Not a Hair Out of Place

Wu Yong watched the scene from the air, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold arc.

At first, regarding his plans for Queen Medusa, he had wanted to imitate Xiao Yan—wait a couple of years until Queen Medusa used the Heavenly Flames to evolve, then take advantage of her weakness. If that did not work, he could just force himself on her. She would have no choice but to submit.

However, after meeting Xiao Yi Xian, Wu Yong changed his original plan. Perhaps he could slowly make deals with Medusa and deepen their relationship bit by bit.

Yet this was something he had never expected. He, the one who knew the plot, had not even made a move, while Queen Medusa, a "native," had actually come knocking on his door herself.

And Xiao Yi Xian was beside him, still only a Dou Shi. How dangerous was that?

Wasn't she courting death?

Thus, Wu Yong went straight for the kill. To hell with this and that—he would kill her first.

What he had not expected was that when a sudden burst of wicked amusement made him want to cosplay a villainous character from his previous life, the line he spoke would actually be taken seriously by Medusa.

She truly knelt down and expressed her submission to him.

Wu Yong narrowed his eyes slightly as he floated in the air, quietly watching Medusa kneeling on the ground.

He was not anxious in the slightest.

During the day, the sand in the Tagor Desert was scorching beneath one's feet.

The puncture wound in her abdomen and the severed snake tail on her lower body kept bleeding. The Snake-Person Race's cool blood met the blazing sand, producing faint sizzling sounds.

Even with the body of a Dou Emperor, even with the powerful physique of someone half-human and half-magical beast, she would not be able to last long in such a state.

Her consciousness gradually blurred, yet Medusa still gritted her teeth and held on.

"Submitting to such an expert is nothing shameful. He is only a Dou Wang, yet he has mastered the power of space so skillfully. He will definitely become a peerless powerhouse in the future."

"As long as I serve this Master wholeheartedly and earn even a trace of his permission, our Snake-Person Race will be able to leave this desert."

"I have to hold on. I must..."

A Blue Eagle flew over in the sky.

Xiao Yi Xian spread her Purple Cloud Wings and came to Wu Yong's side, asking what had happened and why he had beaten someone into kneeling.

She was not surprised by the outcome at all. Her A Yong was ridiculously fierce; as long as it was not a super expert like a Dou Zun, he could handle anything.

When Wu Yong told her that Queen Medusa, whose body still maintained a submissive posture, had actually lost consciousness, Xiao Yi Xian could not help but freeze.

"Then A Yong, what are you planning to do?"

"I want to take her in. I wonder what Little Fairy thinks?"

"Huh? Me?"

Xiao Yi Xian paused, then pointed at Medusa. "You were the one who beat her into submission. Why are you asking what I think?"

"Because what she did just now posed a potential threat to your safety."

"A threat?"

Xiao Yi Xian's expression turned somewhat strange. She looked at Medusa, who seemed half-dead, then at the two of them, who were completely unharmed, as well as the Blue Eagle, a first-tier magical beast that had not even lost a single feather...

She had not expected Wu Yong to care so much about her. Xiao Yi Xian felt sweetness and warmth welling up inside her.

"It's fine. With A Yong protecting me, she won't be a threat to me."

Xiao Yi Xian had not resolved herself to become the Heavenly Poison Girl. She was kind by nature and could not make a cruel choice like Wu Yong's over something that had not yet happened.

Wu Yong hesitated for a moment, motioning for Xiao Yi Xian to move farther away. Then faint blue fluorescence appeared on his hand.

Night fell, and the Tagor Desert became cold again.

The campfire crackled, and the fragrance of roasting meat spread through the air.

As Medusa gradually regained consciousness, she heard a man and a woman talking, along with the cry of a magical beast.

"This stupid bird. I don't even know which of us is supposed to be the mount anymore. I carry you through most of the journey. Once we get to the academy, I'm definitely going to train you properly."

"Alright, A Yong, don't blame Xiao Lan. It doesn't want that either. Your speed is just too fast—how could it possibly catch up to you?"

