Taming Queen Medusa was both incredibly difficult and surprisingly easy.
This proud and powerful serpent beauty possessed not only immense strength but also an exceptionally unique temperament. To truly control her, one didn't just need overwhelming power to dominate her, but also had to precisely grasp her weakness.
Her tribe.
So, when Lin Ran offered an entire empire as a sanctuary and living space for the Snake-People Tribe, Medusa was moved.
She longed for her people to escape the harsh desert, to find a better place to live, to thrive.
And Lin Ran gave her that hope—a possibility, an opportunity.
Besides, did she really have any other choice?
After harmonizing a round of yin and yang balance and finalizing their agreement, Lin Ran left the Sacred Island satisfied. He arrived at the Snake-People's Holy City to meet up with Qing Lin and Xiao Yixian.
Meanwhile, Medusa returned to the Snake-People Sacred Temple to consult with the four elders.
Although Lin Ran's promise had only been expressed in words, for the Snake-People Tribe, it was a matter concerning their future survival.
Even though Medusa held absolute authority within the tribe, she still needed to discuss such a major matter with the four elders. They needed to work out the specific details.
Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin had both been very obedient to Lin Ran's instructions.
They hadn't run about in the Holy City but remained within their residence, focused on cultivating.
Especially Xiao Yixian.
After discovering that Qing Lin could passively increase her strength through the Green Snake Three Flower Pupils without even actively cultivating, Xiao Yixian felt immense pressure. While she could also grow stronger by taking pills, that was still a manual effort, while Qing Lin's ability was a passive skill!
This stubborn girl was fiercely competitive. Although she sympathized deeply with Qing Lin's tragic past and had accepted her as a comrade under Lin Ran's command, in her heart, she remained firm in one belief:
"I am the Young Master's number one maid!"
"Only I can serve the Young Master most comfortably, ease his worries, in every way!"
Including the battlefield.
With Qing Lin's growing pressure, the future Heavenly Poison Empress even considered binge-ing pills to catch up at full throttle. But she remembered Lin Ran's reminder:
She could always enhance her Poison Dou Qi, but the Ice Sovereign Force was the true core of her cultivation.
"Buzz... buzz..."
Sitting cross-legged on a lotus seat of icy green, Xiao Yixian's eyes remained shut, and her blue-purple Ice Sovereign Force radiated waves of bone-chilling cold, freezing the base of her lotus platform.
'Open your mouth.'
Lin Ran's voice suddenly echoed. Without hesitation, Xiao Yixian opened her mouth slightly, and a beam of green light shot out from Lin Ran's storage ring, entering her mouth.
The moment it entered, her fair cheeks turned crimson, and wisps of white steam rose from her head like a fever, making her appear quite alarming.
Xiao Yixian had no time to worry about appearances. As the green light—or rather, the Ground Fire Lotus Seed—entered her body, it immediately transformed into a surge of searing energy that barreled down her throat and aggressively invaded her meridians.
The blazing energy surged through her meridians like scalding water thrown into snow, burning and searing with excruciating intensity. The pain stabbed into her very soul. Gritting her teeth, Xiao Yixian broke into a cold sweat as her delicate frame trembled lightly on the lotus seat. Every pore on her body seemed to tighten under the agony.
'Don't try to absorb it directly. The Ground Fire Lotus Seed holds immense energy, but its attribute clashes with yours. Use your Ice Sovereign Force to slowly melt it down.'
Lin Ran's voice exploded beside her ears.
Xiao Yixian clenched her teeth and desperately channeled her Ice Sovereign Force to resist the fire's invasion.
But the fire energy was too overbearing. Even when she used the Ice Sovereign Force to envelop it, her meridians still suffered burns and tears along the way.
The meridians were among the most fragile parts of the human body. Damage to them could cause permanent harm and was incredibly hard to heal.
Her once-flushed face had now turned pale from the pain. But Xiao Yixian still held on, refusing to yield.
'Open your mouth again!'
