One-Star Dou Shi

Pfft!

Like a bursting bubble, the Dou Qi within me completely liquefied, heavy as water. The Qi vortex in my Dantian could no longer hold on and suddenly shattered!

"Don't panic. Steady your mind!"

A sharp cry rang out behind me, elegant yet carrying a hint of urgency. She quickly said, "Next, sink your consciousness into your Dantian and guide the liquefied Dou Qi into forming a vortex!"

I did not respond, merely following Yun Yun's instructions. I was not entirely ignorant about breaking through to Dou Shi. I had asked Nalan Tiedan about it before: when the Dou Qi vortex collapsed after a breakthrough, the most important thing was to promptly condense a new Dou Qi vortex.

Otherwise, without a core, the liquefied Dou Qi would dissipate and turn back into gaseous Dou Qi!

The liquefied Dou Qi was heavier and thicker than before, and much harder to control, requiring greater soul power. Fortunately, soul power was what I lacked least!

"Whoosh..."

With a soft boom, I fiercely pressed down with my soul power, and a tiny vortex immediately formed inside my Dantian. The liquefied Dou Qi began slowly circulating through my body along the vortex. The splashing sound, real yet illusory, reached my ears.

Success! A One-Star Dou Shi!

Excitement surged through me, and I laughed out loud. A One-Star Dou Shi—Dou Shi—I had finally broken through!

After the intense exhilaration came waves of exhaustion. My body went limp as I sat cross-legged, and I sprawled backward.

Then, I felt something soft and bouncy against my back, followed by a faint fragrance lingering at my nose. My body instantly stiffened. Looking up, who else could it be but Yun Yun?

When I fell, I had actually landed in Yun Yun's arms?!

A faint blush spread across her pretty face as she lowered her head to look at me. Our eyes met, making things even more awkward.

I gave an embarrassed dry laugh, forcing a smile uglier than tears as I hurriedly struggled to get up.

But I had forgotten just how exhausted I was. Where could I find the strength to climb up? I could only squirm around in Yun Yun's arms, making the situation still more awkward, before helplessly falling back... back onto the mat.

Yun Yun's face reddened further. She quietly rose to her feet, leaving me lying on the hard, cold stones of the cave—though there was still a thin mat beneath me.

I did not dare say anything. Filled with embarrassment, I lay there with my eyes closed, not daring to move, pretending to be asleep.

Yet before long, I could not help moving again. After tossing and turning twice on the mat, I could no longer endure it. Opening my eyes to look at Yun Yun, I said hesitantly:

"Um, Senior, it's already dark... The ground is so cold. Could you help me take out the blanket? I just broke through, and the Dou Qi in my body is unstable, so I can't use my Ring of Holding."

The blush had already faded from Yun Yun's face. She glanced at me, her expression as poised and calm as ever. Still, she walked over, crouched down, and lightly placed a finger on the Ring of Holding on my right hand.

But at first, she missed it, and her finger lightly touched my palm.

Cool and soft.

As that thought crossed my mind, Yun Yun had already moved her finger away and placed it on my Ring of Holding. Yet it seemed to me that... her body had paused for a moment just then?

A wisp of pale azure Dou Qi flashed, and a brocade quilt appeared in Yun Yun's hand. I pulled myself together and hurriedly reached out to take it, saying with a flattering smile, "Thank you for the trouble, Senior."

Yun Yun showed no reaction. She turned back and sat cross-legged atop that large rock once more. For a Dou Emperor expert, perhaps cultivation could already replace sleep?

I was not too sure about that. I only knew that I still needed to sleep. But seeing Yun Yun in her thin dress, sitting alone on a cold stone, I felt an inexplicable pang of pity and guilt.

But no matter how prepared I had been before entering the Monster Mountain Range, I would not have put two blankets in my Ring of Holding...

I spread out the blanket, then turned to look at Yun Yun, who had resumed cultivating, and could not help asking, "Senior, aren't you cold?"

Yun Yun quietly opened her eyes. She shook her head, then frowned, finally saying, "Kid, be quiet. Stop interrupting my cultivation."

I smiled awkwardly. "Wasn't I just worried that you might be cold, Senior? Um, if you don't mind, you could come over here... and sleep with me?"

I looked at Yun Yun, and Yun Yun looked at me. I smiled awkwardly while Yun Yun stared at me expressionlessly, saying nothing.

Unable to withstand Yun Yun's gaze, I lowered my head. After thinking it over, I lifted the blanket and lay down. Wrapped in it, my entire body warmed up. Combined with all the earlier exertion, I soon fell into a deep sleep.

Several more days passed. My injuries had long since recovered, and after breaking through to Dou Shi, I was even more energetic than before.

Yun Yun had probably recovered as well. After breakfast, she asked, "Kid, how are your injuries?"

I froze for a moment. So it was finally happening?! I hurriedly swallowed the last bite of dried meat in my hand, let out a satisfied burp, and patted my chest. "Senior, my injuries are completely healed. Just tell me what you need!"

Yun Yun turned to look at me, frowning slightly. "You know what I intend to do?"

"Senior intends to go face the Amethyst Winged Lion King again, right?"

I smiled faintly. "Yanran Jie told me that you need Amethyst Spirit Crystal. You failed to obtain it last time, but you definitely will this time."

Yun Yun fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "I do indeed need Amethyst Spirit Crystal. That Amethyst Winged Lion King is roughly my equal, but last time, I had not expected it to have learned the Sealing Art, which was how I fell for its trick..."

