Chapter 143: Departure!
"Master Jiang!"
Within the newly constructed Temple of the snake-people, Jiang Yun once again met the various elders of the snake-people. At this moment, these white-haired old matriarchs were scrutinizing him with gazes of appreciative assessment.
Those eyes revealed faint traces of satisfaction, leaving one somewhat puzzled!
"Honored Elders."
Just the day before, after everything had been settled, Medusa had suddenly come to tell him that the snake-people's elders wished to meet him. Jiang Yun had found it curious but still agreed.
"For Master Jiang to possess such a realm at such a young age—truly a heaven-bestowed, peerless talent!" The snake-people's First Elder looked at Jiang Yun, revealing a smile that could even be considered somewhat ghastly and chilling.
The First Elder's gaze upon Jiang Yun was exceptionally gentle, utterly devoid of the usual disgust she held for other humans. "We have heard that Her Majesty the Queen's evolution was completed with Master Jiang's aid, and that she followed Master Jiang in exploring a ruin, which is why she possesses her current strength. On behalf of the entire snake-people, this old woman thanks Master Jiang."
Having spoken, led by the First Elder, the four offered Jiang Yun a deeply respectful bow.
Jiang Yun accepted their thanks calmly. Although back then, there had indeed been an element of experimental curiosity on his part, the result was that Medusa had evolved into the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python. And by following him, in a short two years, she had broken through to Dou Zun. Within this, there were indeed many coincidences and convergences of fate—but it could also rightly be attributed to him.
"I wonder... how does Master Jiang view our Queen?" The First Elder's voice was calm as an ancient well, without much fluctuation. Yet Jiang Yun keenly detected the nervousness hidden within her tone.
Seeing the puzzled look in Jiang Yun's eyes, the First Elder sighed and said, "Those of the Medusa bloodline rarely, in their entire lives, easily fall in love with another. But once they do fall, they will never turn back." As she spoke, the First Elder glanced at Jiang Yun. "And this clan leader of ours—since returning this time, we can feel that she harbors a special, unique sentiment toward Master Jiang!"
"Does the First Elder wish to prevent this?" Jiang Yun couldn't help but raise a brow, asking softly.
Medusa had now advanced to Dou Zun. In the Northwest Continent, she was already invincible. And relying on her potential as a Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python, advancing to Dou Sheng in the future was also within foreseeable reach. The snake-people might harbor such thoughts.
To completely bind Medusa to the clan, to have her peacefully remain as their queen—this wasn't unreasonable.
"No, no, no..." Seeing Jiang Yun misunderstand, the First Elder hurriedly denied it. "The snake-people cannot obstruct the will of Her Majesty. Since her return this time, we have already performed the baptism for Her Majesty. She is already able to... engage in marital relations. However, regarding the Medusa bloodline, there is still a secret formula..."
"Changing the subject—we've heard that Master Jiang is an eighth-tier alchemist?" With a turn of phrase, the First Elder looked at Jiang Yun and asked.
"Mm." Jiang Yun now had a rough idea of what this was about. He nodded.
Hearing Jiang Yun's confirmation, the First Elder's face lit up with sudden joy. She continued, producing a scroll. "The Medusa bloodline is exceptionally potent. Should Her Majesty become pregnant, the infant must be baptized using a secret method. The stronger the secret method, the more terrifying the potential of the child born in the future."
"Within the clan, we still preserve three types of secret methods. The highest-grade secret method is a seventh-tier pill. Presumably, with Master Jiang's skill, you would naturally choose the highest-grade method, yes?"
Looking at the scroll handed to him, Jiang Yun accepted it and asked with curiosity, "How are you so certain Medusa will definitely leave with me? If she chooses to remain with the snake-people, wouldn't your efforts have been in vain?"
"Heh heh!" Facing Jiang Yun's question, the First Elder chuckled lightly. Calmly, she said, "We watched Medusa grow up. I know her. Now, the snake-people have a better living environment and fear no external enemies. The snake-people are no longer her shackles!"
"Moreover—Her Majesty possesses the potential to reach even higher realms. How could we become stumbling blocks on her path forward?"
A true dragon cannot be raised in shallow waters!
Compared to the Central Plains, the Northwest Continent simply had far too few resources. Dou Zun was already the limit here. To reach higher realms, only that continent's center—the Central Plains—possessed sufficient resources to support it.
Today, these few snake-people elders had truly made Jiang Yun see them in a new light. For Medusa to care so deeply about the snake-people—it had not been in vain.
Accepting the scroll, Jiang Yun retrieved several jade bottles and handed them to the elders. "Inside are Sect-Breaking Pills, Emperor Pills, Earth Essence Pills, and Azure Elder Longevity Pills. How to use them—I'm sure you all know. I'll leave them in your hands."
"This..." Watching Jiang Yun casually toss out handful upon handful of pills, the First Elder and her companions lost their composure. Somewhat dazed and dizzy, they looked at Jiang Yun, at a loss.
