"Extreme Wind-Setting Sun Radiance!"
At that critical instant, streaks of azure light surged toward the Lion King, their sheer number creating a terrifying spectacle.
If the Lion King did not stop his attack, the approaching Setting Sun Radiance would severely wound him.
The Lion King's beastly eyes were bloodshot and filled with ferocity, but he still beat his wings reluctantly and vanished from where he stood.
The Lion King, who had been carried away by rage, regained his senses. If he failed to dodge and suffered an injury, he might fall at the hands of that human Dou Emperor.
"Go!"
Freed from danger, Xiao Yu immediately darted away. Then he heard a soft shout and looked up to see a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in plain, pale azure robes.
Yun Yun.
Xiao Yu had not expected her to save him, but this was clearly no time for conversation. He cupped his hands in thanks.
"Thank you!"
With that, he raced away at full speed without looking back.
"Human, where do you think you're running?!"
Seeing Xiao Yu flee, the Amethyst Winged Lion King tried to pursue him, only for Yun Yun to intercept him.
Sword in hand, Yun Yun flashed in front of the Lion King and regarded him coldly.
The Lion King erupted in fury. "Human woman, I respected you as a Dou Huang expert, knowing how hard-won your cultivation was. Do you truly think I dare not kill you?!"
Unfazed by his threat, Yun Yun said unhurriedly, "If you truly can keep me here, Lion King, then go ahead and try. But let me remind you that you should check on your home first. After all, you still have a child there."
"!"
Only then did the Lion King remember that his child was still in his cave. Rage had clouded his mind earlier, making him forget.
Whoosh!
With a rush of wind, the Lion King became a streak of purple light and flew toward his cave.
He no longer had any interest in Xiao Yu or Yun Yun. His mind was filled with thoughts of his child. If anything happened to the cub, he would probably go mad.
He also deeply regretted leaving his child, who was only at the third rank, alone in the cave.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King was powerful and far from unintelligent, but he shared a flaw common to most magical beasts: once his fury reached its peak, he threw all caution to the wind.
Xiao Yu had enslaved magical beasts, and the Lion King had spent a long time unable to find any trace of him, allowing his anger to build. Today, he had finally found Xiao Yu, only for the human to kill all five of his Fifth-Order Magical Beast subordinates. Naturally, all that pent-up fury had erupted at once.
In truth, this was hardly limited to magical beasts. Plenty of humans were the same, acting as though they had lost their minds once anger took hold, heedless of the consequences.
Seeing the Lion King leave, Yun Yun breathed a sigh of relief. Despite her calm, breezy manner earlier, she had been somewhat worried.
If the Amethyst Winged Lion King had insisted on keeping her here, escaping would have been difficult.
"If not for that young man today, obtaining the purple spirit crystal would have been rather difficult..."
"I should leave quickly. If the Lion King comes after me, getting away will be difficult."
Glancing in the direction Xiao Yu had fled, Yun Yun beat her wings and became a streak of azure light, flying out of the Magical Beast Mountain Range at full speed.
"Teacher, why did that Dou Huang expert and the Amethyst Winged Lion King leave?"
A youth dressed in black and red stood atop a large tree, watching the departing Amethyst Winged Lion King and Yun Yun as he asked in confusion. An extremely conspicuous black weapon resembling a broadsword rested on his back.
At that moment, a puff of white smoke emerged from his body and formed a handsome, white-haired, middle-aged man beside him.
The white-haired man flicked the youth on the forehead. "Why else would they leave? Didn't you see that enormous sword in the sky just now? They must have gone because of that."
Wincing, the youth gave the middle-aged man a resentful look. The man clearly did not fall for it. Stroking his beard, he said, "We should hurry away too. You've seen a battle between Dou Huang experts now. Staying here any longer might invite disaster."
"Yes, Teacher."
The youth rolled his eyes.
The middle-aged man turned into a wisp of white smoke and drifted into the Storage Ring on the youth's finger. Then the two left.