"Since you are no longer seriously injured, we will act tomorrow. I will lure the Amethyst Winged Lion King away, while you take the opportunity to sneak into its lair and bring out the Amethyst Spirit Crystal."

After a pause, she took a small diamond-shaped crystal from her Ring of Holding and handed it to me. "Take this crystal. It will heat up when it gets close to Amethyst Spirit Crystal, helping you find it. Once we return to Gama City, I will reward you handsomely."

I reached out and accepted the little crystal. After a moment of silence, I looked seriously at Yun Yun and shook my head. "Senior, I do not need a reward. I... would like to ask you for a favor."

"What favor?"

Her brows drew together slightly. I hurriedly gave a dry laugh. "Senior, it is not convenient for me to say for now. But please rest assured, this favor will absolutely not put you in a difficult position!"

"If it does put you in a difficult position, Senior, you may simply leave."

Yun Yun stared at me in silence for a moment before finally nodding lightly. "As for this matter... I will owe you a favor."

After a day of rest, Yun Yun and I woke early the next morning—or rather, I woke early. I had no idea whether Yun Yun had slept at all last night, no, during these nearly ten days.

A Dou Emperor expert—who knew?

She did not even eat dried meat that morning, saying that eating would interfere with the circulation of her Dou Qi.

Perhaps that was true. A Dou Emperor's Dou Qi was not only vast but also exceptionally pure—perhaps so pure that even eating would create the slightest interference?

Yun Yun had lost to the Amethyst Winged Lion King last time. This time, she would certainly adjust herself to her best condition and face the Amethyst Winged Lion King at her absolute peak!

I put away the miscellaneous items in the cave, then sat carelessly on a large rock with dried meat clenched between my teeth, holding the Dragon Slayer Crossbow as I maintained it.

Actually, a Ring of Holding contained an extremely sealed space, without even a trace of air inside. The Dragon Slayer Crossbow was usually preserved very well within it and could still function normally even after being stored for over a decade.

But if I made one careless mistake today, I might die here. How could I not be cautious?

There was no such thing as being too careful. I meticulously maintained and adjusted it. Once I was finally done, I put it away and took out another Dragon Slayer Crossbow—yes, though I had not brought two blankets, I had brought two Dragon Slayer Crossbows!

After servicing the crossbows and filling myself with dried meat, I silently put on my leather armor as well... It was made from the hide of a fourth-tier magical beast and had excellent defensive power.

At that moment, Yun Yun, who had been sitting cross-legged nearby with her eyes closed as she adjusted her condition, quietly opened her eyes. She glanced lightly at me and said in a deep voice, "Since you are ready, let us depart."

I nodded, then saw a pair of azure wings quietly condense behind Yun Yun—an exact replica of Dou Qi Transformation Wings!

The Azure Wings behind her slowly flapped, lifting her body gradually from the ground. Then they suddenly beat once, and a gale blew straight into my face. Sand, pebbles, and fallen leaves were swept up as well, striking my face with soft pops.

I could not help cursing inwardly. She did not even give me a warning before taking off. Was being able to fly such a big deal? I could fly too!

I hurriedly shut my eyes and raised a hand to block the wind. Once the blast of sand had passed, I opened my eyes again and saw a moon-white figure rising from the ground, dancing and circling through the air.

"Graceful as light clouds veiling the moon, drifting as flowing winds returning snow..."

Looking at that figure dancing in the sky, I unconsciously murmured the words.

Then I saw that figure circle once before abruptly diving toward me, only to sweep behind me.

For a moment, I was puzzled, unable to figure out what Yun Yun was doing. Surely she was not showing off to me—or teasing me?

But in the next instant, I understood. I felt someone suddenly grab the collar at the back of my neck, and then my whole body lost balance and left the ground.

"Aaaah!"

In midair, I flailed my limbs wildly and let out terrified screams. Anyone suddenly dragged high into the sky would react like this, right?

The wind howled past my ears, my hair whipped wildly in the air, and the mountains, rivers, and land below rapidly fell away behind me... Only after shouting for quite some time did the fear and unease in my heart slowly subside.

Struggling to raise my head, I saw that Yun Yun was gripping the back of my collar with her right hand as she carried me through the air. I gave a bitter smile and could not help shouting:

"Senior, can't you use a different position? For example, you could hold me while flying? Or I could hold you!"

Yun Yun glanced down at me, then continued silently looking ahead and below. The Azure Wings behind her flapped without pause as she continued flying swiftly, without the slightest sign of changing positions.

I knew it. I knew it!

I complained inwardly, unwilling to give up. This posture was simply too undignified—it would be blackmail material for the rest of my life!

I raised my head again and shouted, "Senior, take this junior's advice! Flying like this—it doesn't conform to aerodynamics!"

"Aero... dynamics?"

Yun Yun murmured, finally reacting. She looked down at me and asked with a frown, "What is that?"

I opened my mouth, momentarily at a loss for words. Aerodynamics—I only knew it sounded impressive. As for what it actually was? Who the hell knew!

After a pause, I simply pretended not to hear her and shouted, "Senior, don't you think you are flying slower today and using more Dou Qi?"

"I am carrying you while flying today, so naturally it is more difficult and consumes more Dou Qi."

Yun Yun shook her head, gradually slowing down and lowering her altitude until she was almost skimming the treetops.

As a result, branches occasionally lashed against my body, making me hiss in pain. Yun Yun offered no comfort whatsoever. Her gaze merely grew calmer and colder as she stared ahead and said in a low voice:

"Be quiet. The Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair is just ahead!"