Chapter 66: Cooperating with Medusa

In the vast desert, a thunderous boom like a muffled thunder suddenly exploded, and immediately a surging heat wave spread, almost reaching half of the desert.

"Boom!" On the wide desert surface, countless sand pillars shot up into the sky in an instant, a spectacular sight.

Amidst the sky-full of sand pillars, a huge red flash suddenly appeared; wherever the red flash passed, the sand pillars instantly vanished, replaced by spreading dust.

The enormous thunderclap kept echoing in the desert.

Xiao Li covered his ears with both hands, stared wide-eyed at the scene of the attack, after a moment he hard‑swallowed a mouthful of saliva, then his gaze suddenly turned toward Medusa, but at that moment the pervasive dust completely blocked his view.

A gust of wind blew from deep in the desert, the dust quickly dispersed, and Medusa, who had stubbornly endured Yao Lao's blow, finally revealed her true appearance.

Blood trickled from Medusa's mouth, her breath was feeble, and she no longer bore any of her former arrogance.

One strike heavily wounded the Fighting Emperor‑peak Medusa.

Xiao Li's pupils trembled; seeing Yao Lao about to deliver a killing blow, he hurriedly called out, "Yao Lao, wait!"

Yao Lao frowned, turned his head to Xiao Li, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Medusa clutched her chest, her face pale, she muttered, "Is this the Fighting Sect? Indeed formidable; if only I could find a Heavenly Flame…"

Xiao Li struggled to his feet, "I know her—Medusa Queen. I'd like to do business with her."

Yao Lao stared at Xiao Li without asking further; though doubtful, he trusted that Xiao Li had his reasons.

Doing business with the enemy who had just wounded him, Yao Lao couldn't help but admire Xiao Li's boldness.

Medusa's eyes were icy, "Although I've lost, if you have any despicable ideas, I'd rather die."

Although her tone remained cold, in fact Medusa had already softened; if she were alone she wouldn't fear death, but unfortunately she is the queen of the Snake People—once she died, the Jia Ma Empire would surely seize the chance to attack the Snake People.

Xiao Li took a deep breath, calmed the surging battle qi in his body, the effect of the Heaven Climbing Nine Steps faded, and his strength returned to Fighter Spirit Three‑star.

"I've traveled south and north, and I've heard the Snake People possess a secret art that uses Heavenly Flame for metamorphosis. Your Majesty now stands at Fighting Emperor peak—do you have any interest in this secret?" Xiao Li spoke flatly, but his words made Medusa's heart shudder.

"Does he know I'm here to find a Heavenly Flame?"

No, Medusa rejected that thought; she had never told anyone about her coming out to seek a Heavenly Flame, so no one could possibly know.

"So what? I don't need that; I can still break through the Fighting Sect." Medusa remained haughty—agreeing with Xiao Li would almost expose all her intentions, and she considered herself not that foolish.

Xiao Li gave a faint smile, saw no point in arguing with Medusa, and said bluntly, "My younger brother is down there subduing a Heavenly Flame; if you need it, I can have him help you complete the metamorphosis instead of letting this Fighting Sect old man assist you. The price is that I need you to lend me a hand once."

Medusa's eyes flickered as she looked at Yao Lao; "Right, that guy's words just reminded me—there's still this Fighting Sect old man here; even if I fled today, the Snake People couldn't escape.

Thinking of being watched by a Fighting Sect, Medusa's heart secretly trembled.

Moreover, if this guy's younger brother helped me, I'd be safer—at least I could retain a substantial share of initiative, without worrying about the other side's tricks, rather than being secretly sabotaged by this old man, although I originally couldn't beat him anyway.

Um… it seems the outcome is already decided; Medusa isn't a match for Yao Lao, so she has no choice.

"Why?" Medusa voiced her doubt; the other side could easily defeat her directly, so why help her just for that one assistance? Don't joke—if it could let her break through the Fighting Sect, ten strikes would be no problem, let alone one; the cost and reward are nowhere near proportional.

Medusa didn't believe she would receive any benefit for no reason.

"Because I need you to act against the Yunlan Sect."

Medusa's eyes twitched; the Yunlan Sect is the strongest sect in the Jia Ma Empire, apparently its founding ancestor Yun Shan had already reached Fighting Emperor peak, and I don't know how he is now—if we were to act against that sect, it would seem plausible.

"Medusa Queen, what do you think?" Xiao Li asked.

Actually it's not that complicated; simply, Xiao Li needs a Medusa who will go all out, not just a Medusa who only protects Xiao Yan's life.

Medusa glanced sideways at Yao Lao; the Fighting Sect was the realm she had dreamed of—once she broke through it, she could lead the Snake People out of the desert and never suffer this heat again; moreover, having just personally experienced the power of the Fighting Sect, compared to now it was like heaven and earth.

"Fine, I agree." Medusa clenched her silver teeth; anyway she wasn't a match for Yao Lao, so she might as well gamble, betting that the other side truly valued her strength.

Xiao Li's face broke into a smile, "Pleasant cooperation."

Xiao Li looked at Yao Lao, "Yao Lao, please help my third brother absorb the Heavenly Flame; I think Her Majesty the Queen won't disturb you."

Feeling Xiao Li's scrutinizing gaze, Medusa let out a soft hum; "I am Medusa—my word is bond, how could I break a promise?"

Moreover, the attribute of the Heavenly Flame clashes with hers; having an intermediary to convert it would increase her chances of success.

Especially when Medusa sensed the aura at the end of the passage, the corner of her mouth curled into an even more confident smile.

A mere Fighter Master—by then she could do whatever she wanted.

……

Xiao Ding felt something wrong with his eyes; surely blinded by that red flash just now, yet he saw his second brother sitting together with a beautiful snake woman.

Actually, it was just Medusa coolly scrutinizing Xiao Li, "Why do you want to move against the Yunlan Sect? Do you have a grudge?"

Xiao Li shook his head, "Not now, but it will be soon."

Seeing Xiao Li say no more, Medusa forcibly suppressed her curiosity; proud as she was, she asked, "Where did you learn that secret?"

The news of using Heavenly Flame for metamorphosis is one of the Snake People's biggest secrets; Medusa had to confirm it, lest there be a traitor.

"My ancestors had some ability; I learned it from the family's collection." Xiao Li told a lie, though not entirely wrong—the Xiao ancestors indeed had some strength, roughly among the top three of the continent; even if Medusa found out later she wouldn't doubt it.

Medusa nodded, having voiced her two doubts, then fell silent and began to wait quietly.

Thanks to reader 20231103914-eb for the tip, thanks to the kind star in the night sky for the tip.

Recommendation, Tian Bing's new work.

Fanfic of Quanzhi Fashi, the main character calls Salang 'mother', Qiu Yan 'stepmother', Ye Xinxia 'mom'~

Multiple heroines, already set: Tang Yue, Mu Ningxue, Ye Xinxia, Salang, Qiu Yan, Lan Bianfu, others to be added later.

(End of chapter)