Return to the Misty Cloud Sect

After bidding farewell to the elders, he opened a spatial passage, stepped through it, and left the Ancient Dragon World...

The Misty Cloud Sect was the same as always. Every morning, the disciples cultivated Dou Qi, honed their Dou Skills, and trained. Cultivation was inherently a painstaking process repeated day after day, year after year. Unless you were the protagonist of the world like Xiao Yan, able to wander about without dying and stumble upon opportunities no matter how casually you cultivated.

But most people were ordinary. If they wanted greater power, higher status, and more wealth, they had to earn it with their own sweat and blood!

That was why so many people who had cultivated to profound realms feared death... Their lives were their only ones, and they did not want to give up what they had worked so hard to obtain. On the other hand, cultivation rookies were all hot-blooded, shouting about fighting and killing at the slightest disagreement, because they had yet to possess anything. They needed to gamble their lives to strive for it!

Those who could enter the Misty Cloud Sect were fortunate throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire. As the empire's number one sect, it possessed even more cultivation resources than the imperial family.

Wealth, companions, methods, and land were just as important on the Dou Qi Continent. Those who came to the Misty Cloud Sect could obtain cultivation resources and gain powerful backing. That was also why most disciples fought for the sect. Being able to enter the Misty Cloud Sect proved that one's talent was among the best in the entire empire.

The Misty Cloud Sect's overall strength was a colossal presence within the Jia Ma Empire. Even without Ao Qing's arrival, it had a Peak Dou Huang, several Dou Wangs, more than ten Dou Lings, and countless Da Dou Shis. The Xiao Clan, by comparison, had only Xiao Zhan, a four-star Da Dou Shi...

Before long, Ao Qing returned to the Misty Cloud Sect.

The moment he returned, he came across Queen Medusa lifting Hai Bodong's seal.

Queen Medusa had actually been unwilling, but Ao Qing had promised to remove Hai Bodong's seal, and she had no way to stop him. She could only obey.

Hai Bodong's feelings were equally complicated. Did he hate Queen Medusa? Perhaps. Yet as he watched Queen Medusa being forced to lift his seal, he also found her rather pitiful. Die was already dead, while he was still alive. And the proud, domineering Queen Medusa of the past had also died before Ao Qing. All that remained now was a Queen Medusa who had sacrificed herself for the continuation of her race. At least, that was how Hai Bodong saw it.

If Ao Qing and Queen Medusa knew what Hai Bodong was thinking, they would probably be speechless. The two of them really were only in an employment relationship! It truly was not what everyone imagined.

After Hai Bodong's seal was lifted, he recovered his Dou Huang cultivation. However, he did not linger in the Misty Cloud Sect and instead returned to his clan. His clan truly needed him!

Once everything was over, Ao Qing appeared as well. Queen Medusa had no particular reaction to his arrival. Ao Qing did not touch her anyway, and he barely even looked at her. Thinking this, Queen Medusa turned to leave, but before she could go, Ao Qing's voice reached her ears.

"Medusa, wait. Don't leave yet."

????

Queen Medusa looked puzzled. She had been at the Misty Cloud Sect for over a month, and this was the first time Ao Qing had spoken to her. The last time had been when they were fighting over the Heavenly Flames.

For some reason, Queen Medusa subconsciously stopped. With a faint trace of anticipation, she turned around.

"What does Master require of Medusa?"

Queen Medusa's voice was somewhat seductive, yet beneath that enchantment lay a trace of coldness. It was utterly bewitching—impossible to resist!

Looking at Queen Medusa now, one had to admit that she was truly beautiful! Ao Qing felt something strange as well—a nervousness he had never experienced before. It was different from the tension he felt when others kept their distance from him. He could not quite explain it, but he could feel how excited he was.

Queen Medusa's gaze darted away from Ao Qing's, and her expression was no longer as calm as before. There was even a hint of a young virgin's nervousness mixed within it.

Her lips curled upward as she thought, Hmph, men really are all the same. Let's see if I can't wrap you around my finger!

"Does Master wish for Medusa to serve him in the bath, or attend him in bed?"

Queen Medusa's tone became even more seductive, soul-stealing and utterly enchanting. There was no denying it.

Ao Qing took a deep breath, steadying himself. He could not help but sigh. As expected of Queen Medusa. No wonder Xu Xian had fallen so low. So this was the real thing—using this to test an official? Sorry, but the current Ao Qing could truly withstand such temptation.

"Beautiful snake, act normal. Stop thinking about all that nonsense.

Don't worry, I didn't ask you to stay so I could bully you. No matter what, you're my snake. Having only Dou Huang cultivation would lower my status, understand?

So, one of my clan's seniors gave me something that can allow you to evolve into a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, or even a Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python!

But looking at you now, you probably don't want it, right?"

Ao Qing smiled as he looked at Queen Medusa before him, wanting to see how she would react.

The moment she heard Ao Qing's words, Queen Medusa's eyes lit up. Evolution! That meant she could become a Dou Zong, or perhaps something even stronger!

Queen Medusa tried her best to calm herself, but she breathed heavily instead. Then she respectfully said, "Master! Your little snake still needs it. Besides, once I reach Dou Zong, I can permanently transform my tail into legs. Could Master really bear to watch Medusa remain half-human, half-snake for the rest of her life?" After speaking, Queen Medusa did not forget to wink at Ao Qing, as though saying, Hurry up and give it to me.

