Hearing the clear, crisp sound that suddenly rose from the heavens, countless sets of eyes instantly turned toward it. When these eyes fell upon the graceful, alluring woman, they all momentarily lost their composure—such a stunning visage was truly breathtaking. Of course, those who were already familiar with her face reacted with sudden shock and gasped aloud. "Queen Medusa?" The stronger figures—Jia Xingtian, Fama, and others—stared in wide-eyed astonishment at the woman who had been carrying Xiao Yan and then stepped back, instantly exclaiming. Their voices stirred a ripple of excitement across the plaza. Queen Medusa’s reputation for strength and ferocity within the Jia Ma Empire was no mere legend—though she had gone quiet in recent years, her formidable name and radiant fame had not diminished. While Jia Xingtian and the others were deeply stunned, Hai Bodo remained relatively composed. He had seen Queen Medusa before, though he wasn’t entirely clear about her relationship with Xiao Yan—yet it seemed she wasn’t an adversary. "With her stepping in, the situation seems to be improving..." Sea Bo Dong breathed a sigh of relief, murmuring to himself. The Medusa Queen was indeed a genuine Douzong-level powerhouse. Though perhaps still not quite on par with the Wu Protector who had absorbed the souls of numerous strong cultivators, she would surely be able to protect Xiao Yan. "Don't worry, Xiao Yan has a strong connection with her..." Sea Bo Dong smiled, glancing at the stunned expressions of Jia Xingtian and the others. With that, they gradually eased their anxieties. In such a scenario, if a foe of the Medusa Queen's caliber were to appear, hardly anyone present would make it out alive. Most importantly, the current strength of the Medusa Queen herself was a decisive factor. The Medusa of those days had only reached the peak of the Battle Emperor rank; though she was significantly stronger than Jia Xingtan, she was still not a true Battle Sovereign. However, observing her swift movements and the fact that she had managed to withstand a direct strike from Wu's Protection Monarch, it was clear that she had now certainly advanced to the Battle Sovereign level. Though the gap between the peak of Battle Emperor and Battle Sovereign was merely a narrow line, the practical difference was as vast as a chasm—something Jia Xingtan understood all too well. "Indeed... she has already broken through..." Jia Xingtan sighed, his expression somewhat bitter. He had stagnated at this stage for years without making any progress, and now seeing a figure who had been roughly comparable to him back then have already surpassed him, he felt a deep sense of admiration and regret. "Indeed, I never expected that Xiao Yan still maintained such strong ties with her." Fang Ma shook his head, deeply impressed by Xiao Yan's hidden strength. With the Elder's words, he now had nearly two Battle Sovereigns on his side—such a lineup was truly formidable! Several of them exchanged weary smiles, never expecting that in just three short years, the once solitary young man had gathered such a powerful force around him—such a transformation was truly remarkable. In the air, Yun Yun and Na Lan Yanran had also paused momentarily when Medusa appeared, their expressions briefly shifting, before quickly fading into stillness. "Heard this, Medusa's long, alluring eyes narrowed slightly. Since meeting Xiao Yan, this was the first time she had heard him speak with such earnest appeal. At this moment, an indescribable emotion stirred within her—she was well aware of his innate pride, yet today... Gently suppressing these unspoken feelings, Medusa glanced at the Wu Protector before her, then at the elderly physician hovering nearby. 'Would you like me to protect your teacher?' 'Yes.' Under Xiao Yan's steady gaze, Medusa slowly turned her head, her gaze fixed on the Wu Protector. After a moment, she finally moved her lips, speaking: 'It's difficult. This man is too strong—even I am not his match. If I protect you, I cannot spare attention to your teacher.' Upon hearing Medusa's words, Xiao Yan's heart sank. Was the situation truly this dire?" Even such a proud woman as Medusa admits that she is no match for Wu Hu Falu in this moment. "Then, if you and your teacher team up to face him?" Xiao Yan asked cautiously. Though neither of them could hold their own individually, surely a combined effort between the two should be able to stand a chance against Wu Hu Falu. "Your teacher has been through a series of intense battles and has also sustained some injuries. His current combat strength has significantly diminished. Even with my support, he will still find it difficult to hold back this person. Should he seize any weakness, and make a second move to capture you, then no one will be able to stop him," Medusa said slowly. The proposal was once again rejected, and Xiao Yan's spirits grew increasingly somber. Today's situation truly seemed dire. "Queen Medusa?" As Xiao Yan and Meidusha were whispering among themselves, the Wu Protector also regained his composure and heard the shouts of Jia