The Lion King Breaks Through!

Dragon Domain, core forbidden grounds, Ten Thousand Beast Valley.

This was an area specially designated by the Dragon Domain to cultivate and house powerful magical beasts.

Deep within the Valley, in an open area isolated by a powerful formation, the Amethyst Winged Lion King lay prone on the ground.

Its massive body was a full size larger than it had been in the Monster Mountain Range.

The purple crystalline armor covering its body had become thicker and deeper in color, gleaming with a metallic luster. Faint, complex energy patterns flickered in and out of view within it.

Its breathing was deep and prolonged. With every inhale, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Energy surged into its body like a tide.

The aura emanating from it had already reached the limit of a Sixth-Order Magical Beast, just a hair away from that final barrier.

Around it lay piles of resources as high as small mountains.

There were high-grade fire-attributed magic cores, pure energy crystals, and even Purple Spirit Barrier Breaking Pills, specially refined by the Dragon Domain Medicine Department using a pill formula provided by Gu Long to stimulate its bloodline and temper its beastly body.

Ever since Gu Long had brought it back to the Dragon Domain, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had lived a life entirely different from its days in the Monster Mountain Range.

It no longer needed to fight over territory and resources. It had a stable supply of pure energy far exceeding anything it had possessed before, along with specialized formations to assist it in tempering its physical body and demonic power.

In such an environment, its strength had improved far faster than before.

Today, it sensed that the power accumulated within its body had reached its peak. The Seventh-Order barrier that had plagued it for years now stood clearly within its perception.

It opened its enormous beast eyes and looked toward the sky above the Valley.

Gu Long, Zhou Yu, Zhao Yun, and the others floated there in silence.

"Begin," Gu Long said calmly.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a low growl and no longer suppressed the surging power within its body.

It suddenly raised its head and unleashed a roar that shook the entire Valley!

Boom—!

A terrifying aura far beyond the Sixth Order erupted from its body like a dormant volcano suddenly exploding, shooting into the heavens!

The clouds above the Valley were instantly scattered by that aura, and even the sky dimmed for a moment.

The mountain-like piles of resources around it rapidly transformed into torrents of pure energy under the pull of that aura, rushing madly into its body.

High-grade magic cores shattered, energy crystals melted away, and pills transformed into medicinal power... Vast amounts of energy were greedily absorbed by it.

Its body began to crackle with explosive sounds, its size expanding slowly yet steadily.

The purple crystal wings on its back suddenly spread wide, their span blotting out the sky as the purple light flowing across them grew ever more dazzling.

The spiral horn on its forehead became sharper and longer, its tip glinting with a chilling cold light.

Under such immense accumulation and frenzied impact, the Seventh-Order barrier began to tremble violently, cracks appearing across it.

But breaking through to the Seventh Order was a leap in the level of life itself. It was by no means easy.

As the barrier neared collapse, an invisible pressure born from the laws of heaven and earth suddenly descended, fiercely suppressing the Amethyst Winged Lion King's soul and body!

"Roar—!"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King let out a furious roar tinged with pain.

Its enormous body trembled violently. Fine cracks even began to appear in the crystalline armor on its surface, threads of blood seeping from the fissures.

Its huge beast eyes were filled with struggle and defiance.

"Strategist." Gu Long looked toward Zhou Yu beside him.

Zhou Yu nodded slightly, gently waving his feather fan.

Several Dragon Domain formation experts who had long been positioned nearby activated the formation at the same time.

Beams of soft yet resilient energy rose from the ground, weaving into a massive net of light that shrouded the Amethyst Winged Lion King from above, helping it bear part of the heavenly pressure.

At the same time, Zhao Yun's gaze sharpened. The formidable aura of a Dou Venerate was released slightly, like an invisible sword slashing at that heavenly pressure. Though it could not completely cancel it out, it greatly weakened its force.

With this external assistance, the pressure on the Amethyst Winged Lion King dropped sharply, and its spirits soared.

