In the depths of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a man and a woman strolled leisurely as if they were merely wandering through a serene garden. Despite the lurking dangers, the perilous mountain range seemed no more than their backyard.
"Thank you, Sect Master Yun, for accompanying me on this trip," the man said with a warm smile.
He appeared to be in his early forties, exuding an inexplicable charisma. His chiseled features hinted at the unparalleled handsomeness he must have possessed in his youth. While his age added a trace of wear and tear, it also imbued him with a seasoned, unshakable confidence and a hint of world-weariness—a combination that held a certain allure for younger women.
Unfortunately, the woman beside him remained indifferent.
"No need for thanks," she replied, her crimson lips parting slightly as her melodious voice rang out like pearls falling onto a jade plate—crisp and entrancing.
She wore a simple yet elegant dress that accentuated her graceful and curvaceous figure. In her hand, she held a long sword, its peculiar design radiating a faint green glow. Her silky black hair was styled into a regal phoenix bun, and her serene yet captivating face radiated an air of unapproachable elegance. She was none other than Yun Yun, the youngest Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire.
The man beside her was Gu He, widely known as the Alchemy King of the empire.
Gu He had ventured into the Magical Beast Mountain Range in search of a rare high-grade medicinal herb. With his strength as a Dou King, traversing the mountain range was relatively safe as long as he avoided provoking formidable sixth-tier magical beasts like the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
However, his real reason for inviting Yun Yun along was to seize the opportunity to spend time with her.
Regrettably, his efforts seemed futile.
Suddenly, a deep and resonant voice, tinged with a trace of laziness, reverberated across the mountain range:
"Amethyst Winged Lion King, come out and face me!"
The voice rolled like thunder, scattering countless magical beasts in a panic.
Gu He and Yun Yun's expressions shifted slightly.
"Who would dare provoke the Amethyst Winged Lion King?"
"This voice is unfamiliar," Gu He noted. "It doesn't belong to any known expert in the Jia Ma Empire."
Both of them were well-acquainted with the empire's prominent figures and quickly discerned that this voice was a stranger's.
"Let's take a look," Yun Yun suggested.
Suppressing their auras, the two swiftly made their way toward the source of the voice.
"Roar!"
A deafening lion's roar shook the skies, accompanied by a thunderous pressure that sent countless magical beasts cowering on the ground, trembling in fear.
Emerging from the depths of the forest was an enormous beast.
Its massive frame, spanning over seven or eight meters in length, was encased in a layer of crystalline amethyst. Under the sunlight, its body shimmered brilliantly, casting dazzling rays in every direction.
The beast's head was that of a ferocious lion, with blood-red eyes gleaming with an eerie purple hue. Its mouth, lined with razor-sharp fangs, was menacing. Atop its head was a fiery crimson horn, its tip wreathed in flickering purple flames.
On either side of its majestic frame were a pair of amethyst wings. As they flapped, waves of purple fire erupted like torrents, engulfing everything in their path.
Each of its four sturdy claws, also encased in amethyst crystal, caused the very air to tremble with every step, radiating a force that was beyond comprehension.
The immense magical beast hovered mid-air, its invisible aura descending like a mountain, forcing all creatures in the vicinity to kneel in submission.
Gu He's gaze turned grave under this suffocating pressure.
What piqued his curiosity even more, however, was the figure confronting the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Suspended in mid-air, a young man in a black robe with gold trim held a delicate girl clad in white in his arms.
"No wings formed from Dou Qi, yet he stands in the sky… He's a Dou Ancestor!"
Both Gu He and Yun Yun felt a jolt in their hearts.
Despite their own esteemed statuses—Gu He as the Alchemy King and Yun Yun as a Dou Emperor—they had never encountered a Dou Ancestor before.
Yun Yun's gaze lingered on the black-robed young man in the sky, her curiosity piqued.
"How extraordinary…"
As the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect and a Dou Emperor, Yun Yun had crossed paths with countless prodigies and young talents. Yet, none of them could compare to the sheer perfection of the man before her.
His chiseled features seemed sculpted by divine hands—handsome yet rugged, exuding both strength and elegance. His tall, imposing figure radiated an unyielding aura akin to towering mountains, as though he could bear the weight of the heavens themselves.
His eyes, dark and profound, seemed to hold the mysteries of the cosmos. They carried an innate majesty, as if he were a sovereign overlooking all living beings.
"So this is the power of a Dou Ancestor…"
Yun Yun's heart trembled. A Dou Ancestor was the pinnacle of strength she could imagine—beyond that, even the thought felt unattainable.
Gu He couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he noticed Yun Yun's attention fixed on the man. Compared to the black-robed figure, Gu He's appearance, strength, and demeanor seemed utterly insignificant.
"Yun Yun… Gu He, is it?"
The young man, Zhou Yi, glanced at the two with a faint smile. Their unique presence made them easily recognizable. Yun Yun's reputation as the youngest female Dou Emperor in the Jia Ma Empire preceded her, while Gu He's status as a Dou King-level alchemist was equally distinct.
