Medusa the Queen

Snake-People Temple, inside a secret chamber.

Inside the chamber was a pool, filled with quite a few medicinal herbs.

At the center of the pool was the back of a voluptuous woman. She soaked in the water, her jade-like body bare, long hair clinging to her snowy-white, fragrant shoulders. Her smooth, flawless back was like a work of art.

She extended her smooth, tender little hand, scooping drops of medicinal liquid from the pool and dripping them onto her delicate, flawless skin.

Looking into the water, one could see a seductive purple snake tail beneath the surface. It swayed slightly, exuding a bewitching, primal beauty.

The only pity was that the alluring purple snake tail bore a burn wound. The scales there had fallen away, exposing the tender flesh underneath.

This woman was Medusa, Queen of the Snake-People Tribe. She had remained at the peak of the Dou Emperor realm for many years, unable to break through.

Once, she had accidentally discovered a secret technique within her tribe. Once a Snake-People Queen reached the peak of the Dou Emperor realm, she could use a Heavenly Flame to activate her bloodline and complete an evolution. Not only could she break through to the Dou Zong realm, but she might even awaken the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.

After the Snake-People Tribe searched far and wide, she had finally found traces of a Heavenly Flame and personally brought it back. In the process, she had accidentally been burned by it.

"This Heavenly Flame is truly terrifying. So many days have passed, yet it still hasn't healed." Medusa frowned deeply as she looked at the burn on her snake tail.

She had soaked in medicinal baths for several days. If it had been an ordinary injury, it would have healed long ago. Yet this burn was recovering extremely slowly, and the wound carried a burning sensation that suppressed her recovery.

Feeling the wound's recovery speed, Medusa knitted her beautiful brows. "It probably won't take a short time to fully recover."

By now, she had gathered nearly everything she needed, including the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, and had also found the Heavenly Flame. She only needed to restore herself to peak condition before attempting to evolve with the aid of the Heavenly Flame.

I hope nothing happens during this time. Medusa thought. The Snake-People Tribe was currently weak, while the surrounding empires watched them like tigers eyeing prey. She was injured as well. If something else happened now, things would truly become troublesome.

Yet what one feared often came to pass.

The moment that thought arose in Medusa's heart, she suddenly sensed a powerful aura appearing in Snake-People Holy City and rapidly approaching the temple.

"Not good!"

Medusa had no time to think. She swiftly rose, put on her clothes and crown, and formed wings of Dou Qi behind her. In an instant, she appeared outside the temple.

The moment she arrived outside the temple and saw who had come, Medusa's pupils contracted. Her body stiffened on the spot, her heart leaping into her throat.

"Walking through the air... a Dou Zong expert!"

"When did the Jia Ma Empire produce such a young Dou Zong expert?" Medusa had never seen such a young Dou Zong expert in her life. "Or did he come from outside the Jia Ma Empire?"

Medusa began to worry. She did not know whether the expert before her was friend or foe, nor what purpose he had in coming to the Snake-People Tribe.

"So this is Queen Medusa? Her looks truly are beyond reproach."

The first time Tang Chen saw Medusa's face, he could only describe it with one word: breathtaking!

In terms of appearance alone, Medusa was among the most stunning women Tang Chen had seen so far.

Her features were seductive and beautiful, while her brocade robe outlined her full, exquisite figure, brimming with mature charm. Beyond that, the regal, noble aura she had been born with added immensely to her allure.

Seeing Tang Chen appraise her without displaying any hostility, Medusa relaxed considerably.

She came before Tang Chen and the other person, slightly bowed to Tang Chen, and said, "I am Medusa, Queen of the Snake-People Tribe. May I ask why you two have come to our tribe today?"

"We're going to talk while standing here? Is this how your Snake-People Tribe treats its guests?"

As Tang Chen spoke, he released the terrifying aura of a Dou Zong expert.

"I was inconsiderate. Please, both of you, come in."

Medusa was startled by Tang Chen's sudden severity. Feeling that terrifying aura, she hurriedly lowered her stance further and invited Tang Chen and the other person into the Snake-People Temple.

"Damn it! That man actually dares to disrespect the Queen like this!" Mo Basi had admired Medusa for many years. Seeing his queen act so humbly before another man, he desperately wanted to rush forward and fight Tang Chen to the death.

"Mo Basi! Have you lost your mind? If even the Queen has to treat him seriously, how terrifying must his strength be? If you want to die, go die somewhere else. Don't drag the entire Snake-People Tribe down with you!" several other Snake-People commanders beside him stopped him.

Mo Basi had just been blinded by rage. After being held back, his mind cleared somewhat.

Thinking back, he felt lingering fear as well. If he had truly rushed up to fight Tang Chen to the death, the entire Snake-People Tribe might have been implicated by him.

Inside the Snake-People Temple.

After entering the temple, Medusa habitually walked to her throne and was just about to sit down.

Tang Chen's aura immediately locked onto her, making her stop at once.

"Please, have a seat."

Medusa felt utterly miserable. Since becoming queen, this was the first time she had felt so humiliated.

But for the sake of the Snake-People Tribe, and to avoid provoking Tang Chen, she still restrained her temper, yielded the throne to Tang Chen, and thoughtfully prepared a seat beside it for Qing Lin.

Tang Chen withdrew his aura, walked straight to Medusa's exclusive throne, and sat down on it without ceremony.

Seated on the throne, Tang Chen looked down at Medusa before him.

Tang Chen intended to win Medusa over as well, but he certainly could not treat her the way he had treated Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian. He needed to be more domineering.

For a proud woman like Medusa, he needed to use absolute strength to properly curb her arrogance.

Of course, there had to be limits. He would never use the entire Snake-People Tribe to threaten Medusa into submission.

What Tang Chen needed was a loyal helper, not a woman who harbored hatred toward him. That was not what he wanted.

Medusa felt somewhat uncomfortable under Tang Chen's scrutiny. She forced herself to ask, "My... my lord, can you tell me your purpose now?"

"I want the Green Lotus Core Flame," Tang Chen said calmly.

"This..." Medusa had roughly guessed Tang Chen's purpose in coming, but the Heavenly Flame was tied to whether she could break through to the Dou Zong realm, as well as the future of the Snake-People Tribe. She had finally found it after great difficulty and truly did not want to give it up.

"What? You don't want to hand it over?" Tang Chen's tone grew somewhat stern, and the air inside the hall began to heat up.

"N-no. It's just... could you lend me the Heavenly Flame for a few days first?" Medusa gritted her teeth and pleaded with Tang Chen.

She certainly could not keep the Heavenly Flame. Medusa could only ask Tang Chen whether she could borrow it for a while. It was almost laughable—she had found the Heavenly Flame herself, yet when she wanted to use it, she had to borrow it from Tang Chen.

But there was no helping it. Circumstances were stronger than people, and Tang Chen's strength made it impossible for her to face him with the bearing she had once had as queen.