Amidst the lush, verdant bamboo grove, a figure of porcelain perfection—full-figured and alluring—radiates a compelling charm that leaves one parched and thirsty. Her beautiful face, subtly glowing with an ethereal, fairy-like radiance, features a long, graceful neck that curves elegantly. As her gaze slowly descends, her full, firm breasts emerge—smooth and delicate. Perhaps due to the intense heat, a single droplet of dew appears on her neck and rolls down, tracing a delicate path across one of her rounded, lush breasts before curving slightly sensuously, finally falling. Her slender waist, barely enough to grasp with a gentle hand, exudes a subtle suppleness despite its slight delicacy. Her flat, soft abdomen is free of any excess flesh, creating an irresistible urge to reach out and gently caress it. Beneath this graceful waist lies a wild, vibrant purple serpent’s tail, gently swaying with an unmistakable, enchanting grace. Within the small bamboo grove, this slender, alluring figure—long coveted by countless men—was now completely bare, fully revealed to one person's gaze. "Queen Medusa is born with an innate charm—this charm, for men, is the most potent aphrodisiac of all. Of course, with her current strength, this charm has now reached a level of effortless control. Well, though, when she's bare, that charm naturally spills forth. Ah, so be careful, little one—beauty is indeed a double-edged sword." The old physician spoke with measured gravity. "Hmm…" Hearing this sudden remark from the old man, Xiao Yan only managed a dry chuckle before sheepishly nodding. "Master, when shall we act?" The surrounding heat made Xiao Yan wipe a bit of sweat, wondering internally. "Wait a little longer. Though she is currently fully focused on the strange fire, if she detects your presence, she will surely eliminate you first. I can certainly carry you away, but the strange fire…" "Then let us just wait." "Heard this, Xiao Yan cracked his lips and fell into further silence, gazing steadily at the open expanse beyond. The purple silk robe slipped to the ground as Queen Medusa slowly advanced one step, her eyes misty, fixed on the jade flame floating in midair. With her lips slightly parted, she murmured softly, 'If one wishes to follow the conventional path of cultivation, it would take an unknown length of time to even reach the threshold of Douzong. Thus, to swiftly advance to Douzong rank, there is only one path left.' Gently resting her delicate hands against her graceful shoulders, the queen bowed slightly toward the strange flame in the air, then slowly raised her gaze toward the city walls where energy surged violently. A glint of frost passed through her eyes as she lightly brushed back a strand of her dark hair, and said calmly, 'Should the evolution succeed, every human present here shall remain eternally in this desert.'" After uttering these slightly cold words, Queen Medusa gently pulled down the purple sash that had been tying her dark, flowing hair. Instantly, the sleek, black strands cascaded down her body, flowing vertically along her slender waist. With a gentle shake of her head, the hair swayed naturally, adding an extra touch of grace and charm to the queen's demeanor. Her hands slightly closed together, her eyes closed, and her delicate hands continuously forming unusual hand seals. As these hand seals shifted, the ambient energy within the bamboo grove suddenly intensified, growing more turbulent. Observing this change from within the tree cover, Xiao Yan was startled, his body subtly arching forward, ready to respond to any sudden developments. "What on earth is she trying to do?" he murmured, growing increasingly amazed as the energy fluctuations grew stronger—eventually, a massive energy vortex began to form subtly above the island. Watching this transformation, Xiao Yan was left utterly astonished. "This... I'm not entirely sure either. The evolution of the Queen of Medusa is quite mysterious. I've only heard of it before, never actually witnessed it. It seems, however, that the evolutionary pathway isn't very precise. Hmm, that is to say, even if she succeeds in evolving, no one knows exactly what form she'll take—this seems entirely random." The elderly pharmacist sighed, "But there's one thing that's certain: regardless, it will still be connected to serpents." Listening to the pharmacist's somewhat disorganized words, Xiao Yan shook his head in quiet contemplation, deciding against asking further questions, his gaze firmly fixed on the Queen of Medusa, whose body was now enveloped in a dense, radiant glow. The glow continuously expanded and contracted. After a while, a roar emerged—somewhat like a lion's cry, yet reminiscent of a tiger's howl—resounding powerfully from within the light. Shortly thereafter, the brilliant radiance surged dramatically, intensifying