"Low-tier Earth-rank fire-attributed cultivation method."
On the peak of a certain mountain somewhere in the Jia Ma Empire, Queen Medusa, who was adjusting her breathing to recover her Battle Qi, opened her eyes. A violent desire surged up in her heart.
The Snake-People's bloodline was yin-cold in nature; they were innately averse to yang and fire attributes. However, she—Her Majesty the Queen—was an exception, and the reason lay in the soul of the serpent-type magical beast that coexisted with her.
Not long after a Snake-People was born, a strong expert of the tribe would use a secret technique to infuse a serpent-type magical beast's soul into the newborn's body. As their age and strength grew, they gradually fused with it, until eventually they became completely one, even able to manifest a beast form like a shape-shifting magical beast when fighting. This was one of the trump cards of the Snake-People.
Queen Medusa's companion serpent-soul was a six-rank magical beast of the fire attribute—the Quiet Purple Flame Serpent.
Had she possessed that Earthflame Art from the start, she might never have risked attempting evolution through Heavenly Flame and instead taken the safer path of breaking through to Dou Ancestor by normal means.
"Still, my current situation isn't bad."
Ending her meditation and releasing the seals, Queen Medusa rose to her feet again, Battle Qi forming wings behind her as she flew rapidly toward a certain direction.
If she could obtain the remnant soul and monster core of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, then borrow the Green Lotus Core Flame to transform into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python and break through to Dou Ancestor, her future would be far more promising than simply cultivating a low-tier Earth-rank method. Reaching Dou Venerate would be a broad, open path.
…
At the same time, on Misty Cloud Mountain of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun only felt her hands and feet turn cold.
"It… shouldn't… probably… be that much of a coincidence, right!?" She took a sip of hot tea to calm herself down.
In his journal, Xiao Ting had mentioned that among the eight Ancient Clans of a thousand years ago, there was one called the Hun Clan.
In her heart, a powerful premonition surfaced—that the Hall of Souls must be related to this Hun Clan.
If she were to attack people of the Hall of Souls, wouldn't that be equivalent to opposing an Ancient Clan?
But when she thought of how the founder of the Misty Cloud Sect had died in matters related to the Hall of Souls, her gaze hardened.
As the ninth-generation Sect Master of Misty Cloud Sect, she wasn't only acting for the sake of inheriting the legacy—she was also acting for revenge.
If Ancestor Yun Potian were still alive, the Misty Cloud Sect would never merely be a second-rate sect in the northwestern region.
"I'll head to the front lines soon. Perhaps I might find members of the Hall of Souls in the Jia Ma Empire's Chu Yun Empire front." Yun Yun pondered silently.
Her attention returned to the journal. The contents were still updating.
…
[Yao Lao suggested that, starting tomorrow and continuing until Cousin leaves for his training journey, he will guide me in cultivating methods and battle skills together with him.]
[With a former peak eighth-rank alchemist and peak Dou Venerate as a teacher, my strength will definitely soar. This is worth recording as well, and I can also document every detail of how Cousin grows stronger from an observer's perspective.]
…
High in the sky, Queen Medusa abruptly halted, her heart racing wildly.
"Eighth-rank alchemist… peak Dou Venerate…"
Of course. How could someone capable of training a future Dou God be anything but extraordinary?
She just hadn't expected him to be a top-tier powerhouse right beneath the Dou Saint realm.
And he was also an eighth-rank alchemist.
…
"Hsss~" Yun Yun's breathing grew heavy, then she revealed a relieved smile.
"Yanran's loss isn't unjust."
She was merely a Dou Emperor, and the strongest alchemist she knew—Pill King Gu He—had only just stepped into the sixth rank.
If the disciple she had nurtured could even battle on equal footing with the disciple raised by Yao Lao, that would already be the brightest highlight of her life.
"As for the three-year agreement… it will just be a chance for Yanran to realize there's always a higher sky and a stronger person, to temper her heart."
Although she had long suspected Yao Lao's identity and strength, it was only after knowing the truth that Yun Yun's mindset truly changed.
…
In Rock Desert Cit, inside the Desert Metal Mercenary Company's compound, Qing Lin, who was sweeping a courtyard, felt nothing at all in her heart.
She only wanted to know what the future would hold for her—a half-blood child of Snake-People and humans.
