Chasing Down Xiao Yan!

After seeing Yun Yun off, Gu Long did not linger. With several flickers, he delved once more into the Monster Mountain Range and arrived at the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair.

It was an enormous cave. A faint purple mist hung around its entrance, radiating scorching heat and the pressure of a Sixth-Order Magical Beast. Ordinary creatures would not dare approach.

Sensing Gu Long's aura, heavy footsteps sounded from within the cave. The Amethyst Winged Lion King, its injuries mostly healed, strode out.

Though cracks still marred the crystalline armor on its body, its luster had returned, and its aura had stabilized considerably.

Upon seeing Gu Long, it lowered its massive head and let out a respectful growl. "Master."

The strand of Origin Soul Fire controlled by Gu Long left it unable to muster the slightest thought of resistance.

Gu Long nodded slightly and tossed over a jade bottle. "The pills inside will help you heal your hidden injuries and stabilize your realm."

The Amethyst Winged Lion King caught it with its nose. Sensing the pure energy fluctuations within the jade bottle, delight flashed through its beastly eyes. "Thank you, Master!"

"How are your injuries recovering?" Gu Long asked.

"They are no longer a concern. With a few more days of rest, I will return to my peak," the Amethyst Winged Lion King replied.

"Very good." Gu Long looked at it calmly. "Now, there is something I need you to do."

"Please give your orders, Master," the Amethyst Winged Lion King immediately said.

Gu Long's gaze turned slightly cold, his tone devoid of emotion.

"Within your territory, there is a human youth named Xiao Yan. His cultivation is roughly that of a Three-Star Dou Shi. He is skilled with a ruler and possesses a dark red flame-based Dou Qi. I want you to send capable magical beasts under your command to hunt him down."

A trace of surprise flashed through the Amethyst Winged Lion King's enormous eyes.

It had assumed its master would order it to deal with some powerful enemy or search for precious treasures. It had not expected the target to be merely a human brat at the Three-Star Dou Shi level.

This was far too much effort for such a small matter. Moreover, the words "hunt down" meant there would be no end until one side was dead.

Though it was bloodthirsty by nature, it could not help but feel puzzled. "Master, did that brat offend you?"

"You do not need to know the reason." Gu Long's voice remained calm, yet it carried unquestionable authority.

"You only need to carry out the order. Remember, this is a true hunt. Whether he lives or dies does not matter!

Do not deliberately go easy on him, but there is no need for you to act personally either. Send those Fifth-tier Magical Beasts bordering your territory, along with the beast hordes under them. That will be enough."

He deliberately singled out the Fifth-tier Magical Beasts neighboring the Lion King's territory. This would not only place enough pressure on Xiao Yan, but also give him an opportunity to warn and consolidate the magical beast forces in this region.

He wanted them to understand who the true ruler was.

Sensing the chill and resolve in Gu Long's tone, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's heart trembled. It did not dare ask further and immediately lowered its head to accept the order.

"Yes! I understand! I will make sure that brat finds it impossible to take a single step in the Monster Mountain Range!"

Though it did not understand why its master was being so ruthless toward a weak human, obedience was its only choice.

It vaguely felt that this might also be a test from its master for both itself and the magical beasts of this region.

"Go." Gu Long waved his hand.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a low growl, turned, and entered the depths of the cave.

Soon, several roars filled with savagery and killing intent echoed from within the cave. Accompanied by powerful energy fluctuations, they spread in every direction through the mountain range.

The Lion King was using its own method to relay the hunting order to its subordinates and the powerful magical beasts nearby!

Gu Long stood at the cave entrance, expressionless.

Ordering magical beasts to hunt down Xiao Yan was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.

First, it would greatly drain Xiao Yan's energy, forcing him to flee for his life and leaving him no time to focus on anything else, much less calmly seek other opportunities.

Second, under the pressure of life and death, Xiao Yan would inevitably become more dependent on Han Feng and practice that flawed Cultivation Method and those Dou Techniques even more frantically, accelerating the ruin of his foundation.

Lastly, such an intense hunt was itself a form of selection.

If Xiao Yan could not even survive this trial and died beneath the claws of magical beasts, then he was not worthy of becoming an opponent on Gu Long's future chessboard. Eliminating him early would also save trouble later.

It was a plan that killed three birds with one stone.

As for whether Xiao Yan lived or died, Gu Long did not care.

From the moment Xiao Yan chose to stand against Gu Long and covet Xun Er, his ending had already been decided.

As for why Gu Long did not act personally, it was simply because he feared being targeted by the heavenly cycle of karma.

Besides, with Xiao Yan drawing the Soul Clan's attention, the Dragon Domain would have more time to develop.

Meanwhile, in another region of the Monster Mountain Range.

Xiao Yan had just exhausted himself killing a Peak Second-Order Bloodthirsty Demonic Wolf. He sat on the ground, gasping for breath as he prepared to retrieve its magic core.

This month of outdoor training had greatly improved his combat experience, and he had become increasingly proficient in using Suction Palm and the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler.

Yet he could feel that his Three-Star Dou Shi realm remained somewhat unstable, difficult to fully consolidate.

"Teacher, I feel like my Dou Qi is growing more and more slowly, and my meridians often ache faintly," Xiao Yan complained inwardly.

"Hmph, when has the path of cultivation ever been easy?" Han Feng's sinister voice sounded.

"Your foundation was already unstable, and you forcefully practiced domineering Dou Techniques. Some side effects are unavoidable.

Hurry up and kill more magical beasts. Use their essence blood and magic cores to make up for it!

Once you find Heavenly Flames and the Flame Mantra evolves, these problems will naturally be resolved!"

Xiao Yan was helpless. He could only suppress the unease in his heart and place his hopes on those elusive Heavenly Flames.

