The Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King, lying on the ground, was blasted by the sudden attack. Its purple crystals shattered, and its body was torn open.
Taken by surprise, the beast glared at Xiao Zhitian, its pupils glowing purple along with its body.
Its sharp claws dug into the ground, creating cracks. The Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King pounced, swinging its claws at Xiao Zhitian, who used Void Piercer Art to flash to the side.
Seeing Xiao Zhitian dodge, the beast turned its head, opened its gaping maw, and a scorching purple flame shot toward him.
"Thunder Lion!" Xiao Zhitian called out, launching a Dou Qi-formed lion at the incoming flame. The lion collided with the purple fire, eventually dissipating it. The Mountain Cave trembled as purple crystals fell continuously. Fortunately, the cave was sturdy, though Xiao Zhitian dared not use too powerful a Dou Technique, fearing it might collapse and bury everyone.
The man and beast engaged in continuous close-quarters combat, Xiao Zhitian guiding the Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King away from the center of the cave as he fought.
Xiao Yan, observing the fight from a distance, quickly moved to where the beast had been lying. Feeling the crystal heat up, he opened a stone slab and found the Purple Spirit Crystal hidden within.
Xiao Yan quickly secured the crystal in his storage ring and hurried out of the Mountain Cave.
"Eight Extremities Collapse!"
Arriving at the battleground, Xiao Yan quietly crept closer and struck the Little Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.
Xiao Zhitian saw Xiao Yan's attack hit the beast, the hidden force erupting to interrupt its assault. He slammed his halberd onto its head, instantly knocking it unconscious.
Looking at the defeated beast, Xiao Yan prepared to strike again, but Xiao Zhitian stopped him. "We can't kill it. If we do, the Amethyst Winged Lion King will sense it and rush back in a frenzy. Do you have medicine to keep it unconscious?"
"Yes." Xiao Yan retrieved a jade bottle from his storage ring and poured the black liquid into the beast's mouth. "This is Soul Calming Liquid. It won't wake for at least three hours."
"Alright, let's go. I'll show you something good." Xiao Zhitian waved.
They returned to the fork and entered the left passage of the Mountain Cave.
"Tian Ge, this is what you wanted." Xiao Yan presented the Purple Spirit Crystal and other crystals to Xiao Zhitian.
"Keep the Purple Spirit Crystal for now. It will be useful later," Xiao Zhitian said, placing it in his system space.
After walking for about five minutes, they arrived at the end. In the center of the cave, a platform of purple crystal stones, over a meter high, stood. Atop it rested a spherical purple object, roughly the size of a football.
"Tian Ge, what is this?"
"This is the rare accompanying purple crystal source," Xiao Zhitian explained.
Yao Lao's surprised voice echoed in Xiao Yan's mind as he explained the significance of the crystal source. Xiao Yan's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Xiao Yan Zi, wipe your drool, it's about to drip on the ground," Xiao Zhitian teased, noticing his greedy expression.
Xiao Yan quickly wiped the corner of his mouth, finding none. "Tian Ge, you're tricking me again! Last time, I got tricked into the back mountain, met that tomboy, and almost got chopped to death."
"Hahaha, that was just an accident. Here, I'll split this fairly with you," Xiao Zhitian laughed heartily.
"Enough. With good things like these, being tricked a few more times is fine," Xiao Yan replied.
"Use the Purple Spirit Crystal to crack open the sphere. Only a Purple Spirit Crystal can open it," Xiao Zhitian instructed.
Xiao Yan tapped the sphere with the crystal. With a loud bang, it shattered, releasing purple liquid that dripped onto the stone platform.
"Quick! Use a jade bottle to collect the liquid!" Yao Lao urged.
As Xiao Yan collected the crystal source, Xiao Zhitian silently activated system check-in.
[Ding! Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave check-in successful. Acquired: Earth-tier mid-grade Storm Art, Heart of Thunder.]
Storm Art: Wind-attribute Earth-tier mid-grade cultivation method, includes Wind Blade Dance Dou Technique.
Wind Blade Dance: Forms multiple blades of wind energy to attack enemies in the air, or traps them in a windstorm that continuously cuts, making defense nearly impossible.
Heart of Thunder: Condensed from pure thunder power, greatly accelerates Spirit Thunder formation.
Xiao Zhitian examined the wind cultivation method. While he could not use it, it would be useful for others. Heart of Thunder, however, was exactly what he desired most. Condensing Spirit Thunder alone was far too slow.
While Xiao Zhitian pondered, Xiao Yan finished collecting all the accompanying purple crystal source and approached him. "Tian Ge, it's all collected. I filled six bottles. Four are yours, plus the Purple Spirit Crystal."
"I'll take three bottles; that's fair. We agreed to split it," Xiao Zhitian said, placing three bottles and the crystal into his system space, leaving one bottle for Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan accepted it without protest, thinking of how he would repay Xiao Zhitian in the future.
(If Xiao Zhitian knew, he would probably say: no need, this is my compensation for taking many of your things, hehehe.)
"Let's go. Nothing left here," Xiao Zhitian said, looking around.
Xiao Yan was momentarily distracted by the spilled crystal source. Just as Xiao Zhitian moved to rouse him, Xiao Yan lunged onto the stone platform, licking all the spilled purple crystal source into his mouth.
"Holy cow, what an animal!" Xiao Zhitian exclaimed. Yao Lao in the storage ring covered his face in exasperation.
"Cough, cough, waste is shameful. I despise wasteful people," Xiao Yan said shamelessly.
"You're the best," Xiao Zhitian chuckled, giving a thumbs-up. "Time is almost up. We don't know the situation outside. Let's hurry."
The two sprinted from the Mountain Cave and continued running into the distance.
Yun Yun, sensing Xiao Zhitian's aura, swung a huge azure wind blade at the Amethyst Winged Lion King, repelling it, then flew toward Xiao Zhitian.
Above him, she put away her longsword, came to his side, and embraced him, ready to fly away.
"Take my brother with you," Xiao Zhitian said, holding Yun Yun with one hand while pointing at Xiao Yan with the other.
Yun Yun grabbed Xiao Yan by the collar and quickly flew off with him.
"Cunning humans! I, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, will never rest until I have revenge!" The beast roared, watching them disappear.
Yun Yun safely flew with the two, landing steadily. She casually dropped Xiao Yan, whom she had held by the collar, and said to Xiao Zhitian, "Aren't you going to let go?"
Reluctantly, Xiao Zhitian released his hold on Yun Yun's waist. As he did, his hand brushed her, earning a fierce glare from her.