"If you won't let me see it, then I'll just have to look for myself!"
After leaving the small island, Gu He immediately concealed his aura, closed the distance, and stealthily returned. Hidden in a secluded corner, he released a wisp of soul power, probing toward Queen Medusa.
"Huh?!"
Through his soul perception, Gu He suddenly noticed another figure beside Queen Medusa—the Great Elder of the Snake-People Tribe.
"This old woman recovered so quickly?"
Seeing the Great Elder in good health, Gu He's face betrayed surprise.
"It seems the Snake-People Tribe has quite a few treasures..."
The palm strike he had delivered three days ago wasn't fatal, but recovery in such a short time was impossible without the aid of rare natural treasures or spiritual medicines.
…
[Author's Note: Great Elder was a woman]
"Your Majesty, have you truly made your decision?"
Beside the pool, the Great Elder's expression was solemn as she stared at the heavenly flames flickering within the water.
"Yes. If this queen should perish, the future of the Snake-People Tribe will rest in your hands, Great Elder."
Queen Medusa's enchanting eyes remained fixed on the blue flames dancing in the small pond. The firelight reflected in her lavender irises, casting mesmerizing arcs of light.
After a long silence, she sighed softly, lifting her gaze to the sky. Her serpentine tail swayed slightly as her voluptuous figure rose gracefully.
"It's time..."
A rare flicker of hesitation crossed her bewitching face before hardening into resolve. Her slender hands, emerging from beneath her purple brocade robe, formed a series of intricate hand seals.
As the seals shifted, the crystal lotus pedestal trembled violently, its protective barrier dissipating.
Freed from its restraints, the azure flames erupted in a tempestuous blaze, transforming the once-calm pond into a raging inferno.
The icy spring water evaporated at a visible rate, and the surrounding bamboo withered under the scorching heat.
Ignoring the destruction, Queen Medusa bit her red lips lightly with pearly teeth. Her jade-like hands moved to the clasps of her robe, loosening them one by one until the garment slipped away, revealing a divine figure—flawless, as if carved by the heavens themselves.
Amidst the verdant bamboo forest, her alabaster skin exuded an intoxicating allure.
Her face, naturally imbued with an ethereal charm, carried an air of untouchable elegance. The graceful curve of her slender neck, the delicate slope of her shoulders, and the tantalizing dip of her waist—every contour was a masterpiece.
Below her slender waist, a wild violet serpent's tail swayed hypnotically, adding an exotic allure to her already mesmerizing presence.
"This woman… truly a devastating beauty!"
From his hiding spot, Gu He couldn't help but shudder at the sight.
"She's born with a natural seductiveness—the kind that drives men wild."
He forced himself to look away, suppressing the restless heat rising within him.
Queen Medusa took a slow step forward, her bare feet pressing against the earth as she faced the swirling blue flames.
"If I follow the conventional path, who knows how long it will take to reach Dou Ancestor? This… is the only way."
Her delicate fingers brushed over her shoulder as she leaned slightly toward the fire, resolve hardening in her eyes.
A cold glint flashed across her gaze as Gu He's face surfaced in her mind—along with the recent humiliations suffered by her people.
"If this evolution succeeds… I will make him pay in blood. And I will lead my people out of this damned desert."
With a flick of her wrist, the ribbon binding her silken hair came undone, releasing a cascade of ink-black tresses that cascaded down to her slender waist. A slight shake of her head sent the strands swaying, enhancing her ethereal charm.
Her hands clasped together, and her eyes slid shut as she began weaving another series of seals. The surrounding energy trembled violently, gathering into a swirling vortex above the island.
Moments later, a radiant light enveloped her body, pulsing rhythmically like a heartbeat.
Then—
A deafening roar, neither beast nor serpent but something primal, erupted from within the light.
The brilliance intensified, forcing Gu He to shield his eyes.
When he looked again, a colossal purple serpent—over ten zhang in length—hovered in the sky.
Its sinuous form exuded both elegance and power. Unlike the savage gaze of ordinary magical beasts, its lavender eyes held an icy calm, an almost regal indifference.
"Is this… Queen Medusa's true form?"
Gu He watched in awe.
The Snake-People were unique—shortly after birth, they were infused with the soul of a serpentine beast through secret rituals.
As they grew, their souls merged with the beast's, allowing them to summon this form in battle, drastically amplifying their strength.
"Will she succeed in evolving this time?"
In BTTH, Queen Medusa had succeeded, though not without cost—transforming into a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python.
But this was no longer the original BTTH.
Gu He couldn't be certain whether his presence had altered her fate.
…
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