Queen: I Listen to Advice

"An eye-pupil space?"

Sensing that Lu Yuan truly meant her no harm, Medusa restrained her Dou Qi and surveyed her surroundings.

This was a strange, independent space. She sensed that this realm had a master and that she could not draw on the power of the outside world.

To break through the spatial barrier and sense the outside world, her soul power would have to surpass that of the space's master, Lu Yuan.

His soul power is even greater than mine. Medusa was secretly shocked.

She felt that Lu Yuan probably had not told the truth just now. It might not have been impossible for him to forcibly contract her; there was simply a risk of failure.

"What is so special about this space that it can increase my chances of a successful breakthrough?" Medusa's purple snake tail swayed gently.

"If I'm not mistaken, Your Majesty has already gathered enough Ice Spirit Cold Spring and intends to come into contact with the Green Lotus Core Flame under its protection." Rather than answer immediately, Lu Yuan clasped his hands behind his back and began to explain.

"The Snake-People Tribe's bloodline is cold by nature and abhors the power of extreme Yang, while Heavenly Flames are things of extreme Yang born of heaven and earth."

"As the saying goes, extremes give rise to their opposites. By using the power of a Heavenly Flame to stimulate your bloodline, together with the Snake-People Tribe's secret technique, you have a chance to awaken the origin hidden within your bloodline."

"Your Majesty, your companion snake soul is a Purple Nether Flame Snake, and you carry a trace of the ancient magical beast Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's bloodline. She wishes to use this method to awaken that hidden origin bloodline."

"If you can transform into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, not only can you seize the opportunity to break through to Dou Zong, but you'll face no bottlenecks in growing into a Dou Zun in the future. The sea will be vast and the sky boundless."

A flicker of surprise passed through Queen Medusa's eyes.

Lu Yuan knew her circumstances like the back of his hand.

She even had the illusion that Lu Yuan understood her better than she understood herself.

"You're right." Queen Medusa placed much more trust in Lu Yuan's abilities.

"Seeking life amid death-that is the method you intend to use, Your Majesty," Lu Yuan continued. "You are a member of the Snake-People Tribe. If you come into contact with a Heavenly Flame to stimulate your bloodline's transformation, you will certainly suffer grievous injuries."

"For this step, with the help of the Ice Spirit Cold Spring and the foundation you've built over many years at Nine-Star Dou Emperor, I imagine you have a very good chance."

"Correct." Queen Medusa nodded.

"The deadly impasse lies in the next step." Lu Yuan looked up at the sky of this space. "Once your bloodline's transformation is complete, Your Majesty, you will have no time to recover before facing the trial of heaven and earth's lightning tribulation. If you survive, you can seize the opportunity to break through to Dou Zong. If you fail, you will die and your path will end."

"Correct." Queen Medusa nodded again.

"That is where I can help you, Your Majesty." Lu Yuan turned to look at Queen Medusa's incomparably beautiful face. "In this space, as long as I contract your companion snake soul, I can draw you inside as well, cutting you off from the senses of heaven and earth outside."

At those words, Queen Medusa's beautiful eyes lit up, and her breathing quickened slightly. "In other words, after I use the Heavenly Flame to transform my bloodline, I can enter this space of yours to heal, without having to face the lightning tribulation immediately."

"Exactly." Lu Yuan smiled. "Your Majesty can heal here without worry, and integrate and adapt to the power of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python's bloodline. When the time comes, you can face the lightning tribulation at your peak-no, in an even stronger state. Your chances of surviving it will increase greatly, and you can seize the opportunity to break through to the Dou Zong level."

"Those truly are tempting terms I cannot refuse." Queen Medusa was no ordinary woman; she discerned the advantages and disadvantages in an instant.

Though Lu Yuan made it sound wonderful, Medusa would also have to bear a risk: once the Purple Nether Flame Snake's soul was contracted, it would very likely affect her.

But that influence would not be enough to give him a hold over her. If she succeeded in breaking through to the Dou Zong level, Lu Yuan would not dare do anything against her interests.

Compared with facing the tribulation directly while grievously wounded, that little risk was nothing at all.

"Very well, I can cooperate with you." Queen Medusa parted her red lips.

"Then allow me, Lu Yuan, to wish Your Majesty a smooth evolution and a successful breakthrough to Dou Zong." Lu Yuan cupped his hands in salute.

"You do have a pleasant way with words." Queen Medusa laughed, her voice carrying a distinctive allure.

Lu Yuan smiled faintly and withdrew his pupil power with a thought.

Medusa felt the space around her twist, and her consciousness instantly returned to her body.

Looking at her surroundings, she silently held Lu Yuan in higher regard. "Lu Yuan, I have seen your sincerity, but you have yet to tell me what you need me to do."

Yun Yun: ?

Hai Bodong: ??

Where did you see any sincerity? And you agreed to help in the blink of an eye.

"The matter I wish to ask of Your Majesty should be one you'll be quite happy to help with." Lu Yuan gave her a full account of how people from the Heavenly Snake Mansion had abducted his maid.

"People from the Heavenly Snake Mansion?" A sharp glint flashed through Queen Medusa's eyes. "You're right. I would indeed be very happy to help with that."

The Snake-People Tribe had considerable ties to the Heavenly Snake Empire, and its relationship with the Heavenly Snake Mansion was far from good.

"I accept this deal," Queen Medusa said.

"Then there's no time to lose." Lu Yuan raised his hand and formed a seal. Three flowers appeared in his black pupils, and he faintly sensed Qing Lin's location. "This way. Let's go."

Half a day passed in the blink of an eye.

Deep in the Tagor Desert, two figures cut through the clouds above a barren mountain range at the border between the Snake-People Tribe and the Mulan Empire.

Lu Man flew in front, her Dou Qi Wings beating and a slender snake with green markings coiled around her waist. She watched her surroundings warily.

The Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor had shrunk his body and concealed his presence, carrying Qing Lin as he flew behind her.

Qing Lin followed quietly, neither struggling nor speaking, like a little captive resigned to her fate.

They crossed the last ridge, and the terrain ahead suddenly opened up. A grayish-brown expanse of Gobi replaced the rolling sand dunes. Lu Man let out a long breath. "Once we cross this mountain range, we'll be out of the territory of the Jia Ma Empire and the Snake-People Tribe."

Bai Ya immediately replied, "The sooner we leave, the better. If we run into that madwoman Medusa, she might attack us."

"Even together, the two of us can't beat her. I don't want a beating."

"That's why I told you to get some rest so we could travel through the night," Lu Man said gravely. "We've crossed the Tagor Desert now. There's no need to worry."

Qing Lin listened to their conversation, calmer than any girl in her teens had any right to be. Yet beneath those deep, unruffled green snake eyes lay towering rage and hatred.

She did not care whether going to the Heavenly Snake Mansion would let her become a holy maiden and live a better life.

All she knew was that she wanted to stay by her young master's side, yet the Heavenly Snake Mansion had forcibly abducted her.

Those actions supposedly done for her own good were, in the end, meant to make her serve the Heavenly Snake Mansion and treat her as a tool.

Once she had grown strong, the first thing she would do was destroy the Heavenly Snake Mansion!

Young Master, it's Qing Lin's fault for being useless. I can't serve you for now. Once I'm stronger, I'll come back and find you.

Qing Lin lowered her eyes, her fingertips curling gently into a fist inside her sleeve.

Just then, three flowers appeared in her green eyes, and a voice came from beside her.

"Qing Lin, your young master has come to save you. Close your eyes and don't think about anything!"