Staring coldly at the suddenly appearing herbal elder, Queen Medusa, with her vibrant face showing not the slightest surprise, chuckled, "I've long sensed a hidden strength near this man—so he's a soul-bodied being." Yet, though she spoke thus, she slowly retreated her earlier step. The ethereal old man before her exerted a pressure that was no less than the one she had felt from Yunshan back then. If she were at her peak, she would have been unshaken; but in her current form, she had to constantly divert her mental focus to contain the soul of the Tian-Devouring Python. Under such constant concentration, her strength was inevitably compromised. The herbal elder smiled gently, waved his hand to gently step back Xiao Yan, and then said, "I fully understand your current situation. So you needn't display such fierce intensity before me. Though now I exist only as a soul—my strength has been greatly diminished—should we truly engage, I doubt you'd gain much advantage." "Indeed?" "Medusa Queen let out a cold laugh, yet made no further movement—clearly, the arrival of the Elder Pharmacist had significantly unsettled her." "I certainly don't wish to clash with you," the Elder said, his calm words cutting with sharp precision. "But my disciples are not yet ready to be at your mercy. If you find staying here uncomfortable, by all means, go—there's no one to stop you." Back when he had ruled the continent, even Douzong-level masters had to show him due respect; even Douzun-level强者 had bowed to him. Perhaps the Medusa Queen could intimidate others, but to him, she held no real weight. Upon hearing this, the Medusa Queen furrowed her brows. Now, the Heaven-Eating Python seemed increasingly inclined to follow Xiao Yan, and she still hadn't fully secured control over his body. Whether to stay or depart, the decision now rested not with her. Moreover, the formula for the Ling-Rong Pill remained in Xiao Yan's hands—she would need his strength to successfully refine it. How could she possibly leave? "I had made a promise with him: if I ensured his safety in Yunshan's hands, he would prepare the Ling-Ren Pill for me. Yet now, after nearly a year has passed, he has completely forgotten our agreement. What use is there in keeping such an untrustworthy person?" the Queen of Medusa coldly glanced at Xiao Yan. "Heh, Medusa, I don't need to waste any more words with you—aren't you truly eager to obtain the Spirit-Uniting Pill?" Observing the queen's flickering gaze across the table, the elderly physician paused slightly before suddenly saying. "Your question seems rather redundant." "Then, why not let each of us take what we need, provided we first remove our lingering thoughts? After all, the Sky-Eating Python accompanying Xiao Yan isn't exactly something that can be blamed on either of us. Even if it chooses Xiao Yan as its master, that still wouldn't concern you—no one could change that." The elder smiled and continued, "If you can set aside your intent to eliminate him, I promise you will have a finished batch of Spirit-Uniting Pills placed before you within a year. In return, upon receiving the pills, you will ensure my disciple's safety for one full year—how does that sound?" "My agreement with him has already been settled. Back then, I already secured his escape from Yunshan—otherwise, with his strength, he would have dared to challenge Yunshan himself." Since I have already fulfilled my promise, he should now prepare the Ling-Enlivening Pill for me. What right do you have to make another agreement with me now? The Queen of Medusa's voice carried a subtle anger. "That previous agreement was violated by both parties, so it naturally counts for nothing," the Elder of Medicine said calmly. "You want me to serve as his bodyguard for a full year? Never!" The Queen of Medusa spoke coldly, firmly rejecting the request. "Then go find someone else to prepare the Ling-Enlivening Pill," the Elder said, lifting his eyelid slightly. "Give me the recipe for the Ling-Enlivening Pill!" The Queen of Medusa bit down on her silver teeth, speaking with cold determination. "Ah, no, that won't work. The recipe for the Ling-Enlivening Pill was painstakingly obtained by Xiao Yan after he triumphed in the Pharmacist's Grand Assembly. How can I give it to you?" The Elder smiled pleasantly, shaking his head. Before him, Xiao Yan stared in surprise at the Elder, who now truly bore the air of a stubborn, unyielding man. Taking a deep breath, Queen Medusa's expression gradually darkened. She was never one to waste words; had it not been for her concern for the Elder's strength, she would have struck immediately and put him down right then. But now, the Elder's stubbornness had reignited her murderous intent. As Queen Medusa's demeanor grew more stern, a磅礴 aura of overwhelming power slowly surged forth from within her, so potent that it seemed