Within the Snake-People Holy Temple, the altar had already been reduced to ruins. Broken walls cast shattered shadows in the gloom. The air seemed to have been solidified by some invisible force, as heavy as lead, pressing down on everyone until they could barely breathe. A suffocating feeling swept over them like a tide.
The burning green flames flowed slowly around Queen Medusa, like a nimble serpent of fire. Then they gradually drew together, finally transforming into a long, iridescent flame gown. It seemed woven from clouds glowing at the edge of the sky, infused with the heat and grace of fire. It fit her breathtaking new body, transformed by evolution, perfectly; every line radiated deadly allure and boundless majesty. The violet eyes, flecked with dancing green flames, were like two cold searchlights. Piercing the drifting smoke and turbulent currents of energy, they fixed upon Xiao Zhan, slumped against a shattered wall at the edge of the ruins, his aura feeble.
Her gaze held an overwhelming fury, like a volcano on the verge of eruption, ready to devour everything at any moment. It also carried a chilling scrutiny, like a bitter winter wind that made one shiver. And beneath it lay a strange tremor, one born deep in her bloodline, like a mysterious string plucked softly without warning.
"Dou Zong..." Queen Medusa's voice rang out, still cool and clear, like a frigid note from the depths of the underworld. Yet it carried a chill that seemed capable of freezing the soul, echoing through the temple, where silence was so complete you could hear a pin drop. "You've hidden yourself well, human."
She lightly touched the air with her jade foot and vanished like a ghost, appearing a few dozen feet in front of Xiao Zhan in an instant. An invisible pressure crashed down like a mountain weighing billions of tons, sweeping over him with the force of an avalanche. Xiao Zhan, grievously wounded, felt his chest tighten as though an unseen mountain had slammed down on him. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth again, and even breathing became an ordeal. Every breath felt like walking across the edge of a blade. He had just blocked Protector Wu's lethal strike, exhausting every last bit of his strength. Now, facing Queen Medusa, whose aura had grown even stronger after her evolution and who seemed almost divine, he was nearly powerless to resist, like a candle guttering in the wind, ready to go out at any moment.
Yue Mei, the three wounded Dou Wang elders, and the Snake-People warriors who had just driven back two Soul Hall Dou Emperors—Protector Wu had fled like a beaten dog when the situation turned against him—all held their breath, not daring to make a sound as they gazed at their queen in awe. Their eyes brimmed with fear and reverence, as though they stood before a god who could not be defied. Not one dared take a step forward, afraid that the slightest misstep would bring disaster upon them.
"Speak!" Queen Medusa's voice suddenly rose, exploding beside everyone's ears like a clap of thunder. It carried unquestionable authority. "Who are you, exactly? Why did you sneak into my temple? What are you plotting? That dragon's roar that shook the soul, that mysterious bloodline... Where did they come from?!"
Each question struck Xiao Zhan's heart like a hammer weighing a thousand jun, so forcefully that his heartbeat faltered. He forced his trembling body upright and slowly raised his head, meeting those violet-and-green eyes that seemed capable of seeing through every secret in the world. Their gaze was deep and mysterious, like the brightest stars in the night sky, yet it carried a bone-deep chill. Xiao Zhan's voice was hoarse, but his words were unmistakably clear. "I am Xiao Zhan, clan leader of the Xiao Family of Wutan City. I entered the temple to warn you all of Soul Hall's plot. My intentions are plain for all to see, and Heaven and Earth can bear witness!"
He paused, then took a deep breath and continued. "As for this bloodline... An ancestor once had a fortuitous encounter and, by chance, managed to fuse with a trace of the Ancient Heaven Phoenix's blood essence. Ages have passed through countless generations, and now only this wisp remains within me."
"Heavenly Phoenix..." The green flames in Queen Medusa's violet pupils flickered faintly, like two mysterious stars. She slowly raised a flawless jade hand. It was as warm and smooth as fine white jade, yet brimmed with boundless power. A wisp of green Heavenly Flame energy slipped from her fingertip like a nimble serpent, radiating enough heat to incinerate all things as it slowly reached toward Xiao Zhan's brow. The air warped and twisted in its wake, sizzling.
