Beneath the scorching sun, Xiao Yan lifted his gaze to the graceful and slender figure standing upon a massive boulder. A ray of sunlight poured down from the horizon, enveloping her in a soft, glowing veil. The current appearance of Yun Zhi was just as when Xiao Yan had secretly watched her battle the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, exuding the same grace and nobility. The cold, proud aura about her made others feel somewhat ashamed.
As if sensing Xiao Yan’s gaze, Yun Zhi slowly turned around. Her beautiful eyes met the pitch-black ones for a moment before quickly looking away. She said calmly, “I will grant you the strength of a Dou Shi within a short time. Since I possess the Wind attribute, I can greatly enhance your speed. If you encounter any beasts, try not to engage in combat. The sound of battle might attract more. In that case, you might…”
Yun Zhi abruptly paused, tilting her head to look at Xiao Yan.
“Uh-huh.” With lowered eyelids, Xiao Yan nodded slightly, as if he hadn’t caught the unintended meaning in Yun Zhi’s words.
Looking at Xiao Yan, who seemed even calmer than she, Yun Zhi’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. She then leaped off the boulder, landing beside him. Softly, she asked, “Shall we begin?”
“Uh-huh.” Seeing Xiao Yan nod, Yun Zhi extended her jade-like hand and gently placed it on his back. With a flicker of her fingers, a surge of Dou Qi energy rushed into him. This forcefully intruding Dou Qi, controlled by Yun Zhi’s thoughts, flowed smoothly through Xiao Yan’s meridians without causing any disturbance.
The robust flow of Dou Qi filled Xiao Yan with an unprecedented sense of power. He moved his body, feeling as if his bones were reborn, creaking and cracking. Clenching his fists, curiosity flashed across his face. So, this was the power of a Dou Shi? It was indeed beyond what a common fighter could compare.
Moving his feet, Xiao Yan noticed that his body felt much lighter. Clearly, this was the effect of the Wind-attribute Dou Qi within him. No wonder fighters who practiced Wind-attribute techniques were so swift.
“These Dou Qi energies should be enough for two hours. Within that time, you must retrieve the Purple Spirit Crystal from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s lair,” Yun Zhi reminded softly. “I will try to hold it off, but you must hurry. That beast is as cunning as any human. If it discovers something, you may not get another chance.”
“Uh-huh. Let’s go?” Xiao Yan nodded, gazing at the alluring face beside him and smiling.
“Uh-huh.” Yun Zhi nodded, her body trembling slightly as a pair of green energy wings unfurled behind her. However, when she saw Xiao Yan’s actions, she paused, her face flushing with a hint of embarrassment. “What are you doing?”
Xiao Yan, who had assumed a hugging position, blinked in surprise. “You wouldn’t make me run such a distance, would you? If I encounter a fourth or fifth-grade beast along the way, I might not survive!”
Her long lashes fluttered wildly, and after a moment, Yun Zhi sighed and nodded helplessly.
Seeing her consent, Xiao Yan smiled and walked up, once again embracing the noble woman.
“Don’t move, or I’ll drop you!” In her fully conscious state, being embraced by the young man again, Yun Zhi’s body trembled slightly. Drawing a deep breath, she suppressed her racing heart and warned softly.
With a smile, Xiao Yan mumbled, “I’ve already done what I wanted to do.”
A blush colored Yun Zhi’s cheeks as she pretended not to hear. Spreading her wings, they soared into the sky. Just as they ascended, Xiao Yan clung to her like an octopus, much to her dismay. How quickly he disregarded her warning!
Yun Zhi flew with a cold expression, her speed reaching its peak. In a flash of green light, their figures were already over a hundred meters away.
“Oh, by the way, what rank Battle Emperor are you?” Xiao Yan asked, his lips brushing against her ear, ignoring the high-speed flight.
The warm breath against her ear made Yun Zhi’s body wobble. Sighing, she replied, “Three-star.”
