Under the moonlight, Queen Medusa wore a tight black gown that outlined her breathtakingly perfect curves.
Her waist was slender as a snake, small enough to encircle with a hand, yet held astonishing suppleness and strength.
The gown's slit reached high up her waist, and her long, straight legs gleamed like ivory beneath the moonlight. Every step carried the distinctive rhythm of the snake tribe, as though she were treading on people's heartbeats.
Her bearing was cold, alluring, and dangerous, like a datura flower blooming at the edge of an abyss. Even knowing she was deadly, one could not resist drawing closer.
"Did you just say you've admired this queen for a long time?"
Medusa's cool voice carried a trace of languor. Her seven-colored slit pupils narrowed slightly as she studied the young man before her.
She was certain she had never seen him, whether in the Black-Corner Region or the Jia Ma Empire!
Shen Luo's gaze lingered on her involuntarily.
The red veil covered half her face, but could not conceal her peerless beauty.
Her phoenix eyes tilted slightly upward, their corners touched with blood-red color. A tiny amethyst hung at the center of her brows, making those seven-colored slit pupils look even deeper and more mysterious.
Moonlight gilded her with silver. Beneath the tight black gown, her figure rose and fell in exquisite curves, full at the chest and hips, breathtaking in every contour.
This snake had originally been no more than the leader of a Snake-People Tribe, with only the potential of a Dou Emperor.
Someone on the same level as Jia Xingtian and Yun Shan!
But this snake had refused to fade into obscurity. She had challenged fate itself, risking death to evolve using heavenly flames!
In the end, she had become the world's only Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python!
Gu Xun'er was a genuine heiress from a powerful family, and Zi Yan was a dragon princess stranded far from home. This snake, however, was a true nobody who had risen against the odds!
"You came to me for a pill, didn't you?"
Shen Luo paused.
"There are two souls inside you. Strictly speaking, the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's body doesn't belong entirely to you, does it?"
Medusa frowned, her gaze intent. Her slender waist swayed lightly as she approached and stopped three paces before Shen Luo.
The cool scent of serpent saliva drifted from her on the breeze, carrying a beguiling allure.
"I need a Spirit Fusion Pill." She went straight to the point, her tone calm, though a barely perceptible flicker of urgency flashed deep within her seven-colored slit pupils.
"I know you're an Alchemist, and a high-ranking one at that."
Shen Luo did not deny it. Leaning against a corridor pillar, he openly admired the beautiful sight before him.
Medusa had an exquisite figure, and the black gown displayed its perfection to the fullest. That charm, both icy and seductive, was enough to leave any man spellbound.
"The Spirit Fusion Pill is a peak sixth-grade pill. It can fuse your soul with that snake's," Shen Luo said unhurriedly. "But Your Majesty wants to devour it, doesn't she?"
Medusa's pupils contracted slightly. "Hmph. This queen barely survived her evolution. How could I allow someone else to share my body?"
"I understand, but why should I help you?"
"What do you want?"
"I can give you a pill, and it'll be a seventh-grade Soul Devouring Pill."
Shen Luo straightened and walked toward Medusa step by step, his gaze burning. "The Spirit Fusion Pill has a flaw. After the fusion, the Heaven Swallowing Python's memories will influence you."
"But the Soul Devouring Pill is different. It devours the other soul. You'll still be you!"
Shen Luo had his reasons for doing this.
The Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's strength was roughly at the Dou Wang level. Xiao Yan had been the first person it saw after its birth, and by now it had developed a deep attachment to him and acknowledged him as its master.
Once their souls fused, Medusa would feel an uncontrollable urge to draw close to Xiao Yan!
The queen she became then would no longer be the original queen!
The Spirit Fusion Pill itself was a trap!
Medusa's expression shifted. She lifted her chin slightly, her cold, beautiful face bearing the pride of a sovereign.
Devouring that snake's soul was naturally what she wanted most. After all, who would want to merge their own independent soul with something else?
"What... are your terms?"
Her voice trembled a little!
