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Ever since she became pregnant, Cai Lin had been constantly worried.
Before that, her hatred for Xie Bi Yan and her high expectations for her child's future achievements jointly drove her to make the decision to have her child become Amon's cultivation target.
But as time went on, her inner self changed; her concern for her child and that hint of affection for Xiao Yan gradually overshadowed her hatred for her tribe's destruction.
She realized she no longer had nothing… She lost that desperate madness and impulsiveness, becoming more concerned about her child's safety… She felt a hint of regret.
Moreover, Amon's actions revealed a sinister quality that made her increasingly uneasy…
She was somewhat worried that Amon hadn't told her the truth, worried that what awaited her child might not be a trial where success meant transforming into a dragon and failure meant turning to dust, but rather endless enslavement or becoming material for alchemy or some other experiment…
However, it was too late to back out now. After she became pregnant, she enjoyed the best treatment in the White Snake Tribe.
Various cultivation resources were never lacking; Five-Rank and Sixth-Rank Pills were like everyday meals, and even Seventh-Rank Pills, which a Dou Ancestor needed to risk their life to obtain, could be delivered the next day with just a word… These gifts all came with a price.
She had no way out, but what Amon wanted to do remained a shadow cast over her child…
Her distrust of Amon and her fear of the unknown led her to subconsciously prepare to resist Amon… Whether to obey or risk resistance depended on Amon's purpose, and whether Amon had told her the truth.
Therefore, the answer provided by the Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill was especially important.
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill organized its words, filtered the information, and selectively told her part of the truth:
"Amon's talent has been exhausted; he cannot continue to ascend, just like you were stuck at the peak of Dou Emperor in the past, unable to advance an inch.
"However, his stagnation is more absolute; even a ninth grade golden pill cannot make him improve.
"This is a side effect of him using a secret technique to advance to his current level through abnormal means. To break through, he must also use abnormal methods.
"He wants to participate in the evolution of the Snake People, reshape his own body, get rid of that side effect, and take this opportunity to advance further!"
Cai Lin's expression didn't change much as she asked in a deep voice, "How does he plan to participate, and what impact will his participation have on the evolution process? How much risk will it add?"
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill's voice resonated directly in her mind:
"This kind of evolution can also be seen as a ritual. He possesses a special ability that allows him to replace the target at a certain stage of the ritual and gain the benefits of the ritual himself.
"This replacement can be a complete replacement or an incomplete replacement.
"Complete replacement means replacing the target or devouring them, while incomplete replacement means linking himself with the target, becoming one of the participants in the ritual.
"I'm not entirely sure how he'll specifically operate, but it will likely be the latter situation.
"What is certain is that he will definitely participate in the thunder tribulation step.
"Bai Lin only succeeded in half her evolution, turning into that ugly appearance, because the thunder tribulation she attracted wasn't strong enough, and the power of creation within it wasn't abundant enough.
"Amon seeks perfect evolution. He will find a way to expand the thunder tribulation so that it can also affect his level.
"You should be aware of how terrifying a thunder tribulation is. You barely survive a thunder tribulation corresponding to your own strength. If the thunder tribulation your child faces during evolution becomes stronger due to Amon's participation, then she can almost be said to have no chance of survival.
"Heh heh, although Amon will actively undertake the heavenly thunder for the power of creation within the thunder tribulation and to reshape his body, just a little aftershock from a thunder tribulation corresponding to his level could crush your child to dust.
"Even if your child is already a Dou Saint expert by then, in front of Amon's true body, she will still be as weak as an infant."
Cai Lin's face turned grim: "How strong is he, exactly?"
Cai Lin already had some sense of Amon's power, but she was still limited by her own perspective and couldn't make an accurate judgment.
From his hunting of three Ninth-Rank Nine Nether Earth Pythons, his lack of significant impact when an explosion occurred during the refining of a Ninth-Rank Pill, and his ability to make the Dou Saint-level Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill not dare to resist… From these events, it was clear that Amon's strength was at a very high level among Dou Shengs… But how high exactly?
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill said with a slightly solemn tone, "Mid-stage Nine-Star Dou Saint… In this plane, there are only three known living individuals who surpass him in realm, and only one who can consistently overpower him in terms of strength!
"The other two, although a step higher than him in realm, if they were to truly fight, it's still unknown who would emerge victorious."
Upon receiving such an answer, a deep despair suddenly surged in Cai Lin's heart. She was well aware of how terrifying a thunder tribulation was, and how could her child possibly survive facing a thunder tribulation required by such an existence?
