--- Chapter 30 ---
Faced with such a question, Yun Yun fell into contemplation because she also needed the purple crystal essence. After all, she comes here for that exact treasure.
"Can we see the purple crystal essence first? I can't decide the value if I didn't see it." She said calmly.
Baek Ain nodded and replied, "Sure."
Even though Yun Yun could have just beat Baek Ain and Lan Rou to rob the treasure, it seems that her seeing him as a fated partner comes in handy. And Baek Ain's contribution to this plan is higher than Yun Yun's.
Lan Rou and Nalan Yanran quickly approached them, asking if they were injured.
"I saw you coughing blood." Lan Rou frowned while checking his body like a worried mother.
Baek Ain helplessly lifted his arms and answered, "I'm fine, Rou. The Amethyst Winged Lion was a strong opponent for me, despite getting weakened by my plan."
"The wounds are healing now."
The impact Baek Ain received from parrying the half-dead and weakened 6-rank magical beast is enormous, but he wouldn't die because of it.
"Anyway, bring out the crystal."
Lan Rou glanced at Yun Yun and Nalan Yanran, throwing a massive chunk of purple crystal to the ground. It was almost like a long casket with some imperfections here and there.
"This is..." Yun Yun crouched down and opened the crystal with the tap of her hand, gasping in surprise. Even Lan Rou and Nalan Yanran were surprised by the content of the crystal.
They saw a newborn Amethyst Winged Lion and a small purple pearl.
"I will take the crystal. You can have the magical beast." Baek Ain casually said.
Nalan Yanran frowned and asked, "Aren't you surprised by this too? How could you be so calm when realizing the horrible thing we do?"
"So what?" Baek Ain yawned, grabbing the purple crystal.
"Does your morals matter in this situation? We live in a world where power is absolute and being mentally weak isn't an option you should live for."
He stared into Nalan Yanran's eyes and continued, "Life is unfair, just like how we killed that beast."
"Wake up, oh noble young lady~!"
"I'll also take the corpse. Our partnership ends here." Baek Ain moved his gaze to Yun Yun and shrugged his shoulders. As he walked away with Lan Rou to retrieve the 6-rank magical beast's body, Yun Yun opened her mouth with hesitation.
"Ain, do you want to join our Mystic Cloud Sect? We will provide you with the resources you need to become stronger. Your life will be much easier there as well."
"Master-!" Nalan Yanran was speechless. She knew just how talented and bright-minded Baek Ain was, but their vision clashed negatively. She couldn't see how they could reconcile anytime soon.
She admitted Baek Ain is better in her heart, but something about him is shady.
"No, thanks." Baek Ain stored the Amethyst Winged Lion's body in his inventory. "Well, I hope we don't see each other in the future."
"My life is a mess already. I don't want to bring the messier situation on top of it."
"Goodbye ~!"
Baek Ain hugged Lan Rou and disappeared from their vision, kicking the air and moving to the horizon.
"..." Yun Yun unknowingly clenched her hands. She has become closer to Baek Ain, but not by a lot. She knows nothing about this young man except his name and charms.
After thinking deeply, Yun Yun sighed and mumbled, "Let's meet again in the future, Ain."
Yun Yun felt somewhat empty inside. Nothing is physically wrong with her, but new enjoyment in her disappears abruptly. After all, Baek Ain's presence is like a new color to Yun Yun's life.
And she focused too much on her martial arts and cultivation, so this unique bliss was new to her.
"Let's go back to the sect first." Yun Yun sternly said while shaking her head.
Nalan Yanran picked the Amethyst Winged Lion's cub and replied, "Yes, Master."
About three miles away, Baek Ain sighed in relief and leaned on a massive tree. Lan Rou looked at him with appreciation and teased, "Honestly, I'm surprised you don't accept her advancement."
"You're quite a womanizer, after all."
Baek Ain laughed bitterly and answered, "I can't afford her."
"Mystic Cloud Sect is currently stronger than our Miteer Family. And one wrong move will make our life miserable. That's why we needed the Ice Emperor to return as soon as possible."
