Negotiating with Medusa

Gu He and his group continued onward.

Only after they had gone far away did Xiao Yan, who had been hiding behind a sand dune, poke his head out.

With Old Yao helping conceal his aura, even an ordinary Dou Emperor would not be able to detect him.

"Teacher, it looks like they're heading for the Snake People too," Xiao Yan said.

"They appeared here with such a large entourage—several Dou Spirits and Dou Kings. That black-robed man's aura is extremely well hidden; he's likely a Dou Emperor as well." Old Yao had also been observing Gu He and the others and had gleaned some details.

Dou Spirits and Dou Kings were one thing.

But the arrival of a Dou Emperor made Xiao Yan suspicious.

"Teacher, do you think they're after the Heavenly Flame too?"

"This... it can't be that much of a coincidence, can it?"

"If they really are after the Heavenly Flame too, then we need to pick up the pace." With that, Xiao Yan hurried after them.

Snake People Royal City.

Mo Ba Si, one of the Snake People leaders, also rushed over and entered the royal city's main hall.

"Yue Mei, are those humans really so strong that you had to summon us so urgently?" The moment he saw Yue Mei, Mo Ba Si could not help asking.

Not long ago, Yue Mei had issued an emergency assembly notice to all Snake People leaders on behalf of Queen Medusa. Mo Ba Si had rushed over immediately.

"Three Dou Spirits, three Dou Kings, and one who is likely a Dou Emperor... Tell me, are they strong or not?"

Yue Mei had fought alongside Gu He's group the previous night.

Though she had only exchanged blows with Yan Shi at the time,

she had noticed the others present as well. None of them were weak.

And they were definitely not people who had "just happened to pass by"!

Those people had come specifically for the Snake People!

"What did the Queen say?"

"The Queen is currently in seclusion. She only told me to summon all of you and said nothing else," Yue Mei said.

"She chose this time to enter seclusion?" Mo Ba Si frowned. "And humans from the Jia Ma Empire haven't come to the desert for a long time. Why would they suddenly come now?"

Though the Snake People had been driven into a place like this, humans had still feared them over the years.

At the very least, no one had dared come into the desert to cause trouble until now.

So many powerful experts arriving at once left them no choice but to suspect something.

Just then, a powerful aura that did not belong to the Snake People suddenly came from outside.

Mo Ba Si and Yue Mei's expressions changed at the same time, and they immediately turned and flew out.

Outside the Snake People Royal City, a massive flying magical beast had come to a stop, startling the guards into hurriedly raising their weapons at them.

It was Wu Changqing and the others!

"I am Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire. I have business with Queen Medusa and request an audience!"

Gu He's voice echoed throughout the skies above the Snake People Royal City.

Yue Mei and Mo Ba Si's expressions shifted slightly.

Not only because of Gu He's rude behavior, but also because of his identity.

"So this guy is Gu He, the Jia Ma Empire's Pill King?" Yue Mei had not known their true identities when she met them the night before.

Only after Gu He spoke did she realize these people were anything but ordinary.

"Humans, I didn't expect you to dare come here. If you know what's good for you, get lost at once. This is not a place where you can run wild!" Yue Mei said coldly.

"I merely wish to meet Queen Medusa," Gu He said.

"Our Queen receives no guests today." Mo Ba Si refused without giving him any face.

Though the other party was the famed Pill King of the Jia Ma Empire,

in this situation, no one's status would make a difference.

Gu He did not retreat. Instead, he continued calling out toward the royal city, "I am Gu He. I have come on an important matter to discuss with Queen Medusa. I ask that the Queen grant me an audience."

Seeing how persistent he was, Yue Mei frowned as well.

Why were these humans so stubborn?

They had already been refused, yet they still would not leave.

However, since they were not leaving, Yue Mei and Mo Ba Si did not attack them directly either.

They were not at an advantage right now. If Gu He could draw Medusa out, that would actually be a good thing.

Wu Changqing waited quietly at the side.

He was in no hurry. He only needed to let the plot unfold step by step.

Once the time was right and the Snake People fell into chaos, he could seize the chance to take the Heavenly Flame.

At last, after Gu He's relentless calls, Medusa appeared.

The sky warped slightly, and a woman clad in a purple brocade robe emerged.

It was Queen Medusa!

Though Wu Changqing had already formed a rough image of her in his mind, seeing her in person for the first time still left him stunned by her breathtaking beauty.

And that lofty, regal bearing of hers was beyond comparison with ordinary people!

"Queen Medusa..." he murmured.

The others also instinctively tensed upon seeing Queen Medusa.

She was an infamous woman, and countless powerful experts had died at her hands.

No one could remain calm when facing Queen Medusa.

"Master Gu He personally visiting my Snake People truly surprises me," Medusa said. Her gaze swept over Gu He before settling on Wu Changqing.

This person... was not simple.

Her instincts told her that Wu Changqing was no ordinary human.

Seeing Medusa emerge, Gu He got straight to the point. "I heard that Queen Medusa possesses a Heavenly Flame. I came this time in hopes of exchanging something with Your Majesty for it."

Medusa raised a slender brow. "Master Gu He is certainly well informed. Even such a secret reached your ears."

Gu He smiled. "The Heavenly Flame is harmful and useless to the Snake People's cold-blooded constitution. It would not serve much purpose in Your Majesty's hands."

"If Your Majesty is willing to give me the Heavenly Flame, I am willing to offer one Transformation Pill and two Dou Spirit Pills in exchange."

This offer shocked everyone else.

A Transformation Pill was a seventh-grade medicinal pill.

A Dou Spirit Pill was a sixth-grade medicinal pill.

Both types of pills were temptations the current Snake People could not refuse.

Even Medusa was startled inwardly.

But she quickly shook her head. "Your offer does indeed tempt me. If it were anything else, I would agree."

"But as for the Heavenly Flame, no matter what price you offer, I will not exchange it."

"You may leave. In consideration of your identity, Gu He, I will overlook your offense of trespassing into Snake People territory this time."

Medusa's refusal was firm and merciless, leaving no room for negotiation.

Gu He's expression changed slightly, and he remained silent for a long time.

"Old He, what do we do? Go back?" Yan Shi asked.

"What else can we do? Force our way in?" Gu He smiled bitterly.

He had come to make a trade, not launch an assault.

"That may not be impossible." Wu Changqing finally stepped forward.

"Queen Medusa wants the Heavenly Flame in order to evolve and break into the Dou Ancestor realm."

"And now is the crucial moment of her evolution. The Queen before us is only an avatar; her true body cannot fight."

"This is our only chance. We can force our way in."

His words immediately shocked everyone.

Even Medusa looked at him at once, a flash of surprise and fury glinting in her narrow eyes.