Standing Guard

Xiao Yu circulated the Dou Qi within his body. Dou Qi rapidly flowed out from his Dou Qi vortex and soon established a connection with the flying Dou Technique held in his hands.

Suddenly, an unruly aura emanated from the Purple Cloud Wings in Xiao Yu's hands.

The Purple Cloud Wings seemed to come alive as well, struggling violently as they tried to break free from Xiao Yu's grasp.

"Calm your mind and steady your breath."

Yun Zhi's voice sounded at just the right moment, soothing Xiao Yu's tense heart.

"Circulate your Dou Qi, hold onto it tightly, and slowly wear away its will until you conquer it. Otherwise, you will never be able to control it."

Hearing Yun Zhi's words, Xiao Yu's expression hardened. He clenched his teeth, tightened his grip on the Purple Cloud Wings, and accelerated the circulation of Dou Qi within his body.

"Screech!"

Xiao Yu seemed to see a soaring eagle flying freely through the sky, its eyes gleaming with chilling light as it dove toward him.

Feeling the eagle's imposing presence, Xiao Yu roared.

"Submit to me!"

As Xiao Yu roared, his aura erupted to its peak. Even the eagle seemed stunned by his overwhelming presence.

"Seize the chance. While it is distracted, occupy the flying Dou Technique with your soul power."

Seeing Xiao Yu overcome the residual consciousness within the Dou Technique, Yun Zhi spoke to him in delight.

Hearing Yun Zhi's words, Xiao Yu directed his soul power into the Purple Cloud Wings.

As Xiao Yu's soul power poured in, the Purple Cloud Wings in his hands gradually struggled less and less.

In the end, Xiao Yu sensed that only a trace of residual consciousness remained within the Purple Cloud Wings. Sweeping it away with his soul power, he extinguished that final remnant of consciousness, and his soul power completely occupied the Purple Cloud Wings.

The Purple Cloud Wings in his hands vanished, entering Xiao Yu's body through his palms.

"Whoosh!"

A pair of purple wings suddenly unfolded from Xiao Yu's back.

Yun Zhi, who was sitting cross-legged on a stone, smiled happily when she saw Xiao Yu succeed.

Xiao Yu opened his eyes excitedly. Looking at the enormous wings behind him, he carefully sensed them for a moment before circulating his Dou Qi. The wings on his back slowly spread open.

Wobbling unsteadily, Xiao Yu's feet gradually left the ground.

Relying on his own strength, he broke free of the earth's pull for the first time and soared freely through the sky. The excitement in his heart was beyond words.

After flying around in the air for a while, Xiao Yu looked down at Yun Zhi and excitedly dove toward her.

As he neared Yun Zhi, he grabbed her and, like a dragonfly skimming the water, shot back into the sky.

Yun Zhi, standing on the ground, had never expected Xiao Yu to do such a thing. She cried out in alarm and said, "Put me down."

Xiao Yu ignored Yun Zhi's cries and instead laughed. "No. Your strength has yet to recover anyway. What can you do to me?"

As he spoke, he held Yun Zhi in his arms and flew higher into the sky.

A moment later, the entire valley lay spread out beneath their eyes, while faint clouds drifted around them.

Looking at the mountain range beneath the setting sun's afterglow, Xiao Yu murmured, "This world... is truly beautiful..."

Hearing Xiao Yu's murmur from within his embrace, Yun Zhi realized for the first time just how captivating the scenery from such heights could be.

The corners of her lips curved up slightly.

Another half month passed for the two of them in the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

Perhaps because the Lion King was recovering from his injuries and had not urged the Magic Beasts on, they were still searching for Yun Zhi's whereabouts, but not as intensively as before.

On the few occasions when Magic Beasts approached the valley, Xiao Yu lured them away in time.

After half a month of recuperation, Yun Zhi's injuries had mostly healed. Today, she planned to break the Lion King's seal.

