Xiao Bai heard Elder Yao's exclamation but had no time to dwell on it.
The ice encasing Medusa was already cracking—it would hold her for three breaths at most.
He couldn't delay any longer! If the crown blocks the seal, then he just remove it!
His eyes hardened. Dispelling the half-formed seal, he summoned crimson lightning once more and slammed his palm directly onto Medusa's forehead, knocking her crown flying.
The moment it left her head, Xiao Bai snatched it midair, lightning flaring at his feet as he retreated at full speed.
"Hmph!"
Medusa's long, silken hair—now freed from the crown's restraint—cascaded wildly around her. The regal composure she once held was gone, replaced by fury so intense it seemed to scorch the air itself.
"Human! You dare?!"
A whip of crimson energy coalesced in her hand, poised to lash out at Xiao Bai.
"Soul Impact!"
Xiao Bai unleashed a soul blast, hurling it at Medusa with full force.
Earlier, his soul attacks had failed—making him doubt whether sealing her was even possible. But now, with no other options, he had to try again.
Back then, he'd been shocked, assuming Medusa's soul power rivaled his own.
Now it's clear—she wasn't strong. She was just wearing gear.
"Ah—!"
Before her energy whip could strike, Medusa clutched her head, a pained gasp escaping her lips.
Her phoenix-like eyes glazed over briefly before sharpening again, flashing with shock and realization.
With the crown, she hadn't felt it. Without it… this human's soul was* monstrous.
The icy rage in her gaze now carried unease. She was in a precarious position.
Soul attacks were insidious. Though snake-people had stronger souls than most magical beasts, they still paled compared to humans of the same rank.
Magical beasts excel in physique but lack in soul. Humans are the opposite.
And this human? His soul power surpassed even peak Dou Huangs.
With her crown, she could've shrugged it off.
The crown itself can be reforged—but the twin Soulward Gemstones are irreplaceable, passed down through generations of Serpent Queens.
For the first time, retreat crossed Medusa's mind. If she fell here, the surrounding forces would descend upon the snake-people like vultures.
But escaping wasn't simple. The soul body had already cut off her retreat.
In a flash, Medusa moved—
Xiao Bai's senses spiked. Crimson lightning wreathed his body as he he used his soul perception to scan her.
"You—!"
His fury ignited. Medusa hadn't targeted him.
Instead, she now held a sword of condensed Dou Qi against Hai Bo Dong's throat.
"Return the crown, human, and I shall leave."
Her voice was calm, stripped of its usual imperious edge. Without the crown, her disheveled hair lent her an almost soft, vulnerable air—a stark contrast to her usual dominance.
"I don't negotiate with threats." Xiao Bai's tone was glacial.
Returning the crown now would erase their advantage. Elder Yao couldn't sustain a prolonged fight, and Xiao Bai's only reliable weapon against Medusa was his soul power.
As for Hai Bo Dong? One look at his face told Xiao Bai everything.
The seal inside him flared up at the worst possible time. Otherwise, Medusa wouldn't have subdued him so easily.
If he gave back the crown now, what if Medusa went back on her word?
"Oh? So his life means nothing to you?" Medusa's lips curled mockingly.
"If he dies, your entire Snake-People Race will be exterminated." Xiao Bai's tone was eerily calm, as if stating an indisputable fact.
"What arrogance!" Medusa's beautiful face darkened instantly at his words.
"This queen would like to see how you plan to annihilate my people. With a remnant soul and a six-star Great Dou Master? Ridiculous!"
Her voice dripped with disdain. The snake-people's strength ran far deeper than surface appearances—even an early-stage Dou Zong wouldn't intimidate them.
Seeing her expression, Xiao Bai knew that unless he shattered her pride, she would never negotiate in good faith.
With hands clasped behind his back, he said coolly:
"Don't believe me?"
"I know your snake-people still have four peak Dou Huang elders and a high-level Dou Huang commander. You think my claim of exterminating your race is delusional, right?"
Medusa's grip on the sword faltered slightly, her eyes flashing with shock and confusion.
How does this human know about our hidden forces? Those elders were the Race Snake-People's trump cards, never appearing in public. Even during the war with the Jia Ma Empire over a decade ago, only she and the eight tribe leaders had fought—the Four Elders remained concealed. Not even the Jia Ma Empire knew of their existence!
Hai Bo Dong felt the sword tremble against his neck, sending a chill down his spine. Hearing Xiao Bai's words, cold sweat drenched his forehead.
Damn it! Who knew the Race Snake-People had such terrifying hidden power? Five Dou Huangs—all high-tier or peak-level!
He had once considered sneaking into their Holy City to gather herbs while Medusa was away. The thought alone makes my legs weak!
"Truthfully, I wouldn't even need to lift a finger to destroy your race."
"Your borders touch four human nations: the Jia Ma Empire to the south, and the Chu Yun, Luo Yan, and Mu Lan empires to the north."
"Among them, Scorpion Bi Yan of the Ten Thousand Poison Sect, Yan Luo Tian of the Luo Yan Sect, and the Three Mu Lan Elders are all Dou Zong-level experts now."
"They've long coveted Jia Ma's lands but hesitate to invade due to mutual distrust. Once they march south, your snake-people—sandwiched in the middle—will be their first target."
"All I'd need to do is convince them to unite."
Noting Medusa's skeptical gaze, Xiao Bai added, "Don't doubt whether I can do it. The consequences aren't something you'd want to imagine."
As he spoke, he observed her reactions. When mentioning the Dou Zongs, her momentary confusion told him she'd been too fixated on the Heavenly Flames to keep up with geopolitical shifts.
