One month later.
Above a dense forest deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, two figures one large and one small stood facing each other in midair.
"Despicable human! You have gone too far in bullying magical beasts. Leave this place immediately and you may yet preserve your life. Otherwise, today you shall die without a burial place!"
A massive magical beast with a body of gold and crimson roared furiously at the green-flame-wreathed figure before it. It was the overlord of this region of the Magical Beast Mountain Range—the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion.
The Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion was born as a third-rank magical beast, and upon reaching adulthood, it could advance to the Sixth-Rank rank. After becoming a Sixth-Rank beast, its fur would turn completely golden. As its strength increased and its bloodline evolved, fiery crimson patterns would gradually spread across its body.
The Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion before them was enormous, measuring five to six meters in length, with a pair of wings growing from its back. Its golden mane shimmered under the sunlight, while blazing crimson flame patterns covered nearly one-third of its body—clear proof that it possessed strength comparable to a three-star Dou Emperor of the human race.
"Lion King, today I came here deliberately to offend you. I wish to use you to measure my current strength. As the king of magical beasts in this region, you surely won't retreat. If you wish to survive, then unleash all your abilities and overcome this life-and-death trial I present you!"
Opposite the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion, Lin Yuan stood with his wings spread, hands clasped behind his back as he hovered in the void. Green flames swirled around his body, his gaze deep and calm. His words carried a hint of disdain as he provoked the beast, while his left hand behind his back quietly condensed energy that was nearly tangible.
The Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion let out a furious roar.
"Roar! Arrogant fool! Do you think that wounding me through a sneak attack is enough to defeat me? A mere Dou King dares to challenge me? Watch as this king destroys you!"
With a thunderous roar, violent energy fluctuations erupted from the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's body. Towering flames ignited, dyeing half the sky crimson as a ferocious aura surged forth. However, upon closer inspection, a bloody hole nearly half a meter wide could be seen in its abdomen, golden-red blood dripping from it intermittently.
"Come. Let me see your limits," Lin Yuan said with a light smile.
In an instant, vast Dou Qi and flames surged from his body. Unlike the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's energy, which expanded outward violently, Lin Yuan's energy spiraled inward instead. Under his exquisite control, the massive energy condensed into a uniquely shaped green spear, wreathed in azure flames. With every flicker of fire, it emitted terrifying destructive fluctuations.
With a wave of his hand, the energy he had previously condensed behind him transformed into several green flame orbs that shot toward the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion. At the same time, Lin Yuan charged forward, spear in hand.
The Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion responded by spewing numerous crimson flame orbs to intercept the attack, while simultaneously launching a counterattack at Lin Yuan. However, the flame orbs failed to hinder him. His figure moved nimbly through the air, weaving effortlessly between the attacks. In the blink of an eye, he closed the distance, thrusting his spear straight toward the lion's heart.
The Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion stared warily at the green spear wreathed in azure flames. It could clearly sense that the terrifying heat and energy contained within were enough to pierce its formidable physical defenses. Its eyes sharpened as dense blood-red energy erupted from its body, forming an armor-like barrier that enveloped it completely.
The two forces collided.
Explosive sounds echoed through the air as the energies clashed. With a loud bang, Lin Yuan was blasted backward. Matching raw strength against a massive Sixth-Rank magical beast was indeed disadvantageous for him.
Seizing the opportunity, the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion immediately pursued him. Its razor-sharp claws, condensed with terrifying energy, slashed toward Lin Yuan as he flew backward, determined to tear the reckless human apart in a single blow.
Seeing this, a smile of success appeared at the corner of Lin Yuan's lips. With Dou Qi already gathered in his legs, he lightly stepped in midair in an exceedingly subtle and mysterious manner.
"An attacker is most vulnerable at the moment of offense—especially one with such a massive body. Inertia severely limits their agility."
"Now… Cloud Dragon Reversal!"
