A Rugged Road to Becoming a Dou Emperor

"Rumble—"

A massive bolt of silver thunder completely pulverized the Purple Giant Serpent's remains, leaving behind only a snake-shaped pile of ash.

This seemed to symbolize that Queen Medusa's evolution had been fully completed. A terrifying aura surpassing the Peak Dou Emperor condensed without dispersing, slowly spreading throughout the entire temple.

"Has Her Majesty succeeded?" Outside the temple, the Great Elder's anxious heart finally settled.

The other elders also breathed sighs of relief and dispersed, beginning to issue orders one after another.

Queen Medusa only needed to recuperate next. The elders would arrange everything properly.

Queen Medusa's evolution was merely a beginning—the beginning of the Snake People Clan's march toward glory. Next, the entire Snake People Clan would become busy preparing to leave the Great Desert, which was incompatible with their bloodline.

Unlike the jubilant Snake People Clan, Xiao Yan was currently facing one of the greatest problems of his life.

Queen Medusa's evolution had gone relatively smoothly. With the Qi Nourishing Body Recovery Pill treating her injuries, and without directly coming into contact with the Green Lotus Core Flame's seed, she...

Although the evolved Queen Medusa was weak, she had still maintained her human form...

Xiao Yan was certain that the Calm Heart Pill's effects had been nothing special. It had failed to achieve the intended result.

Guiltily turning his back to her, Xiao Yan forced himself to make conversation. "Since you've evolved successfully, I'll be leaving first."

"Wait." Queen Medusa's weak voice came from behind him, drawing closer until she finally leaned against Xiao Yan's back. A snow-white arm wrapped around his neck, making his breathing quicken.

"I still need you..." Queen Medusa leaned close to Xiao Yan's ear and exhaled like orchids. "To refine some healing medicine for me."

Xiao Yan tried his best to stall for time, frantically calling for Old Yao in his heart. Yet that improper old fellow merely tossed out an "I'm going to sleep first" before falling completely silent.

"For that, I'll need to examine your body first and assess the specific situation. Different injuries require different healing medicines."

Xiao Yan reached out and grabbed Queen Medusa's wrist, but trying to take someone's pulse while being entwined by a beautiful snake was indeed rather difficult. He fumbled around for a long time without finding her pulse.

"Have you touched enough?" Queen Medusa teased.

Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan released her wrist. His face was taut, afraid that he might reveal some strange expression.

"Forgive my offense. My skills are insufficient. I ask that Your Majesty allow me to leave and study some ancient texts."

"Heh..." Queen Medusa chuckled and released Xiao Yan. "I seem to have evolved into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. I am now equivalent to a One-Star Dou Ancestor."

"Since you have no ideas, I'll recuperate according to the Snake People Clan's Secret Technique. I hope you can fully support me and provide enough Pills."

"Fine."

Seeing Xiao Yan's discomfort, Queen Medusa tightened her sleeveless gown and let out a soft laugh. Then, changing the subject, she teased, "Don't you want to see what I look like now?"

"I have no such worldly desires. My heart is set only on becoming a Dou Emperor."

"But your body's reaction doesn't seem to say that?" Queen Medusa said pointedly.

"It is merely a minor hardship on my road to becoming a Dou Emperor. Not worth mentioning."

"Since Your Majesty has no other business, I'll be leaving first—continuously wielding Heavenly Flames for half an hour was no small burden for me either."

Xiao Yan cut Queen Medusa off and fled as though escaping.

Queen Medusa watched Xiao Yan's departing back and let out a soft sigh.

"You burned a Peak Dou Emperor for half an hour, yet your aura remained full, as though you had not expended the slightest bit of energy. You neither absorbed World Energy nor took Pills to replenish your Dou Qi. I really am rather curious—how did a Dou Spirit like you manage that?"

Xiao Yan went deep into the Great Desert and unleashed the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler three times in succession before the heat in his heart finally dissipated.

Beside him, Hua She'er watched her nose and focused on her heart, pretending not to notice the abnormality in Xiao Yan's body.

"There's no need to follow me at a time like this, is there?" Xiao Yan collapsed onto the desert sand, sounding rather helpless.

"Lord Xiao Yan, according to the Snake People spies ahead, the humans seem to have made some moves against the Snake People Clan recently. The elders specifically instructed me to protect you."

"Oh, please! I'm human myself. If I hang a Fifth Grade Alchemist badge on my chest, who would be blind enough to come looking for trouble with me?"

"..." Hua She'er pretended not to hear him.

"But the humans are making moves? Tell me the details. After all, I do have some connections with the Jia Ma Imperial Family and the Mite'er Family." Xiao Yan asked.

Before Xiao Yan could get an answer, a somewhat chaotic Dou Wang aura came from afar.

"Isn't that Yue Mei?" Xiao Yan sensed that aura.

"Whoosh!"

A snake tail wrapped directly around Xiao Yan's waist. Hua She'er flapped her Dou Qi Wings and dragged Xiao Yan toward the temple.

"Lord Xiao Yan, those damned... humans may be attacking. It isn't safe here. I'll take you back to the temple."

Xiao Yan rolled his eyes in utter despair. But after unleashing three Earth Tier Dou Techniques in a row, he was extremely weak and could only let Hua She'er drag him away.

"Well, if it isn't our Chief Alchemist?"

Since Hua She'er was carrying both Xiao Yan and the Heavy Black Ruler, she was slower than Yue Mei. A few breaths later, Yue Mei caught up with them.

"My lord, no one in the Snake People Clan is dissatisfied with you now. But those humans have come, and they may see you as a traitor to humanity!"

"Stop trying to sow discord! Get to the point. How many people came?"

Yue Mei was one of the beneficiaries of the Dou Ling Pill, so she held Xiao Yan in considerable respect. Even after being scolded, she kept a smiling face as she said, "The one who came is Pill King Gu He. He brought one Dou Emperor, two Dou Wangs, and two Dou Spirits..."

"A Dou Ling? All right, no need to say any more. Gu He was really that pathetic? A Sixth Grade Alchemist could only summon this many people? How did he dare barge into the Snake People Clan's territory with such a small force?"

Yue Mei choked on Xiao Yan's words, but after thinking it over carefully, compared to this lord, Gu He really did seem to be just a tiny bit unpopular.

"Maybe his alchemy skills aren't that good, so these were the only people he could call? Still, while they can't compare to the Snake People Clan's overall strength, no single Snake People Tribe would be able to stand against them."

"And he may not necessarily be here to start a war. Perhaps he just wants to trade some pills with our Snake People Clan for something—after all, the Snake People Clan is rather short on pills without you, my lord~"

Hua She'er interjected, "What does Gu He have that can compare to our Lord Xiao Yan? Just make them... make them crawl back to wherever they came from!"

"Don't underestimate him. Gu He has the Misty Cloud Sect behind him, so he may have quite a few good things on hand. The Peak Dou Emperor Elders probably haven't gone far yet, right? Call them all back, rob Gu He, then make the Misty Cloud Sect pay to ransom him."