In the western sky, two streaks of light, one gold and one red, tore through the air.
The mountains and rivers below blurred into a retreating landscape, the two figures covering a vast distance in the blink of an eye. They were none other than Zhou Changqing and Medusa, who had just left the desert.
After departing from the Snake-Person Tribe, they didn't return to the place where he had previously tempered his body with lightning. Instead, they flew continuously eastward.
Zhou Changqing's gaze swept over the terrain below, occasionally spotting a town, before shifting to the horizon ahead. There, a colossal mountain range stretched out like a slumbering dragon, its ends disappearing beyond his sight.
"The Magical Beast Mountain Range…"
Returning to this famed mountain range of the Jia Ma Empire after so long, Zhou Changqing felt a stir of nostalgia. When he had last left, he was merely a Dou Shi. Now, he returned as a mighty Dou King.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. He turned his head to the silent Medusa flying beside him. "Your Majesty, I have some matters to attend to in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I'll need to stay for a while…"
"You don't need to ask me. Do what you must," Medusa replied coolly before he could even finish.
Seeing this, Zhou Changqing said no more. He didn't mind her following him; it wasn't the first time, after all. Whether her purpose was to gather intelligence on the Jia Ma Empire or simply to trail him and use his Lightning Qi to enhance her own bloodline, he wasn't concerned.
Who would object to being accompanied by a Dou Ancestor, let alone a peerless beauty of the northwestern continent? He couldn't refuse even if he wanted to. In fact, he was quite pleased to have her around, as she could act as a powerful bodyguard and backer when needed.
Although a Dou King was considered a powerhouse in the Jia Ma Empire, they were not among the absolute top tier. Even if Zhou Changqing was no ordinary Dou King and could hold his own against a Dou Emperor, he knew that the Jia Ma Empire was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.
For instance, there was the previous sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, as well as the Protector from the Hall of Souls lurking within the empire. Both were existences he was currently no match for. And given his relationship with Xiao Yan, unless his personality took a drastic turn and he broke ties with him, he would inevitably find himself standing against those two.
Having Medusa by his side was a significant guarantee of his safety. After all, Your Majesty, you wouldn't want your supply of Lightning Qi to run out, would you? Zhou Changqing was certain of it. For the sake of continuing to enhance her bloodline, Medusa would dare to confront even the Hall of Souls.
Soon, the two entered the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Zhou Changqing took the lead, pulling out a map and flying toward a large red dot marked in the center. At the same time, he extended his perception, blanketing a thousand-meter radius around him in search of the things he needed.
While Zhou Changqing didn't think his luck could compare to that of a Son of Fortune, there was no harm in trying. Who knew what kind of heavenly treasures he might stumble upon? Such things were impossible to predict.
After half a day, the corner of Zhou Changqing's mouth twitched. He retracted his perception and focused on flying.
"I knew it. How could I ever be lucky enough to find anything valuable…"
He had searched many areas, but all he found were mostly low- to mid-tier medicinal herbs. The best he'd discovered were a few plants that were only useful for those at the Dou Spirit level. As for smithing materials, he had managed to gather some that could be used to forge Tier 4 magic weapons, but they still fell short of his requirements. He didn't have time to keep scouring the mountain range; he would have to find another way.
Without realizing it, the two had arrived in the central region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. A glance at the map confirmed he was not far from the red dot, so Zhou Changqing came to a stop. Medusa halted as well, hovering in the sky beside him. A thoughtful look appeared in her eyes as she began to guess his purpose for coming here.
"Amethyst Winged Lion King! I request your presence!"
Zhou Changqing took a deep breath, channeled his Dou Qi, and let out a mighty shout. His voice boomed like a great bell, the powerful Dou Qi carrying potent sound waves that rippled outward from him as the origin point. The very air around him visibly distorted with sonic ripples, spreading rapidly into the distance.
In an instant, his call echoed throughout a thousand-meter radius. Countless animals and low-tier Magical Beasts were startled, either fleeing in panic or trembling in fear.
A few seconds later, a furious roar answered him. "ROAR!"
A colossal purple figure shot up from the ground, soaring into the sky. In moments, it arrived a short distance from Zhou Changqing and Medusa.
"More humans! How dare you shout in my territory! You seek death!"
As the purple light around the figure faded, a massive lion appeared before them. A rough, angry voice boomed in their ears like a loudspeaker.
Zhou Changqing didn't reply, instead sizing up the giant beast. It was enormous, standing a full ten meters tall at the shoulder. Its body was covered in a layer of purple crystalline armor. The lion's head was ferocious, its beastly eyes a blood-red hue with a strange purple glint, and its great maw was filled with fangs. Atop its head was a fiery red, spiraling horn, with wisps of purple flame coiling around its tip.
A pair of purple wings grew from the massive lion's back. With each flap, clusters of purple flames erupted. Its four thick limbs were also encased in the same purple crystal, giving it a divine and utterly domineering appearance. This was truly the overlord of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the Tier 6 Amethyst Winged Lion King.
Seeing the small human before it ignore him, instead examining him up and down as if he were some curious little animal, the already short-tempered Lion King's fury ignited.
"Human! It seems you've grown tired of living!"
Not long ago, a female human Dou Emperor had come looking for trouble, not only costing him his Purple Spirit Crystals but also causing the even more precious Amethyst Birth Source to vanish. To make matters worse, she had injured him, forcing him into a long period of recovery. This had only intensified his already deep-seated hatred for humans.
Without a second thought, the Lion King prepared to strike, intending to tear this insolent human boy to shreds. However, just as it raised its massive forepaw, its peripheral vision caught sight of Medusa standing beside Zhou Changqing.
With just a single glance, the Lion King inexplicably shuddered. Its sharp, innate instincts flooded its mind with an indescribable sense of crisis, as if it would be instantly killed the moment it dared to attack. Its suddenly frozen paw and stiffened expression made it look rather comical.
"You dare call yourself a king in my presence?"
A cool, melodious female voice, devoid of any emotion, drifted out. Medusa looked impassively at the Amethyst Winged Lion King, which had been about to bare its fangs. At the same time, a faint but extremely dangerous aura emanated from her seemingly delicate and voluptuous figure.
The instant that aura touched it, the Amethyst Winged Lion King's pupils shrank violently, its heart pounding in its chest.