Heavenly Flame in Hand

The air inside the stone cave had long since been warped by the scorching heat of the Green Lotus Core Flame into rolling waves of heat. Every wisp of air that brushed against the skin brought a stinging pain like needles. The Snow White Jade Sand glimmered hazily beneath the blazing heat, while the white mist wreathed around its surface intertwined with the sulfur scent erupting from the spring eye, casting faint halos across the rock walls. Medusa stood silently beside the spring eye, Dou Qi flowing around her body like a living thing—at times coiling around her fair wrists like Red Chain Snakes, their scale patterns clearly visible; at times leaping skyward like flames, echoing the cyan-gold flame of the Green Lotus Core Flame. The sweat beads seeping from her brow evaporated into fine mist the instant they fell. Yet her tightly shut eyes still carried the icy majesty of the Snake People Queen, and even the shadows cast by her long lashes bore an inviolable aura.

Just as she was drawing upon the Green Lotus Core Flame with all her strength, attempting to completely fuse Snake Tribe Dou Qi with Strange Fire Power and break into the Dou Zong realm, a series of cracking sounds suddenly came from the rock layers above the cave—sharp and grating, like some enormous beast grinding its teeth. Immediately afterward, a suffocating pressure descended like heavy dark clouds, instantly enveloping the entire stone cave. Even the air seemed to solidify. Loose stones pattered down from the walls, striking the jade sand with soft taps, and the entire cave trembled slightly, as though it would collapse at any moment.

Xiao Yan lay hidden in a crack at the top of the stone cave, his fingertips dug tightly into the rough rock until his knuckles turned white, tiny stone chips embedded even beneath his nails. With the cover of Elder Yao's remaining Soul Power, he suppressed even his breathing to the faintest level, daring to draw in only a trace of cool air. Yet his scalp still went numb, and terror from the depths of his soul spread along his spine, leaving his body tense like a fully drawn bowstring. He Difficultly lifted his head and peered through the crack toward the night sky. The once-black sky curtain had somehow become completely covered by rolling dark clouds, like clumps of cotton soaked in ink, fiercely surging in the night wind. Purple flashes of lightning flickered faintly through the clouds, making sizzling sounds like a dormant dragon gathering strength. Each flash caused the temperature in the stone cave to plummet several degrees.

"Not good! It's a Lightning Tribulation for Advancement!" Elder Yao's voice rang urgently through Xiao Yan's mind, carrying rare gravity. "Medusa is forcibly using a Heavenly Flame to break through, upsetting the balance of heaven and earth. This tribulation is several times stronger than an ordinary Dou Zong advancement tribulation. Look at the chaotic Power Fluctuation inside her body—she can't even form a complete defense. I'm afraid it'll be difficult to resist!"

Before the words fell, a deafening thunderclap suddenly erupted from the clouds, resounding through heaven and earth like the wrath of a god. Even the dunes deep within the desert trembled slightly. Then a bolt of Purple Thunder as thick as a water bucket, like a bound dragon breaking free of its restraints, tore through the clouds with a world-destroying aura and struck directly toward Medusa in the stone cave. Where it passed, the air was instantly ripped apart with a piercing shriek. Even space distorted faintly, while the sand along its path was scorched into ash and scattered as black powder, leaving a fleeting black trail behind.

At that moment, Medusa was at the most crucial stage of energy fusion. The Snake Tribe Dou Qi and the power of the Green Lotus Core Flame within her were already colliding violently, like two wild horses running loose through her meridians, impossible to tame. Faced with the sudden thunderbolt, her expression changed dramatically. Her tightly closed eyes flew open, and her autumn-water eyes were filled with shock, anger, and unwillingness. The rapidly approaching Purple Thunder reflected clearly in her pupils, flashing with a terrifying light. Instinctively, she tried to mobilize her Dou Qi and form a barrier. Her hands rapidly formed seals, and pale green Dou Qi gathered before her. But the power within her completely spiraled out of control at that instant—Snake Tribe Dou Qi and Strange Fire Power repelled one another and collided violently in her meridians. The pale green Dou Qi Barrier she had barely formed was as fragile as thin paper, its surface covered in fine cracks.

