Conversation in the Mountain Cave

Although Yun Yun still wanted to continue fighting for the Purple Spirit Crystal, it was clearly no longer possible. If the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had not feared Lin Mu and dared not attack her, her fate would likely have been even worse.

However, having taken her earlier strike, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was clearly not feeling well either.

Lin Mu watched the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King return to its lair. Just as he turned around, he saw Yun Yun behind him stagger, then seemingly lose consciousness as she fell toward him.

"Hey, hey, hey, what's going on?"

Lin Mu was somewhat puzzled. Was the Purple Crystal Seal really that overbearing? Could even a small portion of it leave someone this weak?

Having no other choice, Lin Mu turned Yun Yun over and adjusted her position. Yet it was precisely because of that position that he distinctly felt two soft masses press against his chest...

"No wonder Gu He was bewitched into an idiot. Any man would probably find it hard to restrain himself."

Lin Mu flashed away, vanishing from the area with Yun Yun.

Inside the cave, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King secretly glanced outside before finally letting out a deep breath. "That plague god has finally left... As for that Fire Seed he wanted, I should help him search for it."

"If I can't find it, he might come back and take it out on me..."

"Where is this...?"

Yun Yun felt as though her head were splitting as she gradually regained consciousness.

The surroundings were damp. She was evidently inside a mountain cave. Beside her was a still-burning campfire, and its warmth made her unconsciously move a little closer.

"Right, Lin Mu..."

Yun Yun tried to clear her mind and mobilize the Dou Qi within her body, but she could not use it at all. She now merely retained an empty shell of strength. To dissolve the Purple Crystal Seal, she could only wait.

At that moment, a fluctuation of Dou Qi from nearby drew Yun Yun's attention.

"It's him."

Yun Yun saw Lin Mu. His upper body was bare, revealing his sturdy physique. Having never seen a man's body before, Yun Yun hurriedly turned her gaze away.

"Who cultivates without wearing clothes?" Yun Yun could not help muttering. But then she noticed that she seemed to be draped in a garment. When she took it off, she saw that it was the one Lin Mu had been wearing earlier.

"So he put it on me." A faint smile appeared on Yun Yun's lips as she moved a little closer. Looking at the incomparably profound Black-White Dou Qi within Lin Mu, she felt rather surprised.

"What a peculiar Dou Qi attribute, and how can it be so overbearing? It must be related to the cultivation method he practices. But just what method is he cultivating? It looks extraordinarily remarkable."

Yun Yun studied Lin Mu curiously, only to suddenly see him slowly open his eyes. Their gazes met, and she felt a wave of embarrassment.

Lin Mu withdrew his Dou Qi and said, "You're awake?"

"Um... thank you for helping me." Yun Yun handed Lin Mu his clothes, then said to him, "But I should leave. I can't stay here for too long."

"With your current strength, where can you go?"

Yun Yun stopped in her tracks. Lin Mu was right. Although she still retained the strength of a one-star Dou Wang, less than one-tenth of the Dou Qi she could truly wield remained. If she went out and encountered any slightly stronger magical beast...

She would likely perish here today.

"Fine, I'll recuperate here for now." Yun Yun let out a helpless sigh and sat cross-legged beside the fire, appearing to rest with her eyes closed.

Lin Mu said nothing. He continued comprehending the Six Paths Samsara Method within him. In the first Small World he had opened, he had already integrated both Yin Yang Twin Flames and Seven-Colored Spirit Flame, along with the lightning power he had previously absorbed from Lightning Swamp.

"Perhaps only after I gain control of the Chaos Green Lotus Flame will I truly have control over this Small World."

"In the future, once I find powerful natural elemental forces, I can directly integrate them into it until it is complete."

Lin Mu exhaled slowly. He had also tried to break through into the second Small World of Six Paths Samsara, but it remained a chaos that was difficult to open.

Perhaps he could only attempt it after breaking through to Dou Zong.

"Artifact Refiner, Spirit Engraver... Heh, that gives me a fine option. This second Small World will nurture the various spirit artifacts I forge, while the third Small World will have spirit formations inscribed within it, into my flesh and blood."

"I will continuously transform through the Six Paths Samsara Method, turning it into a path that belongs to me alone!"

With a wave of Lin Mu's hand, his profound Dou Qi seemed to ignite in flames, while lightning flickered within it, drawing Yun Yun's attention.

"What a powerful aura. He's only a four-star Dou Emperor, yet even at my peak, I probably wouldn't have been his match..." Yun Yun thought to herself.

"Perhaps he isn't from the Jia Ma Empire. Did he come here to travel across the continent?"

At that moment, Lin Mu's voice suddenly rang out. "Why does Miss Yun need the Purple Spirit Crystal?"

"To be honest, I came for the Purple Spirit Crystal because of one of my disciples. Before long, she has a very important appointment, so I came to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal and forge something that will aid her cultivation."

Yun Yun spoke softly. She was gentle, and as the sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, every movement she made exuded nobility and elegance. Yet before Lin Mu, she did not display that usual manner of dealing with others.

On one hand, it was because Lin Mu had saved her. On the other, perhaps it was because Lin Mu was stronger than she was.

On this continent, strength was ultimately supreme.

"It seems you care deeply about that disciple of yours."

Lin Mu smiled.

"She is my only disciple." Yun Yun answered with a smile.

"If you truly fought the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, your chances of winning wouldn't be high," Lin Mu said.

"I simply didn't expect him to have mastered sealing techniques. Once I remove the seal within my body, I naturally won't fear him." Yun Yun sounded somewhat unconvinced.

"And you? You aren't from the Jia Ma Empire, are you? To possess such powerful strength at your age, did you come here to temper yourself?"

Seeing that Lin Mu remained silent, Yun Yun continued asking, seemingly wanting to break the somewhat subtle awkwardness between them.

Hearing this, Lin Mu nodded. "Indeed, I'm not. But saying I came to temper myself isn't quite accurate."

"In the current Jia Ma Empire, I'm afraid no one is my opponent."

Hearing Lin Mu's calm words, Yun Yun smiled. "There are quite a few Dou Emperor experts in the Jia Ma Empire. For instance, the one in the royal family is a Peak Dou Emperor. Are you confident that you can defeat him?"

"Defeating him would only take a few exchanges. But the one I'm more interested in is the sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Yun. I wonder if Miss Yun has heard of her?"