sharply. Under this blinding intensity of light, Xiao Yan reflexively closed his eyes. After a moment, he reopened them, stunned to find a massive purple serpent, stretching over ten zhang in length, hovering gracefully in the sky above the small island. The serpent's body was long and powerful, exuding a subtle elegance. Its pale purple eyes—distinctly different from the fierce gaze of the giant serpent Xiao Yan had encountered in the lake—radiated calmness and serenity. As the serpent slowly rotated in the air, its massive head gently turned toward the chaotic city walls. Only then did a glint of cold intensity flicker across its pale purple eyes. At the edge of the city walls, the cloaked figure floated in midair, casually glancing at the disheveled flower-serpent across the way. Then, as if sensing something, he suddenly turned his head, his gaze fixed firmly on the swirling purple light spreading across another part of the city. The eyes beneath his dark robe narrowed slightly, and he murmured softly, "Is the evolution beginning?" "Damn humans. Once the Queen has successfully evolved, not one of you will escape!" Flower Serpent wiped a streak of blood from her lip, her voice cold and sharp. "Should the evolution fail, she will simply vanish from this realm without any need for our intervention." Flower Serpent's threat failed to stir even the slightest spark of anger in the cloaked figure. She seemed born with this calm composure, rarely showing any signs of panic or distress—like clouds drifting across the sky, serene and relaxed, yet possessing an all-encompassing wisdom and composure that allowed her to observe and guide all around her. "Moreover, you well know that this evolution follows no set pattern. Even if it succeeds in the end, no one can predict exactly what form it will take." The cloaked figure spoke softly and calmly. "The Queen will surely succeed!" Flower Serpent's expression shifted abruptly. With fierce intensity, she shouted, her feet pressing firmly against the city walls, her aura surging powerfully, charging directly toward the cloaked figure. "Actually... I'd also like to see what the Queen of Medusa looks like after her evolution." Gazing calmly at the flower serpent charging angrily, the cloaked figure smiled gently and shook his head, then waved his hands. A dozen massive, ten-丈-long jade-green wind blades drifted gracefully past, lightly slicing through the advancing serpent. "Oh…" Nodding slightly, Xiao Yan raised his head, his hand gently rubbing his chin as he murmured, "What does she plan to do? Won't she just swallow the hetero-fire whole? If she does—then what will I do?" "Hmm..." Listening to Xiao Yan's question, the medicine elder also paused, then sighed helplessly, "I'm not entirely sure myself. In fact, I don't think she'll succeed in evolving. The hetero-fire's destructive power is no joke. Though she's a Duke-level warrior, resisting it will still be quite difficult." Xiao Yan exhaled softly, chuckling wryly, "Then let's just wait a while. If we rush out now, we might be incinerated completely by that furious Qinglian Earth-Core Fire." "Agreed—be cautious. Should anything go wrong, be ready to retreat at a moment's notice. Both the hetero-fire and Queen Medusa are extremely dangerous creatures," the medicine elder added. With a smile, Xiao Yan nodded in agreement and significantly raised his alertness, his gaze fixed steadily on the massive purple serpent hovering above, never blinking. The great body spiraled in the air, and a rich purple glow surged forth from within the serpent, eventually almost completely enveloping the entire temple in its radiance. "She's setting up an energy barrier," the Ye Elder said with a cheerful tone, "likely to avoid disturbance from those from the ancient river. It seems this evolution truly requires a quiet environment—she's quite unfortunate to encounter these people today." "Indeed," Xiao Yan replied, nodding with a smile. "But without their interference, we wouldn't have had the chance to enter..." As he spoke, his eyes remained locked on the serpent above. Suddenly, his expression tightened, and he said firmly, "She's beginning!" Immediately after his words, the massive purple serpent spiraled several times in the sky before emitting a clear, resonant hum, then boldly plunged straight toward the cluster of emerald flames. "This mad woman... dare to directly confront the strange flames!" Watching the snake's movements, Xiao Yan instantly drew a deep breath and stepped back hurriedly. Under Xiao Yan's steady gaze, the massive purple snake leapt downward with no hesitation, forcefully plunging into the inner core of the green flames. At the very moment the snake plunged into the strange fire, the piercing, desperate cry of Queen Medusa rang out, sending a shiver down listeners' spines.