Better to Answer to Myself Than Be Controlled by Others!

"Cough, cough!"

After dodging Medusa Queen's jade-like hand, Yang Chen awkwardly raised his hand to his mouth and coughed twice. This made Medusa Queen's eyes brighten slightly.

Magic beasts and humans were different. Though the Snake-People were not orthodox magic beasts, they carried the bloodline of serpent-type magic beasts, and in many respects, they leaned toward magic beasts as well.

Once they reached a certain age, magic beasts instinctively sought mates, especially serpent-type magic beasts. However, the stronger a magic beast was, the more capable it was of restraining this instinct, or even remaining unaffected by it.

Magic beasts had always revered strength. If one could not defeat her head-on, what right did one have to conquer the proud Queen? By Medusa Queen's standards, there were hardly any men in the Northwestern Continent worthy of her notice.

Yet Yang Chen, whom she had met today, was impeccable in every regard. His wild and domineering fighting posture in particular held an immensely powerful attraction for magic beasts, while his current appearance as an innocent young man struck Medusa Queen as even more interesting.

Facing Medusa Queen's fixed gaze, Yang Chen quickly composed himself. Looking at her without changing expression, he spoke softly.

"I wonder if Medusa Queen is still interested in the Heavenly Flame?"

"Oh? Young Master Yang is so generous. Could it be that you truly wish to conquer me? Still, a single Heavenly Flame won't be enough to move me."

The purple snake tail beneath her waist, shimmering with seven-colored light, swayed gently. An indescribably seductive aura flowed from Medusa Queen's body, while faint red glimmers capable of stealing one's soul flickered within her bewitching snake eyes.

Yang Chen was instantly left speechless. He truly did not understand how the Snake-People Queen, who had always been known for her pride, had become so... alluring.

Hai Bodong and the other two behind him had long since turned their backs, but all three pairs of ears stood straight up, determined not to miss the slightest sound.

"As long as you master that secret technique, you will certainly return to your ancestral bloodline and become a Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python. But it will still take time to break through to the Dou Zong realm. Besides, I have heard that among the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python clan, there is a royal branch with nine-colored bodies, possessing powers that reach the heavens and pierce the earth."

Yang Chen forcibly filtered Medusa Queen's teasing from his mind. He would not truly believe that this breathtakingly beautiful Snake-People Queen had any feelings for him.

One of life's greatest misconceptions: first, does she like me? Second, she probably doesn't like me.

"Oh? Is Young Master Yang truly so generous? Then should I offer myself to you?"

Medusa Queen smiled as she teased Yang Chen. However, Yang Chen simply ignored the latter half of her words. With a light laugh, he raised his hand and drew over the orb of light formed from the special mark, which Hai Bodong had been holding, until it landed in his palm.

Yang Chen held his hand before Medusa Queen and slowly spread it open. Within the white orb of light, a delicate little green lotus gradually bloomed.

"The stronger the Queen becomes, the more beneficial it is to me, isn't it? Of course, if the Queen accepts this Heavenly Flame, you must keep it safe and not let anyone else take it. Within two and a half years, several people will head to the Tagore Desert to seize the Heavenly Flame. What the Queen needs to do is send people to hunt them down with all their strength!"

Medusa Queen extended her slender jade-like hand, using two pale fingers to gently pinch the tiny orb of light from Yang Chen's palm. She stared at him with a smiling gaze.

If Yang Chen had truly accepted her offer just now, Medusa Queen would have turned hostile on the spot. The Queen's pride would never allow herself to be treated like merchandise, especially by a man she had set her sights on!

Yet Yang Chen had not only failed to respond, he had shown no reaction at all. Instead, this stirred Medusa Queen's competitiveness and desire to conquer within her heart.

Her eyes narrowing slightly, the wings on her back slowly fluttered. As her snake tail swayed, Medusa Queen leisurely circled Yang Chen, examining the exquisite Heavenly Flame in her hand as she spoke softly.

"Do those people have a grudge against you, Young Master? Or do they have some connection to you?"

"They are my nephews!"

Yang Chen's answer caused Medusa Queen to abruptly stop. She tilted her head slightly, widened her enchanting snake eyes, and stared at Yang Chen in stunned confusion.

"Hm?"

At that moment, Medusa Queen even suspected that her ears, those of the dignified Snake-People Queen and a peak Dou Huang expert, had gone wrong and that she was hearing things.

"You heard correctly. They are my nephews, my blood nephews—the only family I have left in this world!"

Yang Chen's low voice slowly sounded beside Medusa Queen's ear. Glancing at his handsome profile, seemingly calm yet concealing stormy waves beneath the surface, Medusa Queen gently pressed her lips together and spoke softly.

"You want me to send people to temper them? But aren't you afraid..."

Medusa Queen had been about to say that one mistake could lead to grave consequences, but when she caught sight of Lei Na and the other two nearby, she stopped herself.

Judging from the strength Yang Chen had revealed so far, there were surely many powerful experts under his command. He could simply send people to protect them in secret. Moreover, with the Snake-People coordinating with them, it was basically impossible for anything to go wrong. Not to mention, Yang Chen was a high-tier alchemist.

If something could still happen under those circumstances, it would be no different from being randomly trampled to death by a passing eighth-tier magic beast while walking down the road. That would simply be unbelievably bad luck, utterly beyond saving.

"What is there to fear? Fine steel must be tempered in blazing fire. If their talent is mediocre, I can naturally ensure them a lifetime of wealth and glory. But since they possess such talent, they should not be content with the status quo! Only by enduring the pain of wind and rain can they grow into eagles that spread their wings across the nine heavens!"

Yang Chen spoke in a deep voice, a trace of fierceness flashing across his face. An eagle would not break its wings for a storm, and a wolf pack would not fear the long night.

Besides, compared to what he had endured, what did this amount to?

When he was ten years old, with no one to protect him, he had plunged alone into the Magic Beast Mountain Range just to survive. Ten years of bitter cultivation, ten years of trials—those eight short words concealed untold blood and tears.

In the end, the only strongest support one had in this world was oneself.

Better to answer to oneself than be controlled by others!

Medusa Queen's heart trembled. The bloody aura that had erupted from Yang Chen in that instant actually made her blood surge with excitement.

After calming the strange emotions in her heart, Medusa Queen, as if possessed, placed her jade-like hand on Yang Chen's shoulder and leaned close to whisper in his ear.

"I can cooperate with you, but..."

"I can refine a Heart-Protecting Pill for you. It can protect your body from dying when the Heavenly Flame burns through you. However, when you use the secret technique to evolve, the pain will be even more intense, because you will remain conscious throughout the entire process. If you cannot endure it, your soul will collapse and you will die. As for whether you wish to try, that depends on the Queen's own choice."

"It seems I have been underestimated? Don't worry. I am still waiting for Young Master to conquer me, hehehe!"