Battle Through the Heavens: Beginning the Path to Rise at Canaan Academy

"You seem quite concerned about that little maid." A lazy voice rang out as Medusa appeared beside Qin Chen at some unknown moment.

Qin Chen nodded and said sentimentally, "Because she's of mixed Snake-People blood, Qing Lin often suffered the cold stares of others in the past and lived a hard life. Seeing her like this now makes me very happy."

"I'm afraid the joy in your heart comes from more than just that."

Medusa's alluring phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze swept over Qing Lin in the plaza. 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 Green Snake Three-Flower Eyes.

However, although the Snake-People Tribe did have records in this regard, they were incomplete. The only useful thing was a Xuan-tier cultivation technique suitable for Qing Lin.

Even though this old woman had seen through his intentions, Qin Chen was not annoyed. He said righteously, "This is called mutual affection. What would an outsider like you know?"

"Hehe!"

Hearing such utterly shameless words, Medusa was so angry that she laughed. She had never imagined Qin Chen's skin could be this thick!

Qin Chen ignored the woman's mockery. If his skin were not thick enough, how could he build a harem?

"Hmph!" Medusa gave a soft snort and said seriously, "The people from Heavenly Snake Mansion have entered my tribe's territory. Following your request, I have already issued orders for the leaders of the eight tribes not to stop them. They should arrive here soon."

"Mm." Qin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly at her words. His fingers 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 Green Snake Three-Flower Eyes far more than he had imagined.

Qing Lin Leaves, the Beginning of Evolution

"Ha ha ha... Medusa, my woman, I've come for you!"

Before the two could finish speaking, an arrogant, unruly laugh rolled in from the distant sky like thunder. The laughter was filled with undisguised dominance and possessiveness, as though Medusa had long been his to claim.

Qin Chen raised a brow and discreetly glanced at Medusa beside him. Cold light flickered in her eyes, and her beautiful 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 suspiciously toward the source of the voice.

Qing Lin also halted her ongoing battle, her clear eyes turning toward the direction the voice had come from.

High in the sky, an enormous black shadow swept over at high speed. Moments later, a dark giant snake with four pairs of broad wings entered their sight. A woman in green sat upon its back.

"Ha ha... Green Man, I told you so. Our holy maiden really is here!" Its enormous triangular pupils fixed tightly on Qing Lin in the plaza. The Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor opened and closed its huge jaws, its voice brimming with undisguised pride.

"So many docile snake-type magical beasts... It really is the Green Snake Three-Flower Eyes!" The woman in green swept her gaze over the several snake-type magical beasts beside Qing Lin, joy radiating from between her brows.

At that moment, Qin Chen and Medusa flashed forward, appearing before the woman and snake.

"Snake Spirit User Green Man, Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor White Fang?" Qin Chen stood in the air with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and indifferent.

"You know us?" White Fang looked Qin Chen, the black-clad human youth, up and down in surprise.

A faint, inscrutable smile appeared on Qin Chen's lips. "You came here for the Green Snake Three-Flower Eyes, didn't you?"

As he spoke, his gaze slowly shifted toward Qing Lin.

"Who are you? How do you know all this?" Green Man's eyes flashed with vigilance when Qin Chen exposed the purpose of her and White Fang in a single sentence.

This unfamiliar youth was no simple figure. At such a young age, he had already cultivated to the Dou King realm, and there was also that faint yet discernible pressure. If she was not mistaken, it should be soul power.

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 snake's back.

Green Man caught the streak of light and opened her palm. It was a jade-green token, carved with four bold, sweeping characters.

"You're from Canaan Academy?"

Green Man was startled. So this youth was from Canaan Academy. No wonder he possessed such strength and confidence.

The cry of surprise reached White Fang's ears, and the pupils of the snake beneath her contracted slightly as well.

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 thanks to him.

She was determined to bring Qing Lin back with her, but she did not wish to offend Canaan Academy over it. If the matter could be resolved peacefully, that would naturally be best.

"Why don't we go to the plaza and discuss this properly?" Qin Chen said with a smile.

Green Man and White Fang exchanged a glance and nodded. Then, the four figures in the sky slowly descended toward the enormous plaza.

After the time it took to burn an incense stick, the Eight-Winged Black Snake Emperor's enormous body rose into the air once more. With a sweep of its massive tail, it stirred up a fierce gale and sped into the distance.

Only, unlike when it had arrived, there was now a petite figure on its back.

"Ah..."

The girl who had sweetly called him "Young Master" had suddenly left, and Qin Chen could not help feeling a little melancholy.

"There's no need to worry. Heavenly Snake Mansion is one of the top ten forces in the northwest. Nothing will happen to the little girl." 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, then said seriously, "We'll begin the 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 everything needed for the evolution. They had merely delayed it 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 was a sunken open area. Fine, smooth pebbles lay scattered within it, forming a small pool filled with crystal-clear liquid. White mist lingered above it, spreading an icy chill. It was the Ice Spirit Cold Spring!

A cluster of green flames floated at the center of the pool. The flames pulsed slowly like a living heart, each beat releasing terrifyingly violent energy.

Medusa stared quietly at the green flames before her. She took a deep breath, and the hesitation in her eyes turned into resolve. Then she turned to Qin Chen in the distance. "Begin."

