In just a few short minutes, Lin Ran had not only claimed the Purple Spirit Crystal, which the Amethyst Winged Lion King treated as its treasure, but even emptied out its treasure hoard.
With the lion king's temper, was there really any other possibility besides Lin Ran killing it?
There was no doubt about the lion king's strength.
Even Yun Yun, a three-star Dou Emperor, had fallen into its trap after a single misstep.
With its terrifying defenses, if someone were to truly fight it to the death, even a five-star Dou Emperor might not win easily—and they'd have to go through a grueling battle.
But Lin Ran...
"You mean that little lion? Oh, it's right here."
Lin Ran lifted the meat roasting over the fire and waved it at Yun Yun. "Top-quality tenderloin. Excellent texture. Want a taste?"
"I was going to keep him alive to guard the gate, but he refused, so I chopped him up. There's a cub out at the cave entrance too—if you're interested, you can take it."
"Oh, and if you still want revenge, that's not impossible. I killed him, sure, but I still have his soul."
As he spoke, a faint glow flickered across Lin Ran's storage ring. A transparent crystal orb appeared in his hand.
Inside the orb, a faint purple-gray soul struggled, bearing about seventy to eighty percent resemblance to the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
He really did kill it…
Yun Yun opened her mouth slightly, momentarily speechless.
A soul—such a mysterious thing. Yun Yun had encountered it before, but her understanding was limited. In her eyes, it was an arcane and powerful force.
And now, Lin Ran was casually toying with the Amethyst Winged Lion King's soul. That alone revealed the vast gap between them.
His calm, casual tone struck Yun Yun like a hammer. When she recalled how he had walked through the sky earlier, her suspicions grew even stronger.
To so effortlessly kill the lion king and capture its soul—Lin Ran had to be a Dou Ancestor.
But why was he so young?
'Wait!'
'Could he be some old monster in disguise?!'
On the Dou Qi Continent, strong cultivators often retained youthful appearances. After breakthroughs, they gained longevity and regained youthful bodies.
Not all elders liked walking around with wrinkled, sagging faces.
Though Lin Ran looked like a teenage boy, he could very well be seventy or eighty years old—maybe even over a hundred.
'And I actually let someone like that… do that to me…'
"You're probably thinking something very rude right now."
Lin Ran glanced at her, handing over a perfectly grilled piece of beast meat.
Busted, Yun Yun blushed. Her cheeks flushed pink as she mumbled awkwardly, "How could someone your age be a Dou Ancestor? You don't look more than seventeen or eighteen—it's hard not to overthink it."
"I know I'm gifted."
"...Shameless."
Yun Yun scoffed lightly, and Lin Ran hummed proudly as he took a bite of the tenderloin.
He had to admit—the lion king's meat was incredible. Juicy, flavorful, and infused with fire-attributed energy. The texture was just right.
Yun Yun bit her lip, watching Lin Ran calmly roast the meat as if none of it had happened. Her heart was a tangled mess.
'How could such a powerful and exceptional youth do something like that to me?'
'Was it really… just to relieve his so-called stress?'
As she recalled their first conversation, Yun Yun's ears and neck flushed pink.
"Thank you…"
Yun Yun suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
Lin Ran raised an eyebrow, amused. He handed her a piece of roasted tenderloin and chuckled. "You're actually thanking me? What, not going to kill me anymore?"
"You! I… I'm just grateful because of the Purple Spirit Crystal!"
Yun Yun's face turned red as she stubbornly tried to justify herself.
"If you're going to say it like that, then forget it. I could probably find space in my storage ring to stuff it back in."
"Huh?"
"Huh what? Who told you to say thanks without any sincerity?"
"Sincerity? Ugh! Y-You… you jerk!"
...
A new battle began between Dou Emperor and Dou Ancestor. There was no denying the sheer power of the latter. Even though only a single realm separated the two, the difference was immense. The Dou Ancestor held the absolute upper hand.
Before long, the Dou Emperor was left battered and broken, unable to continue fighting.
But the Dou Ancestor was merciful. Though he had the advantage, he didn't go for the kill. He showed restraint.
After resting briefly, they clashed again.
The fight was so intense it could shake the heavens. Even space itself was torn apart.
Truly… terrifying.
"Lin Ran."
Yun Yun had now tidied up her clothes. She wore a sky-blue dress that hugged her graceful figure. Her black hair was tied into an elegant bun. Radiant, noble, and dazzling—her cheeks still held a touch of makeup, adding to her mature charm.
Lin Ran's eyes brazenly scanned her from head to toe. 'Yun Yun… "Yun" indeed. Her name suits her perfectly.'
Only when she opened her mouth did he slowly draw his gaze back.
"What is it?"
"You're powerful… but I can't be your slave. Misty Cloud Sect still needs me as its leader. So…"
Yun Yun's cheeks were tinged with pink. She didn't dare meet Lin Ran's eyes.
But she seemed to steel her resolve as she spoke firmly, "Let's do it one last time!"
"...We already did it several times."
"Not that, ahhhhh!"
Yun Yun nearly lost it. The noble grace she had just gathered shattered instantly, making Lin Ran chuckle.
He raised his right hand. Dou Qi gathered at his fingertips and turned into a wisp of golden light, which immediately shot into Yun Yun's forehead.
"This is—!"
Yun Yun panicked, instinctively touching her forehead and trying to probe it with her Dou Qi.
"No need to worry. It's just a little mark. And actually, for you, this might be an opportunity."
'Opportunity?'
'You just branded me like a slave, and now you're saying it's an opportunity?!'
Yun Yun looked like she was about to lose it, but Lin Ran smiled calmly.
"This mark lets me sense your condition at any time. And inside it, I've left a strand of my source power."
"This power will slowly strengthen your body, refine your Dou Qi, and even enhance your talent and cultivation speed."
"So tell me, isn't that a blessing?"
"This…"
Yun Yun was stunned, but her eyes still held doubt.
'Can it really be that miraculous?'
"You don't believe me?"
Lin Ran smiled and said, "You're currently a three-star Dou Emperor. Without outside help, it would normally take you years to break through another star. You know that better than anyone."
"But with my source power, your training speed will skyrocket. In a year—no, maybe half a year—you'll reach four stars."
"W-What?!"
(End of Chapter)