The nearby Little Doctor Fairy, who was watching intently, turned red upon hearing his words. She nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, feeling at a loss.
Even Qing Lin, who always had her heart set on Jiang Yun, shyly buried her little head in her chest.
"Oh, the energy of the Earth Essence Body Tempering Milk is too vast. With your current strength, it's impossible to ingest it directly. Therefore, we have to use this method to achieve the effect of cleansing and refining your bones," Jiang Yun explained to the two girls. Seeing Little Doctor Fairy still shy, he smiled silently and stopped teasing them.
"However, after I've neutralized it with dozens of medicinal ingredients, you can safely absorb it. Once you two enter, remember to stay until the water is completely clear before coming out. Don't waste it!"
"Ah—, you're not staying to watch?" Little Doctor Fairy exclaimed in surprise, looking at Jiang Yun with delight.
"Do you really want me to stay inside?" Jiang Yun asked curiously, glancing at her with a strange tone.
"No, no, you should leave!" Red-faced, Little Doctor Fairy pushed Jiang Yun outside.
Jiang Yun, being pushed a couple of steps, simply left the cabin. Before he did, he set up a defensive array.
"Naughty guy!" Watching Jiang Yun's departing back, Little Doctor Fairy muttered, then turned to see Qing Lin's teasing eyes, which made her even more embarrassed.
"Qing Lin, how dare you tease your sister! I'll strip you bare!"
With a playful growl, Little Doctor Fairy pounced towards Qing Lin.
"Little Doctor Fairy sister, you're no match for me."
Naturally, Qing Lin resisted. Due to her greater strength, she soon had Little Doctor Fairy's dress falling apart, revealing a flawless, jade-white, curvaceous body in the room.
Unfortunately, no one could see this scene!
A fiery red lotus flower floated mid-air, emitting a faint fragrance that spread around. Instantly, the herbs in the valley seemed to become more spirited, swaying towards it.
"Xiao Yun, what's this?"
At this moment, Zi Yan's head peeked out from Jiang Yun's shoulder, drooling onto him. Her eyes never left the dreamlike Fire God Lotus since she appeared.
Instinct told her that eating it would allow her to break through to Dou Zong, or even Dou Zun!
However, her remaining reason warned her that this was very dangerous; doing so would make her explode instantly!
"This is the main ingredient for a ninth-grade pill, the Dreamlike Fire God Lotus," Jiang Yun explained, holding Zi Yan's slender waist to prevent her from losing her mind.
"A ninth-grade pill!" Wiping the drool off her mouth, Zi Yan said dreamily, "I wonder how it tastes?"
Seeing Zi Yan's naive look, Jiang Yun's eyes flashed with amusement. At that moment, a commotion came from his chest. Looking down, he saw a colorful snake head peeking out.
After the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python appeared, it looked at the Dreamlike Fire God Lotus ahead, desire flashing in its eyes. It slithered onto Jiang Yun's shoulder, slightly wagging its tail, rubbing its head against Jiang Yun's cheek, much like a puppy seeking to please its owner.
"You can't have this," Jiang Yun shook his head, causing the python to droop in disappointment. Seeing this, Jiang Yun laughed softly, "But you can have this. For now, it's enough."
As he spoke, Jiang Yun flicked his finger, sending a Ground Fire Lotus Seed precisely into the python's slightly open mouth.
Upon consuming the seed, the python joyfully spun around. Suddenly, immense light erupted from its body.
The brilliance flashed and faded quickly. Within that moment, Jiang Yun and Zi Yan's expressions changed as they saw the python's body radiating nine-colored light.
The next second, Jiang Yun found a soft, flexible female body in his arms.
For a moment, their six eyes met. Gazing at her mesmerizingly beautiful, perfect face, Jiang Yun couldn't help but marvel at her heavenly allure, exuding an irresistible charm.
This woman was the dream of nearly every man.
At this moment, her bright eyes were fixed on Jiang Yun with a mixture of shyness and annoyance.
"Have you seen enough?"
A cold, slightly angry voice interrupted, and Zi Yan's icy gaze was now directed toward the beauty in Jiang Yun's arms.
Upon hearing this, Medusa realized her situation and left Jiang Yun's embrace. Looking at them, her eyebrows furrowed as fragmented memories surfaced in her mind. Her expression grew complicated as she faced Jiang Yun.
"Where are my kind?" Despite her guesses, Medusa wanted to know the answer from him.
"Aren't you already aware?" Jiang Yun spread his hands and shrugged.
Seeing this, Medusa secretly sighed in relief. Regaining her composure, she coldly said to Jiang Yun, "Despite my gratitude for all you've done, how dare you treat my evolving body as a pet?"
"I did not keep you as a pet. I kept the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, not Medusa!" Jiang Yun felt he should not take the blame. These were two separate souls; how could they be conflated?
Medusa frowned but did not argue further. After a moment of observing her surroundings, she asked, "Where is this place?"
"Hey—, vile woman, asking questions the moment you appear, do you know your current situation?" Before Jiang Yun could respond, the impatient Zi Yan jumped in front of Medusa, coldly retorting.
