Although they had prepared themselves, the chiefs still wore envious expressions when they clearly witnessed Yan Ci break through to Dou Emperor.
Their strength had remained at Peak Dou Wang for many years. The fact that they could claim the position of tribal chief was enough to prove that, whether in bloodline purity or talent, they ranked among the best in the Snake-People Tribe.
Having spent so many years at Peak Dou Wang together, they had all strained every muscle to push toward Dou Emperor. Yet deep down, they knew they were each just one opportunity short of reaching it-and such opportunities did not come along whenever one wished.
Without a suitable opportunity, reaching Dou Emperor meant relying on one's exceptional talent to overcome every obstacle. You Ruo, for instance, had relied on her own talent, along with the previous queen of the Snake-People Tribe's guidance, to cross those barriers and reach the Dou Huang Realm.
But Yin Shi, Mo Bass, and the others clearly lacked talent as formidable as You Ruo's. Otherwise, they would not have remained at Peak Dou Wang after so many years.
The human lad their queen had brought back was not merely a powerful Dou Huang expert himself; he was also an alchemist, the most esteemed profession on the Dou Qi Continent. Now, he had even helped Yan Ci formally enter the Dou Huang Realm. These were all tangible benefits to the Snake-People Tribe, and Yin Shi and the others no longer had any objections to Xiao Fan.
Even Mo Bass no longer looked at Xiao Fan with hostility. Instead, a trace of respect had entered his gaze.
Strength commanded respect. Nowhere did that hold truer than among the Snake-People Tribe.
Before long, Yan Ci's aura gradually stabilized.
Yin Shi, Yue Mei, and the others