Yun Yun!

Gu Long entrusted Xun Er to Ling Ying, telling them to settle down at Jia Nan Academy first.

He then set off alone, turning into a blurred azure shadow as he silently swept toward the depths of the Monster Mountain Range.

The deeper he went, the taller and denser the trees became, blotting out the sky and sun. The primordial aura and energy pressure hanging in the air also grew heavier.

Ordinary mercenaries and adventurers would never dare set foot here lightly.

However, he was not wandering without purpose.

His Soul Power spread out like an invisible radar, keenly sensing the energy aftershocks emanating from deep within the mountains.

The fluctuations were violent and berserk, mixed with scorching fire-element energy and a somewhat cool wind-element aura, clashing fiercely.

"So it has indeed begun." Gu Long understood, and his speed increased once more.

A moment later, he stopped at the edge of a towering cliff, perfectly concealing himself behind a Giant Stone as he looked down at the enormous valley below.

The sight within the valley was astonishing.

A massive beast lay crouched on the ground, as huge as a small mountain. Its entire body was covered in purple crystalline armor that reflected dazzling light beneath the sun.

A sharp spiral horn grew from its head. It had a ferocious lion's face and a pair of wings on its back. It was the ruler of these mountains—a Sixth-Order Magical Beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King!

At that moment, the notorious Lion King looked rather wretched. Its crystalline armor had shattered in many places, exposing the flesh beneath, which was drenched in blood.

Its breathing was heavy, and flames of rage burned in its huge beastly eyes.

Facing it was a woman floating in midair.

She wore a simple dress that wrapped around her voluptuous figure. In her hand was an oddly shaped longsword, while her green hair was gathered into an elegant phoenix-shaped ornament.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful and peerlessly graceful, but her captivating cheeks were somewhat pale at the moment, and her aura was slightly disordered.

She was the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun!

Clearly, the two had already fought for quite some time, and both had suffered serious injuries.

"Human woman! You dare covet this King's Purple Spirit Crystal! Today, I will tear you to pieces!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a deafening roar. With a fierce flap of its enormous wings, purple flames filled the sky, condensing into massive pillars of fire that rained down upon Yun Yun.

The enraged strike of a Peak Sixth-Order Magical Beast was enough to make even low-star Dou Emperors turn pale.

Yun Yun frowned slightly. Her longsword traced mysterious arcs, and surging green wind-element Dou Qi formed a massive green wind shield before her.

"Extreme Wind · Meteor Kill!"

With a sharp cry, the wind shield suddenly contracted, condensing into an extremely thin beam of green light.

It tore through the air at an astonishing speed, shooting precisely toward the Amethyst Winged Lion King's head!

Boom—!

The purple pillars of fire collided violently with the green beam. Terrifying energy ripples erupted in an instant, blasting apart and hurling away every Giant Stone across the valley floor!

The surrounding cliff walls were also split with countless cracks.

Although Yun Yun's green beam was sharp enough to pierce through part of the fire pillars, it ultimately lacked follow-through and completely dissipated just a few meters from the Lion King's head.

The remaining purple flames crashed against the Dou Qi defense she had hastily formed. She let out a muffled grunt, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of her lips.

Her body flew backward before she landed unsteadily on the ground.

However, the Amethyst Winged Lion King did not fare much better.

Though the green beam had failed to strike a vital point, the sharp sword intent within it still left a fine crack in the crystal on its forehead. The searing pain made it even more berserk.

The two fell into a stalemate. Both had consumed enormous amounts of energy and suffered injuries.

Above the cliff, Gu Long quietly watched the scene unfold.

The mantis stalked the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind it.

Whether Yun Yun sought to seize the Purple Spirit Crystal or the Amethyst Winged Lion King defended its territory, both had now become prey in his eyes.

He had little interest in the Purple Spirit Crystal. It was of limited use to him and the core members of Dragon Domain.

What interested him more were the woman and beast before him.

Yun Yun, Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, a wind-element Dou Emperor.

If he could grant her a favor and establish a connection with her by some means, she would be useful to him in the future.

Besides, the usually dignified and noble Sect Master in his memories had a unique charm in her current wounded and disheveled state.

As for the Amethyst Winged Lion King, it was a Peak Sixth-Order Magical Beast with strength comparable to a Peak Dou Emperor, and its intelligence was not low.

If he could subdue it, it would make an excellent mount or guardian for some part of Dragon Domain.

The Companion Purple Crystal Source within its cave was also a decent cultivation resource.

How should he choose? Or should he take both?

