Intercepting the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, enduring three moves from the ferocious beast and nearing death

Star Dou Great Forest, Inner Circle

Cao Longyan was wandering through the forest, searching for soul beasts around ten thousand years old, with Dian Wei and Xu Chu flanking him on either side.

He needed to duel with ten-thousand-year-level soul beasts to hone himself in actual combat and find an opportunity to break through his level 29 bottleneck.

"My Lord, we can communicate with soul beasts above the ten-thousand-year level."

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

However, the corners of his mouth curled up involuntarily at this; he had thought of a way... he could rely on Xu Chu and Dian Wei to negotiate with the soul beasts and convince them to spar with him.

With this in mind, Cao Longyan began his operation, approaching ten-thousand-year soul beasts one by one to strike such deals. At first, the soul beasts were resistant and distrustful, but the immense temptation eventually made them lower their guard and agree to duel him. Once finished, he kept his promise and provided them with suitable rewards.

Just like that, the news of a foolish human recruiting soul beasts to challenge him in exchange for rewards spread among the ten-thousand-year soul beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest's inner circle. Word spread like wildfire, and more and more ten-thousand-year soul beasts came, all eager to duel Cao Longyan in exchange for compensation that would help improve their cultivation.

In the end, so many soul beasts came to accept the challenge that it formed a small beast tide. They surrounded Cao Longyan, queuing up in an orderly fashion to wait for their turn, creating a truly spectacular scene.

Such an unusual disturbance not only alarmed Xuan Zi, who was guarding nearby in secret, but also reached the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.

In the core area, Gu Yuena was meditating by the lake to recover from her injuries. Suddenly sensing the unusual restlessness coming from the inner circle, a flash of doubt and curiosity crossed her eyes, and she instructed Di Tian, who was beside her.

"Di Tian, go to the inner circle and see what is happening."

"As you command, My Lord."

Di Tian bowed to accept the order, his figure flickering into a black shadow as he sped toward the inner circle.

Xuan Zi, guarding in the shadows, sensed Di Tian's aura, and his expression instantly turned grave.

This aura is... Di Tian!

Thinking Di Tian was coming for Cao Longyan and fearing for the boy's safety, he stopped hiding his presence, stepped forward, and blocked Di Tian's path with a cold tone.

"Di Tian, what are you doing here?"

Di Tian frowned, his eyes cold as he looked at Xuan Zi.

"I am merely following my Lord's orders to investigate an anomaly. If you block me again, do not blame me for being impolite."

The two instantly stood in a standoff, their massive pressures colliding and causing the surrounding air to stagnate. Neither noticed a small figure quietly approaching through the woods nearby.

That figure was the Imperial Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. Having sensed the commotion in the inner circle and being drawn by the Fire Dragon King aura on Cao Longyan, it had been driven by curiosity to sneak out of the core area and run toward him.

Its bodyguard, the Three-Headed Hound Chi Wang, sensed the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's movements and was startled. He hurriedly followed close behind, terrified that something might happen to the Auspicious Beast.

At this moment, Cao Longyan had just finished his duel with a ten-thousand-year giant bear and was fulfilling his promise.

Just then, he felt a nimble aura approach. Turning his head, he saw a small beast with long, brilliant golden fur, bright eyes, and a golden-red vertical eye on its forehead standing timidly not far away, curiously sizing him up.

Cao Longyan recognized it immediately. This... this is the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.

It looked at the Ultimate Fire on Cao Longyan's fingertips, its eyes full of curiosity, and walked forward without a hint of fear.

Man and beast stared at each other in silence. A strange bond quietly sprouted, and the threads of fate, at this very moment, wove Cao Longyan and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion tightly together.

Cao Longyan could feel the pure aura emanating from the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. His guard dropped instantly, and he couldn't help but reach out to gently stroke its head.

Their memories fused completely.

He had intercepted this stroke of fortune meant for Huo Yuhao!

Douluo God Realm

Tang San: "How has the radiance of the Son of Destiny I designated dimmed again?! And wait, what happened to the vessel I selected for Wutong?!"

Just then, Chi Wang arrived in a rush. Seeing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion getting along so well with Cao Longyan, he felt a sense of relief, but immediately became vigilant again. He looked at Cao Longyan with cold eyes, his ten-thousand-year soul beast pressure radiating outward.

"Human, stay away from the Auspicious Beast!"

Cao Longyan withdrew his hand and looked up at Chi Wang, his eyes full of astonishment.

This is... the eighth of the Ten Great Fierce Beasts, the Three-Headed Hound, Chi Wang! Why would a three-hundred-thousand-year fierce beast appear here? Is it because of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion?

At the very moment Cao Longyan made contact with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, Gu Yuena in the core area clearly sensed the Fire Dragon King aura erupting from Cao Longyan, which had resonated strangely with the aura of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. A flash of surprise and interest crossed her eyes, and she immediately transmitted a message to Chi Wang.

