Chapter 21: Accompanying Amethyst Source
"Whoosh!"
A stream of light swiftly traversed the seemingly endless mountain range. This was the inner region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, a forbidden zone for humans.
After flying for an unknown amount of time, the stream of light descended. Xiao Tian floated in mid-air, his gaze sweeping over a massive mountain not far away. Below the mountain was a huge cave entrance.
Xiao Tian slowly said, "Master, that's the lair of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. Let's go borrow some beast fire."
After the incident with Xun'er, he realized that his current cultivation technique level was somewhat low. So, he decided to seize the Accompanying Amethyst Source to cultivate purple fire and upgrade the Flame Mantra. Of course, the excuse he gave Yao Lao was that he wanted to take the Amethyst Winged Lion King's beast fire to verify if the Flame Mantra could evolve.
After all, Yao Lao didn't know that the Amethyst Winged Lion King's lair contained the Accompanying Amethyst Source.
"Alright, let's go." Yao Lao said, taking control of Xiao Tian's body.
"Roar! Roar!"
As soon as "Xiao Tian" approached, the surrounding area erupted with beastly roars. He ignored these magical beasts and directly flew into the cave.
"Whoosh!"
Just as "Xiao Tian" entered the cave, a purple shadow darted towards him at lightning speed. Focusing his eyes, he saw a ferocious lion-like magical beast with a single horn on its head.
"Boom!"
A purple flame appeared out of nowhere, rushing towards Xiao Tian.
"Hmph! You dare compete with me in fire?" Yao Lao snorted coldly and summoned a pale white flame. As soon as the flame appeared, it expanded, transforming into a massive fire curtain that devoured the incoming purple fire.
Seeing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's blood-red pupils shrank abruptly, and it spoke in human language, "Human, why have you invaded my lair?"
"To borrow your beast fire," Yao Lao replied.
Hearing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared in anger, "Human, you seek death!"
"Whoosh!"
It transformed into a purple stream of light, charging towards Xiao Tian.
"With your mere two-star Dou Huang strength, you dare to bark at me!" "Xiao Tian" raised his right hand, grasping at the Amethyst Winged Lion King from a distance. The space around it twisted bizarrely, forming a solid cage, a technique only high-level Dou Zongs could use.
"Spatial cage?" The Amethyst Winged Lion King exclaimed in fear. It never expected a high-level Dou Zong to appear in this remote Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Just as Yao Lao was about to kill the Amethyst Winged Lion King to take its beast fire, Xiao Tian suddenly said, "Master, I just sensed an Accompanying Amethyst Source in the cave!"
"Oh?" Hearing Xiao Tian's words, Yao Lao controlled Xiao Tian's body to transform into a shadow and enter the cave.
"Human, don't harm my child!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King roared in despair, frantically attacking the spatial cage. However, with its current strength, it couldn't break free.
Meanwhile, Xiao Tian and Yao Lao entered a cave and found a square platform made entirely of amethyst crystals in the center. On the amethyst platform was a purple sphere the size of a human head, radiating intense heat.
"Indeed, it's the Accompanying Amethyst Source!" Yao Lao exclaimed in amazement, "You sure are lucky. The chances of an Accompanying Amethyst Source forming are extremely rare. I once explored eight Amethyst Winged Lion King lairs and found nothing. And now, you stumble upon it."
He continued, "Sometimes it feels like you're Heaven's favorite child, always finding treasures."
"That's because I have a cheat," Xiao Tian laughed. Having seen the three novels, he knew where the opportunities lay in all three worlds.
Yao Lao said, "Open your space. I'll cut the platform and place it inside."
"Alright," Xiao Tian agreed, using the key to open the door. Yao Lao grasped the platform and snapped it in half, using an invisible force to place it in the space.
After this, Yao Lao's figure flickered and returned to Xiao Tian's body.
"Master, now that we have the Accompanying Amethyst Source, we don't need the Amethyst Winged Lion King's beast fire. Let's spare it," Xiao Tian suggested.
"What? You feel pity for its child?" Yao Lao asked.
"Yes," Xiao Tian nodded, though he had other plans. In the original story, the Amethyst Winged Lion King played a crucial role in the relationship between Xiao Yan and Yun Yun. Without its injury to Yun Yun, their romance wouldn't have happened. Xiao Tian didn't know how to pursue Yun Yun, so he decided to spare the Amethyst Winged Lion King, planning to meet Yun Yun after Nalan Yanran's annulment.
"Fine, we'll spare it," Yao Lao agreed, not seeing Xiao Tian as overly compassionate, but rather as kind-hearted. A kind-hearted person wouldn't betray him like Han Feng.
Back at the cave entrance, Yao Lao waved his hand, dispersing the spatial cage. Then he flashed away with Xiao Tian.
"Roar!" Once Xiao Tian had gone, the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared in frustration. Though its child was unharmed, its carefully prepared Accompanying Amethyst Source was taken, filling it with hatred towards humans.
Elsewhere, Xiao Tian, having obtained the Accompanying Amethyst Source, didn't return to the Xiao family immediately. Instead, he found a secluded place in the Magical Beast Mountain Range and created a cave. He said to Yao Lao, "Master, please help me open the Accompanying Amethyst Source."
Yao Lao nodded and with a wave of his hand, opened a crack in the tough exterior.
"Whoosh!"
Xiao Tian flipped his hand, producing a large jade bottle to catch the purple liquid flowing out. Although the exterior was hot, the liquid inside was cool.
The large bottle wasn't filled even after collecting all the liquid. Xiao Tian took a portion and swallowed it. He then sat cross-legged, ready to refine the purple liquid.
As soon as the liquid entered his stomach, Xiao Tian felt his body heat up, waves of heat spreading from his meridians to his bones and flesh. These heat waves contained an immense amount of pure energy. Despite continuously refining and absorbing it, the heat waves increased rapidly.
In the end, Xiao Tian's entire body began to turn purple.