Jia Ma Holy City

"Little lion, now that you've taken human form, let your big brother give you a name," Long Xiao said to the Amethyst Winged Lion King with a smile.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King danced with excitement at those words. "No need! Big Brother, I already thought of a name ages ago. Lion Proud of Heaven or Lion Defies Heaven. Failing those, Lion Shatters Heaven!"

Long Xiao's face darkened the instant he heard those names.

Do you have some sort of grudge against heaven? First you're proud of it, then you defy it, and now you want to shatter it.

"No. You're called Curly. You can disagree if you like, but I'll beat you until you agree."

Long Xiao vetoed his choices outright.

The Amethyst Winged Lion King wilted at Long Xiao's words.

Curly? That was an affront to his dignity.

"Could you consider something else?"

The Amethyst Winged Lion King timidly voiced his request.

Golden flames sprang from Long Xiao's finger.

Curly silently lowered his head and said nothing more.

Curly it was, then.

"Let's go to the Imperial Capital. The magical beasts in this Magical Beast Mountain Range don't seem particularly bright," Long Xiao suggested.

Medusa nodded lightly. She hadn't visited a human city in many years either. In particular, she wondered how those old opponents of hers were doing now.

Wouldn't their expressions be something to behold if they saw that she had broken through to Dou Zong?

Medusa's lips curved into a faint smile. Those people were no longer worthy of being her opponents. If she hadn't feared displeasing Long Xiao, she might already have led her people in an assault on the human empire.

Curly perked up at those words too. He had never visited the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Capital. Perhaps there would be delicious food there.

"Big Brother, I wanna go too!" Curly said excitedly.

Long Xiao couldn't help rolling his eyes at that. "What would you go there for?"

"To eat! Besides, I've never seen what the Imperial Capital looks like."

Curly blinked, as though that were only natural.

Long Xiao pressed a hand to his forehead. This fellow really was a stupid lion.

"It's not as though you can't come with me to the Imperial Capital. But if you dare cause trouble and make me lose face, I'll consider making a dish of braised lion's head."

Long Xiao adopted a threatening look.

Curly shuddered at Long Xiao's threat. "I wouldn't dare! I wouldn't dare! Absolutely not!"

Curly shook his head repeatedly. He would definitely behave this time. Big Brother was terrifying-he even ate lions.

Only then did Long Xiao nod in satisfaction. "Let's go."

Long Xiao and Medusa stepped onto empty air and rose into the sky.

Watching the two tread through the void, Curly bit his lip, his eyes filled with envy. The Dou Qi Wings on his back suddenly lost all their appeal.

"Dou Zong experts are terrifying indeed. When will I reach the seventh rank? Walking on air looks so impressive."

Lost in his fantasies, Curly flew after Long Xiao and Medusa.

Outside the gates of Jia Ma Holy City.

Long Xiao and his two companions clicked their tongues in wonder as they gazed at the enormous city before them.

The Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Capital truly had an extraordinary grandeur. It was several times more prosperous than any of the cities they had seen along the way.

The familiar buildings stirred memories in Medusa as well.

Over the past three hundred-odd years, she had visited Jia Ma Holy City once or twice, though no one had known about it.

"Jia Ma Holy City encompasses nearly all the empire's strongest factions: the Three Great Families, the Alchemist Guild, and the Imperial Family. Even the Misty Cloud Sect, the Jia Ma Empire's foremost sect, is established on Misty Cloud Mountain not far from the city."

Medusa parted her lips and calmly introduced the city to Long Xiao and Curly.

She knew Long Xiao certainly wasn't from the Jia Ma Empire. That stupid lion was even less likely to have had a chance to set foot here. His strength as a Six-Star Dou Emperor wasn't enough for him to run wild in this place.

"You seem to know this place quite well." Long Xiao nodded slightly.

"Hahaha! This is my first time here. I'm gonna see just what's so remarkable about the human world, and whether there's any delicious food to offer this king!"

Curly planted his hands on his hips and laughed toward the sky, brimming with anticipation.

"Let's go."

Medusa gave him an indifferent glance, then turned toward the city gates.

"Wait."

Long Xiao reached out to stop Medusa as he spoke.

Medusa stopped and looked back at Long Xiao.

She found him staring down at her delicate feet. Her cheeks immediately flushed, and she quickly retreated a few steps.

"What is it?" Medusa looked at Long Xiao in confusion.

Long Xiao withdrew his gaze and crouched in front of her.

Then a pair of exquisitely crafted red high heels appeared in his hands.

At the sight of the shoes, Medusa immediately understood his intentions. She lowered her head slightly, feeling a little shy.

Long Xiao helped her put on the shoes, then said gently, "A woman's feet are also among her most delicate parts. Although you can walk on air, it's still better to wear shoes. After all, you're no longer the Medusa you used to be."

Ever since breaking through to Dou Zong, Medusa had walked barefoot. But as a Dou Zong, although she appeared to walk on the ground, she was actually treading on empty air, untouched by even a speck of dust.

Still, she no longer had a snake's tail, so naturally she ought to wear shoes like a human.

Medusa lowered her head and shifted her feet a little, an inexplicable sweetness welling up in her heart.

These beautiful shoes really suited her.

Medusa smiled radiantly, her beauty so breathtaking that a single glance could send someone hopelessly under her spell.

Long Xiao stood and took her hand.

"Boohoo, Big Brother, that's so touching! You're so good to Her Majesty. I want you to put shoes on me too!"

Curly bit the hem of his clothes and spoke with tears swimming in his eyes.

He even stuck out one of his big, rough feet.

"Just wait until you get roasted."

Long Xiao glanced at him, then led Medusa into Jia Ma Holy City without looking back.

Watching them leave, Curly pouted. It's only a pair of shoes. Big Brother is so stingy.

Ah, my heart hurts. It hurts so much.

Curly rubbed his chest, then raised his head toward the sky in bitter lament.

Once he had finished lamenting, he set his long legs moving again and eagerly scampered after them.

The streets of Jia Ma Holy City were broad and clean, and the shops lining them were lavishly built. Houses stood in close-packed rows on either side, with towering buildings above them. The streets were wide and level, surrounded by all manner of shops, including those selling everyday necessities and medicinal pills.

Long Xiao released his soul power, then withdrew it, shaking his head.

Seeing his dejected expression, Medusa couldn't help asking, "What's wrong?"

"The things here are such trash. Not a single one is worthy of my attention."

Curly erupted at Long Xiao's words. "Big Brother, this is the Jia Ma Empire's Imperial Capital! And you're actually turning your nose up at everything here!"

Long Xiao merely glanced at him, not bothering to explain.

Medusa smiled. Indeed, Long Xiao was a walking treasury. Whatever he wanted, he had. He was outrageously rich.

"What do you want to do, then? With your fortune, even selling ten Jia Ma Empires wouldn't make them as rich as you," Medusa teased.

Long Xiao chuckled. "Isn't what's mine also yours? As long as Her Majesty wants it, there's nothing I would begrudge her."

Medusa froze briefly, then gave a soft snort and awkwardly looked away.

"Come on. I'll take you around the Jia Ma Empire. Big Brother's in a good mood today, so everything you buy is on me," Long Xiao said with a smile.

Curly nodded furiously beside them. "Great, great! I wanna look around for food too!"

Medusa gave him a sidelong glance.

Curly shrank back, then scratched his head and chuckled foolishly.