Somewhere in the desert...
A massive serpentine magical beast, nearly a hundred feet long, coiled in the sky, its enormous shadow stretching over the golden sands below.
The beast's head turned slightly, its gaze fixed on a distant horizon.
From afar, the aura of a Dou Huang pulsed faintly—a streak of emerald light streaking toward it at breakneck speed.
"Bai Ya, are you certain you sensed the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?"
The voice, brimming with excitement, arrived before its owner.
Before the colossal serpent could respond, a green-robed woman materialized before it.
Her figure was graceful, her face veiled, but her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Wait—you're injured?" The woman's expression shifted to shock as she took in the beast's condition.
Bai Ya's massive black-scaled body was streaked with blood, its eight violet-black wings tattered. The spiral horn atop its head bore visible cracks near the base—a pitiful sight.
"Heh... just a little fall." The beast's cunning eyes flickered with something unreadable.
"Don't tell me you actually went looking for her?" The woman's eyes narrowed as realization dawned.
"Of course! I sought out Queen Medusa! A woman so perfect, she might as well have been crafted for this emperor!" Bai Ya admitted shamelessly.
"You're lucky she didn't kill you!" The woman scoffed, disgusted by the beast's lovestruck demeanor.
"Tch. I adore her violence nature." Bai Ya's massive head swayed dreamily.
"Enough. Where's the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils?" The woman cut straight to the point, though her disdain was palpable.
"Ah... about that..." Bai Ya hesitated.
"Did you lie to me?" Her voice turned dangerous.
"No! I did sense the pupils' energy, but on the way, I ran into Medusa, and then... well, she was heading in the same direction. That's why I called you."
"You imbecile!" The woman—Lu Man—seethed. "The Sky Serpent Mansion has searched for decades, and you abandoned the mission for a woman?! No wonder you returned empty-handed! The elders will have your hide for this!"
Her rage simmered, but beneath it lay worry. If Medusa was after the same target, retrieving theTriple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils bearer would be far harder.
"Lead the way." She kicked Bai Ya's tail in frustration.
"Hey! Show some respect, Lu Man!" The beast grumbled before surging forward, its colossal body cutting through the sky.
---
Deep within the underground magma, emerald-green space...
Medusa's hands moved in intricate seals as she dissolved the seal on Hai Bo Dong's body.
When Xiao Bai asked her to lift it, she'd agreed without hesitation.
To her, Hai Bo Dong was irrelevant.
Were it not for Xiao Bai's bizarre soul-sealing technique, neither he, the old soul, nor the ice cultivator posed a real threat. Even if she couldn't defeat them all, escaping would've been trivial.
But now, this human had offered to help her evolve—no strings attached.
The offer thrilled her, yet unease gnawed at her. Why would he do this? His explanation had been plausible, but she trusted it only halfway.
Her evolution was a gamble at best. Such a life-altering metamorphosis was nine parts death, one part survival. She'd only considered it out of desperation.
Did this human not fear her failure? She refused to believe he was ignorant of the risks.
But for now, she wouldn't question him. This chance was too precious to waste—she'd waited far too long already.
As for the rest, she would deal with it after successfully breaking through. If she failed... well, then it wouldn't matter anyway.
Would this human chase her down the Yellow Spring to demand she keep her promises?
---
Hai Bo Dong, meanwhile, was ecstatic. Even after Medusa had been subdued by Xiao Bai, he'd never expected her to remove his seal.
He'd assumed they'd need to travel to the snake-people's holy city, obtain the Desert Mandala, and refine it into a pill first.
Yet here she was—omplying without resistance!
Twenty years of torment, resolved in an instant. How could he not be overjoyed?
"Done."
Medusa's icy voice rang out, but to Hai Bo Dong, it sounded like celestial music. He nearly leapt up in excitement—
—until he caught her frosty gaze. Instantly, he deflated, offering an awkward smile instead.
Medusa ignored him, turning to Xiao Bai. "This queen has fulfilled your request. Do not go back on your word."
Xiao Bai nodded. "You have my thanks. And my word—I never break a promise."
He knew she wasn't referring to the Heavenly Flame's evolution, but to his pledge to free her and return the crown afterward.
"Elder Hai, how do you feel now?" Xiao Bai asked, noting the old man's rejuvenated vigor.
"My deepest gratitude, young friend!" Hai Bo Dong clasped his hands solemnly.
"Though I can only muster two-star Dou Huang strength for now, I'll soon recover to my peak—five-star Dou Huang! If you ever need anything, this old man will spare no effort!"
This deal with Xiao Bai was the best decision of his life. Not only was his seal gone, but he'd also befriended a once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
Having witnessed Xiao Bai's miracles firsthand, he knew the Jia Ma Empire was too small for him. *In a few years, he might ascend to heights I can't even fathom.*
"No need for formalities, Elder Hai." Xiao Bai smiled.
In the original story, Hai Bo Dong had used Calamity-Breaking Pill to shatter the seal, but it damaged his foundation, requiring Spirit-Restoring Purple Pill later.
Now, with Medusa undoing it herself, his strength remained intact. Given his confidence, full recovery won't take long.
With matters settled, Xiao Bai stored the Green Lotus Core Flame—still atop its pedestal—inside an empty spatial ring.
Normally, only high-tier rings could contain Heavenly Flames. But the lotus pedestal suppressed its fury, allowing even a low-tier ring to hold it—as long as nothing else was stored inside.
"Let's return to Stone Desert City first, then head to the Snake-people's Holy City. Does that suit you, Your Majesty?"
Xiao Bai's playful tone drew a sidelong glance from Medusa. After a beat, she gave a regal nod.