"Damn woman! You dare return!" the silver-armoured Snakeman roared, stepping forward in fury.
But before he could advance further, Yin Shi raised a hand to stop him. The Snakeman turned, his finger pointing at Yun Yun as he snapped, "Elder Yin Shi, how can we allow her to remain in the sacred city while Her Majesty is in the midst of her evolution?"
"Mo Ba Si, restrain yourself for now," Yin Shi said sternly, casting a cold glance at him. "Surely you've heard of her strength. With just the few of us here, it's impossible to defeat her."
His eyes sharpened, brimming with killing intent as he fixed his gaze on Yun Yun. "However, rest assured. This doesn't mean we're letting her go. I've already ignited the Summoning Order. The other leaders of the Eight Large Tribes are on their way."
He took a step forward, voice low but heavy with threat. "Until Yan Ci and the others arrive, we must hold her off—delay her if she dares approach the shrine."
Mo Ba Si gritted his teeth in frustration, unable to refute Yin Shi's words. However, upon hearing the final sentence, he drew in a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the killing intent and anger surging within him. Slowly, his mind began to calm.
For now, he had no choice but to be patient and monitor the situation closely, ensuring it didn't spiral out of control.
…
As the natural energy above churned violently, Xiao Hua stepped forward, approaching the enormous purple serpent.
With his spiritual perception, he could sense that Queen Medusa had not fallen—not yet. Though faint, traces of life still lingered within her. A powerful energy was stirring inside her, as if she were making one final, desperate stand.
He lifted his head, staring toward the sky. Though he couldn't see it from underground, he could feel the natural energy surging even more violently with each passing second. Returning his gaze to Queen Medusa, he remained still.
He could not interfere. This was her battle—one she had to face alone. No one could recklessly step in.
'It's just like the nine trials of Heavenly Judgement Lightning I had to endure to rise beyond my limits…' Xiao Hua sighed inwardly, recognizing the similarity between her current struggle and his own current tribulation.
"You endure the trial of evolution and suffer the searing pain of the Heavenly Flame for the sake of your people—to lead them away from the scorching desert that goes against your race's nature, a land that oppresses rather than nurtures."
"I face the descends of the Heavenly Lightnings and the nine trials of Heavenly Judgement Lightning, dancing on the edge of death to uphold the promises I've made over seventeen long years."
"To Xun Er, I vowed to make her happy and to one day stand before her clan, proudly declaring our relationship and love."
"To Little Fairy Doctor, I swore never to leave her side—so she would not lose yet another person who accepts her, dangerous constitution and all."
"To Yun Yun, I promised I would not die before her… so she would never come to hate me for causing her experiencing that shameful situation in the cave."
"To Zi Yan, I gave my word that I would never again leave her to walk the lonely life she once experience, before she found us."
"To Sister Azure and Sister Xue Yue, I vowed to create bodies for them—to give them true life, free from the chains of spiritual form and the constraints of heavenly law."
"And to myself… I swore to live a life without regrets, to mend the heart shattered by a past I can never return to."
Xiao Hua paused for a moment. A flicker of admiration and melancholy passed through his eyes. The corner of his lips lifted into a faint, self-deprecating smile.
"Though our reasons may differ, we both seek strength to fulfil a purpose that brings us peace—even if it means ignoring our own well-being and brought the concerns of those who care for us. In that sense... we are truly alike."
His gaze sharpened, and he spoke with unwavering resolve. "Queen Medusa, you've shown your will and determination. I swear upon my name—once this is over, I will personally lead your people to the Magic Beast Mountain Range."
…
While Xiao Hua remained focused on Queen Medusa, the situation outside grew increasingly perilous. The churning natural energy above had intensified, creating a mounting sense of pressure.
Yin Shi stared at the darkened sky, his expression grave. In a solemn tone, he said, "No matter what happens, this place has become too dangerous. We'll fall back and monitor her closely—we must not allow her to disrupt the Queen's evolution!"
Yue Mei and Mo Ba Shi nodded in unison before withdrawing from the shrine. However, they positioned themselves near Yun Yun, remaining vigilant. At the slightest movement, they were prepared to strike and prevent her from advancing.
Boom!
A few seconds after their retreat, a silver-colored thunderbolt tore through the sky and struck the shrine's roof, blasting it apart. A massive hole was punched straight down into the underground chamber where Xiao Hua, Queen Medusa, and the Green Lotus Core Flame resided—almost as if the lightning itself had carved a path for the coming tribulation.
Swoosh!
Immediately after the path revealed itself, countless silver-colored lightning bolts surged downward, piercing through the sky and raining toward the underground chamber.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Blinding bolts of lightning exploded across the lake, relentlessly striking the blue energy curtain that served as the island's protective barrier.
Ka-cha—!