Xingtian and the others. With his cloak fluttering, red light flashed beneath it. He had heard of this name before—back then, Meidusha was a formidable figure on the continent, renowned even on par with Yao Lao. Thus, the Huan Palace had kept a close eye on this lineage, yet they hadn't expected to encounter them here. "I advise you, don't concern yourself with the Huan Palace's affairs. Otherwise, should calamity arise, it will be too late," said the Wu Protector, his eyes flashing with a steady red glow, his voice low and ominous. "His life is mine. Until I claim it, no one else shall dare to move him," Meidusha replied, giving the Wu Protector a calm, steady glance. Upon hearing this, an eerie crimson glow suddenly surged from beneath the cloak, followed by a powerful wave of black mist bursting forth from within him, rising like a battlefield smoke straight toward the heavens. The sheer force emanating from his body was such that even the strongest Duke-level warriors could not help but feel a tremor of awe. Feeling the resounding power surging from Wu, the cold, composed expression of Medusa briefly softened into a serious demeanor—this was truly the first such formidable presence she had encountered in all her years. It seemed, therefore, that a peaceful resolution today would be impossible. "Then I'll follow your suggestion—let's join forces with your master," Medusa said, exhaling softly and turning her gaze toward Xiao Yan. Should she merely protect Xiao Yan, Master Yao would likely be defeated within a few rounds by Wu, and once captured, Xiao Yan would surely be driven to his limits. "Thank you so much for this. I will never forget your kindness," Xiao Yan replied, bowing respectfully and speaking with solemnity. "I have no feelings for you at all. I'm doing this merely to obtain the 'Reviving Soul Pill'!" Hearing this, Medusa raised her brows coldly and snapped. Xiao Yan smiled awkwardly—rarely did he find himself arguing with this stubborn woman at such a moment. Seeing Xiao Yan silent, Medusa sighed softly, then waved her hand, causing a surge of rich, vibrant seven-colored energy to burst forth, finally coalescing into a radiant rainbow that shimmered beautifully upon her palm. Observing Medusa's actions, the distant herbal elder hesitated slightly before summoning his Bone Spirit Flame once more, positioning himself in tandem with Medusa, both of them firmly locking the central figure, Wu the Protector, in place. "Hah! Hah! Do you finally intend to combine your efforts?" Feeling the powerful forces surging before and behind him, the glow of crimson light beneath Wu's black cloak intensified, and he chuckled coldly. As for the mocking tone of Wu Hufa, Meidusa and Yao Lao paid no attention, their bodies subtly shifting, and in an instant they appeared nearby. A powerful, surging strength stirred within them, ready to launch a fierce assault. The red glow flickered as Wu Hufa's gaze swept over Meidusa and Yao Lao. His brows furrowed beneath his cloak—now was not the time to delay any longer. These two were both formidable in strength; should anything go wrong, not only would he fail to secure their souls today, but he might even lose his own life here. "It seems I'll have to resort to that move after all. Truly regrettable—souls of Douzong-level cultivators are not easily found..." He sighed, a touch of reluctance in his voice. Then, an odd surge of crimson light erupted in his eyes, and his hand seals instantly transformed! As the Wuhu Buddha hand seal shifted, the black armor enveloping the figure's body suddenly stirred like a living being, its surface rippling and pulsing. One elderly face, gradually pushed out of the armor, eventually materialized as a translucent, head-sized phantom figure, its face etched with agony, as though enduring an unusual torment. This elderly face was familiar to all present—none other than Yun Shan, whose soul had been devoured by the Wuhu Buddha earlier. The moment the phantom head appeared, a deep, eerie wailing sound surged forth, and the sky above instantly grew turbulent with gusts of cold wind, sending shivers down every observer's spine. Yun Yun and Na Lan Yanran fixed their gaze intently on the phantom head now emerging beside the Wuhu Buddha, their lips tightly pressed together, teeth clenched. Though their hearts burned with furious indignation, the overwhelming pressure radiating from the heavens held them utterly still. Wu Fu's actions also caught the attention of Medusa and the herbal elder, who both silently heightened their vigilance. A hand, like a ghostly claw, slowly emerged from his sleeve. Gently grasping the ethereal human head, Wu Fu then burst into a fierce, grim laugh. A strange, dense black glow surged violently from his palm and flowed entirely into the human head. As the black energy poured in, the ethereal head rapidly expanded. Within mere moments, it grew to several zhang in width. With the head's expansion, the expressions of pain on its face became increasingly vivid, and a strange, mournful soul cry began to seep out, gradually spreading through the prevailing wind.