Seven-Colored Raw Stone, Yellow Springs Blood Essence

"Human, have you seen enough?"

A lazy voice, carrying traces of seductive allure, slowly rang out.

At the sound, Xiao Chen walked out with a helpless expression, then somewhat disappointedly glanced at the jade hand resting on the buttons of the brocade robe.

"Human, you've got quite some nerve!"

Under Xiao Chen's regretful gaze, Medusa withdrew her jade hand with a half-smile.

Facing a Dou Zong expert who was clearly coveting her beauty, Medusa remained so calm that Xiao Chen had to give her a silent thumbs-up.

"Human, speak! What is your purpose?"

Xiao Chen's eyes appeared blazing with desire, yet Medusa could not see the lewdness and disrespect other men showed when looking at her.

"Didn't I say so already? I came to see what Your Majesty the Queen truly looked like. Now it seems the rumors were not false, and my trip was not in vain."

Xiao Chen smiled.

"Is that so?"

Medusa Queen's delicate brows knit slightly. Clearly, she did not believe him.

But she truly had no way to force a Dou Zong expert.

After all, she was only at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm. Even if she went all out, she could only barely contend with a Dou Zong expert for a while. Given enough time, she would still lose.

But with a Dou Zong expert nearby, she absolutely could not evolve with peace of mind.

Yet unless she was willing to sacrifice half the Snake People Clan, it was simply impossible to keep a Dou Zong behind.

Moreover, if a Dou Zong was determined to leave, even mobilizing the entire clan might not be enough to hold them.

Otherwise, Medusa would not have spoken to Xiao Chen with such a pleasant manner.

If it had been Gu He and the others, she would have long since swung her tail and attacked.

But even if Xiao Chen left on his own now, she would not rashly evolve anytime soon.

Because she could not be sure whether he had truly left. She did not dare take that risk, nor could she afford to gamble.

"I see that your companion soul should be the soul of a sixth-rank Demon Beast, the Purple Nether Flame Snake. I've heard that this kind of Purple Nether Flame Snake seems to carry a trace of Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python bloodline. If its fortune is sufficient, it can awaken that faint bloodline and evolve into a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python. And as far as I know, the so-called evolution of your Medusa lineage is actually shedding the original shell and using soul power to condense an entirely new body. Or rather, using this method to awaken the ancient bloodline in the companion soul. This greatly increases your potential, allowing you to step into the realm of Dou Zong, even Dou Venerate and Dou Saint."

Just as Xiao Chen was speaking eloquently and showing off his knowledge, Medusa Queen's lovely face completely darkened.

What he had spoken of was an absolute secret of the Medusa lineage, known only to the successive Medusa Queens.

"Who exactly are you?"

Suppressing the surging killing intent in her heart, Medusa gritted her silver teeth and demanded an answer.

If she had not been unable to see through Xiao Chen's true strength, Medusa likely would have already made a move to kill him and silence him.

"Don't get worked up. I was just saying it casually."

Xiao Chen was so startled that he immediately took a step back and waved his hand.

"I came here to give you two things. As for the condition, I need the Green Lotus Core Flame and one promise."

"What things?"

"You'll know once you see them."

Xiao Chen said no more. He merely took out two jade boxes from his Storage Ring and opened them.

A blood-red crystal about the size of a fist entered Medusa Queen's sight. Within it, it seemed as though endless blood was flowing, making it look especially strange.

The other jade box contained a seven-colored stone about half the size of a fist. Its surface bore seven extremely distinct lines, and a peculiar energy faintly spread from within it.

"Seven-Colored Raw Stone!"

"Yellow Springs Blood Essence!"

"Who exactly are you? What is your true purpose?"

Whether it was the Yellow Springs Blood Essence or the Seven-Colored Raw Stone, both had an immense connection to the Medusa royal lineage of the Snake People Clan.

Yellow Springs Blood Essence—a single piece could only be formed after a thousand years in the Nine Nether Yellow Spring, the sacred pool of the Nine Nether Underworld Python clan.

For snake-type Demon Beasts and experts cultivating cold yin techniques, it was an invaluable treasure. It could cleanse the meridians and marrow, reshape one's foundation, increase cultivation, break through bottlenecks, and possessed all manner of unbelievable effects.

It was a treasure that could greatly benefit even Dou Saint experts.

As for the Seven-Colored Raw Stone, it was a mutated special spirit stone with considerable ties to the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python. It was said that such Seven-Colored Raw Stones only had a chance of appearing where a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python had fallen. After absorbing the blood of a Sky Swallowing Python, the stone would produce an exceptionally unique energy. For a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, that energy was a true tonic.

At the same time, if a Demon Beast with the bloodline of a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python obtained one and refined the bloodline power within, it would likewise have a chance to evolve into a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python.

To put it bluntly, if the chance of evolving with the power of a Heavenly Flame was one percent, then Medusa's chance of evolving after refining the Seven-Colored Raw Stone would be more than fifty percent.

Not to mention the Yellow Springs Blood Essence, a priceless treasure that would tempt even Dou Saint experts.

With these two items plus a Heavenly Flame, if she still could not evolve successfully, Medusa would be too ashamed to remain alive.

