"So, you still think you haven't been beaten enough?"
Gu Changqing's gaze grew cold, though he couldn't help but admire Queen Medusa's ferocity.
Admiration aside, relying on a berserk technique to temporarily boost combat strength and hoping to defeat him? Wishful thinking!
"Three Flowers on the Crown, activate!"
Gu Changqing wasn't yet strong enough to crush a Dou Ancestor expert head-on. When he killed Xie Bi Yan, it was only due to a sudden burst of heavenly power, and even that had drained all his Dou Qi.
Now that Queen Medusa had exploded in strength, her power couldn't be underestimated. No longer holding back, Gu Changqing activated Three Flowers on the Crown, pushing his cultivation from the early Foundation Establishment stage to the early Golden Core stage.
At the Golden Core stage, which was equivalent to the early Dou Ancestor level, crushing Queen Medusa was a breeze.
"Slash!"
This time, Gu Changqing showed no mercy. Summoning a bronze sword, he slashed directly at Queen Medusa's enormous serpent body.
Thud!
Even though her power had surged, Queen Medusa was no match for a Golden Core cultivator. The sword pierced through her lower body, impaling her massive snake form.
"Hissss—!"
Queen Medusa let out a howl of pain, brandishing a sharp, snake-shaped spear, aiming directly at Gu Changqing.
"Slash!"
With a wave of his hand, Gu Changqing's bronze sword ripped through the air, shredding Queen Medusa's spear into dust.
Thud!
"Argh!"
A scream echoed as the sword pierced through Queen Medusa's delicate hand, then continued through her chest.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Gu Changqing's control over the bronze sword was precise, piercing Queen Medusa's voluptuous body with countless wounds.
Crash!
Finally, Queen Medusa fell, completely losing her ability to fight, collapsing into a pool of blood.
"Kill me."
Even facing death, Queen Medusa did not beg for mercy; she simply requested that Gu Changqing end her life.
Bam!
Gu Changqing stomped on her forehead.
"Your Majesty, I'll give you two choices: submit to me, or die. I can always train another serpent to lead the Serpent Tribe."
Gu Changqing's voice was indifferent.
"You dare threaten the Serpent Tribe?!"
Queen Medusa's eyes flared with anger as she struggled to catch her breath, glaring daggers at him.
"Wrong. I'm aiming for the Chu Yun Empire. What I need now is a loyal subordinate to help me manage the empire."
Gu Changqing spoke calmly.
"What? The Chu Yun Empire?!"
Queen Medusa's eyes widened, a spark of interest lighting up in them.
The Chu Yun Empire, while not the richest in resources, had vast territories filled with dangerous mountains and valleys, perfect for creatures like serpents. Queen Medusa had long desired to conquer the empire but had been held back by the empire's poison masters and the fear of leaving her rear vulnerable to attacks.
"The Chu Yun Empire has poison masters and more than five Dou Emperor experts aside from Xie Bi Yan. Their cities are built in treacherous terrain, easy to defend and hard to attack. You think you can conquer them? Foolish!"
Though intrigued by the idea, Queen Medusa couldn't help but mock Gu Changqing, curious about what kind of trump card he held to dare speak of toppling the empire.
"Hmph! A bunch of nobodies can't stop my path to conquest. The Jia Ma Empire, the Luo Yan Empire, and even the entire Northwestern Continent will one day belong to me!"
"I'm offering you a chance. Submit and serve me, or die. I'll find another leader for the Serpent Tribe."
Gu Changqing's foot pressed harder on Queen Medusa's forehead, his voice cold and unwavering.
"You…"
Queen Medusa had been stepped on several times already, but having her head crushed underfoot by this young man filled her with overwhelming humiliation.
A queen, high above all others, now crushed beneath someone's boot. Where was her dignity? Her honor?
"You want to use the Serpent Tribe as your personal tools?"
Queen Medusa glared up at him, her voice frigid.
"Tools? You're not worthy."
Gu Changqing sneered, noticing the flash of anger in her eyes as he continued.
"What I need is a race that can manage these mountains and treacherous terrains. It could be the Serpent Tribe, or it could be a race of magical beasts. The Serpent Tribe just happens to fit my needs, so I'm giving you this chance."
"As for mere fighters, with a wave of my hand, I could summon countless Dou Ancestor and Dou Venerate experts. I don't need your paltry strength."
His words were a mix of truth and lies. While he could indeed call for Dou Ancestor and Dou Venerate experts, it would require him to return to the Gu Clan and 'recognize his ancestry,' or ask for his elder sister Xun'er's help. But getting involved with the Gu Clan would draw too much attention, so he didn't plan on going that route.
Yet, with his alchemy skills and the potential of people like Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin, nurturing a few Dou Ancestor and Dou Venerate experts was a simple task for him.
So, in reality, he had no use for the Serpent Tribe as mere warriors.
Of course, if the Serpent Tribe submitted, they wouldn't be sitting on the sidelines when it came to uniting the Northwestern Continent.
"Who exactly are you?"
Though Queen Medusa scoffed at his arrogance, a voice inside her couldn't help but wonder. Who was this young man, able to defeat her at such a young age? His background must be extraordinary!
"My origins are not for you to know."
"Now, tell me your choice. Will you submit or die?"
Gu Changqing's foot pressed down harder as he gazed coldly at Queen Medusa.
"You! If you can help me evolve successfully, and find a suitable home for the Serpent Tribe, I'll agree."
Though her pride was wounded, Queen Medusa was willing to endure for the sake of her tribe's future.
"Hmph, you have quite the imagination. Helping you evolve isn't impossible, but if you want me to find a home for the Serpent Tribe, then your entire tribe must submit to me. I'm not interested in nurturing a group of backstabbers."
Gu Changqing laid down his terms.
"Fine! But you must promise not to force the Serpent Tribe into battle unless they're willing. And you can't treat us as cannon fodder!"
Queen Medusa's only fear was that Gu Changqing would drag the Serpent Tribe into a disaster. But if he wasn't going to use them recklessly, then serving him might not be such a bad idea after all.