Hearing Jiang Yun's cold tone and seeing the killing intent in his eyes, Queen Medusa felt a sense of foreboding.
Without time to think, her figure flashed and she quickly shot toward Jiang Yun, shouting, "Everyone, leave immediately!"
"Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing Medusa's order, the six Dou Kings of the serpent tribe were confused. Seven against two, why avoid the sharp edge?
"Leave?"
"Where?"
"None of you can leave!"
Jiang Yun's emotionless words rang out, and in the next moment, Medusa saw the Jiang Yun in front of her gradually dissipate. Simultaneously, Jiang Yun suddenly appeared above Mo Basi and the others.
"Afterimage!!!"
Feeling Jiang Yun's terrifying speed, Medusa was shocked. As she was about to turn around, a sharp voice rang out.
"Didn't get enough last time? Let's go again!"
A fierce strike came, tearing through the air. Medusa's honed battle instincts went crazy with warnings. Without time to think, she turned and thrust her sword.
"Clang—"
The immense force from her opponent's spear struck, causing Medusa to hastily parry and suffer a setback. Half of her body was numb, giving Zi Yan the chance to launch a fierce assault.
"Your Majesty!!!"
Seeing Medusa suppressed, Mo Basi and the others were incredulous. Their invincible queen was actually at a disadvantage.
"Humans, you all deserve to die!"
Seeing Jiang Yun blocking him and glancing at the battle between the two women, Mo Basi roared in rage.
Black Dou Qi swirled around him, and there were two black serpent tattoos on his arms, seemingly alive, flicking their tongues.
"Serpent Shadow Black Punch!"
A gust of wind arose, and a black shadow lunged like lightning. Jiang Yun coolly countered with a punch, causing an explosion. Mo Basi was blown away, and the dust on the ground spread like a shockwave.
"Mo Basi!"
Seeing Mo Basi defeated in seconds, Yue Mei and the others were shocked. Although they didn't like this man eyeing their queen, his strength was undeniable—the strongest among them.
But now, he was easily defeated. How strong was their opponent?
"Bastard!"
Following a furious roar, Mo Basi crawled out of the pit. Covered in blood, he stared at Jiang Yun with intense hatred. Mighty Dou Qi churned on his body, fracturing the ground around him.
On his remaining usable arm, strong muscles writhed, making the black serpent tattoo more vivid, emitting a fierce aura.
"Everyone, please enter the array!"
Mo Basi was seething with hatred for Jiang Yun, but Jiang Yun had no time to engage him further.
He raised his hand, and countless spiritual seals flew from his palm. With a loud laugh, a massive array enveloped everyone.
"Azure Dragon, take your position!"
"Roar—"
"A dragon roar?"
"What is the Serpent Tribe doing?"
At the edge of the distant desert, several powerful figures hurried deeper into the sands. Leading them was an elderly man in a simple robe, his aura terrifying, comparable to Queen Medusa.
He was Jia Ma Empire's pillar, a Nine-Star Dou King, Jia Xingtian.
"Such strong auras erupting from the Serpent Tribe's direction; something major must be happening."
Several middle-aged men followed Jia Xingtian. They were the backbone of the Jia Ma Empire, surrounded by Dou Qi wings, looking gravely towards the battlefield.
"But something seems strange. This dragon roar doesn't feel like a magical beast's."
"Hmph—, why worry about so much? Let's go check it out together!"
After listening to the opinions, Jia Xingtian paused briefly, then looked around at everyone: Mu Chen, Nalan Jie, Yan Shi, Feng Li, and other experts. Together, they should be safe from any danger.
"Move!"
Jia Xingtian, decisive and without hesitation, said in a deep voice.
"Move?"
"None of you can leave!"
Suddenly, an indifferent voice echoed around them. In the distance, a figure in white, with an extraordinary aura, approached unhurriedly.
Though far away, the figure appeared in front of Jia Xingtian and his men in a few blinks.
With the end of Jiang Yun's seal technique, a massive dragon roar echoed through the heavens. In the next moment, a vivid Azure Dragon descended, the imposing Dragon's Might covering Mo Basi and the others, making their hearts tremble.
"A dragon!"
"A high-level dragon aura!"
"Mere humans, how is this possible?"
The vast Dragon's Might made Mo Basi and the others' bodies stiffen. Their serpent bloodline was good, but it paled compared to the authentic Taixu Gulong's Dragon Might condensed by Jiang Yun.
"Time to send you on your way!"
Seeing his opponents suppressed, Jiang Yun didn't waste words. With a change in his hand seals, the giant dragon in the sky let out an earth-shattering roar and lunged at them.
"Roar—"
At the critical moment, a roar like a lion's or a tiger's came, accompanied by a blinding purple light.
"Boom—"
After a series of loud explosions, Jiang Yun squinted his eyes. Above his array, a ten-zhang-long purple serpent hovered, blocking the dragon for Mo Basi and the others.
"Is this Medusa's true form?" Jiang Yun asked with interest, looking at the massive serpent.
"Xiao Yun, that woman is sneaky, she ran off!" Zi Yan, catching up, stood beside Jiang Yun. Her clothes were disheveled; she had clearly suffered in the previous fight.
Indeed, Medusa wasn't an ordinary Dou King; her strength was fearsome. Without her bloodline limitations, she would have entered the Dou Zun realm by now.
"No problem, I'll roast her later!"
