Soaring down from the mountain's dome, Xiao Yan landed once again beside the jade stone, his gaze fixed upon the pale liquid within the groove. Though diluted, the effect was quite impressive—though it fell short of achieving a marrow-renewing transformation, it still provided substantial refinement to his body. "I can collect a bit of this; perhaps it will prove useful when I later prepare pills," the elderly physician's voice resonated from above. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan nodded and retrieved two jade vials from his storage seal, carefully transferring the pale "ground-core body-tempering milk" into them. After filling both vials, the liquid in the groove had nearly been reduced by half. Glancing at the remaining batch of the essence, Xiao Yan paused slightly before deciding not to take it all. Perhaps Lin Xiu'ya and the others would come again to claim the "Earth-Core Body-Quenching Essence" later. If, after all their efforts, they ended up with nothing, they might suspect that someone had taken it first. Among those who knew of the precious treasure here, only they and Xiao Yan himself were aware. Though Xiao Yan wasn't particularly concerned about their suspicions, the Earth-Core Body-Quenching Essence had originally been discovered by Han Yue—making it a significant advantage for him. To take it all and leave nothing behind would indeed seem a bit excessive. Shaking his wings, Xiao Yan flew outward, gazing toward the distant horizon. Amidst the night, the shimmering seven-colored glimmers beyond the valley and the thunderous bursts of energy were still clearly visible. Seeing the seven-colored light remain brilliant, Xiao Yan exhaled in relief. He rapidly shook his wings, his form turning into a shadow that glided silently through the night. After a while, he halted, now hovering above the valley entrance. Glancing outward at the battlefield, he was momentarily stunned. The valley entrance had been nearly obliterated—the once-flat ground now littered with massive craters. Huge boulders that had tumbled down from the mountain walls lay scattered everywhere. The forests on either side had also been severely damaged, with trees lying across the path, partially blocking the entrance. And within the battlefield, the Sky-Devouring Python remained coiled and poised in the heavens, radiating a steady stream of vibrant seven-colored light. Its powerful pressure caused even the mythical beasts hidden within a ten-li radius to tremble incessantly. Though the Python's strength remained formidable, a closer inspection revealed deep claw marks etched upon its seven-colored scales—clear evidence that, during its clash with the Snow-Magic Celestial Ape, it had not been entirely unscathed. His gaze swept downward, and as he caught sight of the Snow-Magic Sky Tamarin lying on the ground, a wave of astonishment flickered across Xiao Yan's face. Now, nearly half of the creature's snowy fur had been eroded by the potent, corrosive venom of the Sky-Eating Python, which seeped through its scales like acid. Blood streamed from the massive head, making its already grim visage even more fierce. Across its broad body, numerous marks of powerful energy impacts were visible. The once-luminous, lantern-like crimson eyes, once bright and resolute, now showed signs of wear and fatigue—clearly, the once-weakened Snow-Magic Sky Tamarin had completely lost its fighting spirit against this formidable opponent. In contrast, the injuries sustained by the Sky-Eating Python appeared trivial. "Didn't expect this young one to be so resilient—truly a legendary ancient beast," Xiao Yan murmured to himself, impressed by the stark difference in their wounds. Xiao Yan's arrival also drew the attention of the Devouring-Sky Python and the Snow-Magic Celestial Ape. The former excitedly flicked its tongue in enthusiasm, while the latter roared angrily, visibly uneasy. "Young one, come!" Ignoring the thunderous roar of the Snow-Magic Celestial Ape, Xiao Yan gave a command to the Devouring-Sky Python and immediately took to the air, his form swiftly darting toward the deeper reaches of the mountain range. After a brief hesitation, the Python also shook its massive tail, shrinking rapidly within a surge of vibrant seven-colored light, and soon transformed into a slender streak of light, swiftly closing the gap on Xiao Yan. Finally, the two figures faded into the night, leaving only the Snow-Magic Celestial Ape, furious and wild with rage, yet powerless to stop them. ... In the midst of the night, two shadows—one large, one small—suddenly descended from the sky and landed upon a mountain peak. Xiang Yan turned back to gaze at the valley, now fading from sight, and then exhaled in relief. Turning to face the hovering Tian-Shun Python before him, he noticed that the latter's seven-colored scales had slightly dimmed, indicating that the fierce battle against the Snow Demon Tian-Yuan had taken a significant toll. Gently stroking the python's small head, Xiang Yan reached into his storage amulet, pulled out a bottle of purple crystal essence, and smiled, "Come on, little one. You've done