Yun Yun shook her head with a smile. "That's only theoretical. Evolving to such a level isn't easy."
"Respected human, before you depart, I would like to present you with something as a token of gratitude for saving me and my child's lives!"
Just then, the voice of the Amethyst Winged Lion King boomed like thunder in everyone's ears. It couldn't help it—its sheer size naturally made its voice louder than normal.
"Huh? You've got something else to give? What is it?" Goku asked with curiosity as he turned to the beast.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King went silent for a moment, then glanced warily at Yun Yun and her group. It clearly held no goodwill toward them. If Goku hadn't been there and appeared so familiar with them, it probably would've attacked them again already.
"It's fine, go ahead and speak," Goku said. He could tell the beast was hesitant—which only made him more intrigued.
"…Since you've said that, then I'll be direct… It's a treasure map… a map passed down for generations within my clan. Unfortunately, our strength has declined over time, and we can no longer compare to our ancestors."
"Cut the crap. Get to the point!"
"Uhh… It's said to be the treasure map of an ancient Dou God. The treasure is hidden in the deepest part of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Due to our limited strength, no one from my clan has ever made it that far. So I want to entrust this treasure map to you, because I can sense it—you possess the power necessary to enter the mountain range's deepest region!"
"What?! A Dou God?!" Yun Yun and the others gasped, their eyes widening in shock, breathing growing rapid, and their hearts pounding wildly. They'd just heard an earth-shattering revelation!
Goku and the others followed the Amethyst Winged Lion King into its cave. Surprisingly, the cave wasn't as dark as they expected. Glimmering purple crystal clusters were naturally embedded in the cave walls, glowing faintly under the lamplight and creating a beautiful, serene ambiance.
"These purple crystals are pretty nice… Mind if I take some?" Goku's eyes gleamed with interest. If he used them to decorate a room, Bulma and the girls would definitely love it.
"Of course. Take as many as you like—even if you want them all, it's no problem," the Lion King replied generously. After all, its and its cub's lives were saved by Goku—these crystals were a small price to pay.
"Then I won't be polite!" Goku laughed heartily and began storing the crystals into his World Ring as they walked. After collecting over thirty pieces, he finally stopped. As they went deeper, the air grew noticeably hotter. Yun Yun and the others circulated their Dou Qi to resist the rising heat, but Goku strolled along without a care, leisurely admiring the scenery. This naturally-formed cavern was not only beautiful but also rather comfortable. The Amethyst Winged Lion King clearly knew how to enjoy life.
Once they reached the heart of the cave, the Lion King turned and said respectfully, "Please wait here for a moment." It then walked toward a stone pedestal made of stacked amethyst crystal, over a meter high. Raising one giant paw, it smashed down—boom—shattering the pedestal and revealing a delicate sandalwood box. It picked it up and brought it to Goku.
"So it was hidden there. No wonder we never noticed it before!" Gu He and the others could barely contain their excitement as they stared unblinkingly at the small box in the lion's paw, itching to snatch it away.
"The treasure map is inside this," the Lion King said. Then, from the horn on its forehead, it fired a beam of purple light at the box's crystal lock. The lock shattered, and the box opened to reveal a finely-crafted beast hide scroll that emitted a faint glow. Even after untold years, the scroll looked brand new—its extraordinary material was undeniable.
Goku picked it up, and as he did, a jade-like plaque at the bottom of the box was revealed. Covered in mysterious engravings, it appeared to be part of a unique array.
He examined the plaque and felt a vast, strange energy pulsing within—it was clearly the key to unlocking the treasure. Slowly, he unrolled the scroll as Yun Yun and the others eagerly gathered around.
However, what they saw wasn't exactly what they had expected from a "treasure map." There was no marked path—only an illustration of a lush forest. Deep within the greenery, next to a small stream, stood a solitary wooden cabin. It looked more like a child's doodle than a map to a legendary treasure—if not for the mystical beast hide it was drawn on, no one would take it seriously.
"This is the so-called treasure map? There aren't even any directions! How are we supposed to find anything?" Nalan Yanran asked, frowning in confusion.
"If someone else had this map, they might not know what it points to. But this was passed down from my ancestor, who once lived deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range. He saw this place with his own eyes, and this map came from there. I'm certain the treasure lies somewhere in that region. Sadly, he was hunted down because of this map and died before ever locating the Dou God's treasure," the Lion King said solemnly.
Hearing this, Yun Yun and the others frowned deeply.
"If it really is in the deepest part of the mountain range… this won't be easy. Are we strong enough to even go there?"
"Pfft, as long as I'm around, there's nowhere we can't go. A Dou God's treasure? Sounds like a great opportunity to find new training techniques for Saeko and the others," Goku grinned, clearly intrigued. For the sake of his women's cultivation, this treasure hunt was worth it.
"Um… Goku… big brother…" Nalan Yanran's cheeks turned slightly red. Then she looked serious and said, "Do you really mean that? I know you're strong, but this is the deepest part of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Even top-tier experts rarely come back alive."
"Heh, what's there to be afraid of? At worst, we'll run into a Rank 8, maybe even Rank 9 magic beast. What, you think they can defy heaven itself?" Goku waved dismissively. He didn't fear even the legendary Rank 10 beasts of this world.
"This…" Yun Yun and the others still hesitated. While they had confidence in Goku, the mountain range wasn't some stroll in the park. Tempting as the treasure was, they'd need to survive to enjoy it.
