Xiao Jietian gestured toward the largest jade bottle among them.
"This is the Liquid of Everlasting Life, which I personally refined. It blends the quintessence of myriad healing and life-prolonging spirit herbs, granting an unbroken stream of vital qi to sustain the body through tribulation."
Medusa uncorked the vessel with care. A verdant spirit liquid gleamed within, emerald as new spring leaves, suffused with an incomparably rich aura of life. Merely inhaling its faint fragrance caused the lingering aches from last night's fervor to ease, as though weary meridians were gently bathed in warm sunlight.
Judging by its medicinal potency alone, she estimated it rivaled a peak seventh-tier high-grade pill — perhaps even touching upon eighth-tier territory.
With another casual wave of Xiao Jietian's sleeve, the two smaller jade bottles drifted forward and opened of their own accord.
Within one rested a pill wreathed in faint golden radiance, like a miniature sun captured in amber. From the other emanated a deep, starry purple glow, flickering with mysterious depth.
Medusa lifted her gaze to him, curiosity shimmering in her golden pupils.
"The golden one is named the Soul Guardian Pill," Xiao Jietian explained calmly. "It weathered five-colored pill lightning — an eighth-tier mid-grade elixir. Its sole purpose is to fortify body and heart, shield your foundational qi sea, and ensure the violent surge of essence blood cannot shatter your foundation mid-refinement."
He indicated the purple pill next.
"This is the Purple Firmament Soul Ward Pill — same grade, three profound effects: first, it anchors and stabilizes the soul palace, preventing deviation; second, it slowly mends any existing soul fissures; third, it purges and neutralizes any soul-corroding energies that might arise during the evolution."
Medusa stared mutely at the array of priceless auxiliaries laid before her — each one a treasure that would send any alchemist or powerhouse in the Central Plains into a frenzy.
A tide of emotion welled up unbidden. Her phoenix eyes softened, rims gradually growing moist.
The feeling built and built, like floodwaters pressing against a crumbling dam, until at last it burst forth.
She threw herself forward without warning, arms wrapping fiercely around Xiao Jietian's waist. Her face buried itself deep against his chest, greedily drawing in his familiar scent, the steady thunder of his heartbeat, the reassuring warmth that had anchored her through countless storms.
Xiao Jietian froze for a mere heartbeat, caught off guard by the sudden, fervent embrace.
Then his arms closed around her in return — strong, protective, gentle. He felt the faint tremors running through her lithe frame and began to stroke her back in slow, soothing circles.
Medusa inhaled deeply, as though she wished to imprint this scent, this safety, directly into the marrow of her soul.
After a long moment, Xiao Jietian's low voice sounded above her head, tinged with gentle teasing.
"Enough now. Cry any longer and my robe will be soaked through — how will I explain it to the palace maids?"
Medusa's cheeks flushed hot against his chest. She surreptitiously wiped at her eyes, then lifted her head with forced stubbornness.
"Who's crying? A speck of dust flew into my eye — I merely blinked a few times too hard. Whether your clothes are wet or dry has nothing whatsoever to do with this Queen."
Even as she spoke, she pushed lightly at his chest — yet her gaze skittered away, refusing to meet his.
Xiao Jietian gazed down at those reddened eyes, the proud tilt of her chin, the way she stubbornly maintained her facade even indoors where not a grain of dust dared drift.
Truly worthy of being called tsundere — soft and yielding in every place save her mouth, which remained the hardest fortress of all.
"My mistake entirely," he said with feigned contrition. "Perhaps holding you just now felt too comfortable… I must have sweated from sheer bliss."
Medusa narrowed her eyes at his blatant teasing — then seized the front of his robe in vexation and yanked him down into a fierce kiss.
Under his patient tutelage over countless nights, her technique had long since reached the pinnacle of artfulness. Xiao Jietian responded in kind, arms tightening around her as their tongues danced in a deep, scorching French kiss that left no room for breath or retreat.
Only when both were gasping did they part.
Medusa panted lightly, eyes gleaming with provocative triumph.
"Do you submit now? This Queen spoke the truth earlier — admit it."
Xiao Jietian raised both hands in surrender, lips curving.
"Yes, yes — Your Majesty is absolutely correct. I yield completely. One more round and I'll be utterly convinced beyond all doubt."
Medusa huffed, crossing her arms beneath her chest in haughty satisfaction.
"You wish. Since your attitude in admitting fault is passable… this Queen shall graciously overlook the matter."
She turned, intending to carefully store away the treasures he had bestowed — only to feel a strong arm snake around her waist.
With a gentle yet irresistible pull, she was lifted off her feet. Before she could protest, his other hand cradled the back of her head and drew her into another devouring kiss.
Ten full minutes passed before Xiao Jietian finally released her.
"There," he murmured against her swollen lips. "Now I am thoroughly convinced."
Medusa shot him a glare filled with mock resentment, then landed several light punches on his chest to vent her frustration. When her ire had cooled, her long, shapely legs unwound from his waist and she stepped gracefully back to the floor.
"Great pervert. I'm going to begin refining the essence blood now. Once I succeed… we'll have a proper reckoning."
Her slender fingers brushed tenderly across his cheek. Then she gathered the four precious items into her palm, cast him one last lingering glance — met by his gentle, affirming nod and a clear, step-by-step recitation of the refinement process.
Finally he met her eyes with grave sincerity.
"I believe in you."
Four ordinary words — yet they struck her like heavenly thunder, flooding her limbs with boundless strength.
Medusa nodded solemnly, turned, and strode toward the secluded training chamber within the palace.
Before the meditation cushion, she drew a long, steadying breath and sat cross-legged. Several breaths later her aura had settled into perfect tranquility.
Following his instructions precisely, she consumed the auxiliaries one by one.
The moment they entered her system, she felt an invisible fortress rise around her qi sea and soul palace — unshakeable, impregnable.
Only then did she flip her palm. A jade bottle radiating prismatic splendor appeared.
She gazed at the Nine-Colored Heaven-Devouring Python essence blood within — a treasure rarer than phoenix feathers or qilin horns — and inhaled deeply. Determination flashed like cold steel in her golden eyes.
Colorful light bloomed around her. When it faded, a colossal white serpent coiled where the woman had been — scales shimmering with seven brilliant hues, regal and terrifying.
With a surge of Dou Qi she guided the bottle open and poured the essence blood directly into her maw.
The instant it touched her tongue, an apocalyptic blaze erupted within.
Scorching, boundless power rampaged through her meridians like a dragon gone mad.
Wherever it passed, her seven-colored scales ignited with blinding radiance, the light racing along scale patterns until it formed a vast, dazzling sea of color.
Outside the chamber, Xiao Jietian stood atop the palace spire. His soul force spread like an invisible net, ceaselessly monitoring her condition, ready to intervene at any moment.
Beneath the relentless assault, minute fissures began to spiderweb across Medusa's meridians.
Agony beyond words tore through her. Her serpentine form twisted involuntarily — yet she clenched her jaws, iron will holding firm, refusing to let even a whimper escape.
She suppressed the rampaging power with desperate resolve and began — slowly, painstakingly — to refine and assimilate it.
Yet the essence blood resisted fiercely, striking back at every turn, seeking to rend flesh and shatter bone, determined to destroy the vessel that dared contain it.
Inside the training chamber, the proud Queen of the Snake-People Tribe battled alone against heaven-defying might — all for the chance to stand forever at his side.