Xiao Feng looked down at the little girl still clinging tightly to him, her small nose twitching nonstop as she continued to sniff him without the slightest restraint, her curiosity only growing stronger with each passing second as if she had completely forgotten everything else around her.
He let out a helpless sigh.
"Alright, alright…" he said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement mixed with resignation.
"You can smell me all you want…"
"But we can't wait here any longer."
His gaze shifted toward the valley ahead, where the Snow Demon Heaven Ape still stood, its killing intent rising steadily as it watched them.
"I'm not going anywhere," Xiao Feng continued calmly.
"If you want…"
"You can find me anytime."
As he spoke—
He suddenly reached out.
And grabbed Zi Yan by the collar.
Before she could even react—
He lifted her straight up from the ground—
As if he were picking up a small rabbit.
"?!"
For a moment—
Zi Yan froze.
Then—
Her face turned red instantly.
"Hey!!!" she shouted, her small legs kicking in the air as she struggled.
"How dare you treat me like this?! Put me down!!"
Her voice was filled with fury, her cheeks puffed up as she glared at him angrily, clearly not used to being handled so casually.
"I'll bite you!" she threatened, baring her small teeth.
Xiao Feng, however, remained completely unfazed.
He simply looked at her calmly—
Then with his other hand, he took out a small jade bottle.
A faint medicinal fragrance spread instantly.
Zi Yan paused.
Her nose twitched again.
Her anger—
Froze mid-way.
"What's that…" she asked, her tone immediately changing, her eyes slowly shifting from anger… to curiosity… to desire.
Xiao Feng shook the bottle slightly.
"These are pills I refined for the Lightning Cloud Eagles," he said casually.
"They help with growth… body strengthening… and energy absorption."
Before he could finish—
Zi Yan's eyes were already shining.
"Give me one!" she said instantly, her earlier anger completely forgotten as she stretched out her small hand.
Xiao Feng raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you angry?" he asked.
Zi Yan blinked.
Then quickly shook her head.
"No!" she said decisively.
"Not angry at all!"
"Just give it to me first!"
Xiao Feng couldn't help but chuckle slightly.
This little girl…
Her emotions changed faster than flipping a page.
Without teasing her further, he poured out a pill and tossed it lightly toward her.
Zi Yan caught it instantly.
Without even checking—
She popped it straight into her mouth.
"Mm!!"
Her eyes widened.
A satisfied expression instantly spread across her face as she chewed happily, her earlier fury completely gone without a trace.
"So good…" she mumbled, her voice filled with joy.
Xiao Feng finally released her.
Zi Yan landed lightly on the ground, as if nothing had happened, happily savoring the pill while occasionally glancing at Xiao Feng with even more interest than before.
"Brother…" she said again, her tone now much softer and friendlier.
"You really have a lot of good stuff."
She licked her lips slightly.
"Can I have more later?"
Xiao Feng shook his head helplessly.
"Finish this first," he said.
Then—
His gaze turned serious as he looked toward the valley once again.
"Now…"
"Let's deal with that monkey."
About forty minutes later—
Outside a dense and ancient forest, where towering trees rose like pillars of a forgotten era, their thick canopies blocking out most of the sunlight and casting long, cold shadows across the land, the air carried a faint chill that seemed to seep into the bones, making the entire place feel quiet, heavy, and slightly oppressive.
High above the ground—
Two figures stood suspended in mid-air.
It was none other than Xiao Feng and Zi Yan.
Dou Qi wings extended from Xiao Feng's back, each gentle flap steady and controlled, maintaining his position effortlessly in the sky, while beside him, Zi Yan floated without the slightest strain, her small figure completely relaxed, as if such heights and dangers meant absolutely nothing to her.
Both of them—
Were looking down.
Their gazes fixed on the valley below.
The entrance to the valley was shaped like a massive gourd, narrow at the front and gradually widening as it stretched deeper inside, forming a natural enclosure that gave off the feeling that something important—something valuable—was being hidden within its depths.
And at that very entrance—
Blocking the path like a guardian—
Stood a massive figure.
A giant white ape, easily three to four zhang tall, its towering body covered in thick, snow-white fur that shimmered faintly under the dim light, while a chilling aura spread from it, subtly lowering the temperature of the surrounding area.
Its mere presence—
Was enough to make the air feel heavy.
Each breath it exhaled escaped its enormous nostrils like visible streams of white mist, resembling smoke rising from a furnace in the dead of winter, steady and powerful.
