Chapter 85: Three Things

"Don't worry. You're a queen—you deserve the dignity of one. I won't humiliate you."

Xiao Bai noticed the pride and defiance in Medusa's eyes and spoke plainly.

When someone isn't even afraid of death, what else can threaten them?

Medusa's only true weakness was her people. If he exploited that, she might submit temporarily, bending to his will.

But Xiao Bai wouldn't do that. He had his own pride. With women, he might use tactics and schemes, but he wouldn't cross certain lines.

That way, even if they looked back later, it would just be a fond memory—not something painful.

Medusa's expression remained cold, but inwardly, she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Xiao Bai ignored her and turned to the Green Lotus Core Flame. He took out the jade knife from his spatial ring and made a precise cut at the base where the lotus connected to its stem.

The lotus pedestal fell, and Xiao Bai carefully caught it with his soul power. Testing it with his hand, he found it surprisingly not scalding.

Fascinating.

The green lotus pedestal hovered before him, the jade-green flame flickering atop it. The Heavenly Flame power was terrifying, but the pedestal restrained much of its intensity.

With the pedestal removed, the remaining stem began madly absorbing and expelling fire energy. Without the lotus to contain it, the energy dispersed, saturating the surroundings.

Xiao Bai glanced down at the emerald-like stem standing upright.

He recalled myths from his past life—where a divine lotus's stem transformed into a peerless spear.

'What am I thinking? This thing was cut with a simple jade knife—how could it ever be a weapon?'

"Kid, you're not thinking of digging up the root too, are you?" Elder Yao approached, looking concerned.

"The Great Dao, fifty for the sky, forty-nine for the earth; remove one, and even Heaven leaves a sliver of hope for all living beings. I wouldn't take everything."

Xiao Bai reassured the nervous old man. He knew some alchemists had a habit of leaving a trace of life when harvesting rare heaven spiritual treasures.

Elder Yao relaxed, then asked curiously, "Where do you keep getting these cryptic sayings?"

"Read more books, Elder Yao." Xiao Bai sighed dramatically, then added earnestly, "I consider you a dear friend, but if you can't even understand my casual remarks, how can we chat? How can we bond?"

Seeing Xiao Bai's mischievous expression, Elder Yao's nonexistent fists clenched. If I had a body right now, I'd punch this brat.

A teenager lecturing me about reading? I've forgotten more books than you've ever read!

"Look at our queen here—when I took the flame, she looked completely lost. If she had tried, she'd have just brute-forced it, probably failing to even take the pedestal."

"This is why you shouldn't skip your studies."

Medusa's face darkened. Did this human just call me illiterate and reckless?

"Human! You may have subdued me, but if you wish to kill me, do it! Just watch your tongue!" she hissed through gritted teeth.

Xiao Bai ignored her, holding the lotus pedestal and glancing at Hai Bo Dong.

Hai Bo Dong hastily raised his hands. "I know I'm not well-read. No need to rub it in!"

Xiao Bai clicked his tongue, almost disappointed he couldn't continue.

Everyone present felt the same urge—this human (brat) is begging for a beating.

"Alright, enough jokes. Let's get down to business."

Xiao Bai's playful expression faded as he turned to Queen Medusa.

Seeing this, Medusa knew the human was about to dictate his terms for her fate. Though her face remained cold, a ripple of unease stirred within her.

Who truly wishes to die? But some ways of living were worse than death—and she would never accept such humiliation.

"I won't kill you." Xiao Bai met her gaze steadily.

Medusa's heart remained unmoved. She stared back, knowing this human's mercy came with conditions.

"I want you—"

"Impossible!" Medusa cut him off before he could finish, her voice sharp as steel.

Her enchanting face hardened with resolve, phoenix eyes glinting frostily. *Of course. Filthy men all harbor the same vulgar desires.*

Earlier, when he claimed he wouldn't degrade her, she'd almost believed him. *How naive.*

Xiao Bai rolled his eyes. This woman was really too sensitive. He hadn't even finished his sentence!

"I want you to do three things for me." This time, he spoke swiftly, not giving her a chance to interrupt.

He could already feel energy gathering violently inside her. *If I talk too slowly, this fierce woman might actually self-destruct!*

Ruthless to others, ruthless to herself—what kind of upbringing forged this temper?

Medusa relaxed slightly, dispersing the energy she'd gathered. But hesitation still flickered in her eyes.

Three tasks weren't unreasonable, yet she wavered.

Her concern wasn't for herself—if this human demanded something vile, she'd choose death without hesitation.

But what if his requests harmed her people?

"Relax. I won't target the Snake-People. I just need a bodyguard." Xiao Bai read her conflict and added teasingly,

"Beating people up—isn't that your specialty?"

Medusa's initial relief vanished, replaced by fury. This human was mocking her again!

"Fine. This queen agrees."

"But you must swear to remove the seal once our deal concludes."

She knew he wouldn't free her now—even if her word as queen was unbreakable.

Then, as if remembering something, she added bitterly, "And return my crown."

The crown itself mattered little, but the two ancestral gemstones had to be recovered.

Losing them would disgrace every Medusa who came before her.

Xiao Bai blinked, then retrieved the crown from his spatial ring.

"Tsk. Wearing this all day must be exhausting," he mused, weighing it in his hand.

The serpentine design bore two ruby-like stones embedded where its eyes should be. When Xiao Bai touched them, his spiritual energy surged—only to be repelled by a crimson glow.

