Burning Love, Border Smoke!

Lin Chen flicked his fingertip, and a piece of Soul-Nurturing Wood—a sixth-tier medicinal material, translucent throughout and radiating a gentle soul fluctuation—floated out.

The soul of Skyfire Venerable had long been residing within it, currently in a state of deep slumber, oblivious to everything in the outside world.

At his wrist, that brilliant seven-colored radiance did not immediately dissipate.

Instead, it pulsed violently like a beating heart, flickering between bright and dim; with every flash, a more vast, ancient, and noble aura permeated the area, rendering this magma region surreal and bizarre.

That tiny snake body seemed to have become a bottomless pit.

It was frantically absorbing the residual energy of the Fallen Heart Flame in the surrounding magma world, as well as the pure Dou Qi naturally dissipating from Lin Chen's body.

Lin Chen could clearly feel the small life form coiled around his wrist.

The soul within was undergoing its final and most perfect fusion with the physical body of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.

This process should have required a much longer duration.

But under the catalysis of the Fallen Heart Flame's origin and the energy nourishment Lin Chen had unintentionally provided, it was greatly shortened.

Finally, when the seven-colored light became so brilliant that even the intangible magma seemed unable to block its radiance—

"Hum—!"

A faint hum, as if coming from the ancient past, resounded.

The intense light suddenly retracted!

Lin Chen only felt a lightness at his wrist; the familiar, cool sensation had vanished.

Replacing it was the startling sensation of warm, soft jade suddenly filling his embrace!

A slender, soul-stirring, and breathtakingly curvaceous figure was pressed tightly against his chest without any barrier.

Her long purple hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the tips playfully brushing against his arm and stirring a faint itch.

Her skin was dazzlingly fair.

Against the crimson backdrop of the magma, it emitted a heart-stopping, alluring luster.

Her features were a perfect fusion of enchantment and nobility.

Her brows were like distant mountains veiled in dark ink, her eyes like autumn waters rippling; at this moment, they were veiled in a hazy mist, her red lips slightly parted, breathing like orchids, carrying a scorching heat that seemed capable of igniting the soul.

It was none other than Queen Medusa, having perfectly evolved, spirit and flesh united, emerging from her cocoon like a butterfly!

However, her state at this moment was clearly abnormal.

The massive amount of Fallen Heart Flame origin she had swallowed during her perfect evolution—that formless, intangible heart-fire that struck directly at the soul—had not only tempered her body and spirit but had also ignited the primitive wildness and heat belonging to the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python, hidden deep within her bloodline.

Her consciousness was in a state between clarity and delirium.

Her pale purple eyes were shimmering with moisture, reflecting Lin Chen's figure, her gaze so scorching it almost seemed to melt him.

"So... so hot..."

She murmured unconsciously, her delicate body twisting slightly, seeking a cooler place.

Her slender arms, like supple vines, naturally wrapped around Lin Chen's neck, pulling him closer.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together.

Lin Chen could even feel her rapid heartbeat and scorching body temperature—this heat caused a ripple to stir in his heart that was difficult to detect, though he maintained his outward composure.

The next instant, before Lin Chen could react.

Queen Medusa stood slightly on tiptoe, lifting that face of peerless beauty, and with an almost instinctive, irresistible determination, pressed her lush red lips onto Lin Chen's.

"Mm...!"

Even though Lin Chen's will was as firm as a rock, he could not help but falter for a moment.

The sensation where their lips met was incredibly soft, yet carried the scorching temperature unique to the Fallen Heart Flame, as if an electric current had surged through him.

A faint, sandalwood-like fragrance mixed with the unique aura of the Heavenly Flame lingered at the tip of his nose.

Her kiss was clumsy and urgent, devoid of any technique.

Yet, it was filled with the most primitive and direct passion, like a raging fire, intent on burning them both to ashes.

Lin Chen did not push her away.

A complex emotion flickered deep within his eyes—surprise, and a trace of indulgence that was hard to perceive.

