A Dou Di bloodline could use the power of its blood to improve its descendants' cultivation aptitude. It could even form a clan mark to temporarily raise their cultivation and combat strength.
Moreover, the cultivation and combat strength temporarily gained through a clan mark caused extremely little harm to the user.
Compared with it, Dou Techniques that forcibly increased combat strength paled in comparison. Their relative merits were clear at a glance.
Thus, if either of these two benefits became known, it would be enough to stir envy and frenzied desire in countless people.
Yet even such a heaven-defying Dou Di bloodline could actually be suppressed to some extent by this so-called emperor clan bloodline.
To Su Tian, this sounded like a tale from the Arabian Nights, utterly absurd.
"That's a Dou Di bloodline! The... the emperor clan bloodline inside me can actually do that to it?"
At that moment, even Su Tian himself found it incredibly hard to believe.
Even though a voice deep inside him seemed to keep telling him that it might be true.
Su Tian still felt that the claim was sheer nonsense.
"If that's true, I could eat shit while standing on my head!"
Su Tian shook his head vigorously, trying to keep his wits about him, then patted his cheeks before looking at the Great Elder again.
The Great Elder's gaze, however, had never once fallen on Su Tian.
Her eyes were still gazing toward the distant horizon. The lingering shock on her old, withered face had yet to fade as she murmured, seemingly to herself, "If even the bloodline power within someone as mighty as a Dou Di can be suppressed to some extent by this emperor clan bloodline, then perhaps only that could justify calling the emperor clan bloodline of ancient times the supreme bloodline!"
"Of course, perhaps that claim is too absurd and merely an exaggeration in the ancient books. But even so, it still shows just how tremendous a power this so-called emperor clan bloodline contains!"
The Great Elder withdrew her gaze from the distance and slowly turned toward Su Tian. A fervent light danced in her eyes, and eager anticipation appeared on her aged face.
Even her voice seemed to carry a trace of barely concealed excitement. "Let us set aside whether the emperor clan bloodline can truly suppress a Dou Di bloodline. Its ability to improve its descendants' cultivation aptitude should be beyond question!"
"After all, no matter how you look at it, the clans possessing the emperor clan bloodline did produce Dou Di in ancient times. By that reckoning, it falls within the scope of a Dou Di bloodline as well!"
At that moment, in the Great Elder's eyes, Su Tian represented an opportunity.
An opportunity for the Snake-People Tribe's Medusa bloodline to reach a higher realm!
The Great Elder made no attempt to hide the fervor in her eyes as she looked at Su Tian, her tone growing increasingly excited. "Moreover, because of the emperor clan bloodline's unique nature, when it comes to improving its descendants' aptitude, there is no need to worry about their bloodline power gradually thinning with the passage of time!"
"With that, our Snake-People Tribe's Medusa bloodline will surely reach an entirely new realm, one it has never set foot in before! Not merely Dou Zong or Dou Zun-perhaps it could reach the realm of a Dou Sheng Expert, or even take another step and enter the legendary Dou Di realm!"
Seeing the eager anticipation on the Great Elder's face, Su Tian could feel the intense excitement surging within her.
Reality, however, was cruel.
If the emperor clan bloodline truly worked as the Great Elder had described, then perhaps it could indeed help the Medusa bloodline eventually reach the realm of a Dou Sheng Expert.
But as for that so-called legendary Dou Di realm, Su Tian could not help inwardly shaking his head.
Su Tian knew very well that the present-day Dou Qi Continent lacked the most crucial substance needed to enter the Dou Di realm. Without it, trying to break through to that realm through one's own strength was nothing more than a fool's dream.
As for his own emperor clan bloodline, Su Tian still knew too little about it. Even he could not guarantee that he would reach the Dou Di realm.
Thus, seeing how exhilarated the Great Elder was, Su Tian hesitated briefly but ultimately kept those thoughts to himself.
Who knew whether, upon learning all this, the Great Elder might kill Su Tian in a fit of rage as an offering to the heavens, simply to vent her anger?
Whatever the case, Su Tian certainly had no intention of making an enemy of his own precious life.
