Xiao Yan in Peril

The sweet fragrance of Purple Sun Flower Dew gradually spread, sending the ant colony into a frenzy.

Almost all the worker ants gathered around. They abandoned their patrols and their guard duties, consumed by nothing but a longing for that sweet scent.

To offer this "tribute" to the Ant Queen, they even killed their former companions without hesitation. Their fragile limbs were torn off with ease, their hard shells crunched apart by the mandibles of their own kind, and dark green juices splattered everywhere. Xiao Yan watched, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"They'll even eat their own brothers and sisters. Soul Beasts really are born evil little monsters."

"Once I become a Titled Douluo, I'll cleanse the world of every evil Soul Beast. I'll kill so many that no one will be able to call themselves a king, and no one will dare!"

Yet despite his disgust for these creatures, who had not the slightest sense of ethics or morality, Xiao Yan continued adding Purple Sun Flower Dew for them.

He was still fishing, still luring out the Ant Queen hidden in the deepest part of the nest.

"Hiss—"

A shrill cry unlike the others cut through the sounds of chaotic slaughter.

The ground trembled. At the nest entrance, in the shadows, something enormous seemed to be slowly wriggling its way out.

It was five or six times the size of an ordinary worker ant, its body entirely covered in dark red, gleaming armor. Its abdomen was extraordinarily swollen. Clearly, this was the Ant Queen.

"Charmeleon, go over there and wait. When the Ant Queen comes out, trap her with Fire Spin."

Xiao Yan summoned Charmeleon, who nodded, concealed itself, and quickly crept to the spot Xiao Yan had indicated: a tall tree.

The spot had an excellent view and was almost completely unobstructed, making it perfect for Charmeleon to whip up a Fire Spin and restrain the Ant Queen.

Charmeleon hadn't actually learned the official Fire Spin skill yet. It could only spew flames, while Xiao Yan controlled them and worked them into a move. As a result, the skill needed some time to prepare.

Gradually, the Ant Queen wriggled out of the nest.

The entrance burst open under the strain. The Ant Queen usually stayed deep inside, while the soldier ants and worker ants went in and out. The nest entrance had been made for them.

But now the Ant Queen, a homebody for years, was finally going out. The doorway couldn't bear the strain and was squeezed apart.

The Ant Queen slowly shuffled over to the pool of flower dew. Her mandibles quivered gently as she took a little sip.

Croak! This stuff's the real deal!

Having acquired a taste for it, the Ant Queen's tiny eyes lit up. She violently drove away and crushed the worker ants around her.

A bunch of bloodsuckers actually think they can fight me for such a delicacy? You deserve to die! Die!!

Once she'd cleared away the ants around her, she could finally enjoy the delicious nectar. The Ant Queen gave her body a smug little shake and leaned down toward the pool. Just then, something changed!

A mass of flames shot down from high above!

"!!!"

Xiao Yan looked up in shock. What the hell, Charmeleon? What's going on? I haven't given the order—why did you start a fire?

Up in the treetops, Charmeleon helplessly spread its hands, then pointed toward the sky.

"Cha! Cha!"

You're saying you didn't start the fire? Then who—

Xiao Yan understood Charmeleon and looked up, searching for whoever had set the forest ablaze. But the whole forest was clear and bright, yet no sunlight fell through the trees. Only a rainbow glow descended from the sky.

Buzz, buzz, buzz.

A seven-colored radiance tore through the clouds, like a beam of divine punishment, blanketing the forest. An indescribable pressure descended from above.

Every Blazing Fire Ant froze in place, trembling. Even the Ant Queen was no exception!

Xiao Yan slowly raised his head and saw the figure of a Divine Bird emerge—a creature over three zhang long, with a wingspan of nearly ten.

It was none other than the ruler of the skies above Sunset Forest, the Divine Bird Great Sun Rainbow!

But compared to the last time they'd met, Great Sun Rainbow no longer looked so proud and spirited. Its feathers were dirty, and several patches were completely bare, making it look rather ugly.

"Why would Great Sun Rainbow show up here? Even if Purple Sun Flower Dew is especially effective against Fire-type Soul Beasts, that shouldn't be enough to attract this fellow. At its level, it shouldn't care about medicine made from low-grade Purple Sun Flowers..."

Suddenly, Xiao Yan remembered something and whipped around to look at Charmeleon. Hanging around Charmeleon's neck was the fragment of the Red Orb.

"The Earth Fire first appeared because of this fragment. Did Great Sun Rainbow sense the fragment of the Red Orb on Charmeleon and come here because of it?"

"If that's the case, then I'm in serious trouble..."

The thought had barely crossed Xiao Yan's mind when Great Sun Rainbow swooped down and tilted its head to look at him.

It's confirmed. This is the little thief who stole from me last time—and he dares show his face in Sunset Forest!

"Coo-coo-ga-ga!!"

Great Sun Rainbow let out a cry and suddenly spread its wings. Countless streaks of rainbow light shot toward Xiao Yan!

"Charmeleon! Martial Soul Possession!"

Xiao Yan hurriedly dodged. He managed to avoid some of the attacks, but several rainbow feathers still struck him, drawing tiny spots of blood.

Fortunately, Charmeleon knew the situation was urgent. Instead of wasting time climbing down from the tree, it returned directly to Xiao Yan's dantian and possessed him from within.

Flames surged, and golden Dragon Scale once again covered Xiao Yan's body. But the danger wasn't over. When Great Sun Rainbow saw its first attack fail, it spread its wings and scattered rainbow light. The motes gathered into beams and converged on Xiao Yan once more.

"Again?"

Xiao Yan rolled away awkwardly. Knowing he was no match for this Soul Beast, which was close to a hundred thousand years old, he could only flee in a panic.

Great Sun Rainbow didn't know why the treasure's aura had disappeared, but with its enemy right in front of it, how could it let him escape?

"Coo-coo-ga-ga!"

A human couldn't outrun a Soul Beast on foot, and a Soul Beast on foot couldn't outrun one that could fly. And ordinarily, no flying Soul Beast could outfly Great Sun Rainbow.

So, dear readers in front of your screens, do you think Xiao Yan can get away?

Xiao Yan darted and leaped through the forest, trying to use the trees to impede Great Sun Rainbow's pursuit. But Great Sun Rainbow flapped its wings and rose high above the forest, completely unaffected.

"What a pain..."

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, whipped up a Buddha Fury Ice Lotus, and hurled it into the sky. Great Sun Rainbow simply banked to the side and dodged it with absurd ease.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan hadn't been counting on the attack hitting. He'd only meant to distract Great Sun Rainbow and buy himself time to escape.

Seeing that the move had worked, Xiao Yan was elated. He whipped up another Fire Lotus, tossed it skyward, and immediately bolted.

Great Sun Rainbow easily dodged again and was about to continue its pursuit when it suddenly froze, bringing itself to a dead stop. Xiao Yan glanced back and saw the enormous creature hanging motionless in the air.

"What's going on?"

The thought had barely crossed Xiao Yan's mind when the earth began to shake violently!

Rumble—

A deafening roar swept over them, carried on a wave of scorching air.

A golden torrent burst through the dense forest. At its head charged a male lion as massive as a mammoth, its golden mane blazing like flames.

The Golden-Haired Blazing Lion King!