Lin Chen quickly regained his senses.

He clearly perceived the surging heart-fire energy within Queen Medusa's body and the infinitely magnified emotions.

This was not her intention.

It was a side effect of her evolution.

His gaze cleared; he did not sink into this sudden trap of tenderness, yet he did not roughly interrupt her either.

With a flick of his mind, a wisp of extremely pure and gentle Red Lotus Karma Fire energy, carrying supreme purifying power, was quietly transferred from his lips, flowing into Queen Medusa's body like the most delicate spring water.

Wherever the karmic fire passed, the restless, nearly uncontrollable energy of the Fallen Heart Flame acted as if it had met its nemesis.

It rapidly became docile and calm.

The primal urges, stirred and amplified to their peak by the inner fire, were also doused as if by cool, refreshing rain, slowly shedding their heat and regaining clarity.

The hazy mist in the eyes of Queen Medusa gradually dissipated.

Her scorching gaze returned to its usual cold and profound depth.

When she fully awoke and realized what she had been doing—

And noticed the incredibly intimate and suggestive posture the two of them were in—

"!!!"

Those beautiful, pale purple eyes widened instantly.

Shock, shame, disbelief, and a trace of deeply hidden panic surged into her heart like a tidal wave!

She shoved Lin Chen away with a violent force.

The strength of her push was so great that it sent ripples through the surrounding magma!

A flush of red spread across her stunningly beautiful cheeks at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It crept from her cheeks to her earlobes, and then down to her snow-white, slender neck, as if she were a ripened fruit.

She scrambled in a flurry to mobilize her Dou Qi.

In an instant, she manifested a magnificent and noble purple brocade robe, tightly wrapping the exquisite figure that could drive any man in the world to madness, leaving only her radiant yet bashful and angry face exposed.

"You... what did you do to me?!"

Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremor. She glared at Lin Chen with an incredibly complex expression—there was shame, anger, and accusation, but deep down, there lay a strange feeling she hadn't even realized herself.

The lingering sensation of his touch and his scent made her heart beat like a drum.

"You were the one who initiated it."

Lin Chen wiped his lips, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the pleasant temperature of the magma, though a faint trace of a smile flickered in the depths of his eyes.

"The Fallen Heart Flame affected your mind and amplified certain primal instincts."

"I have already purified you."

His gaze was frank and clear.

Yet, it held a hint of subtle gentleness.

Upon hearing this, Queen Medusa immediately turned her focus inward.

Sure enough, the restless inner fire within her body had calmed, leaving only a gentle, pure flame energy nourishing her meridians, and her soul was perfectly clear.

Recalling her own incredibly bold actions from just moments ago...

In an instant, an intense sense of embarrassment nearly overwhelmed her.

She, the dignified Queen Medusa, had never been so out of control!

And it was with a... a mere youth!

She took several deep breaths.

Her high chest rose and fell slightly as she barely managed to suppress the exclamation and the more shameful words that were about to spill out.

The other party had indeed saved her and helped her resolve that awkward state.

This left her with nowhere to vent her anger.

In the end, she could only force her cold and stunningly beautiful face into a mask of indifference.

She attempted to restore her usual haughty queenly demeanor, but unfortunately, the blush that hadn't fully faded greatly diminished that air of authority.

"Th... thank you."

She squeezed the two words through her teeth stiffly, then immediately changed the subject, her gaze sweeping around the area, not daring to look at Lin Chen again.

"Where is this place?"

"How long have I been asleep?"

Her voice still carried a trace of imperceptible fluctuation.

"Jia Nan Academy, at the bottom of the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower."

"You have been asleep for several months."

Lin Chen answered concisely, as if that sultry scene had never happened, though he quietly took a few extra looks at her when she turned her gaze away.

He looked at her with a calm expression.

"Now that you have awakened, what are your plans? You are now a three-star Dou Ancestor, and your strength far exceeds what it once was."

Queen Medusa knitted her delicate brows slightly.

