Xiao Xuan Enters the Ancient Clan Again

Any message waiting for them was, in all likelihood, a rejection.

Queen Medusa's original plan had been simple: if they refused, she would just fight them again.

But right now, even a Dou King was nothing more than a gatekeeper.

She had no idea just how powerful this family truly was.

Suddenly!

Queen Medusa seemed to recall something!

"Yin Shi, you said just now... what was that family's surname?!"

"It... it is Xiao."

"Xiao? Xiao? Xiao!!"

Whoosh!

Queen Medusa recalled that the jade piece from before seemed to have the character 'Xiao' carved onto it!

Connecting this to what that person had said earlier!

Her expression shifted abruptly, and she turned around decisively, darting toward the depths of the temple.

"What has come over Her Majesty?"

The several leaders exchanged confused glances, completely baffled.

Deep within the temple.

Queen Medusa darted above the lake, gazing down at the water, which had yet to fully clear.

"Where exactly did I throw it in?"

Queen Medusa hovered in the sky, racking her brain, but after a long while, she couldn't remember at all!

Splash!

Queen Medusa dove headfirst into the icy lake water!

She searched everywhere.

However, the lake was too vast, and with the water still murky, she was like a blind person underwater, unable to find a thing.

"This won't do, I must summon more people!"

With that, Queen Medusa immediately returned to the temple.

"Each of you, bring one hundred tribesmen and follow This Queen to the depths of the temple! And remember, it would be best to find those who are strong swimmers!"

What? Eight hundred snake-people, and they needed to be good swimmers?

The eight tribal leaders looked at one another.

What on earth was Her Majesty planning?

They immediately returned to gather their men, and an hour later.

A large group arrived at the depths of the temple.

"This... why does it feel like this lake has sunk by over a dozen zhang?"

Yan Ci said in shock.

"Remove the 'feel like' and the 'seems like'—it has indeed sunk."

Hua She'er had been here once before and knew what it used to look like!

"Could someone have dug a tunnel right under our temple?"

Mo Basi frowned.

Queen Medusa barked, "Why are you all just standing there? Hurry into the water and find a piece of jade for This Queen!"

Find... jade?

The group was stunned once more.

Why on earth were they looking for jade?

Hua She'er asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask what kind of jade it is?"

"A piece of jade with a character carved on it."

Seeing that Queen Medusa did not wish to elaborate, the others dared not press the matter.

Over eight hundred people jumped into the lake all at once, like dumplings being dropped into a pot!

It took an hour and a half.

Finally, a snake-person skilled in swimming discovered a piece of jade carved with a character buried in the mud at the bottom of the lake.

"Your Majesty, I have found a piece of jade!"

Whoosh!

Hearing this, Queen Medusa instantly appeared before the man and took the jade to examine it!

It was the jade she had discarded.

On the front of the jade.

A single character, "Xiao," was neatly engraved!

Queen Medusa let out a long sigh of relief.

"Very well, the item has been found. You may all leave."

"Your Majesty, this piece of jade looks quite ordinary!"

Hua She'er asked, puzzled.

The others nodded in agreement.

Medusa tossed the jade to Yin Shi.

"Take it, go to the Jia Ma Empire once more, and have their people deliver it to someone named Yao Chen."

"This... very well."

Yin Shi felt that Her Majesty must have gone mad with anxiety!

When he flipped the jade over.

His expression suddenly froze!

Several days later.

Yin Shi arrived once again at Misty Cloud Mountain in the Jia Ma Empire.

"Why have you returned?"

There was a hint of impatience in Mu Chen's eyes.

He spoke as if relaying an imperial decree:

"Go on, leave. Our Alliance Leader has spoken; it is impossible."

Yin Shi took out the jade and offered it with both hands: "My apologies, I have come this time to deliver an item to someone named Yao Chen."

Mu Chen, who had been sitting, stood up instantly.

He took the jade and glanced at it.

His expression turned grave at once.

"Wait here for a moment."

Yin Shi nodded.

