At this moment, Xiao Yan and the legendary, fearsome Queen Medusa beneath him were in a most alluring pose—her body completely pressed under his, and his fingers even extending into her lush, rosy mouth. Xiao Yan stared blankly at the face so close before him. This face, so exquisitely beautiful, was like a masterpiece crafted by heaven itself. Even with her piercing, sharp gaze, an undeniable, captivating grace radiated from her. This woman was, without a doubt, the ideal beloved in every man's heart. Though the soft, delicate body beneath him had bestowed upon him unparalleled sensations, he dared not reveal any of it on his face. His eyes were filled with astonishment, fixed on the Queen Medusa with a dazed expression. After a moment, his mouth twitched, and he managed only a rather awkward smile: "You... you're well." As he spoke, the fingers of Xiao Yan extending into the Queen of Medusa's mouth subtly stretched, gently brushing against the tender, slippery tip of her tongue. At that moment, Xiao Yan's body trembled abruptly, a sensation of tingling spreading from his heart, nearly compelling him to deeply suck and press the delicate jasmine-tipped tongue. Of course, though he felt this urge, he was certain that if he attempted such a move, he would surely be obliterated by the Queen of Medusa—someone even Sea Wave Dong would have to flee at the sight of. Her eyes, sharp with cold intensity, fixed upon him with a mixture of frosty demeanor. When her fingers first touched her tongue, a faint blush rose to her cheeks, though the prevailing atmosphere remained charged with an unyielding aura of cold power. The queen's beautiful eyes subtly shifted, first glancing at Xuanyin's arm, glowing with a rich jade hue, then at the fingers extending into her mouth—smooth and green as jade. Instantly, her long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly. With a sharp snap, she bit down firmly on her teeth. "Ah!" Xuanyin's eyes widened as the fingertip was firmly bitten. He gasped, drawing in a deep breath of cool air, trying to wriggle free. Suddenly, a long, elegant arm, as white as jade, shot out with an eerie motion, tightly cradling his neck. The queen's gaze conveyed clear, unwavering threat. Pressed by the queen's grip, Xuanyin had no choice but to lean slightly forward. At once, two soft forms pressed against his chest. A surge of strange heat erupted from his abdomen, making his breathing slightly labored. Forcing himself to contain the surge of inner malevolent energy, Xiao Yan dared not make any move against this celestial calamity at this moment. He simply pressed straight down upon the soft, yielding body of the Medusa Queen, their faces facing each other, breaths clearly audible. As the Queen bit down on Xiao Yan's fingers, a steady trail of crimson blood slowly seeped onto the rosy edges of her lips, adding a vibrant, blood-streaked allure that gave the already regal Medusa Queen an even more seductive, rose-tinted elegance. As the blood gradually permeated, Xiao Yan's expression subtly shifted—he sensed the immense energy of the Earthfire Lotus, lingering in his right arm, being swiftly absorbed by the Queen. "Don't worry," he murmured. "Whether it's given to the Sky-Consuming Python or to me, it's still given. As long as that surplus energy of the Earthfire Lotus can be released, it makes no difference." Comforting himself in this way, Xiao Yan made every effort to calm down, his gaze drifting over the flawless, resplendent face—so radiant it seemed almost flawless—though they were adversaries, he could not help but silently admire her beauty. As the Queen of Medusa greedily consumed the energy, the jade-green glow on the right side of Xiao Yan’s arm was gradually fading, visible to the naked eye. After a few moments, the glow completely dissipated, and his fingers, once like green jade, slowly returned to their normal state. With the residual energy smoothly drawn out of his body, Xiao Yan had just exhaled a sigh of relief when his face suddenly turned pale. He realized that, even after absorbing all the energy, the Queen of Medusa still refused to release her hold. Her long, narrow eyes, gleaming with a hint of scorn, fixed upon him. With a gentle breath, the qi swirling within Xiao Yan’s body began to ripple, as though it were being drawn away—almost visibly—along his meridians. "Relax!" Noticing the changes within the cyclone, Xiao Yan's face went pale as he shouted urgently. With no time to attend to Xiao Yan, Queen Medusa's eyes held a cold smirk. The slender jade hand pressing against Xiao Yan's neck tightened slightly, causing his cheeks to flush. "For heaven's sake!" As Xiao Yan sensed the qi beginning to surge out through his fingers, his eyes immediately turned crimson. Over the past twenty-plus days, he had labored tirelessly to restore his strength. If this woman—this tormentor—absorbed it all away now, what would he do when he reached Yunlan Sect? He'd have to go there and smash the bricks with his fists. With blazing eyes, Xiao Yan slowly raised his left hand, and a vibrant green flame surged upward, instantly raising the temperature of the room. Observing the green flame on Xiao Yan's hand, Queen Medusa's expression subtly shifted—clearly recognizing it as the very Qinglian Earth-Heart Fire that had plagued her so. "Relax!" I know, with your strength, it should be simple to kill me. Yet you haven't done so—this doesn't quite match your formidable reputation. I suspect