Medusa's Unwillingness

Shi Kang spent an unknown amount of time before finally succeeding in refining the Fallen Heart Flame.

Although he had not cultivated the Flame Mantra, the energy from refining the Fallen Heart Flame still raised Shi Kang by a minor realm, bringing him to the level of a Two-star Dou Ancestor. He was not far from becoming a Three-Star Dou Ancestor either.

In the original story, Xiao Yan had been a Dou Wang before refining the Fallen Heart Flame's origin. Though his exact star level had not been specified, he had only reached the peak of the Dou Wang realm after refining and fusing the Heavenly Flame.

The energy required for a Dou Ancestor's breakthrough was not something a Dou Wang's could compare to.

Shi Kang had only just broken through to Dou Ancestor, and without cultivating the Flame Mantra, the effect of refining it had been halved. He certainly could not gain as many stars as Xiao Yan had, so advancing by more than one star was already within Shi Kang's expectations.

"Next, it's time to test the body-refining effects of the Myriad Spirits Body Refining Art!"

This was what Shi Kang cared about most.

Having successfully refined the Fallen Heart Flame, Shi Kang felt that he had formed a connection with it.

Able to control the Fallen Heart Flame as he pleased, Shi Kang guided it through his Meridians at a relatively slow pace.

Though he had refined the Fallen Heart Flame, the burning sensation had not disappeared. Everywhere it passed, the heat it emitted continued to damage Shi Kang's Meridians and flesh.

The burning pain was like countless tiny blades constantly slicing through his body.

Fortunately, after being burned for so long, Shi Kang had grown somewhat numb to it. The pain was no longer as intense as it had been at the start, and he could still endure it.

Shi Kang thought in confusion, Why don't I feel my body getting stronger? Where is the effect of tempering the body? Did it fail?

Unwilling to believe it, Shi Kang tried circulating his Cultivation Method, sending Dou Qi through the area.

A miraculous scene appeared. Once the Dou Qi reached the places the Heavenly Flame had passed through, it actually began repairing the damage left by the scorching heat.

That Dou Qi was like a clear spring, nourishing his injured body.

Shi Kang could keenly sense that under the restoration of this power, his Meridians were beginning to grow tougher, while his physical body was becoming slightly stronger. The increase was faint, but it truly existed.

To verify that he had really succeeded, Shi Kang continued circulating his Dou Qi, following behind the Heavenly Flame.

The Heavenly Flame roamed freely through Shi Kang's Meridians. Wherever it went, his Meridians and flesh were destroyed and tempered by its blazing heat.

The Dou Qi generated by the Myriad Spirits Body Refining Art followed close behind, meticulously repairing every injury left by the Heavenly Flame.

This cycle achieved the effect of body refinement.

"Success!" Shi Kang abruptly opened his eyes, which gleamed with excitement.

"The Old Ancestor truly didn't deceive me. This Cultivation Method really can swallow Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials into the body and use them to temper the flesh at every moment!" Shi Kang muttered, unable to suppress the joy on his face.

That was right. Shi Kang had discovered that even without deliberately controlling the Fallen Heart Flame, it moved through his body on its own under the impetus of the Cultivation Method, as though it had come alive, tempering every part of him.

Each circuit brought Shi Kang a tearing pain, but it was accompanied by the wondrous sensation of his strength gradually increasing.

Though this method of body refinement was rather torturous, since he had to endure that burning sensation at all times, the improvement to his physical body was truly tremendous!

Shi Kang had just tested it. Merely letting the Fallen Heart Flame temper him for half an hour was equivalent to the effect of soaking in a Medicinal Bath after one of his previous body-refining sessions.

This result left Shi Kang ecstatic.

Having refined his body for many years, Shi Kang understood all too well what this meant.

It meant that he would no longer need to spend long periods specifically fighting and soaking in Medicinal Baths to refine his body.

The Myriad Spirits Body Refining Art did the body-refining work for him, tempering him every moment of every day, and its effects were even better than exhausting himself with traditional body-refining methods!