He stood to the side and waited.

Sigh, it seems Her Majesty really has gone mad, and I actually followed along, Yin Shi thought with a self-deprecating smile.

Ten minutes later.

Mu Chen returned.

His attitude had undergone a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

"Kept you waiting, haven't I? My apologies, Venerable Yao requests your presence."

"Venerable... Yao?!"

Hearing this title, Yin Shi's breath hitched.

In this world, those who could be called Medicine Kings or Medicine Emperors were all Dou King or Dou Emperor powerhouses.

Venerable Yao!

Did that not mean someone even more terrifying than a Dou Ancestor, a legend existing only as a Dou Venerable!!

What kind of background did this Xiao Family have?

To be this terrifying!

He followed him to the Xiao Family reception hall.

Yao Chen had been waiting for a long time.

"Yin Shi of the Snake-People Tribe pays respects to Lord Venerable Yao."

Yin Shi bowed respectfully.

Yao Chen waved his hand: "No need for such formalities. Our master has already informed me. How about this: we shall cede the portion of the Magical Beast Mountain Range adjacent to the Tagor Desert to your Snake-People Tribe as a permanent habitat. How does that sound?"

What?!

The... the Magical Beast Mountain Range?

This place... in terms of climate and environment, it was not only ten thousand times better than the Tagor Desert!

It was a paradise for magical beasts!

It was perfectly suited for them!

Yin Shi was trembling all over with excitement!

"Good, of course it is good! Many thanks, Venerable Yao. From this day forward, our Snake-People Tribe shall be the most loyal friends of the Jia Ma Empire—no, of the Xiao Family!"

"Hehe, if you wish to offer thanks, thank my master. Furthermore, the subsequent coordination matters will be handled by Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian. I have other business to attend to, so I shall not keep you company."

Yao Chen rose and departed.

Yin Shi had never dreamed that he would be personally received by a Dou Zun powerhouse just because of a piece of jade he had fished out of a lake!

The key point was!

The issue of their habitat had been resolved so easily?

Wait!

That piece of jade... where did Her Majesty obtain it?

Why did that lake sink another dozen zhang?

Could it be that Her Majesty has already...

Having filled his head with wild conjectures, Yin Shi returned to the Snake-People Tribe with a belly full of questions!

He relayed the news to everyone!

In an instant!

The entire tribe was in an uproar!

How many years had it been!

The Snake-People Tribe could finally leave this damned desert and rebuild their home in a comfortable environment!

That night, the Snake-People Tribe held a celebration.

"Yin Shi, did you really rely on that piece of jade to make a Dou Zun treat you as an honored guest?"

"A single piece of jade earned us a new home? Why does this feel like a dream!"

"All of this must be credited to the owner of that jade. It was he who instructed Venerable Yao through that Ancient Jade."

"To make a Dou Zun willingly act as a subordinate, that lord must be truly formidable!"

Queen Medusa, sitting upon her throne, finally allowed a trace of relief to appear on her face as she listened to the crowd!

Trading the Ice Spirit Cold Spring for a permanent habitat for the Snake-People Tribe was a profit that could not be lost!

At this moment, she became increasingly curious about the identity of that mysterious person!

Meanwhile.

On the other side.

After Xiao Xuan left the Tagor Desert, his original plan had been to head to the Black-Corner Region.

However, with the appearance of the upgraded Soul-Seizing Technique.

He had a new idea!

And so!

Xiao Xuan first entered the Heavenly Tomb, then, using the Heavenly Tomb as a transit point, he entered the Ancient Realm once more!

With the might of his Emperor-tier soul, if he intended to hide, even Gu Yuan would find it difficult to detect his tracks!

Just like that, he successfully evaded everyone, lurked in the Ancient Realm for three days, and finally located a warehouse belonging to the Ancient Clan!

Just as he was preparing to enter, he discovered two old men supporting an elderly man with a severed arm, walking inside while cursing.

He vaguely heard one of them say that they were going to settle the score with the Ninth Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall!