In the grand hall.
Queen Medusa, who had been silent all this while, suddenly trembled as violent energy ripples rapidly spread from her body.
Wherever the energy ripples passed, candle stands, tables, chairs, and vases were all shattered with a crackling sound.
A vast pressure instantly enveloped the entire Cloud Mist Mountain.
"What's happening? Has another powerful figure appeared?"
The disciples of the Yunlan Sect were once again shocked. In recent days, powerful figures had been arriving at the Yunlan Sect one after another, seeking to meet Chen Mo and join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion.
"A Dou Ancestor, another Dou Ancestor has appeared," exclaimed a white-robed elder in the Elder Hall.
"This pressure is much stronger than that of our former sect leader," another elder remarked.
"Do you think it could be the Grand Pavilion Master's doing, and not actually a Dou Ancestor?" speculated a new elder.
"Unlikely. Chen Mo's aura is even more terrifying, and he knows how to restrain it. He wouldn't be so ostentatious," said the Sixth Elder, who was familiar with Chen Mo.
"But judging by the commotion, it seems to be coming from the sect leader's palace. Could it be the sect leader?"
"The sect leader only recently broke through to the three-star Dou Emperor. It's impossible for him to advance to the Dou Ancestor level so quickly," said Yun Leng, who had been demoted from Grand Elder to a regular white-robed elder.
"Could it be that a Dou Ancestor is joining the Lofty Cloud Pavilion?"
Inside the hall, Queen Medusa's body underwent drastic changes.
One moment, she was in the form of a Seven-Colored Tiny Snake.
The next, she was in human form.
After several minutes of alternating between the two forms, Queen Medusa finally stabilized in her human form.
Now, her soul had fully merged with her body, allowing her to freely switch between her beast and human forms.
She no longer had to worry about being displaced by that other entity.
However, due to the fusion of the two souls, a strange emotion flickered in Queen Medusa's autumn-like eyes.
"Excellent, excellent! You've broken through to the three-star Dou Ancestor right after the fusion. Congratulations!" Chen Mo smiled as he walked in with Yun Yun.
Chen Mo continued, "So, will you agree now?"
"Go to hell!"
Whoosh!
A black shadow lunged at Chen Mo.
"I am the queen of the Snake-People Tribe. How could I take orders from a mere human boy?"
A green flame rose from her left palm as she struck at Chen Mo's face.
"Sigh!"
Chen Mo let out a light sigh, and in an instant, it was as if time had frozen. The Azure Lotus Core Flame on Queen Medusa's palm dissipated, and her entire figure hovered motionless in front of Chen Mo.
"Did you fuse your souls but not your memories?"
Chen Mo wanted to say, didn't the Seven-Colored Tiny Snake tell you that I'm very strong?
The shock on Queen Medusa's face was indescribable.
Back in Desert City, he was an ant she could crush at any moment.
But now, she couldn't even touch the hem of his garment.
"What... what kind of power is this?" Queen Medusa stammered in astonishment.
"What? You've taken the Soul Fusion Pill, and now you're turning your back on the deal?"
Chen Mo didn't answer her question.
"Hmph, I never agreed to anything!" Matters of dignity and freedom were not something Queen Medusa would easily concede.
"Oh, so you're going back on your word?"
Chen Mo stared at Queen Medusa, slightly frowning. Why was this beautiful snake so stubborn?
"Since I never agreed, how can it be called going back on my word?" Queen Medusa played with semantics; she indeed had not consented.
"Phew," Chen Mo took a deep breath, turned around, and said to Yun Yun beside him, "Sister Yun Yun, I leave it to you."
Yun Yun nodded gently.
She approached Queen Medusa with a soft smile on her face.
"Woman, what do you intend to do to me? If you dare to act recklessly, once I'm free, I won't spare you."
Even at such a moment, the proud Queen Medusa showed no sign of weakness, gritting her teeth with a cold tone.
"What do I intend to do?"
...
Jia Ma Empire, Imperial Capital.
Deep within the palace grounds.
By a tranquil pond stood a pavilion, inside which a woman in a golden brocade robe stood elegantly, her refined jade-like face adorned with light makeup, exuding charm and grace.
Her sparkling eyes, like starlit waters, gazed distractedly at the fish competing for food in the pond.
"Sister, are you really going to join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion?"
Suddenly, a somewhat immature female voice sounded from behind. The woman was startled and quickly turned around. Seeing the young girl in a light blue dress approaching, she was momentarily stunned and asked in surprise, "Yue'er, how did you know?"
"Father and great-grandfather told me," Yao Yue replied, her spirits low. She had a slight fondness for Chen Mo, who now wanted to annex the Jia Ma Empire.
Moreover, at this critical juncture, her sister Yao Ye not only did not resist but was also planning to join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion, and neither their father nor great-grandfather stopped her.
"Yes," Yao Ye nodded.
"Why, sister, why is this happening?" Yao Yue couldn't understand.
"Do you think the royal family is still a royal family without Chen Mo?" Yao Ye looked at the fish in the pond, scattering some bait, which immediately caused a frenzy among them.
Yao Yue didn't understand.
"The dignity of the royal family has long been lost; it can only maintain the stability of the capital," Yao Ye murmured.
The Jia Ma Empire was beset by internal and external troubles, with power slipping away and the Yunlan Sect, a menacing giant, lurking nearby.
The major cities of the empire governed themselves, with powerful families rising, and the imperial authority was not centralized.
The Nation Protecting Sacred Beast was severely injured and on the brink of death.
Although great-grandfather still held some deterrence, he was old; how much longer could he maintain it?
Especially with the emergence of Dou Ancestors and Dou Venerables, the people of the Jia Ma Empire vaguely felt that a Dou Emperor wasn't much.
Once fear is gone, different thoughts begin to sprout.
This empire was already terminally ill.
Yao Ye was powerless to change it; why not find another way to stand atop everyone.
"Sister, you don't like Chen Mo too, do you?" Yao Yue felt that Yao Ye had changed since her return.
"Too?" Yao Ye was startled, her eyes turning towards Yao Yue.
Yao Yue blushed and shyly walked away.
"Have you made up your mind?" After Yao Yue left, an old man in a gray robe appeared behind Yao Ye, his hands clasped behind his back, standing beside her as they both watched the fish in the pond.
"Yes," Yao Ye nodded and said, "I heard that the Lofty Cloud Pavilion is establishing a Shadow Guard, and I want to join."
"I've heard a bit about it; it seems the Shadow Guard only recruits women," Jia Xingtian shook his head and laughed, "I wonder what that boy is thinking?"
...
"Welcome to the Lofty Cloud Pavilion." Seeing Queen Medusa agree, Chen Mo quickly let her down and extended a friendly hand.
Queen Medusa shot Yun Yun a resentful glance, thinking to herself, "Why must women make things difficult for each other?" She then said, "I will handle only one task per week at most. Don't always think about ordering me around."
"No problem," Chen Mo replied. "I happen to be in the process of establishing a Shadow Guard, and I'll entrust it to you to lead."
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