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--- Chapter 235 ---
Han Yuan doesn't know what to say about his discovery. Who would have thought that his being cautious was the reason he couldn't communicate with "Alpha" in the Douluo Continent?
If this wasn't self-sabotage, then he no longer knew what it was.
"Wait, does this also apply to the Douluo Plane?" asked Han Yuan.
[Yes]
"..." Han Yuan was speechless.
Then, Han Yuan sighed, lamenting how wrong it was to be lowkey. Yes, he should have been more aggressive in his revenge. Yet, thinking about it again, he couldn't really afford to be too aggressive.
That bastard of a God named Asura couldn't get beaten straightforwardly, and doing so would be just a foolish endeavor. If beating Asura God was so easy, Dragon God, God of Destruction, and many others would have wiped him out of existence.
The reality is, Asura is a tricky opponent. He's a master of schemes with a keen knowledge of loopholes.
Knowing this, Han Yuan blamed Asura for this error.
When in doubt, always blame Asura!
Han Yuan calmed down and swam up to a floating rock on the lava pool, checking his gains. He called the Green Lotus Core Flame, watching the cyan-green flame dancing in his right palm.
...
[Green Lotus Core Flame]
[Ranked 19th on the Heavenly Flame List, the Green Lotus Core Flame is a Heavenly Flame that originates deep within the Earth's core. It is a natural force formed from the combination of subterranean heat and magma over time. This flame is inherently destructive, embodying the richness of soil and the fierce nature of fire. Due to its unique properties, the Green Lotus Core Flame could refine the "impurities" found in the earthly materials, particularly within minerals.]
...
Unlike the Ten Thousand Beast Flame, the Green Lotus Core Flame has developed a basic intelligence or spirit. Although young, it's no longer instinctive.
Then again, Green Lotus Core Flame's origin is much more stable than Ten Thousand Flame.
Han Yuan experimented with its "purifying" property on a piece of raw iron he had prepared. He watched the cyan-green flame envelop the lump of black rock, refining it into a smaller, pure, condensed iron.
The ordinary raw iron turned into Iron's Essence, which is not only more precious but also usable in making artifacts.
"This is a dream partner for a blacksmith..." Han Yuan sighed because the blacksmith would scramble to get their hands on Green Lotus Core Flame because of its 'refining' ability.
In fact, Lou Gao would probably kneel before Han Yuan to get a chance to use Green Lotus Core Flame. That old blacksmith would probably become a Divine Blacksmith given enough time with it.
Yes, that's just how significant Green Lotus Core Flame is.
Unfortunately, the Dou Qi Continent is not a place where weapon refiner is mainstream; alchemists are. In Xiao Yan's hand, the Green Lotus Core Flame was used more often as a way to refine pills and bombard his enemy.
'What a waste...' Han Yuan pulled the Green Lotus Core Flame back into his body.
Suddenly, a great shadow burst out of the lava pool, shaking the floating rock he was currently on. Han Yuan looked up and saw a two-headed snake with demonic red scales and spikes appear.
"Huh, isn't this fellow the one that the girl with unique pupils conquered for Xiao Yan? What was it again, ah, yes, the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent?" Han Yuan looked up in realization.
"But this little gut seems to be only a Rank 2 Magical Beast. Probably because I took the Green Lotus Core Flame earlier than it should have been."
"Hiss!" The Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent gazed at Han Yuan, ready to pounce on him out of hunger.
However, Han Yuan casually smacked one of its heads before dragging its tail to the desert's surface.
BOOM!
Queen Medusa, Yafei, and Hai Bodong, who had been patiently waiting for Han Yuan, were shocked to witness the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent flopping on the ground before them.
Seeing the snake that looks like a fish out of water, they are speechless.
"Wait, this is a Two-Headed Flame Spirit Serpent!" Queen Medusa said in awe. "It has the potential to reach Rank 6, or equal to Dou Emperor Realm."
"This snake has such potential?" Hai Bodong gulped nervously. This snake actually can reach the same realm as him.
Meanwhile, Yafei observed it from a different perspective and said, "If we can tame this serpent, Union can have a guardian beast. I heard the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire's guardian beast is also a Rank 6 Magical Beast."