"Are you trying to pursue This King?"

After a long while, Medusa finally recovered from her shock and spoke with a complicated expression.

Once those words left her mouth, a captivating blush unexpectedly appeared on Medusa's exquisite face, beautiful enough to enchant all living beings.

It was so lovely that even Xiao Chen lost focus for a moment.

She could not be blamed for overthinking it. The two things Xiao Chen had brought out left her no choice but to think in that direction.

After all, even if the entire Snake People Clan were sold, it might not be worth as much as either the Seven-Colored Raw Stone or the Yellow Springs Blood Essence.

"Uh, I suppose you could say that."

Hearing this, Xiao Chen's mouth twitched, his eyes full of astonishment. He truly had not expected Medusa to say something like that.

In truth, Xiao Chen had always liked Medusa quite a bit.

Seductive, noble, and blessed with beauty that could topple a nation—she almost perfectly matched every fantasy he had of a partner.

"Human, no, Chen Xiao. Your heart... no, This King appreciates your kindness. But This King has no interest in matters between men and women, so This King can only apologize for your feelings."

Medusa reluctantly pulled her narrow, beautiful eyes away from the jade boxes in Xiao Chen's hands, a trace of apology appearing on her lovely face.

It was difficult to imagine that if Gu He and the others witnessed this scene, their eyes would surely pop out in shock.

The Medusa Queen, whose fierce reputation intimidated several surrounding empires, was actually speaking to someone in such a gentle tone—and even apologizing.

That was even more unbelievable than the sun rising in the west.

"Fine, then. But these two things are useless to me, so I'll leave them with you. Whether you use them is up to you. Still, after you evolve successfully, remember to send the Green Lotus Core Flame to the Xiao Family in Salt City."

"And this is a Spirit Fusion Pill. It should help you somewhat after your evolution."

"Oh, and during this period, the Xiao Family will be building something in the Tagor Desert. Give the order not to let your clansmen disturb them. Otherwise, neither side will look good."

"Fine. This King can agree to that."

"Then that's it. I'll be going first. Take care of yourself."

"What a terrifying woman."

After fleeing the territory of the Snake People Clan as if for his life, Xiao Chen wiped away sweat that did not exist from his forehead.

Both the Yellow Springs Blood Essence and the Seven-Colored Raw Stone were system rewards, and neither had any use for him.

He might as well do her a favor and see just how far Medusa could grow after obtaining those two items.

In truth, Xiao Chen was not doing this because he had been bewitched by beauty and intended to become a simp.

Rather, with Medusa's talent after evolving, combined with his assistance—

Perhaps she would become a major help in dealing with the Soul Clan in the future.

Given Medusa's pride, he believed that as long as he asked in the future, there would be no possibility of her refusing.

"Next stop, Qingshan Town. It's time to meet that poor little girl."

Before his words had faded, Xiao Chen suddenly turned his head and looked toward the direction of the Snake People Divine City he had just left.

There, a roar somewhat like a lion's and somewhat like a tiger's resounded through the skies.

At that moment, Xiao Chen could see a massive Purple Snake completely wrapped in Heavenly Flames, frantically rolling its enormous body.

The scales on its body were burned black by the Heavenly Flames and fell weakly from the Purple Snake's body.

After the snake scales fell away, crimson blood gushed out. Yet the instant it appeared, it was burned into nothingness by the terrifying heat of the Heavenly Flames, leaving behind streak after streak of eye-catching bloody marks on the Purple Snake's body.

The next instant, Xiao Chen appeared above the Purple Snake, his face terrifyingly dark.

"What an Arrogant Snake."

Glancing at the Seven-Colored Raw Stone and Yellow Springs Blood Essence lying untouched on the ground, Xiao Chen could not help but curse.

With his strength, he could have ended this evolution without harming Medusa's foundation. He could even have sent the Seven-Colored Raw Stone and Yellow Springs Blood Essence into her body to give her a helping hand.

But when he saw the refusal in the massive Purple Snake's eyes, he had no choice but to abandon that thought.

As he hesitated over whether to intervene, the Purple Snake's enormous body had nearly stopped rolling. Its body, once covered in beautiful purple scales, was now charred black. The several-zhang-long body had been burned down to only two or three zhang.

It was difficult to imagine how many bones and how much blood had been burned away by the Heavenly Flames within that body.

Outside the purple light barrier, more and more Snake People stood atop the surrounding rooftops, staring blankly at the endlessly churning purple flames.

At a certain moment, a mournful hiss resounded throughout the entire city.

Immediately, an atmosphere of sorrow enveloped this most sacred city of the Snake People Clan.

Within the green flames, Medusa Queen's body lay motionless.

She allowed the Green Lotus Core Flame to continuously burn her body as a faint smell of scorched flesh slowly drifted out.

"Was it worth it?"

Xiao Chen gave a bitter smile, then looked up at the sky.

At this moment, the clear sky suddenly darkened considerably. Clusters of dark clouds from nowhere slowly covered the heavens. This sudden change left everyone staring at the strange sight in the sky in bewilderment, their faces filled with confusion.

"Boom!" A thunderous roar suddenly came from within the dark clouds. Silver lightning darted wildly through them like silver serpents.