"Your Majesty, no!" Yue Mei cried out in alarm, her voice full of fear and urgency. Thinking the queen was about to kill him, she couldn't help worrying for Xiao Zhan.
Yet the wisp of green flame did not attack, as she had feared. It stopped abruptly less than an inch from Xiao Zhan's brow, hovering there like a precision probe as it carefully sensed the lingering Dragon Phoenix aura within him. The aura was faint but tenacious, like a candle flickering in the wind that refused to go out. At the same time, it sensed the faint fluctuations of the Dragon Phoenix Tyrant Body Art, which continued to circulate stubbornly despite having been scorched by the Heavenly Flame Origin. Those fluctuations played through the air like a mysterious melody.
"Supremely yang and unyielding... transcending all living things... There is indeed a trace of the Heavenly Phoenix Origin..." Queen Medusa murmured. Her voice was soft, yet carried unquestionable authority. The scrutiny and killing intent in her eyes strangely ebbed, replaced by a complex, inscrutable curiosity. It was as though a door to a mysterious world had opened before her. "The aura is so faint it's almost impossible to detect, yet its essence is extraordinarily high..."
"And this cultivation art..." Her eyes narrowed slightly, glinting with intelligence. "It can actually resonate with the power of Heavenly Flames, however faintly?"
With that, she gently withdrew the Heavenly Flame from her fingertip. Her examination had confirmed two things. First, although the bloodline aura within Xiao Zhan was as faint as a thread, it truly originated from the mysterious and powerful Ancient Heaven Phoenix. It also held a subtle attraction to her Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python bloodline, like two magnets answering one another in the dark—or, perhaps, her bloodline yearned to devour this higher-grade energy and evolve. Second, the cultivation art Xiao Zhan practiced seemed specially suited to the power of Heavenly Flames, like a specially crafted key capable of opening the mysterious door to their power.
"You protected the altar, exposing the strength you'd hidden for so long and taking a full-power strike from a Dou Zong expert head-on. Now you're grievously wounded, your aura feeble." Queen Medusa's voice gradually returned to its usual coolness, like a stream winding through the mountains. There was still a trace of chill, but less of the earlier aggression and more calm.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan felt a slight easing in his heart. His taut nerves relaxed a little, like a bowstring no longer drawn to the breaking point. He knew the most dangerous moment had, for now, passed.
"But!" Queen Medusa abruptly changed her tone. Her violet eyes sharpened like swords, as if they could pierce the soul. "Your crime of trespassing in my temple cannot simply be forgiven! Soul Hall's threat still hangs over us like a dark cloud, and I've only just completed my evolution. My power has yet to fully stabilize; its foundations are as unsteady as those of a great building, and must be strengthened..."
Her gaze fell on Xiao Zhan like something tangible, carrying an authority no one could question, as though an invisible mountain weighed on his heart. "I need the power of your bloodline to help me fully stabilize the Fused Heavenly Flame and break through to an even higher realm!"
Xiao Zhan's heart tightened as though pricked by a cold glint. He frowned slightly and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty means..."
"I want you to give up a wisp of blood essence containing the Heavenly Phoenix Origin!" Queen Medusa stated bluntly, making no attempt to hide her intent. She opened her jade hand, and a strange sigil formed from green flames slowly revolved in her palm like a mysterious star, radiating a cold, enigmatic light. "We'll use it as a guide to forge a Bloodline Pact! You'll provide your blood essence to help me stabilize my foundation, and in return, I'll grant you the position of Snake-People Tribe guest elder, protect your Xiao Family, and promise to act on your behalf once!"
A Bloodline Pact! It used blood essence to forge a bond beyond the ordinary! It was like handing over part of one's own origin to another, and the risks involved were immense. The slightest mistake could damage one's very foundations. Yet Queen Medusa's terms were truly tempting—the status of guest elder meant considerable influence among the Snake-People Tribe; the protection of a peak expert was like an unbreakable shield held over the Xiao Family; and her promise to act once might become the key to turning the tide at a crucial moment!
