The eight Snake-People within the pillars of light saw the movements of Gu He's group, and their faces collectively darkened. They were currently in the process of channeling their power, and the barrier that had been protecting them was just shattered by the black-robed woman. If they were caught in a surprise attack, a few of them would surely be forced to break their hand seals.
The great serpent's power would be drastically reduced, and it would no longer be a match for the woman in black. The consequences would be unimaginable.
By now, Gu He and his companions were nearly upon them. Yan Shi targeted the light pillar where Mo Basi stood, while Feng Li rushed toward Yin Shi's position. Gu He, however, paused for a moment, clearly still hesitant.
Just as Yan Shi and Feng Li were about to strike, and Mo Basi and Yin Shi prepared to withdraw from the formation to engage them while the other six maintained control, a piercing whistle cut through the air.
Whoosh!
A brilliant red stream of light shot across the horizon with incredible speed, entering the airspace above the battlefield in the blink of an eye.
"How audacious!"
A sharp, feminine cry echoed from within the streak of light. Accompanying the cry was a surge of immense, powerful Dou Qi and a terrifying aura. The Dou Qi was exceedingly tyrannical, and the aura was so dreadful that it instantly blanketed the entire battlefield.
Wherever it passed, everyone felt their hearts tighten and their bodies tremble.
"The Queen! It's Her Majesty, the Queen!"
"Queen Medusa!"
At that moment, whether it was the green serpent and the black-robed woman, Yin Shi's group of eight, or Gu He's party of three, all of them froze and looked up. The moment they felt that overwhelmingly powerful presence, they knew instantly who had arrived.
The expressions of Yin Shi and the others shifted from grim to joyous, their hearts soaring with delight. The other four, however, felt their spirits sink.
The light dissipated, revealing the true form of the person within. There, suspended in the void, was Queen Medusa. She wore a red tube top and a long skirt that accentuated her enchanting figure. Her purple serpentine tail was coiled slightly behind her, and her face was a mask of cold, stunning beauty. A pair of brilliant red Dou Qi wings spread from her back, holding her aloft.
In her hand, she held a handsome youth dressed in white robes.
Gu He was the quickest to react, immediately flying forward to pull Yan Shi and Feng Li back. Yin Shi and the others dispelled the Eight-Serpent Venomous Seal, and the giant serpent dissolved into a shower of green light as they bowed respectfully to the figure in the sky. The black-robed woman flashed over to stand protectively in front of Gu He and his companions.
Medusa's eyes turned cold as she scanned the scene. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed Zhou Changqing toward the ground.
"Damn!"
Caught completely off guard, Zhou Changqing plummeted like a stone.
The unexpected action drew the attention of everyone who had been focused on Medusa. It was only then that they noticed the second person, whom they had completely overlooked before. Such was the weight of Medusa's fame and the intensity of her presence that she had eclipsed all else.
Falling from a height of several hundred meters, his descent was alarmingly fast. Just as he was about to crash into the ground, Zhou Changqing suddenly slapped his palm downward. A burst of pale golden Dou Qi erupted from his hand, colliding with the air beneath him. The impact sent ripples of pale gold spreading out, creating an upward force that countered his fall.
Using this lift, Zhou Changqing's body momentarily halted its descent, even rising half an inch. The effect lasted only for an instant before he began to fall again. He repeated the technique, continuously striking the air with his Dou Qi to slow his momentum.
Pale golden ripples bloomed in the air, one below the other, as he descended. It looked as if he were performing parkour in mid-air. Within a few breaths, he was less than ten meters from the ground. He then executed several 360-degree flips before dropping the final distance.
Upon landing, he bent his right knee and extended his left leg, his upper body leaning forward as he braced himself with his right hand in a flawless landing.
The few who had been watching him gasped in surprise.
"Such exquisite control of the air currents!"
As expected of someone accompanying Queen Medusa. That display alone was impressive enough, certainly beyond the capabilities of a mere Dou Ling. They wondered what this youth's cultivation level was.