"Caw, caw, caw..."

That voice, one that had practically been carved into her bones, rang out. Yet its tone was much gentler now.

The memories from before she lost consciousness surfaced. However, the intact snake tail on her lower body and her uninjured abdomen made her wonder whether those memories had merely been a dream.

It was not until she touched the half of her crown lying beside her hand, and felt the lingering trace of spatial power upon it, that she immediately realized it had not been a dream!

"Master!"

Without hesitation, Medusa knelt before the young man, her voice filled with reverence.

She did not attempt anything irrational. On one hand, the earlier battle had already made her see the gap in their strength clearly.

On the other hand, as a woman, she was naturally drawn to the strong.

Once conquered by a stronger person, she would become incomparably loyal.

"Heh, you do know what's good for you. I was even planning to let you test my new experiment with the power of space. A bet is a bet. Looks like I'll still have to carry that stupid bird from now on."

After speaking to Xiao Yi Xian, Wu Yong turned his head slightly. Under the firelight, his expression looked especially sinister.

Seeing Medusa kneeling on the ground with her head pressed against the sand, Wu Yong found the feeling rather satisfying.

"Stop with the formalities. Sit down and talk. Then tell me why you attacked me earlier."

"Yes, this servant thanks Master."

Medusa raised her head, her expression respectful. She carefully moved to the spot Wu Yong indicated and slowly sat down beside the campfire.

"Earlier, this servant was searching for Heavenly Flames to evolve my bloodline. I happened to sense an unfamiliar, powerful aura and wanted to drive it out of the desert. But this servant did not know it was you. Fortunately, Master was merciful, allowing this servant to survive."

"Oh? You sensed my aura? How did you manage that?"

Wu Yong could not help feeling curious. His aura had been hidden by the wind; even a Dou Zong expert could not detect it. He had tested this back at the Inner Academy.

Medusa was merely a Dou Emperor, yet she could accomplish something even the Great Elder, a Dou Zong expert, could not?

"In answer to Master, this servant used the Snake-Person Race's unique sensing ability, which is why I was able to discover Master..."

Medusa's expression was complicated. Damn it, having senses that were too sharp was not necessarily a good thing!

Especially when encountering someone like Wu Yong, an expert whose realm and combat strength differed so drastically. Meeting even one such person could cost her life!

Before they fought, she was a half-human, half-magical beast and a peak nine-star Dou Emperor. Dealing with a mere Dou Wang should have been effortless, shouldn't it?

Even if things went badly, she should have been able to retreat unscathed, right?

The Snake-Person Race's secret arts had always been known for their unpredictability. Countless Snake-Person Race experts had used this move to escape death.

But when it came to her, her true form was seen through immediately, and a single Space Slash severed her lower body.

That was a Space Slash!

Even though she was not a Dou Zong expert, she knew that anyone capable of wielding spatial power to such an extent was absolutely not an ordinary Dou Zong.

Yet she had witnessed it on a Dou Wang, and experienced it personally. She was certain that Space Slash was the real thing!

"I see."

Wu Yong nodded thoughtfully. Since it was a racial talent, then it was understandable.

"Then tell me about this matter of using Heavenly Flames to evolve. As far as I know, the bloodline of your Snake-Person Race leans toward yin and cold, while Heavenly Flames are the most yang things in heaven and earth. Using that to evolve should be no different from seeking death, right?"

"In answer to Master, it is mentioned in the Snake-Person Race's inheritance that if a Snake-Person Race expert cultivates to the peak of the sixth tier, which is the peak of the nine-star Dou Emperor realm, they can use Heavenly Flames, which oppose the characteristics of the Snake-Person Race bloodline, to evolve a bloodline that has already reached its limit."

"This method is extremely dangerous, but if successful, it can allow this servant to be reborn and evolve a stronger bloodline, breaking the shackles of my original bloodline. Advancing to Dou Zong would then become only natural."