Awakening Medusa

"I sensed what Queen Medusa did at the very last moment, and later, I always felt a lingering trace of life within that remnant body. So, that was it—she forcibly stripped away her second soul!"

Yao Lao looked at the snake egg in the hands of the Snake-Person Tribe elder and spoke softly. This must be Queen Medusa's younger sister; what was her name again? Die?

"However, by doing this, she damaged her own soul, forcing it into a deep slumber. That is why she appears to be a newborn child now..."

Hearing Yao Lao's words, the elder looked at the Heaven-Swallowing Python's pure, crystal-clear eyes and had no choice but to accept the fact that this was Queen Medusa.

"Die!"

Hai Bodong stared at the snake egg, vaguely seeing Die's face emerge, but for now, he could only suppress the emotions surging within him.

"Master Qing Huo, could you, er, would you be able to... heh..."

The elder said, feeling somewhat awkward. Asking Master Qing Huo for another favor after they had only provided one Heavenly Flame made her feel a bit guilty.

"That is to say, could we please ask for your help in awakening Her Majesty the Queen?"

Queen Medusa was the spiritual leader and totem of faith for the Snake-Person Tribe. They could explain her absence for a short time under the guise of seclusion, but if it dragged on, a catastrophe would erupt within the tribe!

If they had to wait for the newborn Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python to reach adulthood, it would take decades or even a century. By then, the Snake-Person Tribe would likely have been reduced to ashes.

Yao Lao looked at Gu He. He did not have any medicinal pills on hand to repair souls or fuse two souls together. Although he possessed the pill formulas, it was highly unlikely they could gather the necessary ingredients. He could only hope that Gu He had the pills or other spiritual items.

"I have no immediate solution, but if there is a pill capable of repairing or fusing souls, there might be a chance."

"Fusing souls?"

Hearing Yao Lao's words, Gu He's eyes lit up. When it came to fusing souls, he actually had something that could help.

"Master Qing Huo, please take a look at this pill!"

"A Tier 6 pill?"

Yao Lao beckoned, and the jade bottle in Gu He's palm flew into his black robes. He then exclaimed in surprise.

"A Tier 6 pill—the Soul Fusion Pill! It has the effect of repairing soul damage and fusing the soul with the physical body!"

"This is a Tier 6 formula recorded by the Alchemist Guild. Since Fama, the guild president with the highest alchemy skill, is only a Tier 5 alchemist, they asked me to refine this pill. I kept one as payment, and it just so happens to be useful now!"

The Snake-Person elder was overjoyed upon hearing this and bowed to Gu He.

"Master Gu He's great kindness will never be forgotten by the Snake-Person Tribe. Should you ever have need of us, the Snake-Person Tribe will surely exert all our strength to assist you!"

Gu He merely returned the bow. He had brought out the Soul Fusion Pill to engage more with Yao Lao; he responded to the elder's gratitude only out of politeness, his gaze remaining fixed on the black-robed figure.

"A top-tier Tier 6 pill. When the pill was finished, the fire should have been dispersed rather than contained; there are slight flaws, and the luster did not reach its peak..."

Yao Lao understood Gu He's intent and offered a soft critique. This pill must have been refined when Gu He was still a mid-tier Tier 6 alchemist; it was already quite impressive.

Hearing Yao Lao point out the issues from his refining process as if he had seen it with his own eyes, Gu He was overjoyed. He believed that as long as he could exchange more alchemy knowledge with Yao Lao, it wouldn't be long before he reached the level of a Tier 7 alchemist!

"By the way, did the ancestors of the Snake-Person Tribe not leave behind any secret techniques or secret medicines? They couldn't have failed to consider the possibility of soul damage, could they?"

Yao Lao asked. Even if none of the snake ancestors had successfully evolved, surely they would have prepared such restorative medicines for their descendants?

"Er, this..."

The Snake-Person elder stammered.

"There were secret medicines in the past, but over countless years, the medicinal efficacy has faded, and they were exhausted by successive Queens. As for secret techniques, only the Queens could practice them, and we only possess a few auxiliary methods."

Very well. Yao Lao had not expected the current foundation of the Snake-Person Tribe to be so thin, but it was better than nothing.

"Then you shall assist from the side with your auxiliary methods. And Gu He, oh, right, Yun Zimo, you come over as well."

Yao Lao suddenly remembered that after Yun Zimo broke through to the Dou Emperor realm, his soul realm had risen accordingly to the mid-stage of the Mortal Realm, which might just be helpful.

"Master Qing Huo, Master Gu He."

Yun Zimo, who had been idling on the sidelines unable to help, bowed. He had been bored to death and was finally glad to be of use.

"You possess soul-based techniques?"

Yao Lao asked, having seen Yun Zimo use soul sound to suppress the snake people earlier.

"I know a little bit."

Yun Zimo didn't know what level he was at, so he simply released his soul power and condensed it into a sword light, slashing it outward.