To be safe, Xiao Yu first went near the valley and investigated the Magic Beasts' movements once more. Seeing that no Magic Beasts were wandering nearby, he returned to the cave and informed Yun Zhi.

Afterward, Xiao Yu stood guard at the cave entrance for Yun Zhi.

On the stone bed, Yun Zhi sat cross-legged with her palms resting on her knees and her eyes slightly closed. Pale green Dou Qi slowly rose from her abdomen and revolved around her body.

Just as the Dou Qi within Yun Zhi began to rise, a strange purple symbol suddenly appeared on her chest. It was precisely the seal the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had implanted in Yun Zhi's body.

Yun Zhi pressed her red lips together, and the flow of Dou Qi within her body abruptly accelerated.

Blue-purple light flowed around Yun Zhi's body, and Xiao Yu, standing nearby, was forced back by the aura she was giving off.

Only then did he understand how proud and imposing the Dou Emperor Xiao Yan had spoken of truly was.

Merely breaking a seal within herself, the aura Yun Zhi released was already enough to leave Xiao Yu unqualified even to approach her.

"Break!"

Yun Zhi's cold shout rang out. As her voice fell, the purple symbol on her body gradually shattered, then turned into faint specks of light and vanished.

The Dou Qi outside her body slowly withdrew back within her, while Yun Zhi's aura gradually rose.

Looking at Yun Zhi on the stone bed, Xiao Yu saw that she was dressed no differently from before. Yet now, she radiated an unquestionable majesty even without showing anger, and a faint sense of unfamiliarity enveloped Xiao Yu.

As Xiao Yu watched Yun Zhi, the aura around her slowly faded. Her slightly closed eyes suddenly opened, and a brilliant gleam flashed through them.

Yet the instant she saw Xiao Yu, it disappeared back into her deep pupils.

"My strength has recovered."

Yun Zhi spoke in an even tone, yet there seemed to be no joy in her voice.

Hearing Yun Zhi's words, Xiao Yu suppressed the unease in his heart. I have a system and know the general course of the future. What the hell am I afraid of?

He smiled brightly and softly said to Yun Zhi, "Then congratulations! A Dou Emperor, huh!"

Yun Zhi was also taken aback by Xiao Yu's words. Seeing that his attitude toward her had not changed in the slightest because of her strength, a strange feeling arose in her heart, one that seemed even more joyful than regaining her lost power.

Pressing her thin lips together, Yun Zhi looked at Xiao Yu's foolish grin and recalled all the reckless things he had done lately. She said fiercely, "You... have made me quite angry recently!"

As she spoke, she clenched her fists threateningly and half narrowed her eyes as she sized Xiao Yu up from head to toe, seemingly deciding where to begin.

A chill ran down Xiao Yu's back. He had not expected Yun Zhi to have this move up her sleeve.

Just as he was about to flee out of the cave, a wall of wind blocked his path. Xiao Yu could only use the Startling Dragon Step. His rapidly advancing figure instantly changed direction, but just as he was about to continue escaping, he felt someone grab him by the back of the neck.

Yes, he was lifted straight up like a puppy.

"Young man, you know nothing of a Dou Emperor's power!"

Lifting Xiao Yu up, Yun Zhi directly sealed his Dou Qi, then began raining punches down on him.

"I'll teach you to run..."

"I'll teach you to mock me..."

"I'll teach you to make me angry..."

"I'll teach you to peek at me bathing..."

Recalling every little moment they had spent together, Yun Zhi's fists showed Xiao Yu no mercy.

Xiao Yu could only hold his head with both hands and take the beating.

But Yun Zhi seemed to be enjoying herself, growing more vigorous the more she hit him. Seeing that Yun Zhi was only using her fists and not her Dou Qi, Xiao Yu decided to fight back.

With the foundation from his previous training, Xiao Yu was not afraid of Yun Zhi as long as neither of them circulated Dou Qi.

And when Yun Zhi saw that Xiao Yu still wanted to resist, she thought, Could a mighty Dou Emperor possibly lose to a mere eight-star Dou Practitioner?