Boom—! With a deafening explosion, the Purple Thunder struck Medusa's Dou Qi Barrier like a gigantic hammer. The barrier shattered instantly, turning into countless green motes that scattered like broken glass. The violent lightning power surged into Medusa's body through her meridians like floodwaters bursting through a dam. Where it passed, her meridians seemed to burn in fierce flames, producing sizzling sounds. Medusa let out a shrill cry of pain, unable to hide her agony. Her body shook violently, and several huge tears were ripped into her crimson gauze dress by the lightning, exposing skin marked by scorched black traces. Wisps of smoke rose from her wounds, carrying a faint burnt smell. The power within her was utterly thrown into chaos. The blazing heat of the Green Lotus Core Flame and the savagery of the lightning intertwined like two sharp blades, endlessly cutting through her meridians. Pain made her entire body convulse, yet she still gritted her teeth and held her back straight, refusing to fall. The pride of the Snake People Queen would not allow her to show weakness now.

The second and third bolts followed one after another, each thicker and fiercer than the last. The second bolt was as thick as a bowl's mouth, blazing with dazzling purple light as it descended upon Medusa with even greater force. The third was thick as a pillar, golden arcs of electricity coiling around its surface like a golden dragon. Its power was several times stronger than the first two, and it came crashing down with a rumbling roar as though it would split the entire stone cave apart. Medusa's aura grew weaker and weaker. Her face was pale as paper, and dark red blood continuously spilled from the corners of her mouth, dripping onto the jade sand before being instantly evaporated by the heat, leaving dark stains behind. She mobilized every last shred of power in her body, forming barriers again and again, only for them to be shattered by the lightning each time. Every defense subjected her meridians to tearing pain. When the fourth bolt descended, she could no longer hold on. Her body fell backward like a kite with a broken string and crashed heavily onto the jade sand with a muffled groan. She no longer even had the strength to raise a hand.

At that moment, Medusa's body suddenly glowed with a faint golden light. Like a gentle current of water, it slowly enveloped her form, and her body rapidly shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye. Her originally graceful figure gradually contracted, while her crimson gauze dress turned into specks of light and vanished into the air. Moments later, only a small snake about the length of an arm remained where she had been. The little snake was covered in a seven-colored hue. Its scales resembled the most radiant jewels, reflecting seven brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet beneath the Green Lotus Core Flame. A small Golden Crown rested atop its head, carrying a faint residual Dou Qi fluctuation. This was Medusa's true form—the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python. Yet the little snake was extremely weak. Its scales had lost their former luster, and its body was slightly curled up. Its tiny forked tongue flicked feebly, while its golden snake eyes were half-lidded, full of exhaustion and vigilance. Clearly, she had failed her advancement and been forced back into her original form, with not even enough strength left to maintain human shape.

Hidden in the rock crack, Xiao Yan saw everything clearly. His heart pounded wildly, as though it would leap from his chest, and he could even hear his own frantic heartbeat ringing in his ears. He clenched his fists tightly, his palms drenched in cold sweat. He was both nervous and thrilled, his nails digging deep into his palms without him feeling any pain at all. He knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If he missed it today, he might never again have the chance to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"Little Yanzi, the chance is here!" Elder Yao's voice rang out in Xiao Yan's mind again, urgent and excited. "Medusa failed her advancement and returned to her true form. Her strength is less than a tenth of what it was. This is the best chance to take the Green Lotus Core Flame! Hurry! You must move quickly. The Snake People Tribe's experts will return from pursuing Gu He in no time. If they discover us, we'll both be buried here!"

Xiao Yan took a deep breath and suppressed the excitement in his heart before cautiously crawling out of the rock crack. He activated the Qi Concealment Technique and, with the aid of Elder Yao's remaining Soul Power, completely hid his presence. Like an agile leopard, he slowly moved along the rocks at the top of the stone cave, using both hands and feet. Bits of rubble occasionally fell from the rock wall with faint rustling sounds, making his heart leap into his throat each time. He was afraid of alerting the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python below. His eyes remained locked on the spring eye, and every movement was precise and slow as he tried to avoid making any unnecessary sound.

