"You seem to care deeply about this little maid." A lazy voice rang out as Medusa appeared beside Qin Chen at some point.
Qin Chen nodded and said wistfully, "Because she is of mixed Snake-People blood, Qing Lin used to suffer the cold stares of others and lived a hard life. Seeing her like this now makes me very happy."
"I'm afraid that isn't the only source of joy in your heart."
Medusa narrowed her alluring phoenix eyes slightly, her gaze sweeping over Qing Lin in the square as a knowing curve lifted at the corner of her lips.
Long ago, Qin Chen had already told Medusa about Qing Lin's constitution. After all, the Snake-People Tribe had come from the Central Plains, so perhaps they possessed some records or inheritances concerning the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils.
However, although the Snake-People Tribe did have records in this regard, they were incomplete. The only useful thing was a Xuan Grade cultivation technique suited to Qing Lin.
Having his thoughts exposed by this old woman, Qin Chen was not annoyed. He said righteously, "We call this mutual affection. What would an outsider like you know?"
"Hehe!"
Medusa was so angered by those utterly shameless words that she laughed. She had never expected Qin Chen's skin to be this thick!
Qin Chen ignored the woman's mockery. If his skin was not thick enough, how was he supposed to build a harem?
"Hmph!" Medusa snorted, her expression turning serious. "The people from Heavenly Snake Mansion have entered my tribe's territory. As you requested, I have passed down orders that the chiefs of the eight tribes are not to stop them. They should arrive here soon."
"Mm." Qin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly at her words. His fingertips unconsciously rubbed his chin as he murmured, "They came faster than expected."
Although he had anticipated it, Qin Chen had not expected the people from Heavenly Snake Mansion to arrive so quickly. It seemed they valued the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils far more than he had imagined.
Qing Lin's Departure, the Beginning of Evolution
"Hahaha... Medusa, my woman, this emperor has come for you!"
Before the two could finish speaking, an arrogant, uninhibited laugh rolled in from the distant sky like thunder. It was filled with undisguised dominance and possessiveness, as though Medusa had long been his possession.
Qin Chen raised a brow and inconspicuously glanced at Medusa beside him. A cold gleam flickered in her eyes, and her pretty face had already darkened like water. Clearly, she was filled with disgust and killing intent toward the owner of that voice.
Hearing the sudden wild laughter, the other snake-people in Holy City stopped what they were doing and looked uncertainly toward the source of the sound.
Qing Lin also halted her ongoing battle, her clear eyes turning toward the direction from which the voice had come.
High in the sky, an enormous black shadow swept over at high speed. Moments later, a massive dark serpent with four pairs of broad wings entered their sight. A woman in green sat upon its back.
"Haha... Green Man, didn't I say so? Our Holy Maiden really is here!" The Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor's enormous triangular pupils locked onto Qing Lin in the square. His huge mouth opened and closed, his voice brimming with undisguised pride.
"So many docile serpent-type magical beasts—it really is the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils!" The woman in green swept her gaze over the serpent-type magical beasts beside Qing Lin, intense delight radiating from her features.
At that moment, Qin Chen and Medusa flashed forward, appearing before the woman and serpent.
"Snake Spirit Master Green Man, Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor White Fang?" Qin Chen stood in midair with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and indifferent.
"You know us?" White Fang sized up the black-clad human youth before him, surprise in his voice.
A faintly amused smile touched Qin Chen's lips. "You came here for the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, didn't you?"
As he spoke, his gaze slowly turned toward Qing Lin.
"Who are you? How do you know this?" When Qin Chen exposed the purpose of her visit with White Fang in a single sentence, a trace of wariness flashed through Green Man's eyes.
This unfamiliar young man was no simple figure. At such a young age, he had already reached the Dou Wang realm, and there was that faint, almost imperceptible pressure. If she was not mistaken, it should be soul force.
It would be unwise to make an enemy of him!
Qin Chen raised a hand and flicked it. A streak of light shot toward Green Man on the serpent's back.