"Chi Wang, do not kill him. Just test his strength."

Receiving Gu Yuena's transmission, Chi Wang was confused but could only obey. The coldness in his eyes softened slightly as he said to Cao Longyan:

"Human, in light of the fact that you did not harm the Auspicious Beast, I will not hold this against you. However, since you have trespassed into the Star Dou Great Forest and disturbed the Auspicious Beast, you must take three moves from me. I will use only ten percent of my strength. If you can withstand them, I will let you leave. If you cannot, you will bear the consequences."

Cao Longyan knew clearly that he had no other choice.

Chi Wang's strength was formidable; even at ten percent, it was not something he could easily contend with. But if he wanted to survive and continue his training to break through, he had to give it his all.

He took a deep breath, his eyes turning resolute and burning with a fierce, flame-like fighting spirit as he nodded at Chi Wang.

"Fine, I accept."

Xu Chu and Dian Wei immediately stepped in front of Cao Longyan, wanting to help, but were stopped by him.

"No need. This is my own battle. I will take his three moves alone. You two, stand back."

"As you command, My Lord."

With a flash of light, the figures of Xu Chu and Dian Wei vanished.

He knew that to break through his bottleneck, he had to face a powerhouse alone and rely on his own strength to surpass his limits.

The duel erupted in an instant. Chi Wang flickered, his soul power surging. Although he was only using ten percent of his strength, it still carried a majestic pressure as he swiped a claw toward Cao Longyan.

Cao Longyan gripped the Ten Halls of Yama with both hands, channeling all the soul power within his body.

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

The Ten Halls of Yama in Cao Longyan's hands transformed from a staff into a giant hammer wreathed in hellfire, smashing fiercely toward Chi Wang.

"Boom!"

Following the roar of the violent collision, Cao Longyan was knocked back repeatedly by Chi Wang's claw. A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, his internal soul power fluctuated wildly, and the Ten Halls of Yama reverted to its staff form.

"Not bad, human. To think you could actually take that strike. Let's see if you can handle my second!"

As the words fell, Chi Wang unleashed five claw strikes toward Cao Longyan.

Cao Longyan wiped the blood from his mouth, the fighting spirit in his eyes intensifying. It had been a long time since he had experienced this feeling of dancing on the edge of a blade.

"Come again! Second Soul Skill, Yama Cannon!"

The Ten Halls of Yama in Cao Longyan's hands shifted from a staff into a cannon, reflecting a beam of hellfire that surged straight toward Chi Wang's attack.

The two forces collided between them, creating a massive explosion that sent heatwaves sweeping across the entire area.

Not far away in the sky, Xuan Zi and Di Tian were drawn by the commotion.

That was where Longyan was!

"Di Tian, what are you people trying to do!"

Xuan Zi glared at Di Tian with extreme fury.

Di Tian merely replied indifferently.

"What we want to do—can you stop it? Don't forget, this is the Star Dou Great Forest!"

"I..."

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

"Today, this old man will go crazy!"

With that, he lunged toward Di Tian.

Cao Longyan was sent flying by the shockwave. Holding the Ten Halls of Yama in one hand and bracing himself with the other, he struggled to stand up.

Chi Wang was not faring well either; he had been forced back several steps. His eyes were filled with disbelief at the power Cao Longyan had unleashed. Even though he was only using ten percent of his strength, it was not something a mere Great Soul Master should be able to contend with, yet the Cao Longyan before him had done it!

"Human, you are quite good to have forced me to this point while I used only ten percent of my strength. Let's see if you can take my third strike at full power!"

Chi Wang let out a low growl as his form surged in size. He struck out with a palm carrying world-shattering power toward Cao Longyan. This strike was the full extent of his ten percent strength, far exceeding the power of the previous two.

Cao Longyan closed his eyes and took a deep breath, mobilizing all the remaining soul power in his body. He fused the strength of Xu Chu and Dian Wei completely into the Ten Halls of Yama, and hellfire entirely engulfed its surface.

Chi Wang stared at the hellfire burning on the Ten Halls of Yama, his eyes widening.

This flame was even stronger than his own Ultimate Fire!

Cao Longyan snapped his eyes open, gripped the Ten Halls of Yama tightly with both hands, and swung it horizontally to meet Chi Wang.

The collision between the Ten Halls of Yama and Chi Wang's palm actually made him feel a sense of crisis, despite using ten percent of his strength!

Instinctively, he increased his power to twenty percent.

By the time he realized what he had done, it was too late to pull back.

Cao Longyan let out a muffled groan and spat out a mouthful of blood. His body flew away like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground. His aura weakened instantly, and he fell into a near-death state.

Not good!