Wind Fury Dragon Flame

"Why should I lend it to you?" Tang Chen leaned back on the throne, looking utterly indifferent.

"I wish to borrow the Heavenly Flame because my tribe possesses a secret technique that can use it to activate my bloodline and break through to the Dou Zong realm.

"If I succeed in evolving, I will owe you a favor, my lord, and I will surely repay you afterward."

Medusa hesitated before voicing her thoughts in an almost pleading tone, lowering her stance considerably.

"Do I need a favor from some insignificant Dou Zong?" Tang Chen said with a faintly amused smile. As things stood, Medusa's favor truly meant nothing to him.

"Then... then what must I do for you to agree to lend me the Heavenly Flame?" Tang Chen's mockery bruised Medusa's pride. She had always been a proud queen; when had she ever suffered such humiliation?

At the same time, she understood the gap between herself and Tang Chen. The realm she desperately pursued held no value at all in his eyes.

"It's not impossible to lend you the Heavenly Flame, but..." Tang Chen shifted the conversation, his gaze wandering over Medusa's body.

Medusa felt uncomfortable under Tang Chen's unabashed scrutiny. She instinctively raised a hand to cover her chest, not daring to meet his eyes.

If anyone had looked at her like that before, she would have killed them. But this person was Tang Chen, so she could only endure it.

"But afterward, you must follow me." Seeing that the time was right, Tang Chen stated his condition.

"This... let me think about it." Medusa certainly did not want to follow Tang Chen. Following him would never be as comfortable as being queen of the Snake-People Tribe.

Moreover, she had no idea what sort of person Tang Chen was. If he was an utterly vile man, then she would be walking into a tiger's den with no chance of escape.

But if she refused, she would be unable to evolve, unable to lead the Snake-People Tribe out of the desert, and unable to fulfill the dream she had held since childhood.

Just as Medusa was still hesitating, Tang Chen played his trump card.

"Follow me, and not only can I help your Snake-People Tribe escape its current predicament, I can also guarantee that you will break through to Dou Saint in the future and become one of the continent's peak experts."

"Of course, that is contingent on your successful evolution." Tang Chen added another condition to ensure Medusa would be able to evolve successfully.

"!!!"

It truly was a trump card. Medusa was stunned senseless. Seeing that Tang Chen did not appear to be lying, her breathing grew heavy, and her full chest rose and fell with excitement.

"Well?" Tang Chen's lips curled slightly as he watched the emotional Medusa before him.

"You really aren't lying to me?" Medusa had even changed the way she addressed him to a respectful "you."

"Do you think someone of my strength needs to deceive you?"

Tang Chen's peak Dou Zong aura burst forth, his terrifying pressure instantly shrouding the entire Snake-People Tribe hall as its temperature rose sharply.

Medusa dropped to her knees, cold sweat pouring from her body. She did not even have the courage to lift her head and look directly at Tang Chen.

She felt that the gap between herself and Tang Chen was like that between a firefly and the bright moon, a puddle and the sea.

Seeing that Medusa could not endure it, Tang Chen withdrew his pressure. Medusa instantly felt as though a massive burden had been lifted. Her entire body was drenched in fragrant sweat, and she felt weak all over.

"I... I am willing to follow you." Tang Chen's terms were so generous. She could grow stronger and lead the Snake-People Tribe out of the desert. It was difficult for Medusa to refuse.

"Since you've made up your mind, hurry and prepare. Take this—it will help you recover from the injuries caused by the Heavenly Flame."

Tang Chen tossed Medusa a healing pill.

Simply suppressing someone or blindly flattering them was not a viable approach. One had to combine favor and intimidation.

Medusa caught the pill. After merely taking a breath of its fragrance, she felt the burning pain in her wounds lessen considerably. Her beautiful eyes brightened. With this pill, her injuries could be healed.

"Th-thank you."

Hearing those words, Medusa herself was startled. Who was she? The Medusa Queen who struck fear into countless hearts. In all her life, when had she ever thanked anyone? Tang Chen was the first.

"It's nothing. Hurry and refine it."

Tang Chen's voice had softened somewhat, no longer as forceful as before.

"Okay!" Looking at Tang Chen, Medusa felt that the man before her did not seem so cold after all. Instead, he was somewhat... gentle.

Having accepted the "sweet reward" Tang Chen offered, Medusa swallowed the pill without hesitation and began refining its medicinal power to heal her injuries.

Before long, Medusa had refined the medicinal power. Under the pill's effects, the wound on her snake tail began to heal, and her condition returned to its peak.

"Thank you." Seeing such astonishing healing power, Medusa knew that the pill's grade was certainly not low, and gratitude rose in her heart.

"Use this time to prepare for your breakthrough. Also, find us a place to stay." Tang Chen stood and spoke to Medusa.

"Yes, my lord. Please follow me."

Although she had yet to evolve, Medusa had already assumed the role of Tang Chen's subordinate, personally leading Tang Chen and Qing Lin to their residence.

Tang Chen and Qing Lin were lodged beside her so that she could report any news to Tang Chen immediately.

After instructing Hua She'er to serve the two of them well, Medusa began making preparations for her evolution.

She had already prepared most of what she needed, so it would not take long. A few days would be enough.

Under Tang Chen's guidance, Qing Lin had also begun cultivating and was temporarily still in the Dou Qi stage.

"Let's go take a look at that other Heavenly Flame."

Tang Chen recalled the other Heavenly Flame he had sensed earlier. He intended to use this opportunity to investigate it and see whether he could subdue it.

"Qing Lin, I'm heading out. If Medusa comes, let her know." Tang Chen gave Qing Lin an instruction before leaving.

"Yes, Young Master." Qing Lin nodded. After spending these past few days by Tang Chen's side, she had gradually become more cheerful.

Following his senses, Tang Chen left the Snake-People Holy City and continued flying toward the depths of the Tagor Desert.

The deeper he went, the denser the fire and wind elements between heaven and earth became.

"Looks like I came to the right place." Feeling the changes in his surroundings, Tang Chen confirmed the Heavenly Flame's direction. He accelerated and flew at full speed toward the deepest part of the desert.

Until, at last.

As far as the eye could see, there was only yellow sand.

A yellowish-brown tornado of flames rose several hundred meters high, covering an astonishingly vast area. Faint dragon roars echoed from within.

Overwhelming sand and shattered rocks, along with yellowish-brown flames, were swept up by violent winds and continuously spiraled through the air, grinding away and destroying everything in their path.

Wherever it passed, the sand was melted into liquid by the intense heat, forming a sea of molten lava and fire.

It resembled a scene of apocalypse.

With such destructive force, anyone below the Dou Zong realm who was swept into it would likely be torn apart instantly by the wind and sand.

Their final fate would be to be devoured by the sea of flames and become part of it.

Tang Chen was fine; it barely affected him. He had also confirmed exactly which Heavenly Flame it was.

"Fire borrows the wind's force, and wind enhances fire's might."

"Eighteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking: Wind Fury Dragon Flame!"