The young girl was not tall, less than 1.4 meters, with long light purple hair reaching down to her waist.
Her cheeks were very fair, with a delicate and lovely appearance, paired with a pair of black and watery big eyes, very cute.
Of course, that's if you ignore the Magic Beast leg she was holding in her hand.
The Magic Beast, over two meters long, was like a toy in her hand, without any ability to resist.
"Hey, I'm asking you a question." Zi Yan stood with one hand on her hip, raising her chin at Lin Xiu.
First of all, my name is not 'Hey'...
Lin Xiu muttered in his heart as he fell to the ground, "Zi Yan, ranked first in the inner courtyard strong list, looks like a young girl, but actually transformed from a Magic Beast, extremely strong, these things, a little inquiry could reveal."
"Are you from the inner courtyard?" Zi Yan frowned slightly, muttering under her breath, "Since when did a Dou King appear? I haven't heard about it before."
Although most of the time she was focused on eating, Zi Yan wasn't completely ignorant. At least she knew most of the people in the Academy whose strength ranked high.
"Can I have this Magic Beast?" Lin Xiu stared behind Zi Yan.
It was a wind-type Fifth Rank Magic Beast, strength not being its forte. Faced with Zi Yan, who had a terrifyingly strong physique even in her transformed state, it was no match at all.
It's worth noting that when Han Feng attacked the inner courtyard, Zi Yan was someone who could exchange blows with the Blood Sect Sect Master using her fists. And the Blood Sect Sect Master was a Dou Emperor-level powerhouse.
At the mention, Zi Yan visibly paused. Having been in the inner courtyard for so long, no one had ever directly asked her for something like this.
This Magic Beast indeed wasn't needed by Zi Yan herself. If it hadn't provoked her first, she wouldn't even have fought it. But giving it away for nothing wasn't something Zi Yan was inclined to do. Bringing the Magic Beast back to the Academy could earn her some Pills from the elders.
"The meat of the Silvermane Flying Leopard is really good. I've eaten second-grade leopard meat before. It's tender and juicy. Sprinkle some spices on it, take a bite, and the lingering taste is endless. The aroma when it's grilled makes you drool from a mile away," Lin Xiu said, taking out a bunch of bottles and jars from his Spatial Ring as he spoke.
After uncorking the bottles, the fragrance of the spices immediately wafted out.
Zi Yan blinked her big watery black eyes a few times, her petite nose twitching.
"Are you sure? Just to be clear, if you're lying to me, I'll smash you with my fist!" Zi Yan, tempted by the fragrance, was somewhat tempted but didn't directly agree.
"I promise you won't regret it."
Lin Xiu smiled confidently. He had honed his barbecue skills to a certain level, after all. He knew that before Zi Yan had fully grown, she was a genuine foodie, devouring spiritual herbs, Pills, and all kinds of precious treasures.
Zi Yan walked to the side, watching as Lin Xiu dismantled the Silvermane Flying Leopard. He lit the fire, barbecued the meat, and sprinkled on the spices. Soon, a fragrant aroma filled the air.
"Don't rush, it's not cooked yet," Zi Yan reached out her small hand, got patted by Lin Xiu, then retracted it.
After a while, Lin Xiu tore off a large piece and handed it to Zi Yan. "You can eat now."
"Ah" Holding a piece of meat larger than her face, Zi Yan couldn't wait to take a bite, her eyes instantly curved into crescents.
"How is it? Does it taste good?" Lin Xiu asked.
Zi Yan nodded repeatedly, her mouth stuffed with meat, unable to utter a complete sentence.
Lin Xiu tore off a piece of meat for himself and stuffed it into his mouth. His earlier words weren't just to persuade Zi Yan; the leopard meat was indeed delicious.
"If I remember correctly, Zi Yan has a genuine affinity for all kinds of precious treasures," Lin Xiu calculated inwardly as he watched Zi Yan enjoying her food with great concentration.
As one's cultivation level increased, the need for experience would grow, and Pills would be indispensable for rapidly improving one's strength. While Lin Xiu had the skill to refine Pills, the materials were crucial. Being on good terms with Zi Yan, whether considering the long term or the present, was a wise choice.
