Medusa's "Last Words"

"Little Black, stay obediently in the tribe lately. Don't go running around outside."

"Quite a few humans from the Jia Ma Empire have entered the desert recently, and no one knows what they're up to. Try not to get into conflicts with them," Medusa gently instructed as she stroked Ning Su's head.

"If the humans catch you, they won't just dig out your Magic Core—they might even turn you into Snake Meat Soup and eat you."

Ning Su: "..."

Seriously, she had even learned to scare him with words like that.

Did she really think he was some child who knew nothing... or rather, some little snake?

Snake Meat Soup?

No one in the Jia Ma Empire was capable of turning him into Snake Meat Soup!

Still, judging by Medusa's behavior, along with the recent disturbances and situation in the Tagor Desert—

She was preparing to begin her evolution.

Because she had to prepare for her evolution, she had no way to clear out those petty pests in the desert herself. All she could do was tell Ning Su not to wander around.

But Medusa's worries were actually unnecessary.

With Ning Su's current cultivation, even if he could not win, he could still get away.

But since Medusa had put it that way, he could only obediently nod.

This was Medusa's rare display of tenderness. He could not let it go to waste.

"I see you've gone out and eaten quite a lot these past few days. You smell all stinky now."

"Come on, let's take a bath. We'll wash you all clean and nice-smelling."

Medusa picked Ning Su up and headed toward the bathroom.

After personally bathing him, when Hua She'er brought the food over, she personally placed everything Ning Su wanted to eat before him as well.

It was rather like a mother caring for a child who could not take care of himself... That comparison felt strange.

No, it was not the comparison that was strange.

Medusa's behavior was too strange!

She had never been this gentle before.

Even Hua She'er noticed that something was off—Her Majesty the Queen was far too gentle today.

But Ning Su knew.

Medusa was preparing to use the Heavenly Flames to evolve.

She knew that doing so was extremely risky, and that she might not succeed.

Once she failed, she would meet an end where both body and soul perished.

But Medusa had no other choice now.

So, before she officially began her evolution, she could only cherish everything around her as much as possible.

On a dark and windy night, deep in the desert.

Several figures were locked in fierce battle, kicking up countless waves of yellow sand and disturbing the night's silence.

"Bang!"

Yue Mei exchanged a palm strike with her opponent, only to be sent staggering back again and again as her blood and qi churned within her.

"Worthy of being among the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts. You truly are formidable."

"Snake-person Yue Mei, you won't escape today. Surrender peacefully!"

Yan Shi and Feng Li shouted.

Both of them were among the Jia Ma Empire's Ten Great Experts. This time, they had accepted Gu He's invitation to protect him as they traveled to the Snake-People Race in search of the Heavenly Flames.

But they encountered Yue Mei midway, and the two sides began fighting.

"Hmph, you think the likes of you can catch me? Dream on!"

Yue Mei rapidly formed hand seals, immediately splitting into dozens of tiny energy snakes that fled swiftly in all directions across the desert.

"Not good, she's escaping!"

Feng Li and Yan Shi each unleashed their own techniques, launching waves of attacks that set off a chain of explosions around them.

But Yue Mei was more familiar with the desert than they were. If she wanted to flee, the two of them could not stop her at all.

"Forget it. Don't bother with her. Don't delay our real business," Gu He called out to stop them.

Yue Mei had merely been an unexpected encounter along the way and had not been part of their plans.

Besides, capturing Yue Mei would be useless. It would only intensify the conflict between them and the Snake-People Race, which would not help their later plans.

"Old He, you call the shots. If we're not chasing, then we're not chasing."

The two of them stopped.

"Let's go."

The group continued flying deeper into the Snake-People Race's territory.

Behind them, a figure quietly followed.

"Teacher, do you think these people are also heading to the Snake-People Race to look for Heavenly Flames?" Xiao Yan had a bad feeling.

"Three Dou Lings, three Dou Wangs, and one Dou Emperor. With such a lineup, it wouldn't be impossible to say they were going to attack the Snake-People Race," Yao Lao teased.

"Then don't we have no chance?"

"Fool! How do we have no chance? With them drawing the attention of the Snake-People Race's experts, it'll be even easier for us to steal the Heavenly Flames."

Xiao Yan suddenly understood. "That actually makes sense!"

"Then why aren't you hurrying up and following them?"

"Right!"

Xiao Yan hurried after Gu He and the others ahead.

"Your Majesty, you want to use the Heavenly Flames to evolve?!" Hua She'er was utterly shocked.

When Medusa had brought the Heavenly Flames back, many within the tribe had not understood why she had brought back something so dangerous.

Heavenly Flames were extremely suppressive toward the Snake-People Race.

Not just snake-people.

Under normal circumstances, ordinary people would avoid Heavenly Flames at all costs if they encountered them.

Only alchemists yearned for Heavenly Flames.

Hua She'er had vaguely guessed what Medusa intended to do with the Heavenly Flames.

Yet now that she heard Medusa say it herself, she was still deeply shocked.

The Four Great Elders beside her were equally stunned, and they voiced their confusion and opposition.

"Her Majesty the Queen, Heavenly Flames are simply too dangerous. We do not support you doing this."

"If the evolution fails, the Snake-People Race cannot afford to lose its queen!"

None of the elders supported Medusa's decision.

"This Queen has already made her decision. Nothing you say can change my mind."

"This Queen knows that you fear the consequences would be unimaginable should I fail."

"But this risk must be taken. The Jia Ma Empire, Luoyan Empire, Mulan Empire, and the other empires around us are growing increasingly powerful."

"If we do not proactively seek a breakthrough, we will sooner or later be eaten away by them."

Medusa did not wish to take risks either.

But the Snake-People Race's situation was uncertain, the road ahead was shrouded in mist, and difficulties lay everywhere.

If they did not seek change on their own initiative, their only end would be destruction!

"Only if this Queen breaks through to Dou Zong can I lead our people out of this encirclement."

"This Queen cannot wait for a natural breakthrough. I must use the Heavenly Flames and seek a sliver of hope amid danger."

"I am the queen of the Snake-People Race. This is my responsibility!"

Medusa's gaze was firm and resolute.

This was her responsibility as the queen of the Snake-People Race!

In truth, given her cultivation, even if the Snake-People Race one day faced an unprecedented crisis, she would be fully capable of protecting herself.

But she was the queen of the Snake-People Race!

She bore the lives and deaths of tens of thousands of her people upon her shoulders!

Medusa would rather die in battle herself than watch her people die!

The Four Great Elders were all overwhelmed by Medusa's imposing presence, unable to speak for a moment.

"If... this Queen's evolution fails, and I perish in the Heavenly Flames."

"Then I hope the position of queen of the Snake-People Race can be handed to Little Black."

"His talent and aptitude are no worse than this Queen's. In the future, he will surely surpass me!"

The moment Medusa said this, everyone was shocked.

Even Ning Su, who was lying in Medusa's arms, abruptly raised his head.

No, was she leaving her last words?

That wasn't necessary!

Besides, he was a male snake!

Even if he were to become the ruler of the Snake-People Race, he would be a king, not a queen!