Beneath the blazing sun overhead, Xiao Yan looked up at Yunzhi standing gracefully on a massive stone, her elegant and slender figure bathed in a gentle glow of sunlight streaming from the horizon, casting a soft, ethereal radiance over her. Now, Yunzhi's demeanor was just as it had been when Xiao Yan had secretly watched her battle against the Purple Crystal Lion King—so regal, so noble, with a quiet dignity that carried an inherent grace, making even the observer feel somewhat inadequate. As if sensing Xiao Yan's gaze, Yunzhi slowly turned to face him, lifting her gaze to meet his dark eyes before quickly shifting her attention away, speaking calmly, "I'll help you gain the strength of a Battle Rank within a short time. As a Wind-type, I can significantly enhance your speed. Should you encounter wild beasts blocking your path, avoid direct combat with them—battle vibrations often attract more creatures. Then, when the time comes, you might find yourself...” At this point, Yunzhi paused, slightly tilting her head and fixing her eyes on Xiao Yan. "Hmm." Gazing down at his eyelids, Xiao Yan seemed as though he hadn't picked up on the subtle undertone in Yunzhi's words, merely giving a slight nod. Observing Xiao Yan's composure—equal to, if not surpassing, her own—Yunzhi furrowed her brows slightly, then gracefully stepped down from the massive stone, appearing beside Xiao Yan and murmuring, "It's begun?" "Yes." As Xiao Yan nodded, Yunzhi slowly extended her jade hands, gently pressing them against Xiao Yan's back. With a light flick of her fingers, a surge of powerful qi energy rushed into him. Despite the unfamiliarity of his body, this influx of qi did not stir or react violently; under the gentle control of a single thread of her mind, it flowed smoothly and obediently through Xiao Yan's meridians. The steady flow of this robust qi quickly filled Xiao Yan's body with an unprecedented sense of strength and fullness. He subtly shifted his posture, and his bones resonated with a crisp, lively crackling, as though undergoing a complete transformation. Gripping his fists tightly, Xiao Yan's face revealed a touch of curiosity—was this indeed the strength of a Battle Master? Indeed, it could not be compared to that of a Battle Fighter. With a casual movement of his feet, Xiao Yan noticed his body had grown lighter and more agile, clearly due to the wind-type battle energy circulating within him. It made sense, then, why Battle Fighters who practiced wind-based techniques were so swift. Yunzhi nodded slightly, her body trembling slightly as a pair of silvery energy wings behind her slowly extended. However, when she looked up at Xiao Yan's gesture, she was momentarily stunned, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "What are you doing?" Xiao Yan, who had just begun to make a hugging motion, blinked in surprise, his eyes widening. "At this distance, are you really going to let me walk away on my own? What if I encounter a few four- to five-tiered beasts along the way? Then I might not make it halfway!" Yunzhi's long eyelashes fluttered dramatically. After a moment, she took a deep breath and nodded reluctantly. Seeing her nod, Xiao Yan smiled gently and stepped forward, once again embracing the noble woman. "Don't move! Or I'll drop you!" "With full awareness and still at full strength, once again being embraced by the young man before her, Yun Zhi's delicate body slightly trembled, slowly drawing in breath, striving to suppress her racing heart, and softly threatening in a calm tone. Nodding with a gentle smile, Xiao Yan murmured quietly, "Well, I've already done everything I needed to." Her rosy cheeks flushed slightly, pretending not to hear his murmurs, her wings behind her gently fluttered, and the two of them swiftly lifted off the ground, soon reaching the upper reaches of the sky. As soon as they ascended, Xiao Yan immediately wrapped Yun Zhi like an octopus, leaving her visibly agitated and her face pale—how could this man have completely forgotten what he'd just said? His face was truly as thick as a wall. Maintaining a cold expression throughout, Yun Zhi pushed her speed to its peak, and in the sky, a flash of green light revealed their figures already over a hundred meters away. "Oh, by the way," Xiao Yan added, "how many stars do you hold as a Duke of Battle?" Unbothered by the clouds rushing past at high speed, Xiao Yan pressed his lips against the delicate ear of Yunzhi and suddenly asked. The warmth radiating from his mouth caused Yunzhi’s body to sway slightly, and in her beautiful eyes, a touch of helplessness passed through as she softly replied, "Three-star." "It's no wonder you lost so quickly when I approached you that day—his close-range attacks were indeed strong, and your wound on the chest..." Xiao Yan nodded thoughtfully, but before he could finish speaking, he