"Metamorphosis Pill? He really is generous," Queen Medusa said as she looked at Yue Mei, and then at her own snake tail, she couldn't help but feel a bit envious.
But what surprised her the most was Xu Ran's magnanimity.
A Seventh Grade Elixir, just given away like that?
Could it be that Xu Ran is not just a Seventh-Rank Alchemist?
Although she didn't practice alchemy, she still knew some knowledge about it. Could a common Dou Zhe (Fighter) really leap to the pinnacle of Dou Huang and sit on an equal footing with her, just like that? Was such a feat really achievable by a Seventh-Rank Alchemist?
And the Metamorphosis Pill... would a Seventh-Rank Alchemist really look down upon Seventh Grade Elixirs so much?
"Queen, that Lord Xu Ran is a good person; he came here specifically to help you," Yue Mei said, naturally speaking highly of Xu Ran after receiving his favor. Moreover, in Yue Mei's heart, there was no one better than Xu Ran in this world.
Others wouldn't be willing to give her Elixirs for free, not even sell them to her.
"A good person? Offering unsolicited help is either out of ulterior motive or thievery!" Queen Medusa huffed lightly. Although she was tempted, she absolutely did not believe that Xu Ran was offering his help for nothing.
In this world, there are no such fools.
"Queen, Lord Xu Ran is an Alchemist; perhaps he came for the Strange Fire. The Strange Fire is very important to an Alchemist. Maybe Lord Xu Ran wants to take the Strange Fire away. However, if by using Strange Fire you can have the chance to transform, then it is also a good opportunity for you," Yue Mei said.
"Indeed. If an Alchemist like Xu Ran is willing to give Yue Mei Elixirs, it indicates that he is extending goodwill towards us. Regardless of Xu Ran's intentions, we, the Snake-People Tribe, cannot afford to offend someone like him. Xu Ran's strength is at least that of a Douzong 'Cultivation Level'; even if you, the Queen, do achieve a breakthrough, you won't be his match."
"Furthermore, it's highly dangerous for the Queen to attempt a breakthrough using Strange Fire, given that you have never previously used it. Strange Fire, a naturally born spiritual entity, is extremely powerful; it is more proper to leave such professional matters to the professionals."
Queen Medusa had previously desired to consume the Strange Fire to evolve her bloodline completely into that of a Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, a primordial beast, and in one stroke, break through to the Douzong level.
But such an action was considered too risky for the Snake-People Tribe.
Now that Xu Ran had arrived, even if he wasn't planning to help Queen Medusa, they were willing to use a strand of Strange Fire to curry favor with such a legendary Alchemist.
Besides, with the boldness to casually give away a Metamorphosis Pill, if they really did hand over the Strange Fire, wouldn't it be easy to ask Xu Ran for a few more Seventh Grade Elixirs?
If they really formed a good relationship with this powerful individual, their Snake-People Tribe would become exceptionally strong.
Everyone understood how important a powerful Alchemist was for a tribe, for a force.
So no matter how one looked at it, they were willing to spare no expense to win over Xu Ran.
"Yue Mei, do you really think he is just a Seventh-Rank Alchemist?" With her lips slightly parted, Queen Medusa's stunningly beautiful face was filled with a touch of skepticism. Xu Ran's performance was simply too incredible; she felt he must be much more than a mere Seventh-Rank Alchemist.
"Queen. As far as I know, the reason why everyone is talking about Lord Xu Ran as a Seventh-Rank Alchemist is because of the Pill Lightning that occurred in Wu Tan City, which only powerful Elixirs of the Seventh Grade or higher can invoke. Thus, there are rumors that Lord Xu Ran is a Seventh-Rank Alchemist. With one person telling ten, and ten telling a hundred, everyone now assumes Lord Xu Ran to be a Seventh-Rank Alchemist. But who could possibly know whether Lord Xu Ran can concoct even higher grade Elixirs? Perhaps Lord Xu Ran is actually an Eighth-Grade Alchemist; this possibility is quite high," Yue Mei said with certainty.
"What?"
"An Eighth-Grade Alchemist?"
The many Elders of the Snake-People Tribe were so shocked they couldn't speak.
If he was an Eighth-grade Alchemist, wouldn't that mean that just casually tossing a few Elixirs their way would be akin to presenting treasures?
Perhaps only an Eighth-grade Alchemist could afford to look down on Seventh-Grade Elixirs and casually hand them out as gifts.
"If Xu Ran truly is an Eighth-grade Alchemist, then we must strive even harder to win him over. Such a powerful individual, if missed, would make us sinners of the Snake-People Tribe," an Elder raised the importance of this matter to the level of the tribe's interests.
If they failed to win over Xu Ran, it would be tantamount to betrayal of their tribe.
"Well said. Who knows how many other powers are coveting Xu Ran. They all desperately search for a chance to get close to this Alchemist, and now that Xu Ran has come to us, how can we afford to miss out? We must give him whatever he wants," another Elder stated with resolute determination.
They had already come to regard Xu Ran as the hope for the rise of the Snake-People Tribe.
Indeed, Queen Medusa was extremely gifted, the most talented among all previous queens, but what of it? Even if Queen Medusa had broken through to Dou Zong, it would only mean her personal strength had increased, and it would be very difficult to improve the overall strength of the Snake-People Tribe.
Whereas a strong Alchemist could indeed achieve this.
If Xu Ran could cultivate a few Alchemists for the Snake-People Tribe, he could bring untold years of blessings to the tribe.
"But..."
Queen Medusa's exquisite brows furrowed tightly, and her complexion was not looking good.
Whatever he wants, they would give? What did that make her?
As Queen Medusa, was she really going to give...
Xu Ran, a renowned Alchemist, came to the territory of the Snake-People Tribe, ostensibly for the Strange Fire—or perhaps it was because his flirtatious and absurd reputation had long been known by the major powers.
Xu Ran's visit this time was probably not that simple.
"Queen, we must consider the bigger picture in all matters."
"If Xu Ran truly wants to court favor with the Queen for a century, I think there's nothing wrong with that. As long as it can benefit the Snake-People Tribe, everything is negotiable."
"Right. Although tribal rules are strict, they exist for the prosperity of the Snake-People Tribe."
When those Elders saw Yue Mei receive the Metamorphosis Pill, they had already thrown all the rules out of their minds. In other words, to hell with those damn rules! When faced with benefit, they're worthless.
"Hmph. Don't think I don't know what you're all thinking. I am the queen, and I will handle these matters properly. You all can leave now; these issues are not for you to worry about," Queen Medusa said with a cold snort, deeply dissatisfied.
"I will meet Xu Ran. If he truly can help me break through Dou Zong and bring benefits to the Snake-People Tribe, then naturally, he is a friend of our tribe. But if he has other intentions, I won't give him face," Queen Medusa humphed softly, feeling very displeased.
Although she also knew that Xu Ran's arrival was a pleasant surprise for both her and the Snake-People Tribe, the shamelessness of these old-timers, nearly ready to sell her out, made her exceedingly unhappy. Normally, they regarded tribal rules as sacred, but now they degraded them to worthlessness.