Green Man caught the streak of light and opened her palm. It was a cyan jade token, engraved with four bold, flowing characters.
"You're from Jia Nan Academy?"
Green Man was startled. So this young man was from Jia Nan Academy. No wonder he possessed such strength and confidence.
As her cry reached his ears, White Fang beneath her also narrowed his pupils.
After pondering for a long while, Green Man returned the token to Qin Chen and asked thoughtfully, "What do you intend to do?"
This man did not seem hostile. The reason she and White Fang had been able to reach this place so smoothly was likely because of him.
She had to do her best to bring Qing Lin back, but she did not want to offend Jia Nan Academy over it. It would naturally be best if the matter could be resolved peacefully.
"Why don't we go to the square and talk properly?" Qin Chen said with a smile.
Green Man and White Fang exchanged glances, then nodded. The four figures in the air slowly descended toward the enormous square.
After the time it took to burn an incense stick, the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor's huge body rose into the sky again. With a sweep of his massive tail, he stirred up a gale and fled into the distance.
Only, unlike when he had arrived, there was now a petite figure on the serpent's back.
"Ah..."
The little girl who had so sweetly called him "Young Master" had suddenly left, and Qin Chen could not help feeling a little melancholy.
"Don't worry. Heavenly Snake Mansion is one of the top ten powers in the northwest. The little girl will not be in any danger." Medusa, who had remained silent all this time, spoke softly.
"I'm not worried about Qing Lin's safety. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent her to Heavenly Snake Mansion." Qin Chen gave a helpless, bitter smile before turning serious. "We'll prepare for your evolution tomorrow."
"Mm." Medusa nodded slightly, a trace of solemnity flashing through her eyes.
As early as half a month ago, Qin Chen and Medusa had prepared all the items needed for the evolution. They had only delayed until today because of Qing Lin's matter.
The following evening, on a vibrant island in the middle of a lake.
At the center of the small island lay a sunken, open area scattered with tiny smooth stones, forming a small pool. The pool was filled with crystalline liquid, white mist curling above it and carrying an icy chill. It was Ice Spirit Cold Spring!
At the center of the pool floated a cluster of green flames. The flames pulsed slowly like a living heart, each beat releasing violent energy that made one's heart tremble.
Medusa stared silently at the green flames before her. She took a deep breath, and the hesitation in her eyes turned into determination. Then she turned to Qin Chen in the distance. "Begin."
"Mm." Qin Chen nodded slightly. Dou Qi circulated within his body as he released the restraints placed upon the Green Lotus Core Flame.
The instant the restraints were removed, the green flames surged like a vicious beast breaking free of its shackles. They expanded several feet in an instant, transforming into a massive fireball brimming with the aura of destruction.
Violent energy swept across the entire island, rapidly withering the surrounding vegetation. Large amounts of white mist also rose from the Ice Spirit Cold Spring in the pool.
Medusa raised her jade-like hand and sent a plump, lustrous pill into her red lips.
A Soul Spirit Pill, a Sixth-Grade Pill. After consumption, it could greatly increase one's soul force for a short time. It could also stabilize the mind and keep one's consciousness clear.
Medusa's evolution was an evolution of the soul. She would use soul force to condense a new body, allowing her bloodline to transform from ordinary to noble.
The Soul Spirit Pill would not only allow Medusa to keep her soul stable during the evolution, but also protect her mind, ensuring that she would not lose her reason to pain while enduring the agony of flames scorching her soul.
Feeling the soul force within her become much stronger than usual, Medusa raised her snowy white wrist and gently removed her gorgeous brocade robe.
In an instant, her flawless, delicate body, as though sculpted from warm jade, was exposed to the air. Her fair skin took on a faint blush beneath the firelight.
Medusa slightly closed her eyes and formed an unusual hand seal. As the seals changed continuously, the surrounding natural energy on the island fluctuated violently, eventually forming an enormous energy vortex.
