'A Billion' Good Things

After leaving Shimo City, Ling Yuan did not linger. He took Qing Lin and Medusa straight back to the Snake-People Temple.

After all, living in the temple was more convenient, and it would also make it easier to arrange things for Qing Lin, saving him the trouble of finding somewhere else.

Seeing the snake-people around her, Qing Lin inexplicably became frightened. Her body trembled slightly, and her eyes were filled with panic and unease.

She gently tugged at Ling Yuan's sleeve, her voice tiny and timid.

"Young... Young Master, why have we come to the Snake-People Clan? There are... there are snake-people everywhere..."

During their journey here, Qing Lin had already come to see herself as Ling Yuan's maid.

Ling Yuan did not care much about forms of address. Instead, he felt that Medusa, his personal maid, was terribly unqualified. She still dared to call him by name.

She was simply outrageously bold. It seemed he would have to give her a proper "stick lesson" tonight and make her recognize her place.

"Don't be afraid. Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Clan is also my maid. No one here would dare bully you."

Ling Yuan stroked her head to comfort her, speaking in an even tone as he said something that left Qing Lin stunned.

Qing Lin abruptly raised her head, her eyes wide with disbelief. The queen of the Snake-People Clan was also Young Master's maid?

Just what kind of great figure was Young Master?

Meanwhile, Medusa walked over as well.

Ling Yuan gave her orders without the slightest courtesy.

"Arrange a better room for her. Find a few capable maids to take good care of her, and don't let her suffer any grievance."

Medusa naturally obeyed. Before long, she had found Qing Lin a spacious, tidy guest room and brought over two gentle snake-woman maids.

Although she did not ask, that did not mean she was not curious.

Medusa wondered why Ling Yuan had brought this little girl back. Could it be that he liked this type?

Then what about her...

At that thought, Medusa unexpectedly felt a trace of unease.

Ling Yuan looked at Qing Lin, who was still standing there somewhat at a loss, and his tone softened.

"You can stay here for now. If you need anything, just tell the maids by your side. There's no need to be polite. I have something to take care of, but I'll come see you later."

Qing Lin hurriedly nodded and obediently said, "Thank you, Young Master. I understand."

After settling Qing Lin in, Ling Yuan turned to Medusa, his tone returning to its former dominance.

"Medusa, I have something to tell you about breaking through to Dou Zong. Come into the room with me."

The moment she heard the words "break through to Dou Zong," Medusa's eyes immediately lit up.

The doubts in her heart instantly vanished, and she was suddenly full of energy as she obediently followed Ling Yuan into his room.

The moment they entered, Ling Yuan got straight to the point. "I won't provide you with a Transformation Pill or a Po Zong Pill for your breakthrough to Dou Zong."

Medusa froze. Without pills, how was he going to help her?

Ling Yuan slowly raised his palm. With a thought, a green lotus pedestal appeared in his hand. At its center, a cluster of green flames burned quietly. It was the Green Lotus Core Flame.

"With this."

"The Green Lotus Core Flame is actually in your hands."

She had once searched the Tagor Desert for a long time to find this Green Lotus Core Flame, expending no small amount of effort, yet she had never found it. She had not expected it to be with Ling Yuan.

Ling Yuan said, "I want you to use this Heavenly Flame to stimulate your bloodline, complete your evolution, and then break through to Dou Zong."

If he used a Po Zong Pill to help Medusa break through, she could certainly reach Dou Zong smoothly, but she would never be able to evolve into a Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, much less the Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python afterward.

And if Medusa did not evolve the Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline, then even with his support, her talent would be limited. At most, she could only reach the Dou Zun realm.

If Medusa could only reach Dou Zun, then her value to him would be greatly reduced. She would be no different from a decorative vase that could only please him.

Ling Yuan had gone out of his way to come to the Snake-People Clan and spent so much effort "courting" Medusa. It was not merely for a decorative vase.

What he wanted was a Medusa with strength and talent, one who could become his aid.

Therefore, Medusa had to evolve with the help of a Heavenly Flame. There was no room for discussion.

A trace of hesitation appeared on Medusa's face. "To be honest, when I had no other choice before, I wanted to evolve using a Heavenly Flame. But breaking through that way has a very low success rate..."

Ever since Ling Yuan had taken her body, evolving with a Heavenly Flame was no longer her only option.

She preferred relying on Ling Yuan's pills to break through. That would be safer, without risking her life, and she could still reach Dou Zong smoothly.

That made sense. After all, she did not know she could evolve into a Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.

Ling Yuan could more or less guess Medusa's thoughts.

"That night, I sensed a trace of Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline within your blood. It was very faint, but it was enough.

I think you can take a gamble. If you truly evolve into a Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, your talent will undergo a qualitative transformation. I can guarantee that I'll help you reach the Dou Saint realm and give you an unlimited future."

When Medusa heard the words "your blood," her cheeks instantly flushed. That had been her first time.

Ling Yuan did not tease the rarely bashful Medusa. Instead, he said very seriously,

"If you're afraid and think that following me means you no longer need to take risks, that's fine too. I do have the means to safely help you break through to Dou Zong with pills, and even help you advance to Dou Zun. But then, you can only be my decorative vase in the future. Your talent will be limited, so don't even think about any future beyond that."

"These are your two choices. Either take a gamble, evolve with a Heavenly Flame, and bet on a future as a Dou Saint; or be my decorative vase in peace and remain at Dou Zun for the rest of your life."

Ling Yuan always liked throwing two choices at others, but it seemed the person choosing did not really have a choice.

Medusa knew Ling Yuan was serious, and so she struggled intensely within her heart.

Evolving with a Heavenly Flame meant risking being devoured by its backlash and dying, but if she succeeded, she could not only break through to Dou Zong but also evolve her bloodline and gain limitless potential. Ling Yuan had even promised to ensure she reached the Dou Saint realm.

If she did not use a Heavenly Flame and instead relied on Ling Yuan's pills to break through, it would be safe and secure, with no risk at all. Yet she could only remain Ling Yuan's decorative vase for the rest of her life, reaching at most Dou Zun, living under another's protection forever, until Ling Yuan grew tired of her and ruthlessly cast her aside.

If it were an ordinary person facing such a choice, they would certainly choose the latter without hesitation. Dou Zun was already excellent, far better than gambling one's life on some illusory future.

But Medusa was such a proud person. How could she willingly become nothing more than Ling Yuan's decorative vase?

After only a brief silence, Medusa raised her head. The struggle in her eyes completely faded, replaced by determination. "I choose to evolve with a Heavenly Flame!"

She decided to take a gamble, wagering her life on that illusory yet incomparably enticing future.

Medusa's choice was within Ling Yuan's expectations.

Although Medusa was now cautious and submissive before him, the pride in her bones was engraved into her bloodline and had never disappeared.

This could be seen from how she had insisted on sparring with Ling Yuan before offering herself to him.

Ling Yuan felt that this side of Medusa was rather charming.

"Fine. Since you've decided, I have 'a billion' good things here, all the finest essences of heaven and earth treasures. They can stabilize your aura and increase the success rate of your evolution. Come with me."

Ling Yuan put on a solemn expression.

Poor Medusa did not catch the hidden meaning in veteran driver Ling Yuan's words. Thinking he truly intended to prepare something to help her, she was actually tricked onto the bed.

With a soft cry, Medusa was pounced on by Ling Yuan.