Kiss

Before long, Queen Medusa had selected a Middle Earth Tier cultivation method, the Divine Flame Art, and several Black Tier Dou Techniques suited to him.

The requirements for cultivating the Divine Flame Art were quite demanding. Its first prerequisite was a powerful beast flame or Heavenly Flame to serve as a catalyst!

Once mastered, it could imbue his Dou Qi with the scorching effects of a beast flame or Heavenly Flame, while also allowing him to transform his flames in countless ways. It was a rather good flame-control art.

The Mountain-Splitting Finger was a middle Black tier Dou Technique. At full mastery, a single finger could shatter a mountain!

The Ethereal Step was a middle Black tier movement technique. Once mastered, his movements would become ethereal, leaving neither shadow nor trace!

The Flame Spear was a high Black tier Dou Technique that could condense a spear of fire, large or small. It could be used in close combat or turned into a colossal spear that pierced the heavens to blast an enemy apart...

Liu Yu gladly accepted the cultivation method and Dou Techniques Queen Medusa had chosen for him.

After that, his life became busy.

Cultivating, practicing Dou Techniques, refining pills, and then...

A fragrant medicinal aroma wafted from the antique Medicine Cauldron before Liu Yu, bringing him back to his senses. He withdrew the Green Lotus Core Flame.

As the pill flew out of the Medicine Cauldron, Liu Yu circulated his Dou Qi and caught it.

What met his eyes was an emerald-green pill the size of a longan. A closer look revealed a hint of blue within its green hue.

This was the fourth-grade pill, Qi Gathering Powder—and its quality was top-notch!

Liu Yu casually placed it into a jade bottle beside him, then began refining medicine again.

For Liu Yu, who was now a fifth-grade alchemist, refining fourth-grade pills was far too easy.

He mechanically refined and collected pills, working with frightening efficiency.

Before long, the medicine bottles scattered across the floor were filled with all kinds of pills.

Objectively speaking, Liu Yu had already accumulated considerable alchemical experience, which he owed to having the Snake-People Tribe at his back.

Although the Snake-People Tribe had been trapped in this vast desert for years, it possessed deep reserves and many rare resources collected during its confinement.

That allowed Liu Yu to refine medicine constantly and improve his Alchemy. Such were the benefits of having a faction backing him.

Of course, all the pills he refined had to be "turned over to the public coffers." How miserable!

That woman even required him to refine a set number of pills every day before he was allowed out of the refining room. This was outright exploitation of child labor!

Ever since becoming an alchemist, he had lost track of how many pills he had refined.

After Sister Hua She'er collected his pills, they were distributed to the Central Holy City and the Snake-People Tribe's Eight Great Tribes.

Originally, only the tribe's upper ranks had known of his existence. But with Queen Medusa deliberately publicizing him, he had practically become a "celebrity" among the Snake-People Tribe. He even had a resounding title: the "Snake-People Chief Alchemist"!

Although the Snake-People Tribe and humans were sworn enemies, and the tribe deeply disliked humans, Liu Yu was different.

He was Queen Medusa's "bedmate"! At first, some had questioned his human identity and called for his execution, but those voices soon disappeared.

Afterward, under the "bombardment" of his pills, the tribe's attitude immediately shifted. They showered him with praise, and that was how his "Chief Alchemist" title came about.

And it was true: after he became an alchemist, the Snake-People Tribe's demand for pills gradually began to be met.

Over the past four years, the tribe's lower- and middle-level combat strength had improved considerably. Queen Medusa had even secretly sent people to trade with humans, exchanging pills the tribe had little need for medicinal ingredients.

Having finished today's quota, Liu Yu rose from his meditation cushion, patted nonexistent dust from his brocade robe, stretched, and strolled leisurely out of the refining room.

"Little Silver, finished refining?" At the entrance, Hua She'er, whose well-proportioned figure gave her a cool, dashing air, looked at Liu Yu with a smile. Her soft, seemingly boneless hand gently pinched his delicate cheek.

As one of the people who had watched Liu Yu grow up, she treated him like her own little brother.