After a long silence, a look of resolve flashed in Yun Yun's eyes. She turned to Nalan Yanran and the others and said seriously, "This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But it also comes with great risk. Are you sure you want to go?"
"Lady Yun Yun! I'll follow you no matter what—life or death!" Gu He immediately stepped forward with determined eyes. He clearly had feelings for Yun Yun too. As a renowned Alchemy King, yet choosing to remain in the relatively humble Yunlan Sect? His intentions were obvious.
Yun Yun frowned slightly—she'd long seen through Gu He's thoughts, but chose to ignore his hidden meanings.
Nalan Yanran nodded firmly. "Teacher, I've already decided. Danger and opportunity go hand in hand. If we always cower in fear, how could we ever become true experts?"
"Um… I want to test my luck too," Yun Feng added with a determined face—though honestly, he'd been background furniture for most of this arc.
Goku nodded casually. "Alright, it's settled then. It's late now. We'll head out first thing in the morning. Let's spend the night here."
"Yes!" everyone replied excitedly.
Tonight would be a sleepless night. Tomorrow's treasure hunt was both thrilling and full of promise.
....
Early the next morning, Yun Yun and the others woke from their light sleep. They looked around but found no sign of Goku. Worried, they searched the cave area but found nothing—an uneasy feeling began creeping up.
"He didn't leave on his own, did he?" Gu He growled in frustration.
"Impossible!" Nalan Yanran shot him a glare. "Master Gu He, don't talk nonsense! With Goku's strength, he doesn't need to sneak away. And the treasure map was given to him! How could you even say that?"
"Well, yes, but that's a Dou God's tr—"
Before Gu He could finish, Goku suddenly materialized in front of him—and casually slapped him into the wall. Gu He crashed with a loud bang and coughed up a mouthful of blood before staggering to his feet.
"You've got guts, don't you? Talking trash behind my back? Wanna see what happens if I slap you for real?" Goku growled, clearly displeased. He'd wanted to smack this guy for a while—and finally found an excuse.
Gu He stared at Goku, stunned. The slap had caught him completely off guard—and humiliated him. He was a Rank 5 alchemist! Even Dou Kings treated him with respect. Who had ever humiliated him like this before?
But the memory of Goku one-shotting a Rank 6 magic beast made him hesitate. Trembling slightly, he forced a smile and said, "I'm sorry, Lord Goku. I was just upset and misspoke. Please, be merciful and forgive me this once."
"Yes! big brother Goku, Master Gu He just said something out of line. Please let it slide this time!" Nalan Yanran pleaded.
"Hmph. Fine, I'll let it go—for Yanran's sake." Goku shot Gu He one last glare. Then he turned to Yun Yun. "Have you all had breakfast?"
"No," Yun Yun replied calmly.
"Heh, just as I thought." Goku grinned, waved his hand, and a beautifully arranged table loaded with steaming dishes appeared out of nowhere.
"Wait… this is…" Nalan Yanran's eyes lit up as she looked at Goku in surprise. " big brother Goku, did you…"
"Yup! I went to Qingshan Town first thing in the morning to bring you all breakfast!" Goku grinned.
Of course, that was a lie. He didn't go to Qingshan Town—he used Instant Transmission to sneak back to Jia Nan Academy, climbed into the girls' bed in the middle of the night, and got smacked around for his trouble. He had the academy chef prepare this food in advance.
"You're really thoughtful!" Nalan Yanran smiled sweetly and sat down without hesitation.
"Eat up, eat up! We need our strength for the adventure!" Goku cheerfully called out, and in front of the stunned group, began stacking plate after plate in front of himself.
"His appetite… is monstrous…" Nalan Yanran watched him, jaw nearly on the floor. "big brother Goku… are you sure you're human? Maybe you're actually a magic beast in disguise…"
"I'm 100% human, don't overthink it. Now hurry up and eat!"
After a breakfast that left everyone amazed, they said their goodbyes to the Amethyst Winged Lion King and officially set off on their treasure hunt!
---
The dense, ancient forest was oppressive, filled with poisonous insects and the occasional distant beast roar. The air was thick and humid, and the stench of blood lingered.
Having left the Lion King's territory, the forest became noticeably more dangerous. Nalan Yanran clung closely to Yun Yun. Even Gu He and the others were on high alert—after all, they were now in the middle region of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, heading toward its mysterious core.
Even Moonlight, Goku's Rank 5 mount, walked cautiously, carefully scanning the surroundings. If Goku hadn't been riding her, she probably wouldn't have dared step into this place.
"Roooaaar…"
A deafening roar thundered through the forest. The ground shook, trees rustled, and leaves flew through the air—it sounded like a massive beast was nearby.
"This aura… It's strong… must be a peak Rank 6 magic beast!" Yun Yun said grimly from behind Goku.
The entire group instantly suppressed their auras, fearful of attracting the creature's attention. In this forest, avoiding combat was best—any fight might draw in other beasts, and that would be catastrophic.
Soon, they encountered a massive ancient tree, wide enough that four or five people couldn't wrap their arms around it. Its dense canopy blocked out the sun. High in its branches, nearly a hundred meters off the ground, was a huge nest made of blackwood. Inside, a massive black bird rested, eyes closed. Its feathers were dark and glinted like sharpened blades, sending chills down everyone's spines.
Yun Yun's expression grew extremely grim. "That's a Blackscale Eagle King… a Rank 7 predator…"
___
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