Devouring the Companion Amethyst Source

As a Dou Huang expert, she naturally understood just how difficult it was to make any advancement within this rank.

Her status as a Three-star Dou Huang was not solely due to her outstanding talent; more importantly, it had come from the Misty Cloud Sect's allocation of resources, bolstered by all manner of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and medicinal pills.

Without those things, advancing even one level at the Dou Huang stage would take at least several years!

Even if Lin Ran was a Dou Zong, this was merely an imprint of power. How could it possess such might?

"All right, the imprint has already been placed. Whether you refuse or accept is no longer up to you."

Lin Ran smiled faintly. "Time will prove everything I've said. Also, don't forget about that Young Amethyst Winged Lion King outside."

"After taking it away, remember to keep its consciousness under control. Otherwise, if it causes trouble in the Misty Cloud Sect, you'll have a hard time."

His dominance was tempered with consideration for her, and that strange feeling left Yun Yun at a loss for words.

A trace of helplessness flashed through Yun Yun's beautiful eyes.

"Once the Young Amethyst Winged Lion King reaches adulthood, it will be a genuine Sixth-tier Monster Beast. The Jia Ma Empire's imperial family can only keep the throne secure because they have a Sixth-tier Abyssal Sea Flood Dragon, along with Jia Xingtian, a peak Dou Huang."

"If this beast is truly given to me, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous help to both me and the Misty Cloud Sect."

Yun Yun shook her head. "But one should not accept rewards without merit. You have already given me such a large piece of Purple Spirit Crystal. How could I... mm!"

"Who said you have no merit?"

Lin Ran's large hand roamed without restraint. "When you return to the Misty Cloud Sect this time, there are matters I need you to handle."

"Y-you, say it..." Yun Yun's delicate body trembled.

"Though your Misty Cloud Sect is weak, it has been rooted in the Jia Ma Empire for many years. Even across the entire Northwest Continent, it has quite a reputation and knows a fair amount about the region."

"I need you to gather information on high-tier Monster Beasts for me. You don't need to take action; just provide me with intelligence."

As he spoke, Lin Ran took out a crystal and a jade slip from his Storage Ring.

Yun Yun felt somewhat helpless. To the Jia Ma Empire, the Misty Cloud Sect was unquestionably the number one sect. Even across the entire Northwest Continent, it was a colossal force.

Yet in Lin Ran's eyes, such an existence could only be described with the word "weak."

However, when she considered Lin Ran's age and strength, Yun Yun could only silently accept it as she took the crystal and jade slip from his hand.

"This crystal can keep us in contact. Simply channel your spiritual power and Dou Qi into it, and even if we are separated by a thousand miles, I will be able to receive it. However, it can transmit only a few minutes of messages each day at most."

"If you obtain any information about high-tier Monster Beasts, you can send it to me through this."

"As for this Space Jade Slip, it contains the power of one of my attacks. At a critical moment, you may crush it to fend off enemies."

"I won't say more than that—below the Dou Zun realm, you need fear no one!"

Yun Yun was, after all, the sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect. There were still sect affairs that needed her attention. Although Lin Ran did not care about such matters, Yun Yun herself cared deeply.

She was not a woman who would completely submit merely because her body had been taken.

Within Yun Yun's heart, the Misty Cloud Sect held absolute importance. Though Lin Ran was quite taken with Yun Yun and she made him feel utterly refreshed, he had no intention of forcibly controlling her.

A forcibly picked melon was never sweet. As the young sect master of the Cloud Rain Sect, Lin Ran believed in mutual willingness!

Thus, after indulging with Lin Ran fiercely for quite some time, Yun Yun still left the Monster Beast Mountain Range with the Young Amethyst Winged Lion King and that large piece of Purple Spirit Crystal.

"The Misty Cloud Sect..."

This sect, which was crucial in the early stages of Dou Qi Continent, was entangled with far too many things. Leaving aside everything else, Xiao Yan, a future threat, was bound to appear at the Misty Cloud Sect!

And then there was the Soul Hall.

