"Stop! I surrender!"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King knelt on the ground, clutching its head with both paws and begging nonstop.
If this went on, it really would lose its life!
A real man knew how to put his pride aside when his life was on the line. What was a little dignity worth?
Even if it had to serve the person before it as a mount, it would accept. Once this terrifying human died, it could always sneak back and reclaim its throne.
After all, humans had far shorter lifespans than magical beasts.
[Even if I can't beat you, I can dance on your grave someday!]—that was the fantasy in every magical beast's heart.
"Surrender?" Xiao Ze stopped what he was doing and looked at the Amethyst Winged Lion King with some dissatisfaction. "It's only been an hour, and you can't hold out any longer?"
"I still have a few moves left!"
"Hang in there a little longer. Surrender after I've finished all my sword techniques!"
Damn it, the Holy Spirit Sword Technique had twenty-three forms. Aside from the final form, which he couldn't use lightly, he'd planned to try out all the other twenty-two.
But before he'd even finished swinging through the forms, his opponent had surrendered!
What the hell!
Was this really the same Amethyst Winged Lion King he knew?
In the novel, it had badly wounded Yun Yun and even sealed her cultivation. How come it was such a pushover against him?
No!
Besides the Holy Spirit Sword Technique, he'd also planned to hone the Heaven Burning Palm and Myriad Transformation Phantom. Though he'd used them a few times just now, he still wasn't satisfied.
His training wasn't over yet, so how could it surrender now?
"What? Again?" Seeing that Xiao Ze still wanted to fight, the Amethyst Winged Lion King shook its head furiously. "No more! No more!"
"This king really can't go on!"
"Powerful human, you've won. I admit defeat. I'm willing to be your mount!"
But Xiao Ze's expression turned stern. "As a male lion, how can you say you can't go on?"
"Get up right now! I've still got a few final sword strikes. Beg for mercy after we finish!"
As he spoke, he urged it to get up.
"I'm not getting up! I'm not!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King had given up completely. It refused to move no matter what. It had figured it out: the person before it was insane.
What was so great about fighting and killing?
It wasn't getting up! It wouldn't budge, no matter what!
Even if he killed it and chopped off its head, it wouldn't move a muscle now.
"If you don't get up, I'll cut your head off right now!" A cold glint flashed in Xiao Ze's eyes as he laid the Taixiao Sword across its head.
"Calm down, calm down!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King was drenched in cold sweat. "A blade has no eyes! A blade has no eyes!"
"Are you getting up?"
"No!"
"Really not?"
"Not... getting up!"
"I..."
Looking at the Amethyst Winged Lion King, which was battered and had thrown caution to the wind, Xiao Ze raised his longsword. He hesitated for a long time, but in the end, he still didn't bring it down.
No matter what, the Amethyst Winged Lion King was powerful, well-armored, and tough as nails. It made an excellent sparring partner and punching bag.
Wouldn't it be a waste to kill it just like that?
It had taken him a whole month to find a sixth-rank magical beast.
If he cut down the Amethyst Winged Lion King, who knew how long he'd have to wait before finding another suitable sixth-rank opponent to train with?
"Fine. I'll spare you for now, since you're so thick-skinned." Xiao Ze looked down at the Amethyst Winged Lion King, sprawled on its back with all four legs in the air, and said coldly, "You have three days to heal your injuries!"
"I'll come find you again in three days!"
After leaving it with those words, Xiao Ze spread his Five-Colored Dou Wings, rose into the air, and vanished into the horizon like a streak of multicolored light.
"Hm?" The Amethyst Winged Lion King had been lying there, bracing itself for a miserable future as someone's beast of burden. It stared at Xiao Ze as he suddenly departed, utterly baffled.
"Why did that damned human leave?"
"Don't humans love enslaving magical beasts and using them as mounts?"
"He actually let me go?"
Watching Xiao Ze disappear into the distance, it leaped to its feet. Excitement filled its purple beastly eyes, and it let out a roar. "Excellent! This king's alive after all!"
"Wait!" Just as it was celebrating its survival, it suddenly recalled what Xiao Ze had said before leaving. Its expression stiffened. "Did that human just say he'd come find me again in three days?"
A hint of fear flickered in its eyes.
But then, as if it had thought of something, the fear vanished, replaced by a bloodthirsty gleam. "Hmph! The only reason that damned human beat me this time was that I'd just awakened from my slumber and hadn't eaten. I wasn't at my peak!"
"Once I've recovered..."
"This king will avenge today's humiliation!"
Staring at the figure vanishing on the horizon, the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared. Its deafening cry echoed through the entire mountain range. A ferocious glint flashed in its eyes; it beat its wings and turned back toward its cave.
It would recover as quickly as possible, rest and regroup, and stand ready. When that damned human returned three days later, it would tear him to pieces!
"Roar!!!"
Meanwhile.
After leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Ze felt completely refreshed.
He let out a long breath. After venting the anger that had been bottled up inside him for a month, he felt much lighter.
"Today's battle showed me a lot of areas where I fall short."
"First, I'm not skilled enough with Myriad Transformation Phantom and the Heaven Burning Palm. Their movements are stiff, and I can't yet use them with seamless control. That'll put me at a disadvantage in real combat."
"Second, I lack combat experience."
"During my fight with the Amethyst Winged Lion King, there were several times when I could have dodged its attacks without using Dou Qi, but I still instinctively used Dou Qi."
"Against an opponent like the Amethyst Winged Lion King, whose cultivation and strength are below mine, I might be able to handle things with ease."
"But if I face someone as strong as me—or even stronger—these little mistakes could become weaknesses."
His battle with the Amethyst Winged Lion King had helped Xiao Ze identify many shortcomings.
That was a good thing.
As long as he could make up for each of them, his strength would multiply several times over!
Perhaps then he could truly be called a powerhouse.
"Forget it. I won't dwell on all that for now."
"I'd better hurry back. I wonder what delicious food Xiao Yi Xian will make tonight." He beat his Five-Colored Dou Wings and flew at full speed toward Green Mountain Town.
If anyone asked Xiao Ze what Xiao Yi Xian's best quality was, he would definitely say that she was a wonderful cook.
Before long.
He returned to Green Mountain Town.
He landed in a secluded spot, put away his Dou Wings, and headed toward town at a cheerful pace.
But just as he was about to enter Green Mountain Town,
a group of mercenaries suddenly charged out of the woods and surrounded him.
A rather handsome young man slowly stepped out from among them. His expression was cold, his eyes sinister, and he glared at Xiao Ze like a bloodthirsty wolf.
"Are you the pretty boy Xiao Yi Xian brought back?"
"You're nothing but an ordinary person, yet you dare to lay a hand on my woman?"
"Men!"
"Cut off his hands and feet first!"
Before you continue