"Phew~ That scared the life out of me. Who was that person? He was terrifying—his aura alone made me feel completely powerless."
Within Tagor Oasis, inside a newly grown forest that was not particularly lush but brimmed with vitality and strove to develop into a primeval woodland, a figure entirely cloaked in black robes let out a long breath.
Beneath the black veil stirred by the breeze, the delicate, gaunt face of a young man was faintly revealed, still bearing lingering fear.
Hearing Xiao Yan's muttering, Yao Chen's voice sounded in his mind.
"Who told you to let your lust get the better of you? Stealing the flame would have been one thing, but you even refused to leave Medusa's new body alone."
He truly had some admiration for Xiao Yan's ability to court death. A mere Da Dou Shi actually wanted to keep the evolved body of a Peak Dou Emperor at his side as a pet.
Hearing Yao Chen's jab, Xiao Yan subconsciously rubbed his nose, then gave an embarrassed laugh. Looking at the Nine-Colored Little Snake wrapped around his wrist like a ribbon, he began defending himself.
"This little thing is so pretty—who could resist? Besides, didn't Teacher praise its talent to the skies? This is an Ancient Times Variant Beast with limitless potential, one that could very likely grow into a Dou Sheng in the future. If I can make it mine, wouldn't that be no worse than controlling a Heavenly Flame? I have to build a good relationship with it while it's like a newborn. In the future, it could be a valuable helper and companion."
Xiao Yan stroked the little snake sleeping soundly around his wrist. He simply could not connect it with that madwoman at the Peak Dou Emperor level.
Now, it was