Within the Snake-People Race Holy City.
Bypassing the Medusa Shrine and traversing a heavily guarded corridor, a small, clear lake came into view.
In the center of the lake, a small Lake Heart Island could be seen.
If the Holy City was the center of the Snake-People Race, then this Lake Heart Island was the absolute core of the Holy City at present.
At this moment, on the Lake Heart Island, a seductive Snake-Person in a brocade robe was leading a purple-haired girl, standing before a small pool within the island.
The liquid in the small pool was incredibly crystal clear, emitting a chilling coldness. If an Alchemist were here, they would surely recognize that this entire pool of liquid was actually Ice Spirit Cold Spring!
Looking upwards, a lotus pedestal carved from strange crystal could be seen set up in the center of the small pool. At this moment, a cluster of green flames was slowly rising from the lotus pedestal.
Crunch, crunch
Zi Yan chewed on a pill, glanced at the green flames, and then lost interest. Instead, she had some thoughts about the pool of crystal clear liquid.
"Sister Medusa, is this Ice Spirit Cold Spring? Can I take a little bit?" Zi Yan asked indistinctly, her cheeks puffed out.
The Medusa Queen, who usually presented a cold and stunning demeanor, was now incredibly gentle, like a completely different person. She smiled brightly and rubbed Zi Yan's smooth purple hair.
"You want to take it back for that Chen Xiao, right? It's not that much trouble. Although he said he wanted Ice Spirit Cold Spring that day, this Green Lotus Core Flame is what he truly wants, and it's also the purpose of your trip to Tagor, isn't it?"
Hearing this, Zi Yan's chewing mouth paused slightly. She chuckled and didn't refute, attempting to get by with cuteness.
These past few days, she and the Medusa Queen had met every day, and their relationship had progressed at an astonishing speed. During occasional conversations, the Medusa Queen would also ask about Chen Xiao.
Although she was a very loyal dragon and always beat around the bush, never betraying her friend, her little thoughts were still too naive in front of Medusa. Just from probing, the Medusa Queen had already learned quite a bit about Chen Xiao.
"When you go back tonight, tell that Chen Xiao that after I evolve tomorrow night, this Green Lotus Core Flame can be given to him. If there's any Ice Spirit Cold Spring left, he can also take it all, but I need him to come to the Holy City again."
Zi Yan nodded and wrote it down, then reacted belatedly, a worried expression appearing on her cute face.
"Sister Medusa, tomorrow night you're going to..."
"I can't delay any longer. After preparing for so long, being able to collect this much Ice Spirit Cold Spring is already the limit of the Snake-People Race. Continuing to wait won't increase the possibility of successful evolution. In fact, I already had the idea of starting the evolution a few months ago."
Thinking that the Medusa Queen might turn to dust during the evolution, and that this possibility was quite high, Zi Yan fell silent.
"Let's go, don't think too much. I've asked Hua She'er to prepare a lot of medicinal herbs that can only be found in the desert. They taste very good. I'll take you to try them."
...
Evening.
Chen Xiao was studying the strange Black Stone Ore he had obtained from Hai Bo Dong, wondering if he could forge it into a handy weapon.
While he was researching, the light in front of him was suddenly blocked.
Looking up, it was Zi Yan who had returned.
However, compared to her usual cheerful demeanor, she seemed a little down at the moment.
"Is the Medusa Queen going to evolve?"
Seeing her expression, Chen Xiao immediately guessed and a look of anticipation appeared on his face.
"How did you know?"
Zi Yan was slightly stunned, completely unaware that she had already written the answer on her face.
"I guessed. After all, besides eating, there aren't many things that can affect your mood."
Normally, upon hearing Chen Xiao's teasing, Zi Yan would definitely retort, but she wasn't in the mood now.
"Sister Medusa said that the Heavenly Flame and the large pool of Ice Spirit Cold Spring can be given to you if there's any left after her evolution, but you have to go to the Holy City."
Chen Xiao pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
"Alright, I'll go with you."
Chen Xiao could probably guess the purpose of the Medusa Queen inviting him tonight. For him, it wasn't a bad thing.
Leaving the room, Chen Xiao informed Hai Bo Dong, who had returned to his old profession and was engrossed in drawing maps to pass the time. He then set off with Zi Yan, heading straight for the Snake-People Race Holy City.
Presumably because the Medusa Queen had given instructions in advance, the two went deep without any hindrance. When they arrived outside the Holy City, the Snake Guard leader, Hua She'er, was already waiting.
"Please follow me, both of you."
This was the third time Chen Xiao had entered the Medusa Shrine.
Unlike the previous two times, the Medusa Queen tonight was not lazily leaning on the throne, nor was she even sitting on it.
When Chen Xiao and the other two entered, the Medusa Queen was standing below the throne, her back to them, examining the throne that was within reach, like a king about to abdicate, silently bidding farewell to the seat she had occupied for many years.
Hearing the sound of footsteps behind her, Medusa didn't turn around, as if talking to herself.
"Someone once told me that there will always be an oasis swaying in the desert, but I know that's because they haven't been to Tagor."
"This desert is like a besieged city. Outsiders find it difficult to enter, difficult to integrate, and those inside find it difficult to leave."
"But, difficult doesn't mean there's no hope."
"The day I became the Queen of the Snake-People Race, I walked through Tagor alone. Outside the Bewitching Snake Tribe, I heard the melodious sound of a zither. Outside the Flame Snake Tribe, I saw children laughing and surrounding an old man, wishing that all sad stories would dissipate with the yellow sand at dawn and dusk. From then on, I understood what I needed to do, what I should do..."
As the murmuring faded, the Medusa Queen gracefully stepped forward, turned around, and sat on the throne, facing the three of them.
After dismissing Hua She'er and giving Zi Yan a slight smile, the Medusa Queen finally looked at Chen Xiao.
"This Queen is not interested in asking what you want the Heavenly Flame for, but the Green Lotus Core Flame is now an object of my Snake-People Race. Even if it might bring disaster, it cannot hide the fact that it is very precious."
"You want to take it away? You can."
"But this Queen needs you to promise one thing,"
A straightforward person doesn't beat around the bush. The Medusa Queen was too lazy to explain how she guessed Chen Xiao's purpose. She didn't mince words and went straight to the point.
She thought she had seen through all of Chen Xiao's thoughts, but little did she know, Chen Xiao's goals were far more than just that.
Medusa was considering the Snake-People Race because using the Heavenly Flame was too dangerous, and she wasn't even sure she could succeed.
On the other hand, Chen Xiao understood very well that with all the conditions unchanged, the Medusa Queen would most likely evolve successfully just like in the original trajectory.
Therefore, this time, Chen Xiao not only wanted to take away the Heavenly Flame but also wanted to use this opportunity to have Dou Zong level power at his disposal!
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