Medusa's Calamity, Fear and Courage

"Human, what did you say?!"

A flicker of anger crossed Yue Mei's cold, beautiful face. Dou Qi surged from her palm, transforming into dozens of tiny green snakes that shot toward Su Yun.

"How dare you offend our sovereign!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King suddenly launched an attack. Though it acted as meek as a lapdog before Su Yun, one must not forget that it was still a Sixth-tier Magical Beast!

Roar!

The Amethyst Winged Lion King spat out a pillar of purple fire, instantly incinerating the green snakes before slamming viciously into Yue Mei's abdomen.

Pfft!

Yue Mei suffered a severe blow. Her delicate body fell from the sky, smashed through a thick stone pillar, and crashed into the desert, leaving behind a massive crater.

"Damn it..."

Blood trickled from the corner of Yue Mei's lips as the Snake-People warriors shielded her behind them and glared furiously at the Amethyst Winged Lion King in the sky.

"Is there no one left in the Snake-People Race?"

Su Yun stood with his hands behind his back, his white robes snapping in the wind. He deliberately released a trace of Dou Zong pressure, making the void tremble.

Whoosh!

As though sensing his arrival, a red afterimage flew out from the Snake-People Temple.

"A Dou Zong!"

Medusa's face was filled with shock and uncertainty.

Su Yun turned at the sound and saw her dressed in a regal crimson brocade robe. Her voluptuous, graceful figure exuded a faint charm as well as majesty.

Unlike Su Yun, who had the leisure to admire her, Medusa had no interest in appreciating Su Yun's handsome face.

"May I ask why a Dou Zong has come to our Snake-People Race?"

Medusa spoke respectfully, but a hint of coldness flashed across her lovely features.

Yue Mei's injuries made it difficult for her to show Su Yun a pleasant face, even if he was a Dou Zong expert.

Confusion showed in Su Yun's eyes. "In This Sect Master's era, the various Snake-People branches across the continent all preferred dark, damp places as their homes.

Because the Snake-People bloodline is cold and yin in nature... Is your branch different?"

Medusa's expression turned icy. "Did Your Excellency come here to pick a fight?!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King held back a laugh. "Sovereign, that is not the case. They originally lived in the dark regions deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Back then, they were even neighbors with my ancestors.

But later, several human empires, including the Jia Ma Empire, drove them into this scorching desert.

Asking her that question has probably completely enraged this Snake-People Queen."

"I see... Fine, she doesn't look like the type to obediently hand over the Heavenly Flame anyway."

Su Yun got straight to the point. "Medusa, hand over the Green Lotus Core Flame."

Medusa's expression shifted slightly. She had not expected Su Yun to be here for the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"Your Excellency already possesses the Nether Poison Flame. What do you need the Green Lotus Core Flame for?"

Medusa knew who Su Yun was.

Clad in white and traveling atop the Amethyst Winged Lion King, he had already become unmistakable.

The Snake-People Race and the Jia Ma Empire were enemies, so they naturally kept a close watch on intelligence regarding their mortal foe.

Medusa had learned of this expert's existence when Su Yun fought Jia Xing Tian.

Yet what Medusa had never expected was that the Su Yun described in the intelligence was not a Dou Zong.

"This Sect Master has my own use for it. Just offer up the Heavenly Flame."

"This King expended countless efforts to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame. Does Your Excellency truly think a single sentence is enough to make This King hand over this hard-won Heavenly Flame? Aren't you being too arrogant?"

Medusa spoke coldly. The Green Lotus Core Flame was tied to her evolution, and she could not possibly hand it over.

"You had better think this through."

Su Yun's expression was indifferent as Dou Zong pressure erupted, sweeping across the entire Snake-People Temple. Even the Amethyst Winged Lion King beneath him could not help trembling in fear.

"Please leave, Your Excellency. Otherwise, if the Snake-People Race devotes all its strength, we may not be unable to bring down a Dou Zong expert!"

Medusa spread her Flame Wings and soared into the air, rising to Su Yun's height.

"Challenging This Sect Master's authority?"

