Gu He's Trade Ended in Failure

"Your Majesty!"

The moment the enchanting woman's figure appeared, a dark mass of Snake-People dropped to their knees on the city walls below. Their reverent cries seemed to pierce the clouds.

Even the grim-faced Mo Bass showed a deep, intoxicated fascination and carefully concealed adoration in his eyes when he saw Queen Medusa appear in the sky.

Yet on this joyous day, Mo Bass could only watch helplessly as Su Tian and Queen Medusa held their wedding ceremony.

Even if Mo Bass wanted to stop the marriage, he could not change this settled fact in the Great Elder's presence.

Now, all Mo Bass could do was gaze at the enchanting beauty's back with eyes full of adoration.

"Queen Medusa..."

As they watched Queen Medusa appear in the sky, Gu He and Yan Shi, whose voice boomed like thunder, both involuntarily edged a step closer to the silent Black-Robed Man beside them.

Of everyone here, only she had any hope of contending with Queen Medusa, whose fearsome reputation shook the Jia Ma Empire.

On a distant rooftop, Su Tian watched their encounter intently.

As expected, this is only a clone of Queen Medusa.

Seeing Queen Medusa suddenly appear, Su Tian narrowed his eyes and carefully probed her presence. A glint flashed through his eyes as he murmured inwardly.

Su Tian knew perfectly well that the real Queen Medusa had probably already begun preparing to devour the Green Lotus Core Flame on Bamboo Forest Snake Island.

At that thought, Su Tian could not help looking toward the Great Elder in midair, his gaze sweeping discreetly over her.

Under the circumstances, Su Tian dared not make any rash moves as long as the Great Elder remained.

Sneaking off to Bamboo Forest Snake Island was even further out of the question.

If he led the Great Elder there and she stopped Queen Medusa from devouring the Green Lotus Core Flame, would all his efforts not amount to drawing water with a bamboo basket? Not only would he fail to obtain the Green Lotus Core Flame, but he would also lose a pet magical beast with Dou Zong-level strength.

That was clearly not an outcome Su Tian wanted.

Thus, Su Tian could only watch and wait for the negotiations with Gu He's group to break down and a battle to erupt.

When that happened, the Great Elder would surely be unable to sit idle, and Su Tian's opportunity would arrive.

"You wanted to see me?"

High in the distant sky, Queen Medusa lowered her head slightly to look at Gu He. Her rosy lips curved into a delicate smile, instantly lending her exquisite features an alluring charm. Every little expression briefly left the Dou Ling experts beside Gu He spellbound.

Under Queen Medusa's smiling gaze, Gu He drew a quiet breath and forcibly suppressed the emotions rising within him. Then he raised his head and said with a light smile.

"Your Majesty, Queen Medusa, I am honored that you would appear to meet me. I am Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire."

"Pill King Gu He, correct? I have heard of you. A sixth-rank alchemist truly is remarkable. You even managed to enlist a Dou Huang expert."

Queen Medusa cast a casual glance at the mysterious Black-Robed Man beside her and smiled.

Hearing Queen Medusa's words, Su Tian also turned his gaze toward the Black-Robed Man. The voluminous robe concealed him completely, making it impossible to discern his build.

But Su Tian knew perfectly well that this black-robed Dou Huang expert was none other than Yun Yun, the sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect!

"What a shame. If I'd arrived a little earlier, I might have had a chance to grow closer to Sect Master Yun Yun."

After studying the Black-Robed Man and recalling Yun Yun's breathtaking face, Su Tian could not help swallowing. He shook his head and spoke with apparent regret.

If Xiao Yan knew that Su Tian had designs on Yun Yun, who knew what he would think?

In the distance, Queen Medusa continued, "Speak. What have you come to see me about? Although forcing your way into our territory was extremely rude, the Snake-People Tribe is not unreasonable."

Watching Gu He seemingly breathe a quiet sigh of relief, a trace of cunning flashed through Queen Medusa's autumn-water eyes. She continued softly.

"Besides, Pill King Gu He's reputation resounds throughout the Jia Ma Empire. Surely, anything you casually offer as collateral would cover these trifling losses. Wouldn't you agree, Master Gu He?"

"Ahem..."

Hearing that, even Gu He's smile grew a little awkward. Fortunately, he was a worldly man. Showing considerable grace at being taken for a fool, he waved his hand generously and laughed aloud.

"We were indeed the ones at fault for forcing our way into the Snake-People Tribe's territory. I will certainly compensate you for these losses!"

"Hehe, Master Gu He is generous indeed. You truly deserve your reputation as the Jia Ma Empire's most outstanding sixth-rank alchemist."