Cloud Dragon Reversal was one of the techniques of the Cloud Dragon Movement Art—a movement technique Lin Yuan had created by refining and integrating Instant Step, Soaring Dragon Step, Cloud Dragon Dance, and multiple collected movement Dou Techniques, tailoring them to suit his own physique. Though it placed extremely high demands on Dou Qi control, soul perception, and physical strength, its speed and agility far surpassed those of a high Black Rank movement technique.
With a light shift of his steps, Lin Yuan perfectly dispersed the force and dodged the incoming claw by a hair's breadth. In a single rotation, he appeared at the side of the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion.
His spear swept out, striking the junction between the lion's side-back and the forearm that had just missed its attack. A terrifying, inhuman force erupted instantly, forcibly distorting the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's flight posture.
A master at seizing combat opportunities, Lin Yuan did not hesitate for even a moment. Before the lion could regain its balance, he unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks, combining his beast-like physical strength with surging Dou Qi, completely suppressing his opponent.
At the same time, Lin Yuan released his soul perception, accurately predicting the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's movements. The beast's uncoordinated counterattacks were effortlessly neutralized by Lin Yuan's agile movement and powerful perception. A rare sight appeared on the battlefield—a human and a magical beast engaged in close combat, yet the human held absolute dominance.
As the battle dragged on, the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's injuries continued to worsen. The wound it had suffered earlier—caused by Lin Yuan's sneak attack technique "Heavenly Flame Tribulation: Setting Sun Divine Shot"—grew increasingly severe.
Realizing that its injuries were rapidly accumulating while it had failed to land a single decisive blow, the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion made a desperate decision. When Lin Yuan raised his spear once more, the lion abandoned all defense, allowing the spear to pierce its body while simultaneously slashing at Lin Yuan with its claws, attempting to trade its life for his.
However, Lin Yuan had already anticipated this.
The moment the green flame spear pierced its body, Lin Yuan released his grip, deliberately borrowing the force of the incoming claw to hurl himself backward.
"Explode!"
The green flame spear embedded in the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion detonated violently. Azure flames and Dou Qi ravaged the area, instantly engulfing the massive beast.
At the same time, Lin Yuan, now far away, condensed numerous rapidly spinning green flame cones and launched them like falling stars toward the heart of the explosion.
"Heavenly Flame Tribulation—Meteor Descent."
Under the guidance of Lin Yuan's soul power, the cyan fire cones struck the Heavenly Flame Mad Lion within the raging firestorm one after another, successive explosions resounding continuously.
"Roar—!"
A heaven-shaking beastly roar erupted alongside a violent surge of energy, forcibly dispersing the firestorm. The Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's battered body was revealed, its aura having weakened considerably.
"Damnable human! Even if I have to pay a price today, I will tear you to pieces!"
Having suffered repeated injuries, the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's killing intent surged. As it stared at Lin Yuan, whose aura remained vigorous a bloody gleam flashed through its eyes as it began activating the power of its bloodline. Its previously weakened aura rapidly swelled, becoming increasingly violent, ferocious, and berserk.
That's right—like the Snow Demon Sky Ape, the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion possessed a berserk bloodline. This was precisely the origin of the word "Berserk" in its name. Once activated, this bloodline allowed it to gain explosive power for a short period of time, though it would also become increasingly frenzied, and afterward would suffer a phase of severe weakness.
"Oh? You've activated your berserk bloodline? Interesting."
Lin Yuan made no move to interrupt it. Instead, he watched with keen interest. After all, his intention to use the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion to measure his current strength was no idle boast.
As the bloodline power fully awakened, the Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion's aura surged to a level comparable to that of a Six-Star Dou Emperor.
"Good. This is the opponent I was hoping for. Let's begin the next round."
As he spoke, Lin Yuan clenched his hand. Endless Dou Qi and cyan flames compressed and fused together, forming a uniquely shaped cyan flame spear. Most striking was its spiraled spearhead, shaped like a drill. Holding the spear, Lin Yuan charged fearlessly toward the berserk Heavenly Flame Berserk Lion.
"Human, today you will die."
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