Gu Long's eyes flickered, and he made his decision in an instant.

He was in no hurry to act. Like the most patient hunter, he waited for the best opportunity.

Within the valley, Yun Yun wiped away the blood from her lips, a trace of determination flashing in her beautiful eyes.

She had to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal. It was one of the key main ingredients needed to treat the cultivation ailment within her disciple Nalan Yanran's body.

She took a deep breath. The little Dou Qi remaining within her began to gather once more as she prepared to use an even stronger move for one final attempt.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King also sensed the threat. It let out a low roar as purple flames rose around its body again, preparing to fight to the death.

At that critical moment!

A figure appeared in the center of the valley without any warning, standing directly between Yun Yun and the Amethyst Winged Lion King.

The newcomer wore ordinary azure robes. His face was far too young, making him look like a boy of only thirteen or fourteen.

Yet his expression was exceptionally calm, as though the life-and-death battle between two Dou Emperor-level opponents was nothing more than children squabbling.

The youth in azure was Gu Long!

His appearance was so abrupt that both Yun Yun and the Amethyst Winged Lion King froze, their gathered attacks instinctively stalling for a moment.

"Who are you?"

Yun Yun's willow brows furrowed as she watched the suddenly appearing youth warily.

She could sense no Dou Qi fluctuations from him, but that only made him seem more strange.

How could an ordinary person possibly appear here without a sound?

The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out an even more irritated low growl.

"Where did this little bug come from? Get lost! Otherwise, I'll burn you into ashes along with her!"

Though it was injured, it was confident that crushing a human who appeared to possess no Dou Qi would take no effort at all.

Gu Long ignored the Lion King's roar. His gaze first fell upon Yun Yun as he spoke calmly, his voice clearly reaching her ears.

"Sect Master Yun Yun, is it worth suffering mutual ruin with this beast over a single Purple Spirit Crystal, perhaps even dying here?"

Yun Yun was shaken. He knows me?

And his tone was so calm, as if he were merely stating something insignificant?

She became even more certain that this youth was anything but ordinary.

"This has nothing to do with you. Leave at once!" Yun Yun said coldly. She did not wish to implicate an innocent person.

Gu Long merely shook his head before turning to the enraged Amethyst Winged Lion King, his tone remaining calm.

"Lion King, reaching the sixth order was no easy feat. Why risk your life over an external possession? If you are willing to submit to me, I can preserve your life and grant you a great opportunity."

The moment those words were spoken, not only was the Amethyst Winged Lion King stunned, but Yun Yun was also dumbfounded.

Submit?

A youth who seemed to possess no Dou Qi was demanding that a Peak Sixth-Order Magical Beast, an existence comparable to a Peak Dou Emperor, submit to him?

How arrogantly absurd!

"Roar—! Ignorant insect, you seek death!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King was completely enraged, feeling that it had suffered unprecedented humiliation.

It suddenly opened its mouth, firing a stream of purple flame smaller than before but far more condensed, like an arrow aimed at Gu Long!

It intended to incinerate this ignorant brat in an instant!

"Watch out!" Yun Yun cried out instinctively. Though she found the youth strange, she still did not wish to see him die miserably.

Yet Gu Long neither dodged nor evaded the purple flame, which was powerful enough to severely wound a Dou Wang. He merely slowly raised his right hand.

In the next instant, a scene that Yun Yun and the Amethyst Winged Lion King would never forget took place.

When the violent purple flame was still less than a foot from Gu Long's palm, it seemed to strike an invisible wall and abruptly froze!

Then, like a docile pet, it circled around Gu Long's palm once before finally turning into a wisp of pure fire-element energy, which he casually absorbed into his body.

It was so effortless, as though he had merely brushed away a speck of dust.

Deathly silence filled the valley.

Yun Yun's beautiful eyes widened, her red lips parting slightly as she stared in disbelief at the youth whose expression remained calm.

He had caught and dissolved the enraged strike of the Amethyst Winged Lion King with his bare hand?

Th-this required at least the strength of a Peak Dou Emperor, perhaps even a Dou Zong!

But how old did he look?

The Amethyst Winged Lion King looked as though it had seen a ghost. Its huge beastly eyes were filled with shock and terror.

It understood the power of that flame better than anyone. Even injured as it was, no ordinary Dou Emperor could have received it so easily!

What kind of monster was this human?!

Gu Long slowly lowered his hand and looked once more at the Amethyst Winged Lion King. This time, there was an unquestionable authority in his gaze.

"Now, can we discuss your submission?"