Xiao Zhan weighed the pros and cons at lightning speed, feeling his way forward in the dark, each step demanding the utmost caution. Refuse? He was grievously wounded and in terrible condition. Against Queen Medusa, whose strength had surged and whose killing intent had yet to fade, he stood no chance—it would be like throwing an egg against a rock, courting his own destruction. Agree? He would lose a wisp of his bloodline essence, though with his mysterious system, perhaps it could be replenished. In return, he would gain the protection and promise of a future Dou Zong, perhaps even a Dou Zun, completely resolve the crisis he was already in, and perhaps forge a deeper bond with her... Given the circumstances, this was undoubtedly his best option!
"Very well!" Xiao Zhan's eyes shone, and a flash of resolve appeared in them. His expression was like that of a man marching without hesitation onto the battlefield. "I, Xiao Zhan, am willing to forge this pact with Your Majesty!"
A trace of satisfaction, almost impossible to detect, flickered in Queen Medusa's deep eyes like a shooting star. She curled her finger and flicked the mysterious green flame sigil. It shot toward Xiao Zhan like a streak of light and sank into his brow!
In an instant, a scorching, domineering energy surged into the depths of Xiao Zhan's soul like a rising tide, taking the form of a blazing green flame brand that seemed poised to etch itself into his soul forever. At the same time, Xiao Zhan bit his tongue without hesitation, spraying a mouthful of crimson blood essence speckled with faint golden light—the gleam of Dragon Phoenix aura. He flicked his finger, and the blood essence became a vivid red thread, coiling like a nimble dragon as it flowed into the flame sigil in Queen Medusa's palm!
Buzz—!
A clear, thunderous hum rang out. The sigil blazed with light, like a scorching sun pouring out endless radiance. Then the sigil split in two! Half became a green flame mark, branded deep within Xiao Zhan's soul and bound tightly to it. The other half became a pale golden phoenix pattern that gracefully sank into Queen Medusa's snow-white brow, vanishing in a flash as though it had never been there.
The Bloodline Pact was complete!
A strange, mysterious connection instantly formed between them, like an invisible thread binding their fates together. Xiao Zhan could faintly sense the vast, surging power within Queen Medusa, like an endless sea. It carried both the fury and heat of Heavenly Flames and boundless majesty and mystery. He could also sense a trace of yearning for his bloodline essence, dim and distant, yet undeniably real. Queen Medusa, meanwhile, clearly sensed the faint but immensely noble Dragon Phoenix aura within Xiao Zhan, like an ancient summons imbued with mysterious power. Even more astonishing to her was his powerful soul, far surpassing what his apparent cultivation suggested, like a deep night sky concealing endless mysteries. Surprise flashed through her violet eyes once more, as though she had glimpsed an entirely new world.
"The pact is complete." Queen Medusa slowly reined in her aura, and the terrifying pressure ebbed away like a tide. Her gaze upon Xiao Zhan held less killing intent than before and more scrutiny, as if she were seeing this man anew. There was also something hard to describe in it, like tangled threads that were impossible to unravel.
"Your injuries are severe. Rest in the temple first. Yue Mei, take Elder Xiao to the 'Jade Fire Cold Pool' and help him recover."
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Yue Mei answered quickly, her gaze filled with surprise and awe. Guest elder! This was a prestigious title the Snake-People Tribe had never before granted to an outsider, and now it had gone to this human. How could she not be shocked and awed?
Xiao Zhan let out a breath of relief, as though a heavy stone had finally fallen from his heart. He understood that this ordeal was well and truly over. Forcing his unsteady body upright, he struggled to his feet and respectfully cupped his hands toward Queen Medusa. His voice was weak, but entirely sincere. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Queen Medusa no longer looked at him. Instead, she turned toward the direction in which Protector Wu had fled. Green flames danced in her eyes like lively sprites, and her killing intent was bone-chilling, as if it could freeze the air itself. "Soul Hall... If I don't avenge this grudge, I'll no longer be worthy of being a Snake-Person!" With that, she flickered like a ghost, transforming into a brilliant stream of green light and vanishing into the depths of the temple. She had clearly gone to stabilize her newly advanced realm and hunt down the fleeing Protector Wu.
