Your Majesty the Queen, You Wouldn't Want...

"Dou Zong expert may be stronger than me, but they may not be able to protect you in my hands!"

Medusa flicked her tail, unleashing a surge of Dou Qi that combined with external energy to transform into a long, red serpent, its jaws snapping open to bite Zhang Yuan.

"Bang!"

A few inches from the table, Ling Ying appeared as if by teleportation, manipulating external energy to point a finger, further enhanced by Power of Space.

When his fingers touched the giant snake's forehead, black energy instantly enveloped it, rendering it immobile, and its body trembled as it began to dissipate.

Medusa retreated dozens of feet at that moment, raised her hands and conjured a blood-red greatsword, which was burning with some kind of power.

"Boom!"

The blood-red greatsword could not advance any further halfway down. Dark energy chains appeared, flickering with arc-like fluctuations. The moment it shattered, it was repaired by the power it received.

With Medusa's Peak Dou Emperor strength, she could naturally tell that this was Power of Space, a power she could sense but could not yet use.

"Ninefold Serpent Shadow!"

A crimson glint appeared in Medusa's purple eyes, and sword energy emerged from the greatsword in her hand, quickly transforming into nine snake heads that unleashed sharp sword energy with each flick of their tongues.

But before these sword attacks could land on the black chains, a figure appeared beside her, traversing the air and striking out with a palm.

High-level Profound tier, Light-Devouring Palm.

Dark attribute Dou Technique, once unleashed, can even devour the surrounding light. Perfectly mastered, they can touch the Power of Space. When used by a powerhouse above the Peak Dou Emperor, they are comparable to Low-level Earth-tier Dou Technique.

A vortex of dark energy gathered in Ling Ying's palm, drawing in the surrounding light. The sword energy on Medusa's longsword trembled precariously, and the sword itself began to vibrate.

"Break!"

Medusa acted decisively, injecting a burst of energy before releasing her longsword and dodging.

The red energy seemed to come alive, transforming into a bloodthirsty giant serpent with nine heads, lunging at Ling Ying. Medusa, on the other hand, turned to look at Zhang Yuan, licking her red lips, her eyes revealing aggression.

But before Medusa could make a move, Ling Ying suddenly pushed her palm gently, and the black energy vortex expanded to more than ten feet in size at a visible speed, swallowing the bloodthirsty giant snake.

The powerful Devouring Power affected even the space itself. Medusa tried to escape to Zhang Yuan but found it difficult to move. Her eyes turned cold, and she raised her hand to condense a longbow with her own Dou Qi. She then took out a Profound Origin Arrow from her Storage Ring and infused it with her own Dou Qi.

It wasn't that she didn't want to draw upon similar elemental energy from the outside world, but Ling Ying's Dou Technique's ability to devour and manipulate space made it impossible for her to do so.

"Go!"

The long arrow flew through the air like a shooting star, heading straight for Zhang Yuan.

This arrow depleted Medusa's Dou Qi and caused her to lose strength for a moment.

But her eyes held a mocking glint, as if she could already see Zhang Yuan pierced through by her long arrow.

Okay, she knew it was impossible; she just wanted to create an opportunity to escape.

Ling Ying raised her hand and aimed at the arrow Medusa had shot.

Mysterious Tier Low-grade, Suction Palm.

This is Dou Technique that Zhang Yuan had Ling Ying learn. Whether it's pushing or suction, it's very useful as an auxiliary means in battle.

When Ling Ying, One-star Dou Zong, performed the Suction Palm, the effect was naturally different. The many dark figures in the distance seemed to come alive and transformed into a cloud of black mist, appearing in front of Zhang Yuan and enveloping the glowing arrow.

The Power of Space enveloped the arrow, pulling it backwards towards Ling Ying.

At the same time, Ling Ying increased his Dou Qi output, unleashing an energy vortex onto Medusa.

Within the black vortex, energy materialized into chains, a sealing-like power appearing that gave Medusa a bad feeling. As a seasoned player at sealing others' power, she knew very well that once one's strength was restricted, escape would be difficult.

Medusa decisively unleashed her trump card, transforming into a giant purplish-red serpent that flew out and instantly covered a hundred feet, creating distance between herself and Ling Ying.

"The Purple Nether Flame Snake, is it?" Zhang Yuan held his teacup, examining Medusa's serpentine body with great interest.

The Purple Nether Flame Snake is not Medusa's true form, but rather her symbiotic serpent body, though it can still be considered part of her true form.

The Snake People tribe are born with human bodies and snake tails. They possess a unique secret technique that allows them to infuse the soul of a serpentine beast into their bodies, making it a companion soul.

As they age and grow stronger, these snake-like magical beasts that serve as their companion souls will gradually merge with them, eventually becoming indistinguishable. After successfully merging with their companion souls, Snake-People can summon beings similar to their original selves, allowing them to drastically increase their strength in a short period of time. This is the Snake-People's ultimate trump card.

Medusa's companion soul is the Sixth-Rank Magical Beast, the Purple Nether Flame Snake, so she has the talent to become Dou Huang expert. The Purple Nether Flame Snake has an extremely thin bloodline of the ancient beast, the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, which requires a great opportunity to activate its bloodline transformation.

Once transformed into Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, its potential will explode, giving it the opportunity to become a top powerhouse on the continent (Dou Zun). If the opportunity is sufficient, and its bloodline is further transformed into Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, it may even be able to contend with Dou Sheng Expert.

"Hiss~"

Medusa, transformed into Purple Nether Flame Snake, stared at Ling Ying, then her gaze swept over Zhang Yuan, her eyes growing colder yet filled with deep apprehension.

In fact, she had once fought against a One-star Dou Zong expert. Although she was at a disadvantage, the opponent was unable to force her to use her true form. However, Ling Ying was able to do so.