Lin Ran's voice came once more. She obeyed, and another lotus seed shot into her mouth in a beam of green light.
The fire attribute energy intensified. The burning pain from the damage to her meridians grew worse. Xiao Yixian's body trembled uncontrollably, on the verge of collapse.
Just then, Lin Ran's voice sounded again.
'Open.'
This time, a blood-red pill entered her mouth and melted immediately.
A cooling energy spread throughout her body. It seeped into her meridians like a blood membrane, gradually integrating into her bones and flesh.
As it did, Xiao Yixian convulsed violently, blood began to seep from her pores. In mere seconds, her once fair skin was covered in blood, creating a chilling sight.
Soon after, the blood hardened into a crust—a crimson keratin layer that wrapped her hands, feet, and even sealed her eyes completely.
It looked like a layer of blood armor.
This was the Blood Lotus Pill, a fifth-tier pill that could shield the meridians from extreme heat. Even the terrifying temperature of Heavenly Flames could be partially blocked by it. It was a necessary elixir for absorbing lower-ranked Heavenly Flames.
Lin Ran, however, was using it simply to assist Xiao Yixian's cultivation. It was extravagance to the extreme.
With the Blood Lotus Pill in effect, the fire energy could no longer pierce her meridians. It was firmly locked in place.
Just when Xiao Yixian relaxed slightly, Lin Ran's warning came again.
'Stay focused. Use your Ice Sovereign Force to slowly devour the fire energy bit by bit.'
'Got it!'
Forcing herself to stay alert, she did as instructed.
The process was exhausting. Her Ice Sovereign Force was nearly depleted, but she couldn't resort to her Poison Dou Qi—Lin Ran had strictly forbidden it. She had to squeeze every last bit from the Ice Sovereign Force.
As she gradually refined the fire energy, it began to transform into tiny drops of emerald liquid, no larger than a fingertip, clinging to the meridian walls.
These droplets writhed like living creatures and slowly merged into the tissues.
And then something amazing happened—her scorched, damaged meridians began rapidly healing.
Once fused with the Ice Sovereign Force, the liquid solidified into a translucent green membrane.
Under closer observation, the meridians wrapped in this membrane became significantly tougher and more resilient, capable of withstanding far greater Dou Qi flow.
Unfortunately, the energy from two Ground Fire Lotus Seeds wasn't enough to completely transform all of her meridians. Only the main paths were covered before the fire energy was depleted.
Moments later, Xiao Yixian opened her eyes, exhaled deeply, and looked at Lin Ran with joy.
'Young Master!'
'You've worked hard.' Lin Ran smiled gently and ruffled her hair. This kind of meridian tempering was painful beyond belief—something most cultivators couldn't endure. But Xiao Yixian had grit her teeth and endured it all.
With his Pure Yang Dou Qi active, Lin Ran estimated silently, "About three more sessions, and all your meridians should be fully tempered. At that point, both your Ice Sovereign Force and Poison Dou Qi will rise tremendously."
"But to avoid overexposure to the medicine and damage from the lotus seeds, let's do this once every seven days."
'I'll listen to you, Young Master.' Xiao Yixian's grin revealed her little tiger tooth, sparking jealousy in Qing Lin who stood to the side.
'Qing Lin.'
'Yes!'
Hearing his call, Qing Lin immediately stood, her bright green eyes filled with anticipation.
Her pitiful gaze earned her a playful pinch on the cheek from Lin Ran.
'Green Yi is teaching you Dou Techniques and Dou Qi methods, so I won't interfere. She's from the Heavenly Snake Mansion and knows more about snake-type cultivation than I do. Just follow her lead.'
'But, the thing I gave you earlier—how is your progress?'
'I've been practicing it diligently, Young Master!' Qing Lin nodded enthusiastically.
'Good. Come here, relax.'
Qing Lin obediently approached him, her posture one of complete submission.
