A moment later, Yue Mei looked at the Snake-Person warriors lying on the ground, and her expression darkened.
More than twenty elite warriors had all gone down in a single clash. This human was far stronger than she had expected.
"Who exactly are you?" Yue Mei fixed her gaze on Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen did not answer. He walked toward the nearest Snake-Person warrior.
The warrior was still struggling on the ground, trying to get back up.
Xiao Chen raised his hand.
"Stop!" Yue Mei shouted.
Xiao Chen did not stop. He brought his palm down.
The Snake-Person warrior's body twitched once, then went still.
A murderous glint flashed in Yue Mei's eyes.
"I said stop. Didn't you hear me?"
Xiao Chen turned to look at Yue Mei. "I heard you."
"Then why did you still attack?"
"Just because you told me to stop, I'm supposed to stop?" Xiao Chen said coolly.
Yue Mei's fury flared. In all her years, no one had ever dared speak to her like that.
"You're asking for death."
Yue Mei flashed toward Xiao Chen, her speed astonishing as several afterimages trailed behind her.
She struck with her palm, a fierce surge of Dou Qi rushing straight for Xiao Chen's chest.
Xiao Chen stood there without moving.
A cold smile flickered across Yue Mei's eyes.
She had used eighty percent of her strength in that blow. Even a Dou Wang expert of the same rank wouldn't dare take it head-on. This human was as good as dead.
Just as the force of her palm was about to reach Xiao Chen's chest,
Xiao Chen raised his hand and met it with a seemingly effortless palm strike.
Their palms collided with a dull thud.
Yue Mei's face turned deathly pale in an instant.
She felt a terrifying force surge from Xiao Chen's palm, its power far beyond anything she could have imagined.
Yue Mei's body was sent flying. She crashed to the ground and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
She struggled to get up, but her body would not obey her.
Lying on the ground, Yue Mei stared at Xiao Chen, shock filling her eyes.
Who exactly was this human?
Yue Mei was a Seven-Star Dou Wang. In the entire Jia Ma Empire, there were only a handful of people who could defeat her.
Even a Peak Dou Wang expert couldn't possibly have beaten her this badly with a single move.
Yet this youth, who looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, had done just that.
Fear welled up in Yue Mei's heart.
"Who are you?" Her voice trembled.
Xiao Chen walked up to Yue Mei and looked down at her.
He crouched beside her, leaning closer.
Yue Mei's pupils contracted sharply. "What are you going to do?"
Xiao Chen did not answer.
He reached out, gripped Yue Mei's chin, and kissed her on the face.
Yue Mei froze, her mind going blank.
This human had kissed her?
Her face flushed crimson, and indignation filled her eyes.
"You... you dare..."
Xiao Chen rose to his feet and looked at Yue Mei.
"What wouldn't I dare?"
Yue Mei trembled with rage.
In all her years, she had never suffered such humiliation. Not only had a human defeated her, he had forced a kiss on her.
If word of this got out, how could she ever show her face among the Snake People again?
"Just you wait," Yue Mei said through gritted teeth. "I won't let you get away with this."
Xiao Chen ignored her threat and turned toward Qing Lin.
Qing Lin stood at the auction house entrance, staring at everything that had just happened. She was completely stunned.
Young Master had defeated that Snake-Person? And kissed her, too?
Qing Lin's face turned faintly red. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Xiao Chen.
"Let's go," Xiao Chen said.
Qing Lin nodded and followed behind him.
The two walked down the street and soon disappeared into the crowd.
Lying on the ground, Yue Mei watched Xiao Chen's retreating figure, fury filling her eyes.
She struggled to her feet, clutching her chest, and headed toward the Snake-People Empire.
Inside the great hall of the Snake-People Empire, Queen Medusa sat on her throne, holding a glass of red wine.
Queen Medusa was breathtakingly beautiful, with a sensuous figure. Her violet, slit-pupiled eyes radiated a mesmerizing light.
Several elders sat on either side, speaking quietly among themselves.
Yue Mei entered from outside. Her face was deathly pale, and a trace of blood still clung to the corner of her mouth.
The elders were all stunned at the sight of her.
"Yue Mei, what happened to you?" the Great Elder asked.
Yue Mei walked to the center of the hall and knelt.
"Your Majesty, this subordinate has failed. I beg you to punish me."
Queen Medusa set down her wineglass and looked at Yue Mei.
"What happened?"
"This subordinate encountered that human," Yue Mei said. "He killed more than ten of our warriors and wounded Hua She'er."
Queen Medusa furrowed her brows. "You couldn't beat him either?"
Yue Mei lowered her head. "This subordinate was no match for him."
The great hall fell silent.
The elders exchanged looks, shock evident in their eyes.
Yue Mei was a Seven-Star Dou Wang, one of the strongest in the entire Snake-Person Tribe. And even she was no match for that human?
"What was that human's strength?" the Great Elder asked.
Yue Mei shook her head. "This subordinate couldn't see through him."
"Couldn't see through him?" The Second Elder's expression changed.
"He defeated this subordinate with a single move," Yue Mei said.
A chorus of sharp intakes of breath echoed through the great hall.
To defeat a Seven-Star Dou Wang with one move, that human had to be at least a Dou Emperor.
"And..." Yue Mei hesitated.
"And what?" Queen Medusa asked.
Yue Mei clenched her teeth. "That human also kissed this subordinate on the face."
The great hall fell silent again. The elders' faces turned livid.
"Outrageous!" The Great Elder sprang to his feet. "A human dares to humiliate one of our own!"
"That human deserves to die." The Second Elder stood as well.
"Your Majesty, allow this subordinate to take men and kill that human," the Third Elder said.
Queen Medusa leaned back on her throne, her face expressionless.
"Go, if you want to," she said coolly.
The Great Elder turned to Yue Mei. "Where is that human now?"
"He should still be near Shimo City," Yue Mei said.
The Great Elder nodded. "I'll lead the men myself."
"Great Elder, you're going in person?" the Second Elder asked.
"He defeated Yue Mei with one move. If you go, you'll only be throwing your lives away," the Great Elder said.
The elders fell silent.
The Great Elder was the strongest Dou Wang in the Snake-Person Tribe, a Nine-Star Dou Wang at the peak of his rank. He was only one step away from breaking through to Dou Emperor. With him taking action, that human was as good as dead.
"Take a hundred elite warriors," the Great Elder said. "This time, make sure you bring back that human's head."
"Yes." The Second Elder turned to gather the men.
The Great Elder looked at Yue Mei. "What does that human look like?"
Xiao Chen's face surfaced in Yue Mei's mind.
"He was fifteen or sixteen, dressed in black," Yue Mei said.
The Great Elder nodded. "Understood."
He turned and strode out of the great hall.
Yue Mei rose to her feet and watched the Great Elder's retreating back, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
That human was as good as dead. The strongest Dou Wang in the Snake-Person Tribe was going after him. Even a Dou Huang expert would have to think twice, let alone a youth of fifteen or sixteen.
Yue Mei walked out of the great hall and gazed toward Shimo City.
Xiao Chen, just you wait. I'll repay the humiliation you dealt me tenfold, a hundredfold.
Yue Mei murmured to herself in her heart.
Before you continue