The bonfire in the cave flickered between bright and dim as Yun Yun clenched the hem of her newly changed moon-white palace dress in her delicate hand.
A trace of anger showed on her face.
The reason she was so embarrassed and annoyed was entirely because of Xiao Yan's outrageous demand.
"Sect Master Yun, since ancient times, a life-saving debt has been hard to repay!"
"So, I'll give you two choices."
"First, find me seven sixth-tier medicinal herbs that can restore the soul."
"And fifteen fifth-tier medicinal herbs that are effective on the soul."
Xiao Yan turned the roasting meat on a bamboo skewer and casually named this sky-high reward.
"Impossible. Herbs that repair the soul are incredibly precious!"
"And you want seven sixth-tier ones!"
"Though a life-saving debt should be repaid at all costs—"
Yun Yun had barely begun before Xiao Yan abruptly moved closer.
Yun Yun's breath caught, and her pupils widened slightly.
The young man hooked a lock of her hair around his fingertip and smiled.
"The life of the Misty Cloud Sect's sect master is worth no more than a grass ring?"
"Could it be that Sect Master Yun is insulting Yan?"
Looking into those star-like eyes, Yun Yun actually found herself unable to respond for a moment.
As the lofty sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, when had she ever been teased like this?
"Crack."
Yet the tense atmosphere between them lasted only two or three breaths.
Before it was shattered by the sound of a porcelain bowl breaking nearby.
Both of them turned to look.
It was the jade bowl Xiao Yi Xian had been using to grind herbs. For some unknown reason, it had shattered.
She turned toward the two of them, revealing a trace of apology.
"It's nothing. My hands slipped. Please continue."
For some reason, Xiao Yan sensed a faint chill in Xiao Yi Xian's gaze.
Yun Yun, meanwhile, came back to her senses, her cheeks flushing crimson.
She suddenly pushed Xiao Yan away.
"Yan Xiao! You... you..."
Yun Yun's voice was mixed with embarrassment and anger. She thought for a long time.
Yet she did not know what words to use to describe Xiao Yan. She truly lacked the vocabulary for insulting people.
However, Xiao Yan, standing directly across from her, looked utterly unconcerned.
Then, as if performing a magic trick, he produced two Jade Slips.
"Sect Master Yun, this Ancient Jade Slip records several high-tier medicinal herbs capable of restoring the soul, making them easier for you to find."
"It can also enrich the Misty Cloud Sect's store of knowledge."
"But if you insist on refusing this condition of mine, you may consider the second choice."
"You won't need to give up any possessions at all!"
As he spoke, Xiao Yan handed the other Jade Slip to Yun Yun.
Yun Yun suppressed her earlier embarrassment and anger, then reached out to take it.
"Bang!"
She had only just opened it when she abruptly snapped it shut again, her earlobes red as though stained with cinnabar.
"You!"
Sword aura suddenly erupted around Yun Yun, only to withdraw back into her body due to the Amethyst Seal.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the crooked list of medicinal herbs on the first Jade Slip.
The handwriting clearly had been carved just moments ago. Some places were even stained with roasted meat sauce.
Meanwhile, the other Jade Slip contained only four words.
Offer oneself in marriage!
"What did I do?"
"Could it be that the famed sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect intends to accept kindness without repaying it?"
Yun Yun silently clenched her fists and pinched the corner of her clothes.
Looking at Xiao Yan's frivolous manner, she finally loosened her grip.
How had she ended up with such a scoundrel?
"Sigh, I accept the first condition."
"But I'll have to wait until I return to the sect. How do you intend to collect them?"
Xiao Yan smiled.
"There's no need for Sect Master Yun to concern herself with that. I'll come find you later."
"Since Sect Master Yun is being so sincere, I'll offer you a small gift as well."
As he spoke, Xiao Yan flicked his sleeve, and crimson flames surged from his palm, burning quietly.
The surrounding air warped along with them. At the instant Xiao Yan activated the Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame—
Purple radiance blazed from Yun Yun's body, and violet spiritual flames emerged.
They coiled together, condensing into the form of a miniature Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
"This sealing technique is rather interesting."
As his words fell, Xiao Yan spread his hand and made a grasping motion.
The violet flames seemed as though they had encountered their sovereign.