Or perhaps Snake-People simply can't infiltrate human societies to gather intelligence.
Xiao Bai appeared supremely confident, but in truth, he was bluffing—leveraging his knowledge of the original plot. He had no real intention of wiping out the Race Snake-People.
If I really wanted to, I could do it myself in a few years. Why bother with schemes?
Medusa's expression shifted uncertainly. Aside from the Dou Zongs, everything Xiao Bai said aligned with her own intelligence—one of the reasons she'd desperately sought the alien flame.
For the snake-people to survive in this brutal world, to thrive beyond the Tagor Desert, she needed to grow stronger.
Yet fate seemed to mock her. After years of searching, the alien flame was finally within reach—only to slip away again. A trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes.
O Heavens, why must you forsake my people?!
Would the Race Snake-People truly march toward annihilation under her rule?
"Go ahead and try! See if my Race Snake-People can be crushed so easily!"
Medusa clenched her teeth, refusing to show vulnerability. Her gaze was icy.
"Heh."
Xiao Bai chuckled at her stubbornness before shifting the topic.
"Snake-people are innately yin-cold aligned, fundamentally incompatible with Heavenly Flames. Yet you're desperate for this one—meaning you must have another use for it, yes?"
"Rumors say each Medusa Queen nurtures a companion beast soul from the start of her cultivation. Yours is a Six-Star Purple Netherfire Serpent."
"To break through to Dou Zong, your serpent must evolve. So you need the Heavenly Flame trigger its metamorphosis—am I wrong?"
Medusa's pupils contracted. *This was a secret passed down through generations of Medusas. How does he know?!*
"I can help you." Xiao Bai's tone was casual, as if offering a trivial favor.
Medusa's disbelief flickered briefly before hardening.
"Your terms. You wouldn't waste words just to mock me. State your price."
Her voice was frosty, her mask of indifference firmly back in place.
"Smart."
Xiao Bai applauded softly. This was the Medusa he preferred—calculating, not the domineering tyrant who led with violence.
He transmitted his conditions privately, shielding them from the others.
Hai Bo Dong barely dared to breathe. He couldn't hear Xiao Bai's terms, but the way Medusa's body trembled with barely contained fury made his blood run cold.
"Human—you seek death!"
Her voice was a blade of ice, sharper than any Dou Qi technique. Even Hai Bo Dong, an ice cultivator, shivered.
This bastard actually proposed making her his pet?!
Medusa's pride was unshakable. The mere suggestion was an unforgivable insult.
No one—no one—could ever claim ownership over her!
She'd die before becoming some human's plaything!
Crimson energy erupted around her, rippling outward in violent waves. For a heartbeat, she genuinely considered self-destructing just to drag him down with her.
"Fine. Since you're passably attractive, I'll lower my standards. How about being my maid instead?"
This time, Xiao Bai spoke aloud, wearing an expression that screamed "You should be grateful."
Silence.
Hai Bo Dong's jaw nearly hit the floor. In all his years, he'd never heard anyone dare suggest making Medusa a servant.
His admiration for Xiao Bai swelled like a tidal wave.
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
Medusa abandoned all pretense of royal decorum, lunging at Xiao Bai with her energy blade.
Xiao Bai remained still, his smile unchanging—but the amusement in his eyes vanished, replaced by cold calculation.
His hands, hidden behind his back, had already woven a soul seal.
Elder Yao, as if reading his mind, moved to intercept Hai Bo Dong.
Medusa realized too late—she'd taken the bait!*
She whirled to reclaim her hostage, but Elder Yao's Bone Chilling Flame severed her path.
Then—
THUD!
The familiar soul-crushing agony slammed into her mind, plunging her consciousness into emptiness.
Xiao Bai seized the moment. With a flash of lightning at his feet, he appeared before her in an instant, pressing the seal directly onto her forehead.
Feeling the soul seal take root in Medusa's consciousness, Xiao Bai exhaled in relief. Finally—subduing this prideful woman was no easy feat!
Wiping the sweat from his brow—a result of his intense mental focus—he hastily retreated before she fully regained her senses. If she realizes what's happened, she'll fight to the death.
But to his surprise, when Medusa awoke, her expression was eerily calm. No fury, no drawn blade—just a gaze so deep it seemed indifferent to life itself.
"Human. What do you intend to do with me?"
Her voice was flat. In her heart, she had already resolved: If he seeks to humiliate me, I'll self-destruct. Not to harm him—but to die with dignity.
The moment she regained awareness, she sensed the seal in her mind. Though unfamiliar with soul seals, she recognized its purpose instantly.
Her life was no longer her own.
Rage and resistance would be futile—perhaps even pitiful in the eyes of others.
She was a queen. The ruler of the Snake-People.
Even in death, she would not disgrace herself.
Thoughts of her people flickered through her mind—worry, reluctance, even a hint of relief.
Her entire existence had been devoted to them: training, fighting, striving for strength—all for their survival.
Not once had she lived for herself.
From childhood, she'd been taught:
"*You are the queen. The lives of millions rest on your shoulders. Never falter."
Since the day she'd donned the crown, she'd toiled silently—to secure her people's place in this merciless world, to lead them beyond this barren desert.
But now... she felt tired.
As these thoughts crystallized, the imperious aura around Medusa diminished, replaced by an uncharacteristic fragility.
Xiao Bai studied the shift in her demeanor, baffled. This isn't how I expected her to react.
Weakness? From Queen Medusa?
Begging for mercy?
He dismissed the thought immediately. This woman's pride would never allow it.