Meeting the Amethyst Winged Lion King Again (42k)

"Yes. I, Xiao Yan, was fortunate enough to regain my cultivation talent a few months ago!" Xiao Yan admitted it outright. What unsettled him now was whether Elder Liu had discovered Yao Lao.

An uproar swept through the hall. The younger members of the Xiao Clan wore expressions of disbelief. It was hard to say whether they were shocked that Xiao Yan's talent had returned or that he had risen from the third stage of Dou Qi to the seventh in just a few months. Perhaps it was both.

"Hahaha! Excellent!" Nalan Jie laughed heartily. To advance from the third stage to Seventh Stage Dou Qi in a few short months—what astonishing cultivation talent!

Xiao Zhan was overjoyed as well. This was his son, all right!

Nalan Yanran's expression froze briefly, and she bit her lip. Her feelings about the return of Xiao Yan's cultivation talent were complicated...

Even Yun Yun's beautiful eyes flickered with surprise. No one in the current generation of the Misty Cloud Sect could match such talent, not even her disciple Nalan Yanran!

Watching their expressions, Xiao Yan felt a trace of pride. He paid particular attention to Nalan Yanran, and the shock on her face left him immensely satisfied!

"Xiao Yan, here. Take this!" A jade box appeared out of thin air in Nalan Jie's hand, and he offered it to Xiao Yan.

"Old Master Nalan, I..." Xiao Yan hesitated.

Seeing this, Nalan Jie simply thrust the jade box into Xiao Yan's hands. "Your cultivation talent has returned, and I don't have much else to give you right now. These three pills of Qi Gathering Powder were refined by Elder Liu. They're of supreme quality. Consider them a small token of my goodwill!"

"Then thank you, Old Master Nalan!" Somewhat helpless, Xiao Yan could only accept his kindness. And indeed, this Qi Gathering Powder would be quite useful to him!

The boys and girls in the hall stared fixedly at the jade box in Xiao Yan's hands, their eyes burning with desire. Three supreme-quality pills of Qi Gathering Powder! They were even better than the pill from last time. With Xiao Yan's talent, he should only need to take one, right? Then the remaining two...

Xiao Yan seemed to notice those burning gazes. He toyed casually with the jade box, making their hearts leap with every movement, terrified that one careless slip might smash the pills!

"Xiao Yan, now that your talent has returned, why not come cultivate with me at the Nalan Family? I guarantee you the finest cultivation resources!" Nalan Jie said, looking at him.

Hearing Old Master Nalan's offer, Xiao Yan was tempted. Cultivation resources were exactly what he lacked, after all, and the Xiao Clan could hardly provide him with good ones!

Xiao Zhan also turned to Xiao Yan. He thought going to the Nalan Family would be a good choice. After all, Xiao Yan had lost three precious years of cultivation for nothing.

"Old Master Nalan, I appreciate your kindness, but..." After some consideration, Xiao Yan ultimately refused.

Nalan Jie sighed softly. Age had honed his shrewdness, and he naturally understood that Nalan Yanran's attempt to break the engagement still left Xiao Yan with a thorn in his heart toward the Nalan Family! He did not press him further. A seven-striped Purple Gold Card appeared in his hand, and he pushed it into Xiao Yan's hands. "Since you don't wish to go to the Nalan Family, I won't force you. But you must accept this card. Even the finest talent needs resources to support it!"

Looking at the seven-striped Purple Gold Card in his hands, Xiao Yan fell silent. Xun'er had produced a five-striped Purple Gold Card last time, a gold card that only a Dou Ling was qualified to obtain. This one had seven stripes, which meant...

Xiao Yan drew a deep breath, warmth flowing through his heart. Apart from his father, Xun'er, and the others, this was the first time someone had treated him so well. Gratefully, he said, "Old Master Nalan, this is too valuable. Please take it back!"

"You're my future grandson-in-law! We'll all be family one day! Now that your talent has returned, this Purple Gold Card will be a great help to your cultivation. It's fine if you don't want to come to the Nalan Family, but you must accept the card!"

Xiao Yan smiled bitterly. You really are something, Old Master Nalan! He had no choice but to accept it!

Seeing Xiao Yan put the card away, Nalan Jie inwardly relaxed. This meant Xiao Yan did not object to becoming his grandson-in-law! He hurriedly gave Nalan Yanran a meaningful look.

Nalan Yanran slowly stepped forward. Looking into Xiao Yan's indifferent eyes, she could not help feeling bitter. In a low voice, she said, "Xiao Yan, I'm sorry about what happened last time. I acted on my own. I'm sorry..."

"Miss Nalan, there's no need to bring up the past. Everyone makes mistakes."

Xiao Yan's expression remained calm. He could no longer muster any hatred toward Nalan Yanran. They were both unfortunate souls; why make things harder for each other?

