Long Xiao soon appeared by the lake. As he looked at the scene unfolding in the water, his brows furrowed.
Medusa had reverted to her true form, a massive purple python. Azure flames burned all over her body, and they did not seem to be ordinary fire.
Wounds covered the purple serpent's body. In several places, her flesh had been mangled beyond recognition, and the smell of scorched meat wafted from her.
Agonized roars rang out. Madness filled her eyes, and she seemed to be enduring immense pain.
"She... is she trying to use that fire to awaken her ancestral bloodline? Medusa is far too reckless. One wrong move, and her body and soul will perish."
Long Xiao could naturally tell that Medusa's true form was a fire-attribute magical beast.
But judging from the situation, she seemed about to fail. She could not withstand the azure flames and would soon be burned to ashes.
Her scales began to blacken. Blood dripped down them, quickly staining a vast stretch of the lake red.
At this rate, she would definitely die!
Watching the harrowing sight, Long Xiao suddenly felt a pang in his heart.
He finally understood that inexplicable feeling of his. He seemed to care deeply about Medusa.
"Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame!"
Without further hesitation, Long Xiao turned his palm over. A ball of golden fire appeared in it, then rapidly expanded into a golden dragon.
The surrounding air instantly became unbearably hot.
This was Long Xiao's innate divine flame.
The moment the Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame appeared, the azure flames seemed to show signs of submission, their light beginning to dim.
"When divine fire appears, all flames submit! Heavenly Flames, celestial fire, spirit fire-I don't care what you are. Submit to me, all of you!"
The golden dragon rose into the air and roared. Opening its enormous jaws, it unleashed a suction force that began devouring the azure flames clinging to Medusa.
The golden dragon steadily consumed the azure flames covering her body.
Once it had swallowed them all, the Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame returned to Long Xiao's body.
"Ah..."
With a scream, Medusa's body shrank several times over, becoming human-sized. But because her evolution had failed, she still retained her original snake-tailed form.
She was already gravely injured, with several patches of skin charred black. Without treatment, she would certainly die!
Seeing Medusa in such a wretched state, Long Xiao immediately rushed to her side and gathered her into his arms.
"Let... let me go..."
Medusa struggled painfully, unwilling to let Long Xiao hold her.
She was a queen. How could she let anyone see her vulnerable side?
"Shut up! I'm here to save you!"
At Long Xiao's angry shout, Medusa stopped struggling, a bewildered look entering her eyes.
Long Xiao immediately cut his finger. Blood glowing faintly gold flowed out, and he pressed his finger to Medusa's red lips.
He was a divine son, and his essence and blood possessed tremendous power.
The scent of his blood instantly filled Medusa with a sense of comfort. She did not refuse his kindness, opening her mouth and biting down on his finger.
She craved power.
Before long, golden light radiated from Medusa's body, and her injuries began healing at a speed visible to the naked eye.
She was stunned. Long Xiao's blood was actually this miraculous.
It was even more potent than heavenly treasures.
"Ah! Enough, enough! Stop drinking, or there won't be any left!" Long Xiao hastily pulled his finger back, feeling rather disgruntled. Medusa was far too greedy.
Hearing his words, Medusa quickly released his finger, then opened her eyes to look at him. Two blushes bloomed on her cheeks. What she had just done really was a little...
Long Xiao's heart fluttered.
"You... why are you helping me?" Medusa asked softly.
"You saved me, so we're friends. Of course I'd help you."
"If you want to evolve, I can help. Now that you've drunk my blood, your resistance to the Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame will be minimal. Use it to evolve."
As Long Xiao spoke, a small golden flame danced on his fingertip.
Medusa froze the instant she saw it.
She had never seen such terrifying fire!
If I use this to evolve, won't even my ashes be burned away?
"What? Don't you trust me?"
Medusa hurriedly shook her head. "No, I... I trust you. Thank you."
Realizing she was still lying in Long Xiao's arms with her clothes in tatters, she hurriedly rose out of his embrace.
What had just happened made her heart pound wildly.
What is this feeling?
How could I feel this way?
Why would my heart flutter like this for a human youth?
No, this isn't real.
She tried desperately to calm herself.
Seeing Medusa's reaction, Long Xiao could not help giving a faint smile. Judging by that response, she probably had not married yet.
"Let's begin. I'll help you evolve."
"Mm."
Without hesitation, Medusa nodded and began stirring the bloodline within her.
She was the queen of the Snake-People Tribe. Naturally, she would never bow to fate.
She reverted to her true form once more.
Long Xiao summoned the Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame and made it envelop Medusa's body.
The golden flames began blazing fiercely.
"Ah..."
Medusa let out an agonized wail. Her body began to burn, twisting and transforming continuously until it finally became a nine-colored cocoon.
This was an entirely new evolutionary form, a complete rebirth down to her very bones.
Time trickled by.
To keep Medusa from suffering too much, Long Xiao expended a considerable amount of soul power controlling the Golden Dragon Heaven-Burning Flame.
Beautiful queen, hold on, Long Xiao silently urged, hoping Medusa could pull through.
Another half hour passed.
With a crack, the nine-colored cocoon suddenly burst apart. A massive nine-colored python shot out and soared through the sky.
"Holy shit! That's a divine beast, a Nine-Colored Sacred Spirit Python!"
"I actually struck gold! She... she skipped straight past the sacred-beast-level Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python! Incredible, absolutely incredible!"
Long Xiao stared up at the sky, murmuring excitedly.
He had never imagined he would witness the birth of a divine beast with his own eyes. At first glance, he had thought she was a Heaven Swallowing Python, but a closer look at those beautiful markings revealed that she was actually a Sacred Spirit Python.
As long as a divine beast did not die prematurely, it was certain to grow into a Divine Emperor!
A Divine Emperor ruled over an entire realm, an existence capable of destroying the Dou* Continent with a single thought.
A moment later, nine-colored light flashed, and Medusa assumed human form.
This time, her snake tail had become a pair of fair, slender, jade-like legs.
The nine-colored light faded.
Long Xiao saw...
"Your beautiful Majesty, congratulations."
Long Xiao congratulated Medusa while wiping away his nosebleed.
But Medusa showed no intention of responding. Her uncanny eyes were filled with blood-red light as she walked toward him, step by step.
"Is this an aftereffect? No way, right?"
"Don't come any closer!!!!"
Panic covered Long Xiao's face as he hurriedly tried to retreat. Unfortunately, his legs seemed unwilling to flee of their own accord, and he could not move them at all.
At some point, Medusa appeared behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.
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