Back in her own bedchamber.
After removing her formal attire and changing into a simple, light robe, Medusa lay down upon her bed.
Above, the moonstones set into the ceiling cast a soft, gentle glow.
Her perfect face, usually cold and bewitchingly beautiful, seemed to soften slightly in the faint light.
Her eyes were as calm as still water, the tyrannical coldness between her brows gradually receding, replaced by an unreadable emotion.
In this moment, she was no longer the lofty Queen of the Snake-People, but an ordinary, beautiful woman lost in worried thoughts.
"A Dou Zong…"
How could she not have seen that Zhou Changqing was testing her earlier?
She, in turn, had also been testing this human youth.
But she didn't dare to gamble.
For the sake of her evolution, she was willing to risk her life.
That was why she could agree even if he demanded all the resources of the Snake-People Race.
She just hoped that tomorrow's outcome would not be the worst-case scenario.
The next day.
"The conditions are simple. From now on, the Snake-People Race will provide all of my cultivation resources, including materials for weapon refining."
"Agreed."
"I am to have free access to all of the Snake-People Race's Cultivation Methods and Dou Skills, without any restrictions."
"Agreed."
"You also cannot limit my cultivation progress just because I advance quickly."
"Agreed."
"And you cannot force me to refine weapons, nor can you restrict my freedom."
"Human! Don't push your luck!"
"Oh… is that a no?"
"What do you think?"
"Then forget it. Go ahead and imprison me. We'll see which is stronger: your methods or my bones! I refuse to believe I won't find a chance to kill myself!"
"…"
"The first three conditions are acceptable, but the fourth is absolutely impo—Human, take that sword away from your neck."
"This Queen can make another concession. You will be required to refine at least one Tier 3 or higher Magic Weapon for my race each day. In return, you will be permitted to move freely within the Holy City."
"But you must provide me with your entire day's worth of Lightning-attribute Dou Qi, every day."
"This is my bottom line!"
"…"
The room fell silent.
Zhou Changqing and Medusa stared at each other, locked in a stalemate.
After a long moment.
"No room for negotiation?"
"None!"
Hearing the resolve in Medusa's voice, Zhou Changqing knew this was truly her limit.
It made sense. If they didn't restrict his freedom, what would they do if he ran away?
Only then did Zhou Changqing pretend to be dissatisfied, lowering the greatsword from his neck. He clicked his tongue and nodded. "Fine, we'll go with these terms."
"But I need to make one thing clear. If there ever comes a day when you Snake-People can no longer meet these conditions, I have the right to terminate our agreement!"
"You can rest assured on that point. This Queen keeps her word. I have no need to deceive a child like you," Medusa said coolly, glancing at the audacious human.
She truly wanted to slap this little brat to death right now.
It was the first time anyone had ever dared to be so presumptuous in her presence.
It was only because she needed him.
Otherwise, not even a Dou Huang expert would be worthy of negotiating with her, let alone forcing her to compromise.
Did he really think her fearsome reputation as Queen Medusa was just for show?
She had earned it, killing her way to the top!
If word of today's events got out, countless experts would have their jaws on the floor.
Being stared at so coldly by a peak Dou Huang, an expert renowned for her ferocity, didn't faze Zhou Changqing in the slightest.
He even felt a little urge to laugh.
These negotiations had exceeded his wildest expectations.
And all he had to part with was a little Dou Qi.
Sensing the flicker of joy in Zhou Changqing's eyes, Medusa grew increasingly irritated.
How many years had it been since her emotions had fluctuated so wildly?
"Since the terms are settled, hand over today's Dou Qi," Medusa said, her voice growing even colder, as if it could freeze a man solid.
It was a testament to her title as the supreme beauty of the northwestern region. Her bewitching face and her cold, majestic aura blended perfectly, creating an irresistible yet unapproachable allure.
Zhou Changqing chuckled. "Of course, Your Majesty. One moment."
With that, he activated his Cultivation Method, drawing upon all the Lightning-attribute Dou Qi within his sea-urchin-shaped Dou Crystal.
He then extended a palm toward Medusa.
