Queen Medusa furrowed her brows, finding it hard to believe her ears. This human actually wanted to help the Snake-People Tribe establish a territory in the Magic Beast Mountain Range?
There was no free-lunch in this world; this human must be having some ulterior motive by proposing such a proposal.
Despite this, his offer was indeed tempting. The Magic Beast Mountain Range was indeed a very suitable place for the Snake-People Tribe. As a cold-blooded creature, they naturally favored the damp, dark forests. Throughout the years in the Tagore Desert, every Medusa queen had dreamed of leading her people to the Magic Beast Mountain Range.
But the arduous journey, coupled with the need to carry many things when leaving the desert, made the endeavor extremely time-consuming and dangerous. They had to guard against attacks from both magical beasts and humans. In the end, no Queen Medusa had ever succeeded and had to pass on this wish to her successor.
Queen Medusa clenched her fists so tightly that her sharp nails pierced her palms, yet she didn't flinch. She looked at the leaders lying on the ground and recalled the words of the previous Medusa queen: "If one day you meet a benefactor, keep him close, for he is the future of our Snake-People Tribe."
After much deliberation, Queen Medusa nodded. "Alright, I agree to this request, but I must personally search for a suitable territory for the Snake-People Tribe. And you humans will help with the construction."
The Snake-People Tribe's constructions were like ant nests, with tunnels extending in all directions. But Queen Medusa had always admired human architecture. It would be ideal if the Snake-People Tribe members could have their own rooms.
"Deal."
Li Xiao continued, "The second matter: I hope Queen Medusa will join Heaven Ascending Pavilion as an honorable elder. Without my permission, you are not to leave for one year."
"This... is acceptable," Queen Medusa nodded. She understood the role of an honorable elder, which was to help a force resolve certain problems. Moreover, a year would pass quickly, so there was no issue.
"The third request… I haven't decided yet. I'll inform you when I do."
Li Xiao turned and said, "Spend the next two days bidding farewell to your subordinates, Queen Medusa. We'll depart the day after tomorrow."
Now that he had sold the Green Lotus Core Flame, Li Xiao had no reason to stay. Leaving the Tager Desert early was the wisest choice.
Every Medusa Queen was ruthless; killing people like slaughtering chickens—cruel and bloodthirsty. However, none had ever reached the Dou Ancestor level, which was why the Snake-People Tribe remained confined to the Tagore Desert. Queen Medusa was indeed cold-hearted, but once won over, she would be loyal to the death!
Watching Li Xiao's back as he left, Queen Medusa remained silent, standing alone and holding the Green Lotus Core Flame she had just purchased for a billion gold coins.
Time flew by.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Queen Medusa handed over all the tribe's matters to the Grand Elder Yin Shi and, along with Yue Mei, followed Li Xiao to the Magic Beast Mountain Range. At the same time, she gave the three Tier-7 Transformation Pills to the four elders hidden in the oasis.
These four elders, all at the Dou Emperor level, were pillars of the Snake-People Tribe, and the transformation pills would help them increase their lifespans and possibly break through to the Dou Ancestor level. Upon hearing of the queen's plan to move to the Magic Beast Mountain Range, they remained silent, understanding the significant impact of such a decision. However, if it meant truly freeing their tribe from their current plight, it would be a decision worth taking.
After the farewells, Queen Medusa went to Li Xiao's quarters and found him enjoying a peculiar fruit.
"Lord Li Xiao, the fruit you're eating is called the Lust Fruit. Eating too much will make you unable to control your desires," she said, reminding him nonchalantly.
Li Xiao turned sharply, glaring at the snickering Amethyst Winged Lion King. The lion had convinced him that this was a special fruit of the Snake-People Tribe, promising a euphoric experience.
"So, that's why!" Li Xiao felt tricked. "Xue, teach him a lesson!"
A few minutes later, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King lay on the ground, black and blue, his earlier bravado completely gone.
Li Xiao exhaled heavily, his body burning with desire. Seeing Queen Medusa's enchanting figure only worsened his condition. Thankfully, Lian Xue used her Dou Qi to suppress his rising urges.
Li Xiao patted the lion's head, "If you do this again, I'll tie you to a tree and whip you!"
The lion nodded fervently, swearing it would never dare to repeat such action again.
Before leaving, Li Xiao uprooted a Lust Fruit tree to take with him. Such a valuable thing shouldn't be left alone in a desolate place like this, he thought.
The lion gave him a look of disdain. "Men!" it seemed to say.
Queen Medusa summoned a pair of elegant wings, and since Li Xiao couldn't manifest Dou Qi wings yet, he sat on the lion's back. Despite this, there was no sense of incongruity. Lian Xue, without using her wings, walked through the air, keeping pace effortlessly. Each step she took left ripples in the space, her figure appearing hundreds of meters away in an instant, showcasing her exceptional abilities.
Queen Medusa, observing this, realized Lian Xue was indeed a Dou Ancestor or beyond, though her exact strength remained unclear. "A Dou Ancestor is truly terrifying," she muttered.
Yue Mei, following closely, found it hard to keep up. Lian Xue's casual steps covered distances Yue Mei could only dream of.
"Queen Medusa, is that your birth name?" Li Xiao asked.
"Yes, every queen takes this name," she replied coldly.
"Would you be interested in getting a new name?" Li Xiao asked with a smile. Sometimes, taking the initiative could change the course of events significantly.
Queen Medusa, though powerful, could achieve unprecedented heights if she joined his Ascend Heaven Pavilion. Reaching the Dou Ancestor level would be merely a matter of time.
"A new name?" Queen Medusa seemed taken aback.
"Think about it," Li Xiao continued. "Joining me could change your destiny, and your tribe's future could be brighter than ever."
Intrigued yet wary, Queen Medusa pondered Li Xiao's words as they journeyed toward their new beginnings.