Cold sweat beaded on Liu Xi's forehead. The woman floating above him radiated such terrifying power that, if she so wished, she could erase him with a single palm strike.
What unsettled him most was that his Illusionary Heart Technique—normally flawless—would be useless before a Dou Zong's spiritual perception. She would see through them instantly.
Still, when he saw the enormous shadow of the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor circling above, Liu Xi had already guessed why this Dou Zong powerhouse had come.
His mind flashed back to Lu Man's cryptic words from the night before: "Tomorrow, there will be a surprise."
'Surprise my ass,' Liu Xi cursed inwardly. 'This isn't a surprise—it's a heart attack!'
No one in their right mind would deliberately offend a 6th Tier Alchemist—not even a Dou Zong. But this woman… she had clearly thrown caution to the wind. She hadn't even waited for him to bring Qing Lin to visit the Sky Serpent Mansion as promised. Instead, she had charged across empires to find him first.
And a woman that impatient… who could guess what she was thinking?
Meanwhile, standing atop Bai Ya's massive head, the Mansion Master of the Sky Serpent Mansion surveyed the gathered might of the Jia Ma Empire below. Seeing every powerhouse frozen under her overwhelming aura, she nodded inwardly in satisfaction.
'Good. Establish dominance first—show power, make them fear. Then negotiation becomes effortless.'
Her elegant form stepped off Bai Ya's head, her feet pressing into the very air as if walking on solid ground. Under the wary gazes of the assembled experts, she descended slowly into the grand hall.
The oppressive might that had blanketed the heavens began to withdraw—slightly. Her earlier display had been deliberate, a show of strength to leave an unforgettable first impression. Even restrained, however, her presence still carried an unshakable authority, sharp and suffocating, like a storm compressed into human form.
As she landed, over a dozen azure figures swept down behind her—each with translucent Dou Qi wings fanning out from their backs. Every one of them radiated the power of a Dou Wang or higher.
Only Bai Ya remained hovering above the city, the massive serpent's body coiled uneasily in the air. Glancing down at the buildings far below and then at his own enormous frame, Bai Ya grimaced internally. 'Hmph… this body's too big for its own good.' With a flick of his tail, he turned and slithered toward the outskirts of the city to wait.
The dozen Dou Wangs landed behind their mistress in perfect formation.
At that moment, the Empire's strongest—Jia Xingtian, Yun Yun, Hai Bodong, Fa Ma, and others—felt their skin prickle with cold. The sheer power of this contingent could easily annihilate every strong expert in the hall combined.
But then their eyes fell on a familiar figure among the arrivals—Lu Man, dressed in her usual elegant azure robes, standing respectfully behind the woman.
Faces turned pale. All eyes shifted toward Liu Xi.
The implication was obvious: Had Liu Xi colluded with the Sky Serpent Mansion to lure them all here and wipe them out in one fell swoop?
But the genuine shock in Liu Xi's eyes dispelled their suspicion almost instantly. He clearly hadn't expected this either. Besides, the ceremony had been arranged by President Fa Ma himself—no one in the Alchemist Association would dare orchestrate such madness.
Exchanging glances, Jia Xingtian, Yun Yun, Hai Bodong, and Fa Ma all came to the same decision: stand united.
In a blur of motion, the four of them stepped forward, forming a defensive line before the gathered Jia Ma experts. They faced the newly arrived Dou Zong and her entourage head-on, their combined Dou Qi surging to resist her crushing aura.
Jia Xingtian's expression hardened as his voice echoed through the hall. "Honored Dou Zong, we welcome your arrival to the Jia Ma Empire—but may we ask, what brings you here with such overwhelming force?"
The Sky Serpent Mansion Master didn't even glance at him. Her commanding gaze swept across the hall before finally locking onto Liu Xi.
Her lips curved into a faint smile, cool as moonlight yet tinged with a mature allure that somehow made her even more dangerous.
"So, you must be the 6th Tier Alchemist Lu Man spoke of," she said. "You do live up to her description. A genius of Jia Nan Academy's Inner Academy, host of an Heavenly Flame, and your soul has already reached the Mortal Realm Perfection Stage. It seems reaching the 7th Tier is only a matter of time."
Her words, recited as if from a dossier, left the entire hall stunned. None of them had expected this mysterious Dou Zong to know Liu Xi's details so thoroughly—better than they themselves did.
Liu Xi glanced toward Lu Man, who met his eyes apologetically before lowering her head. He sighed inwardly but quickly steadied himself.
If this Dou Zong had come with knowledge but no hostility, there was room to talk. Stepping past the four Dou Huangs, he stopped a few paces away from her.
Facing the elegant yet intimidating woman, Liu Xi clasped his hands respectfully.
"Senior's insight is sharp indeed. I am Liu Xi. May I ask how I should address you?"
Her crimson lips curved faintly. "Me? I am the current Mansion Master of the Sky Serpent Mansion."
She offered no name—only her title. Clearly, she had no intention of revealing her true identity before so many witnesses.
Liu Xi's eyes narrowed slightly. 'The Mansion Master herself… no wonder she dares stride into the Empire alone. So this is about Qing Lin, after all.'
His tone grew serious. "Senior, I understand your purpose. But I did say I would personally bring Qing Lin to visit. For you to arrive so urgently, before that promise could be fulfilled—it does make me… uneasy."
The Mansion Master's expression softened slightly, her tone smooth as silk. "I came in person to show our sincerity. Our Mansion's regard for Qing Lin is no less than yours."
Then, her eyes gleamed with intent. "Moreover, I came to invite you as well, Liu Xi. You must already realize—this small empire cannot contain someone of your talent."
Ignoring Fa Ma's darkening expression, she continued in a calm, regal voice. "In our Sky Serpent Mansion, your skills and resources would flourish beyond imagination."
Even the veterans of the Empire—Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun included—were momentarily speechless. The Sky Serpent Mansion wasn't here to wage war or seek vengeance… but to recruit.
The tension in the room eased. Shoulders relaxed, breaths released. So long as no battle erupted, it was a blessing.
Still, many looked at Liu Xi with thinly veiled envy. To think—he was being personally courted by a Dou Zong powerhouse from beyond the Empire's borders!
Only Gu He's face darkened with bitterness. Once hailed as "Pill King," he now found himself utterly overshadowed by a man far younger than himself.
Liu Xi, though inwardly impressed, kept his tone polite. "Senior's goodwill is appreciated. But I dislike being restrained. When I agreed to serve as Grand Elder of the Alchemist Association, President Fa Ma promised I would remain free—come and go as I please. Could the Sky Serpent Mansion offer me the same freedom?"
The Mansion Master's smile faded, her brows drawing together. 'Come and go as he pleases? Did he truly think the Mansion's vast resources were a banquet open to freeloaders?'
Still, she let the matter drop—for now.
"Very well," she said at last. "Then let us set that aside for the moment. Have Qing Lin come out first. I will take her as my disciple. Once that is settled, we can discuss everything else."
Her voice was calm—but the weight it carried brooked no refusal.
(End of Chapter)
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