Coveting Medusa's Body

At his command, the clone immediately sat down cross-legged. Dou Qi began surging rapidly around its body, continuously gathering within it at an astonishing speed—far beyond what a one-star Dou Zhe could possibly achieve.

Seeing this, Ling Yuan was completely reassured and his guess was confirmed.

The clone's cultivation speed was tied to his current strength.

He was now a one-star Dou Zong, so this clone possessed the cultivation speed of a one-star Dou Zong.

After confirming this, Ling Yuan could only marvel at how damn incredible it was.

From now on, he had a cheat that let him cultivate at double speed!

If his main body and clone cultivated at the same time, his progress would directly double.

This was simply amazing!

Ling Yuan took out cultivation resources for the clone and had it continue cultivating.

With cultivation resources and the cultivation speed of a one-star Dou Zong, the one-star Dou Zhe broke through after just one hour, reaching two-star Dou Zhe.

Next, Ling Yuan tried ordering the clone to perform Source Return, having it transfer all the Dou Qi it had cultivated to him.

The clone had only cultivated for two hours, so the amount of Dou Qi it had gathered was not much. Even so, Ling Yuan could clearly feel the Dou Qi within his body becoming more abundant, and his strength had improved slightly as well.

"Perfect. There's absolutely nothing wrong with this technique. It's genuinely powerful." Ling Yuan nodded in satisfaction. As long as there were no problems with cultivation, that was enough.

As for the undying, indestructible nature of the Ten Thousand Bodies Origin Return Technique, he had no plans to test it for the time being.

If he blew up this clone now, he would enter a cooldown period during which he would no longer be able to create a new clone.

This was a small measure of balance for the technique. Otherwise, it would truly be too heaven-defying, without a single weakness.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

Finally, Ling Yuan put the clone away.

This was also one of the clone's traits. Since the clone shared the same origin as him, it could merge with his body and be released again whenever needed—convenient and discreet.

Having finished converting his cultivation technique, Ling Yuan emerged from seclusion and found Zi Yan cultivating.

"Well, aren't you diligent?"

Since Zi Yan was cultivating so intently, Ling Yuan had no intention of disturbing her.

It was good for her to focus on increasing her strength. Zi Yan would be his most reliable bodyguard in the future; the stronger she became, the safer he would be.

Besides, he wanted to go claim Medusa next.

It really would not be convenient for Zi Yan to come along. She might get jealous.

As soon as he stepped outside, he happened to run into Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Yi Xian had long since made her preparations and was merely waiting for Ling Yuan's command to leave.

Xiao Yi Xian said she was ready. Where were they going next?

Ling Yuan paused, then put on a serious expression and said, "Wait here for now. I've found some clues about the materials you need to condense your Poison Pill. I'll go look for them."

He was obviously going to court a woman, yet he claimed he was gathering materials for Xiao Yi Xian. Really something else.

Ling Yuan had been a scumbag in his previous life, so such lies came right off his tongue without so much as a blush or a skipped heartbeat.

Yet Xiao Yi Xian believed him. A trace of warmth instantly appeared in her eyes, and she was even somewhat moved.

She silently thought that Ling Yuan truly cared about her affairs. He had only just emerged from seclusion and had not even rested, yet he was already thinking of helping her find the materials.

"Is there anything I need to do?"

"No. Just wait here."

"Then be careful!"

After leaving Qingshan Town, Ling Yuan casually led Ling Yun toward the eastern part of Shimo City.

He remembered that the approximate location of the Green Lotus Core Flame was nearby.

Ling Yuan said, "Huh? Elder Yun, why do I sense the aura of a Heavenly Flame?"

"It is indeed the aura of a Heavenly Flame, Young Clan Leader. However, the aura is very faint. It is likely a lower-ranked Heavenly Flame. Shall this subordinate search for it now?"

Ling Yuan nodded. "It may be weak, but it's still a Heavenly Flame. Find it and take it with us."

He had no use for this Green Lotus Core Flame, but Medusa could use it for her evolution.

The Bone Chilling Flame was too powerful. If she used that, Medusa would probably be burned to death.

"Yes, this subordinate accepts the order." Ling Yun answered and immediately spread out his soul power to search the surroundings.

The two had already arrived near the Green Lotus Core Flame, and they even knew its general location. With one searching each side, their efficiency far surpassed Medusa's solitary search.

Before long, Ling Yuan found it first.

His Spirit Realm soul had done the job. In the past, Ling Yun would certainly have found it first when it came to soul detection.

It was an unremarkable sand dune, no different from the surrounding dunes.

