Breakthrough to Dou King, Lion King's Approval

The moment he saw the reward, Dongfang Chen's eyes lit up.

The Crazy System... no, Brother Tong might have a bit of face blindness and couldn't tell characters apart, but this reward was the real deal!

Dongfang Chen wasn't short on breakthrough pills right now, but he was only a Five Star Dou Spirit. He'd have to cultivate to at least Nine Star Dou Spirit before he could take any breakthrough pills.

As for the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, a rare Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure from the original Battle Through the Heavens, it was more than enough to let Dongfang Chen rapidly advance from Five Star Dou Spirit to Nine Star Dou Spirit!

In the original work, the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk was hailed as an Earthly Spirit, born deep beneath the ground. It was a purified concentrate of pure Earth Power, capable not only of washing the marrow and reforging the bones but also of laying a formidable foundation for physical strength. Its effects rivaled those of certain top-grade pills!

In the original story, Xiao Yan had to use a special Medicine Liquid to neutralize the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk when he absorbed it at a lower level, because direct absorption would have caused his body to explode.

But Dongfang Chen was different. As a Five Star Dou Spirit, he was fully capable of absorbing the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk's energy directly.

Before this, Dongfang Chen had worried he might not be able to reach Dou King within a year.

But with the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk, he was one hundred percent confident he could advance to Dou King within a year—and maybe even cut that time down significantly!

Seeing Dongfang Chen's face full of joy, Lingling thought he was this happy because he'd learned her name, and her Little Face turned even redder.

"Let's head back," Dongfang Chen said to Lingling.

He couldn't wait to get back and start closed-door cultivation.

"Mm."

Lingling shyly buried her little face into Dongfang Chen's back.

The crisis was over now, and the injury on her foot had improved quite a bit thanks to the medicine's effects.

But Lingling still wanted to stay on Dongfang Chen's back a little longer.

After returning to Magic City, Dongfang Chen sent Lingling back to the Qingtian Hunter Club under her Tsundere yet reluctant gaze.

Then he went home, notified Ye Xin Xia and Ding Yumian, and entered a state of closed-door cultivation.

Calling it closed-door cultivation didn't mean he locked himself away to train day and night without rest.

At most, it just meant he spent most of his time on cultivation.

If he ever felt bored or stifled, Dongfang Chen would take some time to accompany Xin Xia and Yumian on a stroll, nurturing their relationships.

Oh, wait—not "nurturing a relationship" with Xin Xia.

Xin Xia had very soft ears; she'd blush with her cute Little Face and obediently do whatever he asked.

Xuexue couldn't compare on that front.

Time passed bit by bit, and Dongfang Chen's Dou Qi Cultivation rose step by step.

During this period, Mofan also arrived in Magic City and even joined the Qingtian Hunter Club.

But most of the time, he worked solo and didn't team up with Lingling.

Because Lingling was still waiting for someone to become her partner.

Yet that person hadn't shown up for over half a year, making Lingling so angry her Twintails stood on end.

If it weren't for the fact that she and Dongfang Chen were still In Contact on their phones, she'd have thought he'd been swallowed by a demonic beast.

Nearly a year had passed.

The Holiday Dongfang Chen had requested was almost over, which meant Mingzhu Academy was about to start its new term.

In a specially built cultivation chamber.

Dongfang Chen opened his eyes from his meditative sitting position.

"Hoo..."

He clenched his fists and let out a long breath.

"Finally broke through..."

Over this period, under the dual effects of the Earth Core Body Tempering Milk and the Heart Fire of the Fallen Heart Flame, Dongfang Chen had achieved tremendous breakthroughs not only in his Dou Qi but also in his Meridians and Physical Strength.

He was confident that, without using any Dou Qi, he could go toe-to-toe with a Commander Level Demonic Beast using just his current Physical Strength.

And if he used Dou Qi...

His mind stirred, and the Dou Qi within him surged like a flood, flowing along his Meridians to his back.

With a bang, a pair of Milky White Flame Wings burst forth from behind Dongfang Chen.

These weren't the Flying Dou Technique Purple Cloud Wings—they were Dou Qi Transformation Wings!

As the hallmark of a Dou King, Dou Qi Transformation Wings meant Dongfang Chen was now a solid One Star Dou King!

In fact, if he wanted to, he still had a Dou Ling Pill on hand. Taking it would let him skip straight past One Star Dou King to Two Star Dou King!

But Dongfang Chen didn't do that, because a Dou Ling Pill that could unconditionally raise a Dou King by one star was best saved for when he was an Eight Star Dou King.

"Hoo... I finally have some ability to protect myself in this world."

With the strength of a Dou King, plus Exotic Fire, and even a Sixth Order Magical Beast.

With this kind of power, even facing a Supreme Lord like the Mysterious Snake, Dongfang Chen wouldn't be afraid.

Perhaps even the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King alone could match the Mysterious Snake.

On the outskirts of Magic City.

This area was a desolate wild forest with no human presence.

Even the nearby Demons had been driven away by Dongfang Chen's formidable strength.

The reason for this was mainly that Dongfang Chen wanted to summon the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

As the reward for winning the Three Year Agreement, Dongfang Chen had never summoned the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

Although the Summoned Beast produced by the system guaranteed one hundred percent loyalty to Dongfang Chen.

That only applied to Dongfang Chen alone.

Loyalty was sufficient, but if his strength was lacking, given the pride of the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, she likely wouldn't obey Dongfang Chen's commands so easily.

So during this time, Dongfang Chen had never summoned the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

"Little Purple, you'll see your mother soon."

Dongfang Chen patted the big head of Little Purple beside him.

Little Purple's eyes revealed a human-like joy.

"System, release the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King."

As Dongfang Chen's words fell.

A fierce lion's roar was born from the void.

Accompanying the lion's roar was a massive Magical Beast!

This beast looked very similar to Little Purple, with various purple crystals scattered across its body, and a spiral horn at the center of its forehead.

The moment the beast appeared, an invisible pressure descended from the air, rushing straight toward Dongfang Chen.

Dongfang Chen smiled at the corner of his mouth and released his own pressure in return.

His pressure, belonging to a Dou King, was much weaker before the Sixth Order Magical Beast Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, but his momentum was undiminished!

The two pressures clashed for a long time, until Little Purple let out an affectionate call, and only then did the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King withdraw her momentum.

"He hasn't been bullying you during this time, has he?"

The Sixth Order Magical Beast Purple Crystal Winged Lion King could already speak human language, and she addressed Little Purple.

Little Purple shook his head, then affectionately rubbed his head against Dongfang Chen's face.

"That's good."

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King looked towards Dongfang Chen with her blood-red beast eyes tinged with purple light, then slowly nodded.

This signified her approval of Dongfang Chen.

"I entrust my daughter to your care. Call me if anything comes up."

With that, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King returned to the System Space.

Her crisp and decisive attitude left Dongfang Chen stunned for a moment.

He hadn't expected gaining the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's approval to be so simple; he had even prepared for a fight.

But thinking about it, since it came from the system, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's loyalty was certainly guaranteed.

As long as his strength met the standard, there was no way she wouldn't acknowledge him.