Queen Medusa covered her red lips lightly with her delicate hand and smiled. Then, fluttering her long lashes, she said with a soft laugh, "Master Gu He, perhaps you should explain why you gathered so many friends and went to such lengths to force your way into our territory?"

Seeing that the conversation had finally returned to the matter at hand, Gu He's expression grew solemn.

He fell silent for a moment, carefully considering his next words.

Although Queen Medusa was smiling charmingly and appeared perfectly harmless, Gu He knew very well that when the Snake-People Tribe had gone to war with the Jia Ma Empire years ago, this enchanting beauty had blasted three Dou Ling experts into a skyful of minced flesh on the spot.

Queen Medusa's ruthless methods were enough to chill even those who spent their lives licking blood from a blade's edge.

Moreover, Gu He knew that Queen Medusa ranked among the strongest even at the Dou Emperor level. If the Jia Ma Empire had not possessed three Dou Huang experts, perhaps no one could have defeated her alone.

Besides, no one knew whether the Snake-People Tribe had any hidden experts.

If they resorted to force, Gu He feared that his party would find themselves at a disadvantage.

Even the mysterious Black-Robed Man Gu He had specially invited was not there to fight Queen Medusa. Rather, if Queen Medusa intended to kill them, only Yun Yun could hold her back and prevent her from cutting down the others.

After pondering for a long time, Gu He slowly exhaled. He raised his head to look at Queen Medusa in the sky and said gravely, "To be frank, I have come mainly for the heavenly flame Your Majesty obtained!"

Gu He's voice echoed slowly through the sky, and the already quiet surroundings suddenly grew even more silent.

"My chance is almost here..."

Su Tian likewise exhaled deeply. A keen glint flashed in his eyes as he murmured under his breath.

He knew that battle would soon erupt between the two sides, and his chance to sneak onto Bamboo Forest Snake Island was approaching.

Meanwhile, hidden among a distant heap of rocks, Xiao Yan heard Gu He's words and let out a quiet breath before speaking with a bitter smile.

"Phew... So this fellow really did come for the Green Lotus Core Flame too!"

"That is only natural. Gu He's talent for alchemy is indeed exceptional. Subduing a heavenly flame is every alchemist's dream."

Yao Lao's voice slowly rang out in Xiao Yan's mind, carrying a faint smile.

"However, now that this heavenly flame is in Queen Medusa's hands, trading for it will not be easy for Gu He. We still have a chance. The moment anything unexpected happens, head straight toward the heavenly flame's presence!"

"Understood!"

Listening to Yao Lao's instructions, Xiao Yan took a deep breath and nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on the situation in the sky.

"A heavenly flame? When did Her Majesty get her hands on something like that?"

As Gu He's words echoed outward, Mo Bass and Yue Mei, hovering above the city walls, both looked utterly stunned.

Clearly, they did not know that Queen Medusa had previously obtained the Green Lotus Core Flame outside Stone Desert City.

"Why would Her Majesty seek out a heavenly flame?"

Yue Mei blinked in confusion and looked at Mo Bass. A moment later, as though something had occurred to her, her expression changed drastically. Mo Bass seemed to have thought of something as well.

The two exchanged a glance and whispered in horror, "A heavenly flame? That legend? Could Her Majesty be..."

"That must be it. Otherwise, Her Majesty wouldn't have gone to such lengths to find a heavenly flame. Apart from attempting that, she should have no other reason."

Drawing a quiet breath, Mo Bass spoke softly, his fierce face filled with bitterness.

Yue Mei waved both hands helplessly before her and said with a bitter smile, "But the failure rate is terribly high! If anything happens to Her Majesty, then our Snake-People Tribe..."

"Hmph! If you ask me, it's all that damned human Su Tian's fault! If the Great Elder hadn't insisted on marrying him to Her Majesty, why would Her Majesty do something so reckless?"

Mo Bass had long harbored murderous hatred toward Su Tian. Now that he had discovered Queen Medusa was undertaking something with only one chance of survival in ten, he immediately directed all his anger at Su Tian, wishing he could kill him at once!

"Alas, perhaps that is only part of the reason. After all, Her Majesty has remained at the Dou Emperor level for many years. Although she usually seems unconcerned about it, I know very well that she wants to become stronger. Su Tian's appearance may simply have been the catalyst!"

Yue Mei shook her head at his words and spoke with a soft sigh.

"Once Her Majesty reaches the Dou Zong level, the Snake-People Tribe's influence will expand rapidly, and we will no longer have to remain trapped in this boundless desert. Although we've adapted over all these years, this place does not suit us. After all, our blood runs cold."

"As for why Her Majesty is doing this, first, she wants to lead the Snake-People Tribe to new heights. Second, she probably wants to break free of the Great Elder's constraints and take control of her own fate."