"Haha, well said! Everyone makes mistakes. As long as they recognize their faults and correct them, it's never too late!" The more Nalan Jie looked at Xiao Yan, the more pleased he became.

Afterward, everyone began chatting, tacitly avoiding any mention of the Three-Year Agreement. The Xiao Clan arranged a banquet for the Nalan Family, who gladly accepted. Everything seemed warm and harmonious.

Inside the little hut where Xiao Yan trained diligently, he was talking with Yao Lao.

"Little fellow, you really struck gold this time!" Floating beside him, Yao Lao grinned mischievously.

"What do you mean, struck gold? I deserved this!" Xiao Yan rolled his eyes at Yao Lao.

Then his expression turned solemn. "Teacher, did that Elder Liu discover you?"

"Do you have so little faith in your teacher? That youngster may be an extraordinary monster, but your teacher isn't some harmless vegetarian either. He's still a little too green to detect me!" Yao Lao declared proudly. He was the mighty Venerable Yao, after all!

"That's my teacher for you!" Xiao Yan gave him a thumbs-up.

Basking in his disciple's praise, Yao Lao felt quite pleased with himself. Then he said, "Still, you could try getting to know him. He might be of help to you someday!"

When Liu Yu had examined Xiao Yan's body, Yao Lao had sensed a familiar aura. As someone who possessed the Bone-Chilling Heavenly Flame, he was ninety percent certain that Elder Liu had a Heavenly Flame of his own!

"Someone of his standing isn't a person I can get to know just because I want to, is he?" Xiao Yan was rather speechless. He would like to, but what if the man simply ignored him?

"Little fellow, don't belittle yourself. As my disciple, your standing is no lower than anyone else's. Besides, you're now the Nalan Family's future live-in son-in-law!" Yao Lao's seriousness lasted only a moment before he began teasing Xiao Yan again.

Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly. His teacher was so mysterious that he probably had an extraordinary background. How had he ended up in this state? As for becoming the Nalan Family's live-in son-in-law, Xiao Yan did not know what to do either. Old Master Nalan clearly already regarded him as his grandson-in-law, and Xiao Yan liked him very much as well. Ah, Nalan Yanran...

"Brother Xiao Yan, are you there?"

A girl's clear voice came from outside the door. Xiao Yan raised his brows, and Yao Lao returned to the Storage Ring. Xiao Yan walked over and opened the door.

Outside stood a graceful, exquisitely lovely girl. Xiao Yan stared for quite a while before recovering and saying with a smile, "Xun'er, you're getting prettier and prettier!"

Xiao Xun'er pursed her lips in a demure smile, but her willow-leaf brows, curved into lovely crescents, betrayed the joy in her heart.

"Brother Xiao Yan, what are you going to do about the Nalan Family?" Xiao Xun'er asked, watching him intently.

"I don't know either. I can only take it one step at a time!" Xiao Yan smiled bitterly.

"If you don't want to, Brother Xiao Yan, no one can force you! Whatever Old Master Nalan can give you, I can give you too!"

Xiao Xun'er spoke softly, a tiny, almost imperceptible golden flame flickering through her beautiful eyes!

Xiao Yan did not notice, but inside the Storage Ring, Yao Lao's expression grew quite solemn!

"Xun'er, Old Master Nalan means well!" Xiao Yan said with a smile, looking at the girl whose words carried such commanding confidence. He had long known that her background was mysterious.

Deep in the eastern reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

A blood-red streak and an azure streak flashed through the sky, heading deeper into the mountains. Their destination seemed to be the Amethyst Winged Lion King's territory!

Their surging Dou Emperor auras frightened the forest's many magical beasts into hiding. Most beasts that lived this deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range were third rank or above and had already developed a measure of intelligence. They knew to keep far away from enemies they could not defeat.

Within the enormous mountain, the Amethyst Winged Lion King naturally sensed those two powerful, completely unconcealed auras. One of them even felt familiar!

By then, Liu Yu and Yun Yun had already arrived before the mountain. They hovered in the air, waiting for the ruler of the Magical Beast Mountain Range to appear.

After meeting Xiao Yan, Liu Yu had left ahead of the others. He had little interest in that evening's banquet. Besides, he had asked Nalan Jie to deliver a gift for him—a farewell present, of sorts!

As for Yun Yun, he had thought she would stay with Nalan Yanran. After all, Nalan Jie now stood firmly on Xiao Yan's side, leaving Nalan Yanran practically "all alone." Instead, Yun Yun had simply said, "As the future sect leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, she must be capable of facing everything on her own!"

Liu Yu could not help feeling a trace of "pity" for Nalan Yanran. There was still Xiao Xun'er to contend with, too. That evening's banquet might prove quite interesting!

Suddenly, a flash of purple light appeared in the sky, and an enormous purple magical beast emerged overhead. It was the Amethyst Winged Lion King, whom they had not seen for quite some time!