Watching Queen Medusa's ridiculous display, Ao Qing finally recovered some of his dignity. He cleared his throat.

"Look at how eager you are. As long as you follow me properly, you'll enjoy the finest food and drink in the future. Dou Saints and Dou Emperors? Those will be nothing." As he spoke, he winked at Queen Medusa as well.

"Uh..."

For a moment, Queen Medusa had the illusion that Ao Qing had been possessed. He was spouting nothing but nonsense. She could believe the part about fine food and drink, but Dou Saints and Dou Emperors? Forget it. She had never even heard of such legendary beings. Queen Medusa did not dare hope for such things. She would already be satisfied if she could become a Dou Zun in this lifetime. Still, Ao Qing before her did seem rather decent. At least he was no longer so cold and icy, wasn't he?

"Alright, I won't tease you anymore. You should be very satisfied with what I'm giving you this time. Compared to evolving by devouring Heavenly Flames, this thing is more reliable, and the evolution it brings will be even stronger!"

Hearing Ao Qing say this, Queen Medusa grew curious. What could possibly be more effective than Heavenly Flames?

"Alright, I won't keep you guessing. What I'm giving you this time is the essence blood of a magical beast—the Nine Netherworld Earth Python! You should have heard of it.

And it isn't the essence blood of an ordinary Nine Netherworld Earth Python. It comes from a pure-blooded royal lineage, one that had reached the Dou Saint realm before its death.

Well? Are you tempted? Do you want it?"

At this moment, Queen Medusa had to admit that she was truly tempted. She truly wanted it. But then she thought again—wait, a pure-blooded royal Nine Netherworld Earth Python at the Dou Saint level? Could an ordinary person possibly kill one? As for finding one already dead, what a joke. What Nine Netherworld Earth Python would die outside? They generally returned to their clan to await death and pass down their bloodline inheritance.

Queen Medusa looked at Ao Qing as if to say, I'm not some teenage girl. Don't even think about fooling me.

Ao Qing did not waste any words. He directly took out a drop of essence blood from his Storage Ring. A powerful pressure radiated from that single drop. Ao Qing did not feel anything; his own bloodline was nobler, and his strength was not weak either, so it had no effect on him whatsoever.

But Queen Medusa suffered. That drop of essence blood was like an ancient ferocious beast. Its violent, noble, powerful aura crashed into her, forcing her entire body to bend.

Ao Qing saw every bit of it clearly! Tsk, tsk, tsk. As expected of Queen Medusa—she really was powerful!

Ao Qing had no intention of making things difficult for Queen Medusa. With a clench of his hand, he sealed off the aura of the essence blood. Queen Medusa immediately felt her body lighten and returned to normal.

However, she now knew that Ao Qing had not deceived her. At the very least, that drop of essence blood was enough for her to evolve into a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python!

"Looks like you can't refine this drop of essence blood. You're still too weak right now. But since you're my snake, I'll reluctantly help you strip the Nine Netherworld Earth Python's soul from the essence blood, so that you can refine it safely."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. A master as good as me is probably impossible to find anywhere in this world. You'd better seize this opportunity!"

It had to be said that Medusa was somewhat moved at this moment. Perhaps when she had first been forced to acknowledge him as her master, she had felt nothing but hatred and humiliation. Yet Ao Qing had never touched her in the slightest, and she no longer disliked him quite so much. Now, she felt as though she was being cared for.

The stronger a woman was, the more she yearned to be cherished. It was only that their strength kept them from showing it.

After preparing the Essence Blood and handing it to Medusa, Ao Qing sent her to the Misty Cloud Sect Back Mountain to evolve. He himself hugged Little Fox and wandered around the Misty Cloud Sect.

Life was so wonderful. Wasn't cultivation ultimately for the pursuit of such things?

Ao Qing wandered aimlessly through the sect and, without realizing it, arrived at the Misty Cloud Sect Disciple Martial Arts Arena.

At that moment, a young man and woman around fifteen or sixteen were fighting in the arena. Both were extremely cautious, probing each other in hopes of finding an opening. However, their strengths were evenly matched; both possessed the cultivation of a one-star Dou Zhe...

Ao Qing watched the lively match from afar. At this moment, Yun Yun came to stand beside him. In truth, she had noticed Ao Qing long ago. When a disciple saw him leave his little house to wander about, she had already prepared to meet him. Even she did not know what was wrong with her—perhaps she wanted to provoke Medusa, or perhaps she had truly been drawn to Ao Qing.

Ao Qing looked at Yun Yun as she approached, but did not take the initiative to speak. The two simply watched the battle at close range.

In the end, the young woman traded injury for injury and defeated the young man, winning the match amid the crowd's cheers.

"Will she receive anything for winning?"

Ao Qing turned to Yun Yun and asked.

"The match is something both parties agree to voluntarily. The wager is generally each person's cultivation resources, and the winner can take the loser's cultivation resources for a month," Yun Yun replied.

"So, everything has to be fought for personally. Not bad! I'll give you some things—handle them as you see fit."

After saying that, Ao Qing gave Yun Yun the Green Lotus Core Flame Lotus Platform and its lotus seeds. Then he returned to his little house.

Watching his departing figure, Yun Yun was momentarily lost in thought, her hand tightly clutching what Ao Qing had given her...

It was Valentine's Day, and I was delayed by something today. My apologies, readers. Starting tomorrow, there will be ten thousand words of updates per day. I look forward to everyone's support!