The Cloud Rain Sect and the Soul Hall were both the sort of sect forces that made people grit their teeth in hatred, though the Soul Hall was even darker and more evil than the Cloud Rain Sect.

After all, the Cloud Rain Sect dealt with bodies at most, and even then, only with people from within the sect.

The Soul Hall was different. Those people toyed with souls, their soul-harvesting chains spread throughout the Dou Qi Continent, and they specifically targeted noble alchemists!

Yet under such circumstances, it was the Cloud Rain Sect that had been driven out of Central Continent rather than the Soul Hall. When the Cloud Rain Sect was expelled, those bastards from the Soul Hall had even contributed quite a bit.

Lin Ran himself had once crossed paths with a Soul Hall Protector.

The Pure Yang Physique was not merely powerful in terms of the physical body; its soul was equally extraordinary. When those Soul Hall Protectors saw Lin Ran, they were even more excited than when they saw high-tier alchemists!

Had it not been for Lin Ran's three formidable masters, he would likely have long since fallen victim to the Soul Hall.

At the thought of those people from the Soul Hall, a cold gleam flickered in Lin Ran's eyes, and he sneered.

"Protector Wu, was it..."

"But the Misty Cloud Sect really is a fine foundation."

Establishing a sect was not easy. It would be manageable with a vast supply of resources, but everyone understood the Cloud Rain Sect's current situation. Otherwise, wouldn't it have been better to remain in Central Continent? Why would they need to come to such a barren place to establish a branch sect?

It could be said that aside from having some resources in Dou Skills and Cultivation Methods, Lin Ran essentially had nothing else. Building a sect would be almost like starting from scratch.

If he had a sect as a foundation, things would undoubtedly become much easier.

Thinking of this, Lin Ran shook his head and emptied his mind.

Establishing a branch sect was a major undertaking and could not be accomplished overnight. As the young sect master of the Cloud Rain Sect, this branch sect would undoubtedly become the foundation of his future.

Even if the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts agreed to him doing things casually, Lin Ran himself would not agree.

"I should absorb this Purple Fire first."

With a slight movement of his palm, the Companion Amethyst Source appeared in Lin Ran's hand.

In the original story, Xiao Yan had been too weak to directly devour the entire Companion Amethyst Source. Thus, he had used a Purple Spirit Crystal to break it open and absorb the Amethyst Source within.

However, the Companion Amethyst Source in Lin Ran's hand had not been broken open, so it was whole. Like a crystal, it emitted a soft, lustrous glow.

Feeling the scorching energy emanating from the Companion Amethyst Source, Lin Ran let out a soft sigh.

His cultivation had stagnated. Even Yun Yun's Dou Huang Dou Qi could not push him forward in the slightest. If he wished to advance again, he had to make up for his insufficient blood essence.

Unfortunately, twelve types of Sixth-grade or higher Monster Beast blood essence and three Seventh-tier or higher Monster Beast Magic Cores were incredibly difficult to find. The Heavenly Spirit Blood Dragon Pill remained far out of reach, so for now, he could only hope that this Purple Fire would prove somewhat useful.

"Condense!"

Looking at the enormous Companion Amethyst Source before him, Lin Ran took a deep breath. The sea-like Dou Qi surging within his body flowed through his palm and rapidly compressed toward the Companion Amethyst Source.

A hum came from the surface of the Companion Amethyst Source. Ripples appeared across its protective layer as it continuously devoured Lin Ran's Dou Qi.

But soon, that protective layer began to tremble.

The shell of the Companion Amethyst Source possessed an absorptive effect; any attack would be devoured by it.

However, that absorption had its limits. Lin Ran's power was immeasurable, and under the compression of his Dou Qi, cracks quickly appeared in the Companion Amethyst Source's protective shell. It shattered, then began to collapse and compress.

Purple liquid seeped from the cracks, but under Lin Ran's Dou Qi, it was forced back into the Companion Amethyst Source.

After several breaths, the Companion Amethyst Source had been compressed to the size of a thumb. An alluring purple glow radiated from its surface, making it look like a purple glass orb, or perhaps a medicinal pill.