Imprint

It had taken no more than ten minutes to go there and back, yet he had directly acquired the Purple Spirit Crystal that the Amethyst Winged Lion King regarded as a treasure, taking it straight from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's treasury.

Given the Amethyst Winged Lion King's temperament, was there any other possibility besides killing it outright?

There was no doubting the Amethyst Winged Lion King's strength.

Even Yun Yun, a Three-star Dou Huang, had fallen into its hands through one careless mistake.

With that fellow's defenses, even a Five-star Dou Huang might not have been able to take it down in a true fight to the death, and it would certainly have been a grueling battle!

But Lin Ran...

"You mean that little lion? Here it is."

Lin Ran raised the meat roasting over the campfire in his hand toward Yun Yun. "Prime tenderloin, excellent texture. Want a taste?"

"I originally planned to spare its life and have it guard my door, but it refused, so I slaughtered it. There's also a cub at the cave entrance. If you're interested, you can take it away."

"Oh, right. If you want revenge, that's possible too. Although I killed it, its soul is still in my hands."

As he spoke, a faint glimmer flashed from Lin Ran's Storage Ring, and a transparent crystal ball appeared in his palm.

Within the crystal ball, a wisp of purple-gray soul struggled desperately. It bore a seventy to eighty percent resemblance to the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

He had really killed it...

Yun Yun parted her lips, but for a moment, she did not know what to say.

Yun Yun had encountered souls before, but her understanding of them was shallow. In her eyes, they were an exceptionally mysterious power.

Yet now, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's soul was being toyed with so casually by Lin Ran. That alone was enough to show the gap between them.

Lin Ran's airy words struck Yun Yun like a heavy hammer, leaving her dazed. Recalling how he had walked through the air earlier, the guess in her heart became increasingly certain.

To so easily deal with the Amethyst Winged Lion King and even imprison its soul, Lin Ran was undoubtedly a Dou Zong expert.

But why did he look so young?

Wait!

Could this guy be some old monster wearing the appearance of a young man?!

On the Dou Qi Continent, it was common for powerful experts to retain youthful appearances. After breaking through, they could gain long lifespans and reclaim their youth.

Even among elderly men, not everyone was willing to wear an old face full of ravines and wrinkles.

Though Lin Ran looked like a teenager, he might very well have been seventy or eighty years old, perhaps even over a hundred.

I actually let an old monster like that...

"Your little head is thinking some very impolite thoughts right now, isn't it?"

Lin Ran glanced at Yun Yun as he handed her the roasted magical beast meat.

Having been seen through at a glance by Lin Ran, Yun Yun's cheeks immediately turned pink. She mumbled awkwardly, "What Dou Zong expert is your age? You look no older than seventeen or eighteen. How could I not overthink it?"

"I know I'm exceptionally gifted."

"...Shameless."

Yun Yun spat lightly. Lin Ran hummed twice and sampled the roasted tenderloin in his hand.

It had to be said, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's meat tasted incredible. It was not only tender and juicy, but also burst with a unique fire-element energy, making for an excellent texture.

Yun Yun lightly bit her lip as she watched Lin Ran leisurely roast magical beast meat before her, her emotions incomparably complicated.

How could such an outstanding and powerful young man have done that sort of thing to her?

Could it really have been, as he claimed, to relieve some so-called pressure?

At the thought of her first conversation with Lin Ran, the tips of Yun Yun's ears and her neck began to flush pink.

"Thank you..."

Yun Yun suddenly said.

"Hm?"

Lin Ran looked at Yun Yun in surprise, then handed her the delicious roasted tenderloin with a faintly teasing smile. "You'd actually thank me? What, you're not planning to kill me anymore?"

"You! I-I'm only saying it for the Purple Spirit Crystal's sake!"

Yun Yun blushed as she forcibly defended herself.

"Oh, is that so? Then I won't give it to you. If I stuff my Storage Ring a little tighter, I can barely fit it in."

"Ah?"

"What do you mean, 'ah'? Who told you to thank someone with so little sincerity?"

"Sincerity? Ah! You—you... you bastard!"

The battle between the Dou Huang and the Dou Zong began once more. It had to be admitted that a Dou Zong was powerful. Though there was only a single rank between them, that gap gave the Dou Zong an absolute advantage in their battle.

Before long, the Dou Huang had been beaten so thoroughly that she was left in disarray and unable to continue fighting.

The Dou Zong also carried herself like a true expert. Though she held every advantage, she did not press her opponent to the death, sparing her beneath the spear.

After resting for a while, the two fought again.

The battle was so intense that heaven and earth seemed to darken, even space itself being torn apart. It was truly terrifying...

"Lin Ran."

Yun Yun had already straightened her clothes. A long green dress wrapped around her graceful figure, while her dark hair was arranged in an elegant coiffure. She was richly adorned and dignified, breathtakingly beautiful, and the lingering blush on her cheeks only added countless shades of charm.

Lin Ran's gaze roamed over Yun Yun's body without restraint. Yun Yun—her name truly lived up to that single word, Yun.

Only after Yun Yun spoke did he leisurely withdraw his gaze.

"What is it?"

"Although you are very strong, I cannot become your female slave... The Misty Cloud Sect still needs me as its sect leader, so..."

Yun Yun's cheeks were flushed pink, and she did not quite dare meet Lin Ran's eyes.

But as if she had made up her mind, her voice was exceptionally resolute. "Let's have a match!"

"...We've already had plenty of matches."

"Not that kind!"

Yun Yun nearly lost her mind. The dignity, nobility, and stern aura she had worked so hard to gather vanished in an instant, making Lin Ran unable to help finding it amusing.

Lin Ran raised his right hand. Dou Qi condensed at his fingertips into a streak of golden light that instantly entered the space between Yun Yun's brows.

"Th-this is!"

Yun Yun looked terrified. She instinctively touched her forehead and simultaneously tried to probe it with her Dou Qi.

"Don't worry. It's only a tiny mark. And for you, it might even be an opportunity."

An opportunity?

You planted a Slave Imprint on me, and you call this an opportunity?!

Yun Yun was on the verge of breaking down, but Lin Ran merely smiled faintly. "This mark allows me to sense your condition at all times. At the same time, it contains a trace of my origin power."

"This power will silently strengthen your body, refine your Dou Qi, and even improve your talent and cultivation realm."

"Tell me, if that isn't an opportunity for you, what is?"

"This..."

Yun Yun was somewhat astonished, but her eyes were filled with doubt.

Could it really be that amazing?

"You don't believe me?"

Lin Ran smiled faintly. "You are only a Three-star Dou Huang right now. Without outside help, even with normal cultivation, you likely won't be able to break through to the next star for several years. You should know that yourself."

"But with my origin power, your cultivation speed will increase greatly. In one year... no, around half a year, you should be able to smoothly break through to Four-star Dou Huang."

"W-what?!"