The winds howled as Yun Yun soared above the battlefield, her sword shimmering with emerald light. Each strike she delivered sent sharp currents of wind slicing through the air, yet the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King refused to fall.
Her breathing was controlled, but she could feel the strain. This battle had gone on longer than she had anticipated.
Why is it still standing?
She had fought many Magical Beasts before, even ones stronger than this, but this time was different. It wasn't just fighting to protect itself—it was fighting to protect its young.
Her gaze flickered to the side of the battlefield, where a small cub trembled behind a cluster of jagged rocks. That was the reason for its stubborn resistance.
Yun Yun hesitated.
Her mission was clear—retrieve the Purple Spirit Crystal for the Misty Cloud Sect. It was an invaluable treasure, capable of enhancing one's cultivation significantly. But now that she had seen the cub…
If I take the crystal, I'm dooming this creature's child.
Her grip on her sword tightened.
Just as she was about to make a decision, something unexpected happened.
A sudden burst of energy cut through the air, heading straight for the battlefield.
Yun Yun barely had time to react before a figure landed between her and the beast, sending dust and debris flying.
She instinctively stepped back, raising her sword. Her sharp eyes locked onto the newcomer—a young man with wild black hair, golden eyes, and a long, brown tail swaying lazily behind him.
She stiffened. A tail?
"Who—?!"
Her words faltered as he straightened up, rolling his shoulders. His body language was completely at ease, as if he had just stepped into a spar rather than the middle of a deadly battle.
Then, he grinned.
"You guys look like you're having fun." His voice was casual, teasing. "Mind if I join in?"
Yun Yun's brows furrowed. Who is he?
His presence was strange—his energy didn't feel like Dou Qi, yet it radiated power. His stance was neither careless nor rigid. He was relaxed, yet prepared for a fight.
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King growled lowly, its massive body tensed. Even the beast was wary of him.
Yun Yun's instincts screamed danger.
An Unknown Factor
She measured him carefully, keeping her sword at the ready.
"If you're after the crystal," she warned, "then you should leave. This isn't your fight."
The man tilted his head, as if considering her words. Then, he shrugged. "Not interested in the crystal."
That surprised her.
"Then why are you here?" she demanded.
His smirk widened, and his golden eyes gleamed with something she recognized all too well.
Battle lust.
"Came to test myself," he said simply. "And this seemed like the perfect opportunity."
Yun Yun's heart sank.
Another reckless warrior.
She had seen plenty of them—fighters obsessed with battle, ones who sought out strong opponents just for the sake of it. Many of them met early deaths because of their arrogance.
"Fool." She exhaled sharply. "This is not a duel. That beast is not some opponent for you to 'test yourself' against. If you interfere recklessly, you'll die."
Her words were meant to warn him, to dissuade him.
But instead of being intimidated, he laughed.
"Maybe," he admitted. "But wouldn't that make it more fun?"
Yun Yun's fingers curled tighter around her sword.
Is he insane?
She didn't have time for this. The battle was already difficult enough, and now she had to deal with a wild card in the mix. If he got himself killed, that would only add to the chaos.
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King seemed to agree. With a thunderous roar, it lunged straight at the newcomer.
Yun Yun expected him to dodge.
But he didn't.
Instead, he charged forward.
The Impossible Battle
The impact was brutal.
The beast's crystal claws slashed downward, but instead of cutting the man apart, he met it head-on with his bare fist. A deafening boom shook the mountain as their attacks collided. The sheer force sent shockwaves outward, shaking the trees and cracking the ground beneath them.
Yun Yun's breath caught.
What kind of strength is this?!
The man wasn't just holding his ground—he was pushing the beast back. His muscles tensed, his feet digging into the dirt as he held firm against the full power of a Rank 6 Magical Beast.
Impossible.
No ordinary cultivator could do this. Not even some of the Misty Cloud Sect's strongest warriors could match a beast of this level in raw strength alone.
And yet… he was doing it.
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King roared in frustration, breaking the stalemate with a swipe of its massive tail. The man ducked at the last second, his golden eyes glinting with excitement.
He was enjoying this.
Yun Yun watched, both mesmerized and disturbed.
Who was this man?
The man took a step back, stretching his neck with a crack. "Not bad," he said, rolling his shoulders. "You're a tough one."
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King growled in response, its purple flames flaring up again. It wasn't backing down.
And neither was he.
Yun Yun clenched her fists. This battle had spiraled out of control. She needed to regain some authority.
"You!" she called out. "Are you planning to fight this thing alone?"
He glanced at her, his tail flicking. "Depends. You want in?"
She scowled.
She hadn't wanted to escalate things further. But now that he had thrown himself into the fight, the situation had changed.
The beast wasn't just focused on her anymore. It now saw him as a serious threat.
And that meant she had two options.
1. Let him fight alone and risk him getting injured—or worse, drawing the beast's full fury toward them both.
2. Fight alongside him and end this quickly before the situation got even worse.
Her honor and responsibility as the Misty Cloud Sect's leader wouldn't allow her to stand by.
She exhaled sharply, bringing her sword up again. "Fine. If you're so eager to fight, let's finish this quickly."
The man's grin widened. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King let out another earth-shaking roar, its body crackling with violet energy.
Yun Yun tightened her grip.
The battle had changed.
And this unknown warrior… whoever he was, he was no ordinary man.