"It's you!" Medusa recognized Zi Yan. Sensing her power, Medusa sneered, "You're no match for me now. Out of respect for Master Jiang, I won't argue with you."
Medusa chose to show courtesy to Jiang Yun, the skilled alchemist, but not to Zi Yan.
To gain her respect, one's strength had to be acknowledged!
"What—"
"Take this!"
Infuriated, Zi Yan's energy erupted, and she launched a dragon punch toward Medusa's stunning face.
Medusa frowned. Previously, she had to be cautious of Zi Yan's attacks. But now, evolved as the Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python, their bloodlines were on par. Her seventh rank faced Zi Yan's sixth without suspense.
While circulating her energy, Medusa's expression changed suddenly. In a panic, she urgently called to Jiang Yun, "Master, please solve my dual souls problem. Medusa will be greatly grateful."
Before she could finish, intense light burst out, and Medusa's body shrank into the tiny nine-colored snake...
"Damn it!"
The python glanced at the bewildered Zi Yan, shook its head, and sprang to Jiang Yun's side, defiantly facing Zi Yan as if refusing to befriend a foolish dragon while hissing at Jiang Yun's face.
"A greedy little thing, that sister scared you, now you come to me?" Jiang Yun chuckled, petting the python's head.
With a miserably pitiful expression, the python seemed unimpressed by Jiang Yun's indifference and sulkily curled around his shoulder.
Seeing the sulking python, Jiang Yun helplessly sighed, gently stroking its body while softly saying,
"I'm here, that fierce woman won't harm you. If she bullies you again, I'll stand up for you!"
Despite this assurance, the python remained unresponsive. Smiling, Jiang Yun took out a bottle of Earth Essence Body Tempering Milk, opened it, and let a faint fragrance fill the air.
As soon as the python sensed it, its previous indifference vanished. Its eyes lit with desire, bolted upright, and nuzzled Jiang Yun's face.
Seeing Jiang Yun unmoved, it hesitated only a moment before greed overtook caution. Wagging its tail, it affectionately rubbed Jiang Yun's face and began hissing again.
With no resistance from Jiang Yun, it quickly darted to the bottle, extended its tongue inside, and drank greedily.
"Tsk — look at you, making magical beasts lose face!"
Having watched everything, Zi Yan felt a twinge of jealousy, knowing Medusa was inside the python. As long as it grew stronger, so would Medusa, leading to her sarcastic remark.
Of course, the python ignored her, contentedly drinking until satisfied.
After downing the last drop, it burped happily, stumbled into Jiang Yun's arms, and fell asleep.
"You can only have my leftovers!" Feeling ignored, Zi Yan shouted. Watching the python nestle into Jiang Yun's embrace, she sulked, realizing Medusa lay close to Jiang Yun, feeling bitter.
Hearing her grumble, Jiang Yun could only sigh. "Children… Even jealous of a snake."
Considering his next steps, Jiang Yun checked his storage ring and its contents, muttering,
"I'm missing a few herbs." He looked towards the depths of the magical beast mountain range, "Hopefully, I can find what I need there!"
"White Fang!"
"Master Jiang Yun!"
With his command, a massive eight-winged black serpent appeared behind him, lowering its head respectfully.
"Zi Yan and I will go out. Ensure Little Doctor Fairy and Qing Lin's safety. Inform them we will return soon if they awaken."
"Understood!"
Satisfied with the agreement, Jiang Yun nodded, turned to Zi Yan, and smiled, "Let's go. I need a few herbs from the magical beast mountain range, and I'll depend on you for that!"
"Leave it to me!" Zi Yan confidently patted her chest and eagerly dragged Jiang Yun into the skies.
"Boom—"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King, covered in blood, collapsed onto the ground, painfully gazing at its charging offspring and the demonic figure ahead.
"Overestimating yourself!"
Yun Yi coldly scoffed, waved his hand, and a dark beam sliced the air, splitting the space in half.
"Boom—"
The little Amethyst Winged Lion King flew back, meeting the same fate as its mother, collapsing into a pool of blood.
"Child—" The Amethyst Winged Lion King wailed, filled with hatred, "Who are you, and why must you slaughter us?"
Yun Yi, expressionless, coldly replied, "Submit or perish. Those who reject our Hall of Souls are fated."
The realization dawned on the Amethyst Winged Lion King of the visitor demanding it become a mount not long ago, refusing outright, only to face terror.
"Just for this?" It still couldn't believe refusal warranted such cruelty.
"Isn't it enough?"
"Have you forgotten? This is a world where the strong prey on the weak. The weak have no right to refuse!"
Yun Yi shattered its last hope, summoning black flames, approaching slowly.
Sensing the danger of the flame, the Amethyst Winged Lion King tried to retreat, only to be reminded of its exhausted state.
Upon reaching the injured lions, Yun Yi spoke, "Your fate was sealed. There's no escaping!"
With that, the black flames flew into their bodies.
"Roar—"
The internal flames made the lions roar in agony, feeling seared inside out, yet paradoxically, their powers surged, elevating them to a higher realm.
As power grew, their foreheads bore a black flame mark, solidifying their new allegiance.
(Chapter End)
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