The night wind rustled softly as the moonlight cascaded down over the royal capital below. The hazy glow filtered through the window and fell into the vast royal chambers, casting a silent, frozen scene.
Within the inner chamber, beneath layers of delicate gauze, the alluring figure of Queen Medusa lay sideways on a soft couch. Her beauty was both cold and seductive.
Though she appeared to be asleep, her narrow eyes, filled with sorrow, remained open as she stared blankly at the silver magic core pendant in her hand. It was impossible to tell how long she had been looking at it. In the deep stillness of the night, there was no sign of sleep in her expression.
She could still vaguely recall the scene from three months ago—a young man in white robes, his face handsome and smiling mischievously, his infuriating words still echoing in her ears:
"My dear queen, are you tired? Shall I massage your shoulders for you?"
"My dear queen, wearing so many clothes is bad for your development, you know."
"Look at that—so flat. Come, let me help you fix that."
Queen Medusa bit her lower lip gently, her hand unconsciously clutching the bust of her dress, her breathing growing heavy, as if her chest were being weighed down by the warmth of a familiar body.
Unbidden, her mind drifted to that night a month ago—when she and Chen Mo had truly become one in every sense.
She couldn't explain why, but that night he had kissed every inch of her body, not sparing even her feet.
Biting her lip and holding back for a moment, her hand began to wander downward of its own accord...
Heavy breathing began to fill the chamber. On the couch, her graceful body curled up, the arch of her foot exposed, showing off her captivating abs.
Before long, Queen Medusa, drenched in sweat, sank herself into a wooden tub filled with water, submerging her entire body.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Suddenly, the sound of splashing water broke the silence.
Then came a cry—hoarse, hysterical, and filled with anguish.
"Why did you treat me ?"
Soft sobs turned into choking cries.
She had tried to force herself to forget him. But not only could she not forget—every time the night grew quiet, the memories buried deep within her mind and body would resurface all at once.
And every time they did, they etched themselves deeper into her bones.
"Big sister, are you going out?"
Hearing that her sister had asked her to handle matters for the Snake-People Tribe temporarily, Die was stunned.
Weren't we in the middle of a cold war?
Why are you suddenly dumping everything on me and leaving?
Queen Medusa nodded slightly, removing her Medusa Phoenix Crown and slowly placing it on Die's head, piece by piece.
Die bit her lip and asked, "Sister... are you going to look for Chen Mo?"
Queen Medusa's movements paused. Her voice turned cold. "This queen wants nothing more than to kill him. Why would I go looking for him?"
"Then where are you going?"
"My internal injuries have mostly healed. Right now, the powerhouses of the Jia Ma Empire have suffered heavy losses. It's the best time for the Snake-People Tribe to step out of the desert. I plan to scout the situation in the Jia Ma Empire."
High Above the Tagor Desert
A figure in black robes wearing a white jade mask sped through the skies, heading toward the Jia Ma Empire.
Following heavy promotion by the Mittel Auction House—
News that three portions of Qi Gathering Powder would be auctioned in two days swept through all of Wu Tan City.
If the last auction's Foundation Elixir had merely caused a ripple, this announcement sent the entire city into a frenzy.
Over the next two days, whether in taverns or street vendor chatter, everyone talked about the Qi Gathering Powder.
After all, for a person with ninth-stage Dou Qi, it guaranteed the formation of a Qi Whirlpool, allowing one to become a Dou Zhe.
Who wouldn't go crazy for that?
The three major families could no longer sit still.
When they learned that the starting bid for each portion was no less than 200,000 gold coins—
Some even considered selling or mortgaging parts of their less valuable assets to gather enough gold.
In short, if they could, they intended to buy all three portions.
Each one held the potential to produce a new Dou Zhe.
Xiao Clan – Back Mountain Cliff
On a grassy hilltop, a young man in black robes sat cross-legged, absorbing the Dou Qi that filled the world around him.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, his expression dark and filled with frustration as he muttered to himself:
"That feeling... again."
Ever since he had advanced to Dou Zhe, all the Dou Qi he absorbed would inexplicably vanish without a trace. The bizarre situation left the boy completely at a loss.
What worried him most was that if this kept happening, his cultivation level might regress.
If that happened, his reputation as a genius would vanish overnight.
He had spoken to his father in private. His father had even invited a physician to examine him.
Of course, they framed the visit as a check-up for "physical discomfort," not loss of Dou Qi.
After the examination—
The physician simply said: "Young master's body is in excellent condition."
Just to be safe, his father had invited two more physicians.
They gave similar answers.
In the end, even his father scratched his head and said:
"Yan'er, it might just be stress. Take a good rest."
This left Xiao Yan feeling helpless.
"I hope it's just temporary..."
Elsewhere – A Secluded Bamboo Courtyard
An old man cloaked in black mist knelt on one knee before a young girl in golden robes. In a respectful voice, he reported:
"Miss, it's been confirmed. The three portions of Qi Gathering Powder at the Mittel Auction House were all produced by the same alchemist who created the Foundation Elixir—he's a Tier 3 Alchemist."
"As expected." The girl turned around, her delicate face revealing a hint of realization. She said thoughtfully:
"From what I know, refining Qi Gathering Powder requires at least a Tier 4 Alchemist. Even the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire would go to great lengths to win one over. And now, one has appeared in such a small place as Wu Tan City..."
Before she could continue, the old man in black replied with a deep voice:
"Miss, there's something stranger. I can't see through his true cultivation."
The girl's expression changed slightly, and she replied:
"A Tier 4 Alchemist showing up in Wu Tan City can't be that simple. Elder Ling, after the auction, test his strength."
That day, the Mittel Auction House was more packed than it had ever been in recent years. The spacious hall was filled with noise and excitement. The sheer volume made Chen Mo frown slightly as he walked in.
"Master Chen Mo, you've arrived! Miss Ya Fei asked me to greet you personally. Please, this way!"
As Chen Mo entered, Gu Ni, who had been chatting idly with Galeb and the others, immediately got up with a beaming smile to welcome him.
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