Her talent was not bad. Xiao Yan had always acknowledged the potential of the Heavenly Flames, and now, witnessing the transformed Heavenly Flame's attack firsthand, what he saw was almost exactly as he had imagined.
Even though the girl had not studied any cultivation technique or battle skill, and merely fought by instinct with her sword, her combat power was already extraordinary.
The green light rushed toward Xiao Yan like lightning, and the force carried by the sword's edge made his black hair whip and flutter wildly, as if caught in a storm.
Just as the sword's tip was about to pierce Xiao Yan, he finally moved!
In that instant, Xiao Yan's left arm shot up, and with effortless grace, his two fingers pinched the razor-sharp blade between them—lightly, as though holding a feather.
Xiao Yan smiled faintly and said, "With only this level of strength, you're still quite far from getting what you want."
"You—!" The sound of Xiao Yan's laughter rang in the girl's ears like the cruelest mockery. She gritted her teeth, grasped her sword with both hands, and poured all her strength into it. Even as her pretty face flushed red from effort, she still couldn't make the slightest movement against him.
"Don't be so angry." Xiao Yan loosened his fingers slightly, and the girl—who had been pulling with all her strength—stumbled backward several steps, barely keeping her balance.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Xiao Yan said calmly, "In fact, you should thank me."
"Thank you?" The girl, having steadied herself, let out a laugh of disbelief, as though she had just heard the funniest joke in the world.
Xiao Yan nodded seriously. "If not for me, who knows how many endless years you would have had to remain in that magma world? You wouldn't even possess your current form or power."
The girl froze for a moment. The human before her… what he said was true. If not for him, it might have taken her countless years of accumulation before she could leave the magma world.
But then, as if suddenly remembering something, she bristled like an angry little cat. "And what difference does it make? Whether trapped in the magma world or confined here—it's still the same, isn't it?!"
Xiao Yan silently stepped closer to her and gently rubbed her head. "If you want to know the difference," he said softly, "then cultivate. Train in the technique I gave you—and perfect it."
The moment Xiao Yan's warm, steady hand brushed over her hair, the flames of anger in the girl's heart seemed to melt away, replaced by a strange comfort and peace—a feeling of safety and quiet joy she could not describe.
Having merged with many Heavenly Flames and refined countless techniques, Xiao Yan now possessed a profound affinity with fire itself.
The girl quickly brushed away his hand, her cheeks glowing with a faint blush. "Who wants to train in some technique made by a human!" she retorted stubbornly.
"If you stay idle here, you'll never change," Xiao Yan said with a bright laugh. "But if you cultivate my method, your current state won't get worse—and you might even be able to last a few more rounds against me."
As soon as his words fell, the form of Xiao Yan's soul power shimmered and dispersed into the air.
"Xiao Yan…" the girl whispered softly, standing still in thought. After a long pause, she finally spoke again. "Fine, I'll try your technique."
Taking a deep breath, she cleared her mind of distractions and carefully examined the cultivation method Xiao Yan had implanted into her consciousness. Then she closed her eyes and entered a meditative state.
Watching her actions through inner vision, Xiao Yan's lips curved slightly. He had, in truth, held back somewhat.
Since most of the Heavenly Flames had been condensed from his own Dou Qi, once they became independent entities, his personal strength naturally declined significantly.
The Green Lotus Creation Canon accounted for this weakness to a certain degree, though it could not yet fully link the energy of all the Heavenly Flames together to achieve their utmost potential.
Having each Heavenly Flame cultivate wasn't merely to strengthen them individually—it also increased his overall combat strength.
When the Heavenly Flames grew stronger on their own, even if their linkage efficiency remained low, his own power would still rise as a result.
Once the Green Lotus Core Flame's cultivation stabilized, Xiao Yan turned his attention to the others.
The Green Lotus Core Flame was a pure, wild Heavenly Flame—unique and special in its kind.If all the other Heavenly Flames behaved as she did, Xiao Yan thought wryly, his head would truly ache.
He needed all of them, once they awakened intelligence, to be willing to cultivate properly.
The cultivation of the Green Lotus Creation Canon continued fervently. Once Queen Medusa had recovered, she finally left the palace—to face what awaited her after her evolution:
The Baptism of the Snake-People Tribe!
Passing through several quiet corridors, Queen Medusa finally arrived before an ancient altar.
The altar stood in the midst of a shadowy forest. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. Its base was built from massive black stones, each one worn with age, exuding an aura of mystery and time.
Stopping before the altar, a solemn expression appeared on Medusa's beautiful face.
According to the traditions of the Snake-People Tribe, before a queen could take on human form, she must remain a virgin. And after taking human shape, she was required to undergo the tribe's altar baptism before she could engage in union with another.
Though she had not resisted this law, she had never expected the circumstances to unfold as they had.
Taking a quiet breath, Medusa slowly pushed open the great stone doors of the altar and stepped inside.
Whatever the elders might think, the outcome of her evolution was undeniably a positive one.
At the altar's center stood a massive stone pillar engraved with intricate serpent carvings. Each snake looked vividly alive, as if it could slither down from the pillar at any moment.
At the top of the pillar was inlaid a gleaming, translucent gem, emitting a soft light that bathed the altar in a sacred glow.
Around the altar grew various strange plants—their leaves of bizarre shapes and luminous colors, emitting a faint phosphorescent light.
The plants, alongside the ancient altar, enhanced the atmosphere of mystery and solemnity.
"Your Majesty."
The four elderly women stationed at the four corners of the altar had long been aware of her coming, but when they saw Queen Medusa walking in with a human appearance, surprise flickered in their eyes.
"Elders," Medusa said calmly, "begin."
The four elder women exchanged glances. A look of determination and reverence crossed their faces as they extended their thin, aged fingers and began to chant in unison. Their voices were low, rhythmic, and ancient—like they were speaking to unseen spirits.
As their incantations continued, four streams of chilling energy surged up from the corners of the altar, spiraling upward into the air.
Those icy currents soon condensed into liquid form—four streams of shimmering substance slowly dripping down, landing upon Medusa's body.
Her body trembled slightly under the cold baptism, the sensation beyond anything she had ever imagined.
This sacred ritual of the Snake-People was reserved solely for the tribe's queen after her transformation—there were no written records describing it.
As the strange liquid sank into her skin, Medusa felt her body grow lighter, and her connection to the devouring serpent within her blood became stronger and more harmonious.
When the altar finally returned to silence, the eldest of the four crones suddenly gasped as her gaze fell upon Medusa's lower abdomen.
"Your Majesty… you—!"
(End of chapter)End of Chapter)
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