Chapter 87: The Truth of the Beast Tomb

"High-Level Dou Huang!!"

Xiao Yan frowned; this old man was a High-Level Dou Huang!

Although Xiao Yan had never seen a High-Level Dou Huang, he knew Yun Yun—her strength was near Three-Star Dou Huang, barely approaching Four-Star, yet this old man was far stronger than Yun Yun.

"At least a Six-Star Dou Huang!"

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King was a Sixth-Rank Demon Beast, its close-combat ability even rivaling a Five-Star Dou Huang, yet no matter what, it could never defeat a Dou Huang stronger than Six-Star.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King also sensed the terrifying pressure radiating from the old man, realizing the true strength of this opponent was a Seventh-Stage Beast—power enough that even the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King combined with Yun Yun might not prevail.

Thin streams of purple Purple Crystal Beast Fire emerged from its body; as the Beast Emperor of the Mo Shou Shan Mai, its dignity forbade retreat.

"Humans! This is the Mo Shou Shan Mai! You have no right to act recklessly here!" the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King roared; this was the heart of the Mo Shou Shan Mai, and it was not even the strongest beast within.

There were still Seventh-Rank Demon Beasts lurking in the Mo Shou Shan Mai, but it did not wish to draw their involvement unless absolutely necessary.

The old man named MuLao furrowed his brow slightly and glanced back at the young man behind him; it was clear the Fifth-Rank Alchemist held higher status than him.

YaoLi also frowned slightly; his purpose in leaving his clan was the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame. He also knew of the events three hundred years ago—three Dou Zong sects, plus a Seventh-Rank Alchemist, had failed to seize the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame from the millions of demons in the Mo Shou Shan Mai.

That was why he chose to sneak in with a Seventh-Stage Beast, hoping to steal the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame; if a battle with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King triggered a Beast Tide, that was not what he wanted.

YaoLi did not leave immediately, continuously scanning with Soul Force, even swallowing a Fourth-Rank Pill to temporarily boost his Soul Force—but the result remained nothing.

"How could this be? Did it escape? Impossible—MuLao is a Seventh-Stage Beast; who could be faster than him, unless a Peak Dou Huang or even a Dou Zong?" YaoLi began doubting his own judgment.

"Perhaps because the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King once used the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame to forge its body, its Purple Crystal Beast Fire contains a trace of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame—hence sensing its fluctuation," MuLao said slowly.

After a long silence, YaoLi retracted his Soul Force and said, "MuLao, let's go."

Only when the two vanished did Xiao Yan finally exhale in relief.

"This Soul Robe truly blocks perception below the Spirit Realm!" Xiao Yan silently rejoiced—he had once pushed his Soul Force to a Grade-B evaluation in the Soul Dao, earning the title of Grade-B Soul Envoy, along with this Grade-B Soul Robe.

If discovered, facing a High-Level Dou Huang, he wouldn't even know how to run.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King knew exactly where Xiao Yan was—his position was precisely shielded by its own body. YaoLi trusted his Soul Force too much; had he circled around the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, he would have spotted Xiao Yan.

"Your robe isn't ordinary," the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King deduced why those men had failed to detect Xiao Yan—this cloak could block perception.

"Out on the road, without some means of defense, you'd be dead long ago," Xiao Yan slowly stepped out from the shadows.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King sneered, "But it seems you've given up now—this old man is a Seventh-Stage Beast; no matter what, you can't take it from them. Though honestly, even if you could, your strength isn't enough to reach the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame anyway."

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had been to the center of the Cave, even obtaining a strand of pure Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame; the Cave was filled with Fourth-Rank and even Fifth-Rank Beast Slaves.

Xiao Yan was peerless within his own rank and could fight one level above, but fighting two or three levels above was impossible.

Though he might not encounter powerful Beast Slaves, he could try his luck—but such luck would require extraordinary fortune.

"Lion King, our agreement was to take me to the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame—this is a breach."

"Hmph, I can take you there right now—but if you can't reach it yourself, that's your own weakness," the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King wasn't fooled by Xiao Yan's tactics.

Xiao Yan rubbed his cheek in frustration and chuckled, "Lion King, we've known each other this long—let's speak plainly. Nothing in this world can't be settled, only whether the price is high enough. You don't want the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame to fall into the hands of those two rude fellows, do you?"

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King really wanted to retort: You were even ruder than them at first.

"One Seven-Grade Pill. Three years from now, besides the Transformation Pill, you'll owe me another Seven-Grade Pill—what kind, we'll decide then."

Hiring a Dou Huang cost no more than a Six-Grade Pill; Seven-Grade was clearly a losing deal. But Xiao Yan had no other option—and he couldn't even refine a Seven-Grade Pill yet.

The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had clearly mastered the art of investment—Sixth-Rank Demon Beasts needed both luck and skill to obtain Seven-Grade Pills.

"Fine, take me to the location of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame at your fastest speed!" Xiao Yan agreed immediately; debt piled high was no burden—he already owed a Transformation Pill, so one more didn't matter.

"Don't worry, they can't outpace us—the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame moves within the Cave," the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's eyes gleamed with cunning.

"No wonder the Cave is so labyrinthine—it's because the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame moves!" Xiao Yan finally understood why the demons had dug so many tunnels.

Xiao Yan sat atop the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King; the Beast Slaves along the way were cut down like melons—whether Third-Rank, Fourth-Rank, or even Fifth-Rank, none stood a chance against the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

Xiao Yan didn't reject the slain Beast Slaves—he had them all devoured by Swallowing Flame. Whatever filth they were, before Swallowing Flame, which could devour all things under heaven, they were nothing but infant formula.

As long as Swallowing Flame could ascend, his chance of refining the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame increased another fraction.

"Lion King, wait!" Xiao Yan suddenly barked.

"Huh? We still have a long way to go—if we're slower than them, you'll lose your chance to refine the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame," the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King said, puzzled.

Xiao Yan's expression turned grave as he surveyed the empty Cave around them. "Since earlier, we haven't encountered a single Beast Slave."

Only then did the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King realize—since earlier, not a single Beast Slave had appeared.

"Coincidence?"

"No—there are still fresh traces of demons here; there must have been many Beast Slaves here recently."

Xiao Yan suddenly felt a bad premonition.

"Could it be… but that doesn't make sense—there are no signs of battle here. Even if that old man attacked, there should be traces."

As the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King carried Xiao Yan deeper, the strangeness grew—no matter how far they flew, not a single Beast Slave appeared, as if every one in the entire Cave had vanished at once.

"We're almost there."

Xiao Yan covered his Soul Robe, hiding himself beneath the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's back, letting its fur conceal him.

When the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King flew out of the glowing red cave mouth, the scene before them left both Xiao Yan and the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King stunned.

A massive demon, its entire body radiating crimson fire, slept peacefully—Xiao Yan clearly sensed that this fire-beast was the true body of the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame.

But what shocked him wasn't the Ten Thousand Beasts Spiritual Flame—it was the vast underground Hall, packed wall-to-wall with Beast Slaves.

All the Beast Slaves stood like soldiers, obeying a single man.

YaoLi, facing the fire-beast with his back to the airborne Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, said calmly, "Sigh. You've done something utterly foolish. You don't think I truly wouldn't kill you, do you, Purple Crystal Winged Lion King?"

Xiao Yan was certain now—the Seventh-Rank Alchemist hadn't died; the Beast Slaves in the Cave were his puppets. And most importantly, this YaoLi was likely his descendant!

(End of Chapter)