Amethyst Winged Lion King

Deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, in an exceedingly dangerous region, the rustle of footsteps echoed continuously through the forest. In these inner mountains, rarely visited by humans, several figures were now making their way forward.

"Kid, what kind of magical beast are you even looking for? What exactly are you trying to obtain?"

The Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor slithered alongside Yan Qingshan's group and asked curiously. After speaking with Yan Qingshan yesterday, the boy had brought them into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, saying that he needed to find magical beasts to complete some sort of ritual.

"I need a high-grade, Fire Attribute lion-type magical beast!"

After glancing around and determining their direction, Yan Qingshan continued. This area seemed to be one of the gathering grounds for lion-type magical beasts in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, with many traces left behind by such creatures. "My Lionheart Baptism has rather demanding requirements. Ordinary lion-type magical beasts are beneath my notice.

"It would be best if it had a high-grade bloodline but had not yet surpassed the Third-tier."

"And you call that not demanding!"

The Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor was speechless. Fire Attribute lion-type magical beasts already narrowed down a huge number of options, and then he wanted a high-grade bloodline while requiring it to be below the Third-tier. Wasn't that basically a juvenile Fire Attribute lion-type magical beast with a high-grade bloodline? Those were always protected by adult magical beasts!

If a juvenile already possessed Second-tier or even Third-tier strength, then the adult magical beasts would at least be Fourth-tier, perhaps even Fifth-tier. Such magical beasts were not easy to provoke. White Fang, however, was not worried. No matter how troublesome they were, could they really be more troublesome than the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor?

"I'll set up a trap around here. It should attract quite a few Fire Attribute magical beasts."

Yan Qingshan did not continue the previous topic and instead got down to business. Setting a trap amid the overgrown weeds of the Magical Beast Mountain Range was not difficult, but when Yan Qingshan took out the bait, the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake felt that something was wrong.

"This smells pretty good. I wonder how it tastes."

The moment Yan Qingshan took out the bait, the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor became interested. It lowered its head, flicked out its forked tongue, curled it back, and swallowed a Purple Smoke Fruit. "Uh... Drunken Dragon Grass and some strange ingredients. It could knock out most magical beasts below the Fourth-tier."

What Yan Qingshan had prepared was indeed potent, but White Fang was a Sixth-tier magical beast. At that level, ordinary drugs could scarcely knock it out. To it, Yan Qingshan's preparation was merely a snack.

The trap Yan Qingshan devised was simple, even crude. He merely found a fruit tree laden with mountain fruit, grafted several Purple Smoke Fruits onto it with a special technique, then stimulated their fragrance to lure in magical beasts.

"There really are a lot of Fire Attribute magical beasts around here."

A giant eagle covered in crimson markings was knocked unconscious by a single tail strike from the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake. The Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor, which had been watching the show all along, spoke boredly.

Yan Qingshan's trap was simple and brutal: lure in Fire Attribute magical beasts, then have the Fire Spirit Snake knock them out. Yet perhaps their luck was poor. After working for most of the day, they had not caught a single suitable magical beast.

"They're here!"

A strange glint suddenly flashed through Yan Qingshan's eyes, followed by a flicker of blue light. White Fang, the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor, narrowed its snake eyes, revealing a hint of surprise.

A commotion suddenly rose from the distant woods, and more than ten massive beasts entered Yan Qingshan's field of view.

These dozen or so magical beasts were of various species. Most were Fire Attribute magical beasts, while the few that were not all belonged to lion-type magical beasts. Even from afar, their strength could be sensed as formidable. Upon closer inspection, several could be recognized as well-known Third-tier magical beasts.

"Blood Demon Lion, Blue-maned Scorpion-tailed Lion, Golden Saber-toothed Lion... Fire Ibis Beast, Crimson Plume Eagle, Fire Cloud Steed... So many Third-tier magical beasts. It looks like these are elite subordinates of some magical beast overlord!"

With White Fang's help, Yan Qingshan and the others concealed themselves. The weakest of the magical beasts that had arrived were Third-tier, and over a dozen magical beasts of different species and attributes had gathered together. Something was definitely unusual.

"The main target has appeared. It's actually a juvenile from the Amethyst Winged Lion King clan, and it just happens to be Third-tier. What a coincidence..."

White Fang looked down at Yan Qingshan somewhat speechlessly, but Yan Qingshan's attention was wholly fixed on the magical beast that had just appeared.

This magical beast was not small, larger than a calf by a full size. Its entire body was bright purple, with a layer of violet crystal covering its surface. Beneath the sunlight, it gleamed brilliantly and was rather dazzling.

The beast had a fairly ferocious lion's head, though its youth gave it an adorably foolish look. Its beast eyes were blood-red with an unusual purple glow, its mouth was filled with fangs, and above its lion head stood a fiery red spiral horn. Clusters of purple flames coiled around the horn's tip. On either side of its massive lion body grew a pair of purple wings.

As the purple wings fluttered, clusters of pale violet flames swirled around its body. Its four powerful paws were likewise wrapped in a layer of purple crystal, giving it an exceptionally striking appearance.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King was royalty among lion-type magical beasts, a Fire Attribute magical beast with formidable purple flames and Amethyst Seal abilities. It was Third-tier in its juvenile stage and became a Sixth-tier magical beast comparable to a Dou Emperor upon adulthood. It was truly a high-ranking magical beast species.

After staring at the juvenile Amethyst Winged Lion King for a while, White Fang, the Eight-winged Black Serpent Emperor, made its judgment. "With so many Third-tier magical beasts protecting this Amethyst Winged Lion King, its parents must be Sixth-tier magical beasts—one of the dominant powers in this Magical Beast Mountain Range."

Yan Qingshan suddenly asked, "Lord White Fang, can you sense whether there are any magical beasts above the Fifth-tier nearby?"

White Fang shook its head, somewhat puzzled. "No. This group is the strongest one around. In fact, with this many Third-tier magical beasts moving together, even Fourth-tier magical beasts would have to avoid them. Why are you asking?"

"Crimson Serpent, take them down. Don't let a single one escape."

Having received a definite answer, Yan Qingshan did not continue speaking with White Fang and directly ordered Crimson Serpent to attack. A streak of rainbow light shot forth. The juvenile Amethyst Winged Lion King, which was cautiously sampling the food beside the fruit tree, was startled by the disturbance, and the Purple Smoke Fruit in its mouth fell straight to the ground.

Bang! Bang!

Two enormous magical beasts were sent flying like cannonballs. Against the Fifth-tier Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake, they, being only Fourth-tier, were no match at all.

With their companions under attack, the remaining magical beasts naturally reacted. Crimson Serpent's power left them briefly panicked, but as subordinates of a Sixth-tier magical beast, they quickly organized themselves to cover the little Amethyst Winged Lion King's retreat. At the same time, they opened their mouths wide, preparing to call for reinforcements.

A cloud of green smoke rapidly rose from the ground, engulfing the area occupied by the magical beasts. Before they could react, every one of them began choking miserably. Their mouths, noses, and throats burned alike, and their cries for help were immediately replaced by coughing. Since Yan Qingshan had chosen to strike, how could he possibly have failed to consider that the enemy might have reinforcements?

Third update