Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

Beast Mountain Range, beside the waterfall.

The warm morning light shimmered on the rising mist, casting a dreamy, seven-colored glow.

A black-robed figure stood at the cave entrance, hands clasped behind his back, gazing quietly at the scene. Knowing today's task would lead to their parting, a faint pang of melancholy stirred in Xiao Bai's heart.

"Let's go," a graceful voice called from the cave. Yun Zhi stepped out, her beautiful eyes lingering on the white-haired man before she spoke, her tone cool and refined.

Xiao Bai turned, his gaze sweeping over her, a spark of admiration in his eyes.

Yun Zhi had donned a cyan-and-white dress, her long hair—lazily loose these past days—now elegantly pinned into a phoenix-style ornament. Her stunning face radiated serene elegance, free of her recent frailty. Her tall, regal figure exuded a noble air, tinged with aloof pride, making others feel unworthy in her presence.

"Not bad, not bad! Now that's the aura of a Dou Huang!" Xiao Bai said, stroking his chin, nodding approvingly as he appraised her.

Yun Zhi's composure faltered, her refined expression cracking. She shot him an exasperated glare. What does he mean, "now"? I've always been a Dou Huang!

Over these days, she'd come to know him better. He was domineering yet not off-putting, a bit flirtatious but restrained by honor, tender and meticulous in his care, with a touch of roguish charm. He showed no awe for her Dou Huang status, utterly fearless.

Her threats? He brushed them off. If she spoke coldly, his face turned colder.

His temper's bigger than mine! You'd think he was the Dou Huang! As the Cloud Mist Sect Leader, she'd never met a man who dared scowl at her—except this young man, who acted so brazenly, and she was powerless against him.

Glaring lightly, she stepped forward, her graceful steps captivating.

"Be careful out there," she said, her eyes meeting his handsome face. "Don't push yourself—prioritize your safety. I'll keep it occupied, but you need to move fast. That beast's cunning rivals a human's."

"Got it. You be careful too—don't get sealed again!" Xiao Bai nodded, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Jinx!" Yun Zhi huffed, shooting him a reproachful look.

"Haha, let's move!" Her playful scowl, brimming with charm, drew a hearty laugh from Xiao Bai.

"Mm." Yun Zhi nodded. A pair of cyan energy wings unfurled behind her, ready to take flight. Suddenly, she felt her arm tugged. Turning, she looked at Xiao Bai, puzzled.

"Forgetting something?" he asked, his gaze teasing.

Yun Zhi frowned, pondering, when she caught him spreading his arms as if to embrace her. Stepping back, she snapped, flustered, "What are you doing?"

"It's so far—am I supposed to jog there?" Xiao Bai said, feigning shock.

Realizing he couldn't fly, her lashes trembled. With a resigned sigh, she lowered her gaze and nodded slightly.

Xiao Bai's lips curved. Stepping forward, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist, pulling her close.

Yun Zhi stiffened, then relaxed, though her body quivered slightly, her heartbeat quickening.

"Let's go," Xiao Bai whispered, his breath brushing her pale earlobe.

The warm sensation sent a shiver through her, her legs weakening. "Don't talk in my ear!" she scolded, her voice trembling. "And behave, or I'll drop you from the sky!"

With a flap of her wings, cyan light flashed, and they soared upward.

Yun Zhi kept her face stern, pushing her speed to the limit. Noticing his hands stayed respectfully in place, maintaining a slight distance, she exhaled in relief.

Seeing her relax, Xiao Bai smiled faintly. "Afraid I'd take advantage? Relax, I'm not that low."

He'd only wanted to close the gap between them, not exploit her. I'm after her heart, not a fleeting thrill.

Hearing the pride in his words, Yun Zhi reflected on their days together. His arrogance wasn't baseless—he'd had chances to cross lines but never did. If he'd wanted, I'd have been defenseless days ago.

Her expression softened. She opened her mouth to speak but hesitated, the words unspoken.

"Feeling guilty for doubting me?" Xiao Bai caught the fleeting look in her eyes, grinning mischievously.

Her face flushed, her flight wobbling. His teasing smirk sparked a flare of indignant embarrassment. "Shut up! No talking!"

"Haha!" Xiao Bai laughed, but the sensation of falling cut him short. "Hey, Yun Zhi, fly! Don't crash!"

"Hmph, laugh now!" Though unsure what "crash" meant, his panic delighted her. Channeling Dou Qi, she steadied their flight.

"No more, no more!" Xiao Bai said, wiping imaginary sweat. This woman's playing skydiving with me!

Seeing his relieved exhale, Yun Zhi's lips curved, her eyes sparkling. This guy's been riling me up for days. Finally got him back!

They soon reached their destination. Yun Zhi landed silently on a rocky outcrop. Xiao Bai released her, his gaze settling on a cave partially hidden atop the opposite peak.

"That's the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's lair," Yun Zhi said, scanning the area. "The defenses are tighter than before. It's on high alert."

Xiao Bai nodded, sensing three fifth-tier beast auras forming a triangular guard around the cave, with lesser beasts scattered about.

