117: Physical reconstruction, the king returns

Deep within the Hundred Flowers Valley, inside the Pill Room.

A Medicine Cauldron, crafted entirely from warm jade, floated in mid-air. There was no flame beneath it; instead, Fairy Qinghua used her incomparably pure Wood Attribute Dou Qi and Soul Power to draw upon the vital fire of the Hundred Flowers Valley's earth veins, transforming it into a lush, vibrant flame filled with the aura of life, gently enveloping the Medicine Cauldron.

Inside the Cauldron, the essence of the blood essence demon fruit, the ten thousand year green spirit vine, the blood soul branch, and dozens of other auxiliary medicinal ingredients were slowly undergoing Fusion under the exquisite control of Fairy Qinghua, whose Realm had reached the Eighth-Grade Grandmaster level. The entire process was silent, yet contained the profound mystery of creation and destruction.

Li Ao and Medusa stood quietly in a corner of the Pill Room, watching intently. In Medusa's purple eyes, a rare trace of nervousness and anticipation was visible. After centuries of Soul wandering, the moment to reshape her Physical Body and return to her Peak was imminent; even with her Heart-Nature, it was difficult to remain completely calm.

Li Ao could feel the fluctuations coming from the depths of her Soul, and he gently patted her (Soul form's) arm, sending over a stabilizing thought.

Time flowed by in silent, nervous anticipation.

One day, two days... By noon on the third day, an unusual phenomenon suddenly erupted inside the Pill Room!

The warm jade Medicine Cauldron suddenly shook, and the lid buzzed loudly. A thick, seven-colored pillar of light mixed with majestic blood Qi shot up like smoke, piercing the roof of the Pill Room and going straight into the sky! Within the pillar of light, faint sounds of Dragon roars and Phoenix cries could be heard, and an imposing snake shadow coiled!

A vast medicinal fragrance spread out. All the flowers and plants in the valley seemed to become even more vibrant and filled with spirituality at this moment!

"The pill is complete!"

Fairy Qinghua gave a soft cry, and the seals formed by her hands changed. The pillar of light shooting into the sky abruptly retracted, shrinking entirely back into the Medicine Cauldron. The lid opened, and a Medicinal Pill the size of a Dragon's eye—perfectly round, exhibiting a seven-colored glazed hue, and interwoven with bloody Dragon patterns and green vine patterns on its surface—spun out!

As soon as the Medicinal Pill appeared, the space in the entire Pill Room slightly distorted, as if unable to bear the majestic vitality and power of creation it contained!

The heavenly soul merging blood pill, Seventh-Grade Peak, was successfully refined!

Fairy Qinghua's face was slightly pale, but her eyes were filled with satisfaction. Her jade hand gently guided the alluringly glowing Medicinal Pill toward Medusa.

"Your Majesty, consume this Medicinal Pill, calm your mind and spirit, and guide the medicinal power to reshape your Physical Body! I will assist you with the vitality of the Hundred Flowers Valley!" Fairy Qinghua said solemnly.

Medusa took a deep breath, no longer hesitating. Her Soul form opened its mouth, and the heavenly soul merging blood pill turned into a streak of light, sinking into the depths of her Soul Origin!

"Boom—!!!"

The instant the Medicinal Pill entered her body, an indescribable, vast energy erupted profoundly within Medusa's Soul, like the initial creation of the Universe! Seven-colored radiance and majestic blood Qi instantly engulfed her Soul form!

Her Soul seemed to have been thrown into a great furnace of creation. The Medicinal Pill was the core, triggering the rules of heaven and earth, beginning to use her Soul as a blueprint, the majestic blood Qi of the blood essence demon fruit as the Foundation, the infinite vitality of the ten thousand year green spirit vine as the structure, and the essence of numerous other medicinal materials as filler, to reshape a Physical Body that perfectly matched her Soul and Bloodline!

This process was more painful than when her Soul merged with the Reverse Scale—it was the intense sensation of flesh, bones, and Meridians being constructed and growing piece by piece! But Medusa gritted her teeth, relying on her unparalleled willpower to forcibly guide the violent medicinal power, shaping it according to the most perfect form in her subconscious.

Fairy Qinghua continuously shot out streaks of green light with her hands, drawing on the immense vitality of the Hundred Flowers Valley, nourishing the nascent Physical Body like sweet dew and stabilizing its structure.

Li Ao was also nearby, silently operating the Annihilation Rule, not to interfere, but to use its implication of "stabilizing the void" to smooth out the occasional violent fluctuations in the medicinal power, making the reshaping process more stable.

Time passed slowly.

Within the radiant mass interwoven with seven colors and blood Qi, a graceful, exquisite, and curvaceous outline gradually became clear. Bones like jade, Meridians like rainbows, and flesh constantly condensed under the calcination of the vital fire... Finally, at the dawn of the third day, as the first ray of morning light shone through the Pill Room window—

The radiant mass suddenly retracted!

All the energy and radiance completely converged back into the newly born body!

A jade body, perfect as a masterpiece of the heavens, quietly floated in mid-air.