to halt the very flow of air around her. In that stillness, all things became silent—this was the very essence of a Douzong cultivator's dominance and strength. Yet under the overwhelming pressure of this mighty aura, the Elder of the Medicine Sect remained motionless, his composed, weathered face gradually growing colder and sharper. An invisible flow of spiritual energy extended forth, densely weaving across half the sky. Though, in his spiritual state, he could not draw upon qi, his spiritual strength was exceptionally powerful due to his status as a master alchemist, and with the aid of the Bone-Spirit Cold Flame, he had even reached the point where he could engage in direct combat solely through his spiritual prowess. Of course, while this level of spiritual power fell short of his peak, it was more than sufficient to meet the challenges posed by the currently non-peak Queen Medusa. As the two equally formidable auras converged upon the mountain peak, the ground trembled subtly, and after a while, cracks began to appear—slowly, steadily—under the astonishment of Xiao Yan. With time, the two powers grew increasingly formidable. Yet, just as Queen Medusa found herself unable to hold back and ready to intervene, her expression suddenly shifted—her previously taut demeanor collapsed entirely. With delicate hands pressed to her forehead, her face rapidly changed, and vibrant hues of light continuously surged from within. "Damn it!" she bit down hard on her silver teeth, cursing fiercely. The Heavenly Python, which had unexpectedly seized control of her body at this very moment, resisted with unprecedented intensity. Forced to swiftly gather her strength to suppress it, she now found herself utterly unable to compete with the old doctor. Seeing the Queen of Medusa in this state, Xiao Yan also understood what was going on, and immediately felt a great relief. This woman was indeed far more formidable than expected—even if Yao Lao could defeat her, he would likely eventually succumb to exhaustion of his spiritual energy and fall into a deep sleep. Though Xiao Yan no longer relied on Yao Lao as he once did, the rich experience and wisdom that Yao Lao brought would still save him from many complications. The seven-colored light grew increasingly intense, until even the vibrant gaze of the Queen of Medusa began to grow slightly bewildered. Taking a deep breath and striving to suppress the counterforce of the Tian-Tong Python, the Queen of Medusa stared coldly at Yao Lao across the battlefield, her voice filled with determination. "Very well, I'll agree. Within one year, if you can deliver the Ling-Ren Pill to me, I will guarantee his safety for that period. But should you fail again, even at the cost of the Tian-Tong Python's counterattack, I will ensure that you suffer heavy losses!" "Heh, that would indeed be ideal. Within a year, the Spirit-Uniting Pill will surely be delivered. Still, I also hope Queen陛不下次不再如上次般，怀有杀意——if so, even if I must fall into deep sleep, I shall burn your newly evolved body to ashes!" The elderly pharmacist chuckled, and in his laughter, a clear sense of threat was evident. As he finished speaking, a dense, pale flame surged violently from within him, instantly enveloping him. The pale flame rose steadily, yet despite its vigorous ascent, it always carried a distinctly cold, unusual chill. "A strange fire?" "Looking at that pure white flame, Queen Medusa's cheeks subtly flushed, and her gaze shifted noticeably. Having once suffered the devastating effects of the Qinglian Earth-Core Flame, she was well aware of its terrifying nature. Though this pure white flame wasn't as intensely scorching as the Qinglian Earth-Core Flame appeared on the surface, its unusual visual impact alone made Queen Medusa unwilling to underestimate it. 'As long as you continue to abide by your rules, I will uphold my promise. I hope when I awaken again, I'll be able to see the true 'Fusion Spirit Pill,''" she said softly. Suddenly, a vibrant spectrum of seven colors erupted within her body, and her form began to ripple once more. After a brief moment, a stunningly graceful and alluring woman once again transformed into a slender, seven-colored serpent barely a few feet long. The serpent, now in its snake form, gently swayed its tail and swiftly materialized beside Xiao Yan, hissing softly as it flicked its tongue. In its alluring, luminous eyes, a touch of human concern shimmered. "Hehe, I'm fine," Xiang Yin said, gently caressing the Tian-Tian Python. "Thanks to you, little one. Otherwise, this battle would have been much worse." "At least we've cleared things up with her now. I won't have to worry anymore about her suddenly turning on us. Although the Queen Medusa is cold and unfeeling, she's quite proud—she should not back down." The old doctor turned to Xiang Yin with a warm smile. "I hope so."