Black-Corner Region

As one of the top powers in the Northwestern Continent, Sky Serpent Mansion had Dou Zong experts stationed within it. If he could bring this force under his control...

Lu Xia's gaze fell on Qinglin's innocent smiling face. Before sending her to Sky Serpent Mansion, he still needed to deepen the bond between them.

He had to make her recognize him as her brother from the bottom of her heart, so that even after going to Sky Serpent Mansion, her heart would always remain on his side.

Having made up his mind, Lu Xia turned his gaze toward Medusa.

As if sensing his gaze, Medusa raised her head and met his eyes.

She still carried the pride of a queen, though there was less hatred and killing intent in her eyes.

After meeting Lu Xia's gaze for several seconds, she gave a cold snort, turned her head away, and stopped looking at him.

Seeing her tsundere manner, the corners of Lu Xia's lips unconsciously rose.

There was still an agreement between him and Medusa.

He would help her evolve her bloodline and break through to the Dou Zong realm.

Medusa's talent was exceptional. Once she broke through to Dou Zong, her strength would undergo a qualitative leap, and she would become one of his most capable helpers.

However, if Medusa wanted to evolve the bloodline of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, she had to rely on the power of a Heavenly Flame.

He had already refined the Green Lotus Core Flame to evolve his Woeful Poison Body. He could hardly pull the Heavenly Flame back out and give it to her.

If he wanted to help her, he had to find another Heavenly Flame.

Moreover, Medusa's bloodline evolution would not completely refine the Heavenly Flame. He could still refine it himself and further evolve his Poison Dao Spirit Body, killing two birds with one stone.

Heavenly Flames were rare. There were only a limited number across the entire Dou Qi Continent. Where could he find another suitable one?

Lu Xia closed his eyes in thought, rapidly searching through the known locations of Heavenly Flames in his mind.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up.

The Black-Corner Region!

Didn't Han Feng, the Medicine Emperor of the Black-Corner Region, happen to possess the Sea Heart Flame?

It was the fifteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame, and its power was considerable. Whether it was used to help Medusa evolve her bloodline or to temper his Poison Dao Spirit Body, it could not have been more suitable.

Besides the Sea Heart Flame, the Fallen Heart Flame lay beneath Jia Nan Academy. But that Heavenly Flame was currently sealed layer upon layer by Jia Nan Academy, making it no easy task to obtain.

Although Han Feng was a sixth-tier alchemist with cultivation at the Dou Emperor Peak, he truly was not much in front of Lu Xia now.

Judging by the route toward Sky Serpent Mansion, they would pass through the Black-Corner Region anyway.

He could first go to the Black-Corner Region, take Han Feng's Sea Heart Flame, and help Medusa break through to Dou Zong.

By then, he and Medusa would be two Dou Zong experts. When they sent Qinglin to Sky Serpent Mansion, those people would have to think carefully before daring to entertain any crooked ideas.

The more Lu Xia thought about it, the more perfect the plan seemed.

Once matters in the Black-Corner Region were settled and Qinglin was properly arranged, it would be about time for him to return to the Chu Yun Empire.

Thinking of this, Lu Xia's gaze drifted eastward, toward the direction of the Chu Yun Empire.

He wondered how Xiao Yi Xian was doing now.

After being apart for so long, with her talent, she should have made some progress in cultivating the Seven-Colored Poison Scripture by now, shouldn't she?

He wondered whether she had listened to him and gone to Wu Tian Manor to find Dugu Mei.

Lu Xia's expression unconsciously softened, and a trace of concern and loneliness appeared between his brows.

"Brother Xia?"

A clear voice rang out beside him.

Lu Xia came back to his senses and turned to Qinglin.

She had leaned close to him, her eyes filled with concern.

"Brother Xia, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? I saw you frowning the whole time just now."

She was thoughtful and perceptive, and she had caught that fleeting moment of low spirits from Lu Xia.

Medusa also turned to look at Lu Xia, a trace of confusion in her eyes.

It was the first time she had seen such an expression on Lu Xia's face. In her impression, this man had always looked as though everything was under his control, calm and unruffled.

With both women looking at him, Lu Xia smiled and said gently,

"It's nothing. I was just thinking about where we should go next."

"Then where are we going next?"

Qinglin blinked and asked curiously.

The farthest she had ever traveled in her life was the area around Stone Desert City. Now that she was following Brother Xia, everywhere felt new and exciting.

Medusa also looked over, her eyes carrying a trace of scrutiny.

Even now, she did not know what faction Lu Xia belonged to or where he intended to take them, and she was somewhat curious as well.

Looking at the two women, Lu Xia slowly said,

"Next, we're going to the Black-Corner Region."

"The Black-Corner Region?"

Qinglin shook her head blankly. Having grown up in Stone Desert City, she had never heard of a place called the Black-Corner Region.

But when Medusa heard those three words, her expression changed slightly.

She knew what kind of place the Black-Corner Region was.

It was a famous lawless region in the Northwestern Continent, filled with powerful experts. Neither the Jia Ma Empire nor several neighboring countries were willing to provoke that place.

What was Lu Xia going to do in the Black-Corner Region?

She secretly guessed that perhaps Lu Xia was from Jia Nan Academy?

Or... perhaps he was from Demon Flame Valley?

Just as Medusa was privately speculating, Lu Xia turned his head and looked at her, smiling.

"Next, I'll fulfill my promise and help you break through to Dou Zong. We're going to the Black-Corner Region to obtain a Heavenly Flame and help you evolve your bloodline."

"What did you say?"

Medusa abruptly raised her head, surprise on her face.

He was going to the Black-Corner Region to find a Heavenly Flame for her?

She had thought that when Lu Xia said he would help her break through to Dou Zong, he had merely been making an empty promise that would only be fulfilled much later.

She had not expected him to have kept it in mind all along.

For a moment, Medusa's heart seemed to be lightly struck by something, sending ripples through it.

The grievances and humiliation she had suffered over these past days seemed to fade somewhat at that moment.

She looked at Lu Xia with a complicated gaze.

Although this man always bullied her, took advantage of her, and treated her like a maid, at least... he was a man of his word. He had not deceived her.

Noticing the change in Medusa's eyes, Lu Xia's smile grew even wider.

This was the first step in slowly taming her.

Medusa noticed Lu Xia's teasing gaze, and her face grew warm. She hurriedly concealed the emotions in her eyes and resumed her cold, haughty demeanor.

"Hmph! At least you still have a bit of conscience and remember what you promised this Queen."

Lu Xia chuckled. "I keep my word. Naturally, I won't deceive you."

Qinglin only half understood from the side, but she knew it was a good thing and revealed a happy smile.

"That's wonderful! Sister Medusa is going to become stronger!"

Medusa glanced at the excited Qinglin, her gaze softening, but she said nothing.

With the plan decided, the three of them did not hurry on their way.

Night fell quickly at the edge of the desert. As the sun set, darkness descended.

Lu Xia gathered some dry firewood and lit a campfire.

Qinglin enthusiastically roasted meat.

Soon, the fragrance of roasted meat filled the air.

The meat Qinglin roasted was charred on the outside and tender within, and it tasted quite good.

At first, Medusa maintained her queenly airs, but in the end, unable to resist the aroma, she began taking small bites as well.

Along the way, they had gone from being at each other's throats to sitting together and quietly eating roasted meat. Without realizing it, the relationship between them had grown much closer.