Yun Yun, Cooperation!

The days passed one after another.

Everyone in town knew that a Dou Wang was staying at the Ten Thousand Medicine Pavilion. No one dared gossip behind their backs anymore.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed.

That evening, Ye Xiu flew back from the Magical Beast Mountain Range, where Xiao Yi Xian was drying medicinal herbs in the courtyard.

Although there had been no activity in the Magical Beast Mountain Range during the past month, judging by the timing, Yun Yun from the original story should be arriving in the Magical Beast Mountain Range within the next few days.

When Xiao Yi Xian saw Ye Xiu return, she hurriedly said, "Senior, you're back."

Ye Xiu withdrew his Dou Qi Wings and walked over to her. "Yes, but I'll be leaving tomorrow."

A piece of medicinal herb slipped from Xiao Yi Xian's hand and fell to the ground. She bent down to pick it up, dusted it off, and softly asked, "Oh... then will you come back to Qingshan Town in the future, Senior?"

Ye Xiu thought for a moment before saying, "There's nothing in Qingshan Town worth coming back for."

Xiao Yi Xian lowered her head and fell silent for a while. When she looked up again, she wore a smile. "Then please take care on your journey, Senior."

Ye Xiu looked at Xiao Yi Xian. Her voice had not wavered much, but her eyes had already turned red. She was simply forcing herself not to let the tears fall.

They had only spent a month together. Ye Xiu did not quite understand why this girl had become like this.

After thinking for a moment, he took out a jade bottle from his Storage Ring. "This is for you. There are two third-tier healing pills and one fourth-tier Qi Recovery Pill inside. Consider it rent for staying here."

Xiao Yi Xian accepted the jade bottle and hugged it to her chest, lowering her head without saying anything.

Ye Xiu sighed silently and reached out to rub her head.

Xiao Yi Xian's body trembled. She looked up at Ye Xiu, her eyes instantly reddening further as she pressed her lips tightly together.

"Alright, stop acting so teary-eyed." Ye Xiu withdrew his hand. "If fate allows it, we'll meet again someday."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded vigorously, her voice muffled. "Take care, Senior."

Early the next morning, when the sky was only just beginning to brighten, Ye Xiu left.

Xiao Yi Xian stood at the courtyard gate, watching the black-robed figure disappear at the end of the street without moving for a long time.

Ye Xiu flew all the way toward the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

According to his memories, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode was in the eastern part of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, close to the core region. The Lion King was one of the few sixth-tier magical beasts in this mountain range, equivalent to a human four-star Dou Emperor.

After flying for most of the day, Ye Xiu finally landed near a massive cliff and found a large tree to conceal himself in.

This cliff was the only route to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode. Now, everything was ready but Yun Yun.

He waited for nearly a day. Finally, a streak of cyan light swept over from the distant horizon.

As the light faded, it revealed a tall woman.

She wore a long cyan dress, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall. Her face was cool and elegant, her brows and eyes picturesque. A pair of cyan Dou Qi Wings fluttered gently behind her as she hovered in midair, exuding a noble yet sharp aura.

It was Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect!

"She's finally here!"

Ye Xiu shot up from the tree canopy, fiery wings spreading behind his back.

Yun Yun was about to head toward the cliff when she suddenly sensed something and swiftly turned around.

A black-robed youth flew up from below. A pair of crimson-gold flame wings spread behind him as he stared at her.

Yun Yun's pupils narrowed slightly.

A Dou Wang? This youth looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, yet he was already a Dou Wang?!

She secretly raised her guard, circulating her Dou Qi as she asked, "Who are you?"

Ye Xiu did not answer. His gaze passed beyond her toward the distant cliff. "Judging by your direction, are you heading for the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode?"

Yun Yun's brows furrowed slightly as she looked coldly at Ye Xiu. "And if I am?"

Ye Xiu smiled and continued, "What a coincidence. I'm going there too. Although you are a Dou Emperor, I'm afraid it won't be easy for you to deal with the Amethyst Winged Lion King alone. How about we cooperate?"

"Cooperate?" Yun Yun sized him up. "What do you want with the Amethyst Winged Lion King?"

"I need Purple Spirit Crystal," Ye Xiu said.

Yun Yun froze.

Purple Spirit Crystal was a crystal condensed by the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Though it was not an exceedingly rare treasure, it was still useful for cultivation. Her purpose in coming here was also for Purple Spirit Crystal.

"You want Purple Spirit Crystal too?" Yun Yun asked in considerable surprise.

"Too?" Ye Xiu smiled. "It seems you're here for Purple Spirit Crystal as well? Then we really are fated. Since we share the same goal, we should cooperate all the more."

Yun Yun pondered for a moment.

She truly needed Purple Spirit Crystal. The Amethyst Winged Lion King was extremely powerful. Though she could handle it alone, it would still be rather taxing, and one misstep could lead to defeat.

With a Dou Wang as an assistant, things would be much easier.

"How do you plan for us to cooperate?" Yun Yun asked.

"Very simple." Ye Xiu said, "You restrain the Amethyst Winged Lion King head-on, and I'll take the opportunity to sneak into its cave abode and obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal. Once we succeed, I only need thirty percent of the Purple Spirit Crystal."

Yun Yun thought for a moment, then nodded. "All right."

"Your Excellency is indeed straightforward. My name is Ye Xiu. May I ask how I should address you?"

"My name is Yun Yun."

Having reached an agreement, the two of them sped toward the cliff together.

Along the way, Yun Yun occasionally glanced sideways at the young man beside her.

At fifteen or sixteen years old, he was already a Three-Star Dou Wang. Such talent was rare even across the Jia Ma Empire's several hundred years of history. Yet she had never heard of any faction producing such a young Dou Wang.

"Ye Xiu, which sect are you from?" Yun Yun finally could not resist asking.

Ye Xiu glanced at her and answered casually, "I'm merely an independent cultivator."

Yun Yun froze at his words. An independent cultivator? A fifteen-year-old Three-Star Dou Wang—could an independent cultivator really reach such a level?

She frowned but did not press further. Everyone had their own secrets, herself included.

After flying for the time it took to burn an incense stick, the terrain ahead grew steeper, and a massive cliff came into view.

Yun Yun raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

Halfway up the cliff was a huge cave entrance. Not a blade of grass grew around it, and the surrounding rock walls had been scorched violet. Faint waves of heat rushed toward them.

"That's it," Yun Yun said softly. "The Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave."

Ye Xiu nodded and silently extended his soul power. A moment later, he withdrew his senses and said, "The Lion King is inside. Its aura is steady; it should be resting."

Yun Yun glanced at him. This young man's soul perception was actually sharper than hers?

"How do you plan to get in later?" she asked.

Ye Xiu had long since devised a plan. "Challenge it head-on and draw it out. Once you lure it far enough away from the cave, I'll slip inside."

"That simple?"

"That simple." Ye Xiu smiled. "Although the Amethyst Winged Lion King is quite intelligent, it has a violent temper and cannot stand provocation. As long as you make it look like you intend to seize the Purple Spirit Crystal by force, it will definitely chase after you."

Yun Yun pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Then be careful. The Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave may have other safeguards."

"Don't worry," Ye Xiu said. "I'll leave as soon as I get what I came for. I won't linger."

Yun Yun said nothing more. The azure wings on her back spread with a flap, and she soared toward the cave entrance on the cliff.

Ye Xiu, meanwhile, concealed his aura and silently landed behind a massive boulder at the side of the cliff, watching in silence.