Medusa Queen Appears

Ding!

[Beginning to answer the host's questions.]

[1. The Soul Hall member the host devoured was merely acquired later in life, not a product born from heaven and earth.]

[2. Before the host transmigrated, Yin-Yang Twin Flame had already been absorbed by the original owner of this body. This system merely separated and fused the Heavenly Flame that had been absorbed at the time, allowing the host to perfectly control Yin-Yang Twin Flame. Therefore, no time is required.]

"Then why didn't you tell me this earlier?"

Hearing the system's response, Xie Tianxiao was somewhat speechless.

He had thought the system could immediately devour any spiritual treasure of heaven and earth. Turns out it still needed quite a bit of time. It seemed the system was not that amazing after all.

Ding!

[The host did not ask this system. This system did not know what questions the host had.]

"..."

After hearing the system's explanation, Xie Tianxiao nearly fainted.

Fine.

His fault. He had been the one who failed to ask the system in time.

"System, if I devour other Heavenly Flames, will it also take this long?" After thinking for a moment, Xie Tianxiao continued asking.

Ding!

[This system will assess the Heavenly Flame according to the strength of the Heavenly Flame devoured by the host. If the host devours a Heavenly Flame ranked in the top ten, the required time will be even longer.]

"What a hassle!"

Hearing the system's answer, Xie Tianxiao could not help frowning. "I'll be able to control all the Heavenly Flames I devour perfectly, right?"

Ding!

[Yes.]

Only after receiving the system's affirmative answer did Xie Tianxiao relax.

By that calculation, aside from the devouring time being longer than expected, everything else was more or less as he had imagined. As long as he devoured all the spiritual treasures of heaven and earth across the continent, his strength would soon reach the Dou Emperor level!

"No, I need to tell Qing Lin to return first. Otherwise, that little girl will probably keep waiting for me up there."

Xie Tianxiao thought to himself. Although he could not leave this place at the moment, that did not mean he could not use his soul power.

Immediately, Xie Tianxiao sat down cross-legged, and his Spirit Realm soul power rapidly spread upward from underground.

In mere moments, Xie Tianxiao's soul power reached the upper layer filled with fiery-red magma.

Looking at Qing Lin, who sat atop the Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake's head with her eyes closed in cultivation, Xie Tianxiao transmitted his voice, "Qing Lin, wake up."

"Huh?"

Qing Lin opened her eyes, looking slightly stunned. She glanced around and asked, "Lord Tianxiao, was that you speaking to me?"

"It was me, Qing Lin. I still have some matters to attend to underground, so I can't return with you."

"Have that Flame Spirit Snake take you out, then go to the Desert Iron Mercenary Corps and find Xiao Ding and the others. After some time, I'll come find you myself."

Hearing Qing Lin's question, Xie Tianxiao directly instructed her.

"Ah, Lord Tianxiao, did you run into some danger?"

A worried expression appeared on Qing Lin's face as she hurriedly asked.

"It's nothing. Absorbing the Heavenly Flame simply requires some time. Don't worry." Xie Tianxiao replied.

"Oh... all right, then. Lord Tianxiao, Qing Lin is leaving. Be careful!" Qing Lin said reluctantly.

"Remember, if you encounter any danger after leaving, have that Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake come out and help you," Xie Tianxiao added.

"Mhm, I understand, Lord Tianxiao."

After obediently agreeing, Qing Lin gently patted the Flame Spirit Snake beneath her.

Shriek—

The Twin-Headed Flame Spirit Snake let out a piercing cry. Its enormous body shook as it flew toward the surface.

Watching Qing Lin leave, Xie Tianxiao finally withdrew his soul power and focused his attention on the Heavenly Flame before him once more.

"System, how far has the Heavenly Flame devouring progressed?"

Ding!

[Two percent... devouring in progress...]

"Ah, no choice but to wait slowly."

After hearing the system prompt, Xie Tianxiao sighed and closed his eyes to meditate.

Time quietly passed, and in the blink of an eye, forty-seven days went by.

That day, a figure with enormous crimson wings spread behind her suddenly descended upon the eastern desert outside Stone Desert City.

"The aura of a Heavenly Flame..."

The figure's red lips parted as she softly spoke. Then her eyes flickered, and a red energy barrier abruptly condensed around her.

The next instant, she shot straight into the depths of the desert.

Before long, the figure arrived at the magma cavern where Xie Tianxiao had once stayed.

Looking at the scorching magma below, red light flashed in her eyes. Then the figure suddenly leaped into the magma and, like a fish, swiftly dived deeper.

At the same time, Xie Tianxiao opened his eyes. A sharp gleam flashed within them as he looked up at the approaching figure.

"She's here."

As the figure above gradually grew larger, Xie Tianxiao's lips curled into a smile.

Soon, the figure also spotted Xie Tianxiao and stopped ten meters above him.

"I've long heard of your great name, Medusa Queen." Xie Tianxiao smiled faintly.

Medusa's beauty was so exquisite that it bordered on bewitching. Her long, narrow pale-violet eyes possessed an innate charm that could draw in the gaze of nearly every man.

She wore a regal purple brocade robe. Beneath it, her voluptuous, delicate body resembled a ripe peach, exuding a faint, seductive allure. Her long black hair cascaded loosely from her fragrant shoulders, falling straight to her slender willow-like waist.

Below the robe, a section of purple snake tail was exposed. As it gently swayed, its wild, enchanting allure made one's whole body inexplicably grow hot.

"Who are you? I don't recall ever having seen you."

Medusa stared coldly at Xie Tianxiao, her eyes filled with vigilance and hostility.

"You may not have seen me, but with your notorious reputation and beauty throughout the Jia Ma Empire, is it so strange that I would know you?" Xie Tianxiao said unhurriedly, his gaze calm as water.

Upon hearing this, Medusa Queen narrowed her eyes. A threadlike streak of red light burst forth from her crimson pupils.

The next moment.

Medusa Queen suddenly shot forward. A longsword gleaming with red light appeared in her hand, and with a piercing whistle, she lunged at Xie Tianxiao with lethal intent.

"A futile effort."

The expression on Xie Tianxiao's face remained unchanged. He slightly lifted his eyelids and casually glanced at Medusa.

Just as the longsword in Medusa Queen's hand touched Xie Tianxiao's body, it was sent flying by the energy fluctuations rippling across his surface. A trace of blood spilled from the corner of her lips.

"What is going on? My attack actually had no effect on him!"

Medusa Queen's face was somewhat pale, and her eyes were filled with shock.

That strike had not even touched a corner of his clothing before the energy fluctuations on his body had injured her.

This human's strength was actually this terrifying!

"Medusa Queen truly lives up to her reputation for ruthlessness. You tried to kill me so quickly."

"Unfortunately, with merely your peak Dou King strength, you are not even qualified to touch me."

Seeing Medusa's expression, a teasing curve formed at Xie Tianxiao's lips as he spoke calmly.