They poured from Yun Yun's body in a rush, gathered in Xiao Yan's palm, and were completely devoured.
Yun Yun watched Xiao Yan casually break the restriction of a Sixth Tier Magical Beast.
She could not help but be shocked, so much so that she did not immediately regulate the cultivation she had regained after the seal was broken.
This Amethyst Seal had originally been a fire-element seal formed by the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King at the cost of its origin.
Before Xiao Yan, who possessed the Master of Fire talent, Heavenly Flames, and Purple Fire.
It was utterly useless!
As for whether Yun Yun would use her cultivation to turn the tables after the seal was broken?
What a joke. What did he think the Emperor Tier battle technique—Ghost Possession—was for?
He never acted based on his impressions of these people from the original story.
He would only act after ensuring he had absolute confidence. He trusted only power!
After finishing all this, Xiao Yan rose and walked toward the cave entrance.
"I'll trouble Sect Master Yun to stabilize your cultivation here while looking after Xiao Yi Xian."
"I'm going to the lion's lair."
"Mm."
Yun Yun answered. When he had been seriously injured and unconscious, Xiao Yi Xian had cared for him.
Now that she had recovered her cultivation, she naturally would not stand idly by if danger appeared.
As the young man reached the cave entrance, Xiao Yi Xian was instead the one who felt somewhat worried.
"Xiao... Yan Xiao, be careful."
Xiao Yan nodded softly. Crimson Wings spread behind him, and he transformed into a streak of Flowing Fire as he shot into the sky.
Deep within the Monster Beast Mountain Range, before the cave of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
"Roar!"
The roar of a Fourth Tier Purple Lightning Mad Tiger shook rocks down from the mountain!
Xiao Yan tapped the ground with one foot and soared into the air. As the Heavy Black Ruler swept out, waves of flame condensed into an Eight Desolate Fire Dragon.
"Wave Splitting Flame Ruler: Nine Dragons Facing the Origin!"
The energy tide caused by this earth-tier battle technique infused with Heavenly Flames uprooted every plant within a hundred zhang!
Surging crimson flames turned into tangible waves of fire and swept out fiercely!
The purple tiger opened its mouth and spat out a thunderball, but at the instant it touched the crimson flames, it was strangely swept back.
Kirin Devouring Heaven Flame ignited deep within Xiao Yan's pupils!
"Boom!!!"
The surging explosion and shockwave flung the Fourth Tier Finger Tiger hundreds of meters away.
Xiao Yan seized the opening and used Instant Step to close in. Nine afterimages shouted at once.
"Eight Extremes Collapse!"
"Boom, boom, boom—!"
Eight layers of hidden force, carrying Heavenly Flames, penetrated its body. Cracks spread inch by inch across the purple tiger's scales, and blood spilled from its mouth.
Yet its ferocity only intensified!
The wings behind Xiao Yan's back spread to their limit.
The gale raised by a flap of his wings actually uprooted and snapped two ancient trees so large that three people would need to join arms to encircle them.
"For a fourth tier to make me use this move, you can die without regrets!"
"Flame Wings, Heaven Slash: Twin Moon Burial!"
Crimson flames and flowing fire abruptly swelled upward as two Blood Moons crossed and slashed through the purple tiger's waist and abdomen!
The enormous tiger's body split apart in an instant. Rocks burst apart, and the ground trembled.
Two hundred-meter-long ravines cut across the earth, their depths burning with crimson fire.
The Magical Beast crashed to the ground, its four claws still twitching faintly.
Xiao Yan walked over expressionlessly, plunged his five fingers into its skull, and forcibly ripped out its crystal core.
The lightning-wreathed magic core flickered in his palm like candlelight.
Inside the cave, a third-tier Purple Crystal Winged Lion King cub trembled as it watched the scene outside.
Xiao Yan suddenly turned and met its eyes, the corner of his lips pulling into a kindly smile.
Lion cub:!!!
Before it could react, Xiao Yan used Instant Step and rushed into the cave, appearing before it in the blink of an eye.
A sharp knock on the head knocked it unconscious.
He walked alone into the depths of the cave as purple light slowly filled his vision.
After placing the Companion Purple Crystal Source into his Storage Ring.
Just as he wanted to turn and leave, his footsteps suddenly halted.
He turned his head...
Before you continue