Her skin was fairer than snow, smooth as jade, and faintly shimmered with a seven-colored halo. Her figure was tall and slender, her curves breathtaking. Every fraction seemed precisely calculated; a fraction more would be plump, a fraction less would be thin. Her long purple hair, which was previously illusory, had now solidified, cascading like a waterfall to her waist, shining with a satiny luster.

Her face was identical to when she was in her Soul form—stunningly beautiful—but now possessed the tangible reality of flesh and the warmth of life. The dark seven-colored serpentine imperial mark on her brow was like a natural adornment, adding a sense of mystery and majesty.

Most striking was the incredibly solidified phantom of the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python coiled behind her. Faint dark golden patterns were visible on the python's scales, radiating an imperial pressure that surpassed all serpents! Her aura had astonishingly reached the level of Seven-Star Dou Zong! Moreover, this was only the nascent Physical Body, not yet fully adapted to complete Fusion with her Soul!

The heavenly soul merging blood pill not only reshaped her perfect Physical Body but, by utilizing its majestic medicinal power and the Origin of the Ancient heavenly serpent emperor's reverse scale, allowed her strength to advance further from her original Soul Five-Star Dou Zong Foundation, directly reaching Seven-Star Dou Zong!

Medusa (Physical Body) slowly opened her eyes.

What kind of eyes were those? They were still a deep purple, but now they seemed to contain a vast starry sky and endless majesty. A mere glance from them seemed capable of making all things submit.

She gently clenched her hand, feeling the long-lost, utterly real sensation of flesh and blood, and the surging, ocean-like, and far greater power within her body. A smile finally bloomed on her exquisite face, enough to eclipse the heavens and earth.

She, Queen Medusa, had officially returned!

With a thought, a magnificent purple brocade robe condensed from energy covered her perfect body. She slowly descended, her jade feet lightly touching the ground, her posture graceful and noble.

She looked toward Fairy Qinghua, bowed slightly, and performed a solemn courtesy: "Fairy's grace of rebirth, Medusa will never forget."

Fairy Qinghua smiled with relief: "Your Majesty is too kind; this is simply our destiny." She had expended considerable energy, but her expression was joyful.

Medusa's gaze finally settled on Li Ao.

Their eyes met.

Li Ao looked at her utterly real face, feeling her powerful and vibrant aura. His heart was also stirring, genuinely happy for her. From their first meeting in the Tagor Desert, to the crisis when her Soul was nearly dispersed, and now to her reshaping her Physical Body and returning as a sovereign... this journey had been too difficult.

The coldness in Medusa's purple eyes seemed to melt slightly. She walked up to Li Ao, parted her red lips, and her voice—with a unique magnetic rasp, yet perfectly clear—said:

"Li Ao, thank you."

There were no superfluous words, but the weight contained within those two words was heavier than mountains.

Li Ao smiled slightly and nodded: "Congratulations, Your Majesty, on your rebirth."

Everything was understood without words.

Fairy Qinghua looked at the two standing side-by-side, a flash of understanding and blessing in her eyes. She then spoke seriously: "Your Majesty's Physical Body is newly formed and requires time to stabilize and completely adapt to the Fusion with your Soul before you can unleash your full strength. Furthermore, the Hall of Souls will certainly not let this matter rest. What are your plans?"

A cold light flashed in Medusa's purple eyes: "Since this Queen has returned, it is time to settle some scores. Moreover, the seven-colored illusion heart lotus is about to mature, and this item will be of great use for stabilizing this Queen's Realm."

Her target was the Illusory Mist Swamp in the far west of the continent!

Li Ao interjected: "That's right. The Hall of Souls is powerful, and we need to increase our strength quickly. We must go to the Illusory Mist Swamp. Also, it's time to go back and check on the Central Plains."

He was referring to the Pill Tower, and other potential allies.

Fairy Qinghua pondered for a moment and said: "The Illusory Mist Swamp is fraught with danger. Not only are there natural illusions and poisonous miasma, but it is also inhabited by many strange creatures, and there might even be ancient remaining Formations. You must be careful. I will prepare some Medicinal Pills for you to resist the poisonous miasma and calm your spirits."

"Thank you, Fairy."

Three days later, Medusa's Physical Body was completely stabilized, and her strength was firmly at the Seven-Star Dou Zong level. Her control over the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline reached a new height due to the perfect compatibility between her Physical Body and Soul, and the blessing of the heavenly serpent emperor's reverse scale.

Li Ao's exhaustion was also fully recovered, his strength had advanced, and he was not far from achieving a Breakthrough to Seven-Star Dou Zong.

The two bid farewell to Fairy Qinghua. Supported by her earnest advice and the Medicinal Pills she gifted, they left the Hundred Flowers Valley, transforming into two streaks of light, speeding toward the far western direction of the continent.

A new journey began, leading to the mysterious and dangerous Illusory Mist Swamp! And the returned sovereign, Medusa, along with Li Ao, who wielded the Annihilation Rule, were bound to stir up new storms on this vast continent!