Looking at [Character Relationships] in the System interface, Xiao Xue fell into a momentary daze.
Then, she began to refresh the System interface over and over again.
[Refresh]: [Medusa — Partner]
[Refresh]: [Medusa — Partner]
[Refresh]:...After refreshing an unknown number of times, the final result remained [Partner].
Xiao Xue: 6
She knew the System wouldn't make things up without a reason.
Everyone knows what [Partner] means.
Ordinary friends didn't even have any relationship-related tags in the System.
Because the scope of "friend" or "Bestie" was far too broad.
Therefore, when the System was first manufactured, this level of relationship wasn't set.
Even Xun'er, because she wasn't a true member of the Xiao Family, remained a character without status in the System, despite her excellent relationship with Xiao Xue.
At most, because she was one of the original Protagonists, she ranked first among the "Related [Passersby]" in the intimacy rankings.
Behind Xun'er were Ya Fei, Nalan Yanran, Yun Yun, and others.
But the status of [Partner] was second only to Blood Relatives, even ranking above her two [Disciples].
If a character relationship map were drawn, Medusa's current status could be said to be second only to her cheap father and several brothers, making her one of the closest people.
So, while this seemed completely absurd, Xiao Xue couldn't help but take it seriously.
Xiao Xue speculated that something must have deepened the bond between her and Medusa, to the point that even the System "acknowledged" it.
But she and Medusa were in a purely transactional relationship.
You work for me, I let you live; it was that simple.
Thinking about it, this likely wasn't Medusa's doing.
Because she wouldn't dare.
With the "background" she possessed and the strength she currently displayed.
As long as Medusa had half a brain, she wouldn't dare provoke her.
Naturally, she wouldn't go around spreading news of what happened before.
In that case, the problem could only lie with herself or the System.
Whether it was a problem with the System or a problem with her, the consequences were very serious.
Thus, Xiao Xue immediately began a self-examination.
What could possibly cause the System to acknowledge Medusa's status?
She immediately found a secluded cave, flew inside, and began an internal inspection to check her status.
Soul; there were no issues with her Soul, which was still at the strength of Mortal Realm Great Perfection.
Due to the successful condensation of her [Sword Heart], a giant golden sword formed of Soul energy resided in her Sea of Consciousness, emitting a significant pressure.
Xiao Xue looked left and right but found no issues with her Soul.
Then, she sank her consciousness into her body... aside from a faint, ethereal connection with Medusa due to the peach blossom mark, her body showed no abnormalities.
Xiao Xue thought carefully; before entering the Underground World, the System hadn't identified any relationship between her and Medusa.
—Pure strangers.
And since she had been in seclusion for nearly a year, she had no idea when the relationship was established.
The System didn't even have a record for this thing.
Could it be... Xiao Xue held out her left hand to look; there was a peach blossom mark in her palm.
Was it because these two peach blossoms bestowed by the ancient tree had connected her and Medusa?
And thus, caused the System to misunderstand their relationship?
After all, peach blossoms did somewhat symbolize marriage and romance.
Saying so felt a bit forced.
But those were marks left by a Dou Venerate-level peach tree; if she had to justify it, she could make it make sense.
However, Xiao Xue still felt somewhat uneasy.
Keeping this as one of the options, Xiao Xue continued to look for issues within the System.
Her various stats in the System were already precise down to the decimal point.
So, as long as she was careful enough, she would definitely find some clues.
Then, Xiao Xue actually did find a problem—
Her Dou Qi consumption rate was slightly faster than the theoretical value calculated by the System based on current data.
Of course, this extra consumption was completely negligible compared to her current strength as a Dou Wang.
That was why she hadn't noticed anything unusual.
But Xiao Xue was almost certain that this was where the problem lay.
Yet she only knew that something was wrong with her body now.
As for where the problem was, no matter how she inspected herself internally, she couldn't find any trace.
In desperation, Xiao Xue could only set this issue aside for now and continue south to return to the Jia Ma Empire.
Although the Izumo Empire had been taken over by the Alliance, it was also Alliance territory, and thus the territory of her, the Alliance Leader.
But appearing in the Izumo Empire now would cause many inconveniences.
Moreover, without figuring out exactly what was happening, Xiao Xue felt uneasy all over, as if a snake were crawling inside her body.
Thinking about it, even if Medusa hadn't consciously participated, this should be related to her.
Therefore, using the Secret Technique of the Snake-People Clan should be able to detect what problem she had encountered.
Now that a certain relationship had been established, Xiao Xue could directly locate Medusa through the System.
According to the System's positioning, Medusa was currently in the Tagor Desert.
After evolving into the Heavenly Flame Serpent Body, the desert—filled with fire attribute energy, a place the Snake-People previously disliked—was actually more suitable for Medusa to Cultivate.
So, Medusa had returned to the desert for seclusion, hoping for an early Breakthrough to Dou Venerate.
More than half a year after leaving the Underground World, Medusa had now reached the Seven-Star Dou Zong level.
Xiao Xue activated the peach blossom mark in her palm to contact Medusa and ask her to come pick her up.
At the same time, she also informed Medusa of her situation, hoping Medusa could notify several Elders of the Snake-People Clan in advance to help "check her pulse."
Ahri was currently "hibernating" to refine the medicinal power of the spiritual fruit, so she could only fly back herself.
Although there weren't many people in the Northwest Continent who could threaten her after the condensation of her [Sword Heart]—it could almost be said there were none.
But the speed of a Dou Wang certainly couldn't compare to a Dou Zong.
If a Dou Zong like Medusa came to pick her up, the speed would definitely be faster than her flying back slowly as a Dou Wang.
Medusa quickly gave a response, saying it was no problem and that she had already notified the Four Great Elders, who had begun preparing.
At the same time, she had also set out, telling Xiao Xue to wait in place or head south to meet her.
Xiao Xue gripped the peach blossom mark in her left hand, flapped her wings, and flew toward the south.
A few days later, in the palace of the Snake-People Clan.
Medusa waited outside while Xiao Xue was inside, letting the Four Great Elders use a Secret Technique to "check her pulse."
After an unknown amount of time, the Grand Elder sneakily slipped out from inside.
She looked at Medusa, who came forward to inquire, and hesitated to speak, her words catching in her throat:
"Your Majesty, the Prince... she's expecting."
Medusa: "...???"
———
In the original work, Medusa didn't notice for over a year and continued to fight everywhere as if nothing was wrong, even a Dou Zong couldn't detect it, so this feels quite reasonable.
Also, the Three-Year Agreement and the Jia Nan Academy Arc are the only relatively stable plot points; once the Cloud Mist Sect and the Hall of Souls are dealt with, there will be a few years of peace.
The intensity will skyrocket after Dou Zong, and she can't exactly go into dungeons while carrying a child, so this was arranged; Xiao Xiao will meet everyone in the Jia Nan Academy Arc.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/DaoistRoeoNQ
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"