At that moment, the stone cave was filled with the smoke and scorching heat left behind by the lightning. A faint burnt smell and sulfur scent lingered in the air, mixing into a pungent odor. The Green Lotus Core Flame still floated at the center of the spring eye, its cyan-gold flame flickering faintly. It was far dimmer than before, and the halo along its edges had blurred. Clearly, it too had been affected by the tribulation and had lost much of its power. The Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python curled up on the jade sand beside the spring eye, its golden snake eyes vigilantly scanning the surroundings. Its body trembled slightly, but with its strength exhausted, it could not even lift its head. It could only make weak hissing sounds in an attempt to intimidate any threat that might appear, but the sound was as feeble as a mosquito's buzz and held no intimidation at all.

Xiao Yan held his breath and slid slowly down the rock wall like a feline. When he landed, his toes touched the ground first, so lightly that he made not the slightest sound. With his head lowered and his body bent, he approached the spring eye step by step. His gaze stayed fixed on the Green Lotus Core Flame floating above the water, while his heart thumped as if it would smash through his ribs. He knew that the Green Lotus Core Flame had already developed a rudimentary intelligence. Like an innocent child, it possessed its own awareness. If he tried to take it by force, it would surely resist fiercely and might even destroy itself. If that happened, all his previous efforts would have been for nothing.

So Xiao Yan took out a jade container he had prepared long ago from his Storage Ring. The container was pale cyan throughout, crafted from extremely cold Mysterious Ice Jade. It was icy to the touch and could effectively isolate the intense heat of a Heavenly Flame. Complex runes were carved across its surface, their lines smooth and carrying a faintly mysterious aura. Elder Yao had spent several days painstakingly refining it. It was a Fire-Locking Jade Bottle made specifically to contain Heavenly Flames. Xiao Yan held the jade container in both hands and made his footsteps even lighter, as though walking on cotton, cautiously approaching the spring eye one step at a time.

When Xiao Yan was still thirty feet from the spring eye, the Green Lotus Core Flame seemed to sense an unfamiliar presence. Its cyan-gold fire abruptly flared up, several times stronger than before. A vague outline of a human face emerged within the flames. Though its features were indistinct, its anger and vigilance could be clearly felt. It attempted to break free from the spring eye's restraints and escape as a streak of light. But after being drawn upon by Medusa and then struck by the lightning tribulation, its power had been greatly weakened. It could only circle above the spring eye, unable to flee far away. The flames flickered more and more violently, as though expressing their displeasure.

Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened, and he immediately stopped. He circulated the Dou Qi within his body, rapidly formed seals with both hands, and used the method Elder Yao had taught him to send a gentle strand of Pale Golden Dou Qi toward the Green Lotus Core Flame. The Dou Qi was like a warm current of water, slowly wrapping around the Green Lotus Core Flame with a soothing force, trying to calm it down. He softly murmured, "Heavenly Flame spirit, follow heaven and accord with man. Today, you and I are bound by fate; in the future, we shall climb the summit together..."

The Green Lotus Core Flame struggled continuously, its flames flickering ever more violently. Cyan-gold fire occasionally burst outward, scorching the surrounding air with crackling sounds as it tried to break free from the Dou Qi's restraints. Xiao Yan gritted his teeth and continued pouring out Dou Qi. His arms trembled slightly from the enormous expenditure, while fine sweat beads seeped from his brow and slid down his cheeks to the ground. At the same time, he silently recited the incantation Elder Yao had taught him, trying to establish a connection with the Green Lotus Core Flame and let it sense his sincerity, acknowledge him as its new master. Seeing Xiao Yan attempt to seize the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python flashed with anger in its golden snake eyes. She desperately tried to twist her body and rush over to stop him, but the moment she moved, weakness caused her to fall onto the jade sand with a soft thud. She could only hiss threateningly and watch Xiao Yan's actions helplessly, her eyes full of unwillingness.

