My Dragon Roar Soars with Cloud-Borne Ambition

"My dragon roar soars with cloud-borne ambition~"

"My burning blood rises through winter on the wind~"

"Behold the heavens and earth within and beyond the Spiritual Road~"

"Land of Guardianship, where are you~"

Within the vast world of the Spiritual Road, a handsome young man in white rode a three-headed Golden Lion Dog, singing loudly in broad daylight. He was Ye Kong, whom Shi Luo had driven into the Spiritual Road.

Not a speck of dust stained his clothes. His handsome, fair face was bright, his eyes lively, and he casually toyed with the Blood Token standard for young entrants to the Spiritual Road, looking utterly at ease.

"Roar~ Roar, Little Kong, you're the legitimate successor of Great Spiritual Mountain, aren't you? It's one thing not to recite Buddhist scriptures and sing random songs instead, but why are your songs so weird?"

The Lion Dog's left head swayed as it spoke in human words.

"That's because you don't know the way. We've been in the Spiritual Road for five days already. There are five Lands of Guardianship in the first stage, yet you, my mount, haven't found even one. You're completely unreliable."

"I'm Jinjiu Master, the Golden Lion, guardian Spirit Beast of the mountain—not some treasure-seeking rat or guide Spirit Beast. Vajra King even sealed my cultivation. What am I supposed to do? Spiritual energy sensing doesn't work in this damned place."

"Besides, Vajra King already put me through enough by making me into a Lion Dog. You can't really treat me like some member of the Dog Clan. I have a name, you know. My surname is Jin, and my given name is Jiu Master.

"And anyway, you can't tell east from west or north from south either."

Jinjiu Master's right head lifted, protesting indignantly.

"What can I do? Your original form is too terrifying. If you didn't look like this, I wouldn't even dare let you out.

Be good now. Just do what you do when looking for food—sniff out wherever there are lots of people."

"As for me, ever since I cultivated Supernatural Footwork, I've relied entirely on my thoughts to determine direction when moving through space. Over time, I lost my sense of direction in ordinary space.

There's no spiritual energy in my body right now. Every direction looks like a spatial rift to me, so I can only rely on you."

A Wooden Comb appeared in Ye Kong's left hand. He stroked the middle lion head, finding the texture rather nice.

"Amitabha, I am a lion who has left the secular world. I generally eat vegetables, not meat... I can smell two little girls not far ahead. They seem fairly capable. Shall we go ask them for directions?"

Jinjiu Master's middle head felt that Ye Kong was quite thoughtful. He was even grooming its valiant and imposing fur. Raising its head, it grinned broadly.

Ye Kong's hand paused, and he asked sharply, "How far is 'not far'?"

"Crossing mountains and valleys, maybe two or three hundred li."

As expected, Spirit Beasts and humans had different understandings of distance.

Ye Kong's face darkened. He lay flat against Jinjiu Master's back and hugged its massive neck.

"Brother Lion, I'm counting on you. Charge."

"Got it!"

With a reply, Jinjiu Master drove off with all four legs, turning into a gust of golden wind.

After the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, it carried Ye Kong onto a hillside.

"Little Kong, we're here. Those are the two little girls. Tsk, tsk, the one watching from behind is pretty cute too. Her face isn't any worse than yours."

What kind of girl could be almost as good-looking as me? Luo Li, or Wen Qingxuan?

Ye Kong raised his head and looked carefully. On the plain below, a fit girl with long, wavy golden hair was wielding an axe larger than herself, fighting fiercely against a crimson tiger with wings on its back. The scene was somewhat chaotic.

"Damn, she's got quite the figure. If she's not approachable, she's close enough. And her face has a little baby fat—soft and rosy."

After observing the battlefield for a while, Ye Kong quickly picked out the golden-haired girl's features.

"That tiger should be a Level Five Spirit Beast, a Fire Cloud Tiger. It has multiple serious wounds. They don't look like axe wounds, but more like spear thrusts."

"Still, that girl can suppress a heavily injured Fire Cloud Tiger. Judging by the Spiritual Body classifications in the Spiritual Road, she should be at Peak Level Two Spiritual Body. Not bad."

After commenting on the golden-haired girl, Ye Kong took out a simple telescope and shifted his gaze toward a large rock farther away. Leaning against it was a young woman wearing Golden Tight-fitting Battle Armor, her bearing heroic and dashing.

Her arms were crossed before her chest, accentuating her imposing curves. Her phoenix eyes were lively and captivating, while the fitted armor made her figure appear full yet delicate, with smooth, beautiful lines.

Her fair neck was raised elegantly like a swan's. The corners of her lips curled upward slightly on that stunning face, bright as spring sunlight, forming a confident smile that dazzled the eye.

Beside her stood a Battle Spear radiating golden light. It looked extremely expensive.

"Well, well, it really is Wen Qingxuan. Oh, right, Brother Lion, put away your two side heads first. Don't let them see all of you later."

Lowering the telescope, a gleam flickered in Ye Kong's bright eyes.

"What is it, Little Kong? You know that little girl?"

With only one head left, its fur hanging down and making it look exactly like a Golden British Shorthair, Jinjiu Master looked up and asked.

"More or less. I know her, but she doesn't know me. She comes from the Wen Family of the Northern Region, a descendant of He Po of the Wen Clan's branch."

