Snake-Person Empire, Yue Mei!

Hua She'er struck out with her palm, sending a whistling gust toward Xiao Chen's chest.

Xiao Chen didn't even look. He casually waved a hand.

A powerful surge of Dou Qi burst from Xiao Chen's palm, directly scattering Hua She'er's gust.

Hua She'er's expression changed.

She had used seventy percent of her strength in that strike. Even an expert of the same level wouldn't dare take it head-on, yet this young man had dispelled it with a casual wave.

"I told you, I don't want to fight," Xiao Chen said coolly.

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

Xiao Chen looked at Hua She'er. "Your people attacked first."

"So what?" Hua She'er said coldly. "This is Snake-Person territory. Any outsider who enters is committing a capital crime."

Xiao Chen shook his head. He couldn't be bothered to waste any more words on Hua She'er.

He turned and walked toward the depths of the desert.

"Stop!" Hua She'er shouted.

Xiao Chen didn't stop.

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

More than a dozen Snake People immediately charged forward, surrounding Xiao Chen.

They held spears, their points aimed at Xiao Chen's vital spots.

"I'll say it one last time. Come with us," Hua She'er said.

Xiao Chen stopped and glanced back at Hua She'er.

"You won't let me pass?"

"I won't," Hua She'er replied.

Xiao Chen sighed.

He raised his hand and struck out with his palm.

A terrifying surge of Dou Qi burst from Xiao Chen's palm and roared toward the Snake People.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Several deafening crashes rang out almost simultaneously. The bodies of more than a dozen Snake People flew backward, and they landed in the sand, motionless.

Hua She'er's pupils contracted sharply.

One move. Just one move, and all the Snake People were dead.

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

Xiao Chen looked at Hua She'er. "Are you still going to stop me?"

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

"You killed members of the Snake-Person Tribe. Her Majesty the Queen won't let you get away with this," Hua She'er said.

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

Clutching her chest, she turned and headed toward the Snake-People Empire.

In the Snake-People Empire, Yue Mei sat in a chair with a cup of tea in her hand.

Yue Mei was a Seven-Star Dou Wang of the Snake-Person Tribe, with considerable standing.

"Reporting!" A Snake Person ran in from outside.

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

"Lady Hua She'er is back. She's badly injured," the Snake Person reported.

Yue Mei's expression changed, and she sprang to her feet.

"Where is she?"

"She's outside already."

Yue Mei hurried out of the main hall. She saw Hua She'er being supported by two Snake People. Her face was deathly pale, and a trace of blood hung at the corner of her mouth.

"What happened?" Yue Mei went up and supported Hua She'er.

"A human trespassed on our territory," Hua She'er said. "He killed more than a dozen of our people."

A murderous glint flashed in Yue Mei's eyes. "Who?"

"I don't know." Hua She'er shook her head. "A boy of about fifteen or sixteen. He was incredibly strong. I couldn't even withstand one move from him."

Yue Mei frowned deeply.

A boy of fifteen or sixteen had injured Hua She'er, a Dou Wang, with a single move? How was that possible?

"Where did he go?" Yue Mei asked.

"He was heading toward Shimo City," Hua She'er replied.

Yue Mei fell silent for a moment, then turned to the several Snake-Person experts in the hall.

"Come with me."

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

"If he can injure Hua She'er with one move, you'd only be going to your deaths," Yue Mei said.

Yue Mei unfurled her Dou Qi Wings and shot into the sky.

The several Snake-Person experts hurried after her, and the group flew toward Shimo City.

Shimo City was a small city in the eastern part of the Jia Ma Empire, close to the Tagor Desert.

It was a melting pot, teeming with mercenaries.

Xiao Chen entered Shimo City and walked along the street.

Stalls lined both sides of the road, selling all kinds of things.

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

Xiao Chen didn't stop. He walked straight ahead.

After a while, Xiao Chen heard a commotion up ahead.

"Get lost, you little freak!"

"Those scales on your body are disgusting!"

"Yeah! Who knows what kind of monster you are?"

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

The girl was small and thin, dressed in shabby clothes. She looked no older than twelve or thirteen.

A few tiny green scales dotted her face, standing out in the sunlight.

Qing Lin. Xiao Chen recognized her at a glance.

"Please... let me through," Qing Lin said softly, head bowed.

"Let you through?" One of the mercenaries laughed. "What makes a little freak like you think you can tell us what to do?"

Qing Lin's eyes reddened. She bit her lip and said nothing.

"Get her out of here." The mercenary in charge waved a hand. "Don't let her stand around making a mess of the place."

One of the mercenaries reached out to shove Qing Lin, using considerable force.

Qing Lin stumbled and nearly fell.

Xiao Chen watched, his brow creasing slightly.

"Stop," Xiao Chen said.

The mercenaries turned to look at him.

"Who are you?" The leader sized Xiao Chen up. "Why stick your nose into this?"

Xiao Chen didn't answer. He walked over to Qing Lin and glanced at her.

"Are you all right?"

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

"Kid, I suggest you mind your own business," the leader said. "This has nothing to do with you."

Xiao Chen turned to look at him. "Shut your mouth."

The mercenary's expression darkened.

"You have a death wish?"

The mercenary punched toward Xiao Chen's face.

Xiao Chen didn't even look. He casually waved a hand.

Thud!

The mercenary flew backward and landed on the ground, motionless.

The other mercenaries froze.

"You dare hit him?"

"Get him!"

Several mercenaries charged at once.

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

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Several muffled thumps rang out almost simultaneously. The mercenaries all collapsed to the ground, not one of them able to get back up.

Everyone on the street watched, stunned.

Those mercenaries were all Dou Shi-level experts, yet a single move from this young man had taken them all down.

Qing Lin was stunned too. She raised her head to look at Xiao Chen, her eyes full of surprise.

"Thank you," Qing Lin said softly.

Xiao Chen looked at her and smiled faintly.

"Don't mention it."

Qing Lin lowered her head, unsure what to say.

Xiao Chen was about to speak when a system notification popped up before his eyes.

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

[After completing the mission, you will receive one copy opportunity.]

[Accept the mission?]

Xiao Chen looked at the system panel, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Help Qing Lin improve her strength? Perfect. He'd copied Gu He's sixth-grade alchemist abilities earlier, so refining Foundation Building Spirit Liquid would be a piece of cake.

"Accept," Xiao Chen said in his mind.

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

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

"What's your name?"

"Q-Qing Lin," she said softly.

"Qing Lin. That's a lovely name," Xiao Chen said.

Qing Lin's face turned slightly red, and she said nothing.