"You really are something…"
Xiao Yixian shook her head lightly, a soft smile blooming across her lips. Her beautiful eyes were filled with warmth and affection.
She knew exactly why Xiao Se had gone to such lengths to refine the Soul-Merging Pill.
First — it was his promise to the Medusa Queen.
Second — it was a safeguard prepared for Long Kui.
And third — it was a bargaining chip to one day completely eradicate her Calamity Poison Body.
All three reasons were heavy burdens, yet he had chosen to shoulder them alone.
"Cough."
A deliberately exaggerated cough suddenly echoed nearby.
Xiao Se and Xiao Yixian both paused.
Only then did Xiao Se remember that several elders were still present.
Standing nearby, Su Qian and the other Inner Academy elders exchanged helpless glances, subtly reminding the young couple that they still existed.
Xiao Se finally turned his gaze toward them.
"Elder Su… Elder Qing…" His eyes shifted to the elderly man in black robes and paused slightly. "And this senior is…?"
"Heh." Elder Su smiled. "Let me introduce him. This is the Great Elder of our Inner Academy — Su Qian, a Dou Zong powerhouse."
"Dou… Dou Zong?!"
Xiao Se instantly activated his Oscar-level acting skills.
His expression changed dramatically as he sucked in a sharp breath, eyes widening while swallowing hard in disbelief.
"Good. Very good."
Su Qian laughed softly, eyes filled with admiration.
"To be able to refine a sixth-grade pill at your age — that is no small feat."
"It was mostly luck," Xiao Se replied modestly. "I barely succeeded. To be honest, it was rather forced."
Su Qian shook his head slowly.
"You are still young. Your future is limitless. In time, you may even reach the height of the legendary Medicine Venerable."
That evaluation was extremely high.
After all, Yao Chen was widely recognized as the number-one alchemist on the continent.
The elders chatted for quite some time.
Xiao Se formally acquainted himself with the Inner Academy's higher-ups, and in front of a young man capable of refining sixth-grade pills, none of the Dou Huang elders dared maintain their usual aloof dignity.
After all — who wouldn't need pills in the future?
When Su Qian and the elders finally departed, Xiao Se sat cross-legged upon the Green Lotus Platform under Xiao Yixian's protection.
Several hours passed.
His exhausted body gradually recovered.
His Dou Qi returned to full circulation.
"How do you feel now?" Xiao Yixian asked gently, sensing the stable fluctuations within him.
"Pretty good," Xiao Se smiled. "I'm basically back to normal."
He then reached into his robes and took out the Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python.
"Queen," he said softly, "come out."
To his surprise, Medusa did not appear.
Instead, the little python blinked its pale violet eyes, coiling affectionately around his fingers with a pitiful, reluctant expression.
Seeing this, Xiao Se felt complicated emotions stirring within his chest.
Once Medusa completely merged her soul with the python body…
This little creature would disappear forever.
"Xian'er," he said quietly, turning toward her, "let's stay here for a few more days."
She understood instantly and nodded without hesitation.
The little snake's time was limited.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Aside from cultivation, Xiao Se spent nearly every moment playing with the tiny creature — feeding her, coaxing her, letting her curl around his wrist or nap on his shoulder.
He spoiled her to no end.
On the fourth morning, as dawn broke through the mountain mist…
Xiao Se and Xiao Yixian opened their eyes simultaneously.
The Seven-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python was gone.
Standing before them was the Medusa Queen herself.
Tall.
Graceful.
Her flawless curves were outlined beneath her crimson robes, every inch of her body radiating an intoxicating, dangerous beauty.
At the same time, Long Kui emerged from the demonic sword's space, her eyes immediately locking onto Medusa with guarded caution.
"Brother!"
Seeing Xiao Se awaken, Long Kui rushed straight into his arms, hugging him tightly.
He patted her back gently before standing up and turning toward Medusa.
For a moment, his expression was complicated.
After a long silence, he retrieved a jade bottle from his storage ring.
"This is the Soul-Merging Pill I promised you."
He handed it to her slowly.
"You're free now. Return to the Snake-People Tribe."
After a pause, he added softly,
"If I ever encounter your younger sister… I'll bring her to you."
He had thought it through carefully.
Some things could not be forced.
His feelings toward Medusa stemmed partly from memories of his previous life — admiration for a legendary character — and partly from instinctive desire after witnessing her beauty.
But compared to that…
The days spent with the playful little python felt far more genuine.
Medusa's eyes flickered.
She had expected demands.
Conditions.
Even coercion.
Yet he handed over the pill without hesitation.
Taking the jade bottle, she said nothing.
Her figure transformed into a streak of crimson light and vanished into the horizon.
"…She left."
Xiao Se exhaled softly.
"Long Kui, Xian'er — let's go. It's time we finally see the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower."
The two girls nodded.
Just as they prepared to leave—
A red streak descended from the sky.
Medusa returned.
All three stared in surprise.
"You came back?" Xiao Se asked calmly.
This time, there was no teasing in his voice.
Only quiet neutrality.
"My sofa is still with you," Medusa said stiffly, cheeks faintly warm.
Xiao Se blinked.
"…That's it?"
He handed her a low-grade storage ring.
"I separated everyone's belongings earlier."
She accepted it.
"My sister has not been found yet," Medusa said coolly.
"I already said I'd bring her to you if I encounter her," Xiao Se replied helplessly.
"I don't trust you."
She turned into the seven-colored python again mid-sentence and dove straight into his chest.
Xiao Se stared down at the small creature nestled inside his robes.
His lips twitched.
"…Fine."
With a helpless sigh, he gently stroked her head and left the valley with Xiao Yixian and Long Kui.
Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower
Northern Inner Academy.
From the sky, Xiao Se looked downward and couldn't help but gasp.
"So… this is the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower?"
Below lay a colossal sunken crater.
At its center stood a massive black tower buried deep underground, with only its spire and a long pitch-black entrance corridor visible above the surface.
Outside the passage, crowds of students packed tightly together — all waiting for entry.
"That tower contains an invisible energy," Xiao Yixian warned.
"It can penetrate Dou Qi defenses silently. If you're careless, it can seriously injure your body."
Xiao Se nodded solemnly.
The two descended.
The moment they landed, countless gazes locked onto them.
Within the Inner Academy, everyone already knew that Xiao Yixian was the youngest Dou Huang elder in history.
Seeing her arrive alongside Xiao Se caused jaws to nearly drop across the plaza.
A moment later, two elders stepped forward to greet them.
One of them was Elder Li — a Dou Wang whom Xiao Se had encountered several days earlier.
"Elder Xiao Yixian."
"Elder Li."
After exchanging pleasantries, Elder Li's gaze shifted to Xiao Se.
"You must be Xiao Se."
"Yes."
Elder Li laughed dryly.
"Young man… you've caused quite a stir lately."
Xiao Se smiled faintly.
"I'll try to keep things quieter."
The elder snorted.
"That would be a miracle."
He waved his hand.
"Follow me. I'll personally open a high-level passage for you."
As they stepped toward the dark corridor leading underground, Xiao Se felt it clearly—
A scorching presence.
Hidden.
Deep.
Restless.
The Fallen Heart Flame was waiting.
And the real challenge… was only just beginning.
(End of Chapter)
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