"I'll try to kill or wound the high-tier beasts," Yun Zhi said. "Find the right moment and slip into the cave."

Taking her cyan sword from her storage ring, she glanced at Xiao Bai. "Be careful."

"I know," Xiao Bai said, waving her off. "If you can't beat that lion, kite it. Use your wind attribute's agility—don't go head-to-head. Wait till I grab the Purple Spirit Crystal."

Yun Zhi shook her head, amused at his instructions. Gripping her sword, she transformed into a streak of cyan light, darting toward the cave.

Xiao Bai scanned the surroundings, unbothered by the beasts. Choosing the shortest path, lightning flashed at his feet, and he sped toward the peak.

Yun Zhi made no effort to hide. As she appeared above the cave, roars erupted across the area.

Her sword danced, cyan blade lights slicing through the surrounding forest. Screams of low-tier beasts echoed as they fled in panic.

"Human woman, you dare show yourself? Today, I'll avenge my broken horn!" A purple streak shot from the cave, a furious roar shaking the sky.

Cyan and purple clashed, soaring a thousand meters up, painting the pale blue sky with vibrant energy bursts.

Xiao Bai glanced at the aerial battle, then ignored it. Any fleeing beasts that charged him were reduced to charred remains by the yellow lightning at his feet.

His pace was leisurely, but each step covered ten meters. Soon, a massive cave entrance loomed.

Two third-tier beasts cowered behind a boulder, trembling under the pressure from above. One caught a flickering figure approaching and let out a low growl.

At the entrance, Xiao Bai glanced at the snarling beasts. Their eyes glazed over, and they collapsed, lifeless.

Stepping into the cave, Xiao Bai found it surprisingly bright. Purple crystal shards embedded in the walls glowed softly every few meters.

Admiring the deep, spacious tunnel adorned with crystals, he thought, This lion's got taste. Knows how to live!

Passing through the long passage, he reached a fork. Without pausing, he vanished down one path—the other led to the Amethyst Essence.

Entering a vast chamber, he saw the walls encrusted with purple crystals, illuminating the space brilliantly.

At the center, a smaller Purple Crystal Winged Lion cub slept on a large crystal slab.

"Hey, wake up. Find somewhere else to nap!" Xiao Bai kicked the cub lightly, sensing the Purple Spirit Crystal beneath the slab.

The cub stirred, blinking blearily at the intruder. Jolting alert, it glared warily, sensing danger.

Backing away, its clear eyes burned with anger, letting out a high-pitched roar.

"Heh, cute little thing!" Xiao Bai chuckled. Its attempt at a fierce growl came out adorably weak compared to its parent's thunderous roars.

Crouching, he ignored its furious stare and lifted the crystal slab, retrieving a fist-sized, radiant Purple Spirit Crystal.

"This is it?" Xiao Bai examined the jagged stone, feeling its heat. Useful for Dou Shi and Da Dou Shi, but not much else. He stored it in his ring.

Turning to the cub, he beckoned. "Come here."

The cub, with sixth-tier potential despite its third-tier strength, understood but hesitated, its intelligence sharp for its level.

A crushing pressure descended, nearly forcing it to the ground. As it faded, Xiao Bai beckoned again. Reluctantly, it shuffled forward, recognizing the warning.

"That's it, good cub! Obedient ones live long, got it?" Xiao Bai ruffled its head, grinning.

The cub trembled, nuzzling his hand with a submissive whimper.

"Let's plant something nice in that head of yours." Xiao Bai placed a hand on its forehead.

The cub's eyes widened with dread, but it didn't resist, staring pitifully.

Ignoring its look, Xiao Bai channeled his soul force, imprinting a soul seal in its mind.

Since reaching the peak of the Mortal Realm, his soul sealing was effortless, requiring only a thought.

"Too weak," Xiao Bai muttered, sensing the cub's fragile soul. A human's soul is stronger, and this third-tier cub's—equivalent to a Da Dou Shi—is pitifully frail.

Its physical strength, though, rivaled a nine-star Da Dou Shi.

"Alright, let's find your dad!" Xiao Bai patted its head and headed out.

With the cub in tow, he reached the cave entrance and looked up at the battle. Yun Zhi's focus wavered, her eyes darting to the cave. Spotting Xiao Bai's black robe, she exhaled, joy flashing in her gaze.

But seeing the miniature lion behind him, her brow furrowed. I didn't know there was a cub! Anxiety crept in.

"Human woman, you dare lose focus fighting me?" The Purple Crystal Winged Lion King roared, preparing its Purple Crystal Seal to trap her again.

"Hey, big lion up there, want to see who this is?" Xiao Bai shouted, his Dou Qi-amplified voice thundering across the peaks.

The lion king glanced down, spotting a human at the cave entrance, hands on its cub's head. Panic surged. "Human, release my son!"

Ignoring Yun Zhi, it dove, landing near the cave, glaring at Xiao Bai.

Yun Zhi followed, landing beside Xiao Bai, warily eyeing the lion king.

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