The Body Refining Effect of the Cultivation Method

Medusa was unwilling to give up this opportunity just like that, unwilling to let the Snake People Clan remain trapped forever in the barren, desolate Tagor Desert.

She had to break through to Dou Zong. It was the only hope of leading the Snake People Clan out of this desert of death.

Having made up her mind, a rare trace of pleading appeared on Medusa's originally cold and beautiful face. Her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Four Elders, let me take this gamble..."

As Queen Medusa, she was usually immensely dignified and aloof. It was extremely rare for her to speak in such a pleading tone.

As queen, she could have made many decisions on her own, but this matter concerned the survival of the Snake People Clan...

Seeing the queen like this, the four elders exchanged glances, their eyes filled with helplessness and sorrow.

The First Elder slowly said, "Very well, Queen. Since you have made your decision, then prepare yourself..."

Medusa was willing to stake her own life on this. What else could they say?

Stop her? What right did they have?

At Shi Kang's residence, after another three days, Shi Kang had finally grown accustomed to the constant burning of the Fallen Heart Flame.

Although the burning sensation was still there, it was no longer as unbearable as it had been at first. His body had gradually adapted to this painful tempering.

Moreover, through constant experimentation and practice, Shi Kang could now freely adjust the effects of body refinement by controlling the power of the Fallen Heart Flame.

Simply put, raising the temperature strengthened the body-refining effect, while lowering it weakened the effect.

When he had nothing to do, he could raise the temperature to speed up the improvement of his physical body.

During battle, he could immediately stop the body refinement.

That made things much more convenient.

Shi Kang no longer needed to worry too much that the Heavenly Flames within his body would suddenly backlash against him while fighting an enemy and leave him in a desperate situation.

Shi Kang controlled the Fallen Heart Flame's temperature at a suitable level—enough for him to feel pain, but not enough to affect his normal movements.

"Phew!" Shi Kang stood up and let out a long breath.

Feeling the current strength of his physical body, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He sighed, "It was a bit painful, but the gains are truly huge."

Three days of refining his body with the Fallen Heart Flame had nearly matched the effects of a month of body refinement in the past.

And the Old Ancestor had been right. Once his physical body became stronger, the speed at which he absorbed Dou Qi also increased.

Not only could it refine his body, it could also accelerate cultivation. The Myriad Spirits Body Refining Art was truly formidable!

The body-refining effect of just one Heavenly Flame was already this powerful. It was hard to imagine how heaven-defying the effects would become once he refined more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials in the future!

Looking at it this way, it did not seem so exaggerated that the Eight-star Dou Saint Old Ancestor could defeat a Nine-star Dou Saint...

With such a grueling cultivation method, if he still could not fight above his level, then wouldn't all that cultivation have been for nothing?

"It's time to help Medusa evolve..." Shi Kang muttered before walking out of the room.

Shi Long and Shi Fei were still standing guard outside.

Mm, very dutiful!

Shi Kang silently praised them. He would give them a bonus when they returned.

Shi Kang found Medusa and told her they could begin the evolution.

This day had finally come.

Medusa nodded, a trace of resolve showing in her eyes. "Alright!"

Although she was not very confident of succeeding, she would certainly not back down at a time like this.

If she could not break through to Dou Zong, she would not be able to die in peace.

Medusa led Shi Kang to the same Lake Heart Island as last time.

Lake Heart Island was a place she had meticulously prepared for her evolution. Everything was here, so naturally, she would evolve here.

Medusa's location for evolution had not changed, but the timing had been brought forward by several months.

Xiao Yan should still be training in the Monster Beast Mountain Range now, while Gu He and the others likely would not come to cause trouble again.

Even so, Shi Kang still had Shi Fei and Shi Long set up a Seal around the area.

The Seal was like an enormous earth-yellow dome, enclosing the entire island.

Those inside could see outside, but those outside could not see what was happening within.

Shi Kang nodded in satisfaction, then had them stand guard outside and not allow anyone to approach, including themselves.

He was not doing this to protect Medusa from being disturbed. He was afraid those two would see Medusa undressing and bathing...

In the original story, the scene of Medusa undressing had been quite alluring.

Shi Kang did not want anyone besides himself to see such a beautiful sight.

All that could be said was that this man's possessiveness was downright awful.

Medusa did not know this. She thought Shi Kang was simply afraid that her breakthrough would be disturbed, so her favorable impression of him deepened somewhat.

She thought to herself that this man had considered everything thoroughly.

Because the preparations had been so rushed this time, even Medusa had not thought of this.

Shi Kang casually asked, "How confident are you that you'll succeed in breaking through?"

Medusa shook her head and answered honestly, "There have been very few successful cases in the Snake People Clan's history. To be honest, I'm not confident either."

Looking at Shi Kang's excessively handsome face, Medusa actually wanted to ask him to take care of the Snake People Clan if her evolution failed.

But after thinking it over, she gave a self-mocking smile. If she failed to evolve, what made her think Shi Kang would agree to help the Snake People Clan?

The two of them barely even knew each other.

At that thought, Medusa became even more determined to succeed in breaking through.

The two arrived at the center of the island. Before them was a pool of Ice Spirit Cold Spring that gave off white mist and a chilly aura. Above the Ice Spirit Cold Spring stood a Crystal Lotus Pedestal, which Medusa used to secure the Heavenly Flames.

Shi Kang took out the Green Lotus Core Flame and casually tossed it. The Green Lotus Core Flame landed steadily atop the pedestal.

Under the scorching heat of the Green Lotus Core Flame, the Ice Spirit Cold Spring below began evaporating at a visible rate. The white mist drifted through the air like ribbons of white silk.

Shi Kang said, "Begin!"

"Mm." Medusa responded softly.

As she came to the edge of the pool, Medusa remembered that she would need to bathe in the Ice Spirit Cold Spring next to increase her chances of successfully breaking through.

She turned her head and glanced at Shi Kang.

At this moment, Shi Kang was naturally staring at Medusa the whole time, his eyes full of anticipation.

Shi Kang had no interest in pretending to be some righteous gentleman. That would be far too hypocritical.

If he wanted to look, he would look openly. He could worry about it if she refused.

Being stared at so openly, Medusa truly felt a little embarrassed to undress.

"I'm going to bathe now. Could you please avoid looking?"

Shi Kang turned a deaf ear, as though he had not heard her at all.

If you were refused, couldn't you at least pretend not to hear it?

Seeing that Shi Kang had no intention of leaving, Medusa thought, Shameless!

Yet she did not insist that Shi Kang avert his gaze. Perhaps she knew she might not succeed in breaking through, or perhaps she knew that even if she did succeed, she still would not be able to escape Shi Kang's grasp.

Failure meant death. If he looked, then he looked.

With that thought in mind, Medusa turned around and reached her jade-like hand toward the buttons of her brocade robe...