was suddenly startled to find his body dropping significantly. He immediately clutched Yun Zhi tightly, lifting his head to gaze at her flushed face, and could only shake his head in resignation. "If you keep jabbering on like this, I'm actually going to toss you down!" For this unreservedly blunt fellow, Yun Zhi could think of nothing beyond threats. "Alright, I'll keep quiet..." Xiao Yan managed a dry smile and nodded, genuinely afraid that if he pushed her too far, she'd toss him down—then he'd have a real laugh. "Though your wound has healed, the scars from last time still remain rather noticeable." "Suddenly, a phrase that came out without any apparent reason caused Yun Zhi's delicate features to instantly darken. Her qi gradually stabilized, preparing to send this persistent challenger who kept pushing her limits down. 'I'll prepare some medicine for you to help remove those unsightly scars. Such a beautiful person shouldn't have such marks,' she said. Yet the soft tone that followed from Xiao Yan caused a subtle tremor in Yun Zhi's heart. Gazing down at the earnest expression on the young man's face, she gently allowed her gathering qi to subside, feigning composure and saying, 'No thanks. Once this matter here is settled, our chances of meeting again may be quite limited.'" "Heard this, Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned, then shook his head with a touch of self-mockery. It seemed he truly saw himself as just a single green onion—after all, the other person was a Duke-level powerhouse, and wouldn't it be simple to concoct some scar-removing pills? After settling into silence, Xiao Yan finally stopped speaking. Though Yun Zhi achieved the quiet she desired, something felt off—without the gentle, constant murmur of the young man at her side, she found her heart slightly constricted. Nodded slightly, Yun Zhi slowly scanned the area around the cave, her dark brows furrowed. "The defenses have grown even more rigorous—seems that fellow has raised his watchfulness as well." "I'll make sure to either defeat or injure the high-tier beasts near the entrance. As for you, choose the best moment and sneak into the estate quietly," she added, turning to him. "Got it," Xiao Yan nodded, indicating he understood. With all instructions settled, Yun Zhi felt more at ease. As she ascended, she glanced back at Xiao Yan and whispered softly, "Be careful—don't get into any trouble." A gentle smile played on Xiao Yan's lips. "You too—though I truly enjoy seeing you sealed once again, I still hope you're safe." Shaking her head with a sigh, Yun Zhi said no more, then spread her wings behind, gracefully ascending into the air before darting off toward the massive entrance like a flash of lightning. Cloud Shi's figure remained unhidden, so as soon as she approached within a hundred meters of the mountain cave, a series of fierce animal roars echoed across the mountain range. With a gentle grasp of her jade hands, an unusual jade-green sword materialized in her palm. Cloud Shi's form transformed into a shimmering green light, instantly plunging downward into the dense forest surrounding the cave. Immediately, sharp, piercing roars erupted, and numerous wild beasts fled in panic from the vicinity of the cave—under the protection of a Battle Sovereign, these fierce creatures found no room to display their strength. "Human woman! How dare you appear here?! Today, I shall surely claim your life to avenge the destruction of my horns!" As Cloud Shi mercilessly slaughtered the guarding wild beasts, a thunderous roar of rage burst forth from within the vast inner sanctum of the cave—the roar of the Purple Crystal-Winged Lion King, now fully incensed. With the roar, a streak of purple light shot out from within the cave, then slammed into the dense forest, instantly radiating brilliant light and reducing the forest to a scene of utter ruin. As the forest crumbled, two beams of light—one green, one purple—sped upward in pursuit, one chasing the other, and at high altitude, kilometers above, they collided fiercely. Glancing up at the aerial battle, Xiao Yan began his own movements. His feet pressed against the ground, his form transforming into a shadow, swiftly darting into the forest and moving steadily toward the mountain peak's dwelling. After some time, Xiao Yan passed through the forest where Yunzhi had entered. There, he saw numerous massive beasts of third stage or higher, their heads and bodies separated, lying motionless in pools of blood. The bloody scene made Xiao Yan pause, subtly impressed by Yun Zhi's harsh treatment. Although high-tier magical cores might be embedded within the fallen魔兽 corpses, Xiao Yan didn't have the time to search for them at this moment. He swiftly leapt over the bodies and burst out of the dense forest. Beyond the forest, a massive opening suddenly came into view.