Cracks echoed like shattering glass as the barrier, unable to withstand the ferocity of the lightning, finally gave way—shattering into countless fragments.
Kzzzt!
With the barrier gone, the lightning storm raged unchecked. Bolts struck the island without pause, pulverizing massive boulders into dust, their remains scattered into the air by the violent gales.
However, the majority of the lightning bolts surged toward the unmoving, colossal purple serpent, its charred scales crackling under the relentless bombardment.
Xiao Hua had already retreated from Queen Medusa the moment the ceiling was torn apart by the wrath of heaven and earth. Flames coiled protectively around his body as he stood silently, observing the scene.
Not a single bolt dared strike him. Instead, they veered away, as if instinctively avoiding his presence. The primal lightning aura hidden within the flames around him made even these heavenly bolts tremble in fear.
The force of the lightning did not affect him in the slightest. He had already endured the descent of Heavenly Lightning six times—each time triggered by his own initiation of the Heavenly Judgement Lightning trial. Compared to those tribulations, this was but a mild ripple, far too insignificant to faze him.
Still, the fury of the lightning did not relent. Bolt after bolt continued to rain down upon the massive serpent.
Then, amidst the onslaught, something began to change. The charred skin of the stiff, enormous snake began to peel away, bit by bit. From beneath, a brilliant purple aura surged forth—as if the enormous serpent was slowly returning to life.
The pace of the shedding gradually quickened. At last, Xiao Hua could make out something stirring within the massive serpent's body—something that was about to break free. Meanwhile, the aura emanating from within grew increasingly dense and beautiful.
"A new scent… it's emerging from within the serpent," Xiao Hua murmured, his eyes narrowing as a serious glint flashed within them.
"It seems she's succeeded in her evolution." A quiet sigh of relief escaped his lips. A part of him had feared an unexpected mishap might occur—one that would cause Queen Medusa to fail and veer off from the events foretold in the novel's plot.
"Still..." His gaze sharpened, sweeping over the island now crackling with thunder and charged with energy. "This surging natural force is her final trial—the gate she must cross to become a Dou Zong."
Bang!
A few breaths later, a thunderous explosion erupted from the massive serpent lying on the ground. An eye-piercing purple radiance burst forth, and a vast, terrifying wave of energy rippled out from the serpent's body, sweeping across the entire island.
The brilliant glow faded as quickly as it had come, revealing a new form—another serpent, cloaked in dazzling purple light. Though smaller than the previous colossal corpse, this snake appeared to be formed not of flesh and bone, but of pure, purple flame.
As soon as it emerged, the fiery serpent soared into the sky. With each passing moment, it expanded in size, growing larger and larger until it once again matched the scale of its former body. Surrounding it was a mist of shimmering purple light, laced with countless sparkling motes, adding to its ethereal majesty.
Once it reached a certain height, the serpent stopped ascending and gradually returned to its original, compact form. It raised its massive head and locked its gaze on the dark, thunder-filled sky above.
Whoosh!
An intense, searing aura suddenly erupted from the Green Lotus Core Flame below. Having returned to a dormant state after Queen Medusa's collapse, the flame now flared violently, as if enraged and in disbelief that she had survived its devastating onslaught.
"Looks like it's finally enraged…" Xiao Hua muttered as his gaze swept toward the Green Lotus Core Flame, which had begun to float steadily upward.
The turquoise-colored fiery lotus slowly began to spin, its rotation growing more violent with each passing breath. Then, without warning, it shot forward like a comet, leaving behind a serene trail of turquoise light as it charged straight toward the enormous serpent.
Sensing the incoming lotus, the giant serpent reacted with surprising agility. With a smooth, lightning-fast movement that belied its massive size, it twisted through the air and narrowly dodged the fiery lotus.
Yet, the Green Lotus Core Flame was relentless. Though its first strike missed, it continued its pursuit, unwavering in its intent to strike down the serpent.
In the sky above, trails of turquoise flame and wisps of radiant purple mist intertwined—one chasing, the other evading—like a celestial dance of fire and spirit. The two forces weaved a breathtaking spectacle across the heavens, their movements both graceful and fierce.
The elegant chase persisted for a time, until the serpent, having sensed it had fully captured the attention of the flame, suddenly ascended at full speed into the sky.
However, rather than giving chase, the Green Lotus Core Flame abruptly halted. It spun furiously on the spot, its flames churning with intensity. Then, at its center, energy began to concentrate—compressing, condensing—until it formed a fist-sized crystal of irregular shape, glowing with a terrifying aura.
"It's about to explode…" Xiao Hua narrowed his eyes as the air in front of him solidified, forming an invisible barrier dense enough to deflect even the fiercest assault.
Shua!
A brilliant turquoise radiance burst forth from the flame lotus, its light so intense it pierced the eyes.
Bang!
