Chapter 540: Lion King

Chapter 540: The Lion King

Li Wei and Sheng Xi infiltrated the ancestral inheritance grounds in search of the Sacred Dragon's legacy.

But they were unexpectedly discovered by the guardians.

A great battle erupted.

They encountered formidable foes and found themselves locked in a desperate fight.

Li Wei faced a legendary black-armored guardian from the Feathered Race and fell into grave danger.

If this had happened elsewhere, Li Wei could have dealt with a legendary-level opponent through careful planning.

However, this was the imperial palace of the Beastmen—the very heart of their empire.

To encounter such an enemy here was tantamount to a death sentence.

All it would take was for that Feathered Race legend to delay Li Wei for just a moment—then the Beastmen’s own powerful warriors would arrive.

And when surrounded by so many elites, even someone as strong as Li Wei could only die filled with regret.

Seeing how dire things had become, Li Wei decisively chose retreat.

"Sheng Xi, retreat!" he shouted mentally toward her.

Though he deeply regretted not finding the Sacred Dragon’s inheritance,

he knew it was better than losing his life here.

Without hesitation, Li Wei transformed into the Lord of Sacred Flame, unleashing his domain across the battlefield,

suppressing all enemies within its reach.

Only those at the legendary level could still move freely under his oppressive field.

Sheng Xi let out a mighty roar, transforming into a colossal dragon. With one claw, she burst open the trunk of a giant elephant-like guardian and sent the legendary beast flying.

Whoosh!

She flew to Li Wei’s side, seized him, and sped toward the city outskirts at full speed.

Li Wei allowed himself to be carried, while casting the Meteor Fireball Spell behind them.

Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh! Boom!

In the night sky, a brilliant meteor appeared.

Everyone instinctively looked up in awe.

Before long, every beastman in the capital wore expressions of terror.

For they realized that the meteor was falling directly toward the royal city.

"Aaah! Run!"

"It's over… we're going to die!"

"Damn it! Someone save us!"

Li Wei deliberately cast the Meteor Fireball Spell to draw the attention of the Beastmen’s strongest fighters.

Otherwise, even Sheng Xi wouldn’t have been able to escape the capital.

Sure enough, a figure rose from within the city, charging straight toward the massive falling star.

White slashes sliced through the night like blades intent on cleaving the heavens themselves.

With a sharp *crack*, the meteor shattered into countless sparks, illuminating the dark sky.

The Meteor Fireball Spell had been destroyed by a powerful warrior of the Beastmen.

Li Wei’s pupils contracted sharply as he witnessed this scene.

No one understood the spell’s power more than he did.

Even hastily summoned, that meteor possessed terrifying force—comparable to a forbidden incantation.

Yet this person had effortlessly severed it midair.

Did that mean even forbidden spells held no sway over him?

The Beastmen had concealed such a fearsome warrior after all.

Fear gripped Li Wei’s heart.

Fortunately, the Meteor Fireball had drawn the enemy away.

Carrying Li Wei, Sheng Xi fled the royal capital at top speed.

Several figures ascended from the city in pursuit,

but none could match Sheng Xi’s flight velocity at full throttle.

Having reached late-legendary stage, Sheng Xi now stretched forty-five meters in length.

At full speed, not even a demi-god of the eighth rank could hope to catch her.

Dragons were among the swiftest flyers in existence.

After chasing for a short while, the pursuers vanished from sight.

Li Wei finally exhaled in relief.

As the royal city faded into the distance, however, a pang of regret stirred within him.

Such a golden opportunity—they had nearly grasped the treasure itself.

Yet they had missed it entirely.

"Heh, thinking about that again... Thankfully I ran fast enough. If that Beastman expert had caught up..."

Li Wei muttered gratefully.

Suddenly, Sheng Xi slowed her pace.

Confusion crossed Li Wei’s face. “What is it? We’re still too close to the capital—it’s dangerous.”

Her voice echoed softly in his mind:

"Li Wei… there’s someone on my back."

"Hm?"

Shock flashed across Li Wei’s features.

He hadn’t noticed when the other had arrived.

Sheng Xi released her grip, allowing Li Wei to slowly rise and settle onto her back.

When he saw the figure standing atop Sheng Xi’s spine, his eyes narrowed to pinpricks, and his soul trembled violently.

Though he had never seen the sovereign of the Beast Empire, the moment Li Wei laid eyes upon the figure before him, he knew with absolute clarity that this was the Beast King.

The other wore loose yellow robes, his long, thick hair flowing freely in the wind.

His face appeared no different from that of a human.

Judging by his golden-brown mane, he was clearly of the royal bloodline—the Lion Kings—among the beast races.

The stronger a beastman, the more human-like they became.