"So, this is the fabled Amethyst Winged Lion King…"
Nestled in Zhou Yi's arms, the girl in white gazed at the majestic creature before her with a mix of awe and trepidation. This was her first time seeing the legendary sixth-tier magical beast, a being as powerful as a human Dou King.
Despite its overwhelming presence, the girl felt a sense of security in Zhou Yi's warm and steady embrace.
"What business do you have with me, human?"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King's deep voice resonated, its intelligent gaze filled with a mix of wariness and dread as it scrutinized Zhou Yi.
Even magical beasts could sense danger, and this man's aura was terrifying—far beyond the level of a mere Dou Ancestor.
"This seat has just arrived and needs a suitable mount. You look quite promising. I'll give you two choices!"
Zhou Yi gazed at the majestic yet fearsome magical beast before him, his expression one of satisfaction. Without hesitation, he declared:
"Submit, or—"
"Get beaten into submission!"
"Beaten into submission!"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King growled lowly, its violet flames surging violently. Though it feared Zhou Yi's overwhelming aura, the notion of submission was utterly unacceptable.
"Roar!"
With a deafening roar, violet flames erupted as the Amethyst Winged Lion King launched its attack.
"Amethyst Seal!"
Without any hesitation, the Lion King unleashed its ultimate technique. However—
Boom!
A massive foot appeared above its head, descending with an unmatched, oppressive force.
Before the Amethyst Seal could even fully manifest, it was forcibly interrupted. The immense lion plummeted from the sky like a boulder, smashing heavily into the ground.
Rumble!
The earth trembled within a radius of several miles. Birds and beasts scattered in terror, and a cloud of dust billowed into the air. Yun Yun and Gu He widened their eyes in shock, staring at the Amethyst Winged Lion King sprawled before them.
Before they could even react, the mighty Lion King had already been subdued.
As the two raised their heads in disbelief, they saw Zhou Yi standing atop the Lion King, looking down at them with an indifferent gaze.
In that instant, Yun Yun and Gu He realized the truth—Zhou Yi had long been aware of their presence. Otherwise, the Lion King wouldn't have landed so conveniently in front of them, considering they had been over a thousand meters away.
"Yun Yun, Gu He, greets Senior!"
The two hurriedly cupped their fists in respect.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King struggled and roared in defiance, its cries echoing its unyielding spirit.
"A Lion King will never be enslaved!"
"There's no need for formalities. In the future, we'll be neighbors."
Zhou Yi smiled faintly at the two before turning his attention back to the Lion King beneath his foot. He pressed down harder.
"Submit or not?"
"Submit!"
"I submit!"
The Amethyst Winged Lion King felt as though its bones were about to be crushed under the relentless pressure. It quickly admitted defeat, muttering internally: A wise lion knows when to retreat.
"Live to fight another day. Thirty years to the east, thirty years to the west. Never underestimate a downtrodden lion."
"Still not convinced?"
Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow and exerted even more force.
Crack! Crack!
"Ahhh…"
The Lion King howled in agony, frantically kowtowing. "Master, spare me! I truly submit! I truly submit!"
"Hmm."
Satisfied, Zhou Yi nodded. With a casual wave of his hand, he retrieved a white jade bottle.
Pop!
The bottle's cap opened, releasing a rich medicinal fragrance into the air. The Amethyst Winged Lion King froze momentarily before its eyes turned crimson with fervent desire, its breaths growing heavy.
"Huff… Huff…"
The Lion King stared intently at the jade bottle in Zhou Yi's hand, its gaze filled with unbridled yearning.
"This is... a Transformation Pill?"
Gu He exclaimed in astonishment.
He possessed a Transformation Pill of his own—a rare and precious seventh-grade pill. Such a pill was a treasure coveted by countless magical beasts of the Dou Emperor rank.
With just one pill, a magical beast could shed its beastly form entirely, gaining both the longevity of magical beasts and the cultivation potential of humans.
This dual advantage meant they could potentially rise to become legendary powerhouses, even reaching the levels of Dou Ancestor or Dou Saint.
However, crafting such a pill was an immensely challenging endeavor. Even with the assistance of Heavenly Flames, achieving success was nearly miraculous.
Gu He himself had not crafted his Transformation Pill; he had acquired it by chance.
"Indeed."
Zhou Yi casually took out a Transformation Pill from the jade bottle. Gu He's gaze immediately sharpened, his powerful soul sense instinctively assessing the pill. His brows furrowed in confusion.
"Senior, your Transformation Pill seems... different from the one I've seen before."
As he spoke, Gu He retrieved his own Transformation Pill for comparison.
"Of course, it's different."
Zhou Yi glanced at Gu He's pill and responded indifferently:
"The quality and efficacy of my Transformation Pill far surpass yours. Not only does it enable perfect transformation, but it also allows the beast to freely switch between human and beast forms at will!"
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