Queen Medusa moved swiftly. In the blink of an eye, she appeared directly before Lin Che.
Her sharp snake sword aimed at his throat and suddenly thrust forward.
Lin Che said softly, "So you use a sword too, my lady. Unfortunately, your sword is too slow."
"How noisy." Queen Medusa's gaze turned icy. As she shifted her body, the purple tail behind her lashed out with force.
One attack from the front, another from behind—enough to make many people tremble at the mere thought.
"Heh heh heh, I do enjoy sparring with powerful sword users. Since Queen Medusa insists, allow me to witness the might of the Snake People Clan."
With a slight movement of Lin Che's right hand, his sword rose in response and drew a semicircular ripple of Sword Qi before him.
"Half a life unfettered, wine in my heart; one sword shatters shadows toward the journey."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A piercing hum suddenly rang out.
The instant their swords collided, sparks scattered in all directions, lighting up the gloom of the night.
Queen Medusa's expression shifted slightly as she stared at Lin Che in surprise. His right hand held his sword, while his left still carried his wine gourd.
Lin Che smiled faintly. Only at such close range did he realize just how exquisite Queen Medusa's face was.
Her features were perfect, her delicate nose high, her lips rosy, and her gemlike eyes mesmerizing. Every detail carried an attraction countless men had never experienced before.
"You truly are breathtaking, my lady. But sadly, your heart for the sword leaves much to be desired."
Lin Che quietly exerted force with his right hand.
Queen Medusa felt as though some immense force had struck her blade. Her body lost control and was forced back dozens of meters.
"My lady, you may be at the Peak Nine-star Dou Huang, but unfortunately, you are no match for me. You should leave."
Queen Medusa tightened her grip around the Seven-Colored Snake Sword, malice flickering in her eyes. Her cold, enchanting voice drifted forth. "Sir, This Queen has already said it. Hand over the Heavenly Flame, and This Queen will no longer make things difficult for you. This Queen may even become your friend."
Lin Che stood with his sword on his back and said softly, "I once read records of the Snake People Clan's queen in an ancient book. It said that when Queen Medusa reached the peak Dou Emperor level, if her fortune was sufficient, she could undergo a strange evolution."
"After evolving, Queen Medusa would not only be able to freely transform into human form, but would also become a Dou Zong expert. However, the success rate of this evolution appears to be extremely low. And... most importantly, the thing required for this evolution is a Heavenly Flame..."
Upon hearing this, Queen Medusa's expression changed subtly. Her alluring eyes fixed firmly on Lin Che as she spoke through an aura of frost, "I did not expect you to know so much."
"That's right. This Queen needs a Heavenly Flame to break through to the Dou Zong realm. And the Green Lotus Core Flame here is something the queens of our Snake People Clan have guarded for generations."
The Snake People Clan had lived in the Tagor Desert for a thousand years. Back then, the first Queen Medusa had already sensed the existence of the Green Lotus Core Flame. Unfortunately, it had not yet taken shape at the time and could not be absorbed at all.
Now, after a thousand years, the Green Lotus Core Flame had finally formed, only to be seized by an outsider Dou Emperor. No matter who it was, they likely would not be able to accept that.
Queen Medusa raised the Seven-Colored Snake Sword and aimed it at Lin Che's throat again, cold light flashing in her eyes. "I'll say this one last time. Hand over the Heavenly Flame, or This Queen will not mind sending your soul back to the desert."
Lin Che shrugged and replied leisurely, "Queen Medusa, devouring a Heavenly Flame is not the only way to evolve into a Dou Zong."
"What do you mean?"
Queen Medusa asked with tightly furrowed brows.
"Although a Heavenly Flame is the best way to help the Snake People Clan's queen break through to Dou Zong, you would have to endure the agony of being burned by the Heavenly Flame. You might even perish because of it."
"If This Queen can break through to Dou Zong, then even if the hope is slim, This Queen will dare to try." Queen Medusa snorted coldly. "The Snake Spirit will bless me."
Lin Che landed steadily on the ground, casually found a spot to sit, then lit a bonfire and patted the place beside him. "The night is so beautiful. Why not sit and enjoy it together, my lady?"
Queen Medusa also descended to the ground, but she did not sit beside Lin Che. She stood alone where she was, staring coldly at the carefree man.
"I have a wine that can spare you the pain of the Heavenly Flame burning your body. It can also improve your cultivation and help you break through to the Dou Zong realm."
Queen Medusa's voice was cold. "Are you treating This Queen like a three-year-old child? Do you think This Queen would believe such nonsense?"
Without ceremony, Lin Che took out a jug of wine and tossed it toward Queen Medusa.
As if possessed, Queen Medusa caught the flying wine jug. A rich fragrance of peach blossoms immediately washed over her.
The fragrance of wine filled the air. Though mellow, it carried even more of the scent of peach petals, making one feel as though they had been placed within Peach Forest Mountain, savoring the glory of their finest years.
Queen Medusa hurriedly shook her head and parted her cherry lips. "Why does your wine create such a feeling? Who exactly are you?"
"I am Lin Che, the Drunken Sword Immortal. Is it not a joy when friends come from afar? Is it not the mark of a gentleman to remain unresentful when others fail to understand him?"
Lin Che swayed the wine gourd in his hand, nodded, and smiled. "I do not discriminate against your Snake People Clan, so there is no need for you to be so wary."
Queen Medusa did not speak. She had never trusted any human. Since childhood, countless human experts had died by her hand, and she did not take Lin Che's words to heart at all.
"The wine I brew contains the energy of Heavenly Flames, and what you lack most is precisely the energy of a Heavenly Flame. Therefore, if you wish to break through to Dou Zong, this is the only path you can take."
"Of course, you can also kill me." Lin Che looked at Queen Medusa's face. "That is, if you can defeat me. And if I die, the Green Lotus Core Flame will completely vanish from this world. You will likewise be unable to break through."
"You are threatening me?"
Queen Medusa's willow brows rose sharply. Her snake sword pressed against Lin Che's chin. If she wished, she could kill Lin Che at any moment.
However, Lin Che had long been prepared. Without absolute confidence, he would never have sat down to calmly discuss this matter with Queen Medusa.
This stalemate lasted for several minutes before Queen Medusa finally stored the Seven-Colored Snake Sword back into her Storage Ring.
"Why should This Queen believe you? You humans and our Snake People Clan have been enemies for a thousand years. You have no reason to help me."
"Heh heh heh, I have never needed a reason to help others. Of course, I have heard that the Snake People Clan possesses many precious herbs. If Your Majesty does not mind, you may give some to me."
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