Morning Clouds, Evening Rain

Although Lin Ran's battle with the Amethyst Winged Lion King had ended very quickly, it still woke the sleeping Young Amethyst Winged Lion King.

While the Amethyst Winged Lion King had confronted Lin Ran, the little lion had bared its fangs at him. But when it saw its parent get instantly killed by a single slap from Lin Ran, the entire beast froze in shock.

Its originally fierce, snarling expression turned into whimpering as it lay prone on the ground, too afraid to look at Lin Ran. Its beast eyes were filled with terror.

Suddenly, the Young Amethyst Winged Lion King felt the world grow dark and instinctively looked up.

"Roar..."

That terrifying human was actually standing right before it. The Young Amethyst Winged Lion King shuddered in fright and staggered several steps back.

But before it had taken more than two steps, its vision went dark and its consciousness sank into silence.

The Young Amethyst Winged Lion King was the offspring of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Once it reached adulthood, it could directly enter the ranks of a Sixth-tier Magical Beast. Its potential was fairly good.

Although killing the Amethyst Winged Lion King had planted seeds of hatred in the little lion's heart, Lin Ran did not care.

Master-Servant Contracts, restriction brands, consciousness control...

He was not some young upstart who possessed only strength and no foundation. As the Young Sect Master of the Cloud Rain Sect, Lin Ran had plenty of methods at his disposal.

Controlling a mere Third-tier Magical Beast was naturally no problem.

"Hmm, there's even a hidden stash?"

Since Storage Rings could not hold living creatures, Lin Ran used the Power of Space to suspend the Young Amethyst Winged Lion King in midair. Just as he was about to leave, however, he discovered an unexpected gain.

Beneath a massive purple crystal in the corner of the cave dwelling were several Magic Cores from Fourth and Fifth-tier Magical Beasts, along with quite a few rare medicinal herbs. Their value was not particularly high, but since Lin Ran had come across them, he naturally would not leave them behind.

With a wave of his hand, Lin Ran swept away the Amethyst Winged Lion King's entire stockpile.

After settling everything, Lin Ran brought the Young Amethyst Winged Lion King back to the cave where Yun Yun was staying.

At that moment, Sect Master Yun was staring absentmindedly at the cave entrance, lost in thought.

With her cultivation sealed, she had not even noticed Lin Ran returning to the cave.

Lin Ran did not disturb her. Instead, he leisurely sat on a stone slab and watched the lovely beauty.

Come to think of it, because of the side effects of the Cultivation Method he practiced, Lin Ran had gone straight for Yun Yun during this period and had never properly admired her.

Now that he had calmed his mind, she truly possessed a unique charm.

Her eyes were like autumn waters, her brows like distant mountains.

Though the noble Phoenix Hairpin had long since vanished after Lin Ran's torment, her smooth black hair fell over her shoulders, and her beautiful, captivating face was calm and serene. Paired with his black robe draped over her fair, delicate body...

"What the hell is that bastard doing out there..."

Yun Yun wrapped her arms around herself and muttered softly. Then she gave a self-mocking smile and shook her head. "What he is doing has nothing to do with me. Yun Yun, Yun Yun, you have cultivated alone for so many years. How could you fall for some young man?"

"Besides, he's a lecher who took advantage of me and ruined my innocence. It would be best if he never came back!"

"I should hurry up and cultivate to break this seal..."

Yun Yun murmured to herself, her eyes filled with incomparably complicated emotions—hatred and love, worry and helplessness.

The sight of the beauty's longing made Lin Ran's desire stir.

"You seem to have been talking about me all this time."

Lin Ran embraced Yun Yun from behind. The beauty in his arms trembled, but upon hearing that familiar voice and smelling that familiar scent, her whole body relaxed again.

"You lecher, I wish you'd died outside!"

Yun Yun retorted softly.

"Is that so?"

The corners of Lin Ran's lips curled upward as he turned Yun Yun around to face him.

"You're my captive now. Aren't you afraid I'll punish you for saying such things to my face?"

"P-punish?! Ah!"

Yun Yun's expression changed, and she let out a startled cry.

Morning clouds, evening rain.

Lin Ran looked at Yun Yun, who was nearing her limit, and smacked his lips.

This would not do.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Ran reached out.

"N-no more..."

Yun Yun's weak voice carried a trace of pleading.

"What do you mean, no more? You need it."

Thick Dou Qi burst forth from Lin Ran's palm, flooding into her in an instant and surging forward along her meridians.

The Purple Gold Winged Lion King's Amethyst Seal used the power of Purple Fire to seal Dou Qi, forcefully sealing Yun Yun's Three-star Dou Huang strength until she had become no different from an ordinary person.

This seal was extremely powerful. If Yun Yun relied on herself to undo it, it would require a great deal of time.

But for Lin Ran, it was nothing.

The sudden influx of such intense Dou Qi made Yun Yun let out a muffled groan. Soon, however, she noticed that the Amethyst Seal inside her body was rapidly dissolving like ice and snow.

In just a few breaths, the Amethyst Seal within Yun Yun had been completely shattered. The aura of a Dou Huang spread from her body, and her abundant Dou Qi instantly dispelled all soreness and exhaustion.

The seal was broken, and the aura of a Dou Huang overflowed!

"You..."

Feeling her strength return, Yun Yun's beautiful eyes widened as she stared at Lin Ran in disbelief, as if asking why he had helped remove her seal.

But Lin Ran said nothing. Instead, he used his actions to explain everything.

About two hours later, the fierce battle between the strong finally came to a temporary end. Lin Ran stood up and stretched, feeling completely refreshed.

Yun Yun, on the other hand, was having a harder time.

Even though Lin Ran had undone the seal on her body and restored her Dou Huang strength, she had nearly been unable to endure Lin Ran's unrestrained torment.

All he could say was that she truly deserved to possess the physique that had caused a powerhouse like the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts to immediately take her as a disciple upon discovering it.

The Pure Yang Physique was terrifying indeed!

"I remember you said before that you came here for Purple Spirit Crystal, right?" As if recalling something, Lin Ran suddenly spoke.

"Mhm."

Yun Yun's voice was as thin as a thread. She had come to the Monster Beast Mountain Range seeking Purple Spirit Crystal to help her disciple break through in cultivation, yet not only had she failed to obtain it, she had ended up losing herself as well.

It really was...

Thud!

The dull impact pulled Yun Yun from her thoughts. She instinctively raised her head, only to find a half-man-tall chunk of Purple Spirit Crystal before her, radiating a soft purple glow.

"This!"

Yun Yun's eyes widened. "This is Purple Spirit Crystal?! How can it be so large?"

"It's decent enough. All the Purple Spirit Crystal in that little lion's stockpile had been piled together, so I simply brought it all back."

"This stuff can at most temper the Dou Qi and Dou Skills of Dou Zhe and Dou Shi-level cultivators. It's useless to me and takes up space. Since you need it, take it."

Lin Ran spoke casually, igniting the bonfire before him with Dou Qi. He then took out a fine piece of magical beast meat from his Storage Ring, held it over the fire, and began roasting it.

"The little lion's stockpile?!"

Lin Ran's words left Yun Yun dumbfounded. If she had guessed correctly, that little lion should refer to the culprit who had reduced her to this state—the Sixth-tier Magical Beast Amethyst Winged Lion King.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King's treasury...

"Y-you killed the Amethyst Winged Lion King?!"