"Mm." Qin Chen nodded faintly. Dou Qi circulated through his body as he lifted the restraints placed on the Green Lotus Core Flame.

The instant the restraints were released, the cluster of green flames swelled violently like a ferocious beast breaking free from its shackles. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a huge fireball filled with an aura of destruction.

Violent energy swept across the entire island, rapidly withering the surrounding vegetation. The Ice Spirit Cold Spring in the small pool also steamed with great amounts of white mist.

Seeing this, Medusa raised her jade-like hand and placed a lustrous pill into her red lips.

The Soul Spirit Pill was a sixth-grade pill. After consumption, it could greatly increase one's soul power for a short period of time. It also stabilized the mind and kept one's spiritual platform clear.

Medusa's evolution involved evolving her soul, using soul power to condense a new body and thereby complete the transformation of her bloodline from ordinary to noble.

The Soul Spirit Pill would not only keep Medusa's soul stable during the evolution, but also protect her mind, ensuring that she would not lose her reason to the agony of flames burning her soul.

Feeling her soul power become far stronger than usual, Medusa raised her snow-white wrist and gently removed her luxurious brocade robe.

In an instant, her flawless, delicate body, seemingly carved from warm jade, was exposed to the air. Under the glow of the firelight, her fair skin took on a faint blush.

Her eyes slowly closed as Medusa formed a strange hand seal. With the constant changes in the seal, the surrounding natural energy on the island began to surge violently, eventually forming a massive energy vortex.

At that moment, Medusa's breathtaking body was already enveloped in a dense glow, and roars shook out from within the light.

In only a few breaths, the glow suddenly intensified. Once the blinding radiance faded, a massive purple snake over thirty meters long appeared above the island.

It was Medusa Queen's companion magical beast—the Purple Nether Flame Serpent.

After its enormous body coiled through the air for a moment, the purple snake let out a clear cry and charged straight toward the cluster of green flames radiating destruction.

The instant the purple snake plunged into the Heavenly Flame, Medusa Queen's shrill scream echoed throughout Holy City.

Evolution Successful

Countless Snake-People experts looked toward the source of the scream, their faces filled with horror. However, because Medusa had previously issued strict orders, they could only wait anxiously where they stood.

The four great elders outside the temple were no different. They could only pray silently that Her Majesty the Queen would survive this ordeal.

On the island, Qin Chen stared intently at every movement within the Heavenly Flame. The moment Medusa showed any sign of losing control, he would immediately activate the contingency plan he had prepared.

Although the Soul Spirit Pill could keep Medusa conscious, it would also multiply the pain she felt.

Within the Heavenly Flame, the purple snake's enormous body continuously shrank at a visible rate. Its dazzling scales were burned black and fell weakly from its body.

Crimson blood flowed from the gaps, but before it could touch the Heavenly Flame, it was incinerated into nothingness by the terrifying heat.

Medusa's screams lasted for a full half-hour before gradually weakening. Her originally massive body had been reduced by the Heavenly Flame to less than ten meters long.

Rumble!

At that moment, heavy dark clouds rolled over the previously clear sky above Holy City. Lightning flickered within the clouds like ferocious silver serpents.

When legendary magical beasts were born or advanced, the immense energy within their bodies could clash with the outside world and trigger various natural phenomena.

This announced that Medusa Queen had successfully evolved!

Seeing this, Qin Chen understood and could not help letting out a sigh of relief.

It seemed he had worried too much. Medusa had managed to evolve successfully even under such harsh conditions in the original story.

Now that the Green Lotus Core Flame was under his control, and with the carefully prepared pills, Medusa's evolution into the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python had been inevitable.

Boom!

With a thunderous roar, the heavy cloud layer suddenly exploded. A silver heavenly bolt as thick as a barrel, carrying an aura of destruction, struck down at the green flames.

On the island, Qin Chen waved his sleeve and scattered all the green mist produced by the lightning, revealing the green flames floating in the air and the charred mass of flesh on the ground.

Qin Chen raised a hand and recalled the Green Lotus Core Flame into his body, then turned his gaze toward the charred corpse on the ground.

Crack!

A fissure suddenly opened in the blackened shell. Then, with a bang, it shattered apart as a vast aura surged forth, spreading until it enveloped the entire city.

"Wonderful! Her Majesty the Queen has succeeded!"

Within Holy City, countless Snake-People wore ecstatic expressions as earth-shaking cheers soared into the sky.

Elsewhere.

"Hiss hiss!"

A tiny seven-colored snake floated above Qin Chen's palm. Its crystalline eyes were filled with longing as they stared fixedly at the storage ring on his finger.

Qin Chen laughed. There was only one thing in his storage ring capable of drawing such a strong reaction from the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python.

Rubbing his chin, Qin Chen took out an Earthfire Lotus Seed and said with a wicked grin, "If you eat my things, then you'll have to follow me~"

Hearing this, the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python nodded its little head vigorously, its tail tip swaying excitedly through the air as urgent hissing sounds escaped its mouth.

Qin Chen flicked his finger, shooting the lotus seed in his hand toward the tiny seven-colored snake. The latter inhaled with its snake mouth and swallowed the seed into its belly.

"Hiss hiss~"

The little Heaven-Devouring Python affectionately rubbed against Qin Chen's arm, its eyes filled with delight.