Queen Medusa

With a thunderous boom, Yue Mei and Mo Ba Si's expressions changed. They hurriedly shot out of the hall, only to see Gu He and the others facing off against the Snake-People Guard. Mo Ba Si glared at Gu He's group as if fire were about to burst from his eyes and roared furiously, "Damn humans! You barged into my Snake-People Tribe and even injured our people. This is going too far." Yue Mei's brows were raised in anger as well, her pretty face flushed bright red.

"I am Pill King Gu He. I wish to meet Her Majesty, your queen. If we have offended you, I ask the two chiefs for understanding," Gu He said with a smile, stepping forward and cupping his hands.

"Hmph. You think you're worthy of meeting the noble Her Majesty? If you know what's good for you, get out of my Snake-People Tribe at once," Mo Ba Si shouted sharply. Veins bulged across his forehead, and the baleful aura around him grew restless.

"I have come with sincerity. If I'm driven out before even seeing Her Majesty, I'm afraid I'll become a laughingstock if word gets out," Gu He said with a faint smile, utterly unconcerned by the dense killing intent Mo Ba Si released.

"You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit." A powerful surge of Dou Qi erupted from Mo Ba Si's body. Purple Dou Qi instantly covered him from head to toe, and his figure flashed forward like lightning as he smashed a fist viciously toward Gu He. The fierce wind from the punch stung everyone's skin.

"Mo Ba Si, stop." A voice came from within the hall. It was delicate with a touch of enchantment, soft with a trace of allure. At first listen, it was like an oriole emerging from a valley; on a second listen, it was like murmuring water, low, gentle, and charmingly tender. Just the sound of it was enough to set the imagination wandering.

Everyone looked toward the voice. A figure slowly appeared at the hall entrance, dressed in a purple brocade robe, graceful and noble. Three thousand strands of black hair cascaded behind her like a waterfall. Her exquisite, curving figure radiated a rich, seductive charm, and her autumn-water eyes gazed with lingering feeling. When she lifted her head, every glance shone with brilliance. Truly, her lovely face and beauty were all the more enchanting, and each step of her lotus feet was full of charm. Compared with her, Yue Mei in the field seemed much dimmer.

"Your Majesty." The snake people in the field immediately bowed in unison, their faces filled with excitement, their clear, orderly voices piercing the clouds.

"She really is a rare stunner. Every movement of hers can stir a man's desire, and that noble, icy temperament is especially irresistible." Jia Lie Jun stared straight at Medusa. Seeing Jia Lie Jun so absorbed, Yun Yun at the side pretended to cough a few times, and only then did Jia Lie Jun come back to himself.

"What have you come to see me for?" Medusa's autumn-water eyes turned to Gu He. Her red lips parted slightly, and the faint lift of her mouth displayed her pride perfectly.

Gu He drew a deep breath and suppressed the flutter in his heart. He cupped his hands and smiled. "I am Pill King Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire. It is an honor to meet Your Majesty. I have entered the Snake-People Tribe on this trip to discuss an important matter with Your Majesty."

"Pill King Gu He. I have heard of you. A Sixth-grade Alchemist truly is extraordinary, to be able to invite four Dou Ling, three Dou Wang, and one Dou Emperor to assist you. However, you injured my people. Isn't that rather too disrespectful to me?" Medusa's beautiful eyes swept over Yun Yun, and her expression turned slightly cold.

"Gu has indeed offended you, and asks Your Majesty's forgiveness. I will also fully compensate the snake people for their losses," Gu He said with a bold expression. He was a Sixth-grade Alchemist, after all; in the Jia Ma Empire, if he raised his arm and called out, piles of money would rush to his door.

"May I ask why Grandmaster Gu has come to find me?" Hearing this, Medusa nodded in satisfaction, and her expression eased slightly.

Seeing that the conversation had reached the main point, Gu He's face turned solemn as he weighed his words. Despite Medusa's appearance of being easy to speak to, he knew this woman had a fearsome reputation and that her hands were stained with who knew how much blood. Back then, she had slaughtered so many people of the Jia Ma Empire that they trembled at the mere mention of her name. If not for the Jia Ma Empire's three Dou Emperors joining forces against her, the outcome truly would have been uncertain.

He knew that even Yun Yun was no match for Medusa. Gu He took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice, "I have come on this trip for Heavenly Flames."

Medusa's pupils contracted slightly. She narrowed her eyes and sized up Gu He, then laughed softly. "Grandmaster Gu He, who is famous throughout the Jia Ma Empire, truly lives up to his reputation. You were even able to find out such secret information." In the entire Snake People Tribe, only a few knew that she had obtained Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I only discovered it by chance. I searched all over the Jia Ma Empire without finding any trace of Heavenly Flames. It was not until half a year ago, when I was searching for Heavenly Flames in the Tagor Desert, that I picked up several seven-colored scales. Moreover, the aura of Heavenly Flames lingered on those scales. Your Majesty must know very well how important Heavenly Flames are to alchemists. I wonder if Your Majesty might be willing to part with them."

"No," Medusa said, her red lips parting lightly.

That rejection without the slightest hesitation made Gu He's heart sink. He hurriedly said, "I will offer generous terms in exchange for the Heavenly Flames."

"Terms?" Medusa said with a sneer. "Heavenly Flames are miraculous things nurtured by heaven and earth, incomparably precious. Although you are a Sixth-grade Alchemist, I doubt you can offer anything comparable to Heavenly Flames."

"I am willing to exchange two sixth-grade Dou Ling Pills and one seventh-grade Shaping Pill for the Heavenly Flames. What does Your Majesty think?" Gu He said with a faint smile, seeming extremely confident.

When Yan Shi and the others heard this, their eyes widened and they sucked in a breath of cold air. They had not expected Gu He to be so lavish in order to exchange for Heavenly Flames. Those sixth-grade Dou Ling Pills were enough to make even Dou Wang experts like them burn with envy, because a Dou Ling Pill could forcibly raise them by one star. For example, a three-star Dou Wang could rise to four-star after taking a Dou Ling Pill. Who knew how many Dou Wang cultivated bitterly day and night just to rise by one star, and some even never advanced another inch for the rest of their lives.

As for that seventh-grade Shaping Pill, it could drive Dou Emperor-level magical beasts mad with desire. As long as a Dou Emperor-level magical beast took a Shaping Pill, it could fully transform into human form. Not only would it gain humanity's cultivation talent, it would also retain the innate physical qualities of a magical beast.

Medusa pondered for a moment, several traces of struggle appearing on her pretty face. She sighed and said, "I have to say, the terms you offered are indeed tempting. However, I refuse."

Gu He's expression froze, disbelief written across his face. But he quickly calmed down. On this trip to the Tagor Desert, he was determined to obtain the Heavenly Flames. Heavenly Flames were rarely encountered; if he missed this chance, it would be difficult to come across them again. He had to fight for it. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I am quite curious. Snake people naturally prefer cool, shaded places, while Heavenly Flames are extremely hot. Heavenly Flames should not be too tempting to Your Majesty. May I ask why you insist on keeping them?"

"The Snake-People Tribe and the Jia Ma Empire have been enemies for many years. The two sides are already as incompatible as fire and water. After Grandmaster Gu obtains Heavenly Flames, your strength will surely increase greatly, and you are also a member of the Jia Ma Empire. Handing the Heavenly Flames to you would be greatly disadvantageous to my Snake People Tribe," Medusa said calmly.

Hearing this, Gu He had no reply. Medusa's words made a great deal of sense; handing the Heavenly Flames to him was no different from aiding the enemy. Gu He was immediately caught in a dilemma, not knowing what to do.