Its arms hung low by its sides—
Abnormally long and muscular—
And its claws…
Each one the size of two adult heads—
Reflected a sharp, metallic gleam that hinted at their terrifying destructive power.
Occasionally—
It would move slightly.
A simple swing of its arm—
Careless, almost lazy—
And yet—
From that motion alone—
Violent gusts of wind would tear through the air, crashing into nearby rocks with explosive force, shattering them instantly into countless fragments that scattered across the ground.
Its blood-red eyes—
Filled with rage, vigilance, and unrestrained killing intent—
Were locked firmly onto the two figures hovering in the sky.
Xiao Feng observed everything in silence, his gaze calm yet incredibly sharp, as if he were dissecting every movement, every breath, every fluctuation in the beast's aura.
"A Snow Demon Heaven Ape…" he said slowly, his voice low and steady, carrying a tone of analysis rather than surprise.
"An adult one…"
"Has the strength to shatter gold and split mountains…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"This one…"
"It has just stepped into adulthood…"
A brief pause followed.
"But even so…"
"It's already comparable to a 3-star Dou King."
Beside him, Zi Yan crossed her arms proudly, nodding her head as if confirming his judgment, her expression filled with confidence as though she had already measured this opponent long ago.
Xiao Feng continued, his gaze deepening further.
"You said it could transform…"
"Which means…"
"It has likely awakened a violent bloodline."
A faint smile slowly appeared on his lips.
"If it activates that bloodline…"
"Its strength could temporarily rival a 5-star Dou King."
He let out a soft chuckle, a hint of amusement slipping into his tone.
"No wonder you said it wouldn't be easy to deal with…"
"With this level of strength…"
"Even some of the Inner Academy Elders would find it troublesome."
Then—
He turned his head slightly, glancing at Zi Yan.
"You really know how to pick your targets."
Zi Yan's cheeks puffed up instantly at his words.
"That's because all the weaker beasts nearby are already cleaned out!" she said righteously, placing her hands firmly on her hips, her tone filled with complete confidence and zero guilt.
"If there were still good things near the academy…"
"Do you think I would run all the way here?"
Her expression was completely justified—
As if she had done absolutely nothing wrong.
Xiao Feng looked at her with a strange expression.
He didn't even need to ask.
It was painfully obvious who the "culprit" was.
The Heaven and Earth treasures guarded by weaker Magical Beasts near the Inner Academy…
Had most likely all been taken—
By her.
This place—
Was far from the Inner Academy.
Even with Zi Yan's natural treasure-sensing ability—
It must have taken considerable effort to find this valley.
Which meant only one thing—
This Snow Demon Heaven Ape…
Was simply unlucky.
At that moment—
The massive ape below suddenly raised its head.
Its blood-red eyes flared with fury as it glared directly at Zi Yan, its killing intent surging like a storm.
Then—
Its gaze shifted slowly toward Xiao Feng.
And this time—
There was caution.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Then—
A thunderous voice exploded outward.
"It's you again!"
The sound was like a violent thunderclap, echoing through the valley and shaking the surrounding trees as if the earth itself had trembled.
"Have you not learned your lesson after being driven away earlier?!"
Its voice was filled with anger, dominance, and an overwhelming sense of authority.
"You cannot defeat me!"
"Do not harbor foolish thoughts of taking the Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid!"
Its massive chest rose and fell violently as it roared, the pressure of its aura spreading outward like a storm.
"Leave now…"
"And I may spare your lives!"
Hearing this—
Xiao Feng's eyes flickered slightly.
Earth Core Body Tempering Fluid…
A rare Heaven and Earth treasure formed deep beneath the earth, created from countless years of compressed pure earth energy, first forming into mist over centuries, and then condensing into liquid over a thousand years—
A treasure capable of cleansing marrow, refining bones, strengthening the body, and even helping those stuck at their peak break through their limits.
A truly priceless resource.
No wonder Zi Yan had her eyes on it.
But before Xiao Feng could respond—
Zi Yan had already stepped forward.
She placed her hands on her hips, her small figure radiating an unexpected dominance as she glared fiercely at the giant ape below.
"Hmph! You stupid monkey!"
Her voice rang out loudly, filled with defiance and confidence.
"Don't act so arrogant!"
"It's not that I can't beat you…"
"I just didn't want to waste my energy on you before!"
She suddenly pointed straight at Xiao Feng.
"But now—"
"My friend is here!"
A confident grin spread across her face.
"He won't even need ten moves to deal with you!"
"You're already dead!"