Besides, being able to marry Queen Medusa was hardly a bad thing for him.
He could even gain quite a few benefits from it.
After weighing the pros and cons, Su Tian obediently chose to remain silent and follow the Great Elder's arrangements.
Still, what the Great Elder said has given me a better understanding of the emperor clan bloodline inside me.
Su Tian lowered his head slightly, avoiding the Great Elder's fervent gaze. A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes as he silently reflected.
The emperor clan bloodline not only improved my cultivation aptitude, but also greatly enhanced my physical strength and toughness, even making my body comparable to those of the Snake-People Tribe.
Furthermore, it can improve my descendants' cultivation aptitude without any worry about the bloodline power running dry. I can also form a clan mark to temporarily increase my cultivation and combat strength.
The more Su Tian thought about it, the brighter his eyes grew, and his breathing quickened slightly.
Finally, taking into account that somewhat absurd-sounding account the Great Elder mentioned, it can also suppress other Dou Di bloodlines to some extent...
At that thought, Su Tian could not help sucking in a cold breath, his heart suddenly pounding wildly.
Those five points alone were enough to prove just how heaven-defying the emperor clan bloodline's effects were.
And these were only the things Su Tian had managed to discover so far.
As for whether the emperor clan bloodline concealed any other secrets, he had no idea.
Even the Great Elder had only learned this much in outline from that tattered ancient book within the tribe.
Had the aura unleashed on the day Su Tian awakened his emperor clan bloodline, along with the apparition that appeared, not been so extraordinary, it would never have caught the Great Elder's attention or reminded her of the secrets she had once read about in the ancient book.
Only then had she secretly sent a voice transmission to Queen Medusa, asking her to dispatch people to capture Su Tian and bring him back.
After obtaining Su Tian's blood, the Great Elder immediately conducted various studies with the other elders before finally arriving at a definitive conclusion.
What flowed within Su Tian was none other than the emperor clan bloodline, which had vanished without a trace after ancient times!
It was precisely for that reason that the Great Elder and the others had carefully discussed the matter before deciding to marry Su Tian to Queen Medusa, using that method to strengthen the Medusa bloodline.
That alone showed just how powerfully the emperor clan bloodline within Su Tian attracted the Great Elder and the others.
They were even willing to let Queen Medusa's bloodline mingle with that of a human.
Of course, before making that decision, the Great Elder had considered forcibly extracting the bloodline from Su Tian's body and then merging it into the Medusa bloodline.
But after painstakingly consulting countless ancient books, the Great Elder and the others had reached a conclusion:
The emperor clan bloodline could not be forcibly extracted from a human body. Once that was done, it would quickly lose all its effects.
This had also been confirmed as the golden blood the Great Elder obtained from Su Tian gradually dissipated.
Left with no other choice, the Great Elder could only suppress her intense hatred of humans and choose to let Su Tian marry Queen Medusa.
After all, to the Great Elder, the Snake-People Tribe had been trapped in the Tagor Desert for far too long. Every generation of Queen Medusa had only one mission: to lead the Snake-People Tribe out of this barren, desolate prison and find a new place suitable for them to live.
Thus, however much they resisted the idea, the Great Elder and the others could only make this choice.
That was precisely why the Great Elder placed such importance on Su Tian's safety. Even Mo Bass wanting to attack him had provoked such a stern reprimand from her.
In the Great Elder's eyes, Su Tian now represented an unparalleled opportunity for the Snake-People Tribe to rise.
Until then, no one was allowed to harm a single hair on his head.
Su Tian had also realized that the Great Elder knew even less about the emperor clan bloodline than he did.
Aside from its ability to improve descendants' aptitude without any concern about the bloodline power running dry, and that somewhat absurd claim about suppressing Dou Di bloodlines, the Great Elder did not know that the emperor clan bloodline could also form a clan mark to temporarily increase one's cultivation and combat strength.
At that thought, Su Tian pressed his lips together and buried his questions.
He had originally wanted to ask the Great Elder about forming a clan mark, but now it seemed wiser to keep his mouth shut.
Otherwise, if the Great Elder started asking questions, he would undoubtedly be inviting trouble upon himself.
