Even Gu He's Soul Was Trembling!

They were the knife and chopping block; he was the fish upon it.

At that moment, Gu He had no options left. Judging by their stance, if he refused to go with them, a beating would probably be unavoidable.

Escape?!

Gu He did not even dare consider it.

Could a mere Dou Wang like him escape under the watchful eyes of two Dou Emperors and two Dou Wangs?

Absolutely not!

"Fine! I'll go with you."

Having thought it through, Gu He gave his answer without much hesitation.

After all, he could not win a fight, and escape was impossible. He could only follow the Snake-People Tribe back. Perhaps there would still be a chance to turn things around!

"In that case, Master Gu He, pardon the offense." Great Elder Snake Ji smiled faintly at his reply. She casually raised her right hand, and a ring of dark green energy emerged, instantly transforming into a green snake that flicked its tongue.

Gu He froze at the sight.

Whoosh!

In that instant of distraction, the snake shot forward like lightning, appearing directly before Gu He and sinking its fangs into his arm.

A snake-shaped rune appeared on Gu He's arm like a tattoo.

"This is..."

"My strength!!!"

The instant the rune appeared, Gu He felt his strength plummeting. He dropped straight from Dou Wang to Da Dou Shi, unable to use even the basic Dou Qi Wings.

"Don't be alarmed, Master Gu He. This is merely a little precaution. Once we reach the Snake-People Holy City, we'll naturally undo it for you."

Great Elder Snake Ji spoke calmly as she watched Gu He cry out.

Gu He's expression turned utterly grim at her words.

Now he truly was meat on someone else's chopping block.

As a Sixth-Grade Alchemist, Pill King Gu He, whose fame resounded throughout the Jia Ma Empire, when had he ever suffered such treatment?

Wherever he went, people put him on a pedestal, terrified of offending him.

He had never imagined that his strength would be sealed until only a Da Dou Shi's remained, leaving him unable even to manifest Dou Qi Wings.

But now, his strength fell short of theirs. Even if his resentment towered to the heavens, there was nothing Gu He could do.

"Let's go!"

Looking at Gu He, Great Elder Snake Ji unleashed dark green Dou Qi from her body, sweeping through the surrounding space. It instantly formed a giant green snake over ten meters long, which seized Gu He like an eagle snatching a chick and headed toward the Snake-People Holy City.

No one spoke along the way.

Snake Ji and her three companions reached the Snake-People Holy City in just two hours.

Without pausing, they took Pill King Gu He straight to the Sacred Hall.

The Sacred Hall.

"Your Majesty, we have brought Pill King Gu He."

Inside the great hall, Great Elder Snake Ji and the others set Pill King Gu He down and respectfully addressed Chen Xuan on the queen's throne.

"Mm, very good!"

Chen Xuan smiled faintly at the sight of Pill King Gu He in the hall.

"Your Majesty, what exactly do you want?" Gu He's face was grim as he coldly addressed Chen Xuan above him.

He had truly entered the tiger's den now, with no possibility of escape.

"Don't misunderstand, Master Gu He. I merely wish to offer you an opportunity."

Chen Xuan paid no mind to Gu He's icy expression and continued speaking with a smile.

An opportunity?!

Gu He's expression grew even darker. They had dragged him to the Snake-People Tribe and sealed his strength, and they called that offering him an opportunity?!

To hell with your damned opportunity!

Then Chen Xuan looked at Elder Snake Ji and nodded slightly. Great Elder Snake Ji immediately raised her hand, and another green snake emerged, biting Gu He once more where the rune lay.

In an instant, the tattoo-like Snake Mark slowly faded, and Gu He's strength returned to the Dou Wang level a moment later.

"Your Majesty, just tell me what you want!"

His expression unchanged, Gu He looked up at Chen Xuan and spoke bluntly.

"I would like you to join our Snake-People Tribe, Master Gu He!"

Looking at Gu He, Chen Xuan made no attempt to conceal his purpose.

"What?!"

"You want me to join the Snake-People Tribe?"

"Hahaha! Impossible!"

Gu He could not help laughing loudly at those words.

Who was he?

He was Pill King Gu He, the Sixth-Grade Alchemist renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

They actually wanted a noble Alchemist like him to join the Snake-People Tribe, which did not even belong to the human faction? He would never agree, even if it meant death.

Chen Xuan showed no displeasure at his response, as though he had anticipated it all along.

"Why rush to a conclusion, Master Gu He?"

"I know you look down on our Snake-People Tribe, Master Gu He, but don't you want to know how I, Medusa, became a fourth-rank Alchemist in just two years?"

Looking at Pill King Gu He's icy face, Chen Xuan smiled and spoke slowly.

Hmm?!

Gu He's expression instantly changed.

"Two years? You're saying you became a fourth-rank Alchemist in two years!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Looking up at Chen Xuan, Gu He voiced his disbelief.

Why were Alchemists so esteemed?

Not only were the requirements for becoming an Alchemist exceedingly stringent, but advancing through their ranks was also extraordinarily difficult. To progress from the first rank to a Second-Rank Alchemist, one had to refine countless pills, as well as understand and integrate the principles of dozens of different pills.

Every subsequent rank brought its own corresponding difficulties, and the higher the rank, the greater the challenge.

Thus, even he, the exceptionally gifted man known as Pill King Gu He, had only become a fourth-rank Alchemist at twenty-seven or twenty-eight, after spending more than a decade on the path.

And that was with Pill King Gu He's extraordinary talent. Other Alchemists barely reached the fourth rank after a lifetime of effort.

Yet now Chen Xuan claimed to have become a fourth-rank Alchemist in only two years. Gu He absolutely refused to believe it.

Chen Xuan said nothing in response. With a slight movement of his hand, a black Beast-Skin Scroll appeared before him.

"Open it and take a look," Chen Xuan said evenly, looking at Gu He.

A trace of confusion crossed Gu He's face at Chen Xuan's words, but he reached out and took the Beast-Skin Scroll floating in the air.

He opened the scroll and casually swept his gaze over it.

Gu He's initially indifferent gaze froze in an instant, his eyes locking onto the scroll in his hands.

Now he began reading from the first volume, examining every word and sentence. The more he read, the more stunned and feverish he became.

"These are the notes of a top-tier Alchemy Master, recording the refinement methods for countless pills and insights into all manner of medicinal materials."

"The insights into pill refinement here have opened the door to an entirely new world for me."

"Who was it? I want to know just how powerful an Alchemist he was!"

After a long while, Gu He slowly raised his head and looked at Chen Xuan with overwhelming excitement.

This Alchemist was undoubtedly someone who far surpassed even him, Pill King Gu He!

"I'll tell you the truth. These are the notes and insights of a ninth-rank Alchemist. As long as you join our Snake-People Tribe, they're yours!"

Chen Xuan spoke calmly as he watched the wildly excited Gu He.

A ninth-rank Alchemist?!

In an instant, Gu He's face flushed crimson with excitement. He felt even his soul trembling.