C15 Furyclawed Lion

The following afternoon, several hundred miles south of Egluarsall, at the entrance of a desolate valley, Hu Bugui halted his steps. Gazing at the undulating mountains ahead, he said, "Nan Xi, Naonao, this is as far as I go with you. These mountains are known as the Twilvons Peaks, part of the Swanpeak Range. Within, you'll find some low-level spirit animals, perfect for warming up before your journey to Dragon's Breath River."

He flipped his palm, and like magic, a compass appeared in his hand. It was pitch black with an ancient design, and the words "Disaster" and "Fortune" were inscribed on either side, with a magnetic needle at the center.

"This is the Wheel of Fate, capable of divining good and bad omens. It's the Hu family's treasured heirloom. If the needle points to 'Disaster,' beware of impending danger; if it points to 'Fortune,' good luck is at hand—seize the opportunity. Should the needle fluctuate between the two, it signifies both chance and risk. You'll need to carefully consider your options before acting," Hu Bugui explained.

"Is it really that mystical?" Hu Nao took the Wheel of Fate, shaking it vigorously, only to find the needle steadfastly pointing upwards, indicating neither disaster nor fortune at present.

Hu Bugui then produced a jade bracelet from his palm and handed it to Hu Nao. "This bracelet is crafted from Shadow Gem and contains a space within. Once you anoint it with your blood, you'll be able to sense its interior and manipulate items in and out with just a thought. I've placed some pills and protective spirit items inside, along with ancient texts and maps related to Dragon's Breath River. Study them diligently."

"Thank you, Dad."

"Thank you, Foster Dad."

Hu Nao and Nan Xi expressed their gratitude in harmony.

Patting Hu Nao on the shoulder, then Nan Xi's, Hu Bugui imparted his final words with heartfelt concern, "Nan Xi, you've ventured out before and have your own treasures. Combined with what I've given you today, it should suffice. Remember, while experience is valuable, recklessness is not. Survival is paramount. Make sure you both return alive."

Hu Nao nodded with a grin, "Father, rest easy. They say good folks don't last, but troublemakers can thrive for a millennium. You named me Hu Nao in hopes that I'd live up to the name and cause chaos for a thousand years, right? Well, I haven't even started causing trouble yet, so I'm not about to die."

Nan Xi listened to his self-mocking with a smile and reassured Hu Bugui, "Foster Father, have no fear. With me here, I assure you that no harm will come to the Young Master." Her voice was delicate, yet it held a weight of seriousness and a tone of unwavering determination.

"Very well, I shall take my leave now," Hu Bugui said with a hearty laugh, decisively turning to depart.

Hu Nao's vision flickered, and in an instant, his father had vanished from sight. "Dad's mastery of the Lightness Skill is truly uncanny, as if he can vanish and reappear at will."

Deep inside, Hu Nao's desire to grow stronger intensified. His father had once crossed the Dragon's Breath River and ventured into the Southern Land for training, returning unscathed.

Now, as he prepared to train at the Dragon's Breath River, he was determined not to disappoint his father or cause him grief by failing to return.

Hu Nao bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the storage bracelet. Instantly, his spirit connected with the bracelet, and he became aware of a small space several feet across.

"Go in," he thought, and with a swift motion, the Wheel of Fate zipped into the storage space within the bracelet.

"Come out," he commanded, and the Wheel of Fate reappeared in his hand.

"This is truly wondrous," Hu Nao marveled. After briefly checking the items his father had left for him in the storage bracelet, he strode towards the valley ahead. Nan Xi hurried to keep pace.

The Twilvons Peaks stretched on for miles, with layers of mountains and ridges. The landscape was dotted with alpine vegetation like needle-leaf pines and ironwood trees, interspersed with shade-loving, cold-resistant plants such as purple lotus and moonflowers.

Previously, Hu Nao's frail constitution and low cultivation level had precluded him from such training expeditions. Now, having reached the Sixth Heaven of Body Tempering, he was considered a prodigy. With newfound courage and prowess, he plunged into the heart of the Twilvons Peaks, eager to encounter a spirit animal for a formidable battle.

Spirit animals are those mutated beasts with special bloodlines that possess the ability to cultivate. They are vastly more powerful than ordinary beasts.

The progression of spirit animals is akin to that of humans, beginning with Body Tempering, followed by Spirit Speak, and eventually reaching Nirvana...

However, spirit animals typically have robust physiques and immense strength. At comparable levels, it might take ten humans to match a single one of these formidable creatures.

Hu Nao was like a wild horse broken free from its reins, charging about and causing a commotion that sent many birds and beasts scattering in panic. Even the Frostwing Tiger, revered as the king of beasts, was cowed by his presence, turning tail and fleeing at the sight of him.

The Frostwing Tiger, though not a spirit animal but a mere ordinary beast, posed a deadly threat to the average person. But Hu Nao, now wielding the strength of Two Dragons and Two Elephants, opened his heart and unleashed his dominance. How could the tiger not fear him?

"Young Master, please slow down. The low-level spirit animals that my adoptive father mentioned could be formidable adversaries, potentially a matter of life and death for us. They're dangerous!" Nan Xi called out from behind, urging caution.

