Whatever the message was, it was most likely a rejection.
Medusa's original plan had been that if they were rejected, they could always fight them again.
But now, even Dou Wang experts were merely guards.
She had no idea how powerful this family really was.
Suddenly!
Medusa seemed to remember something!
"Yin Shi, what did you just say that family's surname was?!"
"Th-their surname is Xiao."
"Xiao? Xiao? Xiao!!"
Whoosh!
Queen Medusa recalled that the jade she'd found earlier seemed to have an Xiao carved on it!
Thinking of what that man had said before, her expression changed abruptly. Then she spun around without hesitation and darted toward the depths of the Divine Temple.
"What's wrong with Her Majesty?"
The chiefs looked at one another, baffled.
Deep within the Divine Temple.
Medusa darted over the lake and gazed down at the water, which had yet to clear completely.
"Where did I throw it in again?"
Queen Medusa searched her memory in midair, but no matter how long she thought, she couldn't remember!
Splash!
Queen Medusa plunged headfirst into the cold lake!
She searched everywhere.
But the lake was too large, and the water was still so murky that she was like a blind person beneath its surface. She couldn't find it at all.
"No, I'll have to call more people!"
So Queen Medusa immediately returned to the Divine Temple.
"Each of you, bring a hundred tribespeople and follow me into the depths of the Divine Temple! And try to find people who are good swimmers!"
What? Eight hundred Snake-People, and they had to be good swimmers?
The eight tribal chiefs looked at one another.
What was Her Majesty planning?
They hurried back to gather their people. An hour later,
the group arrived deep within the Divine Temple.
"Th-this lake looks like it's sunk more than a dozen zhang!"
Yan Ci exclaimed in shock.
"Drop the 'looks like.' It has sunk."
Hua She'er had visited once before and knew what it had looked like!
"Did someone dig a tunnel and break through beneath our Divine Temple?"
Mo Basi frowned.
Medusa shouted, "What are you all standing around for? Get in the water and find a piece of jade for me!"
"Jade...?"
They were stunned again.
Why were they looking for jade out of nowhere?
Hua She'er asked, "Your Majesty, what does the jade look like?"
"It has writing carved on it."
Seeing that Medusa didn't want to say more, no one dared press her.
More than eight hundred people jumped into the lake together, like dumplings dropping into a pot!
An hour and a half later,
a Snake-Person who was an excellent swimmer discovered a piece of jade with writing carved on it, buried in the mud at the bottom of the lake.
"Your Majesty, I found a piece of jade!"
Whoosh!
At the sound of the voice, Medusa appeared before the person in an instant. She took the jade and looked at it!
It was the jade she'd thrown away.
On the front of the jade,
the character Xiao was carved neatly.
Queen Medusa let out a long breath.
"Good, we found it. You can all leave now."
"Your Majesty, this jade looks very ordinary!"
Hua She'er said, confused.
The others nodded too.
Medusa tossed the jade to Yin Shi.
"Take it and go to the Jia Ma Empire again. Have them give it to someone named Yao Chen."
"Th-that's fine."
Yin Shi thought Her Majesty must have been so frantic that she'd lost her mind!
But when Yin Shi turned the jade over,
the expression on their face suddenly froze!
Several days later.
Yin Shi arrived once more at Misty Cloud Mountain in the Jia Ma Empire.
"Why are you back again?"
Mu Chen looked somewhat impatient.
He bluffed, "Go on, get out of here. Our alliance leader said it's impossible."
Yin Shi took out the jade and offered it with both hands. "Sorry for the trouble, but I've come this time to deliver something to someone named Yao Chen."
Mu Chen, who had been sitting, sprang to his feet.
He took the jade and looked at it.
His expression instantly turned grave.
"Wait here a moment."
Yin Shi nodded.
Then Yin Shi stood aside and waited.
"Ah, Her Majesty really must have been frantic. I actually came here for real." Yin Shi laughed at himself.
Ten minutes later,
Mu Chen returned.
His attitude had completely changed.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Venerable Yao would like to see you."
"V-Venerable Yao?!"
At the title, Yin Shi's breath caught.
In this world, those known as Medicine Kings and Medicine Emperors were all Dou Wang and Dou Huang experts.
Venerable Yao!
Wouldn't that mean someone even more terrifying than a Dou Zong, a legendary Dou Venerable?!
What kind of family was the Xiao Family?
How could they be so terrifying!
Yin Shi followed him to the Xiao Family's reception hall.
Yao Chen had been waiting for some time.
"Yin Shi of the Snake-People Tribe, greetings to Venerable Yao."
Yin Shi bowed respectfully.
Yao Chen waved a hand. "There's no need for formalities. Our lord has already told me. What do you think of us giving your Snake-People Tribe the stretch of Magical Beast Mountain Range near the Tagor Desert as a permanent homeland?"
What?!
Magical Beast Mountain Range...?
This place, in terms of both climate and environment, was ten thousand times better than the Tagor Desert!
It was also a paradise for magical beasts!
It was perfect for them!
Yin Shi trembled all over with excitement!
"Wonderful, of course! Thank you, Venerable Yao. From this day onward, our Snake-People Tribe will be the most loyal friend of the Jia Ma Empire—no, of the Xiao Family!"
"Heh, thank our lord if you want to thank anyone. As for the arrangements going forward, Yun Shan and Jia Xingtian will handle them. I have other business, so I'll take my leave."
Yao Chen rose and left.
Yin Shi had never dreamed that a piece of jade dredged up from a lake would earn an audience with a Dou Venerable!
And the best part was,
their homeland problem had been settled so easily?
Wait!
Where had Her Majesty gotten that jade?
And why had the lake sunk more than a dozen zhang?
Could it be that Her Majesty had already...
With a head full of wild conjectures and questions, Yin Shi returned to the Snake-People Tribe!
Yin Shi told everyone the news!
In an instant,
the whole tribe erupted in celebration!
How many years had it been?
At last, the Snake-People Tribe could leave this damned desert, move to a comfortable place, and rebuild their home!
That night, the Snake-People Tribe held a celebration.
"Yin Shi, you really got a Dou Venerable to treat you like an honored guest just with that piece of jade?"
"One piece of jade gave us a new homeland? I feel like I'm dreaming!"
"We have to thank the owner of that jade. He used that ancient jade to give Venerable Yao his instructions."
"To have a Dou Venerable willingly serve as his subordinate, this lord must be incredible!"
Queen Medusa, seated on the throne, finally showed a hint of relief as she listened to everyone.
The Ice Spirit Cold Spring had won the Snake-People Tribe a permanent homeland. It was a bargain they couldn't lose!
At that moment, she grew increasingly curious about the mysterious man's identity!
At the same time,
elsewhere,
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 possession technique,
he'd come up with a new idea!
So,
Xiao Xuan first entered the Heavenly Tomb. Then, using it as a transit point, he entered the Ancient Realm once more!
With his powerful Emperor Realm Soul, he could hide his presence so thoroughly that even Gu Yuan would struggle to find him if he truly wanted to stay concealed!
And so, he successfully eluded everyone, lay low in the Ancient Realm for three days, and finally found one of the Ancient Clan's storehouses!
Just as he was about to go inside, he saw two old men supporting a one-armed old man as they grumbled their way in.
He vaguely heard one of them say that they were going to settle the score with Ninth Heavenly Venerable of the Soul Hall!
Before you continue