After all, Su Tian had said from the outset that he knew nothing about this emperor clan bloodline. If he suddenly asked about forming a clan mark now, would that not plainly amount to confessing without being questioned?
Su Tian did not think himself capable of such stupidity.
Meanwhile, the eager excitement and anticipation on the Great Elder's bark-like, withered face gradually settled. An unpleasant smile lingered on her lips as she looked at Su Tian.
"Since you have no objections either, we should not delay. Let us tentatively set it for the next few days. Once everything is ready, I will personally officiate your wedding to Her Majesty!"
The Great Elder smiled and nodded, speaking slowly in what she considered her kindest voice.
"Until then, continue living here. When the time comes, I will send someone in advance to escort you there."
"Uh..."
Seeing the Great Elder settle the matter in just a few words, Su Tian could not help freezing for a moment.
"Hmm? What is it? Do you still have some objection?"
At that, the Great Elder narrowed her eyes, and a chilling edge instantly entered her voice.
Su Tian immediately came to his senses. Hastily cupping his hands, he put on an obedient expression and said respectfully, "How could you say that, Great Elder? Such a wonderful thing is more than I could ask for. How could I possibly have any objection?"
"Naturally, I will follow all your arrangements, Great Elder!"
"Hehe, good. Very good."
Once Su Tian had stated his position, the Great Elder's expression immediately turned kindly again. She smiled and nodded, though she gave him a long, penetrating look.
"Rest assured. After the wedding, the Snake-People Tribe certainly will not treat you poorly."
"Thank you, Great Elder!"
At those words, Su Tian hurriedly put on a delighted expression and thanked her repeatedly.
After giving him a few more brief instructions, the Great Elder shifted her shoulders, and her Dou Qi Wings sprang out. Under Su Tian's gaze, she gradually disappeared into the distant horizon.
Only then could Su Tian finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Still, marrying Queen Medusa isn't such a bad idea. Hehehe..."
Stretching languidly, Su Tian could not help picturing Queen Medusa's sexy, alluring figure, and a rush of heat immediately welled up within him.
He could not resist rubbing his nose. Fortunately, he had not embarrassed himself by getting a nosebleed.
Still, Su Tian was a hot-blooded young man, after all. He abruptly gave a dry cough and bent forward slightly, using his clothes to conceal his embarrassment.
"Good thing no one's here to see this. Otherwise, wouldn't my entire illustrious reputation be ruined?"
Su Tian wiped nonexistent cold sweat from his forehead, let out a long breath, and chuckled.
At that moment, a phrase sprang unbidden into Su Tian's mind:
In youth, I never knew the queen's charm, and foolishly treasured Xun'er instead...
Truth be told, Su Tian had always found Her Majesty simply irresistible!
He had fantasized countless times about sharing tender, intimate moments with Her Majesty among flowers beneath the moon.
And now, at last, he had a chance to make that beautiful dream come true. Faced with such a sudden surprise, anyone would probably feel at first that it could not be real.
"Ahem, ahem. No, as a young man of the new century, I need to learn some restraint."
Seemingly realizing that he was acting far too much like a lovesick creep, Su Tian hastily coughed a few times and wiped the idiotic grin from his face.
Even so, whenever he thought of Queen Medusa, he still could not help feeling a restless heat stir within him.
"Your Majesty, here I come..."
Inside the Divine Hall, a graceful, curvaceous figure reclined languidly on a purple throne, dressed in a luxurious purple brocade robe. Beneath the robe, her full, exquisite figure exuded a faint allure, like a ripe peach.
Her long, dark hair spilled casually from her fragrant shoulders across the throne. Beneath her brocade robe, a purple serpent's tail was exposed, swaying gently. Its wild, bewitching allure made one's entire body grow hot involuntarily.
It was none other than Queen Medusa.
Standing before her was the Great Elder, who had returned from Su Tian's residence. Her expression was calm, and her lips moved slightly as she spoke.
"What? You want me to marry that human? Absolutely not!"
After hearing the Great Elder's words, anger immediately appeared on Queen Medusa's alluring face. Even before the Great Elder, she could not help snapping coldly.
Before you continue