Deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, atop a massive mountain.
At its summit, a huge cave entrance lay half-hidden beneath overhanging branches.
In front of the cave, two Magical Beasts lay sprawled on the ground, their upper and lower eyelids fighting to stay open.
"Old man, are you playing with me? The two beasts guarding the entrance are already fourth-tier. What kind of terrifying existence must be inside?"
Xiao Yan crouched in the bushes, not daring to move. His face was pale, cold sweat pouring down.
He felt that Yao Chen had tricked him.
Either of those two gatekeepers could swallow a Dou Practitioner like him in a single bite.
And yet he was supposed to negotiate with the terrifying being inside.
Was this not courting death?
Yao Chen chuckled. "With me here, have you been discovered by any Magical Beast along the way?"
"That… seems true."
"Enough. Go. With me around, even if you cannot win, escaping will not be a problem."
Yao Chen coaxed.
"I will trust you this once."
After gritting his teeth and silently encouraging himself, Xiao Yan slowly stepped out of the bushes.
He was immediately noticed by the two Magical Beasts.
The drowsiness in their eyes was instantly replaced by killing intent.
They strode toward Xiao Yan, baring sharp fangs and horns.
Xiao Yan staggered back in terror.
Yao Chen had to release the Bone Spirit Cold Flame to force the two beasts back.
They let out a roar.
Moments later.
A Magical Beast nearly seven or eight meters long emerged from the cave.
The moment Xiao Yan saw it, his clothes were soaked in sweat.
It was the first time he had seen such a terrifying Magical Beast.
Its entire body was covered in purple crystal armor.
At that moment, its blood-red eyes, tinged with a strange violet glow, swept disdainfully over Xiao Yan.
Its massive, fang-filled mouth opened.
"Human brat, speak. Who brought you here?"
It did not believe that a weakling it could kill with a single sneeze had the ability to pass through layers of dense forest to stand before it.
"I… I came to tell you some information," Xiao Yan said.
"Speak. If I find you are spouting nonsense, you will become my dinner."
As it spoke, the Amethyst Winged Lion King stomped its thick forelimb heavily onto the ground.
The earth trembled violently, as though the entire mountain might collapse.
Xiao Yan's legs shook uncontrollably.
After cursing Yao Chen thoroughly in his heart, he followed the instructions he had been given.
"Half a month ago, when I passed by the outer region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, I overheard several people saying they would come to kill you and take your Magic Core. Among them was a Dou Emperor."
"Is that so?"
"If you do not believe me, you can see for yourself. They are currently in a valley a hundred miles away."
"Speak. What do you want?"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King was no fool. Coming all this way to deliver such news must mean he wanted something.
"Could you give me a piece of Amethyst Spirit Crystal?"
Xiao Yan stammered.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King snorted coldly. "An Amethyst Spirit Crystal sheds from my body only once every twenty years. Do you think you can have it just because you ask?"
"I… I saved your life."
"Whether that is true remains to be seen. Guard him. Do not let him escape. I will go see for myself."
After issuing the order, its purple wings flapped, spraying clusters of flame like a flamethrower.
In the blink of an eye, it vanished into the sky.
…
At the same time.
In a valley within the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Ye Hao sat cross-legged atop a large rock, cultivating.
As the Saint-Grade Devouring Heaven Technique circulated, energy within several miles surged wildly into his body.
The terrifying sight left even Yun Yun, who believed she had seen great scenes before, utterly stunned.
Her red lips parted slightly as she murmured,
"He… he is just as outstanding as before."
"Back then, he quickly surpassed me after standing behind me."
She had a premonition that it would not be long before Ye Hao once again surpassed her.
Only this time, there was another person between them.
Yun Yun glanced at Xun'er and bit her lip lightly.
From Xun'er's casual remarks, she could tell her background was extraordinary.
Even her identity as the Sect Master of the Yunlan Sect might hold no advantage before her.
What comforted Yun Yun was that Ye Hao still remembered their past.
And that was her only advantage.
Xun'er's attention remained fixed on Ye Hao.
She did not notice Yun Yun's subtle movements.
Little Fairy Doctor diligently studied the Seven-Colored Poison Manual.
Once Ye Hao finished cultivating, she could safely find a place to consume poison and increase her strength.
Suddenly.
Yun Yun sprang to her feet.
She looked toward the east.
"This is bad. The disturbance from Ye Hao's cultivation has drawn the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Be careful."
When she had come here before, she had investigated.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King's overall strength was similar to hers, around a three-star Dou Emperor.
However, it was daytime.
With sunlight enhancing it, its combat strength would double.
In the past, it had been Ye Hao who defeated it with ease.
"Watch Ye Hao. I will lure it away."
With a flick of her jade-like hand, a longsword shimmering with a strange glow flashed into existence.
She pushed off the ground with her long legs.
Her graceful figure arced beautifully through the air as she sped off in another direction.
"Be careful," Xun'er called.
Little Fairy Doctor clutched a handful of white powder in her palm.
She knew it might be useless.
But what if it worked?
"Foolish woman. If you flee, they will not escape."
The Amethyst Winged Lion King saw Yun Yun trying to draw it away and assumed guilt.
It would not fall for human tricks.
"Stop."
Yun Yun's face paled.
She quickly turned back.
With a lift of her hand, a small green tornado appeared before her.
It swelled rapidly in the wind, growing into a massive vortex over ten meters tall, roaring as it swept toward the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
Where it passed, giant trees were uprooted and shredded into splinters.
"Hmph. The Magical Beast Mountain Range is my domain. It is not for you humans to run wild."
The Amethyst Winged Lion King roared coldly.
The purple crystals on its body shone brilliantly as surging violet flames erupted, converging into a massive pillar of purple fire.
It collided with the green tornado.
Storm and flame clashed violently.
Boom.
A thunderous explosion resounded in the sky.
Space itself seemed to ripple.
However.
In the next instant.
A shocking scene unfolded.
The terrifying energy fluctuations from the explosion gathered toward Ye Hao and were completely absorbed into his body.
Yun Yun was startled, but she had no time to think. She had to stop the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
Boom.
A muffled sound erupted from within Ye Hao's body.
"Hao Gege, you… you broke through."
Xun'er exclaimed in delight.
Ye Hao opened his eyes and nodded.
"Xun'er, Little Fairy Doctor, step back."
After they retreated.
Ye Hao stepped forward.
Green Lotus Core Flame in his left hand. Sea Heart Flame in his right.
"Amethyst Winged Lion King, I did not provoke you, yet you came to cause trouble. Very well. Today, you shall taste the power of the Great Desolate Heaven Imprisoning Finger formed from two Heavenly Flames."
His hands formed seals rapidly.
The two Heavenly Flames converged above his head, transforming into a massive blue-green finger over ten meters long.
"Great Desolate Heaven Imprisoning Finger. One Finger Imprisons Heaven and Earth."
As Ye Hao pointed toward the Amethyst Winged Lion King, the giant finger shot forward with terrifying might.
In that instant, space itself seemed to tear apart.
Yun Yun was too shocked to speak.
Such a terrifying attack had been unleashed by a Dou Spirit.
Even more unbelievable was that the explosion from her and the Lion King's earlier clash had been entirely absorbed by Ye Hao, aiding his breakthrough to a six-star Dou Spirit.
No words could describe how terrifying this was.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King saw the enormous finger hurtling toward it. Its blood-red eyes widened as it hurriedly dodged to the side.
Even so, it was caught in the blast.
Its hind leg was injured, blood flowing.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a low roar. "Humans, you are dead."
It soared into the air, its entire body radiating blinding violet light.
Clearly.
It was preparing its strongest killing move.
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