Battle Through the Heaven: Purple Heaven

A hill thousands of meters from the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's lair.

Two figures stood close, observing a clash between Dou Huang powerhouses.

Xiao Yan, witnessing the terrifying might of such a battle for the first time, finally grasped why the books spoke of one against ten thousand—it wasn't just legend. He also gained a glimpse of his teacher's former glory.

This is just Dou Huang. What was Teacher like as a Dou Zun? The thought was unimaginable.

"Pretty shocking, huh?" Yao Lao said, chuckling at Xiao Yan's stunned expression.

"Watching their fight, I finally understand why the strong hold such supreme status on this continent," Xiao Yan said with a wry smile, nodding. "Before, I was like a frog at the bottom of a well, ignorant of the vast sky."

"Heh, work hard," Yao Lao said, smiling. "You've got potential. One day, when you reach that level, you'll find this world is full of wonders."

At that moment, a thunderous voice echoed. The battling human and beast swiftly vanished from sight.

"Teacher, was that Brother Bai's voice?" Xiao Yan asked, doubting his ears. The voice felt familiar, but why would he be here, meddling in a fight between two Dou Huangs?

"Indeed," Yao Lao confirmed, his expression odd. He'd sensed it too—Xiao Bai.

Why does it feel like every Dou Huang in the Jia Ma Empire crosses paths with this kid? Counting this and past encounters, Xiao Bai had met more Dou Huangs than existed in the entire empire.

"It's almost time for Jia Nan Academy's departure tomorrow. Shouldn't he be home? What's he doing here?" Xiao Yan grumbled.

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Yao Lao said, exasperated. He was just as puzzled about Xiao Bai's presence, especially clashing with the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King.

"Can I really go over?" Xiao Yan's eyes lit up. After days away, he missed home. Running into Brother Bai in the Beast Mountain Range made him eager to see him.

"I told you, in this range, do what you want," Yao Lao said, stroking his beard with a faint smile. "But unless it's life or death, I won't step in."

This was to hone Xiao Yan's independence and decision-making, not to have him rely on Yao Lao for everything.

Xiao Yan thought of the fleeing beasts he'd seen—first-, second-, third-, even a fourth-tier one. Hesitating briefly, he gritted his teeth. "I'm going!"

Yao Lao nodded, pleased. Xiao Yan didn't lack courage, only decisiveness—precisely why he'd brought him here to train.

___

Before the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King's lair.

The air was tense, but Xiao Bai paid it no mind. Stroking the cub's head, a peculiar look crossed his face. Moments ago, he'd sensed a faint soul force probing him, alternating hot and cold—a familiar aura.

Why's that kid here? Xiao Bai wondered, his eyes flickering.

"Human, release my son, or I'll ensure you never leave this Beast Mountain Range!" the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King growled, eyeing its cub in Xiao Bai's hands like a toy. Though furious, caution tinged its massive face.

It knew its son—if this human couldn't easily kill it, the cub wouldn't be so docile. Unable to gauge Xiao Bai's strength, the threat to its cub was enough to make it wary.

"Heh, bold words!" Yun Zhi snapped, stepping forward to shield Xiao Bai, fearing he was intimidated. Pointing her sword at the lion king, she said, "I'd like to see how you'll stop us!"

Turning slightly, she softened her voice. "A'Niu, don't be afraid. I'll get you out."

Snapping out of his thoughts, Xiao Bai blinked, touched by the woman protecting him. She's the second to tell me not to be afraid.

The first was Xun Er.

"Humans, you're after the Purple Spirit Crystal, right?" the lion king said, its gaze softening as it looked at its cub. "Since my son's here, you've likely got it. Release him, and I swear I won't pursue this. You can leave freely. Deal?"

"A'Niu, what do you think?" Yun Zhi asked, her eyes fixed on the lion king, not turning.

She didn't trust the beast, but with the cub, they could retreat safely. Though she had her own plan, she wanted Xiao Bai's input, respecting his efforts in securing the crystal—and any plans he might have for the cub.

Releasing the cub, Xiao Bai stood beside Yun Zhi, gently lowering her raised sword.

Puzzled, she glanced at him, then noticed the cub squatting obediently behind them. Exhaling, she chided, "Why'd you come up? Watch the cub!"

"No worries," Xiao Bai said, his gaze warm. The cub's sealed—it's not going anywhere.

Turning to the lion king, he said, "Submit to me, and I won't kill you."

Both the lion king and Yun Zhi froze, wondering if he'd lost his mind.

"Haha, human, are you joking?" the lion king roared, laughing furiously. It couldn't gauge Xiao Bai's strength, but his teamwork with the woman suggested he was weaker. If he were stronger, they'd have stormed in, not sneaked around. Submit? He's dreaming!

"A'Niu, you…" Yun Zhi blinked, at a loss. He's facing a lion I can't beat, demanding its submission and sparing its life? Is he sleepwalking?

Even using the cub to force submission risked backlash.