Hu Nao continued unabated, merely waving the Wheel of Fate in his hand dismissively. "With this, what's there to fear?"

Nan Xi was left at a loss for words.

Was this how one was supposed to train, relying so heavily on external aids?

Yet she understood that Hu Nao had been repressed before and was now simply indulging his true nature. She ceased her attempts to dissuade him and instead followed closely, prepared to intervene and protect him if necessary.

Roughly half an hour later, Hu Nao reached a small valley and abruptly halted, his eyes widening.

Despite Twilvons Peaks' southern location, it was still within the Snowlands' northern expanse, where snow and ice were the norm. Yet this valley was devoid of snow. Bursts of heat greeted them, melting the falling snowflakes and giving rise to a crystal-clear stream. The stream's banks were adorned with fragrant flowers and lush greenery.

In this land of ice and snow, the valley was nothing short of a paradise.

"Something's off here!"

Hu Nao glanced at the Wheel of Fate in his hand, noting the needle swinging from "disaster" to "fortune" and back again, oscillating repeatedly with a persistent clicking noise.

Nan Xi caught up and, upon seeing the situation displayed on the Wheel of Fate, urgently tugged at Hu Nao's sleeve. "Young Master, this place holds both opportunity and peril. Please, don't act rashly!"

"I understand." Hu Nao nodded, his gaze drawn to the depths of the valley where he spotted a cave. The heat waves filling the valley were emanating from within it.

"Let's check it out." With a thought, Hu Nao stowed the Wheel of Fate into his storage bracelet.

As he stepped forward, a massive creature burst forth from the cave.

It was a lion, but on a scale far beyond the ordinary, standing over thirty feet tall, mountainous in stature, with a coat of fiery red fur and eyes to match. Majestic and exuding an aura of danger, it was enveloped in flames that burned intensely yet did no harm. Clearly, these flames were not a threat to it but a formidable weapon against any adversary.

"Fury-Clawed Lion!"

Both Hu Nao and Nan Xi cried out in recognition.

Ancient texts spoke of a time, hundreds of millions of years ago, when the world was a vast expanse of chaos and the living conditions were perilous. Humans were frail, and it was the beasts, with their robust constitutions and formidable strength, who once enslaved them.

Over time, numerous almighty figures emerged among humans, deciphering the mysteries of creation and mastering the art of cultivation. This knowledge was passed down through generations, allowing humans to eventually rise to dominance as the most enlightened beings. Meanwhile, the beasts left a legacy of bloodlines, and their descendants who awakened could gain spiritual wisdom, learn to cultivate, and evolve into spirit animals.

The fire lion before them, with the ancient bloodline of the Flame-Clawed Lion and mastery of the fire attribute, was indeed the Fury-Clawed Lion described in the historical records.

Having studied many such records, Hu Nao and Nan Xi recognized the origins of this lion at a glance.

"Young Master, humans are inherently frail, and cultivating attributes is a daunting task fraught with danger. A single misstep can lead to a catastrophic explosion of their attributes, resulting in instant death," Nan Xi explained, her face alight with admiration. "Beasts, on the other hand, possess a remarkable physiology that allows them to easily harness attributes. Some pure-blooded spirit beasts are even born with innate attributes, allowing them to advance in their cultivation at an astonishing pace, as if blessed by divine forces."

Hu Nao nodded, "I can sense that this Fury-Clawed Lion is at the Sixth Heaven of Body Tempering, matching my own level. I'll handle this." With a step, he positioned himself in front of Nan Xi.

As they assessed the Fury-Clawed Lion, it was also evaluating them. To the lion, Hu Nao, also at the Sixth Heaven of Body Tempering, was not a threat. Nan Xi had a more robust aura, but the lion, confident in its physical strength, remained unconcerned.

The Fury-Clawed Lion let out a skyward howl, opening its mouth to unleash a roar at Hu Nao.

The lion's roar was ear-splitting, its sound waves forming arcs in the air, carrying an unmatched force as they surged towards Hu Nao.

"Is this some sort of Lion Roar Technique sound wave attack?"

Hu Nao chuckled. If he could shatter a sturdy dragon blood wood table with a single shout, what was there to fear from a mere roar?

"Ah..."

With his hands on his hips, Hu Nao bellowed, and the two dark gold elephants within him roared in response. The divine dragons trailing the elephants swayed and roared in a continuous chant.

Both Hu Nao and the Fury-Clawed Lion, at the Sixth Heaven of Body Tempering and adept in transforming vital essence into energy, had bodies like massive airbags with explosive power. When they launched their sound wave attacks, it was akin to two giant airbags deflating at once. The resulting blast stirred up a storm of dust and debris, causing nearby trees to sway violently, almost uprooting them.

Boom!

The colliding sound waves created immense pressure, fracturing the stone ground and leaving deep, dark fissures.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The Fury-Clawed Lion staggered back several steps to dissipate the colossal impact force, panting heavily.

In contrast, Hu Nao appeared unfazed, neither flushed nor out of breath, as if it were just another day.

The Fury-Clawed Lion could hardly believe Hu Nao's formidable strength. Its fiery red eyes blinked slowly, sizing him up, as if pondering whether this extraordinary individual was human or a heaven-defying spirit animal in human form.

What the heck is going on there?