"Heavenly Flames? You're not an alchemist. What would you want one for?"
Medusa was quite puzzled when Gu Shenge asked her to help him search for Heavenly Flames. He wasn't an alchemist, so why would he want one? Besides, the Snake-People Tribe had a naturally cold-blooded constitution and avoided such extremely fiery things.
Gu Shenge gently brushed Medusa's hair aside and asked her softly, "Do you know of Tou She Ancient God?"
Medusa nodded. Who on the Dou Qi Continent didn't know of Tou She Ancient God, the last Dou Di? No Dou Di had appeared since him.
She remembered that Gu Shenge had come from the Great Thousand World, and now he had suddenly brought up Tou She Ancient God. Could Tou She Ancient God have some connection to the Heavenly Flames?
Medusa asked her husband, "Is Tou She Ancient God connected to the Heavenly Flames?"
Gu Shenge nodded. He told Medusa what he knew about Tou She Ancient God, and that anyone who reached the Dou Di realm could break through the void and ascend to the Great Thousand World.
Medusa was utterly astonished, her beautiful eyes shining. Ancient texts said that Tou She Ancient God had mysteriously disappeared. She never would have guessed that he had broken through the void and ascended to the Great Thousand World!
"Tou She Ancient God wasn't human. He was a Heavenly Flame that had gained sentience. By devouring and merging with other Heavenly Flames, he became Emperor Flame and rose to the Dou Di realm. But given the state of the Dou Qi Continent today, Source Qi is scarce, so ordinary cultivation methods can't lead to a breakthrough. The only options are to find Tou She Ancient Emperor's Cave or try another approach. For instance, you could devour Heavenly Flames like Tou She Ancient God did. Gathering every flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking might make it possible to attempt a breakthrough to the Dou Di realm."
There had been all sorts of theories online in his previous life about how to break through to the Dou Di realm. Some said there were three ways, others said four, but none of them were reliable.
In the original story, Xiao Yan managed to become a Dou Di by receiving Tou She Ancient God's inheritance.
Hun Tiandi, meanwhile, relied on sacrificing countless living beings to complete the Emperor Grade Embryonic Pill and break through to the Dou Di realm.
But there was one crucial factor in both cases.
That was Source Qi. Both Xiao Yan and Hun Tiandi had relied on it to become Dou Di.
After Tou She Ancient God's rise, all the Source Qi on the Dou Qi Continent had been used up. It wasn't until the end of the original story, when Xiao Yan opened a passage between the Dou Qi Continent and the Great Thousand World, allowing Source Qi to flow into the continent, that Gu Yuan, Zhu Kun, and the others could successfully become Dou Di.
Of course, Gu Shenge's idea of devouring and refining every Heavenly Flame on the Heavenly Flame Ranking to attempt a breakthrough to the Dou Di realm was only a theory. The chances of success were almost nonexistent.
Source Qi was essential to breaking through to the Dou Di realm.
Without Source Qi, even someone as powerful as Xiao Xuan, who had used up the Xiao Clan's entire bloodline power, could only reach Half-Emperor.
After hearing Gu Shenge's analysis, Medusa fell silent in thought. No wonder no one on the Dou Qi Continent had become a Dou Di since Tou She Ancient God. The crucial Source Qi was missing.
"I understand. It's just Heavenly Flames, right? I'll help you find them, but you have to agree to one condition."
A moment later, Medusa spoke up. Her Companion Soul, the Purple Nether Flame Snake, was extremely sensitive to fire energy. Since Heavenly Flames were the ultimate form of fire, finding them wouldn't be difficult.
That was how Medusa had managed to find the Green Lotus Core Flame in the Tagor Desert.
When Gu Shenge heard that his beloved wife wanted to set a condition, he furrowed his brow. A trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes as he let out a faint sigh. His voice grew heavy, edged with displeasure.
