Observing Medusa Evolution

"You really are popular with the ladies, regardless of their age. You seem to leave none untouched," remarked Queen Medusa, her serpentine tail trailing elegantly as she sat before Xiao Chong, her allure as striking as ever.

Xiao Chong shrugged, responding nonchalantly, "It's not like I'm the one chasing after them. They're the ones who come looking for me."

"At least I won't be a heartless man," he added.

Changing the subject, he continued, "Queen Medusa, have you decided to join the Xiao family as our Elder?"

"Hmph," Queen Medusa huffed lightly, her cold demeanor evident. She clearly held little fondness for the young man who had restricted her freedom. However, with the same regal coolness, she replied, "You held up your end of the deal, so naturally, I will keep my word. Unlike humans, this queen does not renege on promises."

Xiao Chong shrugged again and tossed a box toward her, which landed gently in her hands.

"I don't go back on my word either. Take this. It should alleviate some of the pain during your upcoming evolution."

Curious, Queen Medusa opened the box. A cold, misty vapor immediately wafted out. Though the liquid within was not abundant, a mere touch with her palm was enough to feel its frosty chill as if freezing her on contact.

Xiao Chong explained, "This is Frost Mist Essence, extracted from roughly 19 Frost Mist Flowers. The cold energy it emits will help ease the pain when you consume the Ghostly Poison Flame. By the way, the Frost Mist Flowers are a hybrid herb I cultivated myself. Don't bother looking for them elsewhere; you won't find any."

Feeling the icy chill in her hands and hearing Xiao Chong's explanation, Queen Medusa's expression softened slightly. With a nod, she conceded, "Hmph. For a human, you are more tolerable than most."

"Just mutual aid, Elder Cai," Xiao Chong replied casually.

Queen Medusa's face tightened hearing the title "Elder Cai," but she chose not to argue. Clutching the frosty box, she took off into the sky. Xiao Chong followed at a leisurely pace, staying nearby in case her evolution ran into complications. With his skills, he could provide emergency aid if necessary.

Queen Medusa paid him no mind and quickly reached a mountain range behind the Xiao estate, selecting a secluded spot to begin her evolution.

The mountain range behind the Xiao estate had seen its fair share of tumult. For the past decade or so, it had become a frequent training ground for breakthroughs and experiments. Perhaps, someday in the distant future, it might even transform into a famed spiritual haven.

But that was a concern for another time. For now, Xiao Chong shifted his focus to Queen Medusa's evolution, wondering whether he might glean some insights from it with his extraordinary comprehension abilities.

Queen Medusa ignored him still as she adjusted the bracelet on her wrist, summoning the Ghostly Poison Flame Flame into her palm. She hesitated for a tense three minutes before steeling herself and swallowing the flame in one powerful motion.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chong meticulously set up a barrier to isolate her from external disturbances, ensuring her breakthrough would remain uninterrupted.

Moments later, a pained scream pierced through. Even merely watching from the side, the agonizing process of consuming the flame was palpable. However, Xiao Chong—gifted with remarkable insight—felt detached from such suffering as he observed calmly.

Eventually, Queen Medusa downed the Frost Mist Essence as well as some icy spring water she had prepared. Together, these helped to quell some of the heat from the flame. Her massive serpent form emerged in the mountain valley, releasing a thunderous roar.

The evolution had begun.

It appeared that the compatibility between the Ghostly Poison Flame toxic cold nature and the icy bloodline of snakefolk, coupled with her meticulous preparations, reduced the intensity of this evolution compared to what was depicted in ancient accounts. A strange, radiant glow—not of fire, but of transformation—enveloped her as her body began its metamorphosis.

Watching this spectacle, Xiao Chong suddenly heard a familiar voice resounding in his mind.

[Your unparalleled comprehension has allowed you to unlock the laws of beast evolution by observing Queen Medusa's transformation.]

[You have comprehended the Dao of Beast Mastery!]

[From now on, you can guide even the weakest of magical beasts to evolve into more powerful beings under your direction.]

The new understanding filling his mind prompted Xiao Chong to find a solitary spot nearby. Sitting cross-legged, he focused entirely on absorbing his latest enlightenment: the Dao of Beast Mastery.

After a long while, Xiao Chong rose, a hint of excitement gleaming in his eyes. The Dao of Beast Mastery—a profound insight little utilized by him but a valuable addition nonetheless. One could never predict when such knowledge might prove instrumental. When combined with the Snake Emperor Oppression he'd comprehended earlier, he might very well carve a unique path in controlling magical beasts.

Still, Xiao Chong found it somewhat surreal that simply observing Queen Medusa's evolution had led to such a revelation. Was there something peculiar about this "unparalleled comprehension"? Or perhaps it was a mere coincidence?

Shaking off these thoughts, Xiao Chong cleared his mind and left the area silently. Queen Medusa's evolution would take some time, and he had no intention of waiting around.

As for her duties as an elder in the Xiao family, those arrangements would be handled seamlessly by others within the clan. Xiao Chong had no need to involve himself. Similarly, the task of recruiting alchemists for the Xiao family could proceed without his intervention. Only alchemists of the eighth rank or higher were worthy of his personal attention, and such individuals were exceedingly rare.

Now that everything was in place, and the Xiao family had no immediate concerns, there was only one plan in Xiao Chong mind—to visit the Black-Corner Domain for some entertainment.

-------------------------------

Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.

patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator