But then again...

"On the Fighting Qi Continent, strength reigns supreme. Was it too much?"

Shen Wen chuckled, "What do you mean 'too much'? If your strength is lacking, you should be prepared for annihilation."

Huang Ling's expression darkened, and she was about to unleash her Dou Zong aura to apply pressure.

"Who dares to act presumptuously in my Snake-People Tribes Sacred City?" A voice rang out.

Cai Lin's figure appeared, facing Huang Ling from a distance.

Seven-Colored Dou Qi flowed around her, pushing back Huang Ling's aura without yielding, as the Dou Zong pressure spread out.

Feeling the smooth and solid Dou Zong aura emanating from Medusa, Huang Ling's heart sank.

This was definitely not the foundation a newly advanced Dou Zong should possess. Plus, there was the man who could withstand Pill Lightning... No wonder even Xie Bi Yan fell here.

This was equivalent to having two Dou Zongs guarding this place.

The Snake-People Clan was no longer a force that could be easily manipulated.

She suppressed her emotions, maintaining a calm expression, and merely cupped her hands slightly toward Shen Wen and Medusa: "Since the Izumo Empire brought this upon itself, this old woman has nothing more to say. I shall not disturb you further today."

Having said that, she turned to leave.

"Elder Huang, wait a moment." Shen Wen's voice came from behind, carrying a casual smile.

"Heavenly Serpent Mansion... are you truly uninterested in seventh-grade pills?"

Huang Ling paused her steps, turned back, and said flatly, "If it is merely pills like the 'instant qi pill,' our Heavenly Serpent Mansion has Alchemists who can refine them. There is no need for your concern."

Her implication was that she considered Shen Wen to be the Alchemist who had just refined the instant qi pill.

Shen Wen laughed upon hearing this. With a flip of his wrist, a badge appeared in his palm, which he casually flicked toward Huang Ling.

"Just now, my wife was attempting to break through to the Seventh-Rank Alchemist realm. As for me..."

"Though unworthy, I am already a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, and I have successfully refined the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill."

"Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill?!"

As the words fell.

Not only did Huang Ling's expression change drastically, but Lü Man behind her and the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor circling nearby also let out suppressed gasps.

That was a mid-tier seventh-grade pill!

Huang Ling abruptly looked at Shen Wen, her gaze fixed on the badge that represented the identity of a Seventh-Rank Alchemist.

She quickly glanced at Cai Lin, whose lips were slightly curved in a smile nearby, neither confirming nor denying the statement.

The husband is a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, and the wife is also attempting to reach the seventh-rank... Such a young couple of Seventh-Rank Alchemists?

Forget about the Northwest Continent.

Even in the most prosperous Central Plains, such a pairing is rare.

A startling conjecture flashed across her mind, making her breath quicken slightly.

She tightly gripped the badge, her voice trembling with barely concealed shock: "Are you... from the Pill Tower?"

Shen Wen did not answer directly; he simply stood with his hands behind his back, the smile still on his face.

At that moment, all of Huang Ling's unwillingness and calculations turned into solemnity and awe.

If they truly were people from the Pill Tower, then everything made sense.

She took a deep breath, completely retracting her posture of imminent departure, replacing it with treatment that was almost equal.

"Greetings, Lord Shen!"

Huang Ling cupped her hands again. If he were merely a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, he naturally wouldn't warrant such respect from her, but she respected the Pill Tower behind him.

Or rather.

There was no one who didn't fear the Pill Tower, except perhaps those from the Hall of Souls, but even people from the Hall of Souls only dared to offend the Pill Tower secretly.

On the Fighting Qi Continent today, who would dare openly offend an Alchemist? And among Alchemists, the most revered is the Pill Tower.

Even the Heavenly Serpent Mansion, if placed in the Central Plains, would only be an existence on the level of the Four Pavilions.

Don't listen to the saying about the One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, Four Pavilions.

There are four echelons within that grouping.

In other words.

The Heavenly Serpent Mansion and the Pill Tower are separated by three entire levels. Analogously speaking on the Northwest Continent, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion is like a second-rate sect within a second-rate empire.

"Does this identity allow you to spare some time to negotiate with me?" Shen Wen said with a smile.

"Naturally."

Huang Ling handed the badge back to Shen Wen, and the group followed Shen Wen into the main hall of the Snake-People Tribes Sacred City.

As soon as they stepped inside, several powerful auras rose up without concealment, carrying a warning intent.

The Four Great Elders and Kui Xing stood on opposite sides, their combined aura as five Peak Dou Huangs forming a single mass.

Although not comparable to a Dou Zong, it was enough to make people take notice.

Huang Ling paused slightly, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes.

