Zi Yan, Protective of Her Food

To the east of Jia Nan Academy lay a vast stretch of primeval forest, lush and verdant. Ancient trees towered overhead, their dense branches and leaves nearly blocking out the daylight. The woods were filled with the damp scent of grass and trees, mixed with the faintly fishy odor of magical beasts.

This forest near the edge of the Black-Corner Region had always been a territory occupied by high-level magical beasts. Ordinary Jia Nan Academy students simply did not dare venture too deeply inside.

Yet at this moment, a petite purple figure was hopping about through the forest without the slightest awareness of danger.

It was Zi Yan.

She was crouching behind a huge boulder, clutching a rough stone she had picked up, larger than her own head, in her little hand. She aimed it at a burly Great Strength Ape not far away, its body covered in thick dark-brown fur, and threw it with all her strength.

The stone struck the Great Strength Ape squarely on its broad back with a dull thud. It did not hurt much, but it was more than irritating enough.

This was already the third time in recent days that Zi Yan had come to provoke this peak fifth-tier magical beast.

Her purpose was to lure the beast away, then steal the spiritual fruit it guarded.

The Great Strength Ape had been resting with its eyes closed before its nest. After being provoked over and over by this little runt, it had long been boiling with rage.

It suddenly opened its scarlet, bell-sized eyes and glared viciously at Zi Yan. Its thick arms pounded savagely against its chest, producing heavy booms that shook the surrounding leaves loose.

A deafening roar exploded from its throat. Its enormous body kicked off the ground, charging brutally toward Zi Yan with the force of a gale.

Seeing that her plan had worked, Zi Yan turned and ran without a second thought.

A fifth-tier Great Strength Ape was an overlord among magical beasts of the same rank. Its physical strength was unmatched, and when enraged, even four- or five-star Dou Wangs would not dare take it head-on.

Though Zi Yan possessed innate divine strength and a body far stronger than ordinary people, she knew full well how formidable this crazed ape was. She had no intention of clashing with it directly.

When Zi Yan saw the Great Strength Ape catching up behind her, her large, clear gemstone-like eyes rolled twice.

Dou Qi wings formed behind her as she began circling around the Great Strength Ape's nest.

Though the Great Strength Ape was powerful, speed was its weakness.

Before long, Zi Yan used her nimble figure to leave it far behind. With a sharp turn, she rushed straight into the cave where the ape's nest was located.

The cave was dimly lit, but she moved as if she knew it well. With one sweep of her gaze, she precisely locked onto a spiritual herb glowing with a faint green light in the middle of the cave wall.

Two round, plump, bright-red fruits hung from its stem. Their fragrance drifted through the air, and one glance was enough to tell that they were spiritual medicine highly beneficial to cultivation.

Zi Yan's eyes lit up. Moving as fast as lightning, she reached out and plucked both fruits at once.

Without hesitation, she stuffed one into her mouth and held the other in her palm, intending to savor it slowly after returning.

Having done all that, she turned and dashed toward the cave entrance.

She knew perfectly well that if that crazed ape blocked her inside the cave, even if it could not beat her to death, she certainly would not escape a vicious beating.

But of course, what she feared came to pass.

Just as Zi Yan was about to reach the entrance, an enormous black shadow slammed down before it, sealing off the exit completely.

The Great Strength Ape was back.

Its fierce gaze swept over the now-empty spiritual herb, then fixed on Zi Yan's tiny mouth, which was still chewing slightly. It instantly understood that the fruit it had guarded for so long had been stolen by this little thief.

"Roar—!!"

A roar of extreme fury resounded through the cave. The Great Strength Ape's fur stood on end as it swung a fist the size of a washbasin, bringing it crashing toward Zi Yan with a howling gale.

Zi Yan's small body stiffened, and a flash of fear quickly crossed her gemstone-like eyes.

But the next moment, she felt unwilling to accept her own cowardice. She puffed out her little chest and forcibly suppressed her panic.

She raised her little face to glare at the Great Strength Ape and shouted, with more bravado than reason, "I only ate two of your fruits! Why are you roaring so loudly?!"

As she spoke, she raised her tiny fist, pretending that she was about to clash head-on with the Great Strength Ape.

Yet just as the two wildly disproportionate fists were about to collide, Zi Yan suddenly nimbly withdrew her hand. Her petite body shifted aside, and she lightly dodged the blow.

