On the Battle Qi Continent, there were two ways to rapidly raise one's soul realm. One was to consume heavenly treasures capable of directly enhancing soul power, while the other was to absorb Soul Origin.
Relationship Breakthrough
If Qin Chen wanted his soul power to swiftly break into the Spirit Realm, he had to prepare on both fronts. There were still some ways to obtain heavenly treasures, but he had no idea how to acquire a large amount of Soul Origin in a short time.
After all, his current strength was still far too weak. Trying to mooch off a colossal force like Soul Hall was simply unrealistic.
Thus, Qin Chen set his sights on some of Soul Hall's Protectors.
Soul Hall had vast resources, and besides, the Northwestern Continent was not the Central Plains. They would never make a huge fuss over a few Protectors.
Before heading to the Central Plains, Qin Chen would definitely kill quite a few people in the Northwestern Continent. If he could obtain the method for extracting Soul Origin, he could rapidly improve his soul realm.
Therefore...
"Protector Wu, you're dead for sure. Even Jesus himself won't be able to save you. That's what I, Qin, said!"
"One Purple Crystal Winged Lion King isn't enough. I should find a few more magical beasts to test myself against, and gather some medicinal ingredients in the Magical Beast Mountain Range while I'm at it..."
Qin Chen leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of light as he shot deeper into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
One month later, within the Snake-People Holy Temple.
Medusa lounged against an icy crystal throne, her expression languid as she dozed lightly.
Upon hearing the sound of something cutting through the air, she slowly opened her autumn-water eyes. "It seems your progress hasn't been bad..."
Qin Chen landed in the hall and smiled. "Isn't Your Majesty the Queen the same?"
Medusa had not deliberately concealed herself, so Qin Chen quickly sensed the aura that was even more vast and powerful than before.
Three-Star Dou Zong!
That was only natural. The Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python possessed extraordinary talent. So long as she had sufficient cultivation resources, Medusa could advance rapidly.
It seemed that the pills and heavenly treasures he had left for her before entering seclusion had worked rather well.
Back in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Qin Chen had already noticed that Medusa's soul had begun gradually merging with Little Swallowing Heaven Python's.
During this period, Medusa had consumed quite a few pills. Not only had her Battle Qi level risen, but her soul power had also strengthened considerably, causing the two souls to fuse more closely.
Even so, Medusa would still need at least two years to completely take control of the body.
"Hehe!" Qin Chen secretly laughed to himself.
This was exactly what he had been waiting for!
Medusa and Xiaocai were two souls within one body. If the gap in their soul power became too great, one side would completely crush the other.
At this stage, because the difference in strength was too vast, there was no possibility of a stalemate. Thus, no matter who controlled the body, it was difficult for the other to influence her.
However, if both sides possessed comparable soul power and the other had not fallen asleep, their thoughts would influence one another.
In other words, now was the best time for Qin Chen to get a handle on Medusa!
At that thought, Qin Chen's smile grew even broader.
Watching Qin Chen grin for no apparent reason, Medusa could not help becoming wary.
This guy is definitely up to no good!
Her slender brows furrowed slightly as she said coldly, "You came to find me immediately after breaking through. Don't tell me it was merely to flaunt that insignificant bit of progress?"
"Of course not."
After sizing Medusa up for a moment, Qin Chen slowly said, "I came to seek Your Majesty the Queen's help. You know that I'll be making a trip to the Misty Cloud Sect in a few months."
"You want me to help you deal with a Dou Zong expert?"
The corners of Medusa's eyes lifted slightly, carrying a hint of mockery. "There does not seem to be such a term in our agreement, does there?"
When Qin Chen faced a life-threatening crisis, she naturally had the obligation to act. As for anything else, that depended on her mood.
And now he actually wanted her to help Yun Yun? Hmph, what wishful thinking!
You damned tsundere...
He muttered inwardly, but the smile on his face remained unchanged as Qin Chen asked, "Your Majesty the Queen, what was your goal in risking your life to evolve?"
"Naturally, it was to lead my people out of the desert," Medusa replied blandly.
This land of endless yellow sand lacked resources and was fraught with danger. It was extremely unsuitable for the cold-natured Snake-People to live in. Only by leaving this place could the Snake-People Tribe truly have a future.
"Exactly!"
Qin Chen nodded in satisfaction. "That is precisely why you should help me with this."
"What does this have to do with my tribe leaving the desert?" Medusa questioned, clearly unable to understand the logic behind his words.
"Of course it does!"
Qin Chen chuckled and explained, "With your current Dou Zong strength, you naturally have the ability to lead the Snake-People Tribe out of the desert. But all around the Tagore Desert are human territories. Where could you take them? And how would you protect them afterward?"
"You should know that the empires in this region all possess Dou Zong-level combat power. Even after you lead your people out of the desert, they will still face many potential threats."
