Something Was Off About Medusa

Shi Long knew that his Young Clan Leader wanted to test his true strength, so he did not hold back.

He controlled the power of his attack at the Peak Dou Ancestor to One-star Dou Venerate level, then condensed a massive Earth Yellow palm before him. The palm radiated a powerful aura and descended upon Shi Kang like a Small Mountain.

Feeling the force behind Shi Long's palm strike, Shi Kang felt no fear at all—only excitement.

It was as though he had been born for battle. A blazing light flickered in his eyes.

"Rock Shattering Fist!" Shi Kang shouted. He clenched his fist, gathering all the Dou Qi in his body into his right hand. At the same time, he drew in the Dou Qi from the surrounding heavens and earth for his own use.

This was the most powerful Earth-tier High-grade Dou Skill he had learned.

When fist and palm collided, there was a boom. Powerful energy waves spread in all directions, sweeping up clouds of dust and sand.

Both Shi Kang and Shi Long were forced back by the collision.

Shi Kang shot back a hundred zhang, taking several steps through the air before finally steadying himself.

Shi Long, meanwhile, retreated only seventy or eighty zhang before coming to a firm stop.

Clearly, Shi Long had gained a slight advantage.

Shi Kang did not think his strength was inferior to Shi Long's. He believed that the only thing he lacked compared to Shi Long was physical strength.

Shi Kang was not discouraged. He steadied himself with all his might, kicked off, and shot toward Shi Long, who was a hundred zhang away, like a spring.

Although his Dou Qi was nearly depleted, that did not mean he had lost the ability to fight.

For those who cultivated their bodies, as long as they still had strength left, they had not lost and could continue fighting.

Without Dou Qi, every part of the body was a weapon!

Shi Kang and Shi Long began fighting in close combat again, trading punches and blows in a fierce brawl.

The wounds on Shi Kang's body gradually multiplied. Cuts appeared on his face, arms, and body, but he paid them no mind. Instead, he grew fiercer with every exchange, his attacks becoming increasingly sharp. Like an injured Wild Beast, he launched even more frenzied assaults.

"Haha! Again!" Shi Kang said boldly.

Shi Kang's unstoppable momentum and ruthless ferocity earned Shi Long's heartfelt admiration.

At that moment, Shi Long seemed to understand why his Young Clan Leader could fight above his level so easily.

At first, Shi Kang had merely wanted to test his combat strength.

But as the battle continued, his blood began to boil and excitement surged through him. It had completely turned into an enjoyment of battle itself. Again and again, he challenged the limits of his body, wanting to see just how long he could endure...

The battle between the two was incredibly intense, continuing until the world seemed to darken.

Shi Kang only grew braver as he fought, but no matter how strong his body was, it could not withstand such intense exhaustion forever.

In the end, Shi Kang was completely spent. He threw one final punch at Shi Long, but it was limp and weak, as though it contained the last trace of his strength.

His Dou Qi and stamina seemed to have been drained dry, utterly exhausted. Bruises of all sizes covered his body.

Shi Long reacted swiftly and rushed forward in a single stride, catching Shi Kang just as he was about to collapse.

Shi Kang asked weakly, "So? How was my combat strength?"

Shi Long said with sincere admiration, "Young Clan Leader, your combat strength is truly exceptional. The strength you displayed just now already surpasses that of most one- and two-star Dou Venerate experts!"

One had to know that Shi Kang was only a One-star Dou Ancestor, yet he could already fight a One-star Dou Venerate. Such combat strength was terrifyingly absurd.

Shi Kang smiled. He thought that all his years of effort had finally not been in vain. Those top-grade Medicinal Baths and those rounds of painful body refinement had not been endured for nothing.

Outsiders only saw that Shi Kang was talented and cultivated at an astonishing speed, but how could they know how much hardship he had endured behind the scenes?

Countless times after body refinement, his body had been so exhausted that it felt as though it were falling apart, yet he still gritted his teeth and continued cultivating.

Just as the saying went, if you wanted glory before others, you had to suffer behind their backs!

At that moment, Shi Long pointed northwest and said, "Young Clan Leader, Medusa of the Snake People Clan has been watching our battle over there for quite some time."

Following the direction Shi Long pointed, Shi Kang saw Medusa in the distant northwest. With Dou Qi Wings spread behind her, she hovered quietly in the air, her eyes fixed tightly on this side.

Shi Kang said, "I know. Ignore her."

In truth, Shi Kang had noticed Medusa long ago. She had arrived halfway through his battle with Shi Long.

However, she had not approached and had simply watched obediently from afar.

If Medusa had not been openly observing them without any ill intent, Shi Kang would have subdued her long ago.

In the distance, Medusa was utterly stunned after watching the battle.

She had originally been drawn over by the fluctuations caused by Shi Kang and Shi Long's battle. She had not expected to be so deeply shocked by the scene before her the moment she arrived.

Every casual clash between the two produced shockwaves like raging winds and towering waves, so terrifying that she did not dare approach and could only watch from afar.

Medusa had guessed that Shi Kang had only recently broken through to the Dou Zong realm, but she could not understand it no matter how she thought about it. Could a One-star Dou Ancestor's battle produce such fluctuations?

Though she had never fought a One-star Dou Ancestor, she knew that a One-star Dou Ancestor could not possibly possess such strength.

As a Nine-star Dou Emperor, she felt that she might not even be able to withstand a single punch from Shi Kang, and the feeling was particularly strong.

Medusa could not help murmuring, "Is this what a genius is?"

Her beautiful eyes brightened slightly. What woman did not like a man stronger than herself?

Medusa would not fall for Shi Kang just because of this, but she did indeed admire—or rather, respect—him somewhat...

As soon as Shi Kang and Shi Long's battle ended, Medusa hurriedly flew over.

She still wore that gorgeous Brocade Robe, which clung tightly to her body and highlighted her voluptuous figure.

Combined with her face, beautiful to the point of being bewitching, she could almost draw the gaze of every man—Shi Kang included.

Shi Kang thought, Mm, very pleasing to the eye. On par with Yue Ru, my little Maid.

By the time Medusa approached, Shi Long had already recovered his strength as a High-level Half-Saint.

He gave a light cough, warning Medusa not to come too close.

The basic professionalism of a bodyguard.

Medusa was tactful as well and did not approach too closely.

"I was also drawn here by the battle's fluctuations. I have no malicious intentions..."

Medusa explained why she had appeared here.

In a few days, she would still need to borrow Shi Kang's Heavenly Flames to evolve. She did not want Shi Kang to misunderstand and think she had come with ulterior motives.

Shi Kang said casually, "I know. Otherwise, you would have been captured long ago."

The moment those words left his mouth, Medusa did not know how to respond.

Conveniently enough, Shi Kang had no intention of talking with Medusa either.

"Shi Long, let's go back!"

It was not that Shi Kang was being aloof. He was simply so weak all over that he did not even want to speak.

Though Medusa before him was very pleasing to the eye, Shi Kang did not want to develop too many feelings for her before she successfully evolved.

There was no other reason. Shi Kang was afraid that Medusa might die before evolving successfully, and then his feelings would have been wasted.

Besides, Medusa had not yet taken human form. She still had a Snake Tail below her waist. Even if Shi Kang wanted to do something, he could not...

Shi Long replied, "Yes, Young Clan Leader!"

Watching Shi Long leave with Shi Kang, Medusa felt an inexplicable sense of emptiness.

Did he really have nothing to say to her? Was he not even going to ask whether she was prepared?

All of a sudden, Medusa felt that the thoughts in her mind were strange. Why would she have such expectations of Shi Kang?