Arrival at Sunset Forest

The surrounding vegetation grew increasingly dense, and the fluctuations of Soul Power in the air became more intense; clearly, they had entered the activity zone of high-year-age soul beasts.

After tracking for about half an hour, Little Gold finally stopped before a relatively open mountain hollow. It crouched low, its golden fur standing slightly on end, dark golden eyes locked onto the front as a low, warning growl rumbled in its throat.

Yu Tianlong held his breath and followed its gaze.

In the center of the hollow, resting upon a massive blue boulder, lay a lion.

It was a lion of immense proportions, over four meters long from head to tail, with a shoulder height of nearly two meters. Its entire body was covered in brilliant golden manes that shone as dazzlingly as burning flames under the sunlight.

Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws shimmering with a metallic luster. At the end of its long tail grew a tuft of flame-like fur, and as it swayed gently, the surrounding air warped slightly.

It was dozing, yet even so, the pressure belonging to a ten-thousand-year soul beast caused the surrounding chirping of insects and birds to vanish, leaving behind a deathly silence.

"Flame Lion King..." Yu Tianlong recognized the soul beast, his pupils constricting slightly.

The Flame Lion King was a top-tier fire-attribute soul beast possessing an extremely pure flame bloodline, making it a hegemon-level existence among soul beasts of the same rank.

A mature Flame Lion King possessed strength comparable to a five-ring Soul King; even some weaker six-ring Soul Emperors might not be able to secure a victory against it.

As for the one before him, judging by its size and aura, it was at least fifteen thousand years old.

"Good fellow... you really know how to pick them." Yu Tianlong licked his lips. Instead of fear, a glimmer of excitement flashed in his eyes.

If an ordinary Soul Elder encountered a soul beast of this caliber, they likely wouldn't even have the courage to run. But to him, this Flame Lion King was practically a top-grade soul ring delivered to his doorstep!

"Little Silver, get ready to work," Yu Tianlong whispered.

Little Silver jumped down from his shoulder. Purple patterns began to light up amidst its silver-white fur, and its glass-like eyes shimmered with eager anticipation.

It crouched slightly, and the surrounding elements began to stir—the Flame Lion King was a king of the fire attribute, but Little Silver was an "elemental glutton" capable of absorbing even the deadly poison of a Jade Phosphorous Serpent. When it came to playing with fire, it had never feared anyone.

"Go!"

At Yu Tianlong's command, Little Gold struck first!

Like a bolt of golden lightning, it lunged from the bushes where it had been hiding. Its four hooves struck the ground, carving two deep pits into the earth, and its massive body surged toward the Flame Lion King with a speed that completely defied its size!

The Flame Lion King sensed the danger immediately. It snapped its eyes open, revealing a pair of crimson-gold vertical pupils burning with angry flames.

Seeing a strange, golden creature with scales and a single horn pouncing toward it, it let out a deafening roar and spat out a ball of scorching crimson-gold fire!

The fireball was the size of a millstone, and wherever it passed, the air warped and distorted from the heat, turning the grass on the ground into ash instantly.

However, just as the fireball was about to strike Little Gold.

A silver-white figure appeared like a phantom to the side of the fireball's trajectory.

Little Silver opened its mouth and inhaled sharply!

The crimson-gold fireball, capable of melting steel, seemed to be pulled by some force; it changed direction and transformed into a crimson-gold torrent, sucked into Little Silver's belly in one gulp!

"Hiss—huff—"

Little Silver swallowed the fireball, let out a satisfied burp, and exhaled a wisp of smoke carrying sparks. Its glass-like eyes shone brightly, and the purple patterns on its body became even more luminous.

It licked its chops, wearing an expression of wanting more, then let out a provocative cry toward the Flame Lion King: "Luo!"

A flash of human-like astonishment crossed the Flame Lion King's eyes. It had lived for over ten thousand years, yet this was the first time it had encountered an opponent capable of directly eating its flames!

In that split second of distraction, Little Gold had already reached it!

"First Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Claw!"

Golden light exploded! Little Gold's right claw expanded instantly, covered in golden scales, and five dark-golden claws like curved blades popped from its fingertips. With the momentum to tear through everything, it swung down fiercely!

The Flame Lion King was, after all, a ten-thousand-year soul beast with lightning-fast reflexes. It roared, twisted its body violently to the side, and raised its thick, mane-covered left forepaw to collide with Little Gold's claws!

"Clang—!!!"

A thunderous sound like metal striking metal rang out! Sparks flew everywhere!

Little Gold's strength clearly held the upper hand. The Flame Lion King was knocked back several meters, its four claws carving deep furrows into the ground.

On its left forepaw, a few shallow white marks remained—though its defense hadn't been broken, the immense force left its paw slightly numb.

For the first time, a look of gravity appeared in the Flame Lion King's eyes. It realized that this strange golden creature was not so easy to deal with.

But it did not retreat. As the hegemon of this region, it possessed its own pride.

It took a deep breath, and the crimson-gold flames around its body surged violently, enveloping it entirely in a blaze! The surrounding temperature rose sharply, and the sand and stones on the ground were scorched red!

"ROAR!!!"

It roared again. This time, it was no longer a probing attack, but an all-out fury!

It opened its maw wide, and a thicker, hotter pillar of flame erupted like a volcanic eruption, shooting straight toward Little Gold! The temperature of the flame pillar was extremely high, and the air crackled and popped wherever it passed!

"Little Silver!" Yu Tianlong shouted.

Little Silver was already prepared. It blocked in front of Little Gold once more, opened its mouth, and silver light erupted from its glass-like eyes as an even more powerful suction force spread out!

The pillar of flame, capable of incinerating all things, hit the range of Little Silver's suction and was drawn into its mouth continuously, as if a clay ox had entered the sea!

Little Silver's body began to glow with a crimson light—a sign of flame energy accumulating within it—but its eyes remained clear, showing no trace of pain.

The Flame Lion King continued to spray for over ten seconds before the flame pillar gradually weakened. As for Little Silver, aside from its belly being slightly distended and letting out a loud, satisfied burp, it was completely unharmed!

Flame Lion King: "???"

It had lived for over ten thousand years and had never encountered such an absurd situation! Its natal flame had actually been eaten as food by the opponent?!

Just as it fell into self-doubt, Little Gold seized the opportunity!

"Second Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Body!"

Golden light surged violently! Little Gold's size expanded once more, golden scales covered its entire body, and an overwhelmingly tyrannical aura erupted from within it!

Its eyes turned a pure dark gold, the pupils slitted, radiating a cold dragon's might!

It pushed off with all four hooves, causing the ground to collapse with a boom, and its entire body shot forward like a cannonball, appearing instantly before the Flame Lion King!

The Flame Lion King instinctively raised its claws to block—but with the Golden Dragon Body activated, Little Gold's strength and speed had increased by fifty percent, far beyond what it could withstand!

"First Soul Skill, Golden Dragon Claw!"

The golden claw-light, like lightning tearing through the night sky, descended fiercely with unstoppable momentum!

"Puchi—!!!"

The sound of sharp claws slicing into flesh was dull yet distinct.

Five deep, bone-reaching wounds appeared on the Flame Lion King's thick, mane-covered neck, and blood gushed out like a fountain!

It let out a shrill, mournful cry, its massive body staggering back a few steps before crashing to the ground!

Its limbs twitched a few times, and the light in its crimson-gold eyes gradually dimmed.

A deep, black soul ring slowly rose from above its corpse.