Xiao Yan was dumbfounded, Dou Wang?

The little lion's momentum as it lunged forward came to an abrupt halt. Its body stiffened in mid-air for a split second before it hit the ground with a "thud," twitched twice, and went still.

Ye Xiu didn't even glance at it, continuing to collect his Purple Amethyst Source.

After another half-stick of incense worth of time, the liquid in the crystal finally reached the bottom. Ye Xiu shook it, poured the last few drops into a jade bottle, corked it, and tucked it into his Storage Ring.

A large bottle, weighing at least two jin.

That should be enough.

He stood up, clapped his hands, and looked at the carcass of the little lion on the ground.

"Don't blame me; you were the one who started it."

Having said that, he turned and walked away.

Meanwhile, outside the cliff.

Yun Yun and the Amethyst Winged Lion King were locked in a frenzied battle.

In the sky, green light and purple light intertwined, and the booming explosions shook the entire mountain range. Every time Yun Yun swung the green longsword in her hand, it unleashed a sword aura over ten zhang long. The Amethyst Winged Lion King was no slouch either; every time it opened its massive maw, it spewed a torrent of Purple Flame that stained half the sky.

"Human woman, are you trying to get yourself killed?!" the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared, the sound waves scattering the surrounding clouds.

Yun Yun ignored it, the green light on her sword glowing even brighter.

She had come specifically for the Purple Spirit Crystal, and she was determined to get it, regardless of whether the lion gave it up or not. Nalan Yanran's three-year agreement was approaching; although the girl had decent talent, she might not necessarily win against Xiao Yan, who was rumored to have regained his talent. As her master, she had to prepare something for her disciple.

The Purple Spirit Crystal could help calm the mind and focus the spirit, which was exactly what she needed for her cultivation.

"Roar—"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King spat out another blast of Purple Flame. Yun Yun flashed aside to dodge, then backhanded a strike across the lion's back. The sword aura struck the Amethyst Armor, sending a shower of sparks flying and leaving a shallow white mark.

"Is that all you've got?" the lion mocked with a laugh. "Are you trying to scratch an itch for this King?"

Yun Yun's expression remained unchanged, but her heart sank.

It had been so long; why hadn't Ye Xiu come out yet? Could he be planning to swallow the Purple Spirit Crystal for himself and run?

Just as she was thinking this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King suddenly stopped its attack.

It turned its head toward the cliff, a flash of shock crossing its massive eyes.

"You have an accomplice?!" The lion turned back to glare at Yun Yun, its voice distorted. "You let someone into this King's cave?!"

Yun Yun naturally wouldn't admit it. "What accomplice? I don't know what you're talking about. Could there be someone else reaping the benefits?"

"Bullshit!" the lion exploded in fury. "My cub's aura is gone! Gone!! Who the hell did you let inside?!"

Yun Yun was stunned for a moment.

Didn't that brat say he was only taking the Purple Spirit Crystal? Why did he kill the cub?

"I don't know what you're talking about." Yun Yun frowned. "I only came for the Purple Spirit Crystal; nothing else has anything to do with me."

"Nothing to do with you?!" The lion's eyes turned blood-red. "If it has nothing to do with you, why is my cub's aura gone?!"

The amethyst crystals all over its body began to glow, and a terrifying aura erupted from it, more than twice as strong as before.

"Neither of you is leaving here alive today!"

Yun Yun's expression shifted.

This beast was going all out.

Sure enough, the Amethyst Winged Lion King opened its massive maw, but this time, it didn't spit out ordinary Purple Flame; it unleashed a beam of purple light.

The air distorted everywhere the beam passed.

Yun Yun didn't dare to take it head-on and dodged, but the beam was too fast, grazing her shoulder. She let out a muffled groan as the fabric on her shoulder instantly turned to ash, revealing charred, blackened skin underneath.

Before she could catch her breath, the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared again.

This time, countless rays of purple light erupted from its body, weaving together in the air to form a massive net of light that descended upon Yun Yun.

Yun Yun tried to dodge, but it was too late.

