Frank and Otto's Shock!

Black Rock City.

As one of the largest, highest-ranked cities in the entire Jia Ma Empire, it was naturally bustling with prosperity.

Though night had already fallen, its streets were still crowded with people coming and going. Countless mercenaries traded medicinal materials, pills, and all manner of Dou Techniques and cultivation methods here.

"Gu He, where should we look for Gute?!"

Entering the street, Queen Medusa wore an icy expression. She ignored the strange looks from everyone around her and spoke coldly to Master Gu He beside her.

Huh?!

In an instant, Pill King Gu He felt an unnaturally cold aura descend upon him. His expression immediately became utterly respectful as he answered, "Your Majesty, Gute is an extremely eccentric man. To find him, we should first visit the Alchemist Guild here."

"I have acquaintances at the Alchemist Guild. They'll certainly be able to find him."

Hearing this, Queen Medusa nodded slightly in agreement.

Whew!

Only after Queen Medusa agreed did Gu He let out a deep breath.

Her Majesty's temperament is unfathomable even to gods and ghosts!

That inexplicable pressure made Gu He feel the terrifying breath of death drawing near.

Gu He led the way, passing through several long streets before turning at an intersection. At last, a building shaped like an enormous medicinal cauldron came into view.

Its design was truly distinctive, worthy indeed of the Alchemist Guild.

Above the building were five large characters spelling out "Alchemist Guild."

"We're here, Your Majesty."

Looking at the Alchemist Guild ahead, Gu He bowed slightly, his expression utterly respectful.

Her Majesty's temperament seemed to have changed the moment they reached Black Rock City. Naturally, he had to tread carefully.

Queen Medusa raised her head slightly and saw the large characters spelling out "Alchemist Guild." Quite a few alchemists were also staring at Gu He and his companions in astonishment.

Naturally, what astonished them was Queen Medusa's snake-person form.

As a race distinct from humans, members of the Snake-People Tribe were rarely seen by these people.

"Hmph!"

Queen Medusa gave a cold snort. Terrifying red Dou Qi surged out once more, its raging energy sweeping across the area.

Boom!

In an instant, everyone present felt a terrifying aura descend upon them, and their expressions changed drastically.

This aura?!

A Dou Huang expert!?

Shock filled every face, along with outright terror.

Queen Medusa. This is Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe.

Though they had never seen Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Tribe before, her fearsome reputation resounded throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. Naturally, they knew of this terrifying queen.

After all, even Jia Xingtian, the Jia Ma Imperial Family's Peak Dou Emperor expert, had failed to defeat her.

"I'm Gu He. Is that old fellow Otto here?"

Seeing their expressions, Gu He stepped forward slightly and questioned the Alchemist Guild's two guards.

"Senior Pill King?!"

The guard was clearly stunned.

Then he glanced at Queen Medusa behind them and could not help swallowing before answering shakily, "Senior Pill King, Master Otto is inside the Alchemist Guild."

"If he's here, let's go."

Upon hearing this, Queen Medusa headed straight toward the alchemy hall.

Seeing this, Gu He and Yue Mei nodded slightly and followed her.

"So it's Master Pill King Gu He. What important business brings you to our Black Rock City Alchemist Guild?"

Just as Gu He and his companions entered the hall, an aged voice rang out.

Immediately afterward, two elderly men appeared before them.

"Frank, Otto, several years have passed, and you two haven't improved in the slightest."

Looking at the two elderly men, Gu He remained utterly composed.

At his words, both Frank's and Otto's expressions darkened slightly. They had indeed remained fourth-grade alchemists for far too long, and their chances of advancing to the fifth grade in the future were exceedingly slim.

"The Pill King truly lives up to his name. Your alchemical mastery seems to have grown again?"

Frank's expression shifted. Sensing Gu He's immense soul power, he was somewhat shocked.

They had not seen each other for only a few years, yet Gu He's pill-refining mastery had improved again.

At this rate, becoming a Seventh-Grade Alchemist would probably pose no problem.

"Enough chatter!"

"Where is Gute?!"

Beside them, Queen Medusa had truly lost patience. Her terrifying aura pressed down upon the entire Alchemist Guild.

"Queen Medusa!"

Only then did Frank and Otto notice Queen Medusa behind him, their faces filling with shock.

Why was Pill King Gu He traveling with Queen Medusa?!

"Gu He, how did you get mixed up with Queen Medusa?"

Looking at Queen Medusa, Frank's expression changed.

"A fine bird chooses its tree to roost in. I've joined the Snake-People Tribe. I'm no longer the Pill King Gu He whose name resounded throughout the Jia Ma Empire!"

Gu He made no attempt to conceal it, speaking directly to Frank and Otto.

What?!!

In an instant, both Frank and Otto were dumbfounded, disbelief written across their faces.

Had they heard him wrong?!

Pill King Gu He, the Sixth-Grade Alchemist renowned throughout the Jia Ma Empire, had actually said he'd joined the Snake-People Tribe?!

Pill King Gu He was an exceedingly proud man. Both the Jia Ma Imperial Family and the Misty Cloud Sect had once tried to recruit him, offering extraordinarily generous resources, yet neither had succeeded.

And now Pill King Gu He was saying he'd already joined the Snake-People Tribe?!

A faction of another race, not humans!

"All right, Frank, Otto." Without explaining himself to either of them, Gu He spoke again. "Where is that fellow Gute? Her Majesty has business with him."

Gute?!

For a moment, Frank and Otto both froze slightly. Then they turned solemn gazes toward Queen Medusa.

How had that old fellow provoked a harbinger of slaughter like Queen Medusa?!

Queen Medusa was not someone to trifle with!

She killed without batting an eye.

"Since Queen Medusa wishes to find Gute, I'll take you there!"

After considering it for a moment, Frank swept his gaze over Queen Medusa and her companions before speaking.

Though Queen Medusa's party numbered only three, not one of them was someone their Alchemist Guild could afford to offend.

Pill King Gu He, Queen Medusa, and another woman whose identity they did not know, but whose aura indicated that she also possessed Dou Wang-level strength.

Most importantly, Pill King Gu He had actually joined the Snake-People Tribe?!

Once this news spread, it would shake the entire Jia Ma Empire like an earthquake!

The Jia Ma Empire's only Sixth-Grade Alchemist had actually joined the Snake-People Tribe!

One only had to imagine it to know what towering waves of uproar this would unleash.

Let me explain something regarding the readers who pointed out that Gute is Gu He's older brother.

It's been so long since I read Battle Through the Heavens that I've forgotten most of it. After readers reminded me, I went back to check, and found that he really damn well is.

All I can say is that my memory is poor.

It's difficult to revise things now, so I can only change this part of his character setting.

Thank you as well to the readers who pointed it out. I'll pay attention to related details going forward.