"You… you might as well just kill me…"
Yun Yun held her bloated abdomen, her legs trembling. Tears still hung at the corners of her eyes, crystal clear and shimmering.
Because of the Amethyst Seal, her entire Dou Qi had been locked away. At this point, she was no different from an ordinary person.
Thankfully, the physique of a Dou Emperor still offered a solid foundation. Otherwise, after being tormented like this by Lin Ran, she likely would have lost her life already.
"Why do you keep spouting nonsense like that?"
Lin Ran stood up and stretched lazily. That session just now would keep the Yin and Yang energies in his body balanced for at least a week.
He casually pulled a black robe from his storage ring and tossed it onto Yun Yun, covering her alluring figure.
"The seal in your body—it was from that little lion, wasn't it? That Amethyst Seal Technique or whatever?"
"Yes."
Yun Yun bit her lip. She had every urge to rip the black robe apart and throw it away. Yet somehow, when it landed on her body, she ended up gripping it tightly in her hands.
She looked at Lin Ran. Her beautiful eyes were still cold, but now, something indescribable flickered within them.
"I came for the Purple Spirit Crystal… but I didn't expect that Amethyst Winged Lion King to have mastered sealing techniques. It caught me off guard. I was gravely injured, and then ended up being… by someone like you…"
"If I had been fully prepared, using my Wind's Edge: Birth Stupor, I definitely wouldn't have lost to it!"
Yun Yun furrowed her brows, her voice full of unwillingness.
"I act with a clear conscience. Why call me a thief?"
Lin Ran chuckled and said calmly, "The Amethyst Winged Lion King's Amethyst Seal Technique is its innate Dou Technique. It seals Dou Qi using beast flame power—extremely powerful."
"With your mere three-star Dou Emperor strength, you were already weaker than that little lion. Add the seal to the mix, and thinking you could defeat it is nothing short of a fantasy."
Yun Yun's eyebrows tightened, but she didn't immediately refute his words.
She wasn't some naive fool. As the Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect, she naturally understood whether Lin Ran was speaking the truth. But hearing it from his mouth felt too abrupt.
To her, Lin Ran was nothing more than a lecherous, shameless scoundrel who took advantage of others—a despicable flower thief.
But how could such words come from the mouth of a flower thief?
And more importantly… how did he know her cultivation level?
Yun Yun's heart sank. She had never revealed her true strength. With her Dou Qi sealed, even her aura was entirely hidden—no different from a commoner.
'Did he figure out who I am, and that's how he knows my cultivation level?'
'The name Yun Yun, Sect Leader of Misty Cloud Sect, is well-known across the entire Jia Ma Empire. People know I'm a Dou Emperor—even if not everyone knows the exact three-star level, strong cultivators would at least be aware of the general rank.'
'Could he be from one of the great forces within the empire?'
'If news spread that Yun Yun of Misty Cloud Sect was defiled by some unknown brat, how could I ever face my sect again? What would I say to my master, who's still in seclusion?'
As the thought hit her, Yun Yun's face grew even colder. She gripped the black robe tightly, her gaze locked on Lin Ran.
"Who exactly are you?!"
"I already told you—my name is Lin Ran."
Lin Ran looked at her with mild confusion, as if wondering if the Amethyst Seal had sealed more than just her Dou Qi—maybe her brain too.
The way he stared at her, like she was an idiot, made Yun Yun burn with shame and anger.
"Lin Ran? As if that's your real name! I've been cultivating for years, and I've never once heard of anyone named Lin Ran in the entire Jia Ma Empire."
"You're just afraid I'll come after you later. Afraid of my revenge. Come clean—are you from one of the empire's major factions? One of the three great clans? Or maybe the imperial family?"
She carried herself with nobility, and as Misty Cloud Sect's leader, her temperament was generally aloof and composed. But after being pushed so far by Lin Ran—and defiled by him—she couldn't help but lose control.
Lin Ran didn't mind at all. He casually pinched Yun Yun's cheek and smiled.
"Jia Ma Empire is just a tiny kingdom tucked away in the northwest corner of the Dou Qi Continent. Given that your Misty Cloud Sect is based here, it's only natural that your view is a little limited."
'He really does know who I am!'
Yun Yun felt her vision blur for a moment as her thoughts spiraled.
But soon, she caught the key detail in Lin Ran's words.
'A tiny kingdom?'
'Limited vision?'
"You… you're from outside the Jia Ma Empire?"
She cried out in surprise, her mind spinning with confusion.
If it were just within the Jia Ma Empire, then even if word of her disgrace got out, it would only damage Misty Cloud Sect's reputation within the empire. She could still manage the consequences.
But if he was from another empire—that was a different story.
Then it wouldn't just be a local scandal. It would be humiliation broadcast across the entire Northwest Region. Worse, rival nations could seize this weakness to suppress Misty Cloud Sect—or even invade.
If that happened, not only her sect, but the entire Jia Ma Empire might suffer...
Lin Ran glanced at the dazed Yun Yun. He had no idea what ridiculous scenario she was imagining now, but his attention shifted back to the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
'A sixth-rank Amethyst Winged Lion King… not a bad choice.'
The Cloud Rain Sect, where Lin Ran came from, was based in Central Plains. That region had far superior cultivation resources and techniques compared to other areas.
But due to the sect's controversial reputation, they were once driven out of Central Plains entirely.
Only after great effort from the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts did the sect return—but even now, their position remained awkward and fragile.
That was why Lin Ran had come to the Northwest Region: first, to establish a branch of the Cloud Rain Sect and secure a foothold for the future; second, to satisfy his curiosity and meet characters from the original story like Xiao Huo Huo; and third, to snatch up some fortuitous opportunities.
Of course, part of it had to do with his own cultivation issues.
His training speed had always been terrifying. At only eighteen, he had already reached the realm of Dou Ancestor.
But recently, his progress had stalled completely.
He consulted his three masters. All of them were puzzled.
After some study, his Grandmaster, Tian Xiezi, gave a diagnosis: although Lin Ran possessed the Pure Yang Body, his rapid growth had created an imbalance. His blood vitality had fallen behind his yang energy.
What he needed was a pill to fix it—
The Heavenly Spirit Blood Dragon Pill. A tier-7 pill.
It required the blood essence of twelve tier-6 or higher Magic Beasts, and three tier-7 or above Monster Cores to craft.
But due to the repeated suppression from Central Plains sects, the Cloud Rain Sect's resources had long been depleted. And with the Scorpion Demon Three Ghosts currently overwhelmed by the affairs of returning to Central Plains, they had no time to help.
So the task of gathering the materials had fallen to Lin Ran.
Since it was about his own future, Lin Ran naturally accepted. He hadn't expected that just after arriving in the Jia Ma Empire, he would run into Yun Yun trying to obtain the Purple Spirit Crystal from the Amethyst Winged Lion King.
That's how everything after had unfolded.
What disappointed him, though, was that he hadn't sensed Xiao Yan's aura.
'Looks like...'
'Yao Chen must have sensed my presence and took Xiao Yan away early.'
(End of Chapter)