She could not even obtain a sixth-grade pill, let alone a seventh-grade one!
Shen Luo blinked, his mind racing.
A moment later, he said slowly:
"Fight me!"
Shen Luo paused. "If you can last for one incense stick without losing, I'll offer you the Spirit Devouring Pill with both hands!"
"Fight you?" Medusa was a little bewildered.
Alchemists always imposed demanding conditions for refining pills, but she had never expected Shen Luo to make this request.
What a joke! Enough to make a snake laugh herself to death!
A pill refiner wanted to fight a top-tier magical beast?
What gave him the confidence?
Could this be a trick?
Medusa narrowed her eyes. "And if I lose?"
"If you lose..." A meaningful smile curled Shen Luo's lips. "You'll still get the pill, but I... will become your master!"
The air abruptly froze.
An icy light burst from Medusa's seven-colored slit pupils as the aura of a peak One-Star Dou Zong erupted with a roar.
"Insolent!"
Medusa's voice was bone-chilling.
"You're only a Two-Star Dou Zong, yet you dare act so brazenly before this queen?"
"Your Majesty, you'll receive the pill whether you win or lose." Shen Luo smiled. "And you don't even need to defeat me! You only have to last for one incense stick!"
Medusa stared fixedly at him, complex emotions churning in her seven-colored slit pupils.
After a moment, she sneered. "And if this queen refuses?"
"Then go back where you came from!"
"I know you're acquainted with an Alchemist, a soul being!"
Shen Luo's expression remained calm.
"You can go to him!"
With that, he took a pill the size of a longan from his Storage Ring.
The pill possessed a spark of sentience. The instant it appeared, it darted away, trying to escape!
Shen Luo caught it in one hand. "See this? This is the Soul Devouring Pill!"
Medusa's chest heaved violently!
The very thing she wanted was right before her eyes!
Ever since leaving the Jia Ma Empire, she had stayed by Xiao Yan's side.
No!
To be precise, it was the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python that had accepted Xiao Yan as its master and refused to leave him.
It seemed to be the true owner of this body!
Meanwhile, she spent most of her time asleep!
Fortunately, she was a Dou Zong, while the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python was only at the Dou Wang level!
If they truly fought for control of the body, she still held the advantage!
But taking the Spirit Fusion Pill would mean merging their souls into one. Since that snake had already accepted Xiao Yan as its master, he would effectively become half her master as well!
How could she allow that?
A mere Dou Ling-was he worthy?
Back then, that brat had taken advantage of her having just completed her evolution to sneak into her room and carry off the green lotus core flame and the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python!
If not for the interference of the Heaven Swallowing Python's soul and her genuine need for the Spirit Fusion Pill, she would have killed that little bastard long ago!
Now, a higher-grade Soul Devouring Pill lay right before her. Should she take the gamble?
Besides, she was under pressure too. The Heaven Swallowing Python was advancing extremely quickly. It was already at the fifth rank and would soon reach the sixth.
As the Heaven Swallowing Python grew stronger, she would gradually lose the upper hand.
When that time truly came, even if she took the Spirit Fusion Pill, would the dominant soul be hers or the Heaven Swallowing Python's?
Queen Medusa's mind raced as she began analyzing the situation.
She was the queen of the Snake-People Tribe, a powerful warrior who had walked across knife edges and through seas of fire!
The word fear did not exist in her vocabulary!
Her opponent was only a Two-Star Dou Zong.
She was a peak One-Star Dou Zong!
The gap was not large!
Lasting for one incense stick would be more than manageable!
Besides, her true form was a top-tier magical beast. Fighting above her level was something she could already do!
Shen Luo was merely an Alchemist. Even if he had a few tricks, could he really break through her defenses?
Even taking ten thousand steps back, if she could not beat him, she could still run. Wouldn't lasting for one incense stick be effortless then?
Medusa closed her eyes, her long lashes casting faint shadows in the moonlight.
A moment later, she opened them, and her seven-colored slit pupils were utterly calm!
"Very well. This queen accepts your terms!"
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