After all, Yue Mei had served beside Queen Medusa the longest and understood her thoughts very well.

Although Yue Mei hated Su Tian too, her words were fairly impartial.

With a soft sigh, Yue Mei turned her gaze, tinged with a bitter smile, toward Queen Medusa in midair, whose smiling face was gradually becoming impassive.

"How did you learn that I obtained a heavenly flame?"

Queen Medusa lightly brushed aside the dark hair hanging over her smooth forehead with a slender finger. Flecks of coldness glimmered in her faintly violet eyes.

Gu He fell silent briefly, then smiled faintly and shook his head as he spoke.

"None of that matters. Your Majesty should know how important a heavenly flame is to an alchemist. In my search for one, I have visited nearly every unusual location in the Jia Ma Empire. But the Snake-People Tribe's blood is cold and yin in nature, so a heavenly flame is of little use to you."

"Therefore, I hope Your Majesty will allow me to exchange other items for the heavenly flame in your possession!"

"Exchange?"

At those words, a faint hint of mockery appeared at the corners of Queen Medusa's eyes. She smiled lightly. "As an alchemist, you naturally understand a heavenly flame's power better than I do. Tell me, what could you possibly offer that would match its value?"

Gu He frowned slightly and pondered for quite some time. A rare look of pained reluctance appeared on his face before he raised his head and said gravely, "I am willing to offer two Sixth-grade Dou Ling Pills... and one Seventh-grade Transformation Pill in exchange for the heavenly flame! What does Your Majesty think?"

The instant Gu He finished speaking, Yan Shi and the others beside him widened their eyes and stared at him in astonishment.

Beneath her black robe, Yun Yun's gaze also revealed surprise. Clearly, she had not expected Gu He to make such a lavish offer for a heavenly flame.

A Sixth-grade Dou Ling Pill was a medicinal pill that could make even Dou Wang experts green with envy. Its effect was simple: it could raise the strength of a Dou Wang who took it by one full star!

In other words, if a Two-Star Dou Wang took a Dou Ling Pill, he could leap to the Three-Star Dou Wang level in just a few days!

At the Dou Wang level, the gap between each star was immense. It was commonplace for Dou Wang experts to cultivate diligently for years and still remain stuck in place.

Thus, the value of a Dou Ling Pill spoke for itself.

Of course, although its effects were extremely tempting, resistance to the Dou Ling Pill was also exceptionally high. A second pill would have virtually no effect. In other words, a Dou Wang expert could only benefit from one Dou Ling Pill in a lifetime!

Even so, the Dou Ling Pill remained irresistibly enticing among the ranks of the powerful.

Countless people had paid enormous prices to obtain a single Dou Ling Pill.

As for the Seventh-grade Transformation Pill, it was even more staggering.

This pill was enough to drive countless Dou Emperor-level magical beasts mad with desire. With just one, they could completely shed their beast forms and gain both a magical beast's long lifespan and a human's talent for cultivation. Combining those two traits might produce a legendary expert capable of reaching the Dou Zong or even the Dou Sheng level.

The two kinds of pills Gu He was offering were almost enough to drive certain people into a frenzy.

"Holy shit! He really is Pill King Gu He. Sixth-grade Dou Ling Pills and a Seventh-grade Transformation Pill right out of the gate. That's one hell of an offer!"

Su Tian naturally understood the effects of both pills very well. Hearing the offer with his own ears nonetheless left him deeply shaken.

"Still, precious as those pills are, they don't quite measure up to a heavenly flame."

Su Tian shook his head regretfully. In his view, however precious medicinal pills might be, they were merely single-use consumables. A heavenly flame, a marvel that seized the creative power of heaven and earth, was beyond any measure of value.

If it were Su Tian, no treasure offered could persuade him to trade away a heavenly flame in his possession.

Yet Yue Mei and Mo Bass above the city walls were clearly startled by Gu He's offer. Their stunned expressions looked rather comical.

After all, in their eyes, Queen Medusa's attempt to devour a heavenly flame was far too dangerous, and the Snake-People Tribe could not do without her. With those two kinds of pills on offer, they would rather she accepted Gu He's trade.

Even Xiao Yan, hidden in the shadows, could not help clenching his fists as he waited for Queen Medusa's answer.

Everyone who shared Xiao Yan's thoughts, including Gu He, fixed nervous gazes on the silent Queen Medusa, waiting for her to speak.

Under countless gazes, Queen Medusa remained silent high in the sky for a long time before sighing softly. She lightly pursed her sensual red lips, a trace of regret in her beautiful eyes. Looking at Gu He, she said somewhat helplessly, "I must admit, your terms are very tempting. However..."

"I'm sorry, but I still will not trade with you!"

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