"Medusa, we're husband and wife. Whatever you want or whatever you're planning to do, just tell me. As your husband, I'll support you without asking for anything in return. There's no need to talk about conditions. That would only make us grow distant."
As he spoke, his arms tightened around Medusa's shapely waist.
Though he had tricked Medusa into forming a Marriage Contract and taken her as his wife, they were now married and had consummated their union. She was his wife.
They were one as husband and wife. Why talk about conditions?
Feeling the man behind her sigh and hearing the displeasure in his voice, Medusa's lovely face took on a complicated expression. Her eyes lowered. In truth, she had still regarded their marriage as a transaction, but Gu Shenge's words made her realize she had been keeping score too much.
In the end, they had received the Sacred Altar's blessing, and the Ancestral Spirits had witnessed their marriage.
She had been the one in the wrong.
After a moment of silence, Medusa finally nodded and said quietly, "I... understand."
Gu Shenge looked pleased. He leaned down to her ear and spoke softly, his voice full of affection.
"That's more like it. Just tell your husband what you need. If it's something I can do, I won't refuse."
Since her husband had said so, Medusa didn't hesitate. She told him what was on her mind.
"Husband, I'd like you to give three more Po Zong Pills to the other three elders. They're advanced in years, their vitality is fading, and they have little time left. They have almost no chance of reaching Dou Zong without help. The Po Zong Pills are their only hope."
As she spoke, Medusa lowered her head, somewhat afraid to look at Gu Shenge. Po Zong Pills were precious to begin with, and these were top-grade pills. She knew her request was a bit much.
But if all Four Great Elders could reach Dou Zong, then together with her, the Snake-People Tribe would have five Dou Zong powerhouses. Even if the three great empires of Jia Ma, Chu Yun, and Luo Yan joined forces, they wouldn't be able to stop the Snake-People Tribe from leaving the Tagor Desert.
Gu Shenge paused, looking at his beloved wife in his arms. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes. He'd thought it would be something serious. Po Zong Pills? The System Store had as many as he wanted.
With a thought, he bought three Top-Grade Sect-Breaking Pills from the System Store for a total of 150,000 Origin Points, leaving him with 970,000.
Medusa saw that Gu Shenge still hadn't answered and thought he was hesitating. But the next moment, an incredibly rich medicinal fragrance filled the air, and three Top-Grade Sect-Breaking Pills appeared before her. Her gaze was instantly drawn to them, joy lighting up her beautiful eyes as she broke into a radiant smile.
Gu Shenge handed the pills to Medusa. Looking at his overjoyed wife, he leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Since my beloved wife asked, of course I'll grant her wish. So, are you satisfied?"
"Thank you, husband."
The sight of the pills in front of her made Medusa's radiant smile grow even brighter. She quickly took them, calling him "husband" with increasing ease and affection.
Hearing her call him "husband" again and again filled Gu Shenge with satisfaction. At the same time, the hand holding Medusa's delicate body began to wander again.
Feeling her husband's wandering hand, Medusa didn't stop him this time. Gu Shenge's teasing voice sounded in her ear once more.
"Instead of just saying thank you, why not show your gratitude for my efforts?"
How could Medusa not understand what Gu Shenge meant as his hands grew bolder? She rolled her eyes at him. With her cheeks flushed, she looked utterly alluring. She gave a soft snort, neither agreeing nor refusing.
"Hmph! You lecher. I really do wonder whether you're human or a He Yuan in human form. All you do is torment me. Maybe tonight."
At that, Gu Shenge pinched Medusa's soft cheek and pretended to be displeased.
"It seems I've been too good to you. You even compare me to a He Yuan to tease me. Tonight, I'll have to teach you some proper rules and uphold my authority as your husband."
Medusa scoffed. "As if I'd be afraid of you!"
"Really? Then who was begging me for mercy last night?"
"Gu Shenge, I was only caught off guard. That's the only reason you got the better of me!"
"My dear wife, you're getting flustered."
"I am not flustered!"
Before you continue