Fascinated, he intensified the assault, but the stones steadily deflected his soul power, forming an invisible half-meter barrier around them.

"Soulward Gemstones... I've only seen them once before."

Elder Yao approached, stroking his beard as he studied the crown with nostalgic reverence.

"Soulward Gemstones?" Xiao Bai frowned. *This wasn't in the original plot.*

"Kid, you really should read more." Elder Yao smirked, echoing Xiao Bai's earlier taunt. "If you keep gaping like a fool, how can we have a proper conversation, hmm?"

Xiao Bai nearly choked. This old man really holds grudges!

"You're absolutely right, Elder Yao. I'm young and ignorant—how could I compare to your vast experience?"

Xiao Bai smiled magnanimously. A true man knows when to bend. He was magnanimous and wouldn't argue with the old man!

"Now, about these gemstones..."

Elder Yao sighed. *This brat's shamelessness ruins all the fun.*

Medusa's gaze remained fixed on the crown, her heart filled with disdain. What a shameless man!

She grew wary—this black-robed human was clearly untrustworthy. What if he refuses to lift the seal after I complete his tasks?

Her brows furrowed. *Did I agree too hastily?*

"I first learned of these stones while exploring an ancient ruin," Elder Yao reminisced. "The ruin's master left behind a record mentioning them."

"According to him, Soulward Gemstones can block soul attacks below the Spiritual State. Only a soul at the Spiritual State or higher can pierce their defense."

"Moreover, these stones aren't native to the Dou Qi Continent—which is why few know of them."

*Not from the Dou Qi Continent?* Xiao Bai was stunned. *Did they drift here from another plane?*

If so, who brought them? A long-lost Dou Di?

But why would a Dou Di bother with such trinkets? As heirlooms?

"How do you know they're not from this continent?" Xiao Bai pressed.

"The ruin's master recorded it—though he only mentioned it briefly." Elder Yao frowned, trying to recall.

Seeing Xiao Bai's interest, he continued, "The ruin seemed to be a fallen powerhouse's resting place. A stone tablet there spoke of an ancient war—something about resisting foreign invaders."

"Ancient war? Foreign invaders?" Xiao Bai's surprise deepened.

The last Dou Di of the Dou Qi Continent—Tuo She Gu Di—had buried much of history before his time. Was this why?

In the original story, aside from Emperor Yao's remnant soul, only two Dou Di appeared in the Bodhi Ancient Tree's visions—both perishing together.

The ancient Dou Di's of the Eight Great Clans had vanished without a trace. Did they ascend to the Great Thousand World, or die?

*Could it have been an invasion by the Extraterrestrial Fiend Clans?*

"What else did the tablet say? Do you remember?" Xiao Bai asked after a moment.

"Why do you care about such ancient history?" Elder Yao was baffled. That war happened tens of thousands of years ago.

"I like stories. Spit it out!" Xiao Bai urged.

"I don't know!" Elder Yao huffed. Seeing Xiao Bai's frown, he explained, "The tablet was shattered. I only glimpsed a fragment."

"Wasteful! You should've taken it with you! Such a precious historical relic!" Xiao Bai clicked his tongue.

"Heh." Elder Yao sneered. "You think I had time? If I'd lingered, I wouldn't be here today!"

"With your strength back then, you needed to run?" Xiao Bai raised an eyebrow. *Had a Dou Sheng been involved?*

"I was only a Dou Zong at the time." Elder Yao sighed nostalgically, hands clasped behind his back.

Xiao Bai stared at him.

*This old man... is showing off .* "Only" a Dou Zong? Look at the others here—they'd kill for that "only"!

*One queen even became a prisoner chasing that breakthrough!*

Ignoring him, Xiao Bai stored the crown under Medusa's murderous glare, then turned to her.

"Your current strength should suffice for evolution. Are you ready?"

"You... would use the Heavenly Flame to help me evolve?" Medusa's composure cracked. This human—helping her?

She'd already given up on the flame, resigned to fulfilling his demands first. Yet now... Was he sincere?

But now, this human seemed to be offering her help. Why?

"Your conditions." Medusa steadied herself, her voice cool.

"Oh? You're learning! Now you're even taking the initiative!" Xiao Bai teased, eyeing the disheveled queen with amusement.

"But you're mistaken. No conditions this time."

He winked at her, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

He knew that winning someone over required more than brute force. A little push and pull worked best—the classic "carrot and stick."

Seeing the deepening suspicion in her beautiful eyes, Xiao Bai's gaze turned profound. After a moment of silence, a faint smile touched his lips.

"Don't overthink it. You're too weak right now to be useful to me. Once you evolve and grow stronger, you'll be far more capable of serving my purposes. Isn't that logical?"

"This queen... is weak?" Medusa's voice dripped with venom. A six-star Great Dou Master dared to call a peak Dou Huang weak?!

Her fists clenched. This bastard had insulted her intellect, mocked her combat skills, and now belittled her strength!

"Want to hit me? Then get stronger first. I'll be waiting." Xiao Bai watched with delight as her face cycled through shades of fury—like a living opera mask.

He loved the look of her wanting to kill him but being powerless to do so.

As for her revenge? He couldn't care less. If he didn't follow the original plot's trajectory, she might still be stuck at the Dou Zong level by the time he reached Dou Zun.

Medusa stared at him silently, the reality of her captivity sinking in. A wave of helplessness washed over her.