A curve lifted at Su Yun's lips. "Then let me see just how much resolve the Snake-People Queen possesses."

Yellow sand billowed beneath the blazing sun hanging high in the sky. The desert should have been unbearably hot, yet beneath the shroud of Su Yun's aura, Medusa felt a trace of chill.

A great battle was on the verge of erupting.

Hah!

Medusa struck first. If she delayed any longer, she feared she would lose the courage to attack!

The power of heaven and earth surged. Medusa's hands became blades as Dou Qi burst forth, condensing into two Flame Swords.

Whoosh!

Her figure flickered through the air, becoming a red afterimage. The Snake-People below could not even make out her movements.

When she appeared again, she was already before Su Yun, her twin swords slashing down at lightning speed!

Su Yun remained expressionless. He extended his hand and pressed it against the twin swords blazing with raging flames. With a mere gentle squeeze, ripples spread through the void.

Crack!

Medusa's pupils contracted sharply. The twin blades condensed from fiery Dou Qi shattered into countless fragments along with Su Yun's movement!

She swiftly retreated, only to find that Su Yun had not pursued her victory. He merely stood quietly where he was.

"By this move alone, you are far stronger than that old fellow from the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Family."

Jade-green flames pulsed from Su Yun's palm as the power of heaven and earth surged forth in a great torrent, causing far greater fluctuations than when Medusa had wielded it.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

A longsword wreathed entirely in jade-colored flames floated in the air. Its blade was three feet seven inches long and only palm-width wide, yet it radiated power sufficient to burn heaven and boil seas.

"The Nether Bone Erosion Butterfly did not take Jia Xing Tian's life that day. Can you withstand this Jade Miasma Ghost Sword?"

A faint smile curled Su Yun's lips. "This Sect Master is merciful. You struck me twice with your swords, but as long as you receive one sword strike from me, we will call it even. A fair deal, isn't it?"

Medusa nearly cursed aloud. Their sword techniques were not even on the same level!

Her gaze fell upon the jade fire sword floating before Su Yun, and a deadly threat coiled around her heart.

This attack might kill her!!!

Medusa took a deep breath. "Jia Xing Tian survived the Nether Bone Erosion Butterfly that day, and Your Excellency spared the Imperial Capital.

If This King survives this sword strike, can you spare the Snake-People Tribe?"

"You certainly know how to bargain."

Su Yun pondered for a moment before saying, "Fine."

"Queen, don't!"

Yue Mei cried out sorrowfully, voicing the thoughts of countless Snake-People.

"You don't need to fight alone!"

"Someone has already gone to notify the four elders and the Great Commander. Why must you do this?!"

"..."

"Enough! I am the Queen!"

Medusa pushed her Dou Qi to its limit. Deep purple flames enveloped her body, transforming her into a giant flaming python.

This was her companion Magical Beast, the Purple Nether Flame Snake. It possessed a faint trace of the Sky Swallowing Python's bloodline, making it exceptionally powerful even among Sixth-tier Magical Beasts.

Yue Mei looked grief-stricken. She could see that the giant python transformed from the Queen was trembling slightly. Even the Queen feared the might of a Dou Zong.

But for the sake of her people, she chose to bear everything alone!

"Come!"

Medusa's voice emerged from the Purple Nether Flame Snake's mouth.

"Go."

Su Yun flicked his sleeve, and the Jade Fire Longsword tore through the air. Wherever its edge passed, it scorched lingering trails of flame, as if the heavens themselves were weeping blood!

Medusa's body trembled, yet she showed no intention of dodging.

Pfft!

The Jade Fire Longsword instantly pierced her body. In an instant, towering flames exploded within her, dyeing the entire sky jade-green.

"Ahhh!!!"

The pain of the Heavenly Flame burning her penetrated deep into her bones, and Medusa could not suppress her scream.

"Fear is the instinct of living creatures; courage is humanity's hymn... No matter what, you have earned my recognition, Medusa... And the greatest respect I can give you..."

Su Yun's expression was icy as his hand seals abruptly changed. "...is to kill you with everything I have!"