Xiao Jietian could have returned directly to the Eternal Heaven World from his current location—going back to Eternal Heaven City and then using the teleportation passage would achieve the same result.
But he had no intention of doing so. Mainly because he enjoyed the simple, leisurely feeling of traveling through the skies.
After two hours of unhurried flight, he finally returned to Eternal Heaven City. Night had already begun to fall by then.
Xiao Jietian landed beside the teleportation hall within Boundless Heaven Hall.
Seeing they had arrived, Hu Jia finally loosened the long leg she had wrapped tightly around him and stepped back.
"Then I'll head back first. Today was truly fulfilling," Hu Jia said. She stretched slowly, her beautiful figure outlined gracefully in the dim light.
"What exactly was fulfilling for you? You basically slept the entire way—even drooling. You have zero image left," Xiao Jietian rolled his eyes and teased.
"I—I—I was just tired from looking at the scenery and resting my eyes!" Hu Jia bristled like an angry cat. "And I didn't drool! Don't you dare slander me, or I'll bite you to death!"
The two continued their playful bickering as they walked into the teleportation passage, then parted ways.
…
The next day — Jia Ma Empire, Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Xiao Jietian stood at the entrance of the Amethyst Winged Lion King's cave. With a casual wave, he launched an attack inward. The entire mountain cave rumbled violently.
"Who dares cause trouble in this King's territory?!" A furious roar exploded from deep within, shaking the heavens.
A streak of purple light shot out like lightning, charging straight at Xiao Jietian.
Xiao Jietian simply raised his hand and slapped. The purple light was sent flying backward.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King felt the overwhelming force. Its blood-red beast eyes, faintly glowing with strange purple light, revealed clear trepidation as it stared at the handsome young man before it.
The longer it looked, the more familiar the man became. Suddenly, a long-buried memory surfaced, and its eyes turned even redder with rage.
"It's you—the accomplice of that hateful human woman who stole my accompanying amethyst source!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King roared in fury, yet it didn't dare act rashly. It could sense a terrifying threat emanating from this person.
"Lion King, I came this time to discuss something with you," Xiao Jietian said calmly, standing with hands behind his back.
"Speak quickly, then get lost. Don't disturb this King's rest," the Lion King growled, suppressing its killing intent.
Uncertain of the man's true power, it held back—for the sake of its cub.
"I want you to become the Guardian Beast of my Boundless Heaven Hall."
"Human, you court death!" The moment it heard this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King erupted. The red spiral horn on its head blazed as it fired a half-meter-thick beam of massive purple flame straight at Xiao Jietian.
Xiao Jietian remained completely composed. Just as the flame beam was about to strike, he reached out and caught it. With a light squeeze of his fingers, the terrifying ray was crushed into fragments that scattered and splattered against the cave walls.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
High-temperature flames melted deep craters into the entire wall.
In the next instant, Xiao Jietian's figure flickered. He appeared directly in front of the Lion King and threw a punch toward its head.
The Lion King didn't dare meet it head-on. It quickly leaned back while folding its wings. Layers of purple crystal instantly formed over its feathers in a desperate defensive barrier.
Xiao Jietian's fist struck the wing directly.
The seemingly solid defense shattered like tofu. A crisp sound of breaking bones rang out as several wing bones were instantly fractured.
This punch had used only a small portion of Xiao Jietian's physical strength—no Dou Qi whatsoever.
"How is this possible?!" The Amethyst Winged Lion King shrieked in shock. Losing balance, its massive body crashed backward into the cave like a cannonball, kicking up clouds of purple crystal shards and dust.
Xiao Jietian walked calmly through the dust and stood before the fallen beast.
He looked down at the Amethyst Winged Lion King, whose wings now drooped limply to the ground, unable to rise. "Will you submit, or not?"
"Trying to subdue me? In your dreams! Give up that delusion!" The Lion King glared furiously with bloodshot eyes.
"Is that so? Then you don't care about your son anymore?" Xiao Jietian reached into the depths of the cave. A small lion cub appeared in his hand.
"This King fears nothing—and my son is no coward either!" the Amethyst Winged Lion King roared defiantly.
Little Amethyst Winged Lion King: ??
"Since you're so arrogant and refuse to bow your head, then I won't force you."
A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from Xiao Jietian's body. The pressure rolled outward like a collapsing mountain.
The entire valley trembled. Purple crystals rained down from above. Outside the cave, miserable howls echoed from countless magical beasts, and even the clouds in the sky were torn apart by the sheer force.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King felt that horrifying power. Its rage vanished instantly, replaced by pure terror.
"You… you are a Dou Zong?" It lay rigidly on the ground, trembling.
"Human, I admit you possess Dou Zong strength, but don't think that's enough to make me submit! I would rather die than become a slave! Magical beasts will never be slaves!!" The Lion King roared with unyielding pride.
Xiao Jietian calmly took out a jade bottle, poured two pills into his palm, and smiled faintly. "You should recognize these, right? Also—I am not a Dou Zong. I am… a Dou Zun."
With another casual squeeze of his hand, several spatial cracks appeared in front of the Lion King, slowly creeping toward it.
Xiao Jietian smiled. "I said I'm giving you a choice. Either submit to me, or—"
He paused, but the cold killing intent in his eyes was unmistakable.
The Amethyst Winged Lion King's expression changed instantly—from extreme terror to extreme fawning. It prostrated itself before Xiao Jietian in an almost comical display of submission. "Master! I… I am willing to submit!"
Xiao Jietian released the cub and tossed one of the pills toward the Lion King. "Didn't you just say magical beasts will never be slaves?"
"Master is joking! You are a noble Dou Zun Venerable. To become your mount is an honor our race could only dream of after burning high incense for generations!" The Lion King replied shamelessly, his face thick with flattery.
A Dou Zun—equivalent to an eighth-tier magical beast. And so young. Becoming his mount would earn respect from anyone. Moreover, his son would have a bright future ahead. Most importantly, with two Transformation Pills, his cub could also take human form, gaining human talent alongside a magical beast's long lifespan.
"I know exactly what you're thinking. The other pill is for your son. As long as you serve well in the future, you will not lack rewards."
"Now—eat the Transformation Pill first."
Hearing this, the Amethyst Winged Lion King eagerly swallowed the pill without hesitation.
In an instant, dazzling purple light flooded the entire cave.
Just then, Xiao Jietian felt something tugging at the hem of his robe.
He looked down to see the little cub gently biting his clothes, whimpering softly. Its eyes were full of innocent fawning.
Xiao Jietian glanced at the cub, then at the now-submissive father, and said with a faint smile,
"Little fellow, you're much smarter than your dad."