Several Kilometers from Xiao Yan's Mountain
Sparse patches of withered grass dotted the landscape, breaking the monotonous yellow of the desert. Lush green began to creep back into view.
Atop a steep peak, two figures stood.
"Old He, if possible, bring more than just Sect Leader Yun. The more hands, the better our odds. That guy has a strange flame—he won't be easy," Feng Li said earnestly, eyeing Gu He.
Gu He shook his head. "If we can get her, the three of us will suffice. Too many, and it'll get messy—word might leak."
A crowd risked drawing attention. If rumors spread, opportunists would swarm. The Jia Ma Empire had other alchemists besides him, and the Alchemist Guild was no pushover.
Though none surpassed fifth grade, their networks were vast. Who knew how many allies they could rally?
This was a heavenly flame—two, no less!
It wasn't just alchemists who'd lose their minds. Non-alchemists, like the royal family's Jia Xing Tian, would go mad for it.
If that old fox meddled, who'd end up with the flames was anyone's guess.
"Enough," Gu He cut off their protests with a wave. "Old Lion, Old Li, keep watch here. I'll be back soon."
Energy wings flared behind him, and he shot skyward, a streak of light speeding toward Yun Lan Sect.
The two on the peak exchanged a glance, exasperated. Gu He was obsessed, aiming to hog the flames.
They understood his concerns, but with his status as a sixth-grade alchemist and the Cloud Mist Sect's backing, even if every Jia Ma powerhouse showed up, one flame was guaranteed to be his. More allies would only boost their chances—why not?
"Whatever," Feng Li sighed. "He's spent years scouring the Tagore Desert for a strange flame. Right now, only Sect Leader Yun could sway him."
Gu He's choice to join the Cloud Mist Sect over the royal family or Alchemist Guild after winning the alchemist tournament had sparked a stir. Later, it became clear: he'd fallen for Sect Leader Yun at first sight.
"No chance, then," Yan Shi chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's do our job."
"With Sect Leader Yun, we're safe. And the worse we get banged up, the fatter Old He's payout," he added with a grin.
Feng Li laughed, nodding. "Right. We get paid, and that's what counts. Who cares—"
Their words cut off as they sensed something, heads snapping toward the cave.
"Queen Medusa!"
"Standing in the void—a Dou Zong?"
Two shocked cries rang out as a pair of commanding, narrow phoenix eyes glared coldly. An unprecedented pressure bore down.
Their bodies froze, hair standing on end.
Moments later, the pressure eased. They cautiously glanced up, seeing the gold-red-robed enchantress no longer focused on them.
Relieved, they touched their backs—drenched with sweat.
Medusa ignored the two ants, her gaze on the cave below, a faint flicker of joy in her eyes.
But after waiting, no movement came. The joy vanished, her face icing over.
That jerk knows I'm here and dares not show?
With Xiao Bai's abilities, she didn't believe he was unaware.
Her perception, blocked by a soul barrier, made her brows furrow. Her soul shared a peculiar bond with Xiao Bai's.
In her haste, she hadn't noticed, but now, she sensed no connection.
Not him?
Yet the barrier's aura matched the old soul in his ring, and the lingering Green Lotus Core Flame was unmistakable.
A grim possibility dawned, her exquisite face darkening, her eyes chilling.
"Get out here!" Her icy, regal command thundered through the mountains like rolling thunder.
___
Inside the Cave
Yao Lao gazed at Xiao Yan, whose skin was scorched and raw, not with worry but with relief, a gratified smile spreading.
Nodding, he flicked a finger, sending the small Spirit Container stone into Xiao Yan's body as a gray light.
His senses tracked the Green Lotus Core Flame coursing through Xiao Yan's Burning Technique pathways. Its violent energy and searing heat subsided, exuding a tamed warmth.
Yao Lao smiled at the cyan flame shield flickering around Xiao Yan, murmuring, "What a resilient kid, enduring the flame's tempering. Originally—"
His words halted as he whirled, gaping at the soul barrier shielding the cave, which shattered abruptly.
"Is this woman insane?" Anger surged. He'd thought help had arrived, but this was no ally—a calamity!
His figure vanished, reappearing outside.
"Finally decided to show?" Medusa eyed the floating Yao Lao, then glanced at Xiao Yan refining the flame inside, her eyes flashing with killing intent.
"What are you doing, Medusa?" Yao Lao frowned at her furious expression, snapping, "Don't think reaching Dou Zong scares me!"
"I roamed the continent before you were born!"
Vast soul force erupted, white flames coiling, warping the space around him.
This woman, knowing I'm here, dares break my barrier? Unreasonable! He cursed Xiao Bai inwardly. Look at the woman you picked!
Yan Shi and Feng Li, cowering like quails, felt the clash of titanic auras, hearts pounding.
The mysterious figure in the cave could stand toe-to-toe with a Dou Zong Medusa!
