The Final Whereabouts of the Heavenly Flame

"Not a bad haul!"

Xiao Xuan emerged from the scorching cave with his two young disciples. His mood brightened at the sight of the brilliant sunshine outside.

The girls were both on the right track, so things would be easier for him from now on.

"Next target, Queen Medusa!"

"You dared to take my Heavenly Flame. You'll pay the price."

Xiao Xuan called out the threat from afar. Not far away, Queen Medusa suddenly felt a chill in her palace deep in the desert, as though something terrifying had descended upon her.

No matter how hard she thought, she would never have guessed that a figure invincible on the continent was coming for her.

"I must evolve with the Heavenly Flame!"

Queen Medusa stared at the intensely scorching flame before her and finally made up her mind.

She had a feeling that if she did not evolve soon, things would only get worse.

Would preparing more make failure more likely? Queen Medusa could not make sense of it, but she decided to follow her heart.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xuan led the group onward at great speed. They were already about to enter the depths of the tribal lands where Medusa lived.

And no one nearby had noticed them.

It made sense. With Xiao Xuan personally taking action, how could he let beings who were Dou Emperors at most detect his presence?

The Heavenly Flame was just ahead!

"Interesting!"

A smile touched his lips. This little one was quite alert—or perhaps she had keen senses. She had actually sensed something was wrong beforehand.

Although it was only survival instinct, it still stirred Xiao Xuan's eagerness at the sight of promising prey.

This Magical Beast would belong to his Xiao Clan from now on.

Strolling onto the small island where Queen Medusa was in seclusion, Xiao Xuan saw the extensive preparations she had made for her evolution.

It was just that this junk was hardly likely to improve her chances of success.

But it did not matter. He would watch from the sidelines for now.

"Master, there doesn't seem to be anyone around!"

Xiao Yi Xian turned her little head, looking around as she asked curiously. She had thought some thrilling adventure might happen! What was this supposed to be, dropping in like they were paying a visit?

"Can't you think a little better of me?"

Xiao Xuan's face darkened. He felt that this disciple was not quite to his taste anymore.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh!"

Xiao Yi Xian stuck out her tongue and adorably glossed over it, then asked curiously, "Is that the Heavenly Flame?"

Although Queen Medusa looked terrifying in her true form, Xiao Yi Xian had already seen the Amethyst Winged Lion King's true form and had long since become immune to Magical Beasts.

She was only at the level of a sixth-rank Dou Emperor. She could not stir up any waves in front of her master.

But weren't snake-type Magical Beasts supposed to prefer cold, damp places? Why was this one playing with a Heavenly Flame?

"That's why it's called evolution."

Xiao Xuan glanced at his young disciple and spoke calmly. If this little one really succeeded in evolving, he might well take her as a disciple.

Of course, that did not conflict with Queen Medusa becoming the Xiao Clan's guardian Magical Beast.

Two identities, twice the enjoyment!

Before them, Queen Medusa was thrashing violently. The impact of the Heavenly Flame entering her body far exceeded her expectations.

If she wanted to—or rather, to prevent a dangerous situation-Queen Medusa could choose to stop now. At worst, her strength would be limited to Peak Dou Emperor from then on.

That was already enough to protect her Snake-People Tribe.

But she refused to accept it, even if it meant her death.

Her consciousness gradually grew hazy. She did not even notice someone approaching her; she had truly exhausted herself.

Then, an unusual phenomenon gradually arose in the sky.

A heavenly tribulation!

Another powerful being was about to be born.

Did she really have a chance of succeeding?

Surprise flashed in Xiao Xuan's eyes. Was this transformation taking her toward an Ancient Heavenly Snake, or some similar existence?

That made no sense!

With Xiao Xuan's discernment, he could naturally tell that Queen Medusa's original bloodline was that of a mere sixth- or seventh-rank Magical Beast. Yet she could revert to the bloodline of an Ancient Heavenly Snake in one step, reaching the ninth rank or even higher.

Even a stroke of incredible luck wouldn't be enough!

Could the Green Lotus Core Flame be connected to the Ancient Heavenly Snake Clan?

Perhaps he would only know if he returned to that time!

As Xiao Xuan continued watching, he noticed something else: this evolution was far too dangerous after all.

The Heavenly Flame's extremely tyrannical power could burn everything to ashes, but it could also bring about rebirth. It all depended on whether this little one could endure it.

"On guard! On guard!"

A considerable commotion arose outside the island where Queen Medusa was in seclusion. Her people seemed to have noticed something unusual about their queen, but with her evolution at hand, they did not dare disturb her.

They were all waiting for the final outcome.

"Ah~"

"Ah!"

Queen Medusa's cries grew increasingly shrill. The pain she endured seemed to have reached its limit.

In an instant, the tribulation clouds gathering in the sky unleashed their might, and thick bolts of black lightning came crashing down.

"Hmph!" With a slight movement, Xiao Xuan shielded Xiao Yi Xian and the others.

"It seems she really has succeeded."

Even so, Xiao Xuan had no intention of intervening. One final step remained in the evolution!

The lightning tribulation was not merely a calamity; it also represented a baptism and rebirth.

But Queen Medusa's once thick, powerful snake body had been charred black by the raging lightning, and the vitality within it was rapidly draining away.

Even now, Xiao Xuan did not intervene.

The situation was critical, but Xiao Xuan could see the higher level of vitality that emerged when things reached their extreme and reversed.

Only when the old body was shed could the new one grow stronger.

He just did not know what changes would occur to her soul.

Xiao Xuan was very curious, but he could not intervene. After all, if he got caught up in the lightning tribulation, the chain reaction might blast the entire Northwest Continent apart.

"Did she fail?"

The dark clouds dispersed, leaving the ground charred black. Of Queen Medusa's once powerful Magical Beast body, only a short section seemed to remain after the heavenly tribulation.

The only other thing left was the Heavenly Flame, still burning intensely.

"Master?"

Qing Lin tugged at Xiao Xuan's sleeve. She seemed to want to say something, but did not know how to express it.

"You sensed it too?"

Xiao Xuan laughed, pleasantly surprised. He had thought that evolving toward an Ancient Heavenly Snake was monstrous enough, but who would have guessed that this little snake would end up transforming directly into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python?

Interesting, interesting!

With a sweep of his soul power, Xiao Xuan grabbed a little purple snake shimmering with seven colors, curled up inside the charred shell.

She still looked very young, but Xiao Xuan understood the boundless potential she held.

With a steady supply of resources, reaching Dou Sheng was assured at the very least.

And it seemed the little snake's body was not the only thing that had transformed. Her soul had also undergone an unfathomable change.

Would a new body give birth to a new soul?

That was worth noting. Xiao Xuan's gaze grew distant. Even if he encountered such a situation when he was reborn in the future, he would not let the newborn being stir up any trouble in the end.

Besides, Queen Medusa's original soul clearly held the advantage. She had simply exhausted too much of her strength during the evolution and tribulation.

For now, she was merely sleeping.

When she truly awakened, her evolution would also be complete.

Perhaps the fusion of the two souls would be the final result of the evolution.

Perhaps this was also the path of transformation chosen by a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python an unknown number of years ago?

A flicker of uncertainty passed through Xiao Xuan's eyes.