Hearing Yao Lao's startled cry behind him, Xiao Bai's mind sparked with curiosity, but there was no time to dwell. Queen Medusa's body surged with crimson energy, the ice encasing her already cracking. Three breaths at most before she breaks free.
No time to waste. If her crown blocked the seal, he'd remove it. Eyes hardening, Xiao Bai dissolved the seal in his hand, crimson lightning flaring as he slammed a palm onto her smooth forehead, knocking the crown off. As it flew, he snatched it midair, thunder flashing underfoot as he retreated swiftly.
"Hmph!" Queen Medusa grunted, her three thousand strands of hair spilling free without the crown's restraint. Gone was her regal poise; her eyes blazed with fury, her voice chilling as a winter gale. "Human, you're dead!"
A crimson energy whip coalesced in her hand, poised to strike the retreating Xiao Bai. "Soul Shock!" Xiao Bai unleashed a surge of soul force, crashing into her.
He'd tried a soul shock at the fight's start, to no effect. Doubting his ability to seal her, he'd pressed on, seeking an opening. Her soul isn't that strong—it's her gear. The crown's Phantom Soul Stone had thwarted him earlier.
"Ugh!" Queen Medusa's whip faltered as a piercing pain stabbed her sea of consciousness. Clutching her forehead, a pained moan escaped her lips. Her phoenix eyes dulled for a moment before regaining clarity, shock flickering within. Without the crown, this human's soul is monstrous!
Her icy, furious gaze deepened with wariness. This fight's a tiger, I can't dismount. Soul attacks were nearly indefensible. As a Snake-Person, her soul outstripped other beasts but lagged behind same-tier humans. Beasts have strong bodies, weak souls; humans, weak bodies, strong souls. Xiao Bai's soul shock rivaled peak Dou Huangs—maybe surpassed them.
With the crown, she'd have shrugged off such an attack. Each Queen Medusa's crown could be reforged, but its two soul-defense gems, passed down through generations, were irreplaceable. Retreat crossed her mind—she couldn't fall here. Without her, the Snake-People would face annihilation from surrounding powers. But the soul body subtly blocked her escape, and the flame she'd sought for over a decade burned before her. I can't back down.
Her thoughts raced, and Queen Medusa vanished in a flash. Xiao Bai, on guard, cloaked himself in crimson lightning, soul perception sweeping the surroundings. "You dare!" he roared, sensing her target. Queen Medusa reappeared, a Dou Qi sword at Hai Bodong's throat.
"Human, return the crown, and this queen will leave," she said, her calm voice belying the disheveled hair and softened majesty, exuding a sultry charm without the crown's edge.
"Xiao never bows to threats," Xiao Bai replied, his gaze icy. Returning the crown now would squander their edge. Yao Lao's strength wasn't sustainable, and his soul force was their only real weapon against her. Hai Bodong's earlier panic showed the seal's influence—otherwise, she wouldn't have subdued him so easily. Give it back, and she reneges? We're done.
"Oh? His life means so little to you?" Queen Medusa's lips curled, mocking.
"If he dies, your Snake-People will face extinction," Xiao Bai said, his tone flat, stating a fact.
"Bold words!" Her stunning face darkened at the mention of genocide. "How exactly will you wipe out my Snake-People? With a remnant soul and a six-star Da Dou Shi? Laughable!"
Her tone dripped with disdain. The Snake-People's hidden strength could fend off early Dou Zongs—she wasn't intimidated.
Xiao Bai read her expression. To make this proud woman talk, I've got to shatter her arrogance. Hands clasped behind him, he said coolly, "Doubt me?"
"I know your Snake-People have four peak Dou Huang elders and a high-tier Dou Huang commander. You think I'm delusional to claim I can destroy your clan, right?"
Shock flashed in Queen Medusa's eyes, her sword hand trembling, her mind reeling with suspicion. How does this human know our elite forces? Those elders were the clan's secret backbone, rarely seen. Even during the Jia Ma Empire's war against the Snake-People a decade ago, only she and the eight tribal leaders fought—the elders never appeared. Even the empire's royals were largely unaware of them.
Hai Bodong felt the sword quiver, his body tensing. Xiao Bai's words sent cold sweat down his brow. Damn, the Snake-People hide that much power? Besides her, five Dou Huangs—high-tier or peak! He'd once planned to sneak into their holy city for herbs when she was absent. Terrifying thought—East Bro nearly died!
"To destroy your Snake-People, I wouldn't even need to lift a finger," Xiao Bai continued. "Your clan borders four human nations: the Jia Ma Empire to the south, and Outcloud, Falling Goose, and Mulan to the north. Outcloud's Scorpion Bi Yan of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, Falling Goose's Yan Luotian of the Falling Goose Sect, and Mulan's three elders—all Dou Zongs. They've long eyed the Jia Ma Empire but hesitate, wary of each other, delaying their invasion."
"If they move south, your Snake-People, caught in the middle, will bear the brunt. What will you block them with? I only need to persuade them to unite."
