Frost Path continuously extended forward under Ziyue's control. Liu Yi sat on Ziyue's back, feeling the wind against her face.
The Scaly Snake coiled on her forearm, practicing its Glare skill into the ice mirror while occasionally pointing Ziyue in the right direction.
As they continued forward, the Ethereal Glow Forest's vegetation was left behind, replaced by strange rocks with a metallic sheen.
“It looks like we’ve reached Crystal Mist Canyon,” Liu Yi said, looking around.
Towering rock walls lined both sides of the canyon, their surfaces covered in countless tiny crystals, and a faint mist pervaded the canyon floor.
“Bingbing...”
Ziyue suddenly slowed, her ears perked up alertly.
Liu Yi immediately understood: “Something’s approaching?”
No sooner had she spoken than the mist ahead suddenly surged violently.
A figure emerged from it—a giant scorpion made of crystal, over three meters long, its tail barb glinting dangerously.
“A Crystal Scorpion,” Liu Yi quickly recalled the pet’s information. “It’s at the Advanced rank, with racial potential up to the Sovereign rank.”
The Crystal Scorpion didn’t immediately attack them. Instead, it surveyed them with its compound eyes, lingering on Ziyue for a few moments.
“Bingbing!”
Ziyue slightly lowered her body, ready for battle.
The Scaly Snake also slid from Liu Yi’s arm, positioning itself in front of her.
Liu Yi gently patted Ziyue’s back. “Don’t rush, it doesn’t seem hostile.”
Indeed, after observing them for a while, the Crystal Scorpion slowly retreated into the mist and vanished.
Liu Yi called the Scaly Snake back. “Let’s keep going.”
Passing through Crystal Mist Canyon, the sight before them was stunning.
The Lava Mountain Range stretched across the land like a crimson dragon, its slopes covered in dark red rocks and flowing lava rivers.
Even from a distance, the heat waves washing over them were palpable.
“The temperature is higher than I expected.” Liu Yi looked at the distant crimson mountains, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead, and her breath felt scorching.
Ziyue stomped her foot. In this high-temperature environment, casting Frost Path consumed significantly more energy.
The Scaly Snake, coiled on Liu Yi’s shoulder, surprisingly showed no discomfort.
“Bingbing.”
Ziyue cried out, looking up at Liu Yi with concern.
Liu Yi gently stroked Ziyue’s head. “I’m fine, can you still keep going?”
Ziyue nodded resolutely, a faint blue chill emanating from her body, enveloping both Liu Yi and herself.
Immediately, the surrounding temperature dropped considerably.
Liu Yi took out an energy liquid from her Beast Taming Space and fed it to Ziyue. “Let’s finish this quickly and head straight to the Blazing Lion tribe’s territory.”
“Lin.”
The Scaly Snake nodded, pointing its tail tip towards a lava river on the right side of the mountain range.
Liu Yi said, “Let’s go directly then.”
Ziyue cast Frost Path again, this time intentionally increasing her energy output, causing the surrounding air to warp from the temperature difference.
Even so, the high temperature continuously eroded the Frost Path.
Ziyue had to replenish her energy frequently, needing a bottle of energy liquid almost every time they advanced a short distance.
Liu Yi watched Ziyue’s rapid breathing with a pang of heartache, but the fox showed no sign of backing down.
“Let’s take a break,” Liu Yi suggested when they stopped to replenish energy for the sixth time.
“Bingbing!”
Ziyue shook her head, nudging Liu Yi’s hand with her head to indicate she could still continue.
...
Treading the Frost Path, Ziyue finally brought Liu Yi and the Scaly Snake to the depths of the Lava Mountain Range.
Before them was a plateau formed of dark red rocks, with crimson lava flowing along its edges, and the air was thick with the smell of sulfur.
On the plateau were over a dozen fiery red small lions, with golden manes and tail tips, lounging lazily.
Liu Yi’s gaze swept over the small lions on the plateau. “They’re Junior stage Blaze Lions.”
A massive lion emerged from behind the plateau. Its entire body was covered in burning mane, and charred footprints marked where its four paws had trod.
Its amber eyes locked onto Liu Yi and her companions, and two plumes of white smoke jetted from its nostrils.
Liu Yi murmured, “A Blazing Lion, King rank? Another King rank?”
Honestly, other than when her sister brought Ziyue’s pet egg home, Liu Yi hadn’t personally seen so many King rank pets in such a short period.
If you counted the ‘ice island,’ that is.
“Zhuoyan?”
The Blazing Lion walked to the edge of the plateau, scrutinizing them from above.
Liu Yi looked at Ziyue.
“Bingbing?”
Ziyue understood.
“Are you here to participate in the trial?”
“Yes,” Liu Yi nodded. “I want to participate in the Blazing Lion tribe’s trial.”
The Blazing Lion’s large eyes swept over Ziyue and the Scaly Snake, then it suddenly bared its teeth in an expression that was almost a smile.
“Zhuoyan, Zhuoyan.”
“Bingbing, Bingbing.”
“An interesting combination,” Ziyue translated. “An Ice-type pet daring to come to the Lava Mountain Range.”
After translating, Ziyue bared her teeth.
The Blazing Lion shook its burning mane.
“Zhuoyan, Zhuoyan, Zhuoyan.”
“Bingbing, Bingbing, Bingbing.”
“According to the rules, summon your King rank pet. The trial is to defeat me.”
Liu Yi was silent for a moment. “I don’t have a King rank pet.”
“Zhuoyan?”
The Blazing Lion’s ears twitched.
Liu Yi didn’t need Ziyue to translate that; she understood the implication.
“My Beast Taming Space development progress is 21%,” Liu Yi answered truthfully. “This is my first contracted pet.”
She pointed at Ziyue.
Hearing her answer, the Blaze Lions on the plateau all raised their heads, looking over with curiosity.
A few even stood up and took a few steps closer.
The Blazing Lion tilted its head, and the flames on its mane diminished slightly.
“Zhuoyan, Zhuoyan...”
“Bingbing, Bingbing...”
“This makes things difficult. This year, the Elder specifically assigned me, a King rank, to guard this place...”
“Zhuoyan?”
It paced back and forth a few steps, then suddenly stopped.
“Bingbing?”
“How long did it take you to break past 20%?”
“Uh...” Liu Yi had to think back, caught off guard by the question.
She awakened on July 7th, and reached 20% on August 19th, which was a rest day before the Top 16.
So that was...
“A little over a month,” she replied.
The Blazing Lion’s pupils widened slightly, and the flames on its mane suddenly flared higher.
“Zhuoyan!?”
The Blaze Lions on the plateau were startled by the Blazing Lion’s roar; they didn’t understand why the human’s words had surprised the Blazing Lion so much.
The Blazing Lion leaned closer to Liu Yi, its enormous head almost touching her face, and a blast of scorching air washed over her.
“Bingbing.”
Ziyue immediately stepped in front of Liu Yi, letting out a warning growl.
The Scaly Snake, too, watched the Blazing Lion warily from Liu Yi’s shoulder.
The Blazing Lion took a step back, but its eyes remained fixed on Liu Yi.
After thinking for a moment, it suddenly turned and let out a roar towards the back of the plateau.
“Zhuoyan!”
A moment later, a lion, a full size larger than the Blaze Lions, emerged from behind the rocks.
Like the Blaze Lions, its entire body was crimson, with a golden mane and tail tip, but its four claws were wreathed in flames, and its mane was much thicker.
It was clearly a Blaze Claw Lion that had evolved to the Intermediate stage.
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