It let out another earthshaking roar, turning all the energy in its body, along with its unyielding will, into one final charge that slammed fiercely into the crumbling Seventh-Order barrier!

"Crack!"

A shattering sound seemed to ring out from the depths of its soul!

That solid barrier shattered in response!

In an instant, the winds and clouds changed color!

Centered on the Amethyst Winged Lion King, an even vaster and more terrifying pressure swept outward like a storm!

The ground of the Valley cracked apart, and rocks tumbled down from the surrounding mountains.

Had it not been protected by the formation, the entire Ten Thousand Beast Valley might have been leveled by the might of this newly born Seventh-Order Magical Beast!

Its enormous body bathed in a pillar of even purer and more majestic purple energy after the breakthrough. The cracks on its body rapidly healed, while its crystalline armor became more splendid and durable, glittering like diamonds.

Its body expanded once again, and its aura became like a vast ocean, unfathomable!

Seventh Order! Equivalent to a human Dou Zong expert!

The Amethyst Winged Lion King had finally broken through successfully!

Feeling the unprecedented power within its body and the transformation brought about by this leap in the level of life, its huge beast eyes filled with excitement and wild joy.

It raised its head and howled at the sky, its rolling roar announcing the birth of a Seventh-Order Magical Beast King!

As the howl gradually faded, it retracted the surging aura around its body. Its enormous head turned toward Gu Long in the air, and all traces of arrogance had vanished from its eyes, leaving only deep reverence and gratitude.

It lowered its proud head and let out a low, obedient roar:

"Thank you, Master, for helping me break through! Amethyst is willing to follow Master for all eternity, to brave fire and water without hesitation!"

Had Gu Long not brought it back to the Dragon Domain, provided it with vast resources, and sent people to aid it at the crucial moment, it could never have broken through to the Seventh Order so smoothly.

This debt of gratitude, along with that wisp of Origin Soul Fire under Gu Long's control, made it wholeheartedly submit to him.

Gu Long looked at the Amethyst Winged Lion King below, its aura vast and powerful, and nodded slightly. "Not bad. Once you have stabilized your realm, you will become the Guardian Divine Beast of the Dragon Domain. You will guard Ten Thousand Beast Valley and command all magical beasts under the Dragon Domain."

"I will obey Master's command!" the Amethyst Winged Lion King replied respectfully.

Zhou Yu clapped his hands and laughed. "Congratulations, my lord. Our Dragon Domain has gained another Dou Zong-level combatant! With the Amethyst Winged Lion King stationed in Ten Thousand Beast Valley, the Dragon Domain's foundations will be even more secure."

Zhao Yun also nodded, a trace of approval appearing on his stern face.

The combat strength of a Seventh-Order Magical Beast was not to be underestimated. Especially in certain environments, it could produce unexpected results.

Gu Long's gaze swept over the prostrate Lion King below and the core members of the Dragon Domain standing solemnly nearby, and he felt quite satisfied.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King's successful breakthrough not only meant an increase in the Dragon Domain's high-level combat power, but also proved the viability of the Dragon Domain's cultivation system.

So long as there were sufficient resources and proper guidance, both human cultivators and magical beasts could achieve rapid growth here.

This added more leverage to his future plans.

Whether it was guarding the Dragon Domain or the wars that might arise in the future, a Seventh-Order Magical Beast with tremendous potential was a powerful force.

"Stabilize your realm properly."

After giving the Amethyst Winged Lion King that instruction, Gu Long left Ten Thousand Beast Valley with Zhou Yu, Zhao Yun, and the others.

Within the Valley, only the Amethyst Winged Lion King remained. Having successfully broken through and brimming with vigor, it began greedily absorbing Heaven and Earth Energy to stabilize its Seventh-Order cultivation.

With the addition of this newly advanced Seventh-Order Magical Beast, the Dragon Domain's strength quietly rose another step.

It had also moved one step closer to the greater goal in Gu Long's heart.