That was simply the nature of their kind.

Especially among the royal clans; those bearing the imperial blood all possessed luxuriant golden hair like lions, while otherwise appearing entirely human.

Staring at the Lion King ahead, Li Wei floated silently in midair.

His mind raced, searching desperately for an escape route.

There was no doubt—the Lion King was the strongest being within the Beast Empire.

In the Beast Empire, power reigned supreme.

Unlike human empires, if the Beast King lacked overwhelming strength, he would never have ascended to the throne.

Racking his brains,

Li Wei realized there seemed to be no way out of this predicament.

After much deliberation, he finally chose to descend and stand before the Lion King.

The Lion King had been looking down at the sacred dragon beneath his feet.

Only when Li Wei landed and stood directly in front of him did the Lion King raise his gaze.

As his eyes fell upon Li Wei, an immense pressure and aura of nobility crashed over him like a tidal wave.

It was the accumulated prestige of years as the Beast King.

A single glance could strip ordinary people of their will to resist, forcing them into submission.

Li Wei wasn’t so easily affected—but even he felt shaken.

Quickly regaining composure,

he looked straight at the Lion King without bowing or showing arrogance, and said formally: “Great Mage Li Wei greets Your Majesty, the Beast King.”

The Lion King studied Li Wei with a faint smile. “Human, you truly are audacious beyond measure.”

“You aren’t afraid of me?”

He found Li Wei’s attitude quite unexpected.

Even among his closest subordinates, none dared act so calmly in his presence—they always showed signs of restraint and instinctive reverence.

Yet here was a mere human treating him… as an equal.

Unthinkable.

Li Wei replied: “Since you made no move against us from the start, I assume Your Majesty holds no ill intent toward us.”

“Besides, our combined strength pales in comparison to yours.”

The Lion King laughed heartily. “Hahaha! How interesting.”

“You’re clever indeed.”

“But alas… you’ve guessed wrong.”

Li Wei's expression shifted slightly—he didn’t understand what the king meant.

Suddenly, space around them shattered.

He tensed up, scanning his surroundings anxiously, unsure what the Lion King intended.

Crack! Boom!

Vast swaths of space collapsed, and the sacred dragon vanished into the rifts between dimensions.

When Li Wei came to his senses again,

Sheng Xi had already transformed back into her human form.

Their location had also changed—they were no longer where they once stood.

Sheng Xi looked around in confusion, then turned to Li Wei and asked softly: “What just happened?”

Li Wei quickly surveyed their new surroundings, sensing something oddly familiar.

Then it struck him—a flash of realization crossed his face.

This place... was identical to the Ancestral Legacy Grounds.

They had returned?

But how?

Thinking back on the earlier spatial collapse,

could it be that the Lion King had brought them here?

Why would the Beast King do such a thing?

Before long, the Lion King appeared once more before them.

With a sweeping glance at both Li Wei and Sheng Xi, he turned and walked toward a dark bamboo grove devoid of light.

“Follow me.”

Left with no choice, Li Wei exchanged a look with Sheng Xi and followed after the Lion King.

He had no idea what the Beast King planned.

Despite being enemies, why had the Lion King shown not even a trace of hostility?

Li Wei couldn’t fathom it.

Deeper inside the bamboo forest lay a stone gate.

The Lion King extended his hand and pressed it firmly against the door. After a brief pause, the gate opened automatically.

He stepped through first.

Once the gate opened, Sheng Xi suddenly trembled inwardly.

She tugged lightly at Li Wei’s sleeve and whispered urgently: “It’s in there.”

“What is?” Li Wei asked.

But even as he spoke, he remembered.

Eyes widening in shock, he stared at Sheng Xi. “You mean…”

She nodded solemnly. “Exactly.”

Now even more puzzled, Li Wei wondered what exactly the Lion King was planning.

He and Sheng Xi followed closely behind, stepping through the stone doorway.

As soon as they entered, the gate sealed shut behind them.

Through a long corridor, Li Wei and Saint Xi arrived in a crudely constructed stone chamber.

The Beast King had already been waiting there for some time.

He held a wooden box, his expression deep in thought.

Without turning his head, the Beast King said, “You’ve come for this?”

Hearing this, Li Wei and Saint Xi instinctively looked toward the wooden box in his hands.

A glimmer of longing appeared in Saint Xi’s eyes.

She could sense it—what she had been searching for was inside.

Li Wei came to his senses, puzzled as he stared at the Beast King. “What do you mean? Why are you helping us?”

The Beast King offered no explanation. He handed the wooden box to Li Wei.

“Open it, and you’ll know.”

Li Wei shifted his gaze to the box before him, staring at it for a long while.

Only then did he reach out and take it.