Seeing the smug, self-satisfied smile on Zi Yan's face, Xiao Feng didn't know whether to laugh or sigh. He stared at her for a long moment, as if trying to understand just where this blind confidence of hers was coming from—how she could trust him so completely after knowing him for less than a day.
Finally, he exhaled slowly, a faint hint of helplessness appearing on his face as he shook his head lightly and said, "Girl… it hasn't even been a full day since you met me, and you're already this confident in me?"
His gaze drifted toward the massive Snow Demon Heaven Ape below before returning to her, his tone turning slightly serious as he continued, "I'm only a 7-star Dou Spirit, not even a Dou Wang… yet you're acting like I can crush that thing in a few moves."
Zi Yan didn't reply. She simply stood there, smiling calmly, her eyes carrying a strange certainty—as if the outcome was already decided, as if she had already seen something he himself had yet to realize. That kind of confidence wasn't logical… yet it felt strangely convincing.
At the same time, the Snow Demon Heaven Ape remained motionless below. Its enormous body stood like a silent mountain, but its blood-red eyes were locked tightly onto Xiao Feng, filled with vigilance. Unlike Zi Yan, it did not act recklessly. Because of the distance, it couldn't sense any powerful aura from Xiao Feng—only emptiness, only calm.
And that was exactly what made it cautious.
Because in the instincts of Magical Beasts, the ones who appeared the most harmless were often the ones hiding the deepest danger.
A faint wind swept through the valley, rustling the trees, as Xiao Feng's expression gradually turned calm. Since things had reached this point, there was no need to hold back anymore.
With a single silent thought—
He called upon his Fire Spirit.
In that instant, the world itself seemed to change. The air trembled violently as invisible ripples spread outward, and a strange fluctuation began to rise—wild, ancient, and completely unrestrained. Even the surrounding space seemed to distort slightly, as if it could not fully withstand what was about to appear.
Then, without warning, a radiant figure burst into existence beside Xiao Feng.
Flames surged outward—but they were not ordinary flames. They shimmered in countless colors, layered and intertwined, as if each strand contained the essence of a different Magical Beast, roaring silently within. The form that emerged was neither purely a dragon nor purely a phoenix—but something beyond both.
A fusion.
A dragon-phoenix flame spirit.
Its wings spread slowly and majestically, each movement sending waves of heat and pressure rolling through the air as it circled Xiao Feng once… then again… like a guardian acknowledging its master. A deep, ancient cry echoed from its form, resonating with a power that felt older than time itself.
Then it descended gently, leaning close to Xiao Feng and rubbing against his cheek with an almost affectionate motion, letting out soft, pleased sounds as if greeting someone it trusted above all else.
The scene looked calm—almost gentle.
But the aura it carried—
Was terrifying.
The moment it appeared, Zi Yan froze. Her smile vanished instantly, her pupils shrinking as her entire body stiffened. From the depths of her bloodline, an instinct surged upward uncontrollably—
Fear.
At the same time, the Snow Demon Heaven Ape trembled. Its massive frame, which had stood like an unshakable mountain just moments ago, now quivered slightly. Its blood-red eyes widened in disbelief, the arrogance within them completely replaced by shock.
Because as Magical Beasts, they did not rely on appearances… they relied on instinct—on bloodline.
And what they felt now—
Was absolute suppression.
"That… what is that…?" Zi Yan whispered unconsciously, her voice trembling faintly, her usual boldness completely gone.
The Snow Demon Heaven Ape took a step back—a single step, yet filled with meaning. Because a creature like it would never retreat unless it sensed something it could not fight… something beyond itself.
It had recognized it.
That flame…
Was not ordinary.
It was—
The Ten Thousand Beast Flame.
A flame born from countless Magical Beasts, carrying their essence, their will, their dominance—a flame that stood above them all, capable of suppressing their very blood.
The dragon-phoenix flame spirit circled once more, its blazing form illuminating the entire valley as an ancient pressure descended. The air grew heavy, breathing became difficult, and even the ground seemed to sink under that invisible force.
From that single existence, both Zi Yan and the Snow Demon Heaven Ape felt something they had never experienced before—
Not just fear…
But oppression.
An ancient, overwhelming oppression—as if they were standing before the ruler of all Magical Beasts, a presence far above them, one they could never defy.
And at the center of it all—
Xiao Feng stood quietly.
Calm. Unmoved. Unshaken.
He did not release his own aura. He did not make a move.
And yet—
At this moment—
Without lifting a single finger—
He had already become the most terrifying existence in the entire valley.