In the next instant, wild torrents of turquoise flame erupted from the lotus, streaking through the air like blazing meteors. One of them shot toward Xiao Hua, but it was effortlessly deflected by the invisible wall of condensed air before him.
Boom!
Simultaneously, another torrent of turquoise flame roared toward the purple serpent. It struck with brutal force, unleashing a thunderous explosion that echoed throughout the underground chamber.
Upon impact, fragments of turquoise flame scattered into the air like burning meteors. They rained down from above, each one crashing into the earth like flaming boulders, scorching everything in their path.
From a distance, the small island appeared as if it were in the midst of a volcanic eruption, engulfed by a raging sea of flames.
Outside the shrine, the other ritual stones that still embedded in the ground suddenly trembled and rose into the air. Their yellow inscriptions flickered and gradually turned a fiery orange, reacting to the turbulent energy beneath.
Moments later, several wisps of turquoise flame burst out from the underground, dancing through the air around the shrine and leaving behind brilliant, flaming trails.
Then, a massive serpent shot out from the underground, ascending through the hole left by the earlier lightning strikes. It soared into the sky, its enormous body gliding with fluid grace. Behind it, the three wisps of turquoise flame followed closely, trailing in its wake like vengeful spirits.
High above, the serpent and the flames resumed their deadly dance, weaving and twirling across the sky seeking dominance over each other.
Moments after their dance resumed, turquoise flames began to writhe along the surface of the enormous purple serpent. With a graceful twist, the serpent coiled into a tight circle in midair, then raised its massive head and opened its colossal maw.
Roooaarr—!
The thunderous roar echoed through the skies like a royal declaration.
"Your Majesty!" Yin Shi lowered his upper half body and bow down, his voice brimming with joy and reverence at the sight of their queen's majestic form.
"Your Majesty!"
The entire plaza followed in unison, bowing deeply as they cried out together. Their admiration and loyalty to Queen Medusa radiated from every movement, their voices trembling with awe and devotion.
Meanwhile, Yun Yun remained indifferent by the emotional display. She stood quietly to the side, her gaze never leaving the turquoise flames.
"That must be the Heavenly Flame Gu He mentioned…" Yun Yun murmured, a flicker of worry flashing deep in her eyes. "Seizing it and escaping… especially while evading the Snake-People Commanders… will be no easy task."
Suddenly, a bright crimson glow lit up the sky. The natural energy of heaven and earth surged with unprecedented intensity, converging and condensing into a colossal sphere of crimson lightning—far larger than the purple serpent itself.
The pressure radiating from the sphere was suffocating, its destructive energy so overwhelming that it made one's scalp tingle with dread.
The enormous serpent fixed its gaze upon the terrifying sphere suspended within the churning dark clouds. Without hesitation, it surged forward with unshakable resolve, charging directly toward the crimson-red lightning.
Yet, not a single Snake-Person lifted their head to look. Not one was gripped by fear.
Instead, they bowed even deeper, their hearts united as one, their thoughts echoing in silent prayer: 'Please bless Her Majesty. Let her evolution succeed… Snake Spirit.'
With unwavering determination, the brilliant purple serpent pierced the black clouds—and in the next instant, it dove headlong into the monstrous sphere of crimson lightning.
As she entered the crimson sphere of lightning, countless crimson arcs danced violently within—each one resembling a long, sinuous snake. The bolts relentlessly struck the purple serpent from all directions.
Agonizing pain surged through her body as the crimson lightning arced across her scales. Yet, she ignored it, enduring the torment as she pressed forward with unwavering resolve, heading straight for the heart of the storm.
The moment she reached the center, a brilliant crimson wave of energy erupted outward. A blinding radiance flared, its intensity piercing through the sky and blanketing the entire sacred city in light.
Then—silence.
As the light slowly faded, the churning dark clouds had vanished. In their place, a soft cascade of purple and red glows rained down like snow, shimmering gently as deep-purple smoke lingered in the sky above.
The sudden change stunned the Snake-People. Bewildered, they looked around, seeking an explanation, confusion written all over their faces.
But amidst the uncertainty, two individuals understood the truth—Yun Yun and Yin Shi. With their keen perception and deep understanding of the situation, they recognized what had occurred:
Queen Medusa had failed in her evolution.
They believed something had gone wrong with the evolution. There was no longer any trace of Queen Medusa's aura—no breath, no energy fluctuations. Everything had vanished without a trace, as if she had been erased from existence.
Yun Yun gazed at the sky in silence for a moment before lowering her head in a respectful bow. "You were truly strong, Queen Medusa… even if you were ultimately destroyed."
Despite being her opponent, Yun Yun couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration. Even in apparent death, Queen Medusa had proven herself worthy of the title—Queen of the Snake-People, a name that had once struck fear into the hearts of the powerful across the Ji Ma Empire.
