— — — — — —
The little Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python rubbed its head affectionately against Renzo's cheek, letting out a soft sound, clearly showing how attached it was to him.
"Uh… what's going on here?"
Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin stood there dumbfounded.
Hadn't Medusa just completed her breakthrough? Why had she turned into a little snake again? And why was she suddenly acting so sweet toward Brother Renzo?
Did that mean she failed?
"Don't overthink it," Renzo said with a smile. "She just overexerted her main soul and fell asleep. Right now her secondary soul is in control. Once she recovers, she'll be fine."
He flipped his palm, conjured a pill, and held it before the tiny snake's mouth. The little creature swallowed it eagerly, a faint glow of satisfaction flashing in its eyes. Then it coiled around Renzo's left wrist, forming a bracelet, and shut its eyes as it slipped into deep slumber to digest the medicine.
"So that's how it is… Then what now? Do we just wait here for her to wake up?" Little Fairy Doctor asked.
"Of course not. We're heading for Jia Nan Academy in the Black-Corner Region."
Renzo chuckled and shook his head. He summoned a massive Flying Nimbus Cloud once more, pulling both women up with him. With a sharp whoosh, the cloud shot off toward the Black-Corner Region.
When they passed near the Snake-People's Holy City, Renzo at least left word. He sent a message to several elders explaining Medusa's situation, along with a communication talisman and a defensive array plate. That done, he didn't linger.
After all, his plan from the very beginning was to "borrow" Medusa for himself. Leaving such a hot woman alone? No way.
"...."
"This… what exactly is happening?"
One Snake-Person elder stood in shock, processing the information that had suddenly appeared in his mind as he stared at the strange items in his hands.
"So, the queen really did succeed in her evolution, but then someone ran off with her?" another elder muttered, the corner of his eye twitching.
What kind of nonsense was this?
"Well, at least she succeeded," the Great Elder sighed, though his face relaxed a little with relief. "And whoever took her left us a way to stay in contact, plus some means of defense. That's not too bad. I believe when the queen wakes, she'll come back to us."
"…Fair enough."
The Second Elder could only nod helplessly. Strength ruled the world.
They were weak; Renzo was not. Given that, this outcome was already more mercy than they expected.
— — —
Black-Corner Region, Feng City.
It took Renzo's group barely half an hour to reach their destination. The upgraded Nimbus Cloud's speed was nothing short of terrifying.
"This should be the place," Renzo said as the cloud slowed to a stop.
"Huh? Is there something here that Brother Renzo is interested in? Wow… it's really lively down there."
Qing Lin leaned over to look at the bustling city below, her voice filled with awe and curiosity.
"There's a traitor here—someone who stabbed his own teacher in the back. He has a Heavenly Flame. I intend to take it."
Renzo's voice was calm, almost casual, as he guided the cloud down toward the City Lord's Mansion in the heart of Feng City.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
"Bold fool! Don't you know flying is forbidden in Feng City? Are you openly defying Lord Han Feng? Courting death!"
Two streaks of light shot up from the city, revealing a pair of Dou Kings with wings of battle-qi spread wide. After barking out their warning, one of them didn't hesitate to launch a combat skill straight at Renzo.
"Oooh... finally, someone said 'courting death' to me. I was wondering where the suicidal NPCs who are supposed to say those words were." Renzo smiled at their words.
Then he simply waved his sleeve. The two Dou Kings exploded into nothing but misty blood in midair, their deaths so clean they left no trace behind.
He didn't even glance at them, landing with Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin directly inside the City Lord's Mansion, in the courtyard.
...
"What's going on out here—hm? Who are you people?"
A young man stepped out from one of the courtyard rooms. It was Han Feng, drawn by the noise outside. Instead of finding his guards, he found Renzo and the two women standing calmly in the yard. His expression darkened immediately.
"Hand over the Sea Heart Flame, Kntow, and Knell to me, destroy your cultivation, and maybe I'll let you die quickly… Han Feng."
Renzo's tone was casual, even playful, as his gaze swept over the man.
To be honest, he had started using all the lines he'd read countless times in novels. The absurd things he said—like just now—weren't these the typical villain words aimed at the MC? And even while saying them, they somehow sounded… merciful? Okay, Renzo did it, and the faint light of mercy seemed to flicker along with his words.
"..."
Han Feng froze, his expression twisting the moment he heard Renzo call him out. A flicker of murderous intent flashed in his eyes. "Are you that old man's disciple… or someone he hired? Whatever he paid you, I'll give you double!"
"No, no."
Renzo wagged a finger with a smirk. "Neither. I just happened to gain some benefits from him. And since I'm collecting Heavenly Flames anyway, I don't mind helping him clean up the trash. So, what's your answer?"
Han Feng didn't hesitate for even a heartbeat—he bolted. His body shot into the sky as he pushed his speed to the limit, fleeing desperately.
He had already realized both of his Dou King guards were dead, and he couldn't sense even a shred of Renzo's cultivation. That left only two possibilities: either Renzo was an ordinary mortal… or he was a monster far beyond Han Feng's league.
The fact that someone could appear in his own courtyard without him noticing, and instantly erase his guards, left only one answer.
Running was the only choice.
"It seems I was too merciful to let you choose."
Renzo shook his head in disdain as he watched Han Feng fleeing at full speed.
"Brother Renzo! Aren't you going to chase him? He's getting away!" Qing Lin called out urgently.
"He won't escape."
Renzo smiled faintly, raised a hand, and pointed. "Spatial Shift."
In the next instant, Han Feng—who had already fled over a kilometer—suddenly reappeared right in front of Renzo. Before he could even react, Renzo's finger pierced cleanly through his brow.
"You…"
Han Feng's eyes went wide in shock, but before he could finish his words, he collapsed lifelessly to the ground, unwilling even in death.
With a casual wave, Renzo drew a sea-blue flame out from Han Feng's dantian. The Heavenly Flame drifted obediently into his palm.
Activating his Uchiha eye technique, Renzo quickly analyzed and refined it. Within minutes, the process was complete. The Sea Heart Flame settled down inside him, floating docilely beside the Green Lotus Core Flame like a tame spirit.
"All done. Let's move on. Oh, right—take this ring. The stuff inside isn't much to me, but you two should find it useful."
Renzo flicked his hand, pulling the spatial ring from Han Feng's corpse and tossing it to Little Fairy Doctor and Qing Lin.
"Thank you, Brother Renzo!"
Both girls accepted it gratefully.
"By the way," Qing Lin asked curiously, "you've already refined the Heavenly Flame? I thought it was supposed to be nearly impossible?"
"Yeah, it's done," Renzo replied easily as the three of them hopped back onto the Nimbus Cloud, lifting into the sky toward Jia Nan Academy.
"So simple? Sister said refining a Heavenly Flame was a nine-deaths-one-life kind of ordeal!"
"Haha, that's true—for most people. But am I 'most people'?"
"Heehee, of course not! Brother Renzo is the strongest!"
"That's the spirit."
Ten minutes later, the cloud carried them swiftly to the outskirts of Jia Nan Academy.
.
.
.