“And the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King? What rank is it?”
“Beasts don’t have clear ranks. If comparing fighting skills and Dou Qi, it can match a two-star Battle Emperor. But beasts excel in physical combat, and the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s close-range fighting can rival a four-star or even a five-star Battle Emperor.”
Continuing to fly straight, Yun Zhi added, “Overall, it might be a three-star Battle Emperor.”
“No wonder you lost so quickly in close combat. Its close-range attacks are very strong. The wound on your chest…”
Nodding thoughtfully, Xiao Yan’s words were cut short as he realized they were suddenly dropping. Panicked, he clung tighter to Yun Zhi, meeting her irritated gaze. He shook his head helplessly.
“If you keep talking nonsense, I’ll really drop you!” Threatening was the only method Yun Zhi could think of to deal with this unrestrained young man.
“Alright, I won’t say anymore…” Xiao Yan chuckled and nodded, fearing that if he angered her, she might actually drop him, which would be quite a disaster.
“But although your wound has healed, I noticed some ugly scars last time.”
Her face darkened instantly at the unexpected remark. Her Dou Qi began to form, preparing to throw this provocative person down.
“I’ll make you some medicine to remove those scars. Such a beautiful person shouldn’t have such marks.”
Hearing this, Yun Zhi’s heart trembled. Looking down at his earnest face, she slowly retracted her Dou Qi. Feigning calm, she said, “No need. Once this is over, we might not see each other much.”
Xiao Yan paused, then laughed self-deprecatingly. She was a Battle Emperor, and making scar-removal pills was nothing for her.
Silent now, Xiao Yan finally shut up. Though Yun Zhi got the quiet she desired, somehow, the absence of his chatter made her feel a bit uneasy. They landed on a pile of disordered rocks.
After landing, Xiao Yan let go of Yun Zhi. His gaze swept over the massive mountain in the distance, where a large cave entrance, partly hidden by tree branches, could be seen at the top.
“Is that the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s lair?” Standing behind a rock, Xiao Yan carefully asked, eyeing the mountain top.
“Uh-huh.” Yun Zhi nodded, her eyes scanning the area around the cave. “The defenses seem stricter. That beast must be more alert now.”
“I’ll try to kill or wound the high-grade beasts near the entrance. You should choose the best moment to sneak in.”
Turning to him, she instructed, “Got it?”
“Uh-huh.” Xiao Yan nodded, understanding.
Seeing everything was in order, Yun Zhi felt a bit more at ease. As she prepared to fly, she turned to Xiao Yan and said softly, “Be careful, don’t get hurt.”
Smiling, Xiao Yan replied, “You be careful too. Although I’d love to see you sealed again, I hope you stay safe.”
Shaking her head, Yun Zhi didn’t say more. Spreading her wings, she leapt into the air, flying towards the massive cave.
Yun Zhi did not hide her presence. As she approached the cave, beast roars echoed across the mountain. Gripping her hand, a strange green sword appeared. Yun Zhi transformed into a green blur, diving into the dense forest. Beast cries erupted, and numerous beasts fled in panic. In the hands of a Battle Emperor, these fierce beasts had no chance to show their ferocity.
“Human woman! You dare to appear again? Today, I will take your life for the destruction of my horn!” Inside the cave, the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King’s furious roar shook the sky. Bursting out, a purple blur shot from the cave, destroying the forest in an instant.
Amidst the destruction, two beams of light, one green and one purple, raced into the sky, engaging in a fierce clash thousands of meters above.
Glancing at the battle, Xiao Yan also began his move. Treading on the ground, he dashed into the forest, moving stealthily towards the cave on the mountain top.
Moments later, passing through the forest Yun Zhi had entered, Xiao Yan saw many dead high-grade beasts. The bloody scene made him grimace. Though there might be high-grade cores in the corpses, he had no time to search. Jumping over the bodies, he exited the forest.
Emerging, the massive cave entrance loomed before him.
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