"Should we go down and take a look?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, a powerful surge of Dou Qi came from the cave entrance. In the next instant, two figures flashed past.
They strode through the air. Both of them were, without exception, Dou Zong experts.
"Third Brother..." Xiao Ding's mouth fell open slightly. He hadn't expected his words to summon the very person he'd been talking about.
But his excitement lasted barely two seconds before the woman beside his third brother made him shudder.
"Queen Medusa!"
At those words, everyone present immediately went on high alert.
Queen Medusa's name was the stuff of nightmares for everyone in the Tagor Desert. Wherever she appeared, corpses piled up like mountains and blood flowed like rivers. No one ever escaped.
And now she was right there beneath the cave. How could they not panic?
"Everyone, don't be so nervous. Queen Medusa is one of us now."
Seeing everyone's reaction, Xiao Ze hurried to explain. It wouldn't do for a fight to break out.
"One of us?" Xiao Ding asked, puzzled.
Had his third brother subdued Queen Medusa?
But she was clearly a Dou Zong expert too. Only Dou Zong experts could walk through the air.
Faced with their confusion, Queen Medusa offered no explanation.
He had already taken her. Anything more she said would only bring further humiliation.
Only after seeing that Queen Medusa had nothing to say did everyone finally believe him.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li truly admired their third brother. In just a few days, he'd brought the ruler of the Tagor Desert, Queen Medusa, completely to heel. Perhaps only their third brother had the ability to do that.
As for Qing Lin and Xiao Zi, they already knew Xiao Ze's abilities and methods firsthand, so they weren't surprised that he'd managed to subdue Queen Medusa.
But hadn't Queen Medusa only been a Peak Dou Emperor? How had she become a Dou Zong?
"Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm afraid we'll have to say goodbye."
Back at the Desert Iron Mercenary Group, Xiao Ze looked at his elder brothers' haggard faces and felt reluctant to leave.
"Third Brother, are you getting ready to leave?"
Xiao Ze nodded. "There's something I need to take care of. We'll have a chance to drink together again."
"All right." Xiao Ding and Xiao Li embraced Xiao Ze.
"Oh, I also prepared some pills. Take them as a parting gift for everyone. They'll greatly benefit your cultivation in the future."
At last, Xiao Ze took out a Storage Ring and handed it to his eldest brother.
"Take care." Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked at him with reluctance.
After bidding farewell, Xiao Ze and the others vanished into the Tagor Desert beneath the moonlight.
"Your Majesty, let's meet at the Mittel Family in the imperial capital in three days."
Before leaving, Xiao Ze had arranged to meet Queen Medusa.
After all, he'd whisked away the leader of the Snake-People Tribe. The least he could do was give Queen Medusa a chance to say goodbye.
Besides, he didn't need to worry about her running away. He'd already taken her first time.
Queen Medusa nodded slightly, then disappeared into the distance.
Only Xiao Ze, Xiao Zi, and Qing Lin remained.
"Xiao Zi, let's stop in Desert City to pick up Elder Hai first. Then we'll head to the imperial capital."
Xiao Ze put an arm around Qing Lin and leaned against Xiao Zi's back.
"Yes, Master."
On this trip, they'd not only gained two Dou Huang experts, but, more importantly, Queen Medusa, a Dou Zong expert.
With Queen Medusa joining them, their odds of conquering the Misty Cloud Sect had increased by another three points.
"Yun Yun, Yun Yun... You won't blame me when I come for the Misty Cloud Sect, will you?"
His only concern was that Yun Yun might turn against him because Yun Shan was her master.
That would make things a little troublesome.
"Master, how did you subdue Queen Medusa?" Qing Lin asked curiously, nestled in his arms with her eyes wide.
From the way they'd acted earlier, Queen Medusa didn't seem as wicked as the rumors claimed. If anything, she seemed rather approachable.
"You want to know?" Xiao Ze's lips curled upward.
He'd been so busy bullying Queen Medusa that he'd forgotten about his own disciple.
"Mm." Qing Lin nodded, only half understanding.
At that, Xiao Ze said no more. He pulled Qing Lin close and kissed her.
The two held each other tightly, savoring the beautiful, tranquil night.
It was a shame Xiao Zi was such a huge eyesore, but fortunately, Xiao Ze had sealed off its senses.
Otherwise, it wouldn't do for Xiao Zi to find out they were making love.
After a passionate night together, Xiao Zi carried them to Desert City, where Hai Bodong had already been waiting for them.
And so, beneath the moonlight, the group traveled farther from the Tagor Desert and arrived at the heart of the empire.
Jia Ma Empire's capital, Jia Ma Holy City!
Standing on Xiao Zi's back, Xiao Ze looked down at the magnificent city emerging beneath the clouds and slowly let out a breath.
Although it was his first time here, he had to admit that the Holy City was indeed the most prosperous city in the Jia Ma Empire.
As Xiao Zi slowly descended, Xiao Ze's gaze suddenly shifted to the north of the imperial capital.
There, an immense mountain range rose in all its majesty, crouching like a colossal dragon and faintly radiating an aura that surged into the sky.
That was the home of the Jia Ma Empire's behemoth, the Misty Cloud Sect!
"Misty Cloud Sect, and people from the Soul Hall—I, Xiao Ze, have arrived!"
Upon reaching the Holy City, Xiao Zi found itself unable to move on from the bustling streets.
It was so lively! What kind of miserable life had it been living all this time?
It couldn't even find a female Amethyst Winged Lion King.
"Master!" Xiao Zi looked at him expectantly.
Xiao Ze said nothing. He simply gave Xiao Zi a large bag of money and let it go have fun on its own.
"Thank you, Master!"
Xiao Zi beamed. With this much money, it could enjoy itself to its heart's content.
It was determined to make up for all the fun it had missed over the past few decades!
"Qing Lin, take this money and buy whatever you want." Xiao Ze wasn't about to play favorites.
He gave Qing Lin a large sum of money too. After all, girls loved to shop.
"Thank you, Master." Qing Lin accepted it happily.
"Elder Hai, why don't you find an inn and rest for now? I'll go check out the Mittel Family."
"That works." Hai Bodong nodded.
He was old and had no interest in going out to play with them, so he might as well find an inn and rest.
After making arrangements for everyone, Xiao Ze headed straight for the imperial capital's largest family, the Mittel Family.
As one of the Jia Ma Empire's three great families, the Mittel Family owned every auction house in the empire. It was the wealthiest family in the land, and even the Imperial Family couldn't compete with its riches.
"Stop right there!" Two Da Dou Shi guards stood before the lavish, grand gates and eyed Xiao Ze.
"Has your young lady, Ya Fei, returned?" Xiao Ze asked.
"What does it matter to you whether our young lady Ya Fei has returned? No invitation, no entry!" the guard said coldly.
"She's back. Good."
In the next instant, Xiao Ze disappeared right before their eyes. He hadn't shattered through space; he was simply moving so fast that they couldn't react.
"Ghosts!" one guard cried out.
The man who'd been standing in front of them just a moment ago had vanished in the blink of an eye.
Ya Fei had only recently returned. She was taking a bath in the bathroom when a figure silently appeared behind her.
"Sister Ya Fei, do you know how I've been getting by without you all this time?"
Before you continue