The blazing sun hung high in the sky, its light shining over all things.
Sunlight filtered through layer upon layer of treetops, scattering across the forest.
Four monster beasts moved through the woods, their auras sending the weaker monster beasts nearby fleeing in terror.
A silver-haired youth sat atop one of them—a purple lion.
The silver-haired youth had a blade of dry grass in his mouth, and his face carried an unruly air. He looked like a carefree young master who toyed with life.
If any human expert saw this scene, their jaw would surely drop.
Of the four monster beasts, three possessed Fifth-tier strength.
The purple lion among them possessed Sixth-tier strength, and the aura it gave off was enough to make one's heart tremble.
As for the silver-haired youth, the fluctuations of his aura were extremely weak, as though he were an ordinary person.
But could a youth riding a Sixth-tier Monster Beast truly be ordinary?
"Boss, we'll be leaving the Monster Beast Mountain Range soon," the Amethyst Winged Lion King reminded him softly.
After setting out for the Tagore Desert with several subordinates and traveling for several days, they were already close to leaving the Monster Beast Mountain Range.
Over the past few days, they had encountered quite a few human experts.
Before the Amethyst Winged Lion King, those human experts were simply not worth mentioning.
If Chen Xuan had not wanted to keep too low a profile, the Amethyst Winged Lion King would certainly have gone on a killing spree.
After all, Chen Xuan did not yet wish to provoke human experts.
"We aren't familiar with the Tagore Desert. We'll need to find a guide when we get there," Chen Xuan muttered as he looked at the vast forest before him.
Once they passed through the forest, they only needed to travel a little farther before entering the Tagore Desert.
Although he knew that the Snake People Race's tribe was in the Tagore Desert, he did not know its exact location.
When the time came, they would need someone familiar with the desert to lead the way.
And that person would preferably know the location of the Snake People Race's tribe.
"Boss, there's a major city in the Tagore Desert. We can go there and grab someone to ask," the Amethyst Winged Lion King suggested.
"That's not a bad idea." Chen Xuan did not object.
Along the way, Chen Xuan had encountered quite a few human warriors.
He had made the Amethyst Winged Lion King capture several people to ask for directions, so he had learned that there was a city in the Tagore Desert.
Chen Xuan believed that someone in that city would surely know the location of the Snake People Race's tribe.
"Boss, why are you hiding your strength?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King asked curiously.
At present, the aura Chen Xuan gave off was only at the level of a one-star Dou Zhe.
That was due to the effects of consuming the Amethyst Crystal. Otherwise, he would not have broken through to the Dou Zhe realm so quickly.
"We need to keep a low profile," Chen Xuan said calmly. "We can't be too conspicuous while we're out, or human experts will set their sights on us. That would bring us endless trouble. Unless I'm left with no choice, I absolutely won't expose myself."
"Boss is right. Humans really are troublesome," the Amethyst Winged Lion King said in full agreement. "Although we monster beasts have powerful physiques, there are many human experts. If a fight breaks out, we won't gain any advantage."
As a Sixth-tier Monster Beast, the Amethyst Winged Lion King had naturally fought many human experts.
It knew full well what human experts were capable of.
When it came to schemes, monster beasts were far inferior to human experts.
"Once your boss here becomes stronger, I'll definitely lead you out of the Monster Beast Mountain Range and seize human territory," Chen Xuan declared boldly. "When that day comes, all humans will submit beneath our feet, and we monster beasts will become the only rulers of the Dou Qi Continent."
Hearing Chen Xuan's lofty declaration, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's eyes filled with longing.
It hated humans because they were always hunting monster beasts.
Monster beasts did not dare leave the Monster Beast Mountain Range easily and could only hide within it.
Having lived in the Monster Beast Mountain Range for so many years, the Amethyst Winged Lion King naturally wanted to go outside and see the world.
But it did not dare venture out lightly.
To human experts, a Sixth-tier Monster Beast like it was a priceless treasure.
Once it went out, if human experts besieged it, its fate would be miserable.