Seeing skepticism in her eyes, Xiao Bai pressed, "Don't doubt my ability. You won't want to see the consequences."
As he spoke, he watched her reactions. Her blank look at the Dou Zong names suggested she'd been so fixated on the Heavenly Flame that her knowledge of regional powers was outdated. Or maybe Snake-People's physiology makes spying in human lands impossible. Smirking inwardly, Xiao Bai leveraged his novel knowledge to bluff, not truly aiming to eradicate her clan. Give me a few years' growth, and I could do it myself—why bother with schemes?
Queen Medusa's expression wavered, torn between doubt and realization. She'd long known of the surrounding threats, a key reason for her frantic flame hunt. To survive and lead her clan from the barren desert, she had to grow stronger. But fate mocked her—finally finding the flame, she couldn't claim it. A flicker of sorrow passed through her phoenix eyes. Oh heavens, why forsake my people? Will the Snake-People truly face extinction?
"You can try and see if my Snake-People can withstand it," she said, biting her silver teeth, her icy gaze hiding her vulnerability.
"Heh." Xiao Bai, eyeing her defiance, chuckled, shifting topics. "Your Snake-People are yin-cold, clashing with Heavenly Flames—you can't absorb them. Yet you're desperate for this flame, suggesting another purpose. Rumor has it that each Queen Medusa cultivates with a companion beast soul, growing together. Yours is a sixth-tier Purple Nether Flame Snake. To break into Dou Zong, you need that soul to evolve, so you're using the flame for that, aren't you?"
Queen Medusa's pupils shrank. How does he know our ancestral method? "I can help you," Xiao Bai said, breezily.
Her face betrayed disbelief. This human would aid me? Then, realization dawned. "Your terms," she said coldly, her composure returning. "You've said plenty—you're not here to toy with me. Name your conditions."
"Smart!" Xiao Bai clapped, grinning. He preferred this sharp Queen Medusa over the domineering, battle-crazed one. Transmitting his terms privately, he kept them from others' ears.
Hai Bodong held his breath, unsure what Xiao Bai offered, eyeing the trembling, enraged queen, fearing a reckless outburst. "Human, you seek death!" Her voice, gritted and glacial, sent a shiver through even ice-attuned Hai Bodong.
This vile man dares to suggest making me his pet? Queen Medusa's pride flared. Me, a pet? No one in this world could be my master—nor ever will! She'd die before submitting. Fury mounting, crimson light pulsed from her, energy ripples spreading, ready to perish with this man.
"Alright, I'll take a loss. You're pretty enough—how about being my maid instead?" Xiao Bai said, his "you're getting a deal" expression blatant, this time not transmitting.
The space fell silent. Hai Bodong's admiration for Xiao Bai surged like a tidal wave. Lived decades, first time hearing someone dare make Queen Medusa a maid! Respect flowed endlessly.
"I'll kill you!" Queen Medusa, beyond "this queen," charged with her sword, fury unhinged.
Facing her, Xiao Bai's faint smile held, but the jest in his eyes faded, replaced by calm depth. His hands, hidden behind him, had already formed seals, soul force surging from his sea of consciousness. Yao Lao, in sync, moved toward Hai Bodong.
Queen Medusa snapped alert. I've been played! Too late for regret, she spun to re-capture Hai Bodong. But Yao Lao, anticipating, unleashed a Bone Chilling Flame barrier between them. His sharp soul had noticed Xiao Bai's seals and provocations, sensing a plan, and prepared.
Cut off by the flame, Queen Medusa couldn't react before the familiar soul-piercing pain hit, blanking her mind. Xiao Bai seized the moment, flashing forward with Thunder Light Step, his seal pressing her brow. Feeling the soul seal take root in her sea of consciousness, he exhaled. Finally tamed this proud woman. Not easy.
Wiping sweat from his tense focus, he leapt back, wary of her waking wrath. She'll come for blood. To his surprise, Queen Medusa awoke calm, neither raging nor drawing her sword. Her eyes held only a profound indifference to life and death.
"Human, what will you do with this queen?" Her voice was flat, resolved. If he means to humiliate me, I'll self-destruct—not to harm, but to die. Sensing the seal, she understood soul seals differed from Dou Qi ones but grasped her life was no longer hers. Anger or struggle was futile, perhaps a jest to her captor. I am the queen, the Snake-People's queen. Even in death, I'll die with dignity.
Thoughts of her clan stirred worry, reluctance, and a strange relief. Her life had been a relentless quest for the Snake-People's survival, strength, and escape from the desert. Never a day for myself. From childhood, elders drilled into her: "You are the queen. The lives of millions rest on you—never slacken." Since donning the crown, she'd toiled to ensure her clan's place in this ruthless world, to lead them from barren sands. But now… I'm tired.
With that thought, her lofty majesty softened, a rare fragility emerging. Xiao Bai, watching this shift, frowned, puzzled. This isn't the Medusa I expected. Her, fragile? Begging? He shook his head, dismissing the notion. This proud woman would never beg.