This was partly due to Ling Ying's ability to quickly seal off space using some kind of Dou Artifact, but he was indeed stronger than the Dou Zong he had fought back then.

Ling Ying's rare dark-attribute Dou Qi allows her to excel at concealment, possesses incredible speed, and her attacks are imbued with Devouring Power.

She no longer intended to teach Zhang Yuan a lesson; she only wanted to escape as quickly as possible.

"Bang!"

Zhang Yuan put down his teacup and spoke again, "Your Majesty, I have no ill intentions and do not wish to antagonize you. I simply wish to discuss cooperation with you. Why don't you come and have a cup of tea?"

He naturally understood the little tricks of adjusting pressure and alternating between light and dark.

Medusa appears fiery and aloof, but is actually cold and strong inside, with a soft side deep within.

Simply resorting to force won't work; it will only provoke her rebellious and hostile attitude.

But trying to be gentle won't work either; she'll look down on you and even take advantage of you, trying every means to devour you completely, unless you're someone she values.

Only by first asserting yourself, letting her know you have the power to suppress and threaten her, and then guiding her gently, can you completely relax her.

At this point, if you want to maintain control and have the upper hand, you still need to be assertive.

To put it simply, it's like dealing with a disobedient cat: put a hammer nearby, then stroke its fur gently.

"No ill intent?" Medusa said coldly, "You were threatening me just now."

"Wrong!" Zhang Yuan shook his head and said, "I'm not threatening you, but telling you a fact: if you leave now, I'll have no choice but to go to the Snake People Tribe to discuss cooperation with you."

Medusa's narrow, pale purple eyes flickered with suspicion.

She didn't think that was the case at first.

"Your Majesty may not know this," Zhang Yuan said with a slight smile, "I am the teacher of Princess Yaoye, the eldest princess of the Jia Ma Empire Royal Family. If Princess Yaoye becomes the Empress of the Empire in the future, then I will be her Imperial Tutor."

"Not long ago, I had Princess Yaoye arrange for me to become the Stone Desert City Lord and a military commander, with your Snake People tribe as my target."

Stone Desert City?

Medusa was very familiar with the situation in the Eastern Province, especially in the Tagor Desert, and naturally knew that this was a satellite city of the Desert City, located in the desert not far from the eastern border of the Jia Ma Empire, directly bordering the territory of the Snake People tribe.

If Zhang Yuan were to become the Stone Desert City Lord, he would be facing the Snake People Tribe. Given his special status and the presence of Dou Zong powerhouse behind him, it seems his intentions are rather hostile.

Medusa's gaze swept over Ling Ying, and seeing that he did not make another move, Medusa flashed back to her half-human, half-snake form, then sat down opposite Zhang Yuan, picked up her teacup, but did not drink it.

Seeing Medusa so close, Zhang Yuan's gaze was clear and calm, but he had to admit in his heart that she was a true beauty—this was a very simple assessment.

"What do you want to talk about?" Medusa asked.

"Your Majesty, have you ever heard of Heavenly Flames?" Zhang Yuan asked.

Medusa's pupils contracted slightly, and she said with a smile, "Heavenly Flames, a wondrous fire born between heaven and earth, each possesses unique power. Some people can refine it to increase their own strength and combat methods, and it is also something that Alchemist most desire to possess. I have naturally heard of it."

Medusa's facial changes were subtle, but they did not escape Zhang Yuan's notice.

Furthermore, Medusa is unapproachable when she's serious, and her smiling demeanor suggests she's hiding something.

Just like when Gu He went to the Snake People Tribe to trade for the Green Lotus Core Flame in the future, Medusa sent an energy body that seemed very easy to talk to.

Cunning is also one of the inherent traits of the Snake People tribe; Medusa simply didn't need it because she was powerful enough, not because she lacked it.

"Does Her Majesty know about the Green Lotus Core Flame?" Zhang Yuan asked again.

Blue Lotus, Earth Core Fire?

Medusa felt a chill run down her spine as she recalled her recent discovery.

Does this human kid know about my discovery and my intentions?

"I am ignorant and have never heard of it," Medusa shook her head.

"Oh." Zhang Yuan nodded. "It seems Your Majesty has found it."

Medusa:?

Zhang Yuan smiled.

He knew Little Yan's upbringing all too well.

Eight-stage Dou Qi in one year.

After a year and a half, those Four-star Dou Zhe can participate in the Jia Nan Academy's entrance examination.

After more than two years, he became Dou Master and left the Magical Beast Mountain Range, then participated in the Alchemist Examination.

After becoming Alchemist, I arrived in Stone Desert City and, through Hai Bodong and Qing Lin, determined the location of the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Qing Lin had mentioned that he sensed a powerful being (a snake) appearing somewhere six months prior.

Therefore, the time when Medusa obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame was roughly when Little Yan was in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, which is about six months to a year from now.

Medusa couldn't have acted hastily to obtain the Heavenly Flames, so the discovery must have occurred even earlier.

"So Her Majesty intends to use the power of the Heavenly Flames to stimulate the transformation of her bloodline and break through to the Dou Zong, is that right?"

Zhang Yuan asked a question he already knew the answer to.

Medusa:""

She felt that Zhang Yuan had seen right through her.

How can there be such an annoying man!?

"Breakthrough in the Green Lotus Core Flame, a near-death experience."

"Your Majesty, if you were to perish, the Snake People tribe would be in grave danger."

Zhang Yuan picked up his teacup, poured himself a cup, and smiled, "Your Majesty, you wouldn't want the Snake People Tribe to suffer, would you?"

Medusa:""

And you say you're not threatening me!

(End of this chapter)