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Zi Yan's eyes lit up, looking forward eagerly.
"Bang, bang, bang—"
Relentless collisions rang out as the massive purple serpent frantically struggled within the array. Despite being battered and torn, it refused to relent, but the array remained solid.
After futile attacks, despair and a hint of regret appeared in the purple serpent's eyes.
"Your Majesty!!!"
Seeing Medusa wounded, Yue Mei and the others despaired, watching the high-altitude battle helplessly.
"That's enough!"
Seeing the situation, Jiang Yun whispered, waved his sleeve, and a cluster of black flames appeared. It was the Black Flame refined from the Holy Heavenly Devil Flame.
Jiang Yun was curious about the Serpent Tribe's secret technique, but since Medusa wouldn't cooperate, he decided to observe firsthand. Whether it would succeed depended on Medusa's fate. He could only try his best to ensure her success, curious about what would happen if Medusa evolved using the Holy Heavenly Devil Flame.
As the black flame appeared, intense unease filled the purple serpent's eyes. From the flames, it felt a life-threatening danger.
"Go!"
Jiang Yun smiled at Queen Medusa and company and pointed his finger. The black flame slowly floated toward them.
Though the flame moved slowly, even a Dou Ling could dodge it. Yet, they felt rooted in place, unable to escape, as a chilling fear engulfed them.
Medusa, seeing the approaching flame, was helpless. Glancing at her despairing people below, she recalled her early days as queen.
She was the Queen of the Serpent Tribe. She vowed to protect every tribe member and to lead them out of the desert. If one day the tribe faced disaster, she would be the first to fall.
Now, looking at the flame, a resolute glint shone in Medusa's massive snake eyes.
The giant purple serpent slowly twisted its body in mid-air. Its enormous head turned slightly toward Jiang Yun, the overly young man. A complex emotion flickered in her pale purple pupils.
It was he who brought her life's greatest peril, potentially endangering the tribe. Yet, she had no regrets; she would still seize the Green Lotus Core Flame given the chance. Her only mistake was not being strong enough. Now, it was do-or-die.
"Roar—"
With a roar blending a lion's might and a tiger's ferocity, the massive form spiraled in the sky, purple radiance surging from its body.
In the sky, the huge purple snake circled several times, then decisively shot towards the black flame.
"Your Majesty—"
Below, Mo Basi and the others finally reacted, disregarding their fear, sorrowfully watching Medusa's heroic sacrifice.
"Now is not the time for you to watch!" A calm voice echoed, and Yue Mei and the others felt a terrifying wave sweep over them. Their souls seemed hammered, minds blank, succumbing to darkness.
Medusa noticed her people's unconscious state and was shocked. However, sensing they just fainted, she relaxed slightly.
But next, she had no mind to worry for others, as the nearby black flame, expanded under Jiang Yun's control, soon became a black sun.
The enormous purple snake flew down decisively, without hesitation, diving into the black flame.
Upon entering the Holy Heavenly Devil Flame, Queen Medusa's anguished scream echoed, heard throughout the oasis.
In the black flames, the massive purple snake thrashed wildly. The scales soon warped and burned, falling away, leaving her flesh exposed.
Jiang Yun's eyes brightened. His soul realm's power fully released, he scrutinized the burning serpent, missing no detail.
Nearby, having reunited with Qing Lin, Zi Yan pouted dissatisfaction, muttering, "Burnt, what's there to see!"
Even Qing Lin, usually innocent, detected the jealousy in her tone.
Qing Lin seriously watched Jiang Yun, then the burning serpent, her green-dotted eyes shining brightly. She seriously said, "Brother Jiang Yun must have a reason."
Zi Yan looked at the focused Qing Lin, who blushed under the scrutiny and shyly lowered her head, softly asking, "What is it, Sister Zi Yan?"
"Unfair! I helped beat the bad guy, why are you siding with Jiang Yun?"
"Was I?" Qing Lin's flushed cheeks reddened further, weakly asking.
In the sky, the burning purple serpent's scales fell away, with flesh directly facing the terrifying fire, burning to ashes, leaving bloody scars.
Medusa's gaze gradually dulled, a precursor to failing.
"Is it failing?" Jiang Yun whispered disappointedly. Then his eyes shone brightly, smiling, saying, "I haven't seen what I wanted, nor let you die. Medusa, you cannot fall!"
With these words, Jiang Yun spat out white flames—the Immortal Holy Flame—and threw a six-tier healing pill toward her massive mouth.
"Roar—"
In the searing flames, Medusa's voice weakened, consciousness dimming, the world returning to darkness.
"Am I dying?"
"Ultimately, I failed."
At that moment, a white light illuminated her dark world, boundless vitality erupting, healing her damaged body.
Her eyes regained their sparkle. Medusa, puzzled, glanced at Jiang Yun.
You want to kill me and save me, what do you want?
Suddenly, Medusa recalled Jiang Yun's earlier mention of a deal. Seeing her unconscious people, she seemed to understand.
No time for reflection, agonizing pain engulfed her. She resumed the tribe's secret technique, seizing this chance to break through.
With Jiang Yun's help, Medusa's condition eased. Feeling unburdened, she rolled and inflamed herself, seemingly seeking complete immolation.
With even Jiang Yun's aid, Medusa's situation improved. She abandoned all reservations, subjected herself entirely to the flames, wanting an all-encompassing transformation.
(Chapter Complete)