At those words, Han Chen immediately turned around and saw Yun Yun in a green dress, her hands held before her chest. Her gaze darted away shyly as she looked at him, her face flushed like peach blossoms.
"B... beautiful!"
Even after living with Yun Yun for so many years, Han Chen could not help being a little spellbound. It was not that a change of clothes had transformed her so dramatically. What truly dazzled him was her bashful expression, which lent her a different kind of charm when paired with the dress.
Yun Yun was beautiful on ordinary days too, but to maintain the dignified image of a sect leader, she usually dressed formally and wore an icy expression, adding authority while leaving little room for girlish charm.
Now, with no one else around, the side of herself she kept suppressed naturally emerged.
"Ahem, Teacher, do the clothes fit? Is there anything else you need?"
At his question, Yun Yun raised her arms a little and looked herself over.
"They're fine, though the chest is a little tight."
Hearing that, Han Chen instinctively glanced down, then nodded.
"Indeed."
"All right, I'm going to start trying to break the seal."
Yun Yun did not linger on the subject, instead telling Han Chen that she would attempt to break the seal. It did not matter how long he spent training away from home, but she was the leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. If she disappeared for too long, problems would arise.
"Oh."
Han Chen did not mind her trying to break the seal right away. Yun Yun would have to leave sooner or later.
"Then I'll cultivate in the cave abode over there. Master, just call me if you need anything."
As he spoke, Han Chen headed toward the cave abode. He had already finished refining his pills, so this was a good chance to break through to Dou Shi.
Yun Yun then returned to her room and began trying to mobilize the Dou Qi within her body, directing it toward the seal.
After entering the cave abode, Han Chen immediately sat cross-legged. This time, he did not take any pills. Although they would let him break through quickly, what he wanted more was a solid foundation.
The Three-Turn Origin Reversion Art requires the sixth level to activate-in other words, Dou Emperor. For now, I can only compress my True Essence ahead of time myself. Still, that has its benefits. When it's time for the three turns of origin reversion, dispersing my cultivation and starting over will be much easier.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Two figures stood atop a steep mountain peak, the howling cold wind blowing their strands of hair together.
By now, Yun Yun had changed back into her sect leader's long dress. Her exquisite face was cold and stern, and she held a three-foot sword, her phoenix eyes surveying the verdant Magical Beast Mountain Range below.
Standing behind her, Han Chen wore green robes, with one hand behind his waist and the other resting before him. His black hair was combed back, giving him quite a scholarly air.
"Phew..."
Yun Yun exhaled a stale breath and looked back at Han Chen, hesitation in her eyes.
"Chen'er, do you really have to come with me? That Amethyst Winged Lion King is no ordinary opponent. Once the fighting starts, I might not be able to look after you."
When Han Chen learned that she planned to fight the Amethyst Winged Lion King again, he had insisted on coming along, saying he would help.
But this was a battle between Dou Huang experts, after all. If Han Chen accidentally got caught in it, no amount of regret would help her. So she decided to try persuading him again.
Han Chen smiled at her words and reached out to pat her hand.
"Don't worry, Teacher. I might not be much of a fighter, but running away is something I'm good at."
At that, Yun Yun could not help laughing.
"All right, but be careful. Once you get the Amethyst Source, leave immediately and wait for me in the valley."
"Don't worry, Teacher."
Hearing his assurance, Yun Yun nodded and swept her sword through the air. Dou Qi gathered behind her into a pair of green wings, and she flapped them, flying down the mountain.
Once Yun Yun left, Han Chen did not linger either. He summoned the Divine Wind Boat and quietly approached the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode from the other side.
"Lion King! I'm back!"
Yun Yun flew above the cave and unleashed a fierce sword slash, instantly felling a broad swath of trees and sending beasts and mountain creatures fleeing.
"You damned woman! You dare come back? You've infuriated me beyond endurance!"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King had been resting in his cave abode. The commotion outside left him furious; he hated nothing more than having his sleep disturbed. Then he heard Yun Yun's voice, and his anger blazed hotter still.
He had already been enraged when Yun Yun sliced off the purple horn on his head with a single move last time. Among magical beasts, size and horn length were how they displayed their status.
That purple horn had been the symbol of his kingship. Now that Yun Yun had severed it, who knew how many years it might take to grow back? He had been struggling to find somewhere to vent his rage, yet she actually dared return?
The Amethyst Winged Lion King shot into the sky and confronted Yun Yun in midair, his eyes blazing with ferocity.
"You damned woman, you dare come back? It seems luck kept you from falling to your death last time. This time, I won't miss."
At the sight of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, Yun Yun tightened her grip on her sword, a solemn look flashing through her eyes.
"More words are pointless. Lion King, let's settle this once and for all. I'm taking the Amethyst Source today."
Without another wasted word, Yun Yun closed in, brandishing her sword. Sword light flashed as slash after slash of sword energy burst forth.
Seeing how decisively Yun Yun acted, the Amethyst Winged Lion King refused to show weakness. With a roar, he charged at her.
The two immediately clashed, and the shock waves they unleashed killed many nearby third- and fourth-tier magical beasts on the spot.
After fighting for a while, Yun Yun saw that the Amethyst Winged Lion King had taken the bait and was truly enraged. Following their original plan, she began luring him farther away.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King merely assumed Yun Yun was outmatched and trying to flee. With a long roar, he pursued her.
Hidden at the foot of the mountain, Han Chen watched Yun Yun and the Amethyst Winged Lion King fight their way farther into the distance. He waved a hand to add another layer of aura concealment, then quietly crept toward the lion king's cave abode.
Having read the original novel, he naturally knew that one of the chambers belonged to the little lion. Without hesitation, he entered the cave and knocked the cub unconscious, then began looting to his heart's content, taking everything valuable inside.
Once he had nearly finished stripping the cave abode clean, Han Chen grabbed the little lion and flew out aboard the Divine Wind Boat.
But halfway out, he suddenly realized something.
This is where Xiao Yan obtains the Amethyst Flame. That flame plays quite an important role for him later...
Han Chen looked around, then hid in a dark spot and waited quietly. Yun Yun had now fully recovered, and she was prepared for the Amethyst Winged Lion King's tricks. There was no way he could defeat her quickly this time.
So Han Chen decided to try intercepting Xiao Yan and see whether that unlucky brat would come here as he had in the original novel, even without having met Yun Yun.
Though it was a gamble, Han Chen was seventy percent certain that Xiao Yan would come. After all, the guy was the king of scooping up bargains, and he had Yao Lao acting as his detection radar. How could he let such a good opportunity slip away?
"Teacher, is it really safe here?"
Just as I thought!
Before you continue