At that moment, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere around him.

It was too quiet.

There had been the chirping of insects and calls of birds just moments ago, yet now the area was deathly silent. A faint, almost imperceptible killing intent permeated the air.

"Careful! Something is approaching!"

Han Feng's warning suddenly rang out in his mind, carrying a hint of gravity.

Xiao Yan sprang to his feet, gripping the Black Heavy Ruler on his back as he warily scanned his surroundings.

Rustle, rustle, rustle—

Dense rustling came from the surrounding thickets.

Then, pairs of ferocious eyes lit up in the shadows. More and more appeared, surrounding him from all sides.

A wolf pack! And not ordinary wild wolves, but Wind Wolves of considerable rank!

Several of the leaders were especially massive, their fangs bared, their auras unmistakably at the level of Third-Order Magical Beasts!

"Why are there so many?!" Xiao Yan's expression changed.

He had encountered wolf packs before, but never one of this scale, and Third-Order Magical Beasts rarely led them.

Before he could think further, the wolf pack launched a frenzied attack at the lead wolf's long howl!

They were incredibly fast and coordinated seamlessly, pouncing from every direction with sharp claws and fangs aimed straight for his vital points!

"Suction Palm!"

Xiao Yan did not dare be careless. With a fierce pull of his left hand, he threw several Wind Wolves lunging from the side off balance. His right hand swung the Black Heavy Ruler down viciously, wrapped in dark red light!

"Flame Splitting Wave Ruler!"

The ruler's wind swept through them, instantly sending several Wind Wolves flying with broken bones and torn sinews.

But even more Wind Wolves charged forward without fear of death. The several Third-Order lead wolves were even more cunning, circling the outskirts and occasionally spitting razor-sharp wind blades to harass him.

Xiao Yan pushed Suction Palm and the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler to their limits. Ruler shadows flashed wildly and Dou Qi surged as Wind Wolves continuously fell beneath his attacks.

But the wolf pack was simply too numerous, as if it could never be killed off.

His Dou Qi was draining at an astonishing rate, and claw marks began to accumulate across his body, leaving him drenched in blood.

"Something is wrong! These beasts are coming specifically for me!"

Xiao Yan desperately held them back while shouting inwardly.

He could feel that the Wind Wolves' target was extremely clear: him. And they attacked with a madness that would not end until death.

"Break through first!" Han Feng said gravely. "Run east. The terrain there is complicated!"

Xiao Yan did not dare continue fighting. With a heavy ruler strike, he forced back several Wind Wolves in front of him, then stomped the ground and shot eastward.

However, he had barely rushed forward when an earthshaking bear roar erupted from the forest ahead!

A massive bear, covered head to toe in armor like stone, blocked his path.

Its aura had unmistakably reached the Fourth-Order level!

An Earth-Splitting Stone Bear!

Wolves behind him, a stone bear ahead! Xiao Yan's heart instantly sank to the bottom.

"Roar!"

The Earth-Splitting Stone Bear rose onto its hind legs. Its enormous paw, carrying the force of ten thousand pounds, slammed viciously toward Xiao Yan!

At the same time, the wolf pack behind him swarmed forward once more!

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted as he sensed a deadly crisis.

With an enraged roar, he crazily poured the little Dou Qi remaining in his body into the Black Heavy Ruler. His dark red flame-based Dou Qi surged as he unleashed the Flame Splitting Wave Ruler again, meeting the massive bear paw head-on!

Boom—!

The violent collision echoed through the forest.

Xiao Yan spat out a mouthful of blood. His body flew backward like a kite with a snapped string, smashing heavily into a large tree. The Black Heavy Ruler nearly slipped from his grasp.

The strength of a Fourth-Order Magical Beast was far beyond what he could withstand head-on in his current state.

He struggled to rise, but felt as though all his internal organs had shifted out of place, while his Dou Qi was nearly exhausted.

Watching the Earth-Splitting Stone Bear slowly approach and the Wind Wolf pack surround him again, despair surged in his heart.

"Teacher! Save me!" He could only scream frantically in his heart.

"Troublesome!" Han Feng's sinister voice carried a trace of impatience and gravity.

He had not expected to suddenly attract such a large-scale siege by magical beasts, with such an obvious target.

Seeing that Xiao Yan was about to die here, he had no choice but to act.

A powerful Soul Power far beyond Xiao Yan's own suddenly surged from the ring, sweeping outward like an invisible storm!

When the approaching Earth-Splitting Stone Bear and Wind Wolf pack were struck by that soul pressure, their movements instantly froze. Instinctive terror appeared in their eyes, and they whimpered, not daring to advance.

"Go!"

Han Feng shouted, controlling Xiao Yan's body and unleashing a speed far beyond normal. Staggering, he fled deeper into the forest.

Only after escaping a great distance and confirming that he had shaken off the pursuers did Xiao Yan collapse to the ground. He coughed up blood in great gulps, his face deathly pale and his heart filled with lingering fear and confusion.

"Teacher... that just now..."

"I used my Soul Power to temporarily frighten them away," Han Feng said, his voice clearly exhausted and angry. "What exactly did you provoke, brat? How did you draw such a targeted hunt?"

Xiao Yan shook his head blankly. "I don't know. I never offended any magical beasts this powerful."

How could he know that the source of this sudden life-or-death crisis was Gu Long, the man he hated to the bone and who had long regarded him as a chess piece?

Now, the hunting order throughout the Monster Mountain Range had taken effect.

From this moment onward, Xiao Yan's path of training would be covered in thorns and death.

And all of it was completely under Gu Long's control.

Standing at the Lion King's cave entrance, he seemed able to hear the faint sounds of prey struggling in the distance. His gaze was as cold and indifferent as ice.