In the air, the fight between Yun Yun and the Purple Crystal Lion King was getting fiercer.
The Lion King's massive body covered in purple crystals shone like an impenetrable armor, making every attack seem like it was against a steel wall.
However, Yun Yun was no less agile. With his wind element Dou Technique, he could even create an elastic protective barrier, resisting the pressure of the Lion King's brutal attacks.
Aside from attacking and defending each other, the two moved quickly, flying through the sky, leaving waves of destruction beneath them.
Every impact of their attacks reverberated, creating a storm of energy that shook the world around them.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Under the sky engulfed in a storm of wind and lightning, created from the violent clash between the Purple Crystal Lion King and Yun Yun, many Magic Beasts gathered as spectators.
They stood in the distance, looking at the battlefield with eyes full of vigilance and respect.
Among them, there were Rank 5 Magic Beasts of various types of wolves, tigers, and even giant birds but the majority of them were of the lion variety, depicting their ruling dominance in this forest.
With the strength of a Dou Wang Realm Practitioner, their aura alone was enough to make the weak creatures around tremble in fear.
Although their hearts were moved to help their King, they dared not act rashly.
To the Magic Beasts, helping a King in a battle like this was considered an insult.
It seemed to imply that the king was not strong enough to face his own enemy, an act that violated the honor and dignity of the ruler of this forest.
And so, they simply stood still, watching with respect.
Every flash of lightning in the sky reflected the tension they felt, while the roar of the storm seemed to accompany the Lion King's struggle to defend his title as the absolute ruler of this region.
However, suddenly the course of the battle changed drastically. What had been a fierce battle became one-sided, as the Purple Crystal Lion King activated his rare Innate Technique, the Amethyst Seal.
This technique allowed the Lion King to seal his opponent's Dou Qi, rendering them helpless.
Yun Yun, whose Dou Qi was partially sealed, lost her maximum ability to defend herself.
Her Dou Defense technique weakened drastically, giving the Lion King the opportunity to launch a sharp claw, which managed to scratch her chest.
However, at the last moment, Yun Yun utilized the remaining Dou Qi that she could still control.
Quickly, Yun Yun used a Dou Qi attack intending to pierce through the Purple Crystal Lion King's head, but missed, ending up cutting off its horns
Due to the miss, Yun Yun immediately used the Dou Escape technique, Wind After Image, creating a wind shadow to trick the Lion King and escape its claws.
Yun Yun managed to escape the deadly danger, albeit with quite serious injuries.
Meanwhile, the Purple Crystal Lion King roared angrily, disappointed that its prey managed to escape its clutches, at least for now.
At the same time, the cliff hill that El and Xiao Yan were standing on collapsed, sending both of them tumbling into the abyss.
Unnoticed by the ordinary practitioners, Yao Chen came out of the ring to protect Xiao Yan.
However, his presence did not go unnoticed by El, who had known of his existence through Rinnegan from the beginning.
Even so, El chose to remain silent, not showing that he was aware of it.
Yao Chen's purpose was clear: enter Xiao Yan's body to protect him from impact.
In an instant, wings made of Dou Qi appeared from Xiao Yan's back, stopping his fall through the air.
After making sure that Xiao Yan was safe, Yao Chen turned his gaze toward El, intending to give him some help.
However, El did not need anyone's help. Calmly, he twisted his body to correct his position in the air.
His hand extended into the empty air below him. "Animal Path: Kuchiyose no Jutsu," he said, elegantly summoning the creature that would arrest his fall.
Suddenly, a black streak in the shape of a summoning pattern appeared in the air below El.
Within seconds, a thick haze of smoke surrounded her body, signaling the summoning was complete. El had summoned his Chimera Dog back.
Without hesitation, El moved quickly, jumping straight into the Chimera Dog's mouth.
The summon animal instantly closed its jaws, providing perfect protection from the impending impact.
Instead of using Susano'o or summoning other summon animals, El deliberately chose the Chimera Dog.
This decision was made to protect his body while hiding the true potential of the Rinnegan he possessed.
From a distance, Yao Chen watched El's actions with a faint smile. "Interesting," he murmured softly. "Using his strange body constitution and summoning immortal animals as protectors, an unusual strategy."
With a graceful movement, Yao Chen flapped his purple Dou Qi Wings, deciding to fly after the Chimera Dog that had plummeted into the abyss.
Yao Chen kept a watchful eye, making sure everything was how it would be in case it needed help.
***
At the edge of the calm river, El walked leisurely with Xiao Yan by her side. Their steps were steady on the slightly damp ground, flowing soft sounds around them.
Rinnegan's eyes had entered an inactive state, restoring the color of his brownish-black iris with white sclera.
In El's right hand, hung a few fresh fish tied to a string, the result of his catch. The fish had been caught when she fell into the ravine with the Chimera Dog, then splashed into the river.
Upon realizing that he had fallen into the water, El decided to get out of the Chimera Dog's mouth and catch some fish that he would use for food later.
Xiao Yan glanced at El's right hand full of fish, his eyes slightly astonished. He let out a long breath. "How could you even think of catching fish?"
El turned his head for a moment, face remaining flat and expressionless. "Isn't eating a necessity of life? Why didn't you have the time?" he replied in his trademark cold but not ill-meaning tone.
Xiao Yan merely shook his head, slightly puzzled, before continuing, "Yes, I understand that. But..."
His words paused for a moment, then Xiao Yan sighed again. "Forget it, share some of the fish with me later."
"Ji understands," El replied with a short sentence.
Shortly after, El and Xiao Yan walked along the riverbank, which happened to lead to the cave where they were camping.
Their steps stopped when they came across the figure of a girl lying unconscious in front of them with a scratch on his chest.
That girl was Yun Yun, the mysterious woman who had previously fought against the Purple Crystal Lion King.
Although Xiao Yan did not know her identity or name yet, El had recognized her from the start, yet he chose to remain silent.
"That woman who was fighting the Purple Crystal Lion King earlier!?" asked Xiao Yan, surprised by the discovery.
"It seems so, he seems to be unconscious," El replied, walking over to examine Yun Yun's body, followed by Xiao Yan with more hesitant steps.
After reaching the girl's side, they looked at Yun Yun who was lying down, her face pale and motionless. Xiao Yan stared at her for a moment, then asked, "Ji Lan, do you think... Should we help her?"
El looked at Xiao Yan calmly, "What does Xiao Yan think?"
Xiao Yan was about to answer, but before he could, a Purple crystal Lion King roar sounded echoing in the distance, making him startled and slightly panicked.
Without thinking, Xiao Yan quickly grabbed the fish that El was holding, smiling faintly. "We are helping her. But, my hands are already full. You carry it," he said as he looked at El playfully.
With a sigh, El muttered in thought, 'This kid... He just wants to be safe without knowing what the future benefits will be.'
Lowering his body, El said, "Alright, Ji carry this woman," then he carefully carried Yun Yun, the girl's body feeling light on her shoulders.
"But, we'd better hurry. The Purple Crystal Lion King's subordinate scent is quite close. Do not forget to sprinkle medicinal powder around," El added in a firm tone, warning them not to let their guard down.
Xiao Yan nodded, his face serious even though he had looked relaxed earlier.
They immediately quickened their pace, moving quickly towards the cave where they had camped, hoping to arrive before the threat from the Purple Crystal Lion King came any further closer.