Shen Yuan stood hidden among the dense foliage, his eyes sharp as he observed the battle unfolding before him. Every so often, his gaze drifted to the towering nest of the Amethyst Winged Lion King, where waves of Dou Qi reverberated through the atmosphere. The sheer potency of it was a reminder of the creature's formidable power, and he had sensed it long before reaching this perilous location. It was why he had chosen this particular spot—close enough to witness but far enough to evade the Lion's acute awareness.
A gentle rustle disturbed the silence. Shen Yuan's instincts sharpened, but he remained still as the figure of a woman materialized in the skies above, her movement as fluid as the flow of water. Her green wings beat lightly, the translucence of her feathers shimmering under the sunlight—a transformation only possible for those who had attained the rank of Dou Wang or higher. She approached the nest, exuding a serene, noble presence that contrasted with the wild energy in the air.
The Amethyst Winged Lion noticed her immediately, raising its head with a rumbling growl. Its massive frame shimmered under a violet radiance, amethyst crystals embedded in its fur catching the light. Despite his hiding place, Shen Yuan felt the tremor from the beast's growl in his bones.
"Human woman," the Lion's voice boomed, shockingly articulate. "Why did you come and disturb my rest?"
The woman floated gracefully in mid-air, unbothered by the Lion's obvious displeasure. Her face remained calm, her gaze unwavering. "I wish to borrow your highness' Purple Spirit Crystal," she replied, her voice as steady as a mountain stream.
The Amethyst Winged Lion released a deep, mocking laugh. "Purple Spirit Crystal? Do you know how rare they are? I drop a small fragment only once every twenty years, if that! Who are you to ask for it?"
Unperturbed by its derisive tone, the woman's voice softened, almost diplomatic. "I can exchange something that may be of use to you."
"Exchange? Ha!" The Lion's tone was derisive. "I am in the body transformation stage. Unless you can provide me with a 'Body Transformation Pill,' don't bother asking." Its laughter echoed, each beat of sound thick with scorn.
In the shadows, Shen Yuan chuckled to himself. "Perfect," he thought, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. The Lion's demand had fallen exactly within his plan—an ambitious gambit that hinged on the woman's persistence and the Lion's pride.
The woman, however, showed no signs of yielding. She hesitated for a moment, considering her words before replying, "The 'Body Transformation Pill' is rare in the Jia Ma Empire. However, I can offer three rank-five Monster Cores and a High Xuan Qi Method with a Dou Technique suitable for a creature of your stature."
The Lion snorted, its gaze filled with cold disdain. "I'm not interested," it replied with a dismissive flick of its tail. "If you can't bring the 'Body Transformation Pill,' you'd best leave the Magic Beast Mountain Range before I lose my patience."
A faint frown creased the woman's brow, and her hand reached toward the hilt of her sword. "If that's the case, I have no choice but to force the issue."
"Hah! Humans always resort to violence when denied," the Lion sneered. "You may be a Dou Huang, but even so, leaving the Magic Beast Mountain Range alive after this will be a challenge."
The woman's response was calm, her expression unchanging as her fingers tightened around her sword. She lifted her other hand, and a faint breeze spiraled around her. The air grew thick with the energy of her Dou Qi, and a small green tornado began to form. With a practiced, graceful motion, she swept her hand forward, sending the vortex spiraling into a colossal, hundred-foot-wide tornado that tore through the forest, uprooting trees and stirring up clouds of sawdust and debris.
The Amethyst Winged Lion roared in response, its amethyst crystals blazing to life as purple flames erupted from its body. A pillar of violet fire surged into the sky, intense enough that even from his distant vantage point, Shen Yuan felt the wave of heat.
With a single, fluid gesture, the woman directed her massive green tornado toward the Lion, its winds howling with fierce, untamed energy. Below, trees were leveled, the ground stripped bare as panicked Magic Beasts scattered in every direction to avoid the impending storm.
The Lion met the tornado's advance with its own flames, and the two forces collided in a titanic explosion. A shockwave rippled outward, and for a brief moment, the forest lay in eerie silence before the final blast sent echoes rolling across the mountains. Both the tornado and the flame dissipated, their energies canceled in a magnificent but fleeting display of raw power.
Not one to miss an opportunity, the woman darted forward with blinding speed, her green wings slicing through the air as she closed in on the Lion's exposed flank. Her sword shimmered with a fierce green Dou Qi as she slashed toward the Lion, aiming for its massive, muscular frame. Yet despite her precision and power, her blade left only faint marks that faded as quickly as they appeared.
The Amethyst Winged Lion, barely acknowledging her assault, retaliated with a powerful swipe of its claw, launching a blast of purple flame from the horn on its forehead. The woman, anticipating the attack, conjured a barrier, the "Wind Pushing Force." However, the Lion's strength shattered her defense with ease, forcing her to retreat and regroup.
The battle raged on, both combatants giving and taking hits in an intense aerial duel. From his vantage point, Shen Yuan marveled at the power of their techniques, each strike a testament to their skill and prowess. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the mountain range, both fighter and beast appeared to show signs of fatigue. But neither seemed ready to yield.
At last, the Amethyst Winged Lion's patience snapped. Its crimson eyes gleamed with frustration as it snarled, "Human female, you have tested my patience long enough!"
The woman's expression remained impassive, though fierce winds continued to swirl around her. "If you wish to end this," she called, her voice still calm despite her labored breathing, "then give me the Purple Spirit Crystal, and I will leave in peace."
A dark glint flickered in the Lion's gaze, and it let out a rumbling growl. Its Dou Qi flared with new intensity, casting a glow brighter than the sunset on the surrounding landscape. Shen Yuan, still hidden, felt a surge of adrenaline; the Lion was about to reveal its full strength.
The Lion's amethyst crystals shone with blinding light, and it summoned a dark purple pillar of energy, the Amethyst Seal. The woman, in response, raised her hands in a sweeping motion and summoned her own ultimate technique, "Splitting Wind Dance," creating a massive cyclone of green wind blades that spun in a whirling column.
The two ultimate techniques collided, and the impact shook the mountain. Shen Yuan could barely keep his footing as the ground trembled beneath him. The green wind blades shredded at the purple energy, but the Amethyst Seal proved stronger, breaking through the woman's defenses and crashing into her with a resounding blast.
Her body was flung backward, her Dou Qi flickering as she struggled to stabilize herself. But the Lion was relentless. With a predatory gleam in its eyes, it lunged forward, its enormous claws aimed at her head.
In a final act of desperation, the woman gathered her remaining strength, lifting her sword and channeling every ounce of her Dou Qi into one last attack. "Wind's Peak, Killer Meteorite!" she cried, sending a thin but deadly beam of light toward the Lion. The beam struck true, slicing through the Lion's horn in a single, clean cut.
The Lion's agonized roar reverberated across the mountain range, its bellow loud enough to send flocks of birds scattering. Enraged, it lashed out, managing to swipe its claws across the woman's chest in a devastating blow. She gasped, blood staining her clothing as she activated her Dou Qi wings and fled, a green blur in the twilight.
The Amethyst Winged Lion's fury did not subside. It roared again, the sound echoing through the valleys, a command for all Magic Beasts within range to hunt down the intruder. Shen Yuan watched as the mountain range came alive with movement, beasts of all shapes and sizes emerging from their dens to heed the Lion's call.
In the fading light, Shen Yuan's lips curved into a subtle smile. Everything was unfolding precisely as he had planned.