Chapter 66: Zi Yan's Strength!
From deep within the distant forest came a violent lion's roar, suddenly exploding in the sky like muffled thunder.
It lacked the violence of the Bear King but carried a different, indescribable majesty. The roar spread far and wide across the nearby forest.
"Hmm?"
The sudden loud roar did not surprise Jiang Yun and Zi Yan. As if expecting it, they both turned to look at the distant sky. There, purple-red light filled nearly half the sky. Even the lazy white clouds were tinged with a purple glow.
Their keen eyesight easily made out the newcomer.
"Purple Crystal Winged Lion King."
"Lion dog?"
Two voices sounded simultaneously, highlighting the difference between a top student and a poor student. They looked at each other. Jiang Yun's eyes were full of amusement. He smiled and rubbed the top of Zi Yan's head.
"Hmph —, in my inherited memories, this breed is used for guarding gates." Being looked at like that by Jiang Yun, even Zi Yan's thick skin grew hot. She snorted coldly, crossed her arms, and spoke matter-of-factly.
Indeed, given the Taixu Ancient Dragon's status in the magical beast world, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King probably did not even qualify to guard its gate.
Roar —
Another beast roar came. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King arrived before them, carried by gusts of wind.
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King resembled a lion. On its head was a fiery red spiral horn. Clusters of purple flames coiled around the tip of the horn. On its back grew a pair of purple wings. When it flapped them, waves of pale purple flame swept out.
It was seven or eight meters long. Its body was covered in a layer of purple crystals that gleamed brilliantly, rather dazzling — looking both noble and ferocious.
Just based on appearance, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was indeed impressive — quite suitable for pulling a carriage.
A strange thought suddenly popped into Jiang Yun's mind. The way he looked at the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King turned somewhat odd.
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King flew into midair and scanned its surroundings. Seeing the Bear King lying on the ground, a flash of anger passed through its eyes. This area was its territory. All the magical beasts here were its subjects. Now, someone had severely injured its underling. If word got out, who would follow it?
It examined the 'little ones' — Zi Yan and Jiang Yun. The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King could not discern their strength. This startled it slightly. But looking at how young they were, no matter how strong they were, how strong could they be?
Defeating a fifth-rank Bear King did not necessarily mean they could defeat it.
Although looking at Zi Yan made its heart inexplicably pound, it had no time to dwell on this.
"Humans, you have trespassed into my territory and slaughtered my subjects. How do you wish to die?"
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's sinister eyes examined the two. It shouted, speaking human tongue.
"You are asking for death."
The Lion King's words angered Zi Yan. How dare it curse Xiao Yun to die? Then you will die instead.
Boom —
As her voice fell, Zi Yan's long leg stomped violently on the ground. The terrifying force caused the ground within a hundred-meter radius to collapse. Her entire body rushed toward the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King like a cannonball.
"A sixth-rank shape-shifting magical beast!"
The moment Zi Yan's aura erupted, the Lion King's pupils contracted. It recognized her identity — a shape-shifting magical beast, and of a bloodline rank far above its own.
"Wait —"
"Wait for what? Let me see how thick your skin is!"
Zi Yan shouted delicately. Her figure turned into a blur, rushing before the Lion King. Purple light condensed on her fair fist, finally forming a fierce dragon head. She punched out fiercely.
Facing Zi Yan's attack, the Lion King did not dare to slack. Its Dou Qi operated at full speed. Enraged, it swung its paw at Zi Yan. With the enhancement of Dou Qi, the purple crystals on its paw surface bloomed with dazzling light. Its defense was more than just one level higher.
Fist and paw met. A sharp energy burst from the point of impact, causing ripples in the air. The ripples spread outward, easily shattering the rocks below.
The commotion of the battle in the sky disturbed many magical beasts. Various strange beast roars sounded from the mountains. Magical beasts rarely seen in the outside world began to appear, watching the battle from afar.
But although many magical beasts appeared, not one came forward to help the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. The pressure emanating from that place filled their hearts with fear.
"Urgh —"
A painful groan sounded. The purple crystals on the Lion King's paw shattered completely. Blood poured down. In a contest of physical bodies, it was ultimately no match for the Taixu Ancient Dragon.