She felt the vast, ocean-like, and overwhelming power within her body—a three-star Dou Ancestor!

Truly stepping into this long-coveted realm, her foundation was now incomparably stable.

The benefits brought by this perfect evolution were simply unimaginable!

Amidst her wild joy, she realized something with even greater clarity.

Had it not been for the youth before her, she would have long since vanished into ashes during the evolution, let alone achieved her current success. The debt of gratitude was as heavy as a mountain.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the myriad of thoughts swirling in her heart.

Looking at Lin Chen once more, her gaze became complex yet earnest.

"You have granted This Queen a second life; I am not one to forget such a favor."

Her tone still carried the pride unique to a queen, but her attitude had softened significantly.

"What reward do you desire?"

"As long as it is within This Queen's power and does not violate my principles, I can grant it to you."

"Come with me."

Lin Chen's reply was so direct it bordered on overbearing, devoid of any circumlocution, yet his eyes were softer than before.

"Join the faction I intend to establish in the future."

"For now, you need only stay by my side. That is the condition."

In truth, he had long since planned to take her under his wing.

By stating it now, framed by the debt of gratitude, it felt all the more natural.

Medusa's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Her purple eyes stared deeply into Lin Chen's calm gaze, which held an unquestionable will.

If it were anyone else speaking to her like this in the past.

She would have long since let them taste the bitterness of the Snake Seal.

But at this moment, having witnessed Lin Chen's unfathomable methods and his mind-boggling potential.

Having personally felt his flames that could purify everything, coupled with that unsettling "accident" from just moments ago... she found that she could not bring herself to refuse immediately.

She pondered for a moment.

Freedom was certainly important, but a debt of gratitude had to be repaid.

Moreover, the secrets and potential within this youth made even her feel a sense of alarm.

Staying by his side might not be a bad thing; it could even be a greater opportunity.

"Very well."

Medusa finally nodded, her voice returning to its usual cold detachment.

"This Queen agrees."

"Until your faction is established, I will remain by your side to ensure your safety, as repayment for this favor."

She specifically added "ensure your safety" and "repayment for this favor."

It was as if she were emphasizing that this was merely a transaction, attempting to reclaim a shred of a queen's initiative, failing to notice that her tone had long since lost its initial chill.

Lin Chen nodded noncommittally.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes. The deal was struck.

He said no more.

Taking Medusa with him, he floated toward the surface.

After leaving the Heavenly Burning Qi Refining Tower, Lin Chen arranged for Medusa a secluded and luxurious independent courtyard within the Inner Academy, complete with its own training grounds.

Medusa had little interest in the human academy; she spent most of her time in seclusion, cultivating within the courtyard, adapting to her newfound Dou Ancestor strength, and familiarizing herself with the various innate abilities brought by the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline.

Only occasionally would she pause her cultivation.

Her gaze would drift toward the tower where Lin Chen resided, complex and unreadable—that look no longer held its initial wariness, replaced by a degree of concern she herself had yet to notice.

Lin Chen, meanwhile, began a disciplined and efficient routine of cultivation and alchemy.

He specifically applied for the highest-level alchemy room within the Inner Academy.

This round of alchemy was primarily for himself, Xiao Yi Xian, and Qing Lin.

For himself, he refined an improved version of the Imperial Extreme Pill; its medicinal effects were gentler and more enduring, suitable for consolidating the Dou Emperor realm and steadily advancing.

He also refined several types of Spirit Nourishing Pills and Soul Condensing Liquid to temper his soul and nourish his Spirit Realm.

For Xiao Yi Xian, he meticulously refined several batches of Heavenly Poison Pills.

This type of pill could guide the power of the Woe Poison Body more efficiently and safely.

He converted it into controllable poison Dou Qi, while supplementing it with various rare Jade Clarity Pills and Hundred Herb Pills to detoxify and stabilize her foundation, balancing the toxicity within her body and protecting her heart meridians.

For Qing Lin, he refined Green Spirit Pills, which enhanced soul perception and were specifically designed to nurture the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.

