Mo Bas and Moon Mei moved together to intercept.
Gu He frowned.
Two Dou Wangs stopping a Dou Huang?
What was Queen Medusa thinking?
Nearby, Yun Yun's gaze flickered as she studied Medusa's flawless figure, a thoughtful expression appearing in her eyes.
After a moment, she spoke quietly:
"This Queen Medusa… something's wrong."
Elsewhere.
While chaos brewed outside, Xiao Jian moved smoothly through the interior.
Guided by the resonance between Heavenly Flames and his powerful soul perception, he quickly locked onto the flame's location. Avoiding patrols with ease, he soon arrived at a small, crystal-clear lake.
At its center lay a tiny island, surrounded by shimmering water—no bridges, no paths.
Xiao Jian picked up a stone and tossed it toward the lake.
Instantly, a strange force dragged it beneath the surface, where it dissolved into nothing.
"No flying… and poison."
His eyes narrowed.
Yin-Yang Twin Flames erupted, wrapping around his body.
"Wish me luck."
He jumped.
Breaking the water cleanly, Xiao Jian plunged in. The black-and-white flames boiled the surrounding water violently.
Purple liquid seeped out—but vanished the instant it touched the flames.
"So toxic…"
His Dou Qi drained rapidly as he swam for the island.
Near the center, danger flared in his senses.
Xiao Jian instantly drew his spear, unleashed Wind Extreme: Meteor Slaughter, and hurled it.
The spear streaked through the water like a swordfish, striking a massive green-scaled serpent. Though it pierced the scales, it failed to kill.
But it was enough.
Xiao Jian burst from the water and landed on the island.
"That was close."
The serpent hesitated at the edge, unwilling to approach further.
Everything was proceeding as expected.
Don't think that.
Every time you think that, something goes wrong.
Shaking off the thought, Xiao Jian turned toward the island.
Lush bamboo and flowers thrived here—vibrant and full of life.
Suppressing his aura, he moved forward like an ordinary man.
The flame's presence was now unmistakable.
Turning a corner, Xiao Jian abruptly crouched, hiding within the grass.
In the clearing ahead, a small pool had been carved out, filled with crystalline water shrouded in white mist—icy cold even from afar.
"Ice Spirit Cold Spring…"
Xiao Jian clicked his tongue.
Perfect for suppressing a Heavenly Flame.
At the center stood a crystal lotus pedestal, above which floated a gentle green flame.
Sometimes it took the shape of a lotus.
Sometimes, a tiny flame serpent.
Cute. Almost harmless.
Yet unmistakably powerful.
The familiar resonance confirmed it.
Green Lotus Core Flame.
A pale barrier repelled the flame whenever it drifted too far, drawing strength from the cold spring.
Then—
Xiao Jian's gaze shifted left.
And his heartbeat jumped.
Queen Medusa sat there.
She looked identical to the avatar—purple robe, alluring curves, mesmerizing eyes.
But—
Why was she staring at him?
Her lips curved into a dangerous, beautiful smile.
She had seen him.
Why?
Xiao Jian's gaze snapped back to the flame.
Heavenly Flame resonance.
Of course.
She had tracked him the same way.
Too late for regrets.
Xiao Jian stepped out and smiled calmly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
Queen Medusa smiled knowingly.
"Bold little human. Handsome, too."
"My 'little' is not small," Xiao Jian replied calmly, raising his hand.
Yin-Yang Twin Flames surged to life.
"Your Majesty, my strength may be limited
....but if I detonate my flame, your Green Lotus Core Flame will go berserk as well."
"You wouldn't survive that either."
As Xiao Jian's words fell, the smile on Queen Medusa's stunningly beautiful face slowly darkened.
"Human," she said coldly,
"Are you threatening this Queen?"
Her sharp shout was accompanied by the terrifying pressure of a peak Dou Huang.
The overwhelming aura crashed down like a mountain, forcing Xiao Jian to stagger back several steps.
When a Dou Huang truly unleashed their might, his mere Dou Shi cultivation was laughably insufficient.
That said, his threat genuinely made Queen Medusa wary.
Though Xiao Jian himself was not strong, Heavenly Flames were terrifying existences by nature.....embodiments of destruction.
Even if limited by his cultivation and unable to display their full might, detonating one would still be enough to make even a Dou Huang avoid its edge.
More importantly, Queen Medusa had already reached the final stage of her plan. Everything was in place, and success or failure hinged on this moment.
There was no way she would abandon the absorption of the Green Lotus Core Flame because of Xiao Jian's sudden intrusion.
"Well, there's nothing I can do about it," Xiao Jian shrugged helplessly.
"If I were a Dou Huang, I wouldn't mind using my Heavenly Flame to assist Your Majesty's evolution, then trading it.....along with a few high-grade pills....for the flame in your hands.
"But unfortunately, I'm just a Dou Shi. One casual strike from you and I'd be crippled. So I have no choice but to threaten you like this."
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