"Lion King, long time no see!" Liu Yu said with a soft laugh, looking at the Great Flying Lion.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King said nothing, but towering waves surged through his heart. How many months had it been? How had that human from last time become so powerful? He now felt a profound threat from him! By contrast, he paid little attention to Yun Yun beside him.

Seeing the Great Flying Lion remain silent, Liu Yu could roughly guess his thoughts. They were nothing more than How is this human so powerful? How could such a genius exist in this world...?

"Lion King, it's been a while. Why don't we start with a fight?"

Liu Yu snapped his folding fan shut and condensed a gigantic flaming spear in his other hand, thrusting it straight at him. He had already reached Four-Star Dou Wang! On the journey from the Imperial Capital to the Xiao Clan, he had fortunately broken through from Three-Star Dou Wang to Four-Star Dou Wang. He wanted to use this opportunity to see just how strong he was now!

Seeing the human attack, the Amethyst Winged Lion King blazed with purple light. An enormous pillar of purple fire crashed toward the flaming spear, and the two attacks collided with a tremendous explosion.

Liu Yu moved. At the same time, the Thousand-Mechanism Fan in his hand flashed red and transformed into a wondrous longsword covered in blood-red patterns. With a light swing, he unleashed a blood-red sword arc more than a dozen zhang long.

The terrifying sword arc, its edge seemingly sharp enough to tear space apart, shot toward the Amethyst Winged Lion King in an instant!

"Roar!" With a thunderous roar, dazzling purple light flared. Surging purple flames poured wildly from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's body, gathering into a pillar of fire even larger than the previous one and charging straight at the sword arc!

Between Heaven and Earth, the sword arc and enormous pillar of fire collided, eating away at each other and making space ripple! The terrifying aftershocks destroyed swath after swath of towering trees.

Off to the side, Yun Yun darted away, vanishing from her spot and reappearing in the distance.

"Boom!" After remaining locked together for several minutes, the sword arc and pillar of fire finally exhausted their energy and vanished completely with a muffled blast that resounded throughout the mountains!

The instant the sword arc and fire pillar disappeared, the blood-colored wings on Liu Yu's back stirred. At the same time, he activated Thousand Illusion Body, and both his figure and aura vanished instantly.

Having lost his target, the Amethyst Winged Lion King remained still in the sky, watching his surroundings warily.

Suddenly, alarm bells rang in the Amethyst Winged Lion King's heart. But Liu Yu, who held the initiative, would not give him time to react. He blinked behind the Amethyst Winged Lion King, his longsword blazing with blood-red light, and hacked viciously into his body.

"Roar!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King howled in pain. His amethyst scales could not withstand the blood-red sword's edge at all. His defenses were breached instantly, and blood spurted out!

Enduring the pain, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's beastly eyes suddenly flared with purple light. His enormous body twisted violently, and his huge claw came crashing down at Liu Yu in fury, trailing brilliant purple radiance. As the claw swept through the air, it tore through the air's resistance, sending a piercing sonic shriek ringing across the sky!

Facing the Amethyst Winged Lion King's physical assault, Liu Yu activated Ethereal Step. His figure turned illusory, and he vanished from the beast's attack range.

Tsk, he can't hit me, but I can break through his defenses. At this rate, I'll wear this Great Flying Lion down sooner or later. That's far too unfair! This isn't a fight to the death, so I won't bully him! Liu Yu thought.

His thoughts raced, and Liu Yu decided to meet force with force!

"Ten Thousand Serpent Calamity!"

With Liu Yu's quiet shout, vast amounts of Dou Qi surged wildly from his body. At the same time, he drew upon the fire energy between Heaven and Earth. Space around him rippled slightly as countless red serpents, each more than a zhang long, condensed and densely covered half the sky. Stranger still, those serpents seemed alive, issuing eerie, hissing cries!

Their sheer numbers and unending hissing sent chills through anyone who saw them! Even Yun Yun, watching from afar, frowned slightly. It was rather unsettling...

Though the scene was bizarre, the Amethyst Winged Lion King showed no fear. A deafening roar reverberated through the sky, and the purple light covering his body grew ever brighter. Moments later, its intensity seemed on the verge of outshining the setting sun on the horizon!

"The Amethyst Seal! Let's see whether your seal is stronger or my Ten Thousand Serpent Calamity has the edge!" Liu Yu said with a soft laugh.

Purple radiance enveloped Heaven and Earth. After gathering for a while, the light abruptly contracted. In the blink of an eye, the purple brilliance filling the sky compressed into a deep-purple beam only about half a foot wide.

Then the deep-purple beam shot out like lightning. The countless serpents surrounding Liu Yu instantly erupted into motion, surging toward it!

At first, the purple beam tore through hundreds of red serpents with the irresistible force of a storm smashing rotten wood. But the red serpents seemed endless, rushing forward wave after wave and steadily draining the energy within the purple beam.