"Is what you said true?"
The moment she heard Xiao Tian's words, Queen Medusa could no longer maintain her composure. She stood up abruptly from her purple crystal throne, her beautiful eyes filled with visible excitement.
"Naturally, it's true," Xiao Tian replied calmly, his tone shifting slightly. "If I didn't have absolute confidence, I wouldn't have come all this way to discuss a deal with you. I quite admire Queen Medusa's fearless spirit of adventure. Otherwise, I could have simply taken what I wanted. I don't believe the Snake-People Tribe could stop us."
He gestured lightly, and Wen Yan immediately released his full aura.
A terrifying pressure belonging to a Seven-Star Dou Zong swept through the hall like a storm.
Medusa's expression changed drastically. "Seven-Star Dou Zong…"
She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. "I believe you. But how exactly do you plan to help me evolve? I need to know the details."
Xiao Tian took out a black-gold jade bottle from his storage ring that he got from the Eternal Dream Realm. He opened the lid, and a faint roar echoed as a giant white python phantom appeared in the air.
"Has Queen Medusa ever heard of the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python?"
Medusa's eyes locked onto the phantom, her breathing becoming slightly rapid. "This… is the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python?"
"Correct." Xiao Tian closed the bottle, and the phantom vanished. "Inside this jade bottle is a drop of the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python's heart blood. As long as you swallow this drop and combine it with my secret method, you will have a very high chance of evolving directly into a Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python."
Medusa's gaze lingered on the spot where the phantom had disappeared, filled with deep longing.
A Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python was an extremely high-level magical beast. If she succeeded, she would have a real chance to evolve further into the legendary Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python — an existence comparable to Dou Saint, or even Dou Emperor in the distant future.
"What is this secret method you mentioned?" Medusa's voice had softened noticeably, now carrying a faint trace of allure.
"Swallowing the heart blood along with a special medicinal liquid I will refine will help you absorb the blood essence safely and protect your body during the process. In addition, I will use my Otherworldly Flame to assist the evolution."
As he spoke, Xiao Tian raised his hand. A gentle emerald-green flame quietly appeared in his palm, radiating rich, boundless life energy. The entire hall seemed to brighten with vitality.
Medusa's eyes widened in shock.
"Is that… an Otherworldly Flame?" She stared at the emerald flame, her voice trembling slightly. "You already possess an Otherworldly Flame, so why do you need mine? And what's the difference between using your flame and the one I have?"
Xiao Tian smiled faintly. "The difference is enormous. Tell me, what rank is the Heavenly Flame you possess?"
Medusa hesitated for a moment before replying coldly, "It's called the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked 19th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking."
Xiao Tian nodded. "Then let me tell you what rank my flame is."
Medusa sneered disdainfully. "How could you possibly know the rank of my flame just by looking?"
Xiao Tian's smile deepened. "This flame in my hand is the Life Spirit Flame, ranked 5th on the Heavenly Flame Ranking — also known as the Flame of Longevity."
Medusa's body stiffened. Her beautiful face was filled with disbelief.
Rank 5?!
She had nearly died just to obtain the Rank 19 Green Lotus Core Flame. Yet this young man before her casually possessed a legendary Rank 5 flame — one so precious that even late-stage Dou Sheng experts would fight desperately over it!
The Life Spirit Flame was not known for destruction. Instead, it possessed the purest life-creation energy in the world. It could nourish bloodlines, accelerate growth, and greatly reduce the danger of breakthroughs and tribulations.
Xiao Tian continued calmly, "When you undergo the evolution and face the lightning tribulation, this life energy will greatly reduce the damage from the heavenly lightning and protect your vitality. The success rate will be far higher than using the Green Lotus Core Flame alone."
He flicked his finger, sending a small wisp of the emerald Life Spirit Flame toward Medusa.
The moment the gentle life aura touched her, Medusa felt her bloodline stir excitedly, and a warm, comfortable sensation spread throughout her body. Her previously exhausted Dou Qi even showed signs of recovery.
After personally experiencing the flame's power, Medusa's face finally broke into a genuine smile.
"Very well… I agree to your exchange. However, I can only hand over the Heavenly Flame after I successfully evolve. When do you wish to begin?"
Xiao Tian was momentarily captivated by Medusa's stunning smile. Under the protection of his powerful soul, he quickly regained his composure.
Medusa noticed his brief daze and felt a strange sense of satisfaction in her heart. She had always been extremely confident in her beauty, but seeing someone as outstanding as Xiao Tian lose himself for even a moment gave her unexpected pleasure.
"No rush," Xiao Tian said. "First, gather these medicinal ingredients. I will refine them into a special medicinal liquid. Once everything is ready, we can begin your evolution."
He tossed out a list containing fifty to sixty types of rare medicinal ingredients.
Medusa glanced at it. Most of the items were relatively easy for the Snake-People Tribe to obtain.
"Are you an alchemist?" she asked, looking at him with surprise.
"Since I possess an Otherworldly Flame, it's only natural that I am an alchemist," Xiao Tian replied with a smile.
"At your age, you're already a Dou Ling and an alchemist as well…" Medusa shook her head, her eyes filled with disbelief. "I'm very curious — what rank of alchemist are you?"
Xiao Tian chuckled softly. "Queen Medusa, it's better not to be too curious about me. Curiosity is often the beginning of a woman's downfall."
He paused, then added teasingly, "I hope Queen Medusa can arrange suitable rooms for us. You're not planning to make us sleep in the desert, are you?"
Medusa summoned Hua She Er, the captain of the Medusa Snake Guards, and ordered her to arrange accommodations for Xiao Tian and Wen Yan in the palace complex beside the main hall.
As Xiao Tian reached the entrance of the hall, he turned back and gave Medusa one last smile. Sunlight streamed in behind him, draping his figure in a golden halo.
Medusa leaned back lazily on her amethyst throne and murmured to herself:
"This King is not the kind of person you speak of…"
For the first time in many years, she felt truly relaxed. The problem that had troubled her for so long finally had a solution.
...
Three days later.
Inside his room, Xiao Tian was quietly cultivating when Wen Yan's voice sounded in his mind:
"Hall Master, Queen Medusa is heading this way."
Xiao Tian opened his eyes, stood up, and opened the door just as Medusa arrived.