Intercepting the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, He Took Three Ferocious Beast Strikes and Nearly Died

Star Dou Great Forest, central region

Cao Longyan wandered through the forest, searching for Soul Beasts around ten thousand years old. Dian Wei and Xu Chu followed at his sides.

He wanted to face off against Soul Beasts around ten thousand years old, temper himself in real combat, and find a chance to break through the bottleneck at level twenty-nine.

"Master, we can communicate with Soul Beasts that are over ten thousand years old."

Xu Chu's voice came from Cao Longyan's side, leaving him quite surprised.

But soon, the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily. He had thought of a way... He could have Xu Chu and Dian Wei negotiate with the Soul Beasts, getting them to agree to fight him.

With that in mind, Cao Longyan set his plan in motion. He went from one Soul Beast around ten thousand years old to the next, making the same deal. At first, the Soul Beasts were resistant and suspicious, but the huge temptation soon put them at ease. They fought him, and afterward he kept his promise, giving them suitable rewards.

And so, word spread among the ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts in the central region of Star Dou Great Forest: some foolish human was recruiting Soul Beasts to challenge him and offering rewards. One told ten, ten told a hundred, and more and more ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts came from far and wide, eager to fight Cao Longyan in exchange for rewards that would help improve their cultivation.

Before long, more and more Soul Beasts arrived to take up the challenge. They formed a small beast tide, surrounding Cao Longyan and queuing up in an orderly fashion to fight him. The scene was spectacular.

The unusual commotion not only alarmed Xuan Zi, who was secretly guarding the area nearby, but also reached the core region of Star Dou Great Forest.

In the core region, Gu Yuena was sitting by the lake, meditating to recover from her injuries. Suddenly sensing the strange disturbance coming from the central region, she looked puzzled and curious, then instructed Di Tian, who stood beside her.

"Di Tian, go to the central region and see what's happening."

"Yes, my lord."

Di Tian bowed to acknowledge the order, then flashed away, turning into a shadow as he raced toward the central region.

Xuan Zi, who was guarding the area in secret, sensed Di Tian's aura, and his expression instantly grew grave.

That aura... It's Di Tian!

Thinking Di Tian had come for Cao Longyan, he worried Cao Longyan was in danger. He immediately stopped hiding, hurried forward, and blocked Di Tian's path, his voice cold.

"Di Tian, what are you doing here?"

Di Tian furrowed his brow and looked at Xuan Zi with icy eyes.

"I'm only here to investigate an anomaly on my lord's orders. If you keep blocking me, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

The two immediately faced off. Their immense pressure collided, making the air around them grow heavy and still. Neither noticed the small figure quietly approaching through the woods nearby.

It was none other than the Emperor Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. It had sensed the commotion in the central region, and Cao Longyan's Fire Dragon King aura had drawn its attention. Driven by curiosity, it had quietly slipped out of the core region and was heading toward him.

Its bodyguard, the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff Scarlet King, noticed the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's movements and was startled. He hurried after her, staying close in case anything happened to the Auspicious Beast.

Just then, Cao Longyan had finished fighting a ten-thousand-year giant bear and was making good on his promise.

At that moment, he felt a lively aura drawing near and turned to look. A small beast with golden fur all over, bright eyes, and a golden-red vertical eye on its forehead stood timidly not far away, curiously studying him.

Cao Longyan recognized her too. This... This is the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

She eyed the Ultimate Fire on Cao Longyan's fingertip, curiosity filling her eyes, then slowly came closer without a trace of fear.

Man and beast quietly gazed at each other. A strange bond began to grow between them, and at that moment, the threads of fate intertwined Cao Longyan and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

Cao Longyan could sense the pure aura surrounding the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. His guard fell away at once, and he even reached out to gently stroke the top of her head.

Their memories completely merged.

He had snatched away Huo Yuhao's opportunity!

Douluo God Realm

Tang San: "Why has the light of the fated child I chose dimmed again?! Wait, where's the vessel I picked out for Wutong?!"

Just then, Scarlet King hurried over. When he saw the Three-Eyed Golden Lion getting along with Cao Longyan, he felt relieved, but immediately grew wary again. He fixed Cao Longyan with a cold stare, the pressure of a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast radiating from his body.

"Human, stay away from the Auspicious Beast!"

Cao Longyan withdrew his hand and looked up at Scarlet King, utterly astonished.

This is Scarlet King, the Three-Headed Red Demon Mastiff, ranked eighth among the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts! What's a three-hundred-thousand-year Ferocious Beast doing here? Could it be because of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion?

The instant Cao Longyan came into contact with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, Gu Yuena in the core region clearly sensed the Fire Dragon King aura bursting from him. It resonated in a strange way with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's aura, and a flash of surprise and interest crossed her eyes. She immediately sent a telepathic message to Scarlet King.