"It seems you already know your children's predicament. Among them, if they are lucky, one will become a sacrifice for Amon's ascent, dying during the evolution process.
"The other three will survive, becoming the most exceptionally talented Queen Medusas, nurtured by Ninth-Rank Treasure Pills and infused with the souls of Ninth-Rank magical beasts.
"If they are unlucky, and the power of creation brought by one thunder tribulation is insufficient, then Amon will inevitably initiate evolution again, using the remaining children as sacrifices… It's uncertain how many will survive in the end.
"Hmm, he generally doesn't do things he's not confident about. I think the situation of all four children dying is unlikely to happen; one or two will survive.
"So, your deal with him is essentially sacrificing half of your children to him in exchange for the remaining children having unparalleled talent…
"Even the Taixu Ancient Dragon imperial family or the divine bloodlines among the Dou Emperor descendants wouldn't have much stronger talent than children cultivated using this secret method.
"If she, or they, could take a gamble and initiate a normal evolution without Amon's participation, and survive, their aptitude might even surpass these two.
"From the perspective of a tribal leader, your choice was actually very wise, giving your tribe an infinitely bright future… Oh, I forgot your tribe is gone.
"From the perspective of a mother, perhaps your actions could be considered somewhat cold-blooded…
"Huang Tao refused you back then because Amon didn't want to use his own children as sacrifices. That would make his already scarce humanity even thinner.
"Perhaps, you can hope for a miracle, hope that your first child to be used as a 'sacrifice' can survive the thunder tribulation.
"He didn't lie to you; most of what he told you was true. If your child can survive, then she will possess unparalleled aptitude… She might evolve into the same kind of being as Amon!"
Cai Lin's eyes lost focus for a moment, then quickly recovered. She took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down.
After a long adjustment, she finally said slowly, "I will fulfill my promise… Since I enjoyed the benefits, I must pay the price. This is the path I chose for them…"
This was much better than Cai Lin's worst-case scenario. Amon hadn't lied to her; what her children had to face was indeed a "trial," not something else.
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill said somewhat unexpectedly, "Oh? You're not planning to resist him? Your children are facing a 'transformation' with almost no chance of survival, you know."
Cai Lin rolled her eyes: "Do you take me for a fool? Which is more terrifying, Amon or the thunder tribulation? This situation is still not bad; at least Amon himself has no direct ill will towards my children, and that's enough.
"Even the child chosen as a 'sacrifice' has that slim hope of survival, and the rest will have talent that even I envy, and receive ample cultivation resources.
"Though it might be a bit cruel to one of the children, perhaps I'm not a good mother."
She let out a self-deprecating laugh, muttering to herself, "That's right, I am the infamous Queen Medusa of the Tager Desert, a cruel woman."
After a pause, Cai Lin suddenly narrowed her eyes and said with a subtle tone, "You seem to be instigating me to resist Amon?"
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill chuckled, "How would I dare? I'm just judging whether you're a good partner. If you're holding unrealistic notions of taking the resources and then finding a chance to slip away, not wanting to bear the risks, then I might as well just escape now. That has a better chance of survival than following you to resist Amon."
"There are still some things I don't understand. I hope you can enlighten me," Cai Lin asked.
"Speak."
"Why does Amon specifically cultivate Queen Medusas? Couldn't he just have the current Queen Medusas initiate evolution and then directly replace them?"
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill pondered for a moment and replied, "It might be a matter of 'foundation.' Amon should be able to influence the intensity of the thunder tribulation through some method, but it has limits and requires a certain foundation… He needs the evolution of a Dou Saint-level Queen Medusa; anything weaker probably wouldn't be effective."
"Who are those three people you mentioned who are higher in realm than Amon?"
"Hmm? Why do you want to know that?"
Cai Lin smiled: "Anyone would be curious about those who stand at the pinnacle of this Dou Qi Continent, wouldn't they?"
"One is named Gu Yuan, the patriarch of the Gu Clan. Another is named Soul Emperor, the patriarch of the Soul Clan. They inherited the bloodline of a Dou Emperor and are late-stage Nine-Star Dou Saint, a small realm higher than Amon. As for the other… perhaps it cannot be called a person."
"What do you mean?"
The Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill let out a "heh" and chuckled, "Speaking of which, he and I can be considered of the same kind. That is a pill! It is the only existence that can consistently defeat Amon, and also the strongest in this Dou Qi Continent!"
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