The vegetation around them grew denser, and the fluctuations of Soul Power in the air grew stronger. They had clearly entered the territory of high-year Soul Beasts.
After tracking the little one for about half an hour, Little Gold finally stopped before a relatively open mountain hollow. It lowered its body, its golden fur bristling slightly, and fixed its dark-golden eyes on the front, a low warning rumbling in its throat.
Yu Tianlong held his breath and followed its gaze.
In the center of the hollow, a lion lay sprawled atop a huge boulder.
It was an enormous lion, more than four meters from head to tail and nearly two meters at the shoulder. Its body was covered in brilliant golden mane, dazzling in the sunlight like burning flames.
Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws glinting with a metallic sheen. At the end of its long tail grew a tuft of mane like a flame, and the air around it rippled faintly as the tail swayed.
It was dozing, but even so, the pressure of a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast had silenced every insect and bird nearby, leaving the area utterly still.
"Flame Lion King..." Yu Tianlong recognized the Soul Beast, his pupils narrowing slightly.
The Flame Lion King was a top-tier fire-attribute Soul Beast with an exceptionally pure fire bloodline. Among Soul Beasts of the same rank, it was practically a tyrant.
A mature Flame Lion King was powerful enough to rival a Five-Ring Soul King. Even some weaker Six-Ring Soul Emperors might not be able to defeat one for certain.
Judging by its size and aura, this one was at least fifteen thousand years old.
"Well, would you look at that... You sure know how to pick one." Yu Tianlong licked his lips. There was no fear in his eyes, only a flicker of excitement.
An ordinary Soul Elder who encountered a Soul Beast of this caliber probably wouldn't even have the courage to run. But to him, this Flame Lion King was a top-grade Soul Ring delivered right to his doorstep!
"Little Silver, time to get to work," Yu Tianlong said quietly.
Little Silver leaped down from his shoulder. Purple markings began to glow amid its silver-white fur, and its glassy eyes shone with eager anticipation.
It lowered its body slightly as the elements around it began to stir. The Flame Lion King was a ruler among fire-attribute Soul Beasts, but Little Silver was an "elemental glutton" that could even absorb the Jade Phosphorous Serpent's deadly poison. When it came to playing with fire, it had never feared anyone.
"Go!"
At Yu Tianlong's command, Little Gold struck first!
It shot out of the bushes like a golden bolt of lightning. Its four hooves struck the ground, digging two deep holes into the earth, and its massive body lunged at the Flame Lion King with a speed utterly at odds with its size!
The Flame Lion King sensed the danger at once. Its eyes snapped open, revealing a pair of red-gold vertical pupils burning with fury.
Seeing a strange golden creature with scales and a single horn charging at it, it let out a deafening roar and spat a scorching red-gold fireball from its jaws!
The fireball was as large as a millstone. The air warped from the heat as it flew past, and the weeds on the ground turned to ash in an instant!
But just as the fireball was about to hit Little Gold—
A silver-white figure appeared like a ghost at the side of its path.
Little Silver opened its mouth and sucked in sharply!
The red-gold fireball, hot enough to melt steel, seemed to be caught by some invisible force. It changed course, turning into a stream of red-gold fire that Little Silver swallowed in one gulp!
"Hss—whoo—"
After swallowing the fireball, Little Silver burped, puffing out a wisp of smoke flecked with sparks. Its glassy eyes shone brightly, and the purple markings on its body glowed even more intensely.
It licked its lips with an unsatisfied look, then gave the Flame Lion King a taunting cry. "Roh!"
A humanlike look of bewilderment flashed in the Flame Lion King's eyes. It had lived for more than ten thousand years, yet this was the first time it had ever encountered an opponent that could eat its flames!
While it was distracted, Little Gold had already reached it!
"First Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Claw!"
Golden light burst forth! Little Gold's right claw swelled in an instant, covered in golden scales. Five dark-gold claws, curved like scimitars, sprang from its fingertips and slashed down with enough force to tear through anything!
The Flame Lion King was, after all, a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and it reacted swiftly. With an angry roar, it twisted sharply to the side and raised its thickly maned left forepaw, meeting Little Gold's claws head-on!
"Clang—!!!"
The clash rang out like metal striking metal, and sparks flew everywhere!
Little Gold clearly had the upper hand in strength. The Flame Lion King was knocked back several meters, its four claws carving four deep furrows in the ground.
A few shallow white marks appeared on its left forepaw. Its defense had held, but the tremendous force left the paw tingling.
For the first time, a grave look appeared in the Flame Lion King's eyes. It realized that the strange golden creature before it would not be easy to deal with.
But it didn't retreat. As the overlord of this region, it had its own pride.
It drew a deep breath, and red-gold flames suddenly surged around it, engulfing its entire body! The temperature around them shot up, and the sand and stones on the ground glowed red from the heat!
"Roar!!!"
It roared again. This time, its attack was no mere test; it was unleashing its full fury!
It opened its jaws wide and blasted out a thicker, hotter pillar of flame, like a volcanic eruption, straight at Little Gold! The flames were so hot that the air crackled as they passed!
"Little Silver!" Yu Tianlong shouted.
Little Silver was already ready. It moved in front of Little Gold again and opened its mouth. Silver light blazed in its glassy eyes as an even stronger suction spread from its jaws!
The pillar of flame, powerful enough to incinerate all things, met Little Silver's suction and vanished into its mouth as if it had fallen into a bottomless sea!
A scarlet glow began to spread across Little Silver's body—the sign of fire energy building up inside it—but its gaze remained clear, without the slightest trace of pain.
The Flame Lion King breathed fire for more than a dozen seconds before the pillar finally began to weaken. Little Silver was unharmed, apart from its slightly swollen belly and a loud, satisfied burp!
The Flame Lion King: "???"
It had lived for more than ten thousand years and had never encountered anything so absurd! Its very own flames had been eaten like food?!
As it fell into a moment of self-doubt, Little Gold seized its chance!
"Second Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Body!"
Golden light surged! Little Gold's body swelled again, golden scales covering it from head to toe as an overbearing aura burst from within!
Its eyes turned pure dark gold, its pupils narrowed to slits, and a cold draconic might radiated from it!
It dug in with all four hooves. The ground collapsed with a roar, and its body shot forward like a cannonball, appearing in front of the Flame Lion King in an instant!
The Flame Lion King instinctively raised a paw to block—but with Golden Dragon Body activated, Little Gold's strength and speed had both increased by fifty percent. It was more than the lion could withstand!
"First Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Claw!"
A golden claw-blade flashed like lightning tearing through the night sky, descending with unstoppable force!
"Schhk—!!!"
The sound of claws ripping through flesh rang out, muffled yet clear.
Five deep gashes, reaching down to the bone, appeared in the Flame Lion King's thickly maned neck. Blood gushed out like a fountain!
It let out a heartrending cry and staggered backward several steps before crashing to the ground!
Its limbs twitched a few times. The light in its red-gold eyes gradually faded.
A deep black Soul Ring slowly rose above its corpse.