"If you all break through to Dou Zong together, I imagine Medusa can also be more at ease," Jiang Yun added after a moment of thought, seeing their flustered, overwhelmed state. "If you're still uneasy—consider it my betrothal gift."
Toward outsiders, Jiang Yun wouldn't beat around the bush. A yes was a yes. A no was a no. Medusa—from the moment her evolution succeeded, from the moment the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python followed him—was destined to be his.
"Consume the pills and break through as soon as possible. We will be leaving soon." Leaving these words behind, Jiang Yun turned and departed from the snake-people's Temple.
"What did they want with you?"
After coming out, Jiang Yun ran into Medusa, who had been waiting. Her eyes were brimming with curiosity as she asked softly.
Jiang Yun didn't rush to answer Medusa's question. Instead, he fixed her with a faint, knowing, half-smiling gaze.
Abruptly stared at directly by Jiang Yun like this, Medusa looked at him with puzzlement. The two stared at one another. After a dozen or so breaths, a flutter stirred in Medusa's heart. A faint trace of rosy blush crept onto her cold, alluring, enchantingly beautiful cheeks. She turned her head away.
Seeing this, Jiang Yun teased her no further and walked outside. As he passed by her, he said in a low voice, "The four elders have sold you to me."
"?" Snapping her head up, she stared blankly at Jiang Yun, clearly still processing his words.
Watching Medusa in such a state, even Jiang Yun was briefly entranced. This woman exuded a deadly, fatal allure at every single moment. "Just for a few sixth and seventh-tier pills—you, Her Majesty the Queen, were sold to me!"
Jiang Yun's words plunged Medusa into doubt. Her eyes went unfocused. Her heart pounded violently. The blush that had just receded climbed her cheeks once more.
That usually icy, alluring, bewitching face—at this moment, exceptionally rarely, was replaced by a flush of deep crimson. She appeared, if anything, even more enchantingly alluring and breathtakingly beautiful.
Seeing such a captivating, lovely sight, a warmth stirred in Jiang Yun's heart. He wasn't made of stone, after all. Facing several great beauties day after day, he naturally felt emotions stirring.
Yet Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian were still young in age. Jiang Yun could only suppress his feelings for now. Zi Yan's bloodline had yet to undergo baptism; it was not yet stable.
Gu Xun Er, bearing a divine-grade bloodline, could not lose her virginity until reaching Dou Sheng. If Zi Yan also had such a restriction—wouldn't he regret it bitterly if he acted rashly?
Thus, despite being surrounded by beauties in the eyes of others—in the end, the only one Jiang Yun could actually make a move on was Medusa.
"You—"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Medusa looked up at him in stunned disbelief. But she met a pair of fiery, burning eyes. Her heart lurched in sudden panic. Before her words could even leave her mouth—
in the very next second, Jiang Yun abruptly reached out and wrapped his arm around that soft, boneless, slender waist. Smiling faintly, then, under Medusa's eyes filled with shock and flustered panic, he gently kissed her.
Medusa, when facing enemies, was a cold, merciless, beautiful serpent. But at this moment, she melted into the softest, most pliant yielding willow in the world, limp in Jiang Yun's embrace.
A long while later, panting for breath, Medusa finally mustered the strength to abruptly push Jiang Yun away. At this moment, her face was flushed crimson with both bashful intoxication and stirred excitement.
"You... how dare you!"
Watching the roguish, mischievous grin on the face opposite her, Medusa immediately flew into a rage. In a sudden, fierce move, she slammed a palm against Jiang Yun's chest.
"Boom—"
In the very next second, Jiang Yun's entire body went flying sideways. The enormous sound drew the attention of quite a few within the royal city. A large number of troops began rushing toward this spot.
"Cough, cough... she really hits hard!"
From within the collapsed rubble, a bedraggled, disheveled Jiang Yun crawled out. Rubbing his aching, sore chest and looking at the scene of the crime from which Medusa had already vanished without a trace, he grimaced and bared his teeth.
"Heh heh, Yun'er—though Medusa's temper is somewhat 'fiery,' in every other aspect, she is an invaluable, irreplaceable assistant who can help you better climb to the peaks!" Qing Ming's gleeful, schadenfreude-laced voice rang out from within his mind.
"Mm." Jiang Yun nodded. Of his four beauties, Medusa and Zi Yan possessed the most terrifying potential. Reaching Heavenly Sovereign was not out of the question. They also had a higher probability of entering the Saint-Grade Heavenly Sovereign realm.
Compared to Zi Yan, the decisive, ruthless Medusa was more suited to becoming the leader of a power, and would be of greater aid to him.
"Senior Qing Ming, have all the preparations been made?" The Undying Sacred Flame circulated within him. Having recovered, Jiang Yun now asked with earnest seriousness.
"I once conducted a cursory exploration of that place. Although I do not know the specific strength of that Tuo She Ancient Emperor, without having truly seen the seal he laid down, I have no confidence in rescuing the person trapped inside." Qing Ming was also unprecedentedly solemn at this moment.
