One-Star Dou Zong... Two-Star Dou Zong... Three-Star Dou Zong!
After swallowing most of the Heavenly Flame's energy, Xiao Fan's strength soared at rocket speed.
An overwhelmingly powerful aura centered on him and spread wildly in every direction like surging waves.
In the end, he successfully reached the peak of Three-Star Dou Zong. His aura seemed to become a tangible storm, making the entire cave tremble.
"Every step toward the utmost limits takes an enormous amount of energy..."
Xiao Fan sighed softly, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
Hidden in the shadows, Medusa was completely stunned, as if she'd been bound by a spell and couldn't move.
Her lush red lips hung open in a perfect "O," her eyes full of disbelief.
She'd never imagined that this seemingly ordinary human could take a Heavenly Flame for himself so effortlessly.
As if he'd done nothing more than some trivial little task.
Just who was he?
Medusa was full of questions and shock, her thoughts a tangled mess.
Just then, a voice rang out.
"Come out, little snake..."
Xiao Fan chuckled softly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Medusa's heart gave a sudden jolt. Oh no, he found me!
With no other choice, Medusa slowly revealed herself.
She swayed her graceful, alluring waist like a nimble water snake, appearing before Xiao Fan with elegant, unhurried movements.
Xiao Fan looked her over with interest.
Her upper body had a graceful, captivating human form, her skin as pure and flawless as the first snow of winter, so delicate it seemed it could be pierced with a touch.
Her face was stunningly beautiful, like a painting. A cascade of black hair spilled carelessly over her shoulders, gleaming alluringly even in the dim cave.
Below, her long, powerful serpent's tail shimmered with multicolored scales.
Every sway seemed to carry a mysterious, bewitching magic that drew the eye.
"A Dou Emperor... Not bad..."
Xiao Fan's gaze traveled over her from head to toe, like an expert appraising a treasure.
He nodded slightly, looking somewhat pleased.
But the very next words out of his mouth instantly sent Medusa into a towering rage.
"I'll give you the chance to become my maid..."
Medusa's eyes narrowed into a dangerous slit.
Her lovely face turned vicious in an instant, and it seemed as if every hair on her body was standing on end.
She was the queen of the Snake-People Tribe! And he expected her to be a human's maid?
"This queen..."
She shouted in anger, her chest heaving violently with fury.
Xiao Fan's expression didn't change. He simply turned his hand and gave a light slap. In an instant, a suffocating force surged out like an avalanche.
A giant hand formed of Dou Qi slammed Medusa straight into the hard ground.
The entire cave shuddered as if struck by a small earthquake. Sand and stones rained from the ceiling, and a cloud of dust billowed through the air.
Now injured, Medusa was thoroughly enraged. Anger twisted her beautiful face.
"Even if you're a Dou Zong, this queen will make you pay dearly!"
Medusa shouted through clenched teeth, her voice resolute. Powerful Dou Qi suddenly erupted from her, blazing like flames and scorching the surrounding air with a sizzling hiss.
Even space seemed unable to bear the strain, as though it were about to twist and warp under the immense force.
Yet Xiao Fan remained calm and languidly slapped his hand out again.
Medusa's body shot away like a cannonball, slamming hard into the cave wall.
A web of cracks spread across the wall. Medusa slid down in a wretched heap, like a withered leaf drifting to the ground.
No one knew how much time had passed.
By now, Medusa was covered in wounds, her body battered from head to tail, like a flower ravaged by a storm.
Her once-gorgeous clothes had been reduced to tatters, strips of fabric fluttering in the breeze and revealing her graceful body.
Dust and blood stained her beautiful face.
Medusa gazed at the youth whose expression had remained as calm as still water, and darkness seemed to swallow her heart, filling her with despair.
No matter what powerful technique she used, it was like throwing an egg against a rock. He could end it with nothing more than a slap.
They were only palm strikes formed from Dou Qi, so why was she utterly powerless to resist them?
At that moment, Medusa was plunged into deep confusion.
But soon, she bit her lip and thought bitterly, Faced with this young powerhouse, who can take my life at any moment yet seems so bored that he's wasting his time playing with me, what else can I do...
Medusa was filled with helplessness and resentment.
Yes, playing. In her eyes, he was just playing with her!
Her all-out attacks were as harmless to him as a child's.
In the end, Medusa slowly lowered her proud head.
"I'm willing to follow you, Mas... Master..."
Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremor and deep humiliation.
Hearing Medusa call him master, Xiao Fan kept his outward composure, showing no sign of emotion.
But deep down, he couldn't help feeling a rush of satisfaction.
Not bad, not bad.
Xiao Fan was very pleased.
"Come here. I'll help you break through the Dou Emperor bottleneck..."
His tone softened.
He naturally understood the principle of giving someone a blow first, then a sweet date.
For a foreign race like Medusa's, taming her wild nature was the most important step, like breaking in a fiery steed.
"...Yes."
Is this the charity you're offering me?
Medusa's heart was bitter, but she obediently walked up to him, like a docile lamb.
But Xiao Fan knew that this was only a facade. If he showed weakness, she'd bare her fangs.
"Bear with it..."
Xiao Fan nodded slightly.
Then he raised a hand and deftly arranged the small amount of Green Lotus Core Flame that remained around Medusa.
Medusa watched the seemingly gentle Heavenly Flame, determination flashing in her eyes.
Her only chance to save herself now was to break through to Dou Zong.
If she could evolve with the help of the flame, perhaps she'd be able to fight him...
With that thought, Medusa voluntarily dispersed the Dou Qi that had been encircling her.
In an instant, with nothing left to hold it back, the Heavenly Flame lunged at Medusa like a beast released from its cage, claws bared.
"Ahhhhh!!"
A scream of agony, like the wailing of ghosts, instantly echoed through the entire space.
The Heavenly Flame now unleashed its full, violent power, nothing like the tame, docile flame in Xiao Fan's hands. It was like a raging lion.
Xiao Fan watched in silence, not the slightest trace of pity in his eyes.
Having read the original story, he knew that for a foreign race like Medusa's, being tempered by a Heavenly Flame was the best option.
If she couldn't even get through this, then the so-called queen of the Snake-People Tribe... was nothing special...