Not a single hair lost

Wu Yong, hovering in the air, watched this scene with a cold curve to his lips.

Initially, regarding his strategy for Queen Medusa, he had thought about following Xiao Yan's path: waiting two years for her to evolve using the Heavenly Flame and then swooping in to take advantage of her vulnerability. If that failed, he would just force her; she would have no choice but to submit.

However, after meeting the Little Fairy Doctor, Wu Yong changed his original plan. Perhaps he could slowly negotiate with Queen Medusa and deepen their bond bit by bit.

But the current situation was something he had never anticipated. He, the one who knew the plot, hadn't even made a move, yet Queen Medusa, this "native," had come knocking on his door herself.

And he had the Little Fairy Doctor with him—the Little Fairy Doctor, who was only at the Dou Shi realm! How dangerous!

Wasn't she just asking for death!

Consequently, Wu Yong decided to go for the kill immediately. Forget about this or that; he would just finish her off and be done with it.

The only thing he hadn't expected was that his sudden burst of dark humor—thinking he would cosplay as a villain from his past life—resulted in a single sentence that Queen Medusa actually took seriously.

She had truly knelt down, signaling her submission to him.

Wu Yong remained there, eyes half-closed, floating in the air as he watched the kneeling Queen Medusa in silence.

He was in no rush at all.

During the day, the sand in the Tagor Desert was scorching hot.

The puncture wound in her abdomen and the severed lower half of her snake tail were bleeding continuously. The cold, serpentine blood of the Snake-Person Race made a faint hissing sound as it touched the burning sand.

Even for a Dou Huang expert, and even with the powerful physique of a half-human, half-Magic Beast, she could not hold on for long in such a state.

Her consciousness was gradually fading, but Queen Medusa was still gritting her teeth and holding on.

Submitting to such a powerhouse is not shameful. To be able to use space power with such proficiency while only at the Dou Wang realm—he will surely be a supreme powerhouse in the future.

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

I must hold on. I must...

In the sky, a Blue Eagle flew over.

The Little Fairy Doctor spread her Purple Cloud Wings and arrived beside Wu Yong, asking what was going on and why he had beaten someone into kneeling.

She wasn't surprised by the battle outcome at all; her A-Yong was incredibly fierce. As long as it wasn't a supreme powerhouse like a Dou Zun, he could handle anyone.

When she learned from Wu Yong that Queen Medusa, who was still maintaining a posture of submission, had actually lost consciousness, the Little Fairy Doctor was stunned for a moment.

"So, A-Yong, what are your plans?"

"I want to take her in. I wonder what you think, little fairy?"

"Ah? Me?"

The Little Fairy Doctor blinked, then pointed at Queen Medusa and said, "You were the one who beat her into submission; why are you asking for my opinion?"

"Because her actions just now posed a potential threat to your safety."

"A threat?"

The Little Fairy Doctor's expression turned strange. She looked at Queen Medusa, who looked like she was about to die, then at the two of them who were completely unharmed, and finally at the Blue Eagle—a Tier 1 Magic Beast that hadn't even lost a single feather...

Not expecting Wu Yong to care about her so much, the Little Fairy Doctor felt a sweet, warm sensation in her heart.

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

The Little Fairy Doctor, who had not yet resolved to become the Heavenly Poison Girl, was kind by nature and could not bring herself to make cruel choices based on things that hadn't happened yet.

Wu Yong hesitated for a moment, signaled for the Little Fairy Doctor to keep some distance, and then faint blue fluorescence began to glow on his hands.

Night fell, and the Tagor Desert became very cold once again.

The campfire crackled, and the aroma of roasting meat filled the air.

As Queen Medusa gradually regained consciousness, she heard the voices of a man and a woman, along with the cry of a Magic Beast.

"This stupid bird, I don't even know which one of us is the mount. I'm the one carrying you most of the way. When we get to the academy, I'm definitely going to put you through some serious training."

"Alright A-Yong, don't blame Xiao Lan. It doesn't want to be this way; who told you to be so fast? It can't even keep up with you."

"Gaa gaa gaa..."

The voice that was practically etched into her bones rang out, though the tone was much gentler now.

Memories from before she lost consciousness surfaced, but the intact snake tail and the uninjured abdomen made her wonder if those memories were just a dream.

It wasn't until she touched the broken half of her crown lying by her side, which still held a trace of space power, that she realized it hadn't been a dream!

"Master!"

Without hesitation, Queen Medusa knelt before the youth, her voice filled with awe.

She did not attempt any irrational behavior. On one hand, the previous battle had made her realize the gap in their strength.

On the other hand, it was her nature as a woman to admire the strong.

Once conquered by a powerhouse, she would become incredibly loyal.

"Heh, you're quite sensible. I was actually thinking of testing a new attempt at space power on you. A bet is a bet. For now, I'll keep carrying this stupid bird."

After speaking with the Little Fairy Doctor, Wu Yong turned his head slightly. Under the glow of the campfire, his expression looked exceptionally sinister.

Watching Queen Medusa kneeling on the ground with her head pressed against the sand, Wu Yong felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

"There's no need for these superficial gestures. Sit down and let's talk. Then, tell me the reason why you attacked me earlier."

"Yes, this servant thanks Master."

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

"Previously, this servant was searching for a Heavenly Flame to evolve my bloodline. I happened to sense a strange and powerful aura, and I wanted to drive that presence out of the desert, but I did not know it was you. It is only thanks to Master's mercy that I was able to survive."

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

Hearing this, Wu Yong couldn't help but feel a bit curious. His aura was hidden by the wind, and even a Dou Zong expert couldn't detect it; he had already tested this back at the Inner Academy.

Medusa was merely a Dou Huang, yet she could do something that even the Great Elder, a Dou Zong expert, could not?

"Replying to Master, this servant used the unique sensory ability of the Snake-Person Race, which is why I was able to discover you..."

Medusa's expression was complicated. Having such an incredible sensory ability wasn't always a good thing!

Especially when encountering a powerhouse like Wu Yong, whose level and combat strength were vastly different; running into one was a death sentence!

Before they fought, she, a nine-star peak Dou Huang with the body of half-human and half-Magic Beast, thought taking down a mere Dou Wang would be easy, right?

Even in the worst-case scenario, she should have had no problem retreating unscathed, right?

The secret techniques of their Snake-Person Race had always been known for their bizarre nature, and countless Snake-Person experts had used this move to successfully escape death.

But when it came to her, her true form was seen through immediately, and she was cut in half by a single Space Slash.

That was a Space Slash!

Even though she wasn't a Dou Zong, she knew that someone capable of utilizing spatial power to such an extent was definitely not an ordinary Dou Zong.

Yet, she had seen it from a Dou Wang, and experienced it firsthand, confirming that this Space Slash was absolutely authentic!

"I see."

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

"Then tell me about this matter of you using a Heavenly Flame to evolve. As far as I know, the bloodline of your Snake-Person Race leans toward the cold and yin, while a Heavenly Flame is the most yang element in heaven and earth. Using that thing to evolve shouldn't be any different from seeking death, right?"

"Replying to Master, the heritage of the Snake-Person Race mentions that if a Snake-Person expert cultivates to the sixth rank, which is the nine-star Dou Huang peak, they can borrow a Heavenly Flame—which is the opposite of the Snake-Person bloodline's characteristics—to evolve a bloodline that has reached its limit."

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