…
By contrast, on a magical-beast-drawn carriage traveling from Qingshan Town to Wu Tan City, Little Fairy Doctor's heart was racing.
"An eighth-rank alchemist…"
Her greatest wish was to become an alchemist. But, lacking talent, she could only be an ordinary physician. Even so, she had always harbored a special fondness—and one could say obsession—for the profession of alchemist.
"Someone like that definitely knows what's wrong with my body."
Expectation and apprehension flashed through her eyes.
But then she suddenly realized that she didn't actually need Yao Lao to answer this question.
Who could possibly know her situation better than Xiao Ting, a transmigrator?
"Tomorrow I'll arrive in Wu Tan City. I wonder if I can see him…" She unconsciously clenched her hands.
As a little physician girl from a small town, it was not so easy to meet the Xiao Clan's genius young master.
Without a suitable reason, to deliberately 'bump into him' or throw herself at him rashly would only arouse suspicion.
The next moment, however, a bright light sparkled in her gaze.
…
[After parting from Yao Lao and Cousin, Xun Er and I will head to Jade Flower Hall in the third marketplace on West Street of Wu Tan City. That breakfast shop is Xun Er's favorite; the morning dishes are very representative of the Battle Qi Continent.]
…
"Jade Flower Hall." Little Fairy Doctor's heart leaped with joy.
She and Xun Er were both girls. After arriving in Wu Tan City, she had heard of Jade Flower Hall's famous breakfast. Going there to taste the food was only natural!
As long as Xiao Ting and Xun Er visited Jade Flower Hall again in the next few days, that would be her chance.
…
[On the way, Xun Er asked if I was interested in Yao Lao's identity.]
[At that time, I really wanted to tell her: My silly little sister, it's not that I'm not interested, it's that there's no one on this Battle Qi Continent who knows Yao Lao better than I do.]
[Why Yao Lao was expelled from the Yao Clan, how he was plotted against behind the scenes, what kind of situations his confidantes Hu Jiujiu, Han Shanshan, and the others are in right now—I know it all better than he, the man in question.] (TL: Hu Jiujiu and Han Shanshan was from Battle Through the Heavens: The Legend of Yao Lao.)
[What I want even more to tell her is that I know you inside and out as well. I know your identity and background, and I know you are worthy of trust.]
[But before I become strong enough, I can only pretend not to know.]
[In order not to burden you with too much pressure, there are some things I cannot do—for now.]
[Once I reach Dou Saint, all these problems will be solved naturally. Waiting ten years is nothing.]
…
Hiss!
Medusa, Yun Yun, Little Fairy Doctor—and even Xun Er herself—had their pupils shrink sharply.
Xiao Ting knowing a lot of hidden truths didn't shock them; what truly stunned them was that last line…
He actually believed he could reach Dou Saint in ten years!?
If anyone else had said this—even the core heir of a Dou God clan and a seed destined for the Dou Saint realm—people would still harbor doubts.
But Xiao Ting had said it in his inner monologue within the journal.
That meant he was absolutely confident.
…
"In ten years, Dou Saint.
Right now, you're only a Dou Master.
Before reaching Dou Venerate, that means you'll practically break through one major realm per year?"
Incredible. Unbelievable.
"So it's at most ten years…"
Xun Er's smile bloomed like a bright flower.
…
[In the future I'll definitely need to have a proper talk with Yao Lao. That way, when my strength is sufficient and I need it, I can seek out Venerable Feng as a backer.]
[I specially asked Xun Er whether souls had realms. She told me the soul is divided into mortal state, spirit state, heavenly state, and Di State.]
[I'm quite familiar with this. My soul is currently at mid-mortal realm.]
[A nine-star late-stage Dou Saint with a Di State soul can be considered a Half Step Dou God-level powerhouse.]
[And I happen to know of one such Half Step Dou God's legacy, lying there in wait for me to claim when my strength is sufficient.]
[At the location of that legacy, there's also a nest of Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Pythons—at least several hundred Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python souls. Each can be reborn through the Snake-People's secret technique, and there's also the inheritance of the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python that can help a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python reach sainthood.]
[In the future, if the chance arises, I can capture a Quiet Purple Flame Serpent, then have Yao Lao refine a seventh-rank pill to help it transform into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python. Then I'll have a Dou Saint as a guardian.]
Queen Medusa: ???
Queen Medusa: !!!
You're using this to tempt this Queen—how is this Queen supposed to resist!?
…