Meanwhile, Medusa's breathtaking body was already enveloped in a dense radiance, and roars rang out from within the light.
In only a few breaths, the radiance suddenly swelled. When the blinding light faded, a giant purple serpent over thirty meters long appeared above the island.
It was Queen Medusa's companion magical beast—the Purple Nether Flame Serpent.
After its massive body coiled through the air for a moment, the giant serpent let out a clear, low cry and shot straight toward the green flames that radiated an aura of destruction.
The instant the purple serpent plunged into the Heavenly Flame, Queen Medusa's miserable scream resounded throughout Holy City.
Evolution Successful
Countless Snake-People Tribe experts looked toward the source of the screams with horrified expressions. However, because Medusa had issued strict orders beforehand, they could only wait anxiously where they stood.
The four great elders outside the temple were the same. They could only pray silently that Her Majesty the Queen would survive this ordeal.
On the island, Qin Chen stared fixedly at every movement within the Heavenly Flame. The moment Medusa showed any sign of losing control, he would activate the prepared contingency without hesitation.
Although the Soul Spirit Pill could keep Medusa conscious, it would also multiply the pain she felt.
Within the Heavenly Flame, the purple serpent's enormous body continuously shrank at a visible rate. Her brilliant scales were burned black and fell limply from her body.
Bright red blood flowed through the gaps in streams, but before it could touch the Heavenly Flame, it was burned into nothingness by the terrifying heat.
Medusa's screams lasted for a full two hours before gradually weakening. Her serpent body, originally over thirty meters long, had been reduced to less than ten meters by the Heavenly Flame.
Boom!
At that moment, thick dark clouds rolled across the previously clear sky over Holy City. Lightning flashed within the clouds like savage silver serpents.
When legendary magical beasts were born or advanced, the immense energy within their bodies would clash with the outside world, triggering certain heavenly phenomena.
This announced that Queen Medusa had successfully evolved!
Seeing this, Qin Chen understood at once and could not help letting out a sigh of relief.
It seemed he had worried too much. Even under such difficult conditions in the original story, Medusa had successfully evolved.
Now, the Green Lotus Core Flame was under his control, and with the carefully prepared pill, Medusa's evolution into the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python was naturally inevitable.
Boom!
Accompanied by a thunderous roar, the thick clouds suddenly exploded. A silver bolt of heavenly lightning as thick as a bucket, carrying an aura of destruction, crashed down upon the green flames.
On the island, Qin Chen swept his sleeve, scattering all the green mist produced by the lightning and revealing the green flames suspended in the air, along with the charred lump of flesh on the ground.
Qin Chen raised his hand and recalled the Green Lotus Core Flame into his body. Then he turned his gaze toward the charred corpse on the ground.
Crack!
A fissure suddenly split open in the blackened shell. Then, with a bang, it shattered apart as a vast aura poured forth, spreading until it enveloped the entire city.
"Wonderful! Her Majesty the Queen has succeeded!"
Throughout Holy City, countless snake-people wore ecstatic expressions as earth-shaking cheers rang into the skies.
Elsewhere.
"Hiss hiss!"
A tiny seven-colored serpent hovered above Qin Chen's palm. Her crystalline eyes were filled with longing as she stared fixedly at the Storage Ring on his finger.
Qin Chen could not help laughing. There was only one thing in his Storage Ring that could provoke such a reaction from the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python.
Rubbing his chin, Qin Chen took out an Earthfire Lotus Seed and said with a mischievous smile, "If you eat my things, you'll have to follow me."
Upon hearing this, the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python nodded her little head forcefully. The tip of her tail swayed excitedly through the air as urgent hissing came from her mouth.
Qin Chen flicked his finger, shooting the lotus seed in his hand toward the tiny seven-colored serpent. She opened her mouth and inhaled, swallowing the seed into her belly.
"Hiss hiss~"
Little Swallowing Heaven Python affectionately rubbed against Qin Chen's arm, her eyes filled with delight.
Before you continue