Coming Out of Seclusion

"Four Elders, this is where I cultivate in seclusion. Please move elsewhere and do not disturb another's training."

Although Medusa Queen's attitude was more polite than it had been toward Hai Bodong, the four elders, who understood her temperament well, knew that she was actually being even more forceful now.

Glancing at Yang Chen, who remained seated cross-legged, the Snakefolk's First Elder narrowed her cold snake eyes slightly. Having never witnessed Yang Chen's strength, she assumed that Medusa Queen had become enamored with him because of his appearance.

As for his identity as an alchemist, if Her Majesty were truly so shallow—a woman who only pursued favorable conditions—then it would not have been Yang Chen's turn. She would have long since snatched Gu He away to make him her husband.

"Your Majesty, do not let a momentary infatuation lead you astray. Humans are notorious for breaking their promises and turning ruthless the moment they change their faces. Please think carefully, Your Majesty!"

After saying this, the Snakefolk's First Elder did not dare linger. She truly feared angering Medusa Queen, only for Medusa Queen to leave the clan with that human man and depart the Tagore Desert. Then, a few years later, she might return alone carrying a little Medusa Queen. If that happened, the sky would truly come crashing down on the Snakefolk.

After the four Snakefolk elders were driven away, Medusa Queen gave a soft snort. Naturally, she knew what the four elders were worried about, but clearly, they were overthinking it. If it were possible, Medusa Queen would not mind conquering such a powerful man. That would be quite an accomplishment.

Unfortunately, Medusa Queen was certain that even though she had completed her bloodline transformation, she was still no match for the man before her.

"What exactly is your relationship with the Yunlan Sect?"

Medusa Queen crossed one arm over her chest while pinching her chin with the other, her fingers lightly tapping her red lips as curiosity and contemplation flickered in her eyes.

This was something Medusa Queen had always been curious about. Her instincts told her that Yang Chen's background was anything but ordinary, especially his attitude toward the Yunlan Sect, which was particularly thought-provoking.

On one hand, he had stopped Nalan Yanran from breaking off the engagement, then attacked the Yunlan Sect, suppressing the entire sect by himself while still preserving its dignity. On the other hand, he knew the Yunlan Sect's intelligence like the back of his hand. Not only did he know that Yun Shan was still alive and had broken through to the Dou Zong realm, he even knew that a powerful and mysterious force stood behind the Yunlan Sect.

He had attacked Yun Leng mercilessly, yet he had private dealings with Yun Yun and was even willing to teach cultivation techniques to Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran.

If it had been someone else, such as Gu He, Medusa Queen might have thought he was blinded by lust or deliberately treating Yun Yun well to please a beauty.

But if that person was Yang Chen, Medusa Queen would never believe he harbored such vulgar thoughts.

After interacting with him over the past few days, Medusa Queen was certain that he was a deeply calculating and unfathomable man. His background and origins had always remained a mystery.

Throughout the entire Jia Ma Empire, the only information that could be found was that Yang Chen was the surviving orphan of the former Yang Clan. His father was Yang Tianlin, while his mother was unknown. His only elder sister had died of illness when Yang Chen was young. Even the Yang Clan's origins were a mystery; all anyone knew was that it had been founded by Yang Tianlin.

Yang Tianlin himself seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. All that was known was that when he first appeared, he was already a peak Da Dou Shi. Not long afterward, he broke through to the Dou Ling realm, then later advanced to become a Dou Wang, gaining fame for a time. His eldest daughter became engaged to Xiao Zhan, the only son of Xiao Lin, a Dou Wang expert of the Xiao Family in the imperial capital.

Later, for some unknown reason, the Yang Clan was suddenly exterminated. Not long after that, the Xiao Family also declined, and from then on, no one mentioned the Yang and Xiao Families of the imperial capital again.

For such a mysterious man to have such a complicated attitude toward the Yunlan Sect was truly baffling. Unless he himself was from the Yunlan Sect, or had close ties to it...

What had begun as a casual thought suddenly made Medusa Queen's eyes light up. She felt as though she had grasped something. Just as she was about to continue speculating, a powerful and domineering aura suddenly erupted beside her.

Boom!!!

A terrifying pillar of light shot into the sky. Even the barrier formed by four Dou Huang experts could not withstand that majestic energy. It did not hold for long before being blasted apart.

However, after the barrier had consumed much of its power, the energy pillar's might was greatly weakened. Even so, it still alarmed all the Snakefolk in the Snakefolk Holy City.

"This..."

On the outskirts of the holy city, Yan Ci and Yue Mei, who were patrolling, stared wide-eyed at the energy pillar. That level of power had already far surpassed that of an ordinary peak Dou Huang. It had likely reached the Dou Zong realm.

But before Yan Ci, Yue Mei, and the others could take another look, the pillar of light had already dispersed, as fleeting as an illusory dream.

On the island in the middle of the lake, Medusa Queen concealed the concern in her eyes. Looking at Yang Chen as he slowly opened his eyes, she said with a smile,

"It seems you have gained quite a lot during this time!"

"It was decent. I gained something, at least. As for you, in less than half a month, you have successfully transformed into the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python. Even against an ordinary Dou Zong expert, you now have the strength to fight."

The divine light in Yang Chen's eyes swiftly faded. After rising to his feet, he replied with a faint smile. During this time, with the accelerated cultivation granted by the system, he had successfully brought Heavenly Law, Earthly Manifestation to the beginner stage.

Sensing the increasingly profound and unfathomable aura within Yang Chen, Medusa Queen was sincerely happy for him. At the same time, she teased him,

"I think so too. If we fought again, I definitely would not lose. How about making a wager with me? If you lose, I will offer the entire Snakefolk as a betrothal gift and take you as my husband. If you win, both I and the Snakefolk will be at your disposal. What do you say?"

Yang Chen merely glanced at Medusa Queen. He had already grown accustomed to the wild behavior of this Snakefolk queen and did not respond.

Medusa Queen was not angered in the slightest. Instead, she moved beside Yang Chen and pressed her soft, boneless snake body against him, breathing warmly into his ear as she said,

"By the way, the commotion you caused just now will definitely be noticed by the Jia Ma Empire. The Yunlan Sect and the Jia Ma Royal Family will likely send people to investigate. How do you plan to deal with that?"

"The Jia Ma Royal Family? Jia Xingtian? Heh, there is no need to pay him any mind. He will not truly intervene."

After saying that, Yang Chen suddenly fell silent, his gaze becoming increasingly deep. Then he suddenly chuckled.

"If the Yunlan Sect comes to investigate, reveal the news of the Heavenly Flame. Without a powerful opponent, giving away this Heavenly Flame would be far too easy. It would arouse suspicion!"