"Amethyst Seal!"

With a furious roar from the lion, the net of light tightened, wrapping Yun Yun entirely within it.

Yun Yun's expression changed drastically. She struggled with all her might, but the net tightened further, and the circulation of Dou Qi within her body began to stagnate.

"I told you not to seek death." The lion flew over with a cold sneer, its massive claws reaching for Yun Yun. "Since you delivered yourself to my doorstep, you can be buried with my cub!"

Yun Yun gritted her teeth and thrust her sword forward with all her might.

She poured every ounce of her strength into this strike, the green light on the blade glowing blindingly as it headed straight for the lion's head.

The lion hadn't expected her to be able to attack while sealed, and unable to dodge in time, it was struck in the head by the sword.

"Awoo—"

A miserable shriek echoed out.

The sword pierced directly through its horn, the tip protruding from the other side.

The lion trembled all over from the pain, but it had also gone completely mad. It swiped a paw at Yun Yun, sending her flying like a kite with a broken string until she slammed into the cliffside, creating a massive crater.

"I want you dead!"

The lion roared, preparing to charge again.

Just then!

A streak of crimson-gold fire soared into the sky from below the cliff.

The light moved with incredible speed, reaching the crater where Yun Yun lay in the blink of an eye. The flames receded, revealing a youth in black robes.

Yun Yun lay in the pit, covered in blood; her eyes widened as she saw Ye Xiu appear.

"You... how did you..."

Ye Xiu ignored her, looking down to assess her injuries.

They were quite severe, but not enough to kill her yet.

He pulled a jade bottle from his Storage Ring, twisted off the cap, tilted his head back, and poured the entire contents into his mouth.

It was the Fire-Element Pill he had refined back in Wutan City—six pills in a bottle, all swallowed at once.

The moment the pills hit his stomach, a violent surge of fire-attribute energy exploded within him.

For a Three-Star Dou Wang to pop these pills, the effect was little more than drinking water; he was just looking for a burst of power.

He scooped up the injured Yun Yun, his flaming wings unfurling violently behind him as he shot into the sky.

Seeing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King flew into a thunderous rage.

"Trying to run?! Stay here for me!"

It opened its mouth and spat another purple beam of light, but Ye Xiu had been prepared; he tilted his wings and narrowly dodged it.

"Just you wait!" the lion's voice boomed from behind. "I have marked you both! Even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth, I will tear you to pieces!"

Ye Xiu didn't even look back, speeding away while holding Yun Yun.

His flaming wings flapped so hard they were practically smoking, and he streaked across the horizon like a meteor, vanishing behind the distant mountains in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in a nearby forest.

Xiao Yan lay hidden in the canopy of a large tree, not daring to even breathe loudly.

He had been lying there for nearly half an hour.

It wasn't until a streak of crimson-gold fire soared into the sky from below the cliff, reached the crater where Yun Yun lay, and carried her away that he finally reacted.

Xiao Yan's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Teacher! Teacher!" Xiao Yan shouted frantically in his mind. "That was Senior Ye, wasn't it?!"

Yao Lao was silent for a moment. "It was."

"Dou Qi Wing Transformation?! Isn't that something only a Dou Wang can use? How did Senior Ye suddenly become a Dou Wang?!"

Yao Lao did not speak.

Xiao Yan stared fixedly at the crimson-gold streak of light fading into the distance, his mind completely blank.

A fifteen-year-old Dou Wang?

He recalled meeting Ye Xiu in the mountains behind Wutan City; at that time, Ye Xiu was a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi, and he had already found that outrageous enough.

How much time had passed since then?

A little over a month?

From a Nine-Star Da Dou Shi to a Three-Star Dou Wang?

Was he leveling up on a rocket ship?

"Teacher..." Xiao Yan said with difficulty. "Pinch me. Tell me I'm not dreaming."

"You aren't dreaming," Yao Lao said. "It is indeed a Three-Star Dou Wang."

Xiao Yan: "..."

He stood in the tree, watching the light that had completely vanished into the horizon, unable to speak for a long time.