Chapter 30: Medusa's Soul Completely Fuses

### The Next Day

Early in the morning, Jiang Xing was full of energy.

Just as he was about to get up, he felt Medusa's hand still holding onto his. He thought for a moment, then decided it was nothing to worry about. After all, they had been intimate the previous night, and it would be awkward if she woke up and he wasn't there.

So, Jiang Xing continued to lie there, quietly admiring Medusa as she slept in his arms.

As he looked at her, Jiang Xing began to think about how he could help improve her cultivation level. After all, Medusa was currently only at the three-star Dou Zong level, which was relatively weak.

Medusa had already completed her first evolution, successfully transforming into a Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python. Although this ancient demonic beast had a powerful physique, its potential was still limited. If she didn't evolve into a Nine-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, her growth would be capped at the low-level Dou Sheng stage.

The Nine-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python was far superior to the Seven-Colored variant. It was said that the Nine-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python could rival the Dou Emperor, whereas the Seven-Colored version was not even comparable to the Taixu Ancient Dragon or the Heavenly Demon Phoenix, let alone the higher dragons and phoenixes.

For Medusa to evolve into a Nine-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python, she would need the Nine-Colored Raw Stone. With that stone, Jiang Xing could take her to the Nine Nether Yellow Springs of the Nine Nether Earth Python Clan, where the extreme cold could stimulate the Nine-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python's bloodline. 

Moreover, Jiang Xing remembered that beneath the Nine Nether Yellow Springs lay the remnants of Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python souls, where Medusa could receive their inheritance. There was also the Yellow Spring Essence Blood, another key to Medusa's breakthrough.

In the original story, Medusa, after soaking in the Nine Nether Yellow Springs for over two years, emerged as a four-star Dou Sheng from a nine-star Dou Zun. Now, with the resources Jiang Xing had provided, Medusa could potentially reach a six-star Dou Sheng level!

However, the Nine-Colored Raw Stone and the last piece of the demon fire fragment would only appear at the Space Auction, which was still a few years away. Even if Jiang Xing wanted them now, he had to be patient.

While Jiang Xing was lost in thoughts of how to help Medusa advance, she woke up in his arms. 

Medusa opened her eyes and found Jiang Xing staring at her. Embarrassment flashed across her face as she realized she was still naked from the night before.

Noticing her discomfort, Jiang Xing stopped staring. He got up, picked up Medusa's clothes from the floor, tidied them up, and placed them beside her. 

"Please, get dressed first," he said, turning around to give her some privacy.

After a short while, Medusa finished dressing, though her face remained slightly flushed. She hadn't expected that their kiss from the previous day would lead to such intimacy.

Recalling the spatial power Jiang Xing had used the night before, Medusa asked, "Have you broken through to Dou Zun?"

"Yes, I'm now a two-star Dou Zun," Jiang Xing replied.

Although Medusa had suspected it, hearing it confirmed still shocked her. 

"Can you tell me about your family?" Medusa inquired, realizing she knew very little about the man she had become so intimately involved with.

Jiang Xing, seeing no reason to hide the truth from Medusa, who had now become his woman, told her about his background.

"My family resides in the eastern part of Zhongzhou. My father is a Nine-turn Dou Zun, my mother is a Nine-star Dou Zong, and my grandfather is even stronger—he's a Six-star Dou Sheng."

Medusa wasn't too surprised to hear about his father being a Nine-star Dou Zun, but the revelation that his grandfather was a Six-star Dou Sheng left her stunned. It took her a moment to process the information.

Seeing her silent, Jiang Xing changed the subject. "You should refine the Soul-Merging Pill now. I'll be here to protect you."

"Okay," Medusa agreed, sitting cross-legged to begin refining the Soul-Merging Pill.

An hour later, Medusa opened her beautiful eyes, having successfully refined the pill.

Jiang Xing asked, "How do you feel? Have you completely merged with the soul of the Seven-Colored Sky-Swallowing Python?"

"Yes, the fusion is complete," Medusa replied, a hint of gratitude in her voice.

"Jiang Xing, thank you," she added.

"There's no need to be so formal with me," Jiang Xing smiled. "I have some matters to attend to. You should rest well."

He kissed Medusa on the forehead before leaving.

Jiang Xing couldn't tell if Medusa's feelings for him were born out of love or gratitude, but he believed that love was an inner resonance and recognition. Being moved or grateful meant some level of recognition and affection.

After leaving the room, Jiang Xing decided to check on how Qinglin and Ziyan had been progressing in their cultivation over the past two years.

He arrived at Qinglin's residence and knocked on the door.

After a short while, Qinglin opened the door and was immediately overcome with emotion—surprise, joy, and excitement all at once.

Without hesitation, Qinglin threw herself into Jiang Xing's arms, her voice trembling with tears. "Master, you're back! I thought…"

It was clear that Qinglin had been deeply worried after learning that Jiang Xing had been sucked into the Gate of Life and Death. She had even tried, like Medusa, to enter the gate by channeling her fighting spirit into it, but the gate had remained unresponsive.

With no other options, Qinglin had gone to the Gate of Life and Death every day, praying for Jiang Xing's safe return.

Seeing Qinglin in tears, Jiang Xing felt a pang of sorrow. 

"It's okay. I'm fine," he soothed, gently stroking her back in a comforting gesture.

After a while, Qinglin stopped crying, and Jiang Xing wiped away the remaining tears on her face. Not wanting her to dwell on the past, he changed the subject.

"Qinglin, how have you been practicing these past two years? Is your teacher treating you well? If not, I can find someone better for you."

"Master, I've reached the level of a two-star Dou Wang!" Qinglin responded, a hint of pride in her voice, like a child seeking approval from an adult.

She quickly added, "Master, Teacher Ye Qing has been very good to me. Please don't replace her."

Qinglin's progress to the two-star Dou Wang level was largely thanks to Ye Qing and Ji Feng. Although Ye Qing was only a Dou Huang and not the most powerful in the Heavenly Snake Mansion, he was an excellent teacher. He had taught Qinglin everything about the Green Snake Three Flower Pupils without holding anything back.

Ji Feng, on the other hand, had gone to great lengths to capture snake monsters for Qinglin, helping her accelerate her cultivation.

Even though Qinglin was only at the Dou Wang level, she could easily overpower a Dou Huang. She now controlled five Dou Huangs and more than a dozen Dou Wangs, allowing her to overwhelm opponents by sheer numbers in battle.

Jiang Xing felt that training Qinglin, who possessed the rare Green Snake Three Flower Pupils, in the Heavenly Snake Mansion would be a waste of her potential.