"No wonder. Vajra King said that Myriad Phoenix Spiritual Academy, one of the Five Great Academies, is backed by the Wen Family of the Northern Region. Looks like she came to the Spiritual Road to have fun, just like you."

"Probably. But her strength looks too ordinary. She was probably a lazy brat as a child and never cultivated properly."

At that, Ye Kong curled his lips disdainfully.

In the original Spiritual Academy Competition finals, Wen Qingxuan had been defeated because Xue Tianhe launched a sneak attack from behind while she was fighting Ji Xuan, making her seem quite unlucky.

But considering her background... the favored daughter of a Heavenly Sovereign family, and this was all she had?

Even the little boss Ji Xuan had managed to create a half-finished Venerate Sea, while her cultivation was still the common Triple Spirit Soul Difficulty.

Though it could not be ruled out that the plot demanded it, it was still rather embarrassing. The more he thought about it, the only logical explanation was that she simply had not cultivated properly all these years.

"Mm, her current strength is lacking. I could swat her to death with one claw... Huh? I think she saw us."

"So what if she did? Let's go down and say hello."

"Also, Brother Lion, I'll do my best to make her agree to guide us. No matter what I say, remember to control your expression. You don't want us to get exposed, do you?"

"Of course not. Is there anything I need to watch out for?"

"From now on, my name is Shi Luo. Just call me Little Luo in front of others."

As they spoke, man and lion had already leaped down from the hillside and landed before the two women—the Fire Cloud Tiger had been killed, and the golden-haired girl had already removed a fiery red tiger-shaped essence from its body.

With their identities unknown, Wen Qingxuan, who had been leisurely watching the battle, strode forward and shielded her companion behind her. Her brilliant phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she held her spear across her body in guard.

"Amitabha. I am Shi Luo, a lay disciple of Jialan Temple. I have only recently entered the world to cultivate. Greetings, ladies."

Ye Kong pressed his palms together and bowed to the two women. Like a fledgling bird newly arrived in the Great Thousand World, his gaze was clear and foolish.

Jinjiu Master forcibly resisted the urge to tremble all over. It lowered its head along with him and silently recited, "Amitabha."

"This is the Spiritual Road. There are very few people I can trust completely. How do you intend to prove your identity?"

Wen Qingxuan did not lower her guard just because of Ye Kong's words. Her instincts told her that this man was not simple.

"That would be difficult. However, whether you believe me is of no concern to me. I only hope you are willing to guide me."

Ye Kong took two balls of light from his Storage Pouch, each radiating the unique aura of Spirit Beast Essence.

One essence emitted frigid air, while the other carried the sound of rushing wind. Both possessed more abundant energy than the Fire Cloud Tiger essence the two women had just obtained.

Wen Qingxuan's beautiful eyes shifted as she watched Ye Kong's actions.

"High-level Spirit Beast essences?"

"Correct. To be honest, this is my first time leaving home, and I do not know the way. I wandered the Spiritual Road for many days before meeting you two. I would like to ask you to lead me to a Land of Guardianship."

"If you agree, I am willing to swear upon my dharma name and offer these two essences as payment. What do you say?"

Hearing this, Jinjiu Master lowered its sole remaining head even further and silently recited, "A sin, a sin."

It had not been Ye Kong who suggested hunting High-level Spirit Beasts in the first place, but its other two heads. Those two Spirit Beasts had also entered its stomach through their two other gaping maws.

When they hunted the fifth Spirit Beast the day before yesterday, even this head had been unable to resist the temptation of grilled meat. It had no choice but to apologize to the Buddha. Ever since, it felt guilty every time it ate meat or drank soup.

Ye Kong had already refined several high-level essences, but the result had been no different from taking a sip of water. His physical body had not improved at all, so he did not mind using them as travel expenses.

"He really does look like a bald monk with hair. Ordinary people aren't this foolish, swearing on their names at every turn."

Wen Qingxuan scrutinized Ye Kong's handsome face. His eyes were filled with sincerity, and there even seemed to be a touch of clear foolishness within them. It was the first time she had seen a member of the opposite sex this good-looking.

"Sister Qingxuan, I'll follow your lead."

Xiuling stepped forward from behind Wen Qingxuan and linked her arm around Wen Qingxuan's. If one ignored her burning gaze fixed on the high-level essences, she did look ready to live and die alongside her.

"A little monk who has just entered the world... letting him follow from a distance should be fine."

After pondering for a moment, Wen Qingxuan made her decision. She had disliked interacting with men ever since childhood, but there was no reason to refuse free essences. Besides, this little monk did not look particularly smart.

"Fine. We can take you to a Land of Guardianship. But let's make this clear beforehand: you must remain at least ten zhang away from us at all times."

"That will do nicely. I thank you both."

This time, Ye Kong clasped his fists in salute. With a flick of his hand, he tossed the two essences to the women and smiled.

"I trust you both. However, I also hope you will keep your promise. Otherwise, I fear the outcome may not be one you wish to see."

"Of course. I, Wen Qingxuan, always keep my word. This is my companion, Xiuling. Just follow us from a distance."

After saying this, Wen Qingxuan called to Xiuling and turned to walk in a certain direction.

Following the two women's steps, Ye Kong took out his telescope and turned it about as if comparing directions, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

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