"It seems your strength is not as good as your mouth." Watching the Lion King fly backward, Zi Yan rubbed her completely unharmed hand and mocked. Her purple Dou Qi wings flapped behind her as she rushed rapidly toward the other.
Seeing Zi Yan coming again, the Lion King roared in anger. A thunderous snort came from its huge mouth. Its wings flapped, easily sliding a hundred meters away, opening the distance. At the same time, a purple fire pillar, two or three meters tall, shot from its body toward Zi Yan.
Watching the approaching purple fire pillar, Zi Yan did not evade. She charged straight at it.
"You are asking for death."
Seeing Zi Yan so reckless, the Lion King sneered. The purple flames around its body surged. Its huge paw, carrying a brilliant purple light, swung forward. A faint black crack appeared beneath its paw.
It wanted to take this opportunity to finish her off.
"Purple Crystal Seal."
At the same time, the purple light on the Lion King's body grew brighter and brighter. Suddenly, the light contracted. In the blink of an eye, the sky-covering purple radiance was compressed into a deep purple light pillar only half a foot long.
"So this is the Lion King's unique sealing technique?"
In the distance, Jiang Yun, who was playing a supporting role and cheering from the sidelines, put away the Bear King's magical core and quietly began to observe from the edge. He had no worries about Zi Yan's safety.
In terms of cultivation, strength, and bloodline, Zi Yan was far ahead. How could she lose?
Sure enough, as Zi Yan looked at the fire pillar before her and the purple light pillar following closely behind, a faint fluorescence shimmered around her. To the Lion King's bewilderment, Zi Yan's figure suddenly vanished.
"Right here."
A clear voice came from behind. The voice was very pleasant, but at this moment, the Lion King felt its very soul flee in terror.
Boom —
The next moment, a terrifying attack fell upon the Lion King's back. The purple crystals on its body shattered layer by layer. Its previously solid defense was now useless.
The Lion King, thrown into a large pit on the ground, lay there gasping. The scattered purple flames set the forest below ablaze. If not for water-attribute magical beasts stopping the fire, who knew how far it would have spread.
But at the center of the battle, a small magma lake had formed. All life nearby was extinguished — a silent testament to the terror of a Dou Huang battle.
"Geez, it is too weak. I should have gone easier." Looking at the Lion King, unable to fight any longer, Zi Yan muttered in dissatisfaction. She had only just warmed up. She had not even finished using her newly learned Dou Techniques, and it was already over. How unsatisfying.
"Its strength is inherently inferior to yours. Add to that the suppression of bloodline, and it can only exert seventy percent of its power. How could it withstand your torment?"
At this moment, Jiang Yun, who had been playing a supporting role the entire time, walked over. Seeing Zi Yan's dissatisfaction, he gently comforted her. "If you are still unsatisfied, find an open space. I will spar with you."
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, Zi Yan's eyes lit up. Then, as if remembering something, she said cautiously, "Then you are not allowed to use arrays, and not allowed to use flames."
Every time she sparred with Jiang Yun, he drove her crazy with his endless arrays and flame control techniques. It felt like having strength but nowhere to use it. She could not truly use her powerful Dou Techniques. It left her feeling frustrated every time.
Hearing Zi Yan's words, Jiang Yun chuckled lightly. "Alright, I promise you. No arrays, no flame control techniques."
To be honest, against an opponent like Zi Yan, who relied on her brutal physical strength, arrays were the most effective tool. Lock her inside, and she would feel powerless.
The reason he frequently used arrays and flame control techniques was to train those skills. Unfortunately, his spiritual array inheritance only went up to fifth-grade spiritual arrays. Beyond that, there were only fragments of information — not a single array diagram.
Recently, he had obtained Flame Sovereign's Five-Wheel Separating Flame Array. He had been studying the arrays of the Dou Qi Continent to advance his own array path. For now, his arrays were enough to deal with Dou Zongs. Once he reached Dou Zun, they would fall short.
What he was most interested in, actually, were the protective arrays of the various Emperor Clans, as well as Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint's Heaven-Refining Ancient Array.
As for flame control techniques, they were for pill refinement and for having an extra means of dealing with enemies.
"This time, I will definitely defeat you." Hearing Jiang Yun agree to her terms, Zi Yan was filled with excitement. A flame called fighting spirit burned in her eyes.