She hadn't expected that the Snake-People Clan, besides Medusa, still harbored such deep reserves of strength.

Not counting Shen Wen.

Just Medusa, a Dou Zong, plus five Peak Dou Huangs—placed anywhere on the Northwest Continent, this force would be enough to support a top-tier second-rate power.

Her gaze swept around, finally landing on the red-dressed woman beside Shen Wen.

The woman had a charming face and a fiery figure, and a medicinal fragrance wafted toward her.

It seemed this was the person who had just refined the seventh-grade pill.

As for Qing Lin and Dan Chen, they were deep within the Serpent People Holy City, lest Huang Ling and the others see them and cause unnecessary trouble.

Everyone took their seats. The atmosphere was not harmonious, but a surface calm was maintained.

Shen Wen went straight to the point: "Elder Huang, I plan to move the Snake-People Clan to the Jia Ma Empire."

Huang Ling's hand, holding the teacup, paused. She didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.

"While I personally travel to the Jia Ma Empire to handle this matter,"

Shen Wen continued, "I do not wish to see Luo Yan, Mu Lan, or even the remnants of the Izumo forces seize this opportunity to launch an attack.

I would like to ask the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to use its name to temporarily warn those three great empires and ensure the Snake-People Clan's stability for a period."

Huang Ling set down her teacup with a crisp clinking sound. Her face was expressionless, and her tone was flat: "Lord Shen, you are a person of the Pill Tower, and logically, this old woman should grant you this favor.

But the Heavenly Serpent Mansion has never interfered in the disputes among the Four Great Empires; this is our rule."

She looked up at Shen Wen, "If it weren't for the Emperor of Chu Yun claiming that non-Northwest individuals were here starting a major war and slaughtering sects, the Mansion Head would not have sent this old woman to investigate.

If our Heavenly Serpent Mansion were to turn around and protect the Snake-People Clan using our own name, breaking our word, the reputation spread abroad... might not be very pleasant."

The meaning of rejection in her words was quite obvious.

Although the Pill Tower's reputation is vast, the Heavenly Serpent Mansion has its own stance and considerations.

It's not that easy to get the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to take responsibility just based on empty words.

Hearing this, Cao Ying pursed her red lips, tightened the hand holding Shen Wen's arm, and muttered softly, "Rules are dead, but people are alive..."

The voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard it clearly.

Cai Lin sat on Shen Wen's other side, her purple eyes slightly cold, and the aura around her appeared even chillier.

The eyes of the Four Great Elders and Kui Xing also showed dissatisfaction, and the atmosphere in the main hall instantly became tense.

Shen Wen, however, smiled, seemingly unsurprised by Huang Ling's refusal.

He leaned forward slightly, his fingers gently tapping the armrest of his chair, and looked at Huang Ling: "I understand the rules. Therefore, I am not asking the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to help for free."

Huang Ling raised an eyebrow: "Oh? What brilliant idea does Lord Shen have?"

"You provide the materials, and I will refine one Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill for free, plus a favor from me, Shen Wen," Shen Wen said calmly.

"I wonder if this price is enough to invite the Heavenly Serpent Mansion to temporarily break a rule?"

He deliberately emphasized "a favor from me, Shen Wen."

A favor from a Seventh-Rank Alchemist who can refine the Yin-Yang Mysterious Dragon Pill, and who might even advance to an Eighth-Rank Grandmaster in the future.

Its value was something Huang Ling could not measure.

Huang Ling fell silent, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the teacup, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

"I would like to ask, what is the relationship between the Snake-People Clan and Lord Shen? Are they simply subordinates?" Huang Ling suddenly asked.

Shen Wen smiled faintly: "The current Queen Medusa, Cai Lin, is my concubine, and in the future, my offspring will be the next Queen of the Snake-People Clan."

Huang Ling raised an eyebrow. The relationship was that intimate?

Even the renowned Medusa.

No, Cai Lin has been subdued by Shen Wen.

Bai Ya, who was following behind and dared not speak, heard this news, and a hint of disappointment flashed in its eyes.

It actually had some ideas about Medusa, having previously said it wanted to find an opportunity to subdue her.

But since he is a person from the Pill Tower, forget it.

The Heavenly Serpent Mansion still cannot afford to provoke people from the Pill Tower.

"But then again.

Although it is fundamentally not allowed, Queen Cai Lin is Lord Shen's concubine.

Lord Shen is a friend of our Heavenly Serpent Mansion, which means Queen Cai Lin is also our friend.

Helping a friend has nothing to do with interfering in the conflicts of local powers."

Hearing Shen Wen's answer, Huang Ling changed her tone and said with a smile.