Lightning Qi surged wildly from his Dantian, coursing through his meridians at high speed toward his right hand before seeping out from his palm.
Seeing this, Medusa mirrored the gesture, extending a fair hand. She circulated her crimson Dou Qi, drawing the steady stream of silver lightning toward her and enveloping it.
Half an hour later.
Zhou Changqing's face was slightly pale, and the silver portion of his Dou Crystal had dimmed considerably.
The flow of Dou Qi from his palm ceased.
In Medusa's hand, however, now rested a ball of Dou Qi a foot in diameter.
The outer layer of the energy sphere was crimson, while its core was a solid-looking silver orb, its surface crackling with arcs of electricity.
Medusa gave Zhou Changqing a slightly surprised look.
Even with such a terrifying output rate, it had still taken half an hour for him to exhaust his Dou Qi.
She remembered this brat was only a one-star Dou Ling, and a dual-attribute one at that.
The amount of his Lightning-attribute Dou Qi alone was already comparable to that of an ordinary three-star Dou Ling.
And that was only half of his total reserves!
If one included his Gold-attribute Dou Qi, the boy's total capacity was likely on par with an ordinary five-star Dou Ling.
It was only the quality of his Dou Qi that fell short, being roughly equivalent to that of a four-star Dou Ling.
The more she interacted with him, the more monstrous this youth seemed. No wonder Yue Mei had said she couldn't handle him.
"This Queen has important matters to attend to. If you need anything, find my personal guard captain, Hua She'er. You met her yesterday."
After giving Zhou Changqing a deep look, Medusa wasted no more time, leaving him with those words before vanishing.
Zhou Changqing didn't reply. He immediately sat cross-legged on the bed and began to recover his Dou Qi.
An hour later.
He had managed to replenish most of the Dou Qi he had expended.
Then, Zhou Changqing eagerly rushed out of the room.
After some effort.
Zhou Changqing finally located Hua She'er in one of the side halls of the grand temple.
He looked at the brown-haired woman, who was staring back at him with undisguised disgust.
He smiled, a smug, triumphant grin spreading across his face.
"Little Hua, you've received your Queen's orders, I presume?"
"Human whelp! What did you call me?!"
Hua She'er instantly flew into a rage. She took a step forward, glaring fiercely at Zhou Changqing as her Dou Qi erupted!
Her ample chest, bound in crimson-laced armor, heaved with fury.
The full aura of a Dou King burst forth without reservation.
Violent pink Dou Qi churned the ambient energy within the side hall, kicking up fierce gusts of wind that sent furniture rattling.
Even the hall itself seemed to tremble slightly.
Faced with the menacing Hua She'er, Zhou Changqing remained completely calm.
Although the pressure of a Dou King's aura weighing down on him was immense, he forced himself to take a step forward against it.
He then stuck his neck out right in front of Hua She'er and patted it with his hand.
Pat, pat, pat.
"Go on, right here."
"Just one chop with your hand is all it'll take to finish me off."
Swish!
A hand-blade wreathed in pink Dou Qi sliced through the air with terrifying power, arriving an inch from Zhou Changqing's neck in the blink of an eye.
But just as it was about to make contact with his skin, the hand-blade stopped dead.
Hua She'er's expression shifted from fury to bitter reluctance as she desperately suppressed her anger.
"Heh…"
Seeing this, Zhou Changqing chuckled softly. He pulled his head back and said nonchalantly, "Since you don't dare, Little Hua, aren't you going to lead the way? I want to see the place where you Snake-People store your Cultivation Methods and Dou Skills."
"You!"
"Huuu…"
Hua She'er ground her teeth, wishing she could tear him apart, but the thought of her Queen's command forced her to withdraw her hand.
Finally, Hua She'er took a deep breath, suppressing her killing intent and rage, and turned. Her serpentine tail swayed as she headed for the exit.
Watching her retreating back, which still seemed to tremble slightly with anger, a smirk hung on Zhou Changqing's lips.
He felt as refreshed as if he had just downed an ice-cold drink in the middle of summer.
Heh, women.
Let's see you dare to look at me like that again.
I'm a very petty person