Chapter 73: Queen Medusa

To prevent any disruptions or accidents during her breakthrough, Queen Medusa had divided the aura of the Green Lotus Core Flame into four portions and placed them in the four corners of the Serpentfolk Sacred City.

This kind of deception was child's play in the face of Lin Ran's spiritual perception.

With the distortion of space, Lin Ran's figure quietly appeared inside an enormous sacred temple.

The temple was serene. A clear lake rippled gently in the center, its waters shimmering under the soft light. Yet beneath its peaceful surface lurked hidden dangers—vague shadows moved beneath, coiling silently.

At the heart of the lake, a small island was overgrown with thick foliage and winding paths. At the center of that island lay a cleared-out circular area, meticulously swept of all fallen branches and leaves. Smooth stones were arranged into a shallow basin, which was filled to the brim with a crystalline liquid. A white mist drifted above it.

It was none other than a pool of Ice Spirit Cold Spring!

A rare and potent natural treasure, Ice Spirit Cold Spring was an ideal resource to resist the scorching power of Heavenly Flames. It was considered an invaluable supplementary aid when attempting to refine or devour such flames. Just a single vial could fetch a sky-high price on the open market.

Yet here, an entire pool had been gathered—clearly showing Queen Medusa's determination to use the Heavenly Flame for her advancement.

Lin Ran's gaze slowly shifted toward the center of the pool, where a lotus-shaped platform carved from shimmering crystal stood proudly.

Atop that lotus seat, a ball of azure flame floated within a barrier of light, pulsing rhythmically.

The flame was intensely spiritual. As it fluttered and swirled, it sometimes condensed into the shape of a lotus blossom and at other times into a small, blue fire serpent that curled lazily in the air. Its movements were docile and almost adorable.

This was none other than the nineteenth-ranked Heavenly Flame on the Flame Ranking—

Green Lotus Core Flame!

Next to the flame sat a stunning silhouette.

She possessed a beauty that bordered on the otherworldly, seductive to the point of enchantment. Draped in an opulent purple robe, her voluptuous curves were tightly bound by exquisite silk. A pair of long, pale purple eyes shimmered with natural allure, captivating any who dared to meet her gaze.

Beneath the luxurious robe, a sleek violet snake tail lazily swayed, exuding wildness and exotic temptation.

Even Lin Ran, upon laying eyes on her, felt a surge of heat rise within him. His already-unstable yin-yang energies nearly went out of control.

"So this is Queen Medusa… the infamous blend of beauty and savagery."

Her gaze was fixed on the flickering blue flame. The reflected light danced in her violet eyes, mixing with a spark of determination.

After watching the Green Lotus Core Flame for a long while, Queen Medusa let out a quiet sigh. She looked up at the sky and slowly unfurled her serpentine body, standing upright in one fluid, sensual motion.

'The time has come…'

Her soft murmur lingered in the air. A rare flash of hesitation crossed her peerless face, but it quickly faded into unwavering resolve. Beneath her robe, two snow-white wrists appeared, slender fingers slowly weaving a complex series of hand seals.

As her hands moved, the crystalline lotus seat began to tremble. The light barrier surrounding the Heavenly Flame gradually faded.

Without the seal's suppression, the azure flame roared to life and surged upward, expanding rapidly until it filled the space with a blazing inferno.

Under the heat, the pool of Ice Spirit Cold Spring began to evaporate at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Ignoring the wilting bamboo around her, Queen Medusa bit her lip and slowly began unfastening the buttons of her robe. A moment later, her flawless figure—like a masterpiece sculpted by the heavens—was fully revealed under the open sky.

In the lush bamboo forest, her jade-like skin and graceful curves exuded an almost suffocating temptation.

Her beautiful features radiated a seductive charm. Her long, swan-like neck gleamed with an elegant arc. Her slender waist was delicate enough to be encircled with a single arm—lean yet supple. Her taut abdomen held not an ounce of excess, and her entire form seemed to invite the desire to reach out and caress it.

Beneath that waist, the sleek violet snake tail swayed hypnotically, a perfect fusion of wilderness and femininity.

'An unparalleled beauty… truly a divine temptation.'

Even Lin Ran, as experienced and composed as he was, had to silently admit that Queen Medusa's allure was beyond mortal comprehension.

"Thankfully, I, Lin Ran, have the will of a steel-hearted sect master. Steadfast and resolute."

"Only then can I resist such an overwhelming force of temptation and stay focused."

While Lin Ran struggled to maintain his composure, Queen Medusa continued her ritual.

Letting her robe fall to the ground, she stepped forward toward the floating flame. Her eyes were half-lidded, lips parted in a soft whisper.

'If I follow the conventional path, who knows how long it'll take me to reach the Dou Zong realm? If I want to ascend quickly… this is my only option.'

She placed one delicate hand over her shoulder and bowed slightly toward the flame. Then she tilted her head and gazed in the direction of the distant energy fluctuations on the city wall. A cold glint flickered in her eyes.

'If my evolution succeeds… every human in this city today will die in the sands!'

With that chilling declaration, she reached up and untied the purple ribbon in her hair. Her dark, silky strands fell smoothly down to her slender waist.

She gave a slight toss of her head. Her flowing hair danced in the wind, and even this simple gesture carried intoxicating charm.

Bringing her palms together, Queen Medusa closed her eyes. Her hands moved again, forming more arcane seals. The air within the bamboo forest began to surge violently, and her body began to transform.

In the blink of an eye, the enchanting woman vanished.

In her place floated a colossal violet serpent, more than ten meters long, hovering in the air.

Its long body exuded a coiled strength and grace. Its pale purple eyes gleamed like twin crystals, both mesmerizing and terrifying.

'The Green Lotus Core Flame is capable of incinerating all things. Using a Heavenly Flame to refine impure bloodlines and undergo evolution… that's an audacious plan.'

Even though he had read the original novel, seeing it unfold in person still left Lin Ran awestruck by Queen Medusa's courage.

This method of evolution relied solely on the raw resilience of a Magic Beast's physical body to withstand the Heavenly Flame's cleansing. The success rate was close to zero. That she had succeeded in the original timeline had more to do with her luck and absurd fortune than anything else.

Under Lin Ran's watchful gaze, the massive purple serpent coiled once in the sky, then let out a sharp, melodic hiss.

A moment later, it lunged headlong into the blazing azure inferno.

In the next instant, a bone-piercing, blood-curdling scream rang across the entire island.

(End of Chapter)