With Yue Mei carefully supporting him, Xiao Zhan slowly made his way toward the so-called "Jade Fire Cold Pool," his heart churning like a rising tide. The Bloodline Pact... Queen Medusa... Things that had seemed entirely unrelated were now being pulled by an invisible hand toward a future he had neither expected nor could control.
Deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a hidden cave lay concealed. Inside, the bonfire crackled, its dancing flames struggling to drive away the cave's bone-deep chill. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged, his face still pale as winter's last snow, but his breathing was much steadier than before, like a calm lake. Yao Lao's illusory figure quietly stood guard beside him, his expression heavy as the sky before a storm.
Xiao Yi Xian curled up in a corner some distance from the fire, like a wounded little beast left to lick her wounds alone. She hugged her knees and buried her face in them, shoulders trembling as though she were weeping silently. The cave was filled with a silence so oppressive it seemed to freeze the air.
"Teacher... Xiao Yi Xian..." Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, worry filling them as his gaze drifted toward the thin, lonely figure in the corner.
Yao Lao sighed softly, his breath heavy with helplessness. "The Woe Poison Body has been fully activated, and the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture has fused with her soul... The poison within her has formed a cycle and is growing wildly every moment. She's a walking source of poison now. Anyone who approaches her could be poisoned with the slightest mistake. She's afraid—afraid she'll hurt you, and even more afraid she'll become a monster and lose herself completely."
Xiao Yan felt as though a thousand-jun stone had settled on his heart, weighing on him until he could barely breathe. He struggled to his feet with all his strength, ignoring Yao Lao's earnest attempts to stop him, and staggered toward Xiao Yi Xian one determined step at a time.
"D-don't... don't come any closer!" Xiao Yi Xian sensed him approaching. Her body jerked like a startled fawn, and her tearful voice echoed through the silent cave. It brimmed with fear and despair, like a lonely cry from someone struggling in the dark. "I'll kill you... Stay away from me..."
Xiao Yan stopped three steps away. His gaze was like a scorching flame as he stared steadily at her trembling back. His voice was soft but firm. "Xiao Yi Xian, look at me."
Her body instantly stiffened, as though she had been struck by a spell. After a long moment, she slowly lifted her head like a flower battered by wind and rain. Tear tracks webbed her once-fair, delicate face, now deathly pale. Her eyes, once clear as spring water, as though they held a sea of stars, were now filled with darkness and death, like a sky hidden beneath storm clouds. Tiny gray-white vortices slowly spun deep in her pupils, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction, as though they called from the abyss.
"Do you see?" Xiao Yi Xian's voice was as hoarse as rusted iron scraping against iron. Every word carried endless pain and despair. "This is who I am now... A monster..."
"You're not a monster!" Xiao Yan cut in without the slightest hesitation, his words as firm as nails driven into wood. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable force, like a ray of dawn in the darkness. "You're Xiao Yi Xian! The girl who carefully bandaged my wounds at the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion, the one whose eyes were as clean as spring water, so clear they could reflect a person's heart!"
Xiao Yi Xian's tears surged anew like a broken dam. She shook her head desperately, her hair whipping wildly through the air as though she were fighting against fate. "It's not the same... Nothing is the same anymore... I can't control it... That power... It's like a ferocious beast, trying to devour everything..."
"Then learn to control it!" Xiao Yan stepped forward resolutely, his gaze burning as he stared into her eyes, as if trying to fill her with strength. "Your teacher, the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture, has already given you a way to control it! Teacher Yao Lao said there may still be a solution! Power itself isn't good or evil. It's like a double-edged sword; what matters is the person wielding it!"
He suddenly raised his hand and pointed straight at himself, determination filling his eyes. "Take a good look at me! The Flame Mantra I cultivate has to devour Heavenly Flames! Do you know what Heavenly Flames are? They're the most violent, most destructive power between Heaven and Earth! The slightest mistake, and I'll be reduced to ashes, damned for all eternity! How could I not be afraid? But what I fear even more is not having the strength to protect the people I want to protect and accomplish what I must!"
Xiao Yan's voice echoed through the quiet cave. Every word was filled with a young man's passion and unshakable conviction. "Xiao Yi Xian! Running away has never solved anything! We'll face this together! I'll do everything I can to find a way for you to control your poison body, and search for hope of curing the Woe Poison Body! And you—help me become stronger. We'll live on together! We'll leave this mountain and venture out into a broader, more wondrous world! Do you really want to hide forever in this dark corner, swallowed bit by bit by fear?!"
"I..." Xiao Yi Xian stared at Xiao Yan, her gaze fixed on the blazing warmth in his eyes and the trust he offered without reservation. His words struck like a heavy hammer, smashing the thick layer of ice around her heart. Was that really what she wanted? Did she truly want to spend forever as a monster controlled by fear and despised by others?
A faint but precious light quietly rekindled deep in her once-dull eyes. She slowly lifted her head, her gaze falling on the hand Xiao Yan held out to her. It stayed steadily suspended in the air, without the slightest hesitation or fear, like a sturdy harbor she could rely on.
"C-can I trust you?" Her voice trembled like a candle flickering in the wind.
"As long as you don't give up on yourself, I, Xiao Yan, will always be a friend you can trust and rely on!" His hand remained firmly outstretched, without a hint of wavering.
Inside the cave, the bonfire's glow danced across their faces, as though cheering their courage and resolve. Xiao Yi Xian looked into the young man's sincere, steadfast eyes and at the warm hand he offered. The endless cold and despair in her heart seemed to be driven away, little by little, by the blazing bonfire. Trembling, she slowly placed her icy hand into Xiao Yan's warm palm, as though grasping the last thread of hope in her life.
"Ding!" A clear system notification rang out in the void. "Xiao Yi Xian's favorability toward Xiao Yan has increased by 20 points. Current favorability: 55/100 (trust and reliance forged through sharing hardship have been achieved). The system has detected a key fated event—the 'Woe Poison Body Symbiosis Contract' has been initially established. Host Xiao Zhan (associated person) has received a special reward: Detoxification Spirit Bead (This is a Heaven Rank Low Grade magical treasure. It can gradually purify the wearer's toxins and strongly suppress poison backlash. It has a significant mitigating effect on the Woe Poison Body)."
(At that moment, Xiao Zhan, who was deep in meditation as he healed at the Snake-People Tribe's Jade Fire Cold Pool, suddenly received a system notification in his sea of consciousness. The illusory image of a spirit bead, emerald green and radiating a gentle, life-filled glow, slowly took shape in the system space, as though it contained endless vitality and hope.)
Green Mountain Town, the back courtyard of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion.
Manager Yao paced back and forth like an ant on a hot pan. His steps were hurried and chaotic, and his face was etched with fear and anxiety as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
"It's over... It's all over... That brat Xiao Yan and Xiao Yi Xian... They've caused a disaster of unimaginable proportions... Mu Li is dead! Most of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's elite are dead or wounded! That madman Mu She is bound to go completely berserk..." He kept muttering, his eyes filled with despair.
"And that Xiao Yan..." Whenever Manager Yao recalled the terrifying explosion on the cliff, like divine punishment descending from the heavens, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, as though the blast were still ringing in his ears. "That wasn't power any human could wield! There must be a terrifyingly powerful expert backing him! Will the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion be dragged into this and wiped out?"
Just then, a trusted shop assistant rushed inside in a panic, gasping for breath. "Manager! This is bad! The Wolf Head Mercenary Group has sealed off the entire town! Their leader, Mu She, is personally leading his men here to the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion, murderous as can be!"
The sudden news made Manager Yao's legs go weak. He swayed like a leaf in the wind, nearly collapsing to the ground in utter disarray.