He also prepared some Snake Control Powder and Spirit Communication Liquid, which could subtly influence the emotions of snake-type magical beasts and facilitate the formation of contracts.

He never concealed his alchemy.

The Red Lotus Karma Fire surged and roared, bathing the alchemy chamber in a divine yet eerie crimson glow.

The pill fragrance, so rich it seemed almost tangible, nearly solidified.

It frequently pierced through the chamber's isolation array, permeating the air above a large portion of the Inner Academy, leaving countless students and Inner Academy elders salivating and marveling in wonder.

His Spirit Realm soul power allowed for exquisite control over heat and the fusion of medicinal properties.

Coupled with the bug-like refining capabilities of the Karma Fire, concocting these fifth or sixth-grade pills was as natural as breathing to him; his success rate was one hundred percent, and every batch emerged as top-tier quality, complete with naturally formed pill patterns.

This top-tier pill fragrance, which appeared almost daily without interruption, soon attracted a special "guest" who was "notorious" in the Inner Academy yet dared not be provoked by anyone.

On this day, Lin Chen had just finished a batch of Green Spirit Pill and was preparing to open the furnace to retrieve them.

The heavy door of the alchemy chamber was pushed open, a thin crack appearing without a sound.

A small head poked in cautiously.

It was a little girl who looked to be about twelve or thirteen, wearing a slightly oversized white dress, her long purple hair tied into two lively ponytails.

A pair of dark, shining eyes were like the purest black gems.

At this moment, they were fixed unblinkingly and longingly toward the pill furnace, her little nose sniffing hard at the fragrance filling the air, a suspicious trail of moisture even hanging from the corner of her mouth.

"Gurgle..."

A clear sound of swallowing echoed with particular prominence in the quiet alchemy chamber.

"So... so fragrant..."

"More fragrant than any medicinal herb Zi Yan has ever eaten..."

The little girl muttered to herself unconsciously.

She had no idea she had already been exposed.

Lin Chen had long since sensed her arrival.

A sweep of his soul power told him this was the "monster-strength" little girl Zi Yan, the number one on the Strong Ranking of the Inner Academy, whose true form was an Ancient Void Dragon.

She possessed an innate, keen perception and an intense craving for things rich in energy.

"Want to eat?"

Lin Chen picked up a freshly made Green Spirit Pill, round and crystalline, emitting a faint green glow and a cool aura. He turned his gaze toward the door, a faint arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Ah!"

Zi Yan was startled, like a frightened little rabbit, subconsciously wanting to pull her head back, but her gaze remained glued to the pill, unable to move away.

She nodded her little head vigorously.

Her dark, round eyes were filled with anticipation as she tried her best to put on an "I'm very tough" expression.

"Mm! Want to eat!"

"If you give it to me, I... I, Zi Yan, will help you fight in the future! Whoever bullies you, I'll beat them flat!"

Watching her adorable appearance—greedy yet trying hard to negotiate and maintain her dignity as the "number one on the Strong Ranking"—a trace of imperceptible amusement flickered in the depths of Lin Chen's eyes.

He casually tossed the precious sixth-grade pill over to her.

Zi Yan's eyes lit up fiercely. Her figure moved as fast as lightning, darting in with a whoosh to catch the pill with precision.

Without even looking, she shoved it directly into her mouth.

She chewed a few times with a "crunch, crunch" sound as if eating candy, and a look of immense satisfaction and happiness bloomed on her small face, her eyes squinting into crescent moons.

"Wow! So delicious!"

"It's sweet, it's cool, and my body feels warm after eating it!"

"It's ten thousand times better than those bitter, hard herbs from Old Man Su!"

From then on, Zi Yan became a regular visitor and the number one "pill attendant" in Lin Chen's alchemy chamber (her main duties being taste-testing and preventing others from stealing them).

When Lin Chen was refining pills, she would sit to the side, chin in her hands, watching with eager eyes.

