After successfully breaking through, Xiao Fan did not stop moving forward.
Instead, he continued exploring deeper into the Magical Beast Mountain Range, hoping to find something useful to him.
In the Magical Beast Mountain Range, ancient trees towered into the sky, their branches and leaves crisscrossing overhead. Sunlight struggled to filter through the layers of foliage, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow.
The mountain paths were rugged and uneven, strewn with thorns and gravel. Every now and then, a few small, unfamiliar beasts darted out of the brush, only to vanish quickly into the shadows.
Then, deep in the heart of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Fan encountered the notorious Amethyst Winged Lion King.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King stood on an open stretch of grass, its hulking body like a mountain, radiating immense pressure.
It spotted Xiao Fan, too. The instant their eyes met, the Amethyst Winged Lion King realized that it could not possibly defeat him.
But it was a magical beast, after all. The ferocity in its bones made it unwilling to back down easily.
It roared at Xiao Fan, its voice deafening, as though it would shatter his very soul. It wanted him to leave at once. "Human, leave my territory immediately, or you'll never make it out alive!"
As the overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the Amethyst Winged Lion King held sway over a territory in the depths of the mountains. Its formidable strength and the precious treasures it possessed, such as Amethyst Crystals and Amethyst Companion Source, drew the covetous eyes of many Dou Zhe, but its might also made most people think twice.
So it assumed Xiao Fan had come to covet its Amethyst Crystals and Amethyst Companion Source as well.
And the instant Xiao Fan saw the Amethyst Winged Lion King, he did indeed get an idea.
After all, Amethyst Crystals and Amethyst Companion Source really were valuable.
Amethyst Crystals helped alchemists in their cultivation. Rich in energy, they could assist with training, speed up the cultivation of Dou Qi, and raise an alchemist's rank.
They could also strengthen flames. For Dou Huang experts with a fire affinity, Amethyst Crystals enhanced the power and control of their flames, allowing them to excel in battle and alchemy.
Amethyst Companion Source could not only raise one's cultivation realm; its pure energy could help cultivators improve their strength. In the original story, after Xiao Yan consumed it, the Amethyst Flame within him grew stronger, his cultivation rose from Eight-Star Dou Zhe to Nine-Star Dou Zhe, and his Flame Mantra advanced from Low Yellow Tier to mid Yellow Tier.
It could also amplify the power of flames, greatly increasing the might of flame-based Dou Techniques. The Amethyst Flame that Xiao Yan strengthened with Amethyst Companion Source made his Flame Splitting Wave Ruler even more powerful, helping him defeat many formidable foes.
Naturally, it was a great boon to magical beasts, too. It could help them advance. Once a young beast grew into a Fourth-Order Magical Beast, devouring Amethyst Companion Source could turn it directly into a fifth-order beast, and the Amethyst Flame within it would be even stronger than that of an ordinary Amethyst Winged Lion.
To the Amethyst Winged Lion King, these treasures were priceless. It would never allow any human to covet them.
With wings formed from Dou Qi, Xiao Fan stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and composed, his black robe fluttering in the breeze.
He regarded the Amethyst Winged Lion King with an air of invincibility and said lightly, "I only want some of your Amethyst Crystals and Amethyst Companion Source."
His words enraged the Amethyst Winged Lion King. It glared at him, two jets of breath blasting from its nostrils, then charged at Xiao Fan like a moving mountain.
Its enormous shadow swallowed Xiao Fan in an instant, as if it were about to devour him.
"Arrogant human! You're asking for death!"
Compared to the beast, Xiao Fan was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Yet he merely extended one hand, and with nothing but his physical strength, slapped the Amethyst Winged Lion King into the ground.
A deafening crash shook the earth, sending up a cloud of dust.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King's face twisted with humanlike terror. Which of us is the magical beast here? This guy's strength is terrifying!
Xiao Fan, meanwhile, gauged the force of his blow and estimated inwardly, I only used thirty percent of my strength, yet I sent this sixth-order magical beast flying without giving it a chance to fight back. Not bad.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King still wanted to resist. It got back to its feet, shook the dust from its body, and prepared to attack again.
But Xiao Fan said, "Since you still want to resist, don't blame this Emperor for showing no mercy."
He simply raised one hand. It contained a vast amount of energy from heaven and earth, and grew to more than a hundred meters across, blotting out the sky. Its palm wind howled, bending the surrounding trees nearly double.
At last, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was afraid. It felt that if it didn't swallow its pride now, its life as a beast would be over. So it immediately lay down and bowed its proud head in submission.
"Have mercy, my lord! I won't dare do it again!"
The enormous palm formed from the energy of heaven and earth vanished into thin air. Xiao Fan's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Why didn't you do that from the start?"
With the Amethyst Winged Lion King leading the way, Xiao Fan successfully collected some Amethyst Crystals, Amethyst Companion Source, and an Amethyst Flame.
Then he patted the Amethyst Winged Lion King on the head, as though soothing a pet.
Xiao Fan said coolly, "I'll be on my way. I'll come see you again sometime."
The Amethyst Winged Lion King's eyes brimmed with tears as it lamented inwardly, I never want to see you again, human.
He laughed heartily and turned to leave, his robes fluttering behind him. The Amethyst Winged Lion King remained where it was, shaken to the core and unable to calm down for a long time.
After leaving, Xiao Fan continued exploring the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
However...
He had not been exploring the mountain range's depths for long when he encountered a woman.
The depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range were quiet and mysterious.
Birds murmured in the treetops, and now and then a few clear chirps broke the silence.
She wore a moon-white dress, its hem fluttering as though she were an immortal descending to the mortal world.
Yun Yun politely called out to Xiao Fan, her voice clear and melodious.
"Young master, please wait."
She wanted to ask him to trade some Amethyst Crystals.
Clearly, she had just witnessed the entire encounter. Although Xiao Fan looked barely more than a teenager, he already possessed the strength of a Peak Dou Emperor!
So Yun Yun treated him with great respect and humility.
"Young master, I would like to trade for some Amethyst Crystals. Would that be possible?"
Xiao Fan had already recognized Yun Yun, and couldn't help feeling a little moved. He hadn't expected her to be scouting the place at this point in time.
Xiao Fan naturally agreed. The items were of little use to him anyway. He had only taken some because of Xiao Yanzi, who was waiting hungrily at home. So he traded with Yun Yun for several Dou Techniques.
One was a High-grade Profound Tier Dou Technique, Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill. It transformed wind-attributed energy into fine beams as thin as fingers, giving them immense penetrating power and explosive force. Yun Yun had once used it to sever the Amethyst Winged Lion King's horn.
There were two other Dou Techniques.
Wind Wall: It could form a gigantic, ten-kilometer-long wall of wind to block any attack.
Great Sorrow Wind-Ripping Hand: A several-zhang-tall hand of energy slammed into an enemy, trailing a fierce wind.
With three Dou Techniques in hand, Xiao Fan was satisfied. After all, although his body and cultivation realm were formidable, he had no corresponding Dou Techniques.
Was he supposed to slap every enemy who came at him?
How monotonous would that be?
A true Great Emperor naturally had a wide variety of methods at his disposal!
"Thank you, young master..."
Yun Yun nodded gratefully. After all, if she had fought the Amethyst Winged Lion King herself, she might not have won for certain—and might even have been injured...