"Quick! Leave through the back door! Go to the Mittel Auction House and find Miss Ya Fei! Right now, only the Mittel Auction House can shelter us!" It was as if Manager Yao had seized a lifeline in the dark, and hope flared in his eyes. He scrambled out, stumbling in his haste, and dashed toward the back door of the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion with his trusted shop assistant.
Inside a secret chamber on the top floor of the Mittel Auction House.
Ya Fei lounged lazily in a soft chair, her graceful figure like a dazzling rose blooming in the dark of night. She gently toyed with a delicate communication jade slip in her hand. A moment earlier, it had displayed an encrypted message from the imperial capital, its flickering light seeming to whisper of secrets. Master Gu Ni stood respectfully to one side, his expression solemn.
"That old Teng Shan really won't give up easily." Ya Fei parted her red lips, a mocking smile curling them. It was as chilling as a cold night wind. "He actually went around me and contacted the Misty Cloud Sect directly, hoping to use them to investigate Xiao Zhan? Hmph. A clever little scheme."
Master Gu Ni's expression changed at once, astonishment filling his eyes. "The Misty Cloud Sect? How could they..."
"Because of that broken engagement." A cold glint flashed in Ya Fei's eyes, as if it could pierce through every illusion. "Nalan Yanran is the Misty Cloud Sect's young sect master, and Xiao Yan is Xiao Zhan's son. The Three-Year Agreement... The astonishing potential the Xiao father and son have shown would be enough to make the Misty Cloud Sect feel deeply threatened and uneasy. Teng Shan wants to use someone else's blade to kill and kill two birds with one stone."
"Then what should we..." Master Gu Ni furrowed his brow slightly, worry showing in his eyes.
"There's no need to panic." Ya Fei gently set down the jade slip, her beautiful eyes gleaming with intelligence and composure like the brightest stars in the night sky. "The Misty Cloud Sect may have a long reach, but it can't extend into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, that mysterious land. Our priority is to find Xiao Zhan. Master Gu Ni, have the people we sent to the Magical Beast Mountain Range reported anything?"
"No definite news yet, Miss." Gu Ni gently shook his head, his expression grave. "However, an urgent report just arrived from Green Mountain Town. Mu She of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group has gone mad and ordered the entire town sealed off. His men are causing trouble all over the place, searching for the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. I hear this seems to have something to do with Young Master Xiao Yan."
"Xiao Yan?" Ya Fei's brows drew together slightly, then smoothed out like flowers opening and unfurling in spring. A meaningful smile curled her lips. "It seems the boy isn't one to sit quietly either. Send word to our people in Green Mountain Town. If necessary, they may 'help' the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion and muddy the waters completely. And also..."
A sharp glimmer suddenly lit her eyes, like a shooting star crossing the night sky. "Spread the word that the Mittel Auction House will soon hold a grand auction near Green Mountain Town, and its grand finale will be an Earth Tier Low Grade Dou Technique!"
"An Earth Tier Dou Technique?!" Master Gu Ni drew in a sharp breath, shock and doubt filling his eyes. "Miss, this..."
"Of course it's fake." Ya Fei winked slyly, her smile growing like that of a little fox who'd stolen a treat. "But the false rumor should be enough to lure out those greedy hyenas. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group? Let them fight like dogs with the other forces drawn in by the news. We'll muddy the waters of Green Mountain Town completely. That'll make it easier for us to find Xiao Zhan, and easier for... that boy to get away."
"Yes! Miss, this plan is truly brilliant!" Master Gu Ni exclaimed in heartfelt admiration, his eyes full of respect.
Ya Fei gazed quietly out the window, her eyes seeming to cross the barriers of space and settle deep in the distant, mysterious desert.
"Xiao Zhan... Whatever you're going through right now, I'll look after Wutan City and your outstanding son for you, for the time being. I only hope... you can return safely soon." She prayed silently, her gentle yet steadfast gaze seeming to cross mountains and rivers and reach Xiao Zhan's side.
Before you continue