Evolution

Medusa slowly raised her hand. Her movements were elegant, yet carried a trace of barely perceptible shyness as she began removing her clothes.

As one garment after another slipped away, her flawless jade-like body was gradually exposed to the air.

Her skin was as white and delicate as mutton-fat jade, giving off a soft sheen beneath the faint light. Every inch of her curves was smooth and beautiful, radiating a fatal allure.

That exquisite, curvaceous figure was enough to make any man fall for her and lose his mind.

Unfortunately, such a peerless sight could only be enjoyed by Shi Kang alone at this moment.

Looking at Medusa before him, Shi Kang could not help but sigh inwardly. It was a pity that she had not fully transformed yet. If that snake tail could become a pair of long, straight, beautiful legs, she would truly be flawless.

Although Medusa did not turn around, her keen senses vaguely detected a burning gaze fixed firmly upon her.

That gaze felt almost tangible, making her uncomfortable all over.

So she hurriedly quickened her movements and slipped into the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

Mist slowly rose from the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, like a soft veil shrouding Medusa's delicate body. It made her appear hazy and indistinct, adding a touch more mysterious allure.

If he used Soul Power to inspect her, he would certainly be able to see her body clearly, but Shi Kang did not do so.

Letting you look with your eyes was already generous enough, and you still wanted to use Soul Power? That would be going too far.

Doing that would make Medusa dislike him, and it would be far too pathetic. At any rate, Shi Kang could not bring himself to do such a thing.

Besides, Shi Kang felt that this half-hidden, hazy beauty had a unique charm of its own.

Fortunately, Shi Kang had seen plenty of the world. His own little maid was also top-tier in both figure and appearance, so he did not lose his composure over the beautiful sight before him.

In the pool, although Medusa had her back to Shi Kang, she could guess that he was definitely staring at her without blinking.

This made her somewhat flustered, and her body began trembling slightly of its own accord.

Just as she wanted to finish quickly, she heard a voice from behind her. "Good luck. I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll look like after you break through successfully and your snake tail turns into legs..."

Shi Kang's slightly teasing words made Medusa even more embarrassed.

After hastily finishing her bath, Medusa stood by the pool and looked at the blazing Green Lotus Core Flame, her eyes filled with determination and resolve.

Then light burst from her body, and in an instant, she transformed into a massive purple python.

The python's body was enormous, its scales gleaming with purple light as it emitted a powerful aura.

After circling once through the sky, the purple python opened its jaws and let out an earth-shaking roar before charging resolutely toward the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Shi Kang, having watched the snake woman bathe, still felt somewhat unsatisfied.

Casting those thoughts from his mind, Shi Kang began focusing on Medusa's evolution.

He thought to himself, I hope she succeeds...

After all, it would be such a waste for a beauty like her to die here.

The instant the giant python rushed into the Green Lotus Core Flame, the scorching heat drew a piercing wail from it.

The sound seemed capable of piercing one's soul, making one shudder with fear.

Yet it did not make the giant snake retreat. It continued charging deeper inside.

Under the searing heat of the Green Lotus Core Flame, its scales blackened at an alarming rate and fell away piece by piece. Its flesh split open, blood flowing freely. Yet the blood that flowed out was swiftly evaporated by the flames, leaving only horrifying marks behind. It was utterly miserable.

The purple snake twisted and writhed within the Heavenly Flame, struggling desperately in an attempt to ease the bone-piercing pain.

Its body convulsed continuously, and every twist was filled with endless agony.

Even Shi Kang's scalp tingled as he watched the miserable scene.

After all, even when Shi Clan Members tempered their bodies, they did so while ensuring their safety, squeezing out their potential bit by bit.

But Medusa was truly risking her life. If she did not succeed, she would die.

Perhaps once Medusa had decided to use this method, she had never intended to retreat. Either she would successfully break through to Dou Zong, or she would fail and be burned to death.

As time passed, the giant snake's roars grew quieter, and its struggles slower.

Its body gradually lost all strength until it stopped struggling altogether, lying limp as though every last trace of life had been exhausted.

Shi Kang watched this scene with some concern, but he knew there was nothing he could do to help Medusa.

He had a Transformation Pill and a Pill of Breaking Ancestor. If he gave them to Medusa, helping her break through to Dou Zong would naturally be no problem.

These two pills were nothing much to Shi Kang, but he knew clearly that if he did that, Medusa's achievements would only go so far.

With the aid of pills, Medusa would also be unable to evolve into the Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python.

But if he wanted Medusa to evolve into the Seven-Colored Heavenly Swallowing Python, this was a step she had no choice but to take.

If possible, Shi Kang hoped Medusa could keep pace with him and become a powerful source of support, rather than a mere ornament who relied only on her beauty.

By now, the purple giant snake had stopped moving, but the Heavenly Flame had no intention of sparing it and continued roasting it madly.

Shi Kang even began to wonder whether his appearance had caused Medusa to evolve ahead of schedule, leaving her unprepared and causing her to fail.

That should not be possible...

Just then, the previously cloudless sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds, as though a massive black curtain had descended over it.

Seeing this, Shi Kang let out a small sigh of relief.

Whenever a creature with a powerful bloodline was born, or a powerful being made a breakthrough, it would draw a Lightning Tribulation.

In the original story, Medusa's evolution had also triggered a Lightning Tribulation.

It seemed Medusa had nearly completed her evolution.

As Shi Kang was thinking this, a bolt of lightning descended from the dark clouds and struck toward Medusa.

However, it was blocked by Lake Heart Island's Protective Barrier, producing only an ear-splitting boom.

Yet the dark clouds overhead did not disperse. They continued brewing lightning, as though gathering even greater power.

Shi Kang thought, Could it be that the Lightning Tribulation won't rest until it strikes Medusa?

In the original story, Medusa seemed to have been struck once before successfully evolving...

Thus, Shi Kang had Shi Long and Shi Fei deactivate the Protective Barrier.

The two obeyed, and the Protective Barrier guarding Lake Heart Island was quickly withdrawn.

This Lightning Tribulation seemed to possess intelligence. The moment the barrier vanished, lightning followed close behind.

A thick bolt of lightning, like a sharp sword, cleaved down from the sky.

Without the Protective Barrier to stop it this time, the lightning struck the giant serpent within the Heavenly Flames without obstruction.

"Boom!" The enormous snake body was blown apart by the bolt, its remains scattering everywhere.

The remains scattered all over the ground.

To be honest, seeing this happen made Shi Kang rather worried that Medusa's evolution had failed.

Fortunately, when he swept the area with his Soul Power, he noticed something unusual among the remains—a piece of snakeskin.

That piece of snakeskin seemed to carry the breath of life, trembling faintly.

Shi Kang was delighted. He guessed that Medusa had probably succeeded.