Liu Yu did not resist. He merely pouted helplessly. "You're calling me Little Silver again. Hmph!"

Seeing him like that, Hua She'er let out a silvery laugh. Then she stopped teasing him and told him that Her Majesty had summoned him.

Upon hearing that Queen Medusa wanted him, Liu Yu said goodbye to Hua She'er and headed for the queen's bedchamber.

Inside the spacious, luxurious hall, a beautiful figure leaned lazily against the bedside, dozing. As though sensing someone enter, she furrowed her brows and looked toward the doors.

Under Queen Medusa's gaze, a silver-haired boy with sword-like brows, starry eyes, red lips, and white teeth approached her.

"You're here!"

Lying on her side, Queen Medusa parted her crimson lips, their luscious redness curving into a captivating smile. Her purple snake tail curled around Liu Yu and gently set him beside her.

Leaning against her tail, Liu Yu looked at the beauty who seemed to have just awakened. Her elegant purple robe could not conceal her alluring curves, and her breathtakingly voluptuous figure exuded such charm that his heart stirred restlessly!

Even after "sharing a bed and pillow" for so many years, he was dazzled anew every time he saw Queen Medusa!

But whenever he remembered his current situation, the heat in his heart cooled a little. I'm too young! I'll have to wait a few more years!

Liu Yu did not sit idle either. Coating his hands with a faint layer of Dou Qi, he skillfully kneaded her purple snake tail, which gleamed with a distinctive luster.

Queen Medusa half-closed her eyes and quietly enjoyed it, a faint blush rising on her lovely face.

For the Snake-People Tribe, their tails were their most sensitive parts and could not be touched lightly—especially for the women!

Just as Liu Yu concentrated on the massage, her tail suddenly curled around him and brought him into Queen Medusa's arms. She rolled over and pinned him beneath her.

Her warm, jade-soft hand gently stroked Liu Yu's cheek. Her gaze was silken with allure, her breath fragrant as orchids.

"You want to leave the Snake-People Tribe!"

Looking at those crimson lips and that enchanting face so close to his own, Liu Yu's mouth went dry.

Yet Queen Medusa kept staring straight at Liu Yu, waiting for an answer.

Liu Yu could only struggle to explain that he wanted to leave the Snake-People Tribe entirely for Her Majesty's sake!

Both his cultivation and his Alchemy had reached a bottleneck. Only by venturing out to seek an opportunity for a breakthrough could he help Her Majesty.

Queen Medusa had once opened her heart to him. Among other things, she had explained that every generation's Queen Medusa had to temper her body with a Heavenly Flame to break through to Dou Zong, perfectly fusing with her companion serpent's soul and awakening the Ancient Heaven Swallowing Python Bloodline. Only then could she advance!

Back then, he had also seen Queen Medusa's vulnerable side. Even though she was the Queen Medusa whose ferocious reputation rang throughout the surrounding empires, she was still a woman. Sometimes, she too wanted someone to lean on!

But that was merely a fleeting wish. She was the queen of the Snake-People Tribe, and its guardian deity!

Cruel reality permitted her no tender attachments. She had to consider her people at every moment.

That was why Liu Yu wanted to venture out and find opportunities to advance his cultivation and Alchemy, so he could help Queen Medusa in the future.

There was actually another, more important reason: he remembered that a certain "madman" in the Central Plains would attempt to "destroy the world" in the future!

Although the Flame Emperor had stopped him in the original story, the Dou Qi Continent now had a variable like Liu Yu. He had no idea what the future would hold!

He did not want to entrust his own fate, Queen Medusa's, or the Snake-People Tribe's to someone else. He needed to grow stronger quickly and gain enough strength to protect those around him!

Although he greatly enjoyed his current life in the Snake-People Tribe, he could still distinguish fleeting pleasure from lasting happiness!

Queen Medusa had probably misunderstood him, thinking he wanted to abandon the tribe. But he truly had no such intention. Their years together had long since made the Snake-People Tribe his second home.

As for the Snake-People Tribe and humans being as incompatible as fire and water, what did that have to do with him?