"No…! No…!" A heart-wrenching cry tore through the air. It was Shi Yin.
He stared at his palm, where a faint purple glow flickered weakly. His expression was one of utter devastation—eyes wide with disbelief, his face pale with sorrow. His cry echoed throughout the city, raw with despair.
The moment they heard him, the rest of the Snake-People felt their hearts sink. That single cry was enough to confirm their fears—their beloved Queen had likely fallen. A heavy silence descended, and a wave of grief and hopelessness swept over the city.
Yun Yun watched the scene unfold and shook her head helplessly. She wanted to rush in immediately—she knew this was the perfect opportunity. However, the turquoise flames surrounding the shrine radiated a dangerous aura that sent a chill through her heart, halting her advance.
Her instincts weren't wrong. The turquoise flames were manifestations of the Heavenly Flame's agitation. Though not as potent as the core flame itself, they were still powerful enough to corrode spiritual strength and severely wound even strong people like her.
"It seems I'll have to wait until the flames die down…" Yun Yun murmured to herself. But just as that thought settled, her eyes narrowed in confusion. She could no longer sense the scent of the Heavenly Flame—it had completely vanished.
"Could Queen Medusa have… destroyed the Heavenly Flame?" she wondered aloud, her brows furrowing in doubt.
But she quickly dismissed the idea. She had a close relationship with Xiao Hua, who possessed multiple Heavenly Flames.
From what she knew through him, a Heavenly Flame—born of heaven and earth—was far from something that could be destroyed so easily. Even with Queen Medusa's strength, it was simply impossible.
"What's happening inside for the Heavenly Flame's aura to vanish…?" Yun Yun murmured, a deep frown forming on her brows as uncertainty crept into her heart.
She cast a quiet glance toward the plaza. Countless eyes glared at her with hatred, causing her expression to darken slightly. Though she was confident that she wouldn't be defeated, she had no desire to start a massacre.
Besides, even if she could win, it didn't mean the battle would be easy. A prolonged fight would only attract stronger Snake-People, and she risked being surrounded and trapped.
"First it was the 'Ancient Desolate Hand,' and now this…" She muttered inwardly, her frustration mounting. "This mission is proving to be more troublesome than expected. I'm starting to regret accepting it…"
She shifted her attention to the turquoise fire, which had grown faint and indistinct. The Dou Qi within her body began circulating rapidly in response.
The atmosphere throughout the vast city was deathly still. Every gaze remained fixed on the fading turquoise flames, and tension hung in the air like a taut string—none dared to relax, not even for a breath.
...
Meanwhile, on the small island, Xiao Hua wore a strange and complicated expression as he gazed at a tiny, narrow snake no more than two centimeters long.
Its slender body was covered in pure white scales that shimmered with a rainbow-like iridescence under the light. Unlike an ordinary serpent, this one had a pair of delicate, feather-shaped white wings sprouting from its head.
Its large, expressive eyes radiated both intelligence and gentleness, yet carried a subtle, bewitching charm. Small curved markings—resembling golden flames or ancient runes—adorned its forehead. With long eyelashes and soft, refined features, the little creature exuded a faintly feminine grace.
A unique, fresh fragrance lingered around its body. Though it was merely a small snake, an air of elegance and nobility radiated from it.
Despite its species, the little serpent was not the least bit fearsome—instead, its beauty bordered on the unreal. Such an exquisite creature could easily make many women forget their natural fear and aversion toward snakes.
Its delicate, seven-colored body lacked any obvious offensive features, yet one would be gravely mistaken to underestimate it. Hidden within that small frame was a terrifying power—even a Dou Huang would not dare to take it lightly.
The tiny snake was coiled around Xiao Hua's finger—or more precisely, around one of the storage rings he wore. Its crystal-clear eyes, with quartz-like pupils, glimmered with a trace of longing as it stared at him, gently swaying its tail in joyful excitement.
Hiss. Hiss.
It let out a few soft hisses, the tender sound reminiscent of a spoiled child seeking affection.
Naturally, Xiao Hua recognized the little snake and couldn't help but smile wryly. Anyone familiar with Battle Through the Heavens would immediately know—this was the Snake Spirit of Queen Medusa herself.
Though the queen's consciousness still lingered within, it was currently suppressed; the Snake Spirit, being the dominant and more powerful presence, had taken control.
He had initially thought the little snake would be wary of him—perhaps even frightened—due to the terrifying beings sealed within his body.
Yet, just as he was preparing to leave, the tiny serpent had unexpectedly rushed toward him without hesitation, coiling tightly around his finger—or more accurately, around one of his storage rings.
"I just hope Queen Medusa doesn't try to kill me after this…" Xiao Hua muttered with a helpless smile. He hadn't anticipated things to unfold this way. Now, he found himself in a truly awkward and difficult situation…
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