The Jia Ma Empire Imperial Family Makes Its Move!

Within the Xiao Family, in Xiao Xun'er's room.

For an entire night, Xiao Xun'er tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep no matter what.

The moment she closed her eyes, she saw the scene displayed on the Sky Screen: herself standing beside the mysterious expert named Lu Chuan with a swollen belly, a blissful smile on her face.

At that moment, Xiao Xun'er pulled the blanket over her face, unable to stop herself from feeling embarrassed.

Did what the Sky Screen showed mean that she would really marry that man named Lu Chuan in the future?

And she would not be his only wife. Queen Medusa would be there as well; the two of them would become his wives together. The more Xiao Xun'er thought about it, the hotter her cheeks became. She had never considered what sort of man she would marry in the future, much less imagined sharing a husband with another woman.

Yet the image on the Sky Screen, of her standing beside Lu Chuan with a swollen belly, had looked so natural, as if it had all been destined. She turned over in bed, her thoughts in complete turmoil, unable to sleep at all.

Forget it. If she could not sleep, then she would not sleep.

Xiao Xun'er sat up, dressed, pushed open her door, and walked outside.

The night was deep, and the Xiao Family courtyard was utterly silent, without a soul in sight. She walked into the courtyard, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath before beginning a set of fist techniques, intending to cultivate properly and distract herself.

Moonlight fell across her body. Her movements were light and fluid, and after completing the set of fist techniques, her heart calmed somewhat.

Just then, a shadow suddenly emerged from a distant corner, appearing soundlessly before Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er was not alarmed when she saw the newcomer. After recognizing him, she breathed a slight sigh of relief. "Elder Ling, why have you come?"

The man was Ling Ying, whom the Gu Clan had sent to secretly protect Xiao Xun'er. He bowed respectfully. "Miss, I apologize for disturbing you so late at night. I have something I would like to ask you. Is now convenient?"

Upon hearing that, Xiao Xun'er nodded. "Go ahead."

Ling Ying hesitated for a moment before asking, "Miss, do you know the background of that mysterious expert revealed on the Sky Screen?"

"That expert named Lu Chuan has reached Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint, created a Heaven Tier Cultivation Technique, and refined a Ninth-grade Pill. There is no second person of such caliber anywhere on the entire continent."

"Miss has lived in the Jia Ma Empire for so many years. Have you ever heard of this person?"

However, seeing his astonished expression, Xiao Xun'er shook her head. "No. I have never heard that name before."

"Before the Sky Screen revealed him, I had never even heard the name Lu Chuan."

Ling Ying frowned slightly at those words. "That is strange. This old man has never heard of anyone like him among the Ancient Eight Clans."

"Moreover, the Sky Screen showed that he appears quite young. To reach Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint at such a young age... does that not mean he may have a chance to break through to the realm of Dou Emperor in the future?"

As Ling Ying spoke, his heart stirred with excitement. A Dou Emperor—that was a realm no one on the entire Dou Qi Continent had reached for thousands of years.

If this person truly succeeded in reaching Dou Emperor, the entire continent's balance of power would be completely transformed. Xiao Xun'er's heart also trembled upon hearing Ling Ying's words. She had known that Lu Chuan was powerful, but she had never considered the possibility of Dou Emperor.

Now that Ling Ying had mentioned it, she realized that such a young Peak Nine-Star Dou Saint truly had a great chance of reaching Dou Emperor.

If he really succeeded, then she would marry him in the future...

At that thought, Xiao Xun'er's face reddened again, and she hurriedly shook the thought from her mind.

Seeing her expression, Ling Ying roughly guessed what she was thinking. He did not ask further, merely bowing as he said, "Miss, I have finished asking what I wished to ask. Please return and rest early. The night dew is heavy, and you may catch a chill if you remain outside too long alone."

Xiao Xun'er nodded at his concern. With a flash, Ling Ying vanished into the darkness.

Xiao Xun'er remained standing there alone, looking up at the moon in the night sky, yet her heart refused to settle.

Over the next few days, Xiao Xun'er's mind remained occupied by that mysterious expert. Whenever she meditated and cultivated, she lost focus; whenever she ate, she stared blankly into space. She seemed completely distracted.

However, the Sky Screen did not appear again during those days, so she could only suppress the curiosity and embarrassment in her heart.

In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

Within the imperial palace of the Jia Ma Empire.

Jia Xing Tian sat in the seat of honor, looking at those standing below as he asked, "Are the preparations complete?"

A guard bowed and replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, everything has been prepared. The gifts and accompanying personnel have all been arranged."

Jia Xing Tian nodded upon hearing this. He stood and straightened his robes. "Then let us depart. This time, I will personally make a trip to the Snake-People Empire and pay Queen Medusa a visit."

Yao Ye spoke up from beside him. "Great-Grandfather, are you truly going to the Snake-People Tribe in person?"

Jia Xing Tian sighed. "I must. You saw what the Sky Screen showed as well. Queen Medusa may marry that mysterious expert in the future."

"If that truly happens, the Snake-People Tribe's status will be entirely different. There have been many conflicts between the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe in the past. Since the matter revealed by the Sky Screen has only just occurred, we must quickly ease our relations."

"Otherwise, if Queen Medusa says a few unkind words about us before Expert Lu Chuan in the future, our Jia Ma Empire will be in trouble."

Yao Ye found his words reasonable, but she was still worried. "But Great-Grandfather, Queen Medusa has never held much goodwill toward people from the Jia Ma Empire. She may not appreciate your personal visit."

As soon as she finished speaking, Jia Xing Tian waved his hand. "Whether she appreciates it is her attitude. Whether we go is ours. At the very least, we must let her see the Jia Ma Empire's sincerity."

"Besides, I am visiting her personally as a representative of the Jia Ma Empire's imperial family. No matter how little regard Queen Medusa has for us, she would not drive us away on the spot."

Yao Ye nodded and said nothing more.

Jia Xing Tian then left the palace with his entourage, though he still felt somewhat uneasy. He had seen every sort of situation in his life, but personally paying a visit to the Snake-People Tribe's queen was truly a first. He could only hope Queen Medusa would show him some courtesy.