Glancing sideways at Zi Yan, Jiang Yun secretly thought to himself, Besides arrays and the Undying Sacred Flame, he still had his soul power. That was the real weapon against magical beasts.
Watching the excited Zi Yan, Jiang Yun could not bear to tell her the truth. Although she had the Bodhi pendant he had made, constantly nourishing her soul power, the gap between her and Jiang Yun was still enormous.
Hmm... should he teach Zi Yan a soul cultivation method?
After a strange thought arose, Jiang Yun glanced at the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King lying on the ground. Ultimately, they did not finish it off. Instead, he took Zi Yan and followed the aura toward the Lion King's lair.
After the two left, the magical beasts that had been watching from afar slowly approached.
Two streaks of light flashed across the sky. Silently, they landed on a pile of scattered rocks.
Not far away was a huge mountain. At the mountain's summit, a large cave entrance was faintly visible beneath the cover of branches.
"This is it. I smell good stuff." Zi Yan's eyes lit up as she looked at the cave entrance in the distance. She was eager to try. She had not expected an unexpected bonus.
"Let us go."
The way was unobstructed. The few third-rank guardian magical beasts could not stop the combination of Jiang Yun and Zi Yan.
Inside the cave, purple crystals were embedded in the surrounding walls. The deep, spacious interior was decorated with these purple crystals — extremely beautiful.
It was a scene that would make any girl's heart flutter. But for Zi Yan, it held no appeal.
As soon as she entered, her eyes scanned everywhere, not missing a single corner.
"Found it."
In no time, Zi Yan's eyes sparkled. She pulled Jiang Yun toward a deep cave entrance.
The further they walked, the hotter the surrounding temperature grew. Reaching the center of the cave, they saw a square platform piled with purple crystals over a meter high. A purple ball, the size of a head, sat quietly on it.
"Great stuff." Seeing the target, Zi Yan's eyes lit up. She circled around the Companion Purple Crystal Source.
"This is the Companion Purple Crystal Source — an excellent fire-attribute heavenly treasure."
"Xiao Yun!" Hearing this, Zi Yan's bright eyes looked at Jiang Yun. She did not say a word, but Jiang Yun could see the word in her eyes.
Want!
Chuckling softly, Jiang Yun took a piece of purple spirit crystal and, following the method, took most of the Companion Purple Crystal Source.
Roar —
Just as Jiang Yun and Zi Yan were about to leave, an angry lion roar came. The voice was very similar to the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's, only more immature.
Following the sound, at the cave entrance behind them, a small Purple Crystal Winged Lion King lay prostrate, baring its teeth and glaring angrily at the two.
"This should be the Lion King's cub. Just reached the third rank."
Seeing the small cub, Jiang Yun spoke calmly. A mere third-rank magical beast could not stop them.
At this moment, Zi Yan looked at the small cub roaring at them. A trace of reminiscence appeared in her eyes. Finally, she spoke with some disappointment. "Xiao Yun, do not hurt it. Let us go."
Jiang Yun knew Zi Yan very well. Moreover, she could never hide her feelings. Knowing that looking at the cub might have reminded her of her own childhood, Jiang Yun waved his sleeve. A burst of energy shot out.
With a bang, the small cub, before it could react, was knocked unconscious.
He reached out and took Zi Yan's hand. Jiang Yun spoke softly. "Let us go. No matter what happened before, I will be with you from now on."
Letting Jiang Yun pull her hand as they walked out, looking at the figure ahead, Zi Yan suddenly felt much better. She did not even notice the corners of her mouth curving into a touching smile.
"Hmph —, who asked you to be with me? I am afraid that if you are not by my side, you might get beaten to death. Then the alchemist I worked so hard to nurture would be gone. Would not I suffer a huge loss?"
Zi Yan's tone was still tsundere, but her body was very honest. She moved closer to Jiang Yun. In the end, she directly linked her arm through his and walked shoulder to shoulder with him.
Feeling the movement beside him, a hint of a smile passed through Jiang Yun's eyes.
May you be happy forever. Whatever difficulties arise, I will support you.
At the same time.
On the other side, Yun Yi followed Mu Gu Elder to a towering mountain peak that reached into the clouds.
The mountaintop was shrouded in thick white fog. Within it, a vast ancient palace faintly appeared.