"Hmph. These are my conditions. If you..." Queen Medusa was speaking when suddenly her brows furrowed tightly, and her snake tail lashed out ferociously towards Xu Ran.
The powerful Dou Qi energy shattered all the tables and chairs nearby, and the house instantly became unstable.
"I knew you didn't come to the Snake-People Tribe with good intentions!" Queen Medusa's pretty face turned pale with anger, and she lashed out with her snake tail fiercely again, but Xu Ran dodged them all.
"Queen Medusa, there's no need to be so hot-tempered. Is this how the Snake-People Tribe treats its guests? As a Senior Alchemist, I command respect across the Continent, and any power that sees me must treat me as an honored guest. You have greatly disappointed me," Xu Ran said leisurely. He hadn't expected Queen Medusa's temper to be so volatile, daring to strike at him even knowing his identity.
Yet, it seemed that this was exactly the impression of Queen Medusa found in the original story.
A fiery little pepper.
If not tamed well, she might bite back at any moment.
However, if she sincerely submitted to you, she would never harbor a double heart and would become an unparalleled assistant to you.
But the more Queen Medusa resisted, the more it piqued his interest.
"Hmph. There's nothing to discuss with your kind. There isn't a single good thing about you humans," Queen Medusa snorted coldly, and her gaze towards Xu Ran softened.
It wasn't that she truly wanted to have a skirmish with Xu Ran; she was well aware she stood no chance against him. Moreover, Xu Ran, as an Alchemist, was not someone she could afford to offend.
She could offend the Jia Ma Empire, but she wouldn't dare offend a powerful Alchemist.
Because a powerful Alchemist could command countless strong ones to do their bidding, and that was something she wouldn't provoke lightly.
And now, with the possibility of Xu Ran becoming allied with the Snake-People Tribe, it was even more crucial not to jeopardize her tribe's future.
She was simply warning Xu Ran not to covet her. She would never engage with a scoundrel like him.
How could she possibly share a man with other women? Not even worth thinking about.
Moreover, she needed to maintain the purity of her bloodline. The Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python bloodline in her body was already exceedingly diluted, and bloodline purity was crucial for their lineage, not to be compromised under any circumstances.
"How did this turn into racial discrimination?" Xu Ran's mouth twitched. But considering the longstanding grievances between the Snake-People Tribe and the Jia Ma Empire, it was normal for Queen Medusa to harbor some resentment towards the Human Clan.
"Hmph. Anyway, you're no good person. You better not have any ulterior motives. I will definitely not allow you to get your way. I'm not like those shameless women. You could even use a Seventh-Grade Elixir to bribe me, and I still wouldn't be tempted," Queen Medusa said seriously. She could achieve what she wanted through her own efforts, not by relying on others, and certainly not by selling her body.
For her, even if she gained great power in such a way, it would be disgraceful.
"Really? Seventh-Grade Elixirs don't impress you? What about Eight-Grade Elixirs?" Xu Ran said, casually taking out an elixir from his pocket. The moment the elixir was taken out, it zipped around as if alive.
After spending so much time beside Xu Ran, it seemed to almost possess a consciousness of its own.
The rich aroma of the elixir almost enveloped the entire area.
Everyone who smelled the strong fragrance couldn't help but close their eyes, intoxicated.
"Are you an Eighth-Grade Alchemist?" Queen Medusa exclaimed. She had only speculated before and was not entirely sure Xu Ran was an Eighth-Grade Alchemist. But the marvelous elixir in front of her still came as a shock.
Legends said that those powerful Alchemists could endow elixirs with life. The elixirs they concocted were no longer just ordinary elixirs; they were considered spiritual beings. Unlike Strange Fire, which was a naturally occurring spirit, these were created beings.
But this was even more astounding.
Could there really be such miraculous elixirs in this world?
Could there truly be alchemists so powerful?
"Eighth-grade Pharmacist? Would you believe me if I said I was a Ninth Grade Alchemist?" Xu Ran said leisurely, stretching out his hand and summoning the elixir that kept scurrying about back into his palm.
"A Ninth Grade Alchemist?" Queen Medusa was truly shocked this time.
Mere Seventh Rank Alchemists were sufficient to dominate in the Jia Ma Empire, while Eighth-grade Pharmacists could traverse the Northwest Continent unimpeded, and a Ninth Grade Alchemist was likely to be an absolute ruler even in the land of Zhongzhou.
If Xu Ran were truly a Ninth Grade Alchemist, then who in this world could surpass him?
A Ninth Grade Alchemist could make Dou Sheng Experts follow them.
In the Continent, perhaps only those mysterious and legendary powerhouses could compare.
"What? Don't you believe it?"
"I..." Queen Medusa was stunned, standing there dumbfounded, looking at the confident smile on Xu Ran's face. She began to believe him a little.
Such an alchemist as Xu Ran probably wouldn't stoop to lying.
"If you are a Ninth Grade Alchemist, then why come to our desolate place? Zhongzhou is where the mighty congregate."
If she were strong enough, she would have wished to strive in Zhongzhou herself.
There, one truly had a chance of becoming a strong one.
A Douhuang (Battle Emperor) Strong One at the pinnacle in the Jia Ma Empire would be nothing in Zhongzhou. Even a Dou Zun Expert or Douzong had to behave humbly in Zhongzhou, not daring to be too ostentatious, lest they offend a major personage.
"Zhongzhou? Those people are nothing in my eyes."
"Sometimes, when you look further and raise your head to gaze at the sky, you'll understand how insignificant the land beneath our feet is. Even dominating in Zhongzhou doesn't count for much," Xu Ran said, lifting his gaze to the heavens.
"What do you mean?"
Queen Medusa looked at Xu Ran with suspicion.
"I can take you to a broader world, as long as you follow me, I can give you everything you desire. Including for the Snake-People Tribe, from now on no one will dare to bully the Snake-People Tribe again."
"Don't you want that?"
Xu Ran tempted her.
Queen Medusa was tempted. Even if Xu Ran was not a Ninth Grade Alchemist but just an Eighth-grade Pharmacist, the power emanating from him was terrifyingly strong. At least to her, the temptation was significant.
If she were to work under Xu Ran, even if it meant being commanded, she would be willing.
But to go against her principles simply because of Xu Ran's stature and strength, that she could not do.
She couldn't betray her body just because of Xu Ran's power, knowing even with gained strength, she wouldn't be happy.
"It's a good thing those fellows from the tribe aren't here, otherwise they would definitely sell me out," Medusa muttered to herself.