In the future, he might even pay a visit to the Ancient Dragon Clan. Such a race's heritage couldn't be overlooked.
"It's so delicious, how did you make it? It's too tasty," in the moment Lin Xiu was lost in thought, Zi Yan had already finished the meat in her hand.
"If you want to eat more in the future, you can find me. My name is Lin Xiu," he offered her another piece.
"So you're Lin Xiu?" Zi Yan was taken aback. "Didn't you just join the inner courtyard this year?"
"That's right, just now I was using a Flying Dou Technique," Lin Xiu heard her suspicion and casually made up an excuse.
Hearing this, Zi Yan didn't doubt it either; her attention was fully on the barbecue.
After they had eaten most of it, they finally stopped. Zi Yan learned that Lin Xiu was going to train in the forest. She offered to help, but Lin Xiu politely declined. Zi Yan didn't insist, waving her hand and bouncing away.
Once Zi Yan's figure was out of sight, Lin Xiu absorbed the Fifth Rank Magic Cores and formed his wings, then left the place.
In one night, Lin Xiu found two Fifth Rank Magic Beasts, both not particularly strong in physique.
Over the next few days, he flew towards the direction of the Black-Corner Region, searching for Fifth Rank Magic Beasts along the way.
"Green Demon Flame Ox, what a coincidence."
Hovering in mid-air, Lin Xiu looked towards the familiar figure swiftly passing in the distance. He decisively pursued.
As he drew closer, the injuries on the Green Demon Flame Ox's body became apparent, and its aura seemed somewhat weakened, as if it had just been through a battle and was now fleeing.
The Green Demon Flame Ox also sensed a presence, turning its head to glance at Lin Xiu. Confusion flickered in its eyes, but as Lin Xiu summoned the Green Demon Flame, its eyes turned directly red.
Facing the charging Green Demon Flame Ox, Lin Xiu, standing still on the surface of the lake, remained calm.
His palm is facing down and turned upward.
"Earth Rank Low Level Dou Technique, Surging Waves Overwhelm Heavens!"
The lake below boiled, and the water rushed up to the sky, colliding head-on with the Green Demon Flame Ox.
Lin Xiu stretched out his hand again, the electricity in his palm shone, and wisps of electricity appeared in the sky above his head.
As his finger pointed out,
"Myriad Thunder Invocation!"
A vast expanse of thunderlight covered the Green Demon Flame Ox, with numerous thunder serpents coursing over its surface.
Moo!
Sensing the crisis, the Green Demon Flame Ox stamped its hooves in the void, condensing its fire elemental energy, spreading it outwards.
The intense heat vaporized the water into gas, enveloping its massive body in a mist.
In the midst of the white expanse, a streak of red light suddenly burst forth, swiftly charging out, revealing a surge of converging flames.
The firelight reflected on Lin Xiu's face, his expression remained calm, as he formed hand seals, pointing towards the column of flame energy.
"Flame Soul Separation Technique, separate!"
At Lin Xiu's command, the flames, capable of distorting the air, abruptly parted, dissipating the fire elemental energy into the atmosphere, while the raging flame particles were swallowed by Lin Xiu's conjured Green Demon Flame.
"Since you encountered me, don't even think about running."
Lin Xiu took the initiative to charge into the white mist, obscuring his vision, but it couldn't block his perception.
Soon, a massive figure fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the surface of the lake, creating waves that splashed over ten meters high.
"The last fifth-rank magic core is also gathered." Lin Xiu glanced at the palm-sized red magic core, clenched his fingers, and after a flash of light, the magic core disappeared.
After a final glance at the Green Demon Flame Ox, which was about to be completely submerged by the lake water, Lin Xiu flew towards Black Mark City without looking back.
Shortly after he left, a team led by a middle-aged man arrived at the lakeside.
"The Green Demon Flame Ox was killed by someone!" Someone pointed to the corpse of the Green Demon Flame Ox sinking into the lake.
The middle-aged man recalled the scene he had just witnessed and said in a deep voice,
"Get two people to retrieve the horns! This person can instantly kill the Green Demon Flame Ox; it's not someone we can provoke"
After speaking, he thought to himself that when he returned to the city, he would find someone to investigate the person's identity.
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