"Oh, so you can afford the Miteer Family, then?"
"Come on. You knew Yafei took her best interest and recruited me when I was weak."
"Hahaha~!" Lan Rou's soft laugh filled Baek Ain's ears.
"Yeah, keep laughing. We have to hunt other powerful magical beasts for their beast flame. The Amethyst Winged Lion is strong, but I must absorb two more beast flames to cure Yafei's uncle." Baek Ain changed the topic.
Lan Rou nodded and commented, "It would take a while. Fighting 6-rank magical beasts like Amethyst Winged Lion is impossible, but 5-rank magical beasts should be with enough preparation. I assumed you made those deadly poisons for this occasion, no?"
"Yeah." Baek Ain smirked inside, remembering the content of Yao Men's memories. This unlucky elderly is a gift from heaven in this situation.
...
...
They spend two weeks hunting in the magical beast mountain, gathering "Raging Abyss Worm's Flame." and "Heavenly Gryphon's Flame." of which two came from a 5-rank magical beast.
Even though both magical flames are inferior to Baek Ain's Gnome and Amethyst Winged Lion's Flame, they are good enough to raise Gnome's rank.
That's how it should be.
Lan Rou watched over the hidden cave behind the waterfall, where Baek Ain decided to absorb the three magical flames into Gnome. She waited for 2.5 days and felt an outburst of Dou Qi Energy.
"Ain?"
Boom!
A small explosion came from the cave.
Lan Rou frowned and saw a young man's figure walking out, sighing in relief because he was fine after absorbing multiple beast flames. She heard devouring too many beast flames could cause one's body to explode, but Baek Ain seemed fine.
"Why the long face?" Lan Rou questioned her lover.
Baek Ain smiled and replied, "It's not enough. We have to search for one more beast flame."
[You have absorbed Amethyst Winged Lion's Flame(A+)]
[You have absorbed Raging Abyss Worm's Flame(B+)]
[You have absorbed Heavenly Gryphon's Flame(A)]
[Ding! Gnome has become the "Four-Colored Flame." with the power of four elements]
[You have upgraded Gnome(A) >>> Gnome(S-)]
Baek Ain's mouth twitched in annoyance as he thought, 'Fucking S minus... Great, I have to kill another 5-rank magical beast.'
'Well, at least I got some nice improvements.'
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Ding! You have leveled up]
[Ding! You have leveled up]
Baek Ain's cultivation increased by three small realms, almost at the same level as Lan Rou, who broke through 5-rank Dou Spirit before going to the magical beast mountain.
"How long have we been staying in this place?"
Lan Rou estimated it on top of her head and answered, "Around three weeks."
"Maybe we should return first? I've sent Lady Fei the update on our condition, but she seems worried about something."
"Me?"
"Yes, you."
'How adorable of you, Fei.' Baek Ain laughed while feeling a heart-warming sensation. Even so, he couldn't return yet.
"As much as I want to return. We have to find the Ice Emperor first."
"Where is the location of Qingshan Town? Our supply is running low so quickly."
"Hmm, Qinshan Town?" Lan Rou mumbled while trying to remember something. "Ah, there is a town like that nearby."
"131 miles to the west, I believe."
"It's decided then." Baek Ain whistled, summoning a magical beast with a body, back legs, and tail-like lion. And the head, wings, and talons as its front feet are similar to an eagle. It stood over four adult men with beautiful grayish-brown fur and white feathers all over its body.
This magical beast is Heavenly Gryphon, whom Baek Ain tamed with a unique taming technique from Yao Men's memory, making it his loyal pet.
"Lady, first." Baek Ain escorted Lan Rou to the beast's back.
"Hehe~!" Lan Rou giggled, accepting his hand happily.
Baek Ain followed shortly after and patted Gryphon's head, "Let's go, Gray."
Caw!
The 5-rank magical beast released a majestic cry and flapped its wing, flying in the sky at incredible speed.