After a brief pause, he didn’t open it himself but passed it to Saint Xi instead.

He had already sensed it—the box was just an ordinary one, with no hidden traps or mechanisms.

Under the watchful eyes of both Li Wei and the Beast King, Saint Xi opened the box.

Upon seeing what was inside, both Li Wei and Saint Xi were stunned.

Inside lay a completely unremarkable piece of stone, about the size of a palm.

“What is this?” Li Wei asked instinctively.

The Beast King replied, “It’s what you’ve been searching for all along.”

Li Wei frowned. “You know what we’re looking for?”

The Beast King chuckled. “Sacred dragons—all of them have always yearned for this very thing, haven’t they?”

Li Wei felt that the Beast King’s words carried deeper meaning.

Yet he remained enigmatic, never speaking clearly. Did he think explanations were unnecessary?

Or perhaps, as one who stood above others, he saw no need to clarify anything for those beneath him.

Saint Xi picked up the stone, feeling her bloodline stir. New inherited memories surged into her mind.

After a moment, she looked up at Li Wei and said, “This isn’t over yet. This is only the first token of the Sacred Dragon’s legacy.”

“I can already sense where the second token lies.”

The Beast King looked at her and said, “If I’m not mistaken, the second token is in the hands of those wooden figures. And unlike me, they won’t be so easy to deal with.”

“I still hold onto that possibility,” he continued. “Those wooden beings have long accepted their fate. They may not hand over the token willingly. Besides, to them, that item holds great significance—unlike this stone, which means little to the beastkin.”

Li Wei frowned. “Can you please stop being so cryptic? Just tell us clearly, what exactly is going on?”

The Beast King replied, “Knowing now would bring you no benefit.”

“You’ve always been under Their gaze. If They find you stepping beyond your bounds, They will not hesitate to strike.”

“So make haste.”

“Their?” Li Wei looked confused.

“Who are ‘They’?” he pressed.

The Beast King said nothing more. Instead, he issued a dismissal. “You should go.”

Before Li Wei could react, the Beast King gave a push through the air. The space behind them shattered, and both figures were thrown backward uncontrollably, tumbling into the fractured spatial rift.

Bang!

The wooden box fell to the ground.

The Beast King glanced at the now-restored space.

He bent down, picked up the box, brushed off the dust, and placed it back where it belonged.

Taking one last look at the box, he turned and walked away.

“I hope… this is the last time.”

Blue sky. White clouds.

Above the dense forest, a spatial rift tore open.

Two figures tumbled out from within.

Crash, crash!

They plummeted into the forest, breaking dozens of branches before landing safely on the ground below.

“Ahh… thankfully, nothing lost.”

Saint Xi let out a startled cry, her hands empty.

Looking down, she spotted the stone they had received from the Beast King lying nearby.

She breathed a sigh of relief, terrified that such a precious item might have been lost.

The Beast King’s strike had sent both Saint Xi and Li Wei tumbling into the spatial rift, transporting them to who knows where.

There had been no time for Saint Xi to secure the stone.

During the chaotic transit, even Li Wei couldn’t access his spatial ring to store it.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

Li Wei emerged from the bushes, unharmed—not a single leaf clinging to his clothes.

All the impact had been absorbed by his invisible armor.

He picked up the stone from the ground and walked toward Saint Xi.

Reaching out, he helped her to her feet.

Then, he handed her the stone.

So far, neither of them truly understood what the stone was or its purpose.

To them, it was simply a stone.

According to Saint Xi’s inherited memories, it was likely one of the tokens needed to unlock the Sacred Dragon’s legacy.

Now, they had to seek out the next token.

Saint Xi took the stone and closed her eyes to sense its energy. A look of joy appeared on her face.

“The second token is not far from here.”

“Hmm?” Li Wei looked surprised.

He recalled the expression on the Beast King's face when he sent them away.

That meaningful expression.

Levi estimated that the Beast King should know the location of the second relic.

So he deliberately used a spatial rift to send the two of them here.

Levi looked up, sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves above fell upon his face.

Warm and cozy.

When he was in the Beast Empire, it had just entered nightfall.

After being teleported to this place, it was broad daylight.

He didn't know whether the teleportation process had taken too long, or if this place was simply too far from the Beast Empire.

So far that while the Beast Empire had just entered night, here it was still noon.

Levi guessed it was the latter.

If it were a time difference, he should be able to sense it.

Levi did not feel that he had been in the spatial rift for very long.

Then it could only be the day-night time difference brought about by the enormous spatial distance.

Levi scanned his surroundings. The most important thing now was to figure out where this place was.

Rustle, rustle, rustle!

Sounds came from the forest not far away.

Levi turned his head to look, seeing several figures appear in the distance.

(End of Chapter)