Time passed second by second. Xiao Yan's Dou Qi was extremely drained, and his face turned slightly pale, but he still gritted his teeth and persisted. After a prolonged standoff, the Green Lotus Core Flame's struggle gradually weakened. Its flames flickered less and less, and the cyan-gold flame became docile, as though moved by Xiao Yan's sincerity and no longer resisting. Wrapped in the Pale Golden Dou Qi, it slowly drifted toward the Fire-Locking Jade Bottle, the halo around its flames becoming soft and gentle.

Joy surged through Xiao Yan's heart. He knew the moment had come. He quickly stepped forward, aimed the mouth of the Fire-Locking Jade Bottle at the Green Lotus Core Flame, and shouted, "Enter!" The Green Lotus Core Flame transformed into a cyan-gold streak of light and, like a tame little bird, slowly flew into the jade bottle. The flame burned quietly within, no longer struggling. Xiao Yan immediately sealed the bottle with its cap. The runes on the cap lit up at once, emitting a faint golden glow and forming a seal that firmly trapped the Green Lotus Core Flame inside. He carefully placed the jade bottle into his Storage Ring. Feeling the warmth coming from within the ring, the weight in his heart finally lifted. An excited smile appeared on his face—the Heavenly Flame dreamed of by countless alchemists had finally fallen into his hands!

The instant Xiao Yan put away the Green Lotus Core Flame, he suddenly noticed the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python beside him. Though the little snake was weak, it still emitted the noble aura of the Snake People Queen. Its golden snake eyes were filled with unwillingness and fury, yet also carried a trace of helplessness. Seeing Xiao Yan look over, she instinctively shrank back, but still forced herself to lift her little head, her posture full of unyielding defiance. Xiao Yan's heart stirred. Medusa had failed her advancement and reverted to her true form. If he left her here, the Snake People Tribe's experts would inevitably discover that the Heavenly Flame had been stolen when they returned from pursuing Gu He. Given the Snake People Tribe's loyalty to Medusa, they would surely search for him with everything they had, leaving endless trouble behind. Moreover, the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was an ancient magical beast with limitless potential. If he could take her with him, she might prove immensely useful in the future. Perhaps he might even learn the Snake People Tribe's secrets from her.

Thus, Xiao Yan slowly walked over to the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, crouched down, and extended his hand gently, afraid of frightening her. The Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python warily shrank back, a flash of fear and unwillingness passing through her golden snake eyes. But with her strength exhausted, she could not resist and could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yan's hand drew near. His fingertips lightly touched her cold scales, and he felt her tremble faintly. He could not help but sigh inwardly. The Snake People Queen who had once intimidated the entire Tagor Desert had now become so fragile, like a helpless little beast.

He took a specially made cloth bag from his Storage Ring. It was fashioned from the fireproof, puncture-resistant hide of a magical beast, with soft silk lining the inside to protect the little snake from harm as much as possible. He carefully placed the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python into the bag and tied its opening shut, leaving only a small gap for her to breathe so she would not suffocate. The bag was very light in his hand, and he could clearly feel the little snake's weak wriggling inside. Xiao Yan silently said, Queen Medusa, I'll have to wrong you for now. If the chance comes in the future, I will surely give you an explanation.

After finishing everything, Xiao Yan did not dare linger. He immediately turned and ran swiftly toward the stone cave's exit along the path he had come from. He knew that the Snake People Tribe's experts could return at any time. He had to leave their settlement as quickly as possible. Otherwise, once discovered, his current strength would be nowhere near enough to contend with them. His figure darted through the night like an agile leopard, the sand beneath his feet making faint rustling sounds. Before long, he vanished into the shadows of the stone cave.

Behind him, only the lingering scorching heat, the empty spring eye, and several torn pieces of gauze dress scattered across the jade sand remained in the stone cave. A breeze passed through, making the scraps of fabric flutter softly, as though they were still telling of the fierce battle that had just taken place. Yet inside Xiao Yan's Storage Ring lay the Green Lotus Core Flame, enough to change his destiny, while the cloth bag in his hand held the weakened Snake People Queen Medusa. His figure gradually disappeared into the desert night, leaving behind only a string of shallow footprints that were soon covered by windblown sand, as though no one had ever come.