The Snake-People Tribe killed humans, but humans likewise hunted Snake-People, especially the women.

Besides, he was from Blue Star. The conflict between the Snake-People Tribe and humans on the Dou Qi Continent had nothing to do with him.

Seeing Liu Yu explain himself so earnestly, Queen Medusa could not help revealing a soul-stirring smile that left him dazed.

The fleeting kiss that followed left Liu Yu lying stunned on the bed.

Does this count as a "crime"? But I want more...

Liu Yu grinned foolishly. Queen Medusa taking the initiative to kiss him felt completely different from the kisses he had stolen when he was younger! It was seriously... so freaking cool!

Ignoring Liu Yu's foolish grin, Queen Medusa lowered her head and whispered softly in his ear.

His heart jolted, and he instinctively shouted, "No!"

Although Liu Yu's reaction warmed Queen Medusa's heart, no one could question her decisions—least of all him!

Her expression turned cold as she stared down at Liu Yu beneath her.

But this time, Liu Yu did not yield. He stared right back at Queen Medusa, refusing to back down.

This is tempering her body with a Heavenly Flame! In the original story, Queen Medusa nearly died, body and soul. She only survived by a stroke of luck, and Xiao Yan ended up reaping the windfall!

He had intended to use the Achievement System to obtain a better way for Queen Medusa to break through to Dou Zong later. Who would have thought she was already considering this now?

He refused to agree!

Granted, their current circumstances were somewhat better than in the original story, since he had refined several Blood Lotus Pills. These fifth-grade pills had an effect that was very useful to Queen Medusa: resisting the extreme heat of a Heavenly Flame!

But that could not guarantee Queen Medusa's breakthrough would succeed! Her life would still be in danger, and even if the risk was only a sliver, he did not want her putting herself in harm's way!

The two remained locked in that standoff. Although the scene was enticing, Liu Yu had long since lost any such thoughts!

"Does it have to be this way? Maybe there's another method..." Liu Yu finally yielded.

He knew Queen Medusa's temperament well. She really could keep this up all day!

"Then tell me, what other method is there?" Queen Medusa breathed softly toward Liu Yu, her eyes teasing.

Liu Yu fell silent. As he was now, he truly had no other method...

Ah! It's a shame my system isn't an intelligent one. Otherwise, I could ask it. Liu Yu couldn't help grumbling about his bizarre system.

(Achievement System: ...)

Seeing Liu Yu remain silent, Queen Medusa lightly tapped his chest with her slender finger...

Liu Yu bit his lip tightly, doing his best not to make a sound.

"Are you looking down on your queen?" Queen Medusa's narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes curved at a dangerous angle. Her alluring voice drew out the words, sending tingles through him.

Liu Yu stiffened, abruptly pushed Queen Medusa away, leaped off the bed, and fled toward the doors in a fluster.

"You've grown up..." Queen Medusa murmured, then her smile faded.

A faint trace of worry crept onto her brow. In truth, she was not very confident that she could endure tempering her body with a Heavenly Flame, but it was something she would have to face sooner or later...

After running out of the bedchamber, Liu Yu finally calmed the "surging waves" in his heart.

If I weren't still young, and if I could beat you, I'd definitely... Liu Yu thought "viciously."

Then he checked his system panel.

[Name: Liu Yu (Little Silver)]

[Race: Human Race]

[Age: Ten (23)]

[Cultivation: Nine-Star Dou Ling]

[Soul: Late Mortal Realm]

[Cultivation methods: Myriad Forms Divine Art, (Middle Earth Tier) Divine Flame Art]

[Dou Techniques: Thousand Illusion Body (minor mastery), (middle Black tier) Mountain-Splitting Finger (minor mastery), (middle Black tier) Ethereal Step (minor mastery), (high Black tier) Flame Spear (minor mastery), Profound Heaven Soul Art]

[Treasures: Green Lotus Core Flame]

[Achievements: Little Devil, Restless Little Hands, Spoiled Brat, First Steps, Alchemy Master]

[System Space: None]