wonderfully tonight. Let's treat you to a hearty meal." "Back in the old days, the Heaven-Eating Python would have immediately pounced upon seeing Xiao Yan present the Purple Crystal Source. But this time, the Python strangely hovered motionless in the air, its alluring serpent eyes fixed upon Xiao Yan. As Xiao Yan began to sense something was off, a cold voice suddenly emerged from the Python's mouth: "You truly treat me like a pet?" Though the tone was cold, it carried a subtle tingling sensation that stirred a fierce anger within Xiao Yan. However, just as the anger began to rise in his abdomen, Xiao Yan suddenly felt a wave of coldness spreading from his heart outward. Staring in astonishment at the Heaven-Eating Python before him, he stood frozen for a moment, then swiftly retreated as if electrified, gasping in shock, "Queen Medusa?" As Xiao Yan retreated, the Python's body once again radiated a gentle, shimmering spectrum of seven colors, and its form gradually undulated. After a brief moment, it transformed into a stunning, graceful woman so enchanting that she could instantly turn any man into a mere beast. Her slender figure, dressed casually and revealing, just barely covered the fullness of her chest. A purple leather skirt, barely reaching her thighs, revealed smooth, captivating legs that made one's mouth dry with desire. The graceful curves were mesmerizing. As her gaze rose, the snow-white waist caught Xiao Yan's breath—this woman was truly a creature capable of making men lose their minds. To tame such a graceful, alluring presence, one would need divine strength; otherwise, one might simply be swallowed whole. Though he knew clearly that before him stood a beauty who could devour her prey, Xiao Yan still found himself somewhat restless. Yet, this restlessness vanished instantly when met with that piercing, ice-cold gaze, leaving only alertness and caution within him. His gaze finally settled on the flawless, coldly alluring face, and Xiao Yan cleared his throat, only to find his voice had grown hoarse. "Your Majesty, it's truly a coincidence—we've met again." How utterly unimpressive this greeting was revealed the depth of Xiao Yan's anxiety. Before this woman, he felt a sense of dread that surpassed even his reverence for Yunlan Sect's Yunshan. "It is indeed a coincidence, though I must thank you. If it weren't for your efforts in having the Tian-Heaven Serpent and the Snow-Monster Ape battle each other, draining both of their energies, I would have still been held at a disadvantage." Medusa Queen glanced at Xiao Yan, her rosy lips curling with a hint of scorn. With a slight crack of her lips, Xiao Yan found himself wanting to give himself a sharp slap—yet the culprit was none other than himself. "Have you gathered all the herbs required for the Rongling Pill?" Undeterred by Xiao Yan's embarrassed expression, Medusa Queen asked calmly. A flicker in his eye, Xiao Yan sighed with a deep sense of苦笑. Honestly, how could he possibly manage this? He hadn't even taken it seriously—his own affairs were already overwhelming him, leaving him with no time to search for the herbs needed for the Ling-Uniting Pills. And even if he had time, he'd certainly delay it as long as possible. Otherwise, once this woman obtained the Ling-Uniting Pills and successfully fused the soul of the Tian-Devouring Python, the first one to suffer would likely be himself. This relentless woman had never hidden her murderous intent toward him from the very beginning. Indeed, it made perfect sense. As the noble Queen of Medusa, she now found herself reduced to being merely a pet and a bodyguard under Xiao Yan's care—how could she possibly endure such a situation? Had it not been for the constant resistance from both the Ling-Uniting Pills and the Tian-Devouring Python's soul, she would have already laid Xiao Yan waste with several well-aimed blows. Seeing Xiang Yan's silent, expressionless demeanor, Queen Medusa's face gradually bloomed with a cold smile and a glint of determination. "It seems you have not taken this matter seriously. Then, what use do I have for you?" With those words, Queen Medusa swiftly raised her slender hand. As her palm moved, Xiang Yan was startled to find that the space around him had instantly solidified, trapping his body within it and rendering him motionless. "Is this truly the power of a Douzong-level master? Can they simply still the very space with a mere gesture?" A wave of awe washed over him, deepening his understanding of Douzong strength. She coldly watched Xiang Yan struggling against the confines, then gracefully stepped forward, moving with elegant grace. With her hand slightly raised, a soft, radiant spectrum of colors gathered in her palm, eventually solidifying into a long, sharp, seven-colored sword. Xiao Yan struggled fiercely, but the surrounding space remained utterly still. Just as he was about to give up, a familiar, powerful soul resonance finally surged forth from the black ring on his finger. Under the force of this soul resonance, the solid, prison-like space shattered violently, and Xiao Yan's body regained its freedom at that very moment.