Six-six-six indeed!

Just as the excited Shi Kang was about to stand up, the burning effect of the Fallen Heart Flame within his body made him sharply inhale.

"Hiss!" The burning sensation surged over him like a tide, making him furrow his brow.

The price of strengthening his body through constant refinement was having to endure this pain without pause.

Shi Kang recalled the Old Ancestor's words: only those with great perseverance could cultivate it.

"I should get used to it first!"

The burning sensation within his body, coupled with the tingling sensation from the Cultivation Method repairing his flesh, left Shi Kang feeling rather uncomfortable.

To avoid embarrassing himself in front of others, Shi Kang decided to remain in seclusion for another two days and only emerge once he had grown accustomed to the feeling.

Snake People Temple Grand Hall.

Medusa sat upon the throne. Four elderly Snake People women stood below her, dressed in black robes, their faces covered in wrinkles carved by time.

Upon closer inspection, all four of their auras had actually reached the Dou Emperor realm.

That was right. These four Snake People were the Elders of the Snake People Clan.

Because their lifespans were nearing their end, they had remained in seclusion cultivating whenever there was no major matter at hand, hoping to break through their realms, extend their lives, and continue protecting the Snake People Clan.

They had emerged from seclusion this time because they had learned that the Queen intended to risk using a secret technique to break through.

The First Elder of the Snake People Clan said worriedly, "Queen, you know how dangerous Heavenly Flames are. Do you truly intend to take such a risk?"

Upon the throne, Medusa sat languidly, her graceful curves fully displayed.

Faced with the First Elder's question, Medusa showed a rare expression of helplessness.

"I have no choice," Medusa said, a trace of weariness showing in her eyes.

"Who would have thought that the Heavenly Flame I found after so much hardship would be discovered by him, and that he would come straight to my door?"

The "him" Medusa spoke of was, naturally, Shi Kang.

The Second Elder continued, "Queen, with your talent, another ten or twenty years of cultivation may not necessarily be insufficient for you to break through to Dou Zong. Why risk it?"

Medusa shook her head and said, "I have been stuck at the Nine-star Dou Emperor realm for far too long. Many times, I feel that I am only one step away from Dou Zong, yet that step seems like an uncrossable chasm..."

Her voice carried a trace of helplessness and unwillingness.

Medusa, who had not evolved into a Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python, truly had very ordinary talent.

To be honest, Medusa herself had no confidence that she could break through to Dou Zong within a little over a decade.

Even without Shi Kang, Medusa would certainly have used this method to break through.

Shi Kang's appearance had merely forced her to make the decision sooner.

If she did not evolve, Shi Kang would take the Heavenly Flame away. Without the Heavenly Flame, it would be difficult for Medusa to use this method to break through later.

"But Queen, have you considered what will happen to the Snake People Clan if your evolution fails?" The First Elder raised the most crucial question, her eyes filled with concern.

The four Elders had already heard that Shi Kang, that young man with a powerful background, wanted to recruit their Queen—no, the Queen after she successfully evolved.

For the Snake People Clan, that would amount to gaining the support of a towering tree. It was not necessarily a bad thing.

If the evolution succeeded, everything would be well. Their Snake People Clan would have hope of leaving the Tagor Desert.

What the four Elders feared was what would happen if the Queen's evolution failed.

Medusa said, "He has already promised me that he will not do anything to the Snake People Clan if my evolution fails."

The First Elder asked soulfully, "Then what if the surrounding empires invade?

Though the four of them were Dou Emperors, they were already frail with age and had little combat power left. Taking action would only hasten the exhaustion of their lifespans.

This was also what worried Medusa. She had no real way to deal with it, so she fell silent.

In truth, Medusa knew that she could still give up on evolving now.

As long as Medusa was willing to sacrifice her beauty, Shi Kang would most likely not take out his anger on the Snake People Clan.

Medusa was very confident in her looks. She believed that if she offered herself to him, Shi Kang would certainly not refuse.

But Medusa was unwilling...