Every now and then, she would be ordered to hand over a medicinal herb (though she often couldn't resist sneaking a bite of the well-aged ones), and every time Lin Chen finished a batch, he would always share one or two with her.

Lin Chen found her pleasing to the eye and thought this simple-minded little creature was interesting, so he was not stingy.

He would even occasionally use rare herbs like Earth Fire Lotus Seed or Blood Essence Demon Fruit to custom-make "top-tier candy pills" for her that had excellent flavor and immense energy.

Zi Yan's favorability toward Lin Chen skyrocketed as if she had taken a rocket.

It reached the point where she followed Lin Chen wherever he went, becoming his most loyal little follower and most steadfast "pill protector" in the Inner Academy.

The relationship between the two quickly became inseparable.

One could often see a cold, aloof youth followed by a bouncing, pill-munching purple-haired little girl, becoming a unique sight in the Inner Academy.

Time passed in this calm and fulfilling routine of cultivation, alchemy, and occasional guidance for Zi Yan and Medusa (mostly Medusa refusing to accept defeat and seeking him out for sparring, only to be easily suppressed) for two or three months.

On this day, Lin Chen was in the alchemy room, patiently teaching Zi Yan how to absorb the energy of medicinal pills more effectively, rather than relying solely on her formidable physical body to endure it like she was eating roasted beans.

An urgent jade slip, bearing the unique seal of the Jia Ma Imperial Family, arrived.

Traversing the vast distance through space, it landed precisely in his palm.

It was a message sent by Jia Xingtian.

As Lin Chen's soul power swept across the jade slip, his originally calm gaze instantly turned sharp as a blade, and the aura around him grew slightly cold and condensed.

Zi Yan, who was struggling to control her energy, and Medusa, who was sitting not far away with her eyes closed in rest but secretly observing, felt this change almost simultaneously and looked up at him one after another.

There were two pieces of news.

The content, however, was enough to trigger a storm:

First, several empires surrounding the Jia Ma Empire that had always maintained tense relations and constant friction (primarily led by the Chu Yun Empire, the Luo Yan Empire, and the Mu Lan Empire) had recently been frequently mobilizing large armies in the border regions. With experts from all sides gathering and troops massed at the frontier, the frequent drills and various signs indicated that they seemed to have the intention of uniting to launch a full-scale invasion of the Jia Ma Empire!

The atmosphere along the border was unprecedentedly tense.

Small-scale conflicts had already occurred several times; the storm was gathering!

Second, according to an investigation conducted by imperial spies who risked their lives to go deep behind enemy lines:

Within the territory of the Chu Yun Empire, especially in the region controlled by its largest sect, the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect, traces of the "Nether Poison Fire," ranked twentieth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking, were suspected to have been discovered!

The Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect was keeping this matter highly confidential.

They were frantically searching in secret and had already strictly sealed off the relevant suspicious areas, making it difficult for outsiders to approach.

The Nether Poison Fire was a peculiar Heavenly Flame born in a land of extreme poisonous miasma.

Fused with endless nether energy, it was fiercely toxic and exceptionally treacherous.

"Armies pressing on the border... the Nether Poison Fire..."

Lin Chen slowly put down the jade slip, his fingertips tapping lightly against it, his eyes flashing with a bone-chilling coldness and a hint of keen interest.

Trouble always seemed to find its way to his doorstep on its own.

However, this Nether Poison Fire... was an unexpected delight.

For the Woe Poison Body of that girl Xiao Yi Xian, this kind of Heavenly Flame containing extreme toxicity was practically a tailor-made, excellent supplement and a medium for controlling poison; it might even help her completely master that power, or even turn it to her own use, promising a boundless future.

It seemed that this Chu Yun Empire and the Ten Thousand Scorpion Sect were places he would have to visit.

He raised his head.

His gaze swept over the curious-looking Zi Yan and Medusa, whose expression had already turned cold and sharp.

It seemed the peaceful days in the Inner Academy were about to come to a temporary end...