Without the slightest surprise, Yao Chen was immediately sent back into seclusion by Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu had a clear goal and a well-laid plan.
He knew full well that the Central Plains was no place he could set foot in at present.
So no matter how fantastically Yao Chen spun his tale, he still wouldn't go.
With Yao Chen's voice gone, the surroundings fell silent.
Meeting Xiao Yu's gaze, the Amethyst Winged Lion King pondered for a moment before speaking. "Deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, there's a deep pool. Its water stays cold all year round, radiating a chill, and the Water-attributed Dou Qi around it is extremely dense.
"If you're looking for a Water-attributed stone, Master, I think there's a good chance you'll find one there."
As one of the overlords of the eastern Magical Beast Mountain Range, the Amethyst Winged Lion King possessed intelligence no weaker than a human's and understood the importance of rare natural treasures.
So besides cultivating in its cave, it occasionally explored the mountain range.
It had discovered that deep pool by chance.
The water there was bone-chillingly cold. When its Purple Flame fell upon it, the chill dispersed the heat before it could even touch the surface.
Dense water vapor hung around the pool. Only at noon on a sunny day would the white mist clear for a little while.
"There's a place like that in the Magical Beast Mountain Range?"
After hearing the description, Xiao Yu found it hard to believe. "Is there a magical beast guarding it?"
A trace of solemnity appeared in the Amethyst Winged Lion King's eyes. It gave a slight nod of its enormous head. "A Blue Scale Python lives in the pool. It's also Tier 6, and a little stronger than I am."
"Tier 6? No problem. Get ready. We'll set out shortly."
Xiao Yu rose to his feet at once.
He still had two Beast Taming Experience Cards left. As long as they didn't run into a magical beast above Tier 6, there would be no pressure at all.
When he got home, Xiao Yu told his wives that he was about to leave.
"How long will you be gone?" Ya Fei asked.
Xiao Yu considered it briefly. "A day if things go quickly, a few days at most. Why?"
"If it's on your way, I'd like you to apply for an Alchemist Guild branch in Wutan City."
After giving birth, Ya Fei had recovered with the help of medicinal pills and could now walk around freely.
So she had thrown herself back into business.
Although the Mittel Family had begun to accept her, Ya Fei had not given up. She hoped to win the family over completely through her own efforts.
After looking into the Xiao Clan's business lately, she had found that Wutan City's location remained the biggest limitation.
Because the city lay on the edge of the Jia Ma Empire, it didn't get much traffic. If they could establish an Alchemist Guild branch in Wutan City, it would attract alchemists, along with other businesses.
In the Jia Ma Empire, a city's status was often measured by whether it had an Alchemist Guild.
The guild could serve many purposes, from holding examinations to providing training, and it often drew many people to a city.
"I'll see what I can do. There's no rush. If need be, I can take you and the child to the Imperial Capital later and have the Alchemist Guild there handle it directly."
Ya Fei nodded. That would work too. With the head of the Mittel Family stepping in, and with the Imperial Capital being what it was, applying for a branch would surely be faster.
"No need. Take this to any city with an Alchemist Guild, and you can handle it directly."
Just then, Yun Yun took out an object and pressed it into Xiao Yu's hand.
Xiao Yu was taken aback. Looking down, he saw a token.
Something belonging to Pill King Gu He?
Based on Yun Yun's identity and the writing on the token, he quickly guessed whose it was.
"Elder Sister Yun Zhi, you..."
Xiao Yi Xian, Li Qian, and Ya Fei all stared at Yun Yun in surprise. This was the first time Yun Yun had volunteered to help Xiao Yu.
Nothing like this had ever happened before.
"I'm part of this family too. Can't I do my share?"
Under their gazes, Yun Yun felt especially awkward. But considering her own situation, she didn't want Xiao Yu to return too soon.
She said, "Ya Fei just gave birth to your child. Are you really going to turn down such a small favor?"
"Fine. When I get back, I'll make sure the Alchemist Guild branch is settled."
Xiao Yu put away the token. He cared a great deal about his wives' affection for him.
And Yun Yun was right. Ya Fei rarely asked him for anything, and this wouldn't be difficult—it would only take a little time.
Hearing Xiao Yu agree, a flicker of delight passed through Yun Yun's eyes.
Lately, I've felt that I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. If I can break through before Xiao Yu gets back, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's seal will undo itself. Then, as long as I can get hold of Xiao Yu, the Amethyst Winged Lion King won't be able to do anything to me.
A hint of anticipation slowly surfaced in her eyes.
After lunch, Xiao Yu said goodbye to his father, climbed onto the Amethyst Winged Lion King, and flew toward the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
The deep pool lay about half a day's journey from the cave where the Amethyst Winged Lion King had once lived.
By the time the Amethyst Winged Lion King carried Xiao Yu there, night was already drawing near.
In the thick, lush forest, towering trees formed a vast shadow, and the roars of all kinds of magical beasts sounded from time to time.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King didn't land, but hovered in the air with Xiao Yu standing on its head.
About a hundred meters ahead and below them lay a wide-open area, as if someone had gouged a hole out of the dense forest.
At that moment, white mist rose over the area and lingered without dissipating.
Xiao Yu gazed into the distance, but still couldn't make out what lay within.
When the wind swept through the trees and carried wisps of white mist toward him, he breathed in deeply and felt a chill seep into his lungs.
"Master, nighttime is when I'm at my weakest. If we attack now, I'm afraid I won't be a match for it."
Faced with Xiao Yu's order, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had no choice but to explain.
The amethyst crystals on its body could absorb sunlight. The stronger the sun, the more fiercely its Purple Flame burned, and the more its strength increased.
By the same token, when night fell, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's strength weakened by one or two levels compared to daytime.
"Don't worry. As long as it's a Tier 6 magical beast, there's no danger."
Xiao Yu spoke calmly.
He stood with his hands behind his back as the mountain wind blew, pressing his clothes against his body.
Seeing Xiao Yu's attitude, the Amethyst Winged Lion King stopped hesitating.
It opened its mouth, and the surrounding Dou Qi rushed into it.
At first, there was only a faint purple glow. In an instant, it grew into a fireball wrapped in purple flames.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King spat it out, and the fireball dragged a long tail as it plunged straight into the white mist.
The intense heat burned a hole through the mist, letting Xiao Yu finally see what lay within.
Beneath the night sky, the deep pool was utterly still. Its surface was like a black hole, as if it could swallow everything.
The Purple Flame fireball struck the water and was completely extinguished in less than two seconds.
Everything was exactly as the Amethyst Winged Lion King had described.
The pool's terrifying chill had extinguished the heat of its flames outright.
"Keep going."
Seeing no movement beneath the water, Xiao Yu continued giving orders.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One purple fireball after another was spat toward the water by the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
The calm pool was struck by the force and immediately turned turbulent, surging toward the shore like the sea.
The white mist around it also began to thin.
"Roar!"
Another fireball fell. Suddenly, enormous bubbles rose from the surface as if the water were boiling, and then a deep-blue figure shot out of the pool.
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