Lin Ran placed his hand atop her head, and his soul power surged into her mind. Her consciousness blanked for a moment as the Green Snake Three Flower Pupils activated instinctively.
The power of her eyes responded automatically to Lin Ran's soul, triggering the hidden power within.
Two soul forces collided. Qing Lin trembled briefly but didn't resist. She restrained the power of her unique eyes and allowed Lin Ran's soul to merge into her body.
"This... is the Young Master's soul aura? So domineering, so scorching, so... masculine..."
Lost in her thoughts, her delicate face turned a shade of pink.
Lin Ran, unaware of her wandering mind, focused on gauging her soul strength.
Thanks to the Three Flower Pupils and the Soul Nurturing Technique she'd been practicing, Qing Lin's soul had reached the mid Mortal Realm stage.
"Excellent. Now, try using the Ten Thousand Flower Nether Eye on me."
'This...'
Qing Lin was delighted by his praise, but hesitated at his request.
'What's wrong? Can't control it yet?' Lin Ran asked curiously. 'Well, it is a high-tier Earth-level Dou Technique. You've only had a couple of weeks. I suppose—'
'No, Young Master, I can use it already,' she whispered. 'But...'
Her hesitation puzzled Lin Ran, and with a bit of coaxing, he found the reason.
As he had guessed from the beginning, this technique was practically tailor-made for someone with Qing Lin's eye power. She had already mastered it to a preliminary degree.
Her reluctance stemmed from worry—it was simply too powerful. She feared harming him.
Lin Ran laughed. 'I've got a Spirit Realm soul. If I got hurt by a little girl like you, it'd be the biggest joke under the heavens.'
He rubbed her head with a soft tone. 'Besides, if I don't know your current progress, how can I plan your future training?'
'Okay... But please be careful, Young Master.'
She hesitated, but with his insistence, she had no choice but to obey.
"Just this once," she thought quietly, then locked eyes with him.
'Ten Thousand Flowers—Capture!'
With her soft shout, their gazes met. Lin Ran suddenly felt the world shatter like a mirror, and a sharp needle pierced straight into his mind!
For a moment, he was dazed—but that brief confusion was quickly swept away by his powerful soul.
"Only for an instant... but to affect someone at my level? The Ten Thousand Flower Nether Eye under the Three Flower Pupils' boost is terrifying..."
Just as he was about to speak, Qing Lin acted again.
'Ten Thousand Flowers—Seize!'
The next wave of dizziness surged like a tidal wave.
This time, Lin Ran deliberately suppressed his own power to feel the full extent of her technique.
As the darkness closed in and cold pressure tightened around him, a violent tearing force suddenly gripped his soul.
"What an overwhelming force!"
Lin Ran was amazed. He touched the force briefly—Qing Lin instantly went pale, cried out in pain, and blood-tears streamed from her eyes.
'Qing Lin!'
'Qing Lin-jie!'
Green Yi and Xiao Yixian rushed forward anxiously. Lin Ran also snapped back to reality, sighing as he watched the trembling girl.
Her talent was undeniable. In less than a month, she had mastered such a complex technique.
But the gap between her and Lin Ran was too great. In both cultivation and soul realm.
"If they were at the same level... no, even a Dou King or Duo Huang might not escape unscathed from that strike."
'Relax.' Lin Ran gently wiped the blood from her eyes, using his soul force to soothe her wounded spirit.
With a flick of his wrist, a jade bottle appeared, and as he opened it, the room filled with a calming fragrance.
'Is that...'
Green Yi gasped. Xiao Yixian covered her mouth.
'Is that Seven Illusion Green Spirit Dew?!'
'Open your mouth.'
Lin Ran's voice was soft. Qing Lin, still groggy, obeyed. He used Dou Qi to send the rainbow-colored dew into her mouth.
A multicolored glow spread across her face and quickly faded. Her complexion improved immediately, and within seconds, her eyes fluttered open.
'Young Master...?'
'I'm here.'
