Chapter 281: Departing for Another World

"Green Lotus Core Flame?" Medusa softly repeated the name, her voice tinged with awe.

Muchen nodded, his tone calm yet reverent. "There exists a flame, born within the molten heart of the earth, forged over countless years of compression, refinement, and sculpting by the fire of the land. In ten years, it gains spirit; in a hundred, it takes form; in a thousand, it matures into a lotus. When it fully forms, its hue turns green, with a cluster of blue fire igniting at its heart. This flame is known as the Green Lotus Core Flame, ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame List. Its power is unfathomable, capable of triggering volcanic eruptions near active volcanoes, unleashing nature's destructive fury!"

Medusa's sharp gaze lingered on Muchen. "You truly intend to give this flame to me?" Suspicion flickered in her violet eyes. No matter what Muchen claimed, she couldn't shake the doubt gnawing at her mind.

Heavenly Flames were treasures of unparalleled value to any cultivator. With Muchen's immense strength, he could have easily claimed and kept the flame. Yet, he was offering it to her. What was he really after?

"It's just a flame," Muchen replied lightly, his tone indifferent. "Come, let's take a closer look."

With a thought, Muchen's figure vanished, reappearing instantly beside the Green Lotus Core Flame.

Before him stood a lotus of otherworldly beauty. Eight crystalline green petals, each perfect and flawless, gleamed like the finest jade. At its center was a delicate lotus platform, adorned with small, luminescent pores that exuded an ethereal glow. Beneath the lotus, a long stem extended into the molten depths, covered with countless tiny tendrils that greedily absorbed the chaotic fire energy from the lava.

Floating serenely in the sea of molten fire, the lotus radiated an otherworldly purity. Without the guidance of the Two-Headed Flame Spirit Snake, even Muchen, with his Di-state Tier Soul, might have struggled to locate it.

"How do we claim it?" Medusa asked, her voice steady yet curious.

Muchen glanced at her. "Simple. We take the entire lotus—minus the roots."

"The roots?" Medusa's gaze fell on the writhing tendrils beneath the lotus. They pulsated with a life of their own, devouring the surrounding fiery energy. "Those roots seem like trouble."

Muchen chuckled and flicked her forehead gently. "Silly. I said we'd take the lotus, not the roots. If we uproot it entirely, this Heavenly Flame would vanish forever. As cultivators walking the path of defying nature, we must still leave room for renewal. By sparing the roots, we ensure the possibility of a future flame."

Medusa blinked, startled. She wasn't sure what surprised her more—Muchen's wisdom or his audacity in treating her, the mighty queen of the Snake People, so casually.

Suppressing her irritation, she watched as Muchen summoned three pristine jade bottles and enveloped them in his Yin-Yang Flame, purifying them of any impurities. Under his precise control, the molten jade reformed into a slender thirty-centimeter blade.

With meticulous care, Muchen approached the lotus, wielding the jade blade to sever the stem from the roots.

As she observed him, a strange warmth spread through Medusa's chest. For the first time, someone else was shouldering the burden for her. Beneath her icy exterior, she was, after all, a woman—one who found herself unexpectedly touched by Muchen's efforts.

This unfamiliar emotion caught her off guard, drawing her unwittingly toward the forbidden realm of affection.

Once the lotus was separated from its roots, Muchen carefully stored eleven fire lotus seeds into a jade bottle. Finally, he detached the central lotus platform and handed it to Medusa.

"Here. The rest is yours," he said with a casual generosity.

"Thank you," Medusa replied, her smile genuine as she stored the lotus platform in her spatial ring.

"Now that we've weathered this storm together, doesn't that mean we share a bond forged in fire?" Muchen teased, grasping her hand playfully.

"Behave yourself," Medusa chided, trying to pull her hand away. But Muchen's grip was firm.

"Stay still," he said. "We're still in a molten hellscape. Without my protection, even a proud Dou Emperor like you would shed a few scales escaping this place."

Medusa hesitated, then fell silent, allowing him to hold her hand.

When they returned to the Snake People's Sacred City, Muchen shamelessly resumed his habit of sleeping in Medusa's royal chambers. To her surprise, she found herself gradually growing accustomed to his presence, offering no protests.

---

In the middle of the night, Muchen's Yin-Yang Flame suddenly surged, rousing him from his slumber. Activating his spiritual senses, he scanned the surrounding area, his consciousness expanding for miles. His brows furrowed as he detected a strange anomaly.

With a flicker, he vanished from the royal chambers, reappearing moments later on a secluded island.

The island was a vision of tranquility, covered in lush bamboo groves and centered around a crystalline pool. The water within shimmered with an icy mist, exuding a chilling aura—the Ice Spirit Cold Spring.

At the heart of the pool rested a small lotus adorned with a single blue flame. Beneath the glow of the flame lay a perfect, naked figure—a masterpiece of divine artistry.

Medusa's flawless form was laid bare, her alabaster skin glowing faintly under the lotus's ethereal light. Every curve, every feature of her body exuded a dangerous allure. Her violet eyes, wide with shock, locked onto Muchen.

"You—what are you doing here?" Medusa stammered, her face flushed with embarrassment as she hastily covered herself.

"I could ask you the same," Muchen replied, raising a brow. "Why so impatient to evolve?"

Medusa scowled. "You know why. With the Green Lotus Core Flame, I finally have a chance to break through to the Dou Ancestor realm. "

Muchen smirked but didn't move. "I'm staying. With me here, no one will dare interrupt your evolution."

"You can't—" Medusa started, but his firm tone cut her off.

"Start now," Muchen said. "Of all the people on this continent, I'm the one who cares most about your life. Under my protection, even the boldest spirits would hesitate to act."

His words struck a chord deep within her. After a long

pause, Medusa relented, her eyes softening as she nodded.

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