"Yan Shi, they're about to fight! Run, or a Dou Zong's stray ripple will kill us!" Feng Li whispered, retreating behind the peak and sprinting away, avoiding flight to stay unnoticed.
Yan Shi followed suit, bolting without hesitation.
"Where is he?" Medusa's Dou Zong aura flared, hair whipping, her stunning face blazing with rage.
"He? You mean Xiao Bai?" Yao Lao's brows knit.
Confusion swirled. If he recalled correctly, the last time these two parted, they were all hugs and cuddles. Why was she now out for blood?
Did Xiao Bai return from Jia Nan Academy and tick her off?
"Last time, where is he? What did you do to him?" Medusa's teeth clenched, her glare boring into Yao Lao, each word hissed like a winter gale.
Yao Lao froze. Something was off.
Her fury wasn't aimed at Xiao Bai—it was at him!
Realization dawned, and he chuckled oddly. "You don't think I harmed Xiao Bai, do you?"
"Why else? You're here, the Green Lotus Core Flame's here, being refined by that human below, but he's nowhere!" Medusa snapped.
"Haha!" Yao Lao burst into laughter, seeing the misunderstanding.
Piecing it together, he guessed the gist. Medusa, sensing the flame, rushed over joyfully, only to find everyone but Xiao Bai, with Xiao Yan refining the flame. She thought Yao Lao had betrayed and killed him.
Her mistake fueled his amusement.
"Courting death!" Medusa, seeing him laugh instead of answer, exploded with rage. A deep red longsword appeared in her hand.
"Wait, wait!"
"Medusa, you're going too far!" Yao Lao dodged her strikes, gritting his teeth. Her progress was staggering—not only had she stabilized her cultivation, but she'd reached peak one-star Dou Zong, nearing two-star!
"Xiao Bai's fine! He's at Jia Nan Academy!" Yao Lao shouted, wincing at his rapidly draining soul force.
Damn that kid. When I see him, he's taming this woman! No respect for elders! he fumed, noting the three-year agreement approach.
"Jia Nan Academy?" Medusa halted, hovering, her gaze shifting to Xiao Yan in the cave.
"He's Xiao Bai's little brother, Xiao Yan, my disciple," Yao Lao explained, seeing her expression.
"He's generous, giving away the Green Lotus Core Flame," Medusa said coolly after a pause, sheathing her sword, realizing her error.
As an alchemist, Xiao Bai lacked a heavenly flame yet gifted one away—a rarity.
… Yao Lao was speechless.
Generous? That cunning fox Xiao Bai?
He didn't give it away—I traded an eighth-grade alchemist's inheritance for it!
And this woman, after attacking me, just brushes it off?
Not even a blush?
No wonder they're a match—both shameless!
"Ahem!" Medusa suddenly clutched her forehead, her face paling, pain etching her features.
"Hm?" Yao Lao peered closely, sensing something. "Your soul fluctuations—why are there two distinct auras?"
"No, it's the same… no, two!" Yao Lao muttered, baffled.
Medusa's soul pulsed wildly, her soul force clashing with another—also hers.
She held the upper hand, gradually suppressing the other.
"Didn't Xiao Bai say your evolution succeeded? What's this?" Yao Lao asked, stroking his beard, intrigued by the bizarre condition—a single soul with two consciousnesses.
"Tell me. For his sake, I might help."
Yao Lao, a soul expert, was genuinely curious, having never encountered such a case.
Medusa's expression flickered with rare hesitation. Plagued by this issue, she considered the old man's soul-body state and formidable soul force, hinting at past strength. He might have a solution.
"After fully absorbing the Heaven Swallowing Python's soul, a faint consciousness emerged in mine—not the python's, but born from my fused soul," she explained, rubbing her brow wearily. "She's me, like another side of me. I want to eliminate her but can't."
"It's like trying to erase an emotion—impossible. I can only suppress her, not destroy her."
She had to constantly restrain this consciousness, or it might seize control, acting unpredictably. As the Snake-People's queen, she couldn't allow that, leaving her exhausted. Even her brief skirmish had stirred it.
"That's possible?" Yao Lao was astonished. Medusa's soul saga was a rollercoaster.
Xiao Bai had discussed their soul bond, already a marvel to Yao Lao's vast experience. Now, a new consciousness, indelible?
He pondered, finding it tricky.
Soul Fusion Pill? Useless—her soul was already one, not two.
Soul technique? No good—strengthening her soul would boost the other consciousness, too.
Separate them? Impossible without the means.
If it were a distinct soul, Yao Lao could manage, but a single soul with two consciousnesses? How do you split that? Chop her soul in half?
Even then, it might not work.
"Uh… maybe forget I asked. Talk to Xiao Bai," Yao Lao said, rubbing his nose, regretting his earlier bravado.
Medusa's calm phoenix eyes seemed to drip with disdain—or was he imagining it?
Should've minded my own business. Teaching my disciple is enough, Yao Lao thought, vowing to steer clear of Xiao Bai's messes.