"But if you accompany me to the Jia Ma Empire, you can use this as an opening to secure a stable place for the Snake-People Tribe to settle."
"That way, not only can you avoid the wars the Snake-People Tribe would face during migration, but when necessary, you can also ally with the Jia Ma Empire and resist the other empires together."
"Your Majesty the Queen, you must understand that if the Snake-People Tribe wishes to grow stronger, contact with humans is absolutely unavoidable."
"And among the other empires besides the Jia Ma Empire, Your Majesty the Queen should know their conduct and strength best."
Qin Chen suddenly stepped closer to Medusa and took hold of her soft, boneless jade hand. "Your Majesty the Queen, you surely want to give your people an environment where they can live and work in peace, don't you?"
"You don't want to see your people suffer through war either, do you?"
"So you have to help me!"
What was the best way to break through the ordinary boundaries between a man and a woman?
Naturally, physical contact!
"How dare you act so presumptuously!"
Medusa immediately flew into a rage, raising her other fair wrist to slap Qin Chen.
Smack~
Medusa had originally intended to send Qin Chen flying with a slap, but in the end, the force behind it was not even enough to knock his hand away from her arm.
Don't hit him! He's a good person! You have to listen to him!
"Damn it... why now of all times..."
Feeling that thought in her heart growing stronger and stronger, Medusa gritted her pearly teeth in anger, while a flush spread across her cheeks.
It was the Heaven-Devouring Python!
That damned Heaven-Devouring Python was influencing her emotions again and fighting her for control of the body!
Seeing this, Qin Chen was overjoyed.
It really worked!
All those delicious meals I fed Xiaocai weren't for nothing!
Qin Chen quickly struck while the iron was hot, smiling as he asked, "Well, Your Majesty the Queen, what do you think?"
"Hmph!"
Medusa forcibly suppressed the churning anger in her heart, as well as that inexplicable fluttering sensation. She coldly shook off Qin Chen's hand. "Fine. I agree."
"Thank you, Your Majesty the Queen." Qin Chen chuckled. "I won't let you work for nothing. I'll refine more pills for you during this time."
"Let go..."
The Current Situation of All Sides
"Ah, another precious batch of medicinal ingredients wasted."
Qin Chen looked at the medicine cauldron that had turned into fragments and helplessly shook his head.
The medicine cauldrons that could be found around the Jia Ma Empire were simply too fragile. They could not withstand his repeated refinement of Sixth-Grade Pills at all.
"Once the Three-Year Agreement ends, I must head to the Black-Corner Region as soon as possible and take the Myriad Beast Cauldron Han Feng prepared for me." Rubbing his chin, Qin Chen thought to himself.
Buzz!
At that moment, the surrounding space rippled faintly. A graceful red figure appeared beside Qin Chen like a ghost, utterly soundless.
"Have all the pills been refined?" Medusa asked blandly, looking as though she were merely handling routine business.
"They're all here."
Qin Chen chuckled. With a wave of his sleeve, eight sealed jade bottles flew toward Medusa.
After receiving the pills, Medusa did not linger. With a flash, she vanished from Qin Chen's sight.
"Interesting!"
Sensing the faint fragrance Medusa had left behind, a teasing smile curled across Qin Chen's lips.
Let's see how long you can keep running!
Though this woman appeared cold on the surface, she was actually flustered inside and wanted to use this method to avoid reality.
Ever since the previous incident, Medusa had discovered the influence Little Swallowing Heaven Python had on her. She disliked that feeling, so she had deliberately and unconsciously avoided Qin Chen lately.
If Qin Chen had not expressly ordered that only she could come collect the pills this time, this woman would have continued hiding from him.
As for the eight jade bottles Qin Chen had thrown to Medusa, they contained four Sect-Breaking Pills and four Azure Nether Longevity Pills.
Their purpose was naturally to help the four Elders break through to Dou Zong. Besides that, Qin Chen had also given them several Earth Grade cultivation techniques and Battle Skills obtained from that cave.
The four Elders had remained at Peak Dou Emperor for many years, and the accumulation within their bodies had long since become sufficient. With pills as protection and cultivation techniques providing an opportunity, their chances of successfully advancing to Dou Zong would certainly not be low.
For the Demon Flame Map Fragment in Black Mark City, as well as Han Feng, that great treasure trove, Qin Chen would immediately set out for the Black-Corner Region after the Three-Year Agreement ended.
However, the Black-Corner Region was filled with experts. It was simply not something he could handle at present, so bringing Medusa along was necessary.
Whether it was to put Medusa at ease or to deepen the relationship between them, Qin Chen had to help her stabilize her rear base.
After all, she was his future woman...
You ask where he got so many medicinal ingredients?
Before you continue