Listening to Qing Ming's words, Jiang Yun nodded seriously. Exactly how powerful the Tuo She Ancient Emperor was, Jiang Yun didn't know. But among the numerous Dou Di, he should rank near the very top.
He was likely only half a step away from a true Heavenly Sovereign!
"However—if that person truly possesses the level of strength you've described... then at the very least, a single soul avatar can be extracted!"
Hearing this, Jiang Yun nodded. They were, naturally, discussing the matter of rescuing his future father-in-law.
With a great lethal weapon like Qing Ming in his possession, had Jiang Yun not entertained this thought at all—that would be simply impossible!
The reason he had not acted before was that Qing Ming was suppressing the Saint Demon Flame within her body and also needed to recover her own strength. She had no surplus power to spare.
But as Jiang Yun's strength grew, and as Qing Ming recovered, the power she could mobilize grew ever greater. Now, in her words: On the Dou Qi Continent—I am invincible!
Only, it cannot be sustained for long!
Thus, it was not that Jiang Yun now had the capital to act recklessly. Rather, he now possessed the ultimate trump card to flip the table if necessary!
Based on Jiang Yun's intelligence, combined with her own investigation and analysis, Qing Ming had preliminarily concluded that she could at least get the old Dragon Emperor to produce a single soul avatar.
Even that would be an astonishing, formidable battle strength. In this era where Dou Di no longer appeared and Half-Di had perished, the Taixu Ancient Dragon's Zhu Kun was the absolute strongest on this continent.
Even Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi were still half a step behind him!
He had also already reached the Emperor Realm soul. A single soul avatar of the old Dragon Emperor—that would be an existence capable of obliterating an eight-star Dou Sheng, comparable to a nine-star Dou Sheng!
If they gained such a powerful backer—never mind the benefits Zi Yan could gain—Jiang Yun himself would have a rock-solid, unshakable pillar of support on the Dou Qi Continent, allowing him to grow even faster!
"I'll go set up the snake-people's array. After that, we set off. I imagine Zi Yan will be very happy to hear this news!" Jiang Yun walked out of the rubble, murmuring to himself.
Over the next three days, while surveying the terrain and preparing materials, Jiang Yun did not see Medusa's figure. It was only on the day he was to lay down the array that he finally saw her. The moment she saw him, she scowled fiercely, brows furrowed and eyes glaring.
But Jiang Yun paid it no mind. Raising a brow at Medusa, he began earnestly laying down the array.
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Jiang Yun deployed a Fifth-Grade Spiritual Array. Supported by the four elders who had broken through to Dou Zong, plus numerous Dou Wangs and Dou Huangs—even a Dou Zun would find it difficult to breach.
Everything settled, Jiang Yun immediately decided: they would depart the next day. First, return to the Jia Nan Academy, then head for the Central Plains.
Early the next morning, atop a mountain peak, several figures stood flickering into place.
Gazing down at the sprawling new royal city of the snake-people at the mountain's base, Jiang Yun let out a soft breath. Turning his head to Medusa beside him, he said gently, "Has Her Majesty truly thought this through? Coming with us—once we go, at shortest three years, at longest five years—we won't be returning."
"The snake-people now have the four elders presiding, plus the array you've left behind. Even a Dou Zun can do nothing to them. Didn't you say the Northwest Continent would become peaceful in the next few years?" Shooting Jiang Yun a roll of her eyes, Medusa said irritably, "You weren't lying to me, were you?"
"Of course not. The Northwest Continent will indeed have a few years of peace." Jiang Yun spoke with certainty. According to intelligence from Yun Yi, the Soul Hall would leave only a single Dou Zun to handle matters on the Northwest Continent. The rest were all being withdrawn to the Central Plains to guard against the Gu clan's retaliation.
In this way, the Dou Zun experts on the Northwest Continent had been nearly wiped out entirely. The snake-people's safety would indeed not be threatened.
"The Northwest Continent is too small. It's not suited for my growth," Medusa said, her furrowed brows relaxing. Sweeping a glance at Zi Yan and the other two women beside her, a mischievous, sly smile tugged at the corner of Medusa's lips. "Besides—didn't you buy me?"
"Hm?" Suddenly, Jiang Yun felt a chill surge over him. Looking at Medusa's faint, knowing smirk, he cursed inwardly. This woman is truly no good person!
Turning his head, he met Zi Yan's icy, cold smile. Knowing he couldn't escape this, he could only mentally log the debt and settle the score another day.
"Since you were bought by Xiao Yun, that makes you a servant girl! From now on, serving tea and pouring water will all be handed over to you!" Contrary to expectations, Zi Yan did not explode. Instead, she looked at Medusa with a beaming smile.
"What did you say—"
"To actually dare speak to the mistress like that! Take this!"
"Hmph! A mere two-star Dou Zun..."
Watching Medusa and Zi Yan start fighting, Jiang Yun rubbed his forehead in helplessness. Then, glancing at the perfectly obedient Qing Lin and Xiao Yi Xian, a wave of gratified relief washed over his heart.