Several days later, news that Jia Xingtian of the Jia Ma Empire had broken through to Dou Zong spread as swiftly as if it had grown wings.
Not only had all the major factions within the Jia Ma Empire caught wind of it, but several neighboring empires and factions had also received the news one after another. Naturally, the Snake-People Tribe Empire received this intelligence as well.
At that moment, in the Snake-People Tribe's imperial palace, Queen Medusa sat on her throne, listening to those below report on the situation in the Jia Ma Empire.
When she heard that Jia Xingtian had broken through to Dou Zong, Queen Medusa's languid expression instantly turned grave.
"That old fellow Jia Xingtian broke through to Dou Zong?" Queen Medusa's brows knitted tightly.
"He was stuck at Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor for decades. How did he suddenly break through?"
Standing below, Yue Mei exchanged glances with several Snake-People Tribe elders before answering, "Your Majesty, according to the information we received, Jia Xingtian broke through after taking a Sect Breaking Pill. It seems an alchemist refined that pill for him, and that alchemist is reportedly very young."
When Queen Medusa heard this, she froze, the expression on her face shifting from gravity to shock.
A Sect Breaking Pill!
It was an extremely special kind of Sixth-Grade Pill, specifically used to help Peak Dou Emperor experts break through the bottleneck to Dou Zong. Moreover, such pills were exceedingly rare on the Northwest Continent; ordinary alchemists could not refine them at all.
Since when had someone in a place like the Jia Ma Empire been able to refine Sect Breaking Pills?
"A Sect Breaking Pill? Someone in the Jia Ma Empire can actually refine the Sixth-Grade Pill, the Sect Breaking Pill? How is that possible!"
Yue Mei nodded. "The information should be reliable. It reportedly came from the Imperial Family. Jia Xingtian broke through directly after taking that pill, and he is now a Dou Zong expert."
The elders' faces were also filled with shock, and they exchanged speechless glances.
After all, Dou Zong experts already ranked among the foremost existences on the Northwest Continent. The emergence of a Dou Zong expert in the Jia Ma Empire would affect the balance of power across the entire Northwest Continent.
More important still, however, was the alchemist who could refine Sect Breaking Pills.
Queen Medusa sat silently on her throne for quite some time, her fingers gently tapping the armrest as she rapidly weighed matters in her mind. After all, she herself was now a Peak Nine-Star Dou Emperor and had likewise been stuck at this bottleneck for many years.
If she could obtain a Sect Breaking Pill too, she could also break through to Dou Zong. Then the Snake-People Tribe would have a Dou Zong expert holding the fort and would no longer have to bow to the whims of the human empires.
"Investigate immediately," Queen Medusa said, her voice carrying cold authority.
"Find out exactly who that alchemist is and where he is now. Find a way to establish his identity and location. I will pay him a visit myself."
Hearing this, Yue Mei froze for a moment before asking with some concern.
"Your Majesty, you intend to go to the human empire personally? There are quite a few experts there. If you encounter any danger..."
Queen Medusa, however, waved a hand and interrupted her. "The Jia Ma Empire has only one Dou Zong expert right now, and that is the old fellow Jia Xingtian."
"As long as I do not clash with him, there will be no danger. Besides, since that alchemist can refine Sect Breaking Pills, his alchemy must have reached an extremely high level. Someone like that is worth a personal visit."
The elders exchanged glances. Although they were still somewhat worried, seeing Her Majesty's firm stance, they dared not say anything more.
Yue Mei therefore nodded. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will send people to investigate at once. We should have results in a day or two at most."
Queen Medusa then nodded and gazed into the distance beyond the palace, a measure of anticipation and curiosity in her eyes. She wanted to see just what sort of person this alchemist capable of refining Sect Breaking Pills was.
Over the next day or two, the Snake-People Tribe's intelligence agents worked at full capacity, gathering information about that mysterious alchemist through various channels.
Soon, the information was compiled and delivered to Queen Medusa.
"Your Majesty, we found him." Before long, Yue Mei strode into the great hall with the intelligence in hand.
"That alchemist is named Lu Changfeng. He is only in his early twenties and currently lives at the Xiao Clan estate in the Jia Ma Empire's imperial capital. Moreover, it is said that not only can he refine Sect Breaking Pills, but he is also a Seventh-Tier Alchemist, and his strength is unfathomable."
"The Jia Ma Imperial Family even made a point of inviting him to the palace as a guest earlier. Jia Xingtian treated him with great courtesy."
After hearing this information, Queen Medusa was stunned on the spot and sat bolt upright.
In his early twenties? A Seventh-Tier Alchemist who could also refine Sect Breaking Pills? How was that possible!
How could a young man in his early twenties have already reached the level of a Seventh-Tier Alchemist?
Figures of that caliber could be counted on one's fingers across the entire continent. Why would one appear in a small place like the Jia Ma Empire?
"Are you certain this information is accurate?" Even Queen Medusa's voice carried a note of disbelief.
Yue Mei nodded earnestly. "There should be no mistake. We used several channels to confirm it. It is also said that Lu Changfeng subdued a sixth-rank magical beast, an Amethyst Winged Lion King, as his mount. His strength is at least at the Dou Emperor level or above."
At this, Queen Medusa lost her composure entirely and abruptly rose from her throne.
A twenty-year-old Seventh-Tier Alchemist who had even subdued an Amethyst Winged Lion King. Someone like that was certainly no ordinary person!
"I intend to make a personal trip to the human empire," Queen Medusa said then. "Since we know where he is, I will go to the Jia Ma Empire and pay him a visit myself."
Hearing this, Yue Mei and the elders all looked worried. Yue Mei, in particular, hastily tried to dissuade her.
"Your Majesty, wouldn't going to the human empire yourself be too risky? Why not let me go instead? I can make contact with that alchemist on your behalf."
Queen Medusa, however, waved a hand. "No need. For something like this, I must appear in person. He is a Seventh-Tier Alchemist and can even refine Sect Breaking Pills. Sending a subordinate to someone like him would not show enough sincerity."
"Only by meeting him myself can I demonstrate the Snake-People Tribe's sincerity."
The elders wanted to keep trying to persuade her, but seeing Queen Medusa's resolute expression, they could only fall silent in the end.
Thus, Queen Medusa soon made her decision and prepared to set out for the Jia Ma Empire's imperial capital. At that moment, she had only one thought in mind: she had to find a way to get him to refine a Sect Breaking Pill for her as well.
As long as she could break through to Dou Zong, the Snake-People Tribe would no longer need to live in the shadow of the human empires!