"Ah, I don't mean to." She glanced at Queen Medusa as soon as she realized her wording was quite off.
Queen Medusa shook her head calmly, "It's fine."
"To me, the Magical Beast is not my people. While we are Snake-People, and do possess the Magical Beast's bloodline, especially the snake's kind, there is a clear difference..."
"Since this fellow met Han Yuan, he was lucky to be tamed by him."
The strong ruled the weak!
It has been Queen Medusa's motto for a long time, and it still is.
Queen Medusa didn't mull over the fact that Han Yuan defeated her. It is what it is, and she readily accepted the chance of them getting together and mating to make stronger progeny.
'Hmm, mate, huh? That doesn't sound bad, considering how excellent Han Yuan is.' Queen Medusa licked her lips.
'Hold on, what's with that gaze?' Han Yuan felt Queen Medusa's fiery gaze on his body, especially on his crotch. It reminded him of a certain 'thirsty' Female Tyrannosaurus back at the Douluo Continent.
'Even in this world, my body isn't safe...'
A thousand men would cry if they knew what Han Yuan was thinking right now, dying of thirst while watching him drown.
Han Yuan pretended he didn't feel Queen Medusa's gaze. He recalled the details of "Qing Lin," a prominent character in BTTH who has immense potential.
A half-human, half-snake-woman, hybrid girl. Her hair and eyes are green, a sign of bloodline mutation, which allowed her to awaken the Triple-Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils.
Triple-Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils, on their own, is a cheat.
Yes, a literal cheat!
These pupils are nemeses of all snake-type beasts, capable of performing a one-sided slave contract on them. Only a pure-blooded ancient snake can resist this overpowered ability, which is Queen Medusa after her bloodline evolution.
Oh, you think it's over? It's NOT!
The one-sided contract is just the tip of the iceberg.
After further development, the Triple-Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils can create an innate space within their wielder's pupils to store snake-type Magical Beasts, ultimately absorbing their strength to enhance their wielder's own cultivation.
Although the absorption process is slow, it can't be slower, considering Qing Lin caught up to Xiao Yan, who had many lucky encounters and chances.
In this world, Qing Lin is one of the top-notch talents.
There is no way Han Yuan is going to let her follow Xiao Yan like the canon.
So, when Queen Medusa offered him to stay in her place, Han Yuan had to refuse.
"Well, I will stay in the Tager Desert for a week or two." Han Yuan replied awkwardly as he couldn't say he was looking for a little girl. "You can visit me at Desert City, and we can still communicate about our cooperation and Martial Union's stuff."
"Okay..." Queen Medusa sighed helplessly. She wanted to introduce Han Yuan to her kingdom, but forcing him is out of the question. "I will meet you in the Desert City soon."
Despite her reluctance, Queen Medusa left.
After Queen Medusa disappeared, Hai Bodong finally heaved a sigh of relief.
"Goddamn!" Hai Bodong yelled. "What was that??!"
"You tell me, even I didn't expect such development." Han Yuan replied with a shrug.
Yafei rolled her eyes, "Yeah, I'm sure flirting with the gorgeous Queen Medusa wasn't on your bucket list."
Cough! Cough!
"I don't know what you are talking about, Yafei." Han Yuan shamelessly coughed his shame away. "Flirting? I was negotiating with her."
"As the leader of Martial Union, I have to show some respect to the queen of snake people, no?"
"..." Hai Bodong.
"..." Yafei.
Are you seriously lying on our face now?
Han Yuan didn't even bother to lie well enough.
Anyway, after organizing a few things, they returned to the Desert City, which takes a few hours even by flying. Unfortunately, only Dou Ancestor and above could manipulate space, so teleportation is a no-no for now.
No, even if Hai Bodong reached the 1-Star Dou Ancestor Realm now, at most, he can only manipulate space a little.
...
A few hours later, they arrived at the Desert City, only to find Queen Medusa perched at the front of Hai Bodong's Ancient Map Shop.
"So, this is where you're staying..." She said while leaning on the front door. She gazed at Han Yuan deeply, "Well, then, let's talk about our cooperation~!"
'I know you said soon, but not this SOON!'
Han Yuan couldn't believe this snake woman at all.