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Cai Lin's vertical pupils fixated on Bai Lin, who had her back to her. Judging from the other party's snake tail, this was also a snake-person, which made her feel slightly relieved.
However, her spirit remained taut. Before she fell unconscious, Xie Bi Yan had mentioned his desire to take her as his concubine. Therefore, she was likely now in Xie Bi Yan's hands, and this white snake-person before her was likely a maid trained by him.
What confused her, though, was that Xie Bi Yan hadn't placed any restraints on her.
"Does he have absolute confidence in controlling me, believing I can't resist? Isn't that too arrogant?" A cold glint flashed in Cai Lin's eyes.
Bai Lin noticed the change in Cai Lin's aura and turned around.
Seeing that she had been discovered, Cai Lin, with a flow of seven-colored light, transformed into her human form and immediately launched an attack, hoping to subdue this maid before she could summon others.
Subsequently, she was astonished to find her wrist seized. The world spun, and she was slammed heavily to the ground. Her wounds reopened, and she grimaced in pain, letting out a muffled groan.
However, at this moment, her mental surprise overshadowed her physical pain, and her expression was utterly bewildered.
"What's going on? I… I can't seem to beat her?"
"This is a Dou Ancestor, and her level isn't low!"
Bai Lin distorted her arm and leaned close to her ear: "Oh… so it's the 'Queen Medusa' who successfully evolved. How enviable."
Cai Lin countered with a backhand strike, but Bai Lin swiftly retreated, dodging the blow.
Looking at Bai Lin's somewhat strange appearance, Cai Lin felt a slight surprise, but now was not the time to concern herself with such matters. What she most wanted to understand was where Xie Bi Yan had sent her:
"Who are you? What is your relationship with Xie Bi Yan?"
"Xie Bi Yan? Who's that? Never heard of him." A hint of confusion appeared in Bai Lin's eyes.
Cai Lin showed a puzzled expression; the other party's demeanor didn't seem feigned… "What exactly happened while I was unconscious?"
Bai Lin didn't intend to continue the entanglement, saying softly, "Since you're awake, go see Huang Tao. That man brought you here."
"Huang Tao…" Cai Lin repeated the name.
Bai Lin walked past Cai Lin without hostility. "Follow me."
It was then that Cai Lin noticed a pair of deformed, small stubby legs dangling limply on either side of the other party's snake body. She lowered her head, a thoughtful expression on her face.
She hesitated for a moment, then followed Bai Lin.
Upon reaching the main hall, Huang Tao had already refined the medicinal pill. Seeing Bai Lin bring Cai Lin over, he casually tossed a jade bottle to the latter.
"This is a sixth-grade healing pill. Take it first to recover your body."
Cai Lin took the jade bottle and gently sniffed the opening. She detected no abnormalities, but out of caution, she still didn't consume it. Instead, she looked at Huang Tao and asked:
"Are you the Huang Tao she mentioned?"
"I am." Huang Tao's light blue eyes were placid.
"Where is this place? I remember before I fainted, I was fighting Xie Bi Yan in the Tager Desert. Why am I here? And who are you?" Cai Lin asked in a low tone.
Huang Tao's expression suddenly changed, and he spoke with a hint of agitation: "It's me, your Brother Tao… Don't you remember? Could it be… you've lost your memory? Damn it, it's all my fault. I was a step too late, causing you to…"
In his agitation, his aura became somewhat unstable, and the aura of a Dou Venerate flashed and vanished, leaving Cai Lin both surprised and bewildered.
"Huh? Brother Tao?" A bewildered expression appeared on her face… "Who is Brother Tao? Do I know him? Did he mistake me for someone else? Or did I really lose my memory?"
Because of the fleeting aura Huang Tao had just displayed, she knew this was a formidable expert far surpassing Xie Bi Yan, someone she had never encountered in her life.
She subconsciously assumed that such a supreme expert wouldn't lie, believing everything he said was true, so she followed his words and began to consider all possibilities.
Inadvertently, Cai Lin caught a glimpse of a faint, playful smile on Huang Tao's face. Her forehead twitched, and she felt that she might have been played.
"No way, no way? You didn't actually take what I just said seriously, did you?" Huang Tao adjusted his monocle, revealing a wild grin.
Cai Lin's face darkened, and she closed her mouth without uttering a word.
After laughing for a while, Huang Tao stopped laughing and his expression became serious:
"This is the Northern Continent. I saved you, and I need you to serve me."
"What about Xie Bi Yan?" Cai Lin asked.
Huang Tao replied, "He's still alive."
"What exactly happened? You're not the mastermind behind Xie Bi Yan, are you? He seemed to be holding back during our fight, as if he was wary of something." Cai Lin's tone was somewhat cold.
Huang Tao responded very naturally:
"I'm not interested in taking an old, ugly, and weak guy as a subordinate… Due to a chance encounter, I noticed you.
"The evolution of the 'Queen Medusa' holds significant meaning for me, so I've always kept an eye on you. When you encountered danger, I stepped in to save you."
"What do you need me to do for you?" Cai Lin asked.
"Help me cultivate a 'Queen Medusa' who can complete her evolution," Huang Tao said.
"The path of evolution has strong randomness and unpredictability. Even if I have relevant insights and experience, I can only say it increases the probability of successful evolution; I cannot guarantee success," Cai Lin replied after thinking.
Huang Tao said with a smile, "Increasing the probability is enough."
"I can work for you, but you have to help me kill Xie Bi Yan," Cai Lin tried to negotiate some terms.
Huang Tao shook his head: "Although killing him wouldn't take much effort, I refuse… Helping me is the price you need to pay for me saving you; no other conditions can be added."
Cai Lin bit her lower lip, her eyes revealing a hatred so thick it couldn't be dispelled:
"I must kill him. The hatred for my annihilated clan is irreconcilable."
"How long do you think it will take for you to kill him?" Huang Tao asked.
Cai Lin thought for a moment and replied, "Ten years."
Her tone seemed a bit uncertain. Because she had always been suppressed by the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python in the past and hadn't properly cultivated, she wasn't sure about her current talent. She conservatively estimated that she could surpass Xie Bi Yan in about ten years.
"He has the Soul Hall supporting him. Are you sure you'll be able to get revenge then?"
Cai Lin didn't know much about the Soul Hall, but from Huang Tao's tone, she gathered it was an extremely powerful force, one that even he seemed wary of.
After a brief thought, she firmly said, "No matter what, I will not give up on revenge. Blood debts must be paid with blood!"
"Then would you like to hear my suggestion?"
Cai Lin's brow furrowed as she gazed at Huang Tao.
The latter spoke softly: "For now, don't think about revenge. Focus on cultivating a 'Queen Medusa' for me.
"The 'Queen Medusa' I need you to cultivate is not an ordinary one capable of evolution, but one that can grow into a Dou Saint.
"Only after she becomes a Dou Saint will her evolution begin.
"During this period, I will provide all the resources needed for her growth, and I won't forbid you from sharing these resources.
"Once my goal is achieved, I believe your strength will certainly not be lower than a Dou Venerate. Then, when you seek revenge… it will be much simpler.
"This process won't take too long, at most no more than fifteen years."
Cai Lin looked at Huang Tao with the gaze of someone looking at an idiot, her eyes seeming to say: "Do you think I'd believe your nonsense?"
"A legendary existence like a Dou Saint, how can it sound so worthless coming from your mouth, as if you can just cultivate one?"
"Do you even have the strength of a Dou Saint yourself?"
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