Yao Lao was slightly stunned. To condense a soul sword so easily, and with such considerable power—he called this "a little bit"?

"Very well. Later, try to see if you can use your soul sword to cut open the soul sea that Medusa has sealed."

Yao Lao's soul power was too strong, and Gu He's was too gentle. Yun Zimo's sword soul was not overwhelmingly powerful but was sharp enough; it should be able to carve an opening to introduce the medicinal power of the Soul Fusion Pill.

"Everyone, please withdraw for now!"

Yao Lao shouted. The Snake-Person elder bowed and led the others out of the underground chamber. A moment later, only the three of them remained. Even Xiao Yan, who wanted to stay and observe the soul techniques, was picked up by the Great Elder of the Snake-People and carried away.

"If Medusa's soul can wake up temporarily, we won't need to intervene. She can just take the Soul Fusion Pill and cultivate herself."

Yao Lao muttered, and a wisp of Bone Chilling Flame drifted out, flying into the ball of soul light.

The little snake retreated in fear, its eyes filled with terror and an inexplicable chill.

"Don't be afraid. The Bone Chilling Flame is born from spirit; it is best suited for probing the condition of a soul."

Yao Lao comforted it casually, not caring if the little snake understood. Threads of fire wound around the little snake, slipping into its body through the gaps in its scales and mouth, only to flash back out in the blink of an eye.

"Queen Medusa's soul has fallen into a deep slumber; only the newborn Heaven-Swallowing Python's soul remains active."

"You are to open the rift. Once Gu He dissolves the medicinal pill, I will use the Bone Chilling Flame to stimulate its maximum potency, and you must use your sword intent to channel the pill's power into Medusa's soul sea."

After Yao Lao gave his instructions, he coordinated with Gu He to dissolve the Soul Fusion Pill, offering occasional pointers that left Gu He feeling enlightened.

"Little one, do not be afraid."

Yun Zimo first produced a vial of Earth Flame Marrow, dripping a few drops into the Heaven-Swallowing Python's mouth. After it let out a hiss of comfort, his palm filled with white mist to numb the python's senses. He then carefully pressed a soul-blade, compressed to its absolute limit, against the snake's head and slowly pierced it inward, sensing for the location of the soul sea.

"Found it!"

After a long while, Yun Zimo's spirit surged. Through the barrier of the soul sea, he vaguely caught sight of Queen Medusa coiled within, her eyes closed as she held a hand seal.

"Master Qing Huo, Master Gu He, I am beginning!"

Yun Zimo spoke softly. The white mist thickened, causing the Heaven-Swallowing Python to grow drowsy, and the small blade gently pierced the soul barrier.

"It's no use; an ordinary soul blade cannot break through!"

Yun Zimo frowned, then hardened his heart and split a cyan-white blade from his soul source—a shard derived from the sword embryo he had forged using his own soul essence and lifeblood.

"Crack!"

A tiny fissure appeared on the Heaven-Swallowing Python's soul barrier. Seeing this, Yao Lao channeled the full power of the Soul Fusion Pill to Yun Zimo, who guided it through the source-blade, threading it into Medusa's soul sea.

The slumbering soul of Medusa sensed the intrusion and instinctively tried to repel it, but upon contact, it began to absorb the energy unconsciously. Realizing this substance was highly nourishing, the soul suddenly erupted with immense suction.

"Not good!"

Caught off guard, Yun Zimo hurriedly severed the soul connection, but the source-blade and a portion of his soul power were completely swallowed into Medusa's soul sea! The abrupt severance left him dizzy and momentarily disoriented.

The next instant, a soul-tearing agony flooded his mind. Yun Zimo's face turned pale, and he quickly took a medicinal pill, closing his eyes to regulate his breathing.

A blinding purple light erupted from the body of the Heaven-Swallowing Python, and a phantom of the python, dozens of feet in size, spanned the void. As the light gradually dissipated, a naked jade-like body appeared before the three men. Yun Zimo, having just finished regulating his breath, locked eyes with Medusa, who had just opened hers.

With the benevolent heart of healers, Yao Lao and Gu He remained calm; as alchemists, there was no type of woman they had not seen, and to them, it made no difference. However, to avoid impropriety, they had turned their backs before the light faded.

Yun Zimo, after locking eyes with Medusa, gave a light cough and turned his head away, pretending to be composed while chanting in his heart, Do not look at what is improper, do not look at what is improper. Yet, that fleeting glimpse had left a deep impression.

"..."

A rosy flush appeared on Medusa's cheeks before she instantly returned to her cold, aloof expression. With a flash of light, she was dressed in her robes.

Abominable, what does this brat take me for? A pet?

After receiving the naive thoughts and memories of the Heaven-Swallowing Python and recalling Yun Zimo's blushing face, Medusa felt a strange mix of agitation and shame. She then donned a soft veil and spoke with a calm, unruffled demeanor.

"My thanks to the three of you!"