Of course, this small interlude was of little consequence to them. After a brief glance, their attention returned to Queen Medusa.
Only in one place, outside the city by a ring of massive stones, did Xiao Yan's pupils shrink from beneath his yellow blanket.
"Holy crap! Teacher! Doesn't that guy look just like Old Zhou?!"
"It's not that he looks like him. It is that little fellow."
"What's he doing here? And with Queen Medusa, of all people?!" Xiao Yan's eyes were wide with shock and suspicion.
"How would I know?"
"Could Old Zhou have been captured by the Snake-People? If so, Teacher, we have to find a way to save him."
"Xiao Yan, it's difficult enough for me to protect you alone. If we add another, I'm afraid I won't have the strength to help you seize the Heavenly Flame."
Xiao Yan winced, his expression twisted with conflict. Finally, he said through gritted teeth, "Then forget it!"
"Heavenly Flames are rare, but this isn't the only one. There's only one Old Zhou!"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm sure!"
"The worst-case scenario is we get Old Zhou out of here safely, then come back. You said it yourself, Teacher. Medusa's bloodline is incompatible with the Heavenly Flame; she can't possibly absorb it. As long as Gu He and his people don't succeed today, I'll still have a chance."
"Very well."
(Yao Lao had not yet considered what use the Heavenly Flame could be to Medusa.)
Back on the battlefield, Gu He and the others stared at Medusa as if facing a great enemy. She slowly descended until she was at the same height as them. Even the typically boisterous Yan Shi was silent now, watching her with extreme vigilance.
"Humans, you have quite the nerve," Medusa said, her gaze sweeping over the four of them before settling on the black-robed woman. Her voice was quiet, but it carried a chilling quality that made one's blood run cold.
With a grave expression, Gu He stepped forward and cupped his fists in a respectful salute. "Your Majesty, please do not take offense. We meant no harm. Our previous actions were born of necessity."
"And you are?" Medusa asked, her eyes now on Gu He.
Hearing this, their minds raced. In an instant, they understood. Queen Medusa must not have been in the city earlier. That would explain why the eight leaders had been so resistant to informing her. With a commotion this large, if the queen had been present, things never would have escalated this far. Therefore, she hadn't heard Gu He's earlier announcement and didn't know his identity.
"I am Gu He of the Jia Ma Empire's Misty Cloud Sect. It is an honor to meet Your Majesty," Gu He said, bowing formally once more.
Medusa's delicate brows rose slightly, but her tone remained as cold as ever. "Pill King Gu He?"
"The same."
"Heh, the Pill King? So what? Never mind a sixth-tier alchemist; even the Misty Cloud Sect behind you is nothing in my eyes. You trespassed on my tribe's lands and attacked our leaders. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, then you can all stay here permanently!"
As she finished speaking, the terrifying aura of a peak Dou Huang erupted from her body, intensifying in an instant. A powerful pressure crashed down on the four of them.
Their faces changed. It felt as if a great mountain had descended upon their shoulders. Fortunately, the black-robed woman was also a Dou Huang. Though she was no match for Medusa, the pressure alone wasn't enough to affect her significantly.
Gu He and the other two, however, were in a sorry state. They were only high-rank Dou Wangs, a full major realm below a peak Dou Huang. The pressure alone made their breathing ragged, their bodies stiffen, and their blood churn in their veins.
"Your Majesty, please wait!" Gu He shouted, holding up a hand to stop her while struggling against the crushing aura. "Your Majesty, forcefully entering your tribe's territory was indeed our mistake, and I will compensate you doubly for any losses! I came here with my companions to propose a transaction. This is of great importance to me, and I am prepared to offer a price that will satisfy you! I implore Your Majesty to consider my standing and grant me the courtesy of hearing me out!"
"Oh? I am rather curious what business would cause a sixth-tier alchemist to go to such lengths, even bringing a Dou Huang to my tribe. I'll give you a chance. Speak. I hope you can truly satisfy me. Otherwise..."