BTTH: Starting from Capturing the Goddess

Chen Mo extracted the Holy Alchemist's Compendium once again.

Instantly, an immense flood of knowledge surged into his mind, so overwhelming that he momentarily felt dizzy.

After taking a moment to organize his thoughts, he realized that the Holy Alchemist's Compendium contained information on countless pills, alchemical formulas, and descriptions of various medicinal herbs—essentially an encyclopedia of alchemy.

After resting briefly, Chen Mo proceeded to extract the Amethyst Essence and began refining it.

Draining the entire bottle in one go.

The moment it entered his stomach, his body burned with intense heat, and his skin began turning a faint shade of purple. He instinctively raised his hands to scratch himself.

When he opened his mouth, he exhaled a breath of scorching hot air.

Not daring to be careless, Chen Mo quickly activated the Supreme Primordial Art to refine it.

As the cultivation technique circulated rapidly, the wild purple energy within him was instantly suppressed, and his body temperature gradually returned to normal.

The once-rampaging energy was slowly refined and absorbed into his flesh.

However, as the refinement progressed, the purple energy unexpectedly resisted being fully absorbed, instead clumping together.

Sensing imminent danger from the Supreme Primordial Art, the clustered energy began to tremble violently. Suddenly, a small purple flame ignited on its surface, attempting to resist the black-and-white energy of his cultivation technique.

But its resistance was futile—it was instantly suppressed.

Guided by his energy, the purple flame coursed through his meridians before finally being drawn into his qi whirlpool.

A new cycle of refinement began.

Inside a Dimly Lit, Grand Hall

Three snake-people elders, clad in black robes and wearing fearsome masks adorned with horns and fangs, sat high above the ceremonial platform, gazing down at the two figures below.

The elder on the right, visibly angered, spoke harshly:

"Your Majesty, not only did you fail to punish the traitor, but you also brought a human into the royal palace! What are you trying to do?"

"That human saved my sister. He is gravely injured. I will not leave him to die. Snake-people may be cold-blooded, but we are not heartless."

Queen Medusa stared directly at the elder on the right, her captivating, narrow eyes devoid of emotion.

"Sister…"

Kneeling on the ground, awaiting punishment, Die's face lit up with a smile upon hearing those words.

"You're insane—No… Your Majesty, what are you thinking?! He is a human! Every year, countless of our kind die at the hands of humans, yet you show them mercy?!"

The elder clenched his fists, barely containing his rage. It was clear he was extremely dissatisfied with Medusa's decision to save a human.

"He is different from other humans. Not only did he save my sister, but he also rescued more than ten of our people."

Her voice remained as cold as ever.

"Your Majesty, you—"

The elder wanted to continue, but the elder in the center raised a hand, signaling him to stop.

"Great Elder."

The rightmost elder looked toward him.

"Enough. We will discuss this matter later."

The Great Elder, whose hoarse and deep voice carried an air of authority, gazed at Queen Medusa with hollow, emotionless eyes.

"Your Majesty, now that the traitor has been captured, it is time for her punishment."

Die's expression changed.

Queen Medusa fell silent for a moment before a chilling light flickered in her eyes.

"Since that day, I have wondered—why must only one of us survive? But now, I finally understand."

"It's good that you understand. The snake-people can have only one Queen Medusa. This law has led our people to strength."

The Great Elder spoke solemnly.

"No, it has not."

Queen Medusa's voice was like ice—firm and resolute.

The three elders' faces darkened.

"Sister…"

Die looked at her, shocked. It was the first time her sister had ever openly defied the Great Elders.

"Insolence! What are you trying to do?! Are you rebelling as well?!"

The Great Elder, furious, pointed a trembling finger at her.

"It is you who is insolent! I am the Queen!"

Queen Medusa's red lips parted as an overwhelming pressure erupted from within her, sweeping through the grand hall. A terrifying aura surged outward, extinguishing all the surrounding flames.

"The heart of an individual belongs only to them. You may try to bind it, but one day, it will break free. I despise war. I despise the senseless slaughter of our people and others alike.

"From today onward, I will abolish every unreasonable law within our clan. I will lead the snake-people toward true strength—my way!"**

"Your Majesty, this cannot be! The laws are sacred! They have been passed down from our ancestors!"

Frightened by her overwhelming presence, the three elders quickly knelt, pleading.

"I am not asking for your opinion. I am informing you."

Queen Medusa turned away.

"Sister, let's go!"

"Sister…"

Tears welled up in Die's eyes. She understood just how much courage it took for her sister to say those words.

She wiped away her tears and quickly followed.

Once outside, Die immediately wrapped her arms around Medusa's arm, rubbing her head against her affectionately.

"Sister, you're amazing."

"Foolish girl."

Medusa's usual cold demeanor softened into a faint smile as she let Die cling to her.

Suddenly, she sensed an unusual fluctuation of energy within the palace.

Her sharp gaze instantly locked onto a small chamber adjacent to her own.

"It's him."

She murmured.

"It's Chen Mo."

Die smiled knowingly.

Medusa's brows furrowed slightly.

"Sister, do you remember the promise you made me?"

"Of course, I remember."

Before meeting the elders, Die had pleaded with her sister to spare Chen Mo. In exchange, she had agreed to grant Medusa one request.

"Good. Then tomorrow, you will go to the Forbidden Grounds and accept Medusa's Inheritance."

Die froze.

"Sister… isn't the inheritance meant for you?"

"I've already received mine. I left one just for you."

"Ah… Sister, I…"

Die hesitated. Then, after a moment, she asked:

"Can I wait until Chen Mo recovers before I undergo the inheritance?"

She knew the inheritance process could take anywhere from two to six months. During that time, she wouldn't be able to see Chen Mo.

"No."

Medusa immediately refused.

She had already noticed something was amiss between Die and that human. She needed to separate them.

That was why she had placed Chen Mo in a room adjacent to hers—so she could keep a close watch on him.

She wouldn't allow him to get too close to her sister.

Then, over time, Die's feelings for him would fade.

"Sister, please! Just seven days! That's all I ask!"

Die clung to Medusa's arm, shaking it like a spoiled child.

"No."

"Then five days?"

"No."

"Three days! At least three!"

Medusa fell silent for a moment, then finally relented.

"Fine. Three days."

****

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