Yet Ling Yuan could clearly sense that the fire-element energy deep beneath the dune was far more violent than elsewhere.

That must have been the aura of the Heavenly Flame.

His soul power probed downward, confirming beyond doubt that it was the Green Lotus Core Flame!

Ling Yuan flew directly above the sand dune. No longer hesitating, he raised his hand, gathered Dou Qi, and viciously struck the ground beneath him with his palm.

Boom! A deafening blast rang out as dust filled the sky. A pit dozens of meters deep instantly appeared, and at its bottom, scorching magma churned and released waves of heat.

Without the sand blocking it, Ling Yuan could sense the Heavenly Flame beneath the magma even more clearly.

"Young Clan Leader, below should be the nineteenth-ranked Green Lotus Core Flame. This subordinate will immediately—"

Ling Yun's soul was stronger than Ling Yuan's, so he naturally sensed more.

Ling Yuan thought, At this point in time, Medusa hasn't taken away the Green Lotus Core Flame yet. I've beaten her to it.

That was excellent!

Without the Green Lotus Core Flame, Medusa would not be able to break through to Dou Zong. Without hope of a breakthrough, that proud queen would be easier for him to control and make submit to him.

"Come on, let's go down and take a look. I've never seen a Heavenly Flame before..."

Thus, the two descended into the magma.

The magma was incomparably hot, but it had no effect whatsoever on Ling Yuan or Ling Yun.

A layer of Dou Qi barrier automatically appeared around their bodies, isolating the magma's heat. It was no different from being aboveground.

Not long after diving into the depths of the magma, they saw a Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.

It was enormous, its entire body covered in fiery-red scales. Both snake heads flicked their tongues, their eyes ferocious as it actually overestimated itself and tried to attack the two intruders.

Ling Yuan told Ling Yun to restrain it, as long as it did not escape.

After some time, he intended to bring Qing Lin over.

This Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake would be perfect for Qing Lin to test her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils on.

Ling Yun nodded. "Yes, Young Clan Leader."

Though he did not understand why the Young Clan Leader wanted to keep this magical beast alive, he immediately acted. Releasing Dou Qi, he formed it into bindings and firmly trapped the Double-Headed Fire Spirit Snake.

After diving to the very bottom of the magma, Ling Yuan finally saw his first Heavenly Flame.

He had only sensed Jia Nan Academy's Fallen Heart Flame from afar and had never approached it.

A Cyan Lotus Platform floated atop the magma. At its center, a cluster of cyan flames burned slowly, releasing a unique fire-element energy with every flicker.

It was precisely the Green Lotus Core Flame he had been seeking.

Honestly, it was not particularly strong, considering it was only ranked nineteenth.

After watching it for a while, Ling Yuan lost interest in the Green Lotus Core Flame.

With a flick of his hand, a jade shard appeared in his palm. A cold glint flashed across it, and with a light swipe, he neatly severed the Cyan Lotus Platform together with the roots beneath it.

The Green Lotus Core Flame, the Cyan Lotus Platform, and the Fire Lotus Seeds atop the platform were all collected into his hand.

Having obtained all three items so easily, Ling Yuan could not help but think:

Medusa probably never dreamed that the Heavenly Flame she had painstakingly searched for in the desert would be obtained by him so easily, did she?

As the Young Clan Leader of the Ling Clan, he had no interest in these three items. He casually tossed them to Ling Yun and told him to keep them.

After collecting the Green Lotus Core Flame, Ling Yuan headed for the Snake-People Holy City.

It was time to meet the legendary, peerlessly beautiful Queen Medusa.

Medusa had the potential to evolve into a Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python and rapidly reach the strength of a four- or five-star Dou Sheng.

That level of strength was decent enough. She could be of some use against the Soul Clan.

Ling Yuan had no interest in anyone below Dou Sheng, but someone who could rapidly advance to Dou Sheng was worth taking in for free.

Besides, Ling Yuan rather coveted her body as well.

He was honest with himself and dared to face his own desires. There was no need to hide or cover them up.

In his previous life, he had been captivated by Medusa's looks. Now that he had not only transmigrated into this world but also possessed strength and status, there was naturally no way he could let such a beauty slip away.

There was no chance he would grovel before Medusa. With this strength and background, why would he be some pathetic simp?

He would make the proud Medusa lower her head of her own accord. That would be far more entertaining...

As he thought about it, Ling Yuan could not help recalling a classic line from those people whose lives were going quite well.

"Medusa, you wouldn't want the Snake-People Clan to remain in a harsh place like the Tagor Desert forever, would you?"

Heh heh, why did just thinking about it feel a little thrilling?