Lin Ran hugged her gently. After confirming she was fine, he pinched her cheek and smiled.
'Your control over the Ten Thousand Flower Nether Eye exceeded my expectations. I don't even need to draft a cultivation plan for you.'
'Just keep doing what you're doing, and becoming a top-tier powerhouse is only a matter of time.'
'Really?' Qing Lin blinked.
The usually timid girl seemed to gain confidence from his praise.
'But don't forget,' Lin Ran added gently, 'your eye power may be formidable, but if you meet someone too powerful, your first move should always be to retreat.'
'Spiritual and soul clashes aren't like ordinary fights—they're pure and lethal. It's either you or them.'
'I don't want to lose a little maid.'
Blushing furiously, Qing Lin nodded. 'Qing Lin understands, Young Master.'
'Good.'
Satisfied, Lin Ran smiled.
Both Xiao Yixian and Qing Lin had far exceeded his expectations. With this rate of progress, surpassing their original counterparts from the canon was guaranteed.
'Looks like you've fully absorbed the Emperor's Supreme Pill too?'
He turned to Green Yi.
She nodded. 'Thanks to your generosity, I've broken through to Two-Star Duo Huang and solidified my foundation.'
'Excellent... Wait, where's Bai Ya?'
'He broke through as well and rushed to the Sacred Temple to boast to Her Majesty. But... she wasn't there. The elders were too weak from blood loss to stop him, so he's been squatting there ever since.'
Lin Ran's face twitched.
Of course Medusa wasn't there—she'd spent the night with him on the island...
'Boom!!'
A roar of seven-colored energy shattered the sky. A dark shadow flew across the sky like a meteor.
Lin Ran rubbed his forehead. "That idiot… should I kill him? Or give him to Qing Lin as a power bank?"
With a step, he vanished.
In the sky, Medusa stood tall at the center of a rainbow canopy, sword in hand, her aura terrifying.
Before her, Bai Ya lay beaten—his scales broken, his body leaking blood from holes, and even his horn snapped in half.
'How dare you cause trouble in the Sacred Temple! Bai Ya, you court death!'
Cold and furious, Medusa released the rage she had suppressed during her night with Lin Ran.
'I-it's a misunderstanding! I swear!'
Bai Ya trembled.
'Misunderstanding? You invaded the temple and call it a misunderstanding? Die!'
Her blade rang sharply, unleashing a storm of rainbow sword shadows.
'Oh sh— I'm screwed!'
Bai Ya was about to be shredded—until a golden-green Dou Qi barrier appeared, blocking the attack.
Both Medusa and Bai Ya were stunned.
'Boss! You came to save me! I knew you wouldn't abandon me—AHH!'
Before he could finish, Lin Ran smashed him into the ground.
Medusa snorted, retracting her sword.
'Isn't he a guest elder of the Heavenly Snake Mansion? Why is he calling you Boss?'
'I got bored and made him my mount.'
Lin Ran chuckled and pulled her close by the waist. 'There's also a Duo Huang in the Holy City who works for me. You've probably noticed.'
'They're nothing to you. But to others, they're significant forces.'
Medusa's eyes narrowed. 'You mean...'
'Boss! Why'd you hit me—huh?!'
Bai Ya's wails interrupted them. He looked up just in time to see Lin Ran embracing Medusa, his snake eyes nearly popping out.
'Y-you...!'
'Go to the Sacred Temple and apologize to the four elders.'
'O-okay...'
Like a deflated balloon, Bai Ya slunk away, muttering about his lost youth.
'He's taken the Demonization Pill, so he's half snake. A bit slow in the head, but if you integrate him into the tribe, he'll be a valuable asset.'
Medusa nodded thoughtfully.
Then she suddenly asked, 'That Yunlan Sect leader… how do you plan to deal with her?'
'Yun Yun, hmm...'
A beautiful figure surfaced in Lin Ran's mind, and a grin spread across his face.
Medusa scoffed coldly.
"That damned man!"
(End of Chapter)