"Go to your father, little guy," Xiao Bai said, ignoring them, his words sending the lion king into ecstasy.

This human's brain-dead! Suppressing its glee, it roared softly, urging its cub to hurry before the woman could interfere.

"Easy," Xiao Bai said, soothing Yun Zhi's cold, fuming expression.

She was upset. The cub was his catch, so she couldn't dictate its fate, but his disregard for her efforts stung.

As the cub reached its father, the lion king checked it for injuries. Finding none, it shielded the cub, its eyes glinting coldly. "Humans, thanks for returning my son. As a reward, I'll make your deaths quick!"

Purple light surged, ready to strike.

Yun Zhi, despite her anger, moved to pull Xiao Bai behind her, but he didn't budge. "Get behind me and stay back!" she urged.

"It's fine," Xiao Bai said, patting her hand, unmoving. "A touching father-son reunion. Shall we let them chat?"

The lion king didn't grasp his meaning. "No need. After you're dead, we'll have plenty of time to talk!" it sneered.

But as it spoke, the cub tapped its father with a paw, letting out a few high-pitched roars.

"Don't worry, son. Once I deal with them, I'll avenge you!" the lion king reassured.

Roar!

"What?!"

Roar!

After a brief exchange and a thorough check, the lion king whirled on Xiao Bai, furious yet wary. "Human, what did you do to my son's soul?"

It now understood why Xiao Bai let the cub go—he'd tampered with its soul. Unable to detect the specifics, it was enraged but helpless. Beasts' souls were naturally weak, and even as a sixth-tier beast, it couldn't probe further. Most human Dou Huangs, unless alchemists, knew little of soul force, leaving it shocked and cautious.

No wonder he's so confident, demanding my submission or death! It now suspected Xiao Bai was an alchemist or a hidden powerhouse.

"Just a little trick, nothing worth mentioning," Xiao Bai said, smiling faintly, his expression turning cold. "Two choices: submit or die. Choose quickly—my patience is thin."

Ignoring the lion, he sighed at Yun Zhi's skeptical gaze. She thinks I hid my cultivation to deceive her.

"Ask what you want. Don't look at me like that—it hurts," he transmitted.

"Cultivation? Age?" Yun Zhi replied, glancing at the lion king, her tone cool.

"Five-star Dou Ling. Eighteen."

"Then how—"

"Just a knack for soul techniques," Xiao Bai said, winking.

The chill in Yun Zhi's eyes faded. She'd thought he'd lied, pretending to be weak by saying he couldn't fly, making her worry needlessly. A sixth-grade alchemist like Gu He can't manipulate souls—how could he be weak?

Learning his true level, her anger vanished, replaced by shock. Eighteen and five-star Dou Ling?

She'd known he was talented, but not this talented. It explained his lack of awe for her Dou Huang status—at his age and level, she wouldn't respect it either.

"No background, no teacher, just some luck and self-taught cultivation?" Yun Zhi asked, her eyes gleaming intensely.

"None," Xiao Bai said, shaking his head. Yao Lao had guided his alchemy, but his cultivation was self-driven, his technique granted by the talisman.

"Heh." A strange smile spread across Yun Zhi's elegant face, but she said nothing.

"Hey, Yun Zhi, stop looking at me like that—I'm scared!" Her eyes sparkled at his lack of a teacher, a cryptic smile forming, unnerving him.

He wasn't worried she'd harm him—he trusted she wouldn't.

Meanwhile, the lion king's expression wavered. Unable to probe its cub's soul, it doubted Xiao Bai's "little trick" but feared risking its son's safety.

"Human, remove the technique from my son, and I'll submit!" it said, deflated after a long pause.

"I can free your son, but I'll place something in your mind," Xiao Bai said, eyeing it skeptically. "I saw your trustworthiness earlier."

The lion king hesitated, startled. It had only been probing, not expecting Xiao Bai could actually apply such a technique to it.

"Heh." Seeing its reaction, Xiao Bai sneered, unleashing his soul force, pressing down on the lion.

This lion won't submit without a taste of my power. Wants to test me? Feel it!

The lion king staggered under the crushing soul pressure, its weak soul no match. Only by channeling its full sixth-tier energy could it barely stand.

Yun Zhi's lips parted in awe, abandoning her fleeting thought of abducting Xiao Bai by force. He's not normal—I can't do it!

"I submit!" the lion king growled, struggling. The overwhelming soul force convinced it Xiao Bai's technique was real and beyond its ability to counter. It dropped the "king" title.

"Good," Xiao Bai said, smiling. It's a bit useless later, but for now, it's a fine guard.

Stepping to the lion, he placed a hand on its head. "Don't resist."

The lion felt something invade its mind, dulling its sharp senses, as if veiled.

"A seal?" It recognized the sensation, having sealed Yun Zhi before.

Yun Zhi's eyes flickered. A soul seal? She'd never heard of such a technique.

____

If you want to support me and read advanced 20+ chapters and other stories join: patreon.com/Caluem