By evening, the banquet was nearly ready.
Queen Medusa gently knocked on Yao Chen's door and asked him softly,
"Senior, have you rested well? The banquet is about to begin."
Yao Chen was meditating in his room. He planned to give Queen Medusa and the others a batch of recovery pills he had refined earlier. After all, injuring them had truly been unavoidable.
"Mm. Come into the room first. I have something to give you."
"Of course, Senior."
Queen Medusa gently pushed the door open and entered Yao Chen's room.
When Yao Chen saw her come in, he rose to greet her, took a small jade bottle from his Storage Ring, and handed it to her.
"Senior, what is this?"
Queen Medusa looked at the small jade bottle in his hand, puzzled.
"This is a Fifth-grade Pill for healing injuries, a Jade Blood Recovery Pill. There are five inside, enough for you all to recover."
Hearing that Yao Chen had given her five Fifth-grade Pills—
Queen Medusa gasped in shock and instinctively covered her mouth with both hands, trying to stifle the squeal that had escaped her.
There were almost no alchemists among the Snake-People Tribe. In all these years, they had only had one fourth-grade alchemist.
Queen Medusa had always treated him like a treasure, and the tribe's resources were given to him first.
"Senior, these are far too precious. Any one of these Fifth-grade Pills would cause quite a stir in the Jia Ma Empire. I really can't accept something so valuable."
"It's fine. I can bring out a few pills like these without a second thought."
Yao Chen replied with an air of complete nonchalance, as if he had only given Queen Medusa and the others a few pieces of candy.
Seeing how casually Yao Chen treated the pills, Queen Medusa stopped refusing. After all, Fifth-grade Pills were hard to turn down.
"Then I'll accept them, Senior."
"Senior, the banquet is about to begin. Please come with me."
"Very well."
Yao Chen followed Queen Medusa to the square to attend the banquet the Snake-People Tribe had prepared for him.
A grand, lively banquet was in full swing in the central square of the Snake-People Tribe's settlement.
The square blazed with light. Countless torches and colorful lanterns illuminated it as brightly as day.
Soft animal hides and splendid brocade covered the ground, forming a vibrant, colorful carpet.
Tables laden with food stood in neat rows, their dishes filling the air with fragrance.
Queen Medusa sat in the place of honor, her peerless beauty made even more dazzling by the lamplight.
A glittering jeweled crown adorned her head. She wore a magnificent robe sewn from rare animal hides and golden thread, and her gaze held both authority and nobility.
Seated on either side of her were the tribe's important figures and distinguished guests.
As a specially invited guest, Yao Chen sat near Queen Medusa. He wore a smile, his eyes full of anticipation for the banquet.
In the center of the square, a group of graceful Snake-People Tribe beauties danced with abandon.
Their slender waists swayed like supple serpents, and colorful ribbons fluttered through the air as their arms moved.
Their steps were light and rhythmic. Accompanied by cheerful drums and lilting flutes, they seemed to tell the ancient, mysterious story of the Snake-People Tribe.
As music filled the air, servers wove through the crowd with trays piled high with delicacies.
There was golden, crispy roasted meat, fragrant and savory; carefully prepared fruit desserts in a riot of colors; and fine wine brewed with precious medicinal herbs, rich and sweet.
Children laughed and played among the guests, holding little lanterns, their faces beaming with innocent smiles.
The adults sat together, drinking and laughing loudly as they shared the small joys of everyday life.
In one corner of the banquet, several Snake-People Tribe warriors tested their strength against one another.
Bare-chested, with muscles bulging, they showed off their strength and courage.
Each contest drew waves of cheers, driving the banquet's excitement to a climax.
Brilliant fireworks bloomed in the night sky, lighting up the entire settlement.
Queen Medusa lifted her wine cup and spoke respectfully to Yao Chen.
"Senior, my Snake-People Tribe failed to host you properly before."
"This is our tribe's own special wine. Please, you must try it."
"Of course. I've long heard that the wine brewed by the Snake-People Tribe in the Tagor Desert ranks among the finest on the Dou Qi Continent. I'll be sure to savor it."
Hearing Queen Medusa say it was a wine unique to the Snake-People Tribe, Yao Chen could hardly wait to try a cup.
Cultivators' bodies automatically dispersed the alcohol they drank, so they usually avoided wine. For someone like Yao Chen, who possessed Heavenly Flames, the wine would evaporate the moment it touched his lips.
To enjoy the wine, Yao Chen used his cultivation to suppress his body's natural defenses, allowing himself to taste it.
Of course, suppressing his defenses like this also meant that wine could get a cultivator drunk.
Yao Chen raised the cup of the Snake-People Tribe's specially brewed wine with one hand.
Bathed in the lamplight, the wine gleamed invitingly, smooth and warm as amber.
A strange, rich aroma rose from it, blending desert spices and precious herbs with the mysterious fragrance imparted by the Snake-People Tribe's unique brewing method.
Yao Chen took the cup and gently breathed in its intoxicating aroma, anticipation showing in his eyes.
He slowly lifted the cup to his lips, tilted his head back slightly, and took a small sip.
The wine touched his tongue, and its rich flavor spread at once. First came a searing heat, like a blazing fire raging through his mouth. Then came a sweet aftertaste, like a clear spring welling up in the desert, soothing his parched throat.
Yao Chen couldn't help closing his eyes to savor the complex, wonderful flavor.
His throat moved as he swallowed. A warm current immediately flowed from his throat down to his abdomen, nourishing his limbs and every part of his body.
He slowly opened his eyes, his face full of delight and admiration.
He raised the cup again and drained it, then gently set it down, let out a long breath, and smiled at Queen Medusa beside him. "This wine belongs in heaven; how often can mortals taste it?"
Hearing Yao Chen's high praise, Queen Medusa beamed and chimed in.
"Senior, I'm glad you like it. Come, watch the dance of the women of my Snake-People Tribe. It's rarely seen in the Jia Ma Empire."
Yao Chen had downed the cup in one go, and a faint flush had spread across his face. Seeing the Snake-People Tribe beauties dancing in the center of the square, his spirits soared.
"What a beautiful dance! What intoxicating wine! I'm in high spirits tonight!"
Yao Chen raised his cup again and again, and the flush on his face grew more and more pronounced.
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