Stealing the Purple Spirit Crystal

Inside the cave, azure light surged over Yun Zhi's body until she finally broke through the Amethyst Seal, which had already been drained of almost all its energy.

The instant the seal shattered, Dou Qi surged out of her vortex and flooded every part of her body.

Yun Zhi regained her strength as a Dou Emperor, and her demeanor grew a little cooler.

"Has your strength recovered?"

Although they had spent several days together and Xiao Yan had grown used to Yun Zhi's presence, he still felt that their time together had been far too short when she truly regained her Dou Emperor strength.

Standing before him now, she was like a walking sun. Even the faint wisps of Dou Qi radiating from her were too dazzling to look at directly.

Fortunately, Yun Zhi did not direct her aura at Xiao Yan, so he did not feel too much pressure.

"Thank you for taking care of me these past few days. I owe you a great favor. These are for you."

With that, Yun Zhi took two red scrolls and a smooth, lustrous jade token from her storage pouch.

"This jade token is my personal token. Take it to the Misty Cloud Sect and show it to Pill King Gu He. He'll accept you as his disciple and teach you alchemy.

"As for these two scrolls, one contains a Xuan Tier, Advanced Level Fire Cultivation Method, and the other a Black Tier, Intermediate Level Fire Movement Dou Technique. I originally intended to trade them with the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Since I no longer need them, you can have them."

Yun Zhi had handed over several treasures of considerable value in one go.

"Oh, and this inner armor is yours too."

As she spoke, Yun Zhi gave Xiao Yan the inner armor she wore against her skin.

That surprised Xiao Yan. This was the treasure that had kept the Amethyst Winged Lion King from tearing her apart, yet she had given it to him so readily.

"Why are you being so good to me?"

The corners of Xiao Yan's mouth lifted. Rather than refuse, he asked her a question.

His question brought a faint blush to Yun Zhi's face.

She turned her head aside, refusing to look at him. "Don't read too much into it. It's because you promised to help me steal the purple spirit crystal. Although I'll lure the Amethyst Winged Lion King away, there are bound to be other magical beasts guarding its cave abode.

"This inner armor is called the Heart of the Sea Armor. It was forged from a special metal found inside a Tier Six Magical Beast, the Three-Tailed Blue Whale. It will greatly improve your chances of survival. I don't want you dying here because of me."

Xiao Yan heard the concern in Yun Zhi's words, but since she embarrassed easily, he thought it best not to point it out.

He gently sniffed the inner armor. It still carried the faint fragrance of Yun Zhi's body, and the sight of her bare form when he had first treated her surfaced in his mind again, lingering stubbornly.

"You're thinking something filthy again, aren't you!"

Yun Zhi caught his expression and spoke in embarrassed anger.

"Of course not! I was thinking about how to steal the purple spirit crystal. I absolutely wasn't thinking about anything else!"

Naturally, Xiao Yan denied it to the bitter end and managed to bluff his way through.

"All right, enough about that. Stealing the purple spirit crystal is a serious matter. Take this. Once you enter the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode, it will give off a faint glow if you come across purple spirit crystal, making it easier for you to identify."

Yun Zhi handed him another item, a pendant made from purple spirit crystal, specifically used to resonate with and sense other purple spirit crystals.

"All right. If you're ready, we can leave now."

Yun Zhi spoke indifferently, seemingly making a deliberate effort to distance herself from Xiao Yan.

"Are we in that much of a hurry?"

Xiao Yan put away the two scrolls and the jade token, asking somewhat helplessly.

"I've already spent too much time away from the sect on this trip, so I don't have much time left. Once I have the purple spirit crystal, I'll return to the sect immediately."

Yun Zhi sighed softly. The ordinary woman who had stayed in the cave was gone. Standing before Xiao Yan now was once again that Dou Huang expert.

"All right, let's get going."

Xiao Yan chuckled, then spread his arms and reached out to hug Yun Zhi.

His actions made Yun Zhi's eyes widen, and she hurriedly asked, "What are you doing?"

"Huh? Going to that cave abode with you, of course. You can't expect me to run all the way there, can you? If I run into a fourth- or fifth-tier magical beast on the way, won't I kick the bucket before we even start?"

Xiao Yan had a point, so Yun Zhi could only agree helplessly. "I'm warning you, keep your hands to yourself, or I'll throw you down!"

"I know, I know. I've already touched all those places anyway."

With that, Xiao Yan wrapped his arms around Yun Zhi and pressed his head against her body.

Although Yun Zhi reacted to this, she suppressed the urge to throw him down.

Then Yun Zhi released her Dou Qi, and a pair of emerald wings formed from it appeared behind her.

This was the hallmark of Dou Wang and Dou Emperor experts: Dou Qi Wing Transformation!

Only upon reaching the Dou Wang level could someone turn Dou Qi into wings, break free of the earth's shackles, and soar through the sky.

Of course, anyone who mastered a Flying Dou Technique ahead of time could fly even as a mere Dou Zhe.

Yun Zhi moved extremely fast, reaching the outskirts of the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode again in no time.

"The Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode is just ahead. I'll get closer before drawing its attention. When it leaves, sneak inside and steal the purple spirit crystal. Once you have it, get out immediately. I'll be outside to meet you. Understood?"

"Understood. Leave it to me."

Xiao Yan nodded, then took the opportunity to hide in a secluded spot.

Yun Zhi flew into the air again. An azure longsword materialized in her hand, and countless Wind Blades erupted with every movement she made.

The magical beasts guarding the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode were all third- or fourth-tier creatures, but they could not withstand Yun Zhi's attacks at all.

Several magical beasts struck head-on by the Wind Blades were sliced into pieces on the spot, while others nearby fled in terror.

"Human woman, you dare come back to wreak havoc at my cave abode? Today, I'll avenge my broken horn!"

With a furious roar, a streak of purple light shot out of the cave abode, and the Amethyst Winged Lion King clashed with Yun Zhi once more.

Yun Zhi deliberately drew the battle away from the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode.

Sensing that the moment was ripe, Xiao Yan acted decisively. His Eagle Wings spread behind him, and he glided down from above, landing directly at the entrance to the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave abode.

Then he struck with all his strength, sending the sole remaining third-tier magical beast, which was trembling in terror, to its doom on the spot.

West.

With no time to extract the magic core from its head, Xiao Yan shot forward, heading straight into the cave abode.

As soon as he entered, Xiao Yan saw a vast quantity of purple ore.

The ore contained wisps of flame energy and shimmered with a purple glow. In the human world, it would make a very expensive ornament, but it was not the purple spirit crystal Xiao Yan was looking for.

Xiao Yan continued deeper inside, but before long, he discovered as many as seven or eight branching passages.

Xiao Yan's scalp immediately prickled. With this many forks, how long would it take him to find what he needed?