Ten days later, a broad road bustled with an endless stream of people, carriages, and horses.
Inside a rather plain carriage, a young man in white sat cross-legged in meditation, a faint green glow radiating from his body. Before long, the light sank into him, and he opened his eyes.
"Finally, I'm fully healed."
"Being covered in injuries feels awful. It's as though the Magical Beast Mountain Range and I are fated to clash. Next time I come, I'll have to have a proper 'reunion' with the Amethyst Winged Lion King."
He put particular emphasis on "reunion." After all, he had been injured twice during his time in the Magical Beast Mountain Range, and neither injury had been minor. Both had been indirectly connected to the Lion King, who had even tried to take his life in the end.
How could he possibly leave that grudge unsettled? He was very good at holding grudges!
Once I reach Dou Emperor, I'll definitely subdue the Amethyst Winged Lion King and make him my mount.
The young man gritted his teeth, thinking viciously.
He was none other than Xiao Yu, who had escaped the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
After leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Xiao Yu had found a small town to recover from his injuries. Once he had mostly healed, he hired a carriage and headed for Black Rock City.
His next training destination was the southern Tagor Desert. Vast and sparsely populated, it was the ideal place for him to cultivate.
Not only would he be less likely to suffer interruptions while refining pills, but he could also freely practice with his Origin Flame Divine Thunder.
Ever since fusing his Origin Flame Divine Thunder ten days earlier, Xiao Yu had placed even greater importance on it.
So far, he had only fused Blue-Silver Cold Lightning and extreme-breaking ice flame. He had yet to try his other Origin Flame Divine Thunder, and his proficiency with it was lower than with Blue-Silver Cold Lightning and extreme-breaking ice flame.
Even the Snake-People were scarce in the southern Tagor Desert. Only there could he unleash his Origin Flame Divine Thunder without restraint and fuse it. After all, the fusion caused far too much of a disturbance; anywhere else, it would be difficult to avoid discovery.
However, reaching the Tagor Desert on foot would take Xiao Yu at least a month or two at his current speed. He was only a Dou Ling and could not form wings from Dou Qi. If he had to walk all the way to the Tagor Desert, he would rather not go.
Moreover, only a year remained until the three-year agreement. He did not have that much time to waste.
That was why he had come to Black Rock City: to travel with the Imperial Civilian Transport Team, which could take him directly to the eastern border.
Lifting the curtain, Xiao Yu saw that Black Rock City's gates were already close.
"Sir, we've reached Black Rock City."
Seeing Xiao Yu pull back the curtain, the driver spoke with a smile.
Xiao Yu nodded, stepped down from the carriage, paid his fare, and walked toward Black Rock City.
Arriving beneath the gates, he gazed at the walls built from black rock, now draped in a crimson glow beneath the lingering light of sunset.
After paying the entry tax at the gates, Xiao Yu walked straight inside. Passing through the dim tunnel, he emerged into a bustling scene filled with a cacophony of voices.
"I'll find somewhere to sleep tonight, then look for the transport team tomorrow and set off for Tagor."
Xiao Yu found a decent-looking inn along the street and took a room.
Upon reaching his room, Xiao Yu stopped the attendant as he was about to leave.
"Excuse me, where can I find Black Rock City's civilian transport team?"
The attendant replied very politely, "Sir, the civilian transport team you're looking for belongs to the Flying Transport Company. They're in the square at the center of Black Rock City. Just head to the city center, and you'll see them."
Xiao Yu nodded and tossed the attendant a silver coin. "Thank you. This is your tip."
Overwhelmed by the unexpected generosity, the attendant accepted the silver coin. It was worth an entire month of his wages. He hurriedly said with respect, "Thank you, sir. If you need anything, just call for me. I'll take my leave now and won't disturb your rest."
The attendant then withdrew.
Xiao Yu lay down on the bed to rest. The journey had left him somewhat tired as well. Once he had rested properly, he would deal with the arrangements for heading to the Tagor Desert tomorrow.
Before you continue