Xiao Yan in Peril

The sweet fragrance of the Purple Sun Flower Dew gradually wafted outward, inciting the ant colony into a frenzy of excitement.

Almost all the worker ants gathered around, abandoning their patrols and their vigilance, driven only by a desperate craving for the sweet scent.

To offer this "tribute" to the Ant Queen, they did not hesitate to slaughter their former companions. Fragile limbs were easily torn off, and hard carapaces were crushed by the mandibles of their own kin. Dark green fluids splattered everywhere, a sight that made Xiao Yan click his tongue in wonder.

To even sink their teeth into their own brothers and sisters—truly, these are evil soul beast brats by nature.

Once I grow into a Titled Douluo, I shall surely cleanse the world of all evil soul beasts, killing until no one dares to claim supremacy, until no one is left who can claim supremacy!

However, despite his disgust for these creatures devoid of ethics or morality, Xiao Yan continued to add more Purple Sun Flower Dew for them.

He was still fishing, still luring the Ant Queen located in the deepest reaches of the ant nest.

"Hiss—"

A sharp, distinct screech pierced through the chaotic sounds of the slaughter.

The ground trembled. At the entrance of the nest, within the shadows, a colossal figure seemed to be slowly writhing.

Its size was five or six times that of a regular worker ant, its entire body covered in a dark red, oily, and gleaming carapace. Its abdomen was abnormally bloated; clearly, this was the Ant Queen of the colony.

"Charmeleon, go over there. Once the Ant Queen emerges, use Fire Spin to trap it."

Xiao Yan summoned Charmeleon, who nodded, concealed its presence, and quickly lurked toward the spot Xiao Yan had indicated—a tall tree.

This location offered an excellent vantage point with no obstructions, making it perfect for Charmeleon to whip up a Fire Spin to control the Ant Queen.

It should be noted that Charmeleon had not yet learned the formal Fire Spin skill; it was merely spitting flames, with Xiao Yan using his control over fire to shape the technique. Consequently, this move required a period of preparation.

Gradually, the Ant Queen writhed its body and crawled out of the nest.

The entrance was stretched until it burst. The Ant Queen was meant to stay deep within, with soldiers and workers usually coming and going; the entrance had been sized for them.

But now, the homebody Ant Queen Mother wanted to go out, and the door naturally could not bear the burden, being forcibly crushed open.

The Ant Queen slowly moved to the pool of flower dew, then its mandibles trembled slightly as it took a sip.

Gah! This stuff is too pure!

Having tasted the sweetness, the Ant Queen's two small eyes erupted with light, and it brutally dispersed and crushed the surrounding worker ants.

A bunch of bloodsuckers, actually trying to snatch such a delicacy from me? Truly damnable, damnable!!

Once it had cleared the surrounding colony, it could finally enjoy the delicious nectar. The Ant Queen shook its body triumphantly and leaned its head in, but at that very moment, a sudden change occurred!

A ball of flames shot down from high above!

"!!!"

Xiao Yan looked up in shock. Damn it, Charmeleon, what's going on? I haven't given the order yet, why did you release the fire?

On the treetop, Charmeleon spread its hands in helplessness, then pointed toward the sky.

"Char! Char!"

You're saying you didn't release the fire? Then that is...

Xiao Yan understood Charmeleon's meaning and looked up, preparing to find the culprit who had set the forest ablaze. However, he discovered that while the forest was perfectly clear, no sunlight was falling; instead, rainbow light was descending from the firmament.

Hum, hum, hum.

Seven-colored radiance tore through the clouds like the light of divine judgment, shrouding the forest. An indescribable pressure descended from the heavens.

Every Blazing Fire Ant stopped its movements at this moment, trembling in place—including the Ant Queen!

Xiao Yan slowly raised his head to see a divine bird with a body length of over three zhang and a wingspan of nearly ten zhang slowly emerging.

It was the overlord of the Sunset Forest airspace, the divine bird Great Sun Rainbow!

However, compared to their last meeting, the Great Sun Rainbow did not look as high-spirited. Its feathers were somewhat dirty, and there were even several bald patches, making it look rather unsightly.

How could the Great Sun Rainbow appear here? Even if the Purple Sun Flower Dew is a special lure for fire-type soul beasts, it shouldn't be enough to attract this guy. Given its level, it shouldn't even look at medicine refined from low-grade Purple Sun Flowers...

Suddenly, Xiao Yan remembered something and looked sharply at Charmeleon. He saw that hanging around Charmeleon's neck was a fragment of the Red Orb.

The source of the Earth Fire's emergence was this fragment. Was the Great Sun Rainbow attracted here because it sensed the aura of the Red Orb fragment carried by Charmeleon?

If that's the case, then we are in big trouble...

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

Confirmed, this is the little thief who stole from me last time! To think he would dare appear in the Sunset Forest again!

"Coo-ga-ga!!"

The Great Sun Rainbow let out a loud cry, then violently spread its wings, and countless rays of rainbow light shot toward Xiao Yan!

"Charmeleon! Martial Soul Possession!"

Xiao Yan dodged in a panic, managing to avoid only part of the attack, but he was still pierced by several rainbow feathers, drawing droplets of blood.

Fortunately, Charmeleon knew the situation was dire and did not waste time climbing down the tree. Instead, it returned directly to Xiao Yan's dantian to initiate the possession.

Flames surged, and golden dragon scales once again covered Xiao Yan's body. However, the crisis was not over; seeing its first strike fail, the Great Sun Rainbow spread its wings, scattering rainbow light that condensed into beams and converged on Xiao Yan once more.

"Again?"

Xiao Yan rolled away in a sorry state. Knowing he was no match for this nearly hundred-thousand-year soul beast, he could only flee in a panic.

As for the Great Sun Rainbow, although it was unclear why the treasure's aura had vanished, it had an enemy right before its eyes—how could it possibly let him escape?

"Gugugaga!"

A human's speed cannot compare to that of a soul beast, and a soul beast's speed cannot compare to flight; generally, even a flying soul beast cannot outpace the Great Sun Rainbow.

So, dear readers before the screen, do you think Xiao Yan can get away?

Xiao Yan's body wove and leaped through the forest, striving to use the trees to obstruct the Great Sun Rainbow's pursuit, yet the Great Sun Rainbow flapped its wings and soared high above the canopy, completely unaffected.

"What a nuisance..."

Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, conjured a Buddha Fury Ice Lotus, and flung it toward the sky, but the Great Sun Rainbow merely tilted its body slightly to dodge it, looking absurdly relaxed.

Fortunately, Xiao Yan had never pinned his hopes on that strike; it was merely a distraction to buy himself time to escape.

Seeing the tactic worked, Xiao Yan felt a surge of joy, conjured another fire lotus, tossed it into the sky, and immediately took to his heels.

The Great Sun Rainbow dodged it with ease once more and was about to continue the pursuit when it suddenly froze, abruptly halting its advance. Xiao Yan, who was looking back to observe, saw the massive creature stop dead in its tracks.

"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, carrying with it a wave of scorching heat.

A golden torrent tore through the dense forest, and at the lead was a male lion, its size comparable to a mammoth, its entire body covered in golden fur that burned like flames.

The Golden-Haired Blazing Lion King!