Chapter 75: Yun Yun vs. Queen Medusa

Despite Lin Ran's lofty and commanding tone, Queen Medusa did not show the slightest displeasure. On the contrary, she accepted his order with great reverence.

The serpentfolk had always revered the strong. The reason she, Queen Medusa, had been able to lead the serpent tribe to its current heights—her status, her dominance—was precisely because of her power.

Now, standing before her was Lin Ran, a man whose strength defied comprehension. Even after her successful transformation into a seventh-rank magical beast, a Dou Zong, she still could not see through his cultivation. And it was this very man who had extended a hand in her moment of mortal crisis. How could she not respect him?

As Lin Ran stepped into the void and disappeared from sight, Queen Medusa took a deep breath, her gaze stretching far into the distance.

That was where humans and serpentfolk were clashing.

A mighty pressure belonging to a Dou Zong erupted from her body and swept across the city. Countless serpentfolk fell to their knees in awe, gazing up at the sky with fiery reverence.

Inside the serpentfolk's sacred city, Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin stared blankly at the seven-colored radiance glowing in the sky. Lü Yi's pupils constricted, while Bai Ya looked visibly sullen.

'Seven-Colored Devouring Serpent... it's actually the Seven-Colored Devouring Serpent!' Lü Yi was in disbelief. 'That's the legendary ancient beast that, once fully grown, is said to rival Dou Shengs!'

'She actually succeeded in evolving… But earlier, I thought she had failed,' Bai Ya muttered gloomily. 'I couldn't even beat her before. Now that she's become a Dou Zong, we've got no chance!'

Outside the sacred city, the human cultivators, including Gu He, wore expressions of pure horror. As if some unspoken understanding had passed among them, they all began to retreat simultaneously, their bodies flashing backward.

The pressure rolling off Queen Medusa was simply overwhelming. None of them dared to fight back. The difference in cultivation was like heaven and earth. To resist would be foolish.

'What do we do now?' someone shouted in panic.

'Retreat, Master Gu He! This is a lost cause!' another urged.

'She's completed her breakthrough! She's a Dou Zong now! We can't possibly defeat her—retreat now!' Yan Shi and Feng Li were shouting urgently.

Gu He's expression was dark with frustration. The Green Lotus Core Flame was right in front of him, yet he couldn't claim it. For an alchemist, this was a torment like no other.

He turned to the cloaked Dou Huang beside him and asked in a low voice, 'Sect Leader Yun, what now?'

'Retreat,' Yun Yun replied, shaking her head. 'Although I've improved greatly over the past few months, and if I use my secret technique I can temporarily match a peak Dou Huang, there's still a massive gap between a Dou Huang and a Dou Zong.'

'Not to mention, the serpentfolk are gathering in force. Once the eight tribal leaders arrive—eight Dou Wangs alongside Queen Medusa herself—we'll be hopelessly outmatched.'

'Let it go.'

Gu He sighed heavily. 'Then we retreat.'

'Retreat?'

A cold, alluring voice echoed through the sky like a silky whisper that made bones tremble. Everyone froze, their gazes turning toward the source of the sound. There they saw a face that was the perfect embodiment of cold beauty, seductive charm, and deadly majesty.

A face every strong practitioner in the Jia Ma Empire knew well.

This beautiful, ruthless woman had slain countless renowned warriors during the empire's previous wars with the serpentfolk. Only a few among the human faction could ever stand against her.

She ruled not only with beauty, but with an iron will, and had cowed several border kingdoms into peace with her ferocity alone.

Now, she had advanced to the rank of Dou Zong. Her infamy—and power—would only grow.

Everyone stood rooted in place. Not a soul dared move. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads as a chilling aura swept down upon them.

'Queen Medusa…' Gu He's expression darkened.

'You dared trespass upon my sacred city. You dared disturb my people's sanctuary. And now you think you can just leave?'

Queen Medusa's cold voice thundered through the sky. 'Today, every human who steps into the Tagore Desert… must die.'

The pressure of a Dou Zong was like a raging tsunami. Coupled with her ability to walk through the sky and her infamous reputation, it caused the expressions of everyone below to twist in despair.

'She really is a Dou Zong…' Yun Yun muttered through clenched teeth.

'I'll release my Dou Qi and hold her back. The rest of you—retreat!'

She understood all too well—if she, a Dou Huang, did not act, then no one here would survive.

These people were among the empire's ten greatest experts, including the only known sixth-tier alchemist, Gu He. If they fell, Jia Ma Empire's strength would be crippled.

She was the leader of the Yun Lan Sect—but also a daughter of the empire. Sacrifice was necessary.

'Sect Leader Yun…'

The other cloaked figures cast her grateful glances, silently preparing their escape routes.

'Go!' Yun Yun shouted.

'Wind Spiral Slash!'

Her body erupted with Dou Qi. The space in front of her rippled, and several massive wind blades over ten meters long materialized in an instant. They twisted together into a spiraling vortex bristling with sharp edges, howling as they tore through the air toward Queen Medusa.

Yun Yun knew full well that this Dou Technique alone could never harm a Dou Zong.

Without hesitation, as the wind vortex rushed forward, the strange longsword in her hand quivered slightly. A narrow beam of concentrated wind energy—barely the width of a thumb—blasted out.

The moment it appeared, the very space around it trembled.

'Wind's Limit—Falling Death!'

Queen Medusa's eyes glimmered with faint admiration.

She was no stranger to Yun Yun's abilities. The two had clashed in the past. But Yun Yun's growth rate had clearly surpassed her expectations. In such a short time, she had reached the level of a peak Dou Huang.

No wonder that man had said she must be spared.

Still, a Dou Huang was a Dou Huang. To think she could defeat a Dou Zong was nothing but a fantasy.

With a cold snort, Queen Medusa flicked her snow-white hand. The space before her trembled. Her fingers curved into a strange arc, and with a casual flick, an immense blast of energy shot out, colliding directly with Yun Yun's strongest strike.

The beam was deflected—instantly.

'What?!' Yun Yun gasped in horror.

Queen Medusa's hand surged with radiant seven-colored energy. It condensed into a serpentine longsword that shimmered with every color of the rainbow.

Then, she vanished.

'Damn it!' Yun Yun's face changed dramatically.

But she was too late.

Heads flew into the sky, blood spraying in every direction.

Other than Yun Yun and Gu He, the remaining six—including the so-called elite warriors Yan Shi and Feng Li—were instantly decapitated. Lifeless corpses slumped to the ground.

Gu He tried to react, but found a seven-colored serpentine sword already resting against his throat.

He dared not move a muscle.

(End of Chapter)