your strength hasn't fully recovered yet." Xiao Yan lowered his palm, which was covered in emerald flames, and spoke in a low, steady tone. "You should recognize this, shouldn't you? Release me immediately—or, even if it costs me my life today, I'll ensure you're severely wounded!" Hearing Xiao Yan's threat, the cold intensity in the Queen Medusa's eyes deepened. As the queen of her stature, no one had ever dared to threaten her thus. Her gaze now locked firmly on Xiao Yan, radiating an unmistakable aura of lethal intent. Under the steady scrutiny of the queen, Xiao Yan felt a slight tingling of anxiety in his scalp. Yet he was well aware that, despite knowing his fate might not be favorable in the long run, he had to remain resolute—once he showed any sign of weakness, this renowned, fierce beauty would surely swallow him whole, body and bones. In the quiet room, the two locked eyes, neither willing to break the gaze first. As the intensity of the stare grew, a bead of cold sweat slowly trickled down Xiao Yan's forehead. Facing off against this renowned beauty of the Garde Empire—famed for her intimidating presence—was no easy task. As the tension mounted, just when Xiao Yan began to feel the urge to retreat, Queen Medusa finally could no longer endure the steadily approaching waves of blue flame. She sharply glared at Xiao Yan before reluctantly opening her mouth. Seeing the queen release her hold, Xiao Yan swiftly retracted his fingers. With a light tap of his feet on the bed, he surged backward with sudden momentum. Midway in the air, he clasped his hands together and then pulled them apart, transforming the blue flame into a long, whip-like form that spiraled around him, now defending against all incoming attacks. After completing the defense, Xiao Yan finally lifted his gaze toward the bed, and instantly, his eyes went wide with astonishment. There, on the bed, the fiery female serpent sat fully nude. Noticing Xiao Yan's stare, Queen Medusa's face grew slightly cold as she swiftly pulled a blanket from beside her and covered herself. Even with the blanket, the alluring curves of her body remained strikingly attractive. At the edge of the bed, a slender, pale-purple serpent tail hung gently, swaying subtly, radiating a wild, irresistible charm. Xiao Yan straightened his neck and spoke in a dry voice. Queen Medusa extended her delicate, crimson tongue and gently licked her rosy lips—an effortless gesture that stirred a stirring sense of desire in the man's heart. "That energy earlier—wasn't it the essence condensed from the lotus seed within the Qinglian Earth Heart Fire Lotus Seat? Had I not been seriously injured while gathering the Qinglian Earth Heart Fire, I would have certainly kept that treasure intact, leaving not a single trace." Xiao Yan offered a dry smile, offering no reply, as the jade-green flame in his palm continued to rise. Gazing intently at the jade-green flame in his hands, Queen Medusa shook her head gently and murmured, "I never expected that the greatest benefit would ultimately end up in your hands. Old He River must be quite displeased." "Hehe, Your Majesty has also successfully evolved, hasn't she? You've certainly gained plenty too." Xiao Yan chuckled. "And as for the hardships you endured in your evolution—did you not witness them firsthand?" "Queen Medusa spoke softly, 'Had it not been for a critical moment, I would have personally dispatched you.'" "Ha-ha," replied Xiao Yan, blushing slightly. He hadn't realized she had noticed him hiding in the corner all along. "Still, human—admit it, your courage is truly remarkable," the queen said, gently tapping Xiao Yan with her slender finger. A soft, tender glow emanated from her cheeks, and her voice, though smooth, carried an undercurrent of firm resolve and quiet menace: "You not only ventured alone into the heart of the desert, but dared to treat my evolved form as a pet. Such boldness—I have never seen it before." Noticing the weight of the queen's tone, Xiao Yan shrugged, innocent in his expression. "I never treated you as a pet. It's just that you like to follow me." "Then," he added, "would you mind if I called you... Master?" Queen Medusa's narrow eyes curved into a dangerous arc. Her final words lingered slightly, her smooth, tingling tone causing even the otherwise composed Xiao Yan's face to flush deeply, his posture subtly bowing, his trousers seemingly pushed upward between his legs. That voice—how terrifying it was! "You were right earlier—right now, I indeed lack the strength to kill you. However... upon my next awakening, believe me, I will... take your life!" With delicate fingers like jade stalks, she pointed steadily toward Xiao Yan. Raising her proud head slightly, she spoke each word with deliberate clarity, radiating an unyielding aura of menace. "Young human, wait. The one who will earn the right to be my master has not yet been born. At least, not yet—your qualifications are still far from sufficient." With a gentle, soft smile, Queen Medusa slowly lowered her graceful form, and at once, the blanket draped over her body was compressed into an inviting arc. Then, a brilliant light burst forth, and Queen Medusa's form gradually shrank, finally transforming into the seven-colored little serpent. Gazing at the serpent now resembling the devouring celestial dragon, Xiao Yan suddenly felt his entire body go weak, sinking down to sit on the ground. It was then that he realized he had been drenched in sweat.