What a Sin!

"Dual Sword Style, Asura Ten Slashes!"

Yan Lin swung the twin swords in his hands, scorching Flame Dou Qi flowing through the air like running water, flames blazing wildly. Ten crimson streams of fire—horizontal, vertical, and diagonal—formed a flaming sword net as they shot toward Queen Medusa.

Seeing this rather formidable sword technique, Queen Medusa's brows showed a trace of seriousness.

With a sharp exhalation, Flame Dou Qi surged in Medusa's hand as she swiftly condensed another Dou Qi blade. Then, while rapidly evading Yan Lin's slashes, she precisely blocked one flaming streak after another with the blade in her hand.

At the same time, while Medusa was fending off his attacks, Yan Lin rapidly formed energy seals, using Dou Qi to condense several energy pythons over three meters long that ambushed Medusa from every direction.

"Spirit Snake Explosion!"

Seeing the energy pythons seal off all of Medusa's escape routes, Yan Lin suddenly clenched his hands. In that instant, visible cracks appeared across the bodies of the energy pythons under his control, and strands of violent, scorching energy continuously seeped from those cracks...

This move should actually have been called Ten Thousand Snake Spirit Explosion. It was the only low-level Earth-grade Dou Technique Yan Lin was currently cultivating. At its peak, it could condense tens of thousands of energy Snake Spirits over three meters long, then detonate them all in an instant. Its power was enough to topple mountains and overturn seas, leveling everything within hundreds or even thousands of miles.

Unfortunately, with his current strength, he could not truly bring out the might of this low-level Earth-grade Dou Technique. He could not even stir changes in heaven and earth, and could only barely condense a few Spirit Snakes to self-destruct...

Boom!

Several enormous energy Spirit Snakes exploded at once. Light flared brilliantly, blinding the eye. Terrifying shockwaves spread outward, whipping up fierce winds.

Yet beneath this powerful killing move, which was enough to kill an ordinary Dou Master, Yan Lin remained tense and battle-ready.

He did not believe such an attack could cause Queen Medusa any real harm.

And that was indeed the case.

At the moment the Spirit Snakes exploded, Queen Medusa swiftly formed hand seals. Crimson Flame Dou Qi soon boiled and swirled around her body.

A crimson snake skeleton infused with fierce flame energy immediately coiled tightly around Medusa, protecting her completely.

Crack~

Crack!

Under the energy bombardment, the crimson snake skeleton began to fracture. When the light faded, obvious cracks had appeared across it, but Queen Medusa stood before Yan Lin completely unharmed.

Is this Queen Medusa's absolute defense—Flame Snake Body Protection?

Yan Lin gazed curiously at the crimson snake skeleton slowly receding from around Medusa.

He recalled the Great Elder's teachings. She had once told Yan Lin that the Snake People Clan's unique absolute defense took the form of one's Companion Soul, transforming it into a tangible Spirit Snake to protect the body.

It was like wrapping oneself in a layer of living armor. Unless one's opponent was far stronger, it was extremely difficult to break through.

Queen Medusa had used her Companion Soul, the Purple Nether Flame Snake, as its form to condense a corporeal Flame Snake Body Protection.

It was just that she was currently suppressing her strength and could not summon its complete form, so her Flame Snake Body Protection had become an incomplete version of Snake Bone Body Protection.

"Ten Thousand Snake Spirit Explosion is not a bad move. Unfortunately, you are too weak to bring out its true power."

Queen Medusa rarely offered Yan Lin praise. Her face remained expressionless, but a trace of gravity flashed through her enchanting purple eyes as she looked at the youth. The bloodline of the distant ancestors truly is formidable. At the same realm, I am no match for him.

After that exchange, Queen Medusa had more or less sounded out Yan Lin's abilities.

If she had not cheated and secretly raised her strength, she would never have been able to suppress Yan Lin. Instead, she would have been suppressed by him.

As a Peak Dou Emperor, even with her realm compressed, she held every advantage. She had been able to gain the upper hand early in her battle with Yan Lin, but as the fight went on, Yan Lin only grew braver. He was clearly beginning to suppress her instead.

Queen Medusa had no choice but to admit that Yan Lin's noble bloodline gave him strength that was nearly invincible among those of the same realm.

This made her yearn even more to return to her ancestors, so that she could experience the strength of the ancient bloodline for herself.

Bullshit. If I were a Dou Emperor, I'd have beaten you flat and made you call me Daddy already.

Even though he knew the cheating Queen's lesson was correct, Yan Lin still grumbled bitterly to himself.

Yan Lin had already recorded today's debt in the little ledger in his heart.

When I become emperor next year, I'll make heaven and earth change.

"Enough nonsense. Continue!"

The more setbacks Yan Lin faced, the braver he became. Raising his twin swords, he charged at Queen Medusa once more.

Seeing how he had gone from being passive at the start to actively challenging her now, Medusa gave a faint, appreciative smile before resuming the fight with Yan Lin.

The clash of weapons rang continuously through Wude Hall, while the roar of Dou Qi never ceased. It continued for another half hour before the sounds of battle finally stopped.

In the end, Yan Lin was battered and injured, while Queen Medusa's clothes were merely slightly soiled.

Looking at Yan Lin lying spread-eagled on the floor of the hall, gasping in exhaustion, Queen Medusa did not continue. But neither did she let him off.

"We continue tomorrow."

"I'm not coming. You cheated!" Yan Lin sat bolt upright, looking utterly unwilling.

Queen Medusa was not angered. Folding her arms, she spoke with an air of complete control. "If you do not come tomorrow, This King will have Hua She'er personally invite you."

Yan Lin's face darkened. From the way Queen Medusa had emphasized the word "invite," he knew this woman was up to no good.

If he did not come tomorrow, Hua She'er would probably tie him up and drag him to Wude Hall.

To Yan Lin, that "invitation" sounded an awful lot like "kidnapping."

"Queen, just tell me. Is there something I haven't done well? I can change." Yan Lin tried to reason with her.

He no longer had the anticipation and enthusiasm he had at the beginning.

He had originally thought that sparring with Queen Medusa would be a wonderful period of cultivation. He had even hoped that some ambiguous accident might happen during their battles, allowing his relationship with Queen Medusa to warm up and putting an end to the threat of being cuckolded as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, dreams were beautiful, but reality was cruel.

When he trained with the Four Great Elders, none of them cheated. He had never expected the dignified Queen of the Snake People Clan to be so lacking in martial virtue.

She was cultivating in Wude Hall, yet apparently what she cultivated was a complete lack of martial virtue.

"No. I simply want to train you." Medusa's voice remained cool and detached.

That was the truth.

Medusa really did want to train Yan Lin. Otherwise, why would she bother sparring with a Dou Master for no reason?

At this realm, Medusa could crush him to death with a casual lift of her hand.

As for why Queen Medusa wanted to serve as Yan Lin's sparring partner, only she herself knew.

Yan Lin could not understand Medusa's thoughts, and he did not want to keep cultivating with this cheating woman, so he tried to use the opportunity to get away.

"It would be the same if I trained with the elders."

Without a moment's thought, Queen Medusa replied, "It's not the same."

Yan Lin frowned. "How is it different?"

"They can't beat you up."

Yan Lin: "..."

Listen to that. Is that even something a person would say?

At that moment, Yan Lin no longer had the strength to speak, but inwardly, he cried out to the heavens: What a sin!