Battle Through the Heavens: Oh no, I've become the succubus Xiao Yan!

Deep in the Tagor Desert, the yellow sand gradually diminishes, while the boulders increase.

A colossal city rose abruptly from the sea of ​​stones, larger than the Stone Desert City. Tens of meters high walls surrounded the city, their surfaces densely covered with arrow towers, the pale purple arrowheads gleaming coldly in the moonlight. Above the walls, large, jet-black birds circled vigilantly, shrieking at the slightest disturbance.

The city gates were tightly shut. The entire city was under martial law year-round, like a net cast in the sky.

Xiao Yan stood before the city gate, looking up at the high wall. The defenses were tight; forcing his way through wouldn't be difficult, but it wasn't necessary.

At the entrance, six snake-man warriors blocked the way with their spears raised, their snake eyes narrowed, full of vigilance: "Damn humans! Halt! This is snake-man territory, take them down!"

Xiao Yan didn't speak, but released a wisp of his fighting spirit.

Just a trace.

Even a mere wisp of the Dou Huang's aura was like being stared at by a giant python to these snake-people warriors. The leader gritted his teeth and didn't back down, while the other five were already trembling.

"I'm not here to fight," Xiao Yan said. "I'm here to inform your queen that I have what she wants."

The leading snake-man warrior hesitated for a moment, then whispered to one of them to go back and report, while he and the remaining four continued to block Xiao Yan, keeping a wary eye on him.

The person who delivered the message returned in less than an incense stick's time, looking very strange.

"Your Majesty...let someone else in."

The leading warrior then put away his spear and stepped aside to make way, but his eyes never left Xiao Yan.

The Serpent People's temple, located in the eastern part of the city, was magnificent and solemn. The pillars, as thick as trees that could be embraced by two people, were adorned with bas-reliefs of giant serpent totems. The serpent's eyes, inlaid with dark gold ore, flickered in the firelight, as if watching anyone who approached. The ground was covered with snow-white animal hides, making no sound underfoot. A sweet, cloying scent of snakes mingled with the steam from the underground hot springs, creating a warm, drowsy atmosphere.

Medusa sat on a purple crystal throne on a high platform.

She wore a magnificent purple brocade robe, her long hair cascading down her back, her face almost unrealistically alluring—her reputation for beauty and her fearsome nature were equally renowned. Beneath the robe, a purple snake tail peeked out, swaying gently with a wild, seductive charm. Her eyes were vertical snake pupils, pale purple and devoid of warmth. Every smile and frown exuded an empress-like nobility and grace, yet was tinged with a chilling, murderous intent.

"Human." Her voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. "Breaking into the Serpent People's royal palace, do you have a death wish?"

Xiao Yan stood in the center of the hall, without taking a single step back.

"I'm here to make a deal."

"The Snake-People do not trade with humans." Medusa stood up, releasing her battle aura—the pressure of a peak Dou Huang surged forth like a tidal wave, carrying the unique domineering and killing intent of the Snake-People queen. The giant python totem behind the throne seemed to come alive under the surge of battle aura, its scales shimmering.

"Three breaths. Leave, or else—"

She didn't finish speaking.

Because Xiao Yan also released his fighting spirit.

The pressure from a second-level Dou Huang clashed head-on with that of a peak Dou Huang, causing the air in the hall to freeze instantly. The dark golden snake eyes on the pillars buzzed from the shockwave, and three pieces of white animal hide on the ground were blown away.

But the result was not in doubt.

Xiao Yan's Dou Qi quality far surpasses that of others of the same level—with the triple enhancement of the Fire God Body, the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, and the Burning Technique, his Dou Huang level two combat power is comparable to that of a mid-stage Dou Zong. Although Medusa is at the peak of Dou Huang, she is still at a disadvantage compared to Xiao Yan's aura.

  

More importantly, the flames of the Vulcan Body have a natural advantage over the Serpent People.

Medusa felt the scorching power pressing down on her, and the snake-human blood within her trembled instinctively. The feeling wasn't fear, but rather... submission. It was as if her body was telling her that the human before her was the master of fire, and she was nothing more than a lowly snake.

She gritted her teeth, forcibly suppressing the instinctive reaction of her bloodline, her pale purple snake eyes filled with even greater killing intent.

"you--"

"I'm not here to fight." Xiao Yan withdrew his Dou Qi, his tone as calm as if he were talking about the weather. "I'm here to help you."

"Help me?" Medusa sneered. "What can a human Battle Emperor like you do to help me?"

"I'll help you break through to the Dou Zong level."

Medusa's snake-like eyes suddenly contracted.

Breaking through to the Dou Zong realm—this has been the greatest obsession of the Snake-People race for millennia. Their bloodline limits their cultivation potential; the peak of the Dou Huang realm is the limit. To cross that insurmountable barrier, there is only one path—evolution. This involves consuming rare and precious herbs to transform their bloodline. However, evolution is extremely risky, a near-certain death.

"How will you help me?"

"Flame of the God of Fire." A flame ignited in Xiao Yan's palm, a cyan fire lotus dancing within it, its petals faintly glowing with crimson light—the base color of the Azure Lotus Earth Core Flame, amplified by the Fire God Body, made its temperature far exceed that of ordinary strange fires. "My flame can catalyze the transformation of the snake-human bloodline within you—strange fires can evolve your bloodline, but their power is too violent, and the evolutionary process is uncontrollable. The Flame of the God of Fire is different; it acts as both a catalyst and a stabilizer for the snake-human bloodline within you. My flame will protect your soul and meridians, guiding the violent power of evolution along the right path, rather than tearing your body apart."

Medusa stared at the fire lotus, the coldness in her eyes slowly replaced by hesitation.

She wasn't stupid. The young man before her was far stronger than she had expected, and his flame—was exactly what she planned to use for her evolution. Not only had he found and refined the strange fire, but he was now offering to help her evolve.

There must be a purpose behind this.

What do you want?

"Take care of two people for me. One is called Little Fairy Doctor, and the other is called Qinglin. I'm going to Canaan Academy soon, and there are some things I can't do by their side all the time. You're a Dou Zong, so with you here, no one can touch them."

Medusa remained silent.

Protect two people? This condition was completely different from what she had expected. She thought he would want the snake-people's treasures, cultivation resources, or even her—but only to look after two people?

"this one?"

"That's it."

Medusa remained silent for a long time.

She didn't believe in easy money. But the offer was just too tempting—risk-free evolution, breaking through to the Dou Zong realm—the snake-people's dream for millennia. And the price was merely looking after two people?

"Are you sure your flames can protect me?"

"Confirmed. The Flame of the God of Fire has extremely strong control over the soul—it can harm the soul, and naturally it can also protect it. During the evolution, I will wrap your soul and meridians with flames, and the violent power will be guided and neutralized by my flames, without impacting your origin. The backlash will be minimized."

Medusa took a deep breath.

"Okay. But I have one condition—if evolution fails, I will kill you."

"It won't fail." Besides, if you fail to evolve, how will you kill me? Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile wryly.