killed.

"You..." Hua She'er pointed at Xiao Chen, her voice trembling.

Xiao Chen looked at Hua She'er. "Do you still intend to block me?"

Hua She'er wanted to stop him, but she knew she was no match for this youth.

"You have killed members of the Snake-Person Tribe; Her Majesty the Queen will not let you go," Hua She'er said.

Hua She'er stood where she was, watching Xiao Chen's retreating back as she gritted her teeth.

Clutching her chest, Hua She'er turned and headed toward the direction of the Snake-Person Empire.

In the Snake-Person Empire, Yue Mei sat in a chair, holding a cup of tea.

Yue Mei was a seven-star Dou King of the Snake-Person Tribe, and her status was significant.

"Report!" A Snake-Person ran in from outside.

"What is it?" Yue Mei set down her teacup.

"Lord Hua She'er has returned, and she is severely injured," the Snake-Person said.

Yue Mei's expression changed, and she stood up abruptly.

"Where is she?"

"She is already outside."

Yue Mei walked quickly out of the great hall and saw Hua She'er being supported by two Snake-People, her face deathly pale with a trace of blood hanging from the corner of her mouth.

"What happened?" Yue Mei stepped forward to support Hua She'er.

"A human has trespassed into our territory," Hua She'er said. "He killed over a dozen of our Snake-People."

A flash of killing intent crossed Yue Mei's eyes. "Who?"

"I don't know," Hua She'er shook her head. "A youth of fifteen or sixteen, but his strength is immense. I couldn't even withstand a single move from him."

Yue Mei's brows furrowed tightly.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth injuring a Dou King-level expert like Hua She'er in one move? How could that be possible?

"Where did he go?" Yue Mei asked.

"They headed in the direction of Shimo City," Hua She'er said.

Yue Mei remained silent for a moment before turning to look at the several Snake-People experts in the great hall.

"Follow me."

"Lady Yue Mei, are you going yourself?" one of the Snake-People experts asked.

"Someone capable of wounding Hua She'er in a single strike would only kill you if you went," Yue Mei said.

Yue Mei unfurled her Dou Qi wings, her figure soaring into the sky.

The several Snake-People experts hurriedly followed, and the group flew toward Shimo City.

Shimo City was a small town in the eastern part of the Jia Ma Empire, situated near the Tagor Desert.

It was a place where all sorts of people gathered, filled with mercenaries everywhere.

Xiao Chen walked into Shimo City, moving forward along the street.

The sides of the street were lined with stalls selling everything imaginable.

Magical beast materials, medicinal herbs, medicinal pills, weapons...

Xiao Chen did not stop, walking straight ahead.

After walking for a while, Xiao Chen heard a commotion coming from up ahead.

"Get lost, you little mongrel!"

"Having scales on your body is disgusting."

"Exactly, no one even knows what kind of monster you are."

Xiao Chen looked up and saw several mercenaries surrounding a young girl, shoving her around.

The girl wore tattered clothes and had a thin, small frame, appearing to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old.

There were a few small green scales on the girl's face, which were particularly conspicuous under the sunlight.

Qing Lin—Xiao Chen recognized her at a glance.

"Please, move aside," Qing Lin said in a low voice, her head bowed.

"Move aside?" one of the mercenaries laughed loudly. "A mongrel like you thinks you're worthy of telling us to move?"

Qing Lin's eyes turned red, and she bit her lip, saying nothing.

"Drive her out," the lead mercenary waved his hand. "Don't let her be an eyesore here."

One of the mercenaries reached out to shove Qing Lin with great force.

Qing Lin stumbled and nearly fell.

Watching this scene, Xiao Chen frowned slightly.

"Stop," Xiao Chen said.

The several mercenaries turned their heads to look at Xiao Chen.

"Who are you?" the lead mercenary looked Xiao Chen up and down. "Looking to meddle in other people's business?"

Xiao Chen did not answer; he walked up to Qing Lin and glanced at her.

"Are you alright?"

Qing Lin shook her head, keeping her head down, not daring to look at Xiao Chen.

"Kid, I advise you not to meddle," the lead mercenary said. "This has nothing to do with you."

Xiao Chen turned his head to look at the mercenary. "Shut your mouth."

The mercenary's expression darkened.

"Are you looking for death?"

The mercenary threw a punch directly at Xiao Chen's face.

Xiao Chen didn't even look, simply waving his hand casually.

Bang!

The mercenary's body flew backward, and he hit the ground, motionless.

The other mercenaries were stunned.

"You dare to strike?"

"Attack together!"

The several mercenaries charged forward simultaneously.

Xiao Chen raised his hand and struck out with his palm.

Bang, bang, bang!

Several muffled thuds rang out almost at the same time, and all the mercenaries collapsed to the ground, not one of them able to get back up.

The people on the street watched this scene, all of them dumbfounded.

Those mercenaries were all experts at the Dou Shi level, yet they had been wiped out in a single move by a mere youth.

Qing Lin was also stunned; she raised her head to look at Xiao Chen, her eyes filled with astonishment.

"Thank you," Qing Lin whispered.

Xiao Chen looked at Qing Lin and offered a faint smile.

"You're welcome."

Qing Lin lowered her head, not knowing what else to say.

Just as Xiao Chen was about to speak, a system notification popped up before his eyes.

[Quest Triggered: Help Qing Lin improve her strength.]

[Upon completion of the quest, you will receive one replication opportunity.]

[Do you accept the quest?]

Xiao Chen looked at the system panel, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

Help Qing Lin improve her strength? That worked out perfectly; he had previously replicated the strength of a Tier 6 Alchemist from Gu He, so refining Foundation Building Spirit Liquid would be a piece of cake.

"Accept," Xiao Chen said in his mind.

[Quest accepted. The host may begin at any time.]

Xiao Chen closed the system panel and looked at Qing Lin.

"What is your name?"

"Qing... Qing Lin," she whispered.

"Qing Lin, a good name," Xiao Chen said.

Qing Lin's face flushed slightly, and she remained silent.