King of the Lianhai Mountains: The Westwind Lion King

After teasing Ye Chen, Li Xiaodie turned and ran.

Ye Chen grimaced and pressed a hand to his forehead.

"I'm never shaking this pervert reputation, am I?"

Ye Chen watched Li Xiaodie leave, then put it out of his mind.

He had only just entered the Sixth Realm, so naturally he needed to consolidate his cultivation.

But Ye Chen had no idea that danger was slowly closing in on him.

"My lord, there was someone on that dragon's head that day."

After days of searching without results, Xu Shen could see that his superior was growing impatient.

Dong Shizhang whipped around to face Xu Shen, sending a surge of killing intent into Xu Shen.

"You're only telling me something this important now?!"

Xu Shen's legs nearly gave way. He was only in the Mountain-Moving Realm, while the man before him was a Red-Robed Envoy!

A Myriad Stars Realm cultivator!

"Spare me, my lord! I thought... I thought that boy hadn't even reached the Mountain-Moving Realm. After running into a True Dragon, he should have died long ago..."

Xu Shen hurriedly dropped to his knees and begged for mercy.

Dong Shizhang sighed and glanced at Xu Shen. "Forget it... I can't blame you. Someone in the Awakening Realm hardly seemed worth worrying about."

Cold sweat poured down Xu Shen's back. He had narrowly escaped death. With such a vast gap between their realms, the slightest move from Dong Shizhang would have killed him.

Xu Shen had discovered the dragon, but Dong Shizhang would take the lion's share of the credit.

Still, Xu Shen stood to gain more this way. If he had reported it to Zhou Zixuan, he certainly would not have received even the twenty or thirty percent Dong Shizhang had promised him.

But the drawback was now obvious.

Dong Shizhang was so powerful he could kill Xu Shen without anyone knowing. Even if people found out, no one would dare accuse a Red-Robed Envoy of anything.

Dong Shizhang was calculating, though. The Lianhai Mountains were only so large, and there was that Lion King over there. Surely it couldn't have...

Dong Shizhang frowned, then suddenly relaxed.

Without another word, he grabbed Xu Shen and flew into the sky.

Xu Shen's legs went weak. "My lord... where are we going?"

"To meet the Lion King of the Lianhai Mountains." Dong Shizhang gave a scornful smile.

Xu Shen was scared witless. That Lion King was in the Myriad Stars Realm.

"My lord... is that wise?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Dong Shizhang's expression shifted. This little wretch dared question me?

"I mean, someone of your standing should have the Lion King come to you. Why trouble yourself to visit him?" Xu Shen's instinct for self-preservation kicked into overdrive.

For sheer survival instinct, he deserved a thumbs-up, didn't he?

Dong Shizhang beamed. "You know how to talk, kid. Not bad."

Everyone liked flattery, and Dong Shizhang was no exception. He stopped in midair.

"Kid, cover your ears."

Xu Shen promptly obeyed.

"Lion King of the Lianhai Mountains! Are you there? Come out and meet me!"

The thunderous shout swept across the mountains, startling countless birds into flight.

Mutant Beasts fled in panic, and even the powerful hunters pursuing them looked up toward the sound.

"Someone's actually provoking the Lion King?!"

"They must have a death wish. Let's get out of here!"

A three-person team glanced into the distance, then hurried away in the opposite direction.

Those three clearly weren't destined to be protagonists, but they weren't destined for an early grave either.

Deep in an underground lair, an enormous creature lying atop a vast, pale Spirit Stone opened his eyes.

"Lion King of the Lianhai Mountains! Are you there? Come out and meet me!"

"Lion King of the Lianhai Mountains! Are you there? Come out and meet me!"

Dong Shizhang's voice was still echoing.

The Lion King slowly rose from his Spirit Stone bed, his eyes blazing with anger.

"Has it been so long since I last fought that humanity has forgotten my name?"

The Lion King strode out of the lair, his massive body smashing through the rocks around its entrance.

He clearly had not been this large when he went in.

His cultivation must have improved.

He was the Westwind Lion King, a wind-type beast whose strength lay in his speed.

Dong Shizhang clearly knew the Lion King well. This did not seem to be their first encounter.

"Well, look at that. The stupid lion's still alive?" Dong Shizhang taunted with a mocking smile.

The Westwind Lion King glared back. "So it's you, old man. Want another fight?"

The Westwind Lion King's thoughts raced. Dong Shizhang had once been a human major general stationed in Zanghai City, and the two of them had fought many times.

Then, for some reason, Dong Shizhang had stopped appearing.

But the Westwind Lion King recognized what Dong Shizhang's Red Robe signified.

"Well, well. After all these years, you've joined the Beast God Cult. What, tired of being human? If things don't work out, you're welcome to settle in my Lianhai Mountains. I'll save the second-in-command's seat for you," the Westwind Lion King said mockingly.

Dong Shizhang did not get angry. The beast had always had a sharp tongue, and he was used to it.

"Still as mouthy as ever, stupid lion. Someone who didn't know better might mistake you for a person," Dong Shizhang said with a smile.

Then he waved a hand. "I hear an uninvited guest recently entered the Lianhai Mountains. Know where they are, stupid lion?"

The Westwind Lion King froze. "I thought you came to pick a fight. Turns out you're looking for someone? Why should I tell you?"

"Because I'll spare your life. How does that sound?"

Dong Shizhang had known the Lion King would not talk easily.

To his surprise, the Westwind Lion King laughed instead of growing angry.

The wind howled around them.

"ROAR!"

A lion's roar split the sky. Dong Shizhang's expression changed drastically.

Spotting a lake nearby, he hurled Xu Shen toward it.

The Lion King who had stood opposite Dong Shizhang had already vanished.

A humanoid beast stood behind Dong Shizhang, his mane draped down his back like a cape.

His eyes glowed a fierce red, and armor-like plates covered his shoulders.

Though he had appeared behind Dong Shizhang, he did not attack.

"You... you've broken through the Myriad Stars Realm..." Dong Shizhang's face turned grim.

The Westwind Lion King was no longer in the Myriad Stars Realm. He had reached the Bright Moon Realm.

The Westwind Lion King rested a hand on Dong Shizhang's shoulder. "Don't be afraid, old man. If I'd wanted you dead, you would be."

Dong Shizhang forced himself to stay calm. "You're quite right, Lion King..."

"Now tell me why you're looking for me." With a casual wave of his hand, the Westwind Lion King brought them both to the ground.

The Westwind Lion King's cave was plain, but it held several chairs in addition to the bed.

Dong Shizhang hesitated, but he had no choice. He could not escape a Westwind Lion King in the Bright Moon Realm.

Especially one famed for his speed. Even in the Myriad Stars Realm, the Westwind Lion King had been fast enough to evade Bright Moon Realm cultivators. How could Dong Shizhang escape him now?

"I came to the Lianhai Mountains looking for a Mutant Beast..."

Dong Shizhang steadied himself and took a deep breath.

"Oh? A Mutant Beast?" The Westwind Lion King's interest stirred. Now this was intriguing.

"Yes. That Mutant Beast is... a dragon!"