"Boss, humans are numerous—far more numerous than us monster beasts," the Amethyst Winged Lion King said with a bitter smile. "Though our physiques give us an advantage, humans are extremely cunning and know how to use weapons against us."
"And there are several times more human experts than there are powerful monster beasts like us. If an all-out war broke out, we monster beasts wouldn't gain any advantage."
"In the eyes of humans, we monster beasts are livestock to be raised and slaves to be enslaved."
Although the Monster Beast Mountain Range was vast, the monster beasts within it were scattered and disunited.
Invading human territory was something they could only dream about.
When it came to strength, human experts outnumbered monster beasts by far too much.
That was because monster beasts cultivated too slowly and could not compare to humans.
"Don't worry. One day, I'll lead you out of the Monster Beast Mountain Range. I believe that day isn't far off," Chen Xuan said confidently. "We monster beasts will never be slaves."
After all, he was the protagonist with a system. He still had some confidence.
How could he possibly spend his entire life cowering in the Monster Beast Mountain Range?
He had long since made plans.
Once his strength improved, he would unify the Monster Beast Mountain Range and form an army of monster beasts.
Then, he would lead that monster beast army out of the Monster Beast Mountain Range and into the Dou Qi Continent.
Thinking of his grand ambitions made Chen Xuan's blood boil.
He awaited the day it would arrive.
Roar!
Monster beasts will never be slaves!
The Amethyst Winged Lion King's blood was stirred, and it let out an angry roar. The lion's roar carried an imposing majesty as it echoed through the forest.
Even the three Fifth-tier Monster Beasts let out excited roars.
"Damn it, we need to keep a low profile right now. Don't let anyone discover us," Chen Xuan said gloomily.
They were about to leave the Monster Beast Mountain Range and enter human territory.
Those beastly roars had been loud enough that attracting human experts would be troublesome.
"Boss, your words got my blood boiling. I couldn't help roaring," the Amethyst Winged Lion King said sheepishly.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King naturally wished to leave the Monster Beast Mountain Range and become a ruler above humanity.
But it understood humanity's strength, so it could only bury such aspirations deep in its heart.
Chen Xuan's words had set its blood ablaze and filled it with fighting spirit.
After traveling for some time, the Amethyst Winged Lion King carried Chen Xuan out of the Monster Beast Mountain Range and headed toward the Tagore Desert.
After arriving in the Tagore Desert, they captured several mercenaries adventuring in the desert and learned the location of the Snake People Race's tribe from them.
Under Chen Xuan's coercion, one of the mercenaries agreed to serve as their guide.
They no longer needed to enter a human city to capture someone, which spared them some trouble.
With a guide leading the way, Chen Xuan and the others ventured deeper into the Tagore Desert.
Along the way, they encountered many monster beasts that lived in the desert. Faced with the Amethyst Winged Lion King's powerful aura, those monster beasts fled far away.
They traveled easily and unhindered toward the Snake People Race's habitat.
After passing through an oasis, they finally arrived at a city in the center of the desert.
"That great city ahead is where the Snake People Race's tribe is gathered," said the mercenary who had been forced to serve as their guide, pointing at the city in the distance.
He only wanted to escape as quickly as possible. He did not want to become food in a monster beast's belly.
Throughout the days he had been held captive, he had lived in constant fear.
"Alright, you can get lost now." Chen Xuan waved his hand at the mercenary.
Upon receiving Chen Xuan's answer, the mercenary immediately took off running.
This is strange. They say the Snake People Race's territory has patrol guards. Why haven't we encountered any along the way? Chen Xuan wondered.
Along the way, he had expected to encounter Snake People Race experts blocking their path, but he had not seen a single one.
"Boss, haven't you noticed?" the Amethyst Winged Lion King said in a low voice. "I've sensed many powerful auras in that great city ahead. They're confronting each other. A battle may be about to break out."
"Uh, I didn't pay attention," Chen Xuan said awkwardly.
He seemed to understand why they had not encountered any Snake People Race experts along the way.
They were probably preparing to face an enemy.
Before you continue