"Scarlet King, don't kill him. Just test his strength."

Scarlet King received Gu Yuena's message. Though he didn't understand why, he had no choice but to obey. The coldness in his eyes eased a little, and he spoke to Cao Longyan.

"Human, since you haven't harmed the Auspicious Beast, I won't hold it against you. But you trespassed into Star Dou Great Forest and disturbed her. You'll have to take three strikes from me. I'll use only one-tenth of my strength. If you can withstand them, I'll let you leave. If you can't, you'll bear the consequences."

Cao Longyan knew he had no choice.

Scarlet King was powerful. Even using only one-tenth of his strength, he was no opponent Cao Longyan could easily stand against. But if he wanted to survive and keep training until he broke through, he could only go all out.

He took a deep breath. His eyes grew resolute, his fighting spirit blazing like a roaring fire, and he nodded at Scarlet King.

"Fine. I accept."

Xu Chu and Dian Wei immediately stepped in front of Cao Longyan, ready to help, but he stopped them.

"No. This is my fight. I'll take his three strikes on my own. Go back."

"Yes, Master."

A flash of light, and Xu Chu and Dian Wei vanished.

He knew that to break through his bottleneck, he had to face a powerful opponent alone and rely on his own strength to push past his limits.

The fight erupted in an instant. Scarlet King flashed forward, Soul Power surging around him. Though he was using only one-tenth of his strength, his pressure was still immense. He struck at Cao Longyan with a single claw.

Cao Longyan gripped the Ten Halls of Yama in both hands and channeled all the Soul Power in his body.

"First Soul Skill, Great Flame Sky-Splitting Hammer!"

The Ten Halls of Yama in Cao Longyan's hands changed from its original club form into a giant hammer wreathed in Hellfire. He swung it hard at Scarlet King.

"Boom—!"

After the fierce collision, Cao Longyan was knocked backward by Scarlet King's claw. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and the Soul Power inside him churned violently. The Ten Halls of Yama in his hands returned to its club form.

"Not bad, human. You actually managed to withstand that move. Let's see if you can take my second one!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Scarlet King struck Cao Longyan with five claw attacks.

Cao Longyan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his fighting spirit burning even brighter. It had been a long time since he'd felt the thrill of dancing on the edge of a blade.

"Come on, then! Second Soul Skill, Yama Cannon!"

The Ten Halls of Yama in Cao Longyan's hands changed from its original club form into a cannon. A beam of Hellfire shot from it, hurtling straight toward Scarlet King's attacks.

The two forces collided between them, triggering a massive explosion. A wave of heat swept across the whole area.

Xuan Zi and Di Tian, high in the air not far away, were also drawn to the commotion.

That's where Longyan is!

"Di Tian, what are you trying to do?"

Xuan Zi glared at Di Tian, furious.

Di Tian merely replied coolly,

"What we're trying to do, can you stop us? Don't forget, this is Star Dou Great Forest!"

"I..."

Xuan Zi was left speechless, but when he thought of Cao Longyan, his fighting spirit reignited.

"Today, this old man is going to go wild!"

With that, he attacked Di Tian.

Cao Longyan was sent flying by the shock wave. Holding the Ten Halls of Yama in one hand and bracing himself against the ground with the other, he struggled to his feet.

Scarlet King wasn't unscathed either. He'd been forced back several steps, his eyes filled with disbelief at the power Cao Longyan had unleashed. Even using only one-tenth of his strength, he should have been far beyond the reach of this mere Soul Grandmaster. Yet Cao Longyan had managed it!

"Human, you're impressive. You actually pushed me this far while I was using only one-tenth of my strength. Let's see if you can withstand my third strike, with all my strength!"

Scarlet King gave a low growl and surged in size. He brought down a palm imbued with the power to destroy the heavens and the earth. This strike was his full-strength blow at one-tenth of his power, and it was far more powerful than the first two.

Cao Longyan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He summoned all the Soul Power he had left and fully merged Xu Chu and Dian Wei's strength into the Ten Halls of Yama. Hellfire completely covered its surface.

Scarlet King stared at the Hellfire burning atop the Ten Halls of Yama, his eyes wide.

This flame is even stronger than his Ultimate Fire!

Cao Longyan suddenly opened his eyes, gripped the Ten Halls of Yama in both hands, and swung it at Scarlet King.

When the Ten Halls of Yama collided with Scarlet King's palm, it actually made him feel threatened, despite using only one-tenth of his strength!

He instinctively drew on one-fifth of his power.

By the time he realized what he'd done, it was too late to hold back.

Cao Longyan grunted and spat out a large mouthful of blood. His body flew through the air like a kite with its strings cut, then crashed heavily to the ground. His aura weakened at once, and he slipped into a near-death state.

Oh no!