The Great Strength Ape's attack missed, and its immense momentum made it stagger a step forward, leaving the cave entrance open at once.

How could Zi Yan miss such an opportunity? Her feet seemed to be greased as she shot out of the cave in a flash.

Even after running far away, she did not forget to turn back and make a huge face at the Great Strength Ape. Her voice was crisp and unbearably smug. "You simple-minded idiot! I'm leaving—"

The Great Strength Ape steadied itself, only then realizing that it had been fooled by the little runt again. It nearly went mad with rage, pounding its chest as it chased after her wildly. Its roars spread through the entire forest.

Just then, two figures slowly arrived in the sky above.

Ling Yuan hovered in midair. Sweeping his gaze downward, he instantly locked onto the petite purple figure being chased all over the place by a magical beast.

Purple hair, the aura of a Dou Wang, appearing no more than twelve or thirteen years old, a delicate little girl resembling an exquisite porcelain doll...

Coupled with the way she was making threats while running, her eyes brimming with cunning cleverness.

Ling Yuan almost instantly confirmed that she was the Zi Yan he had come to find. There could be no mistake.

Ignoring the clever, mischievous nature hidden inside her, just that soft and adorable little face alone made her seem like a well-behaved child one could not resist reaching out to pinch.

She really is rather cute.

She was a little girl now, and she would become a mature beauty when she grew up. She could be both cute and commanding.

Standing high in the air, Ling Yuan followed the purple little figure below with his eyes, lightly rubbing his chin as he secretly sighed. What a pity.

Zi Yan was simply too fast. Though the enraged Great Strength Ape possessed tremendous brute strength, she used her nimble figure to leave it farther and farther behind.

He had wanted to put on a little "hero saves the beauty" act to earn some goodwill, but it seemed there would be no chance now.

After silently lamenting the missed opportunity, Ling Yuan decided to stop watching.

If he kept watching, Zi Yan would be back at the academy soon.

Ling Yuan quickly descended.

Zi Yan felt an immense pressure descend upon her. Walking on the Void—he was a Dou Zong!

Zi Yan's little body shrank slightly, and her gemstone-like eyes were filled with unease.

She was somewhat famous as a little tyrant at Jia Nan Academy, but when facing an expert at the level of a Dou Zong, she could not help feeling intimidated.

Her heart pounded nervously. I may be a little mischievous usually, but I've never offended anyone this powerful, have I?

At the same time, Ling Yuan had already landed on the ground, only a few dozen feet away from Zi Yan.

He did not take the fifth-tier Great Strength Ape, still roaring in the distance, seriously at all.

Dealing with a magical beast of this level did not require any Dou skills.

Ling Yuan's brow furrowed slightly as a vast spiritual force quietly gathered.

With a flick of his fingertip, an invisible spiritual shockwave silently shot toward the Great Strength Ape.

The Great Strength Ape had been madly chasing her, its mind filled only with thoughts of recovering the spiritual fruit and tearing that little thief to pieces. It was completely unguarded.

The spiritual attack instantly entered its mind. It let out a miserable muffled groan, and its enormous body suddenly trembled.

The light vanished from its bell-sized eyes at once. Bright-red blood seeped from its seven orifices, and it fell stiffly to the ground without moving again.

The sight made Zi Yan's eyes widen instantly, her little mouth opening slightly in shock.

So strong!

With just a casual gesture, he had dealt with that troublesome Great Strength Ape so easily?

That was a creature even old man Su Qian at the academy had warned everyone to be careful around!

Zi Yan was both shocked and envious, and she could not help muttering inwardly, If only I had strength like that. Then I could snatch whatever spiritual fruits and medicinal ingredients I wanted, and no one could stop me!

Ling Yuan did not look at the Great Strength Ape. His gaze remained fixed on Zi Yan.

Zi Yan's heart tightened. Instinctively, she hid the little hand clutching the bright-red fruit behind her back.

Ling Yuan saw her reaction, and a trace of amusement flashed through his eyes. He secretly found it rather interesting.

This little girl was no different from a baby beast guarding its food.

"This is my only fruit. I can't give it to you. Go dig out its magic core instead."

Zi Yan pointed at the fallen Great Strength Ape with her other hand.

Ling Yuan shook his head. "I don't want the magic core."

A fifth-tier magic core might be precious to others, but it truly meant nothing to him.

Hearing that, Zi Yan's little face immediately fell. Her brows knitted together as she wore an expression of complete conflict.