Time passed swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, a year had quietly slipped away.
"Esteemed Mother, it seems the Lord of Dongbi City has discovered our secret and has brought his forces to surround our entire Huosuo City," Hua Yao Yu said with a grave expression, looking at Madam Hua within the City Lord's mansion.
Madam Hua's expression also grew serious upon hearing this. After a moment of thought, she sighed and said, "Open the city gates and let the citizens leave. This matter has nothing to do with them."
Hua Yao Rong immediately stepped forward, "Esteemed Mother, Dongfang Xiao surrounds us merely to obtain that Fire-Spitting Flying Lion. Since our Hua family cannot possess it, let Dongfang Xiao subdue the beast. If he succeeds, we can seize the opportunity to declare our allegiance. Our Huosuo City will then naturally be able to stand firm."
"And if Dongfang Xiao cannot subdue the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, he will naturally suffer a heavy blow. At that time, we can adapt accordingly. What do you think, Esteemed Mother?"
After listening to Hua Yao Yu's words, the others in the room nodded their heads, then looked towards Madam Hua, who was seated at the head.
A flicker of thought crossed Madam Hua's eyes at this moment.
But in the end, she slowly shook her head and chuckled wryly, "Do not forget, that Fire-Spitting Flying Lion is currently lurking outside that senior's residence. If we disturb that person, we might not fare well."
Upon hearing Madam Hua's words, Hua Yao Yu and the others' faces changed. As Li Xuan had not appeared for four years, Hua Yao Yu and the others had almost forgotten about his existence. But reminded by Madam Hua, Hua Yao Yu and the others were momentarily stunned.
"Esteemed Mother, could it be that Senior Li has already left? And that the original residence is a barrier he set up before leaving?" Hua Yao Rong mused.
Madam Hua's eyes lit up at his words. After some thought, she said, "Perhaps that senior has already departed. In that case, we will proceed according to Rong'er's suggestion. Our Hua family is no match for the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion. Keeping it within the city is an unstable hidden danger."
"If Dongfang Xiao can indeed subdue it, it will be considered solving a problem for our Huosuo City."
"And if Dongfang Xiao cannot defeat the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, our Huosuo City will have a trump card. I believe Dongfang Xiao will not dare to attack our Huosuo City lightly."
"Esteemed Mother is wise!" Hua Yao Rong and the others immediately bowed to Madam Hua.
Madam Hua waved her hand and then stood up, "Let's go. Dongfang Xiao is likely impatient and wants to attack. Before that, we must first negotiate terms with him."
Hua Yao Rong and the others immediately followed closely behind Madam Hua, flying rapidly towards the city gate.
Meanwhile, inside the house, Li Xuan was lying on the bed, appearing to be in a deep sleep.
However, the golden light filling the room indicated that Li Xuan's condition was beginning to recover.
Moreover, as time passed, the golden light in the room grew brighter. A faint pressure also began to spread.
"Indeed, a mystical beast! Madam Hua, as long as this City Lord captures this Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, I will spare your Huosuo City's affairs." At this moment, above Li Xuan's house, Madam Hua's family and several figures appeared rapidly.
Upon seeing the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion prostrate on the ground, the middle-aged man leading them revealed a hint of joy. As soon as he spoke, the aura emanating from him instantly erupted.
Observing his imposing presence, he actually possessed the strength of the early stage of the Years Realm!
As if sensing a threat, the prostrate Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion let out a roar towards the sky, its eyes instantly locking onto the charging figure.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion and Dongfang Xiao floated in mid-air, facing each other.
Looking at Dongfang Xiao, who had suddenly attacked him, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion was filled with immense anger. Faint flames flickered between its nostrils.
Dongfang Xiao, after exchanging a blow with the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion, was inwardly astonished. Clearly, he had not expected the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion to possess such immense power.
"Strange, according to reason, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion is only a seventh-tier mystical beast, it shouldn't be able to withstand this. Although my strength is somewhat weaker, the cultivation technique I practice is specifically designed to counter wild beasts. Could this Fire-Spitting Flying Lion have mutated?" Dongfang Xiao thought to himself, then with a thought, he quickly formed hand seals.
Seeing the rapidly spreading pressure emanating from Dongfang Xiao, a trace of fear flashed in the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion's eyes, but deeper within, there was a burning rage. Before Dongfang Xiao could attack, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion snorted from its nostrils, instantly spewing a fiery mass that shot rapidly towards Dongfang Xiao.
"Drawing a circle to make a prison, a cornered beast fights back!"
Dongfang Xiao's expression tightened upon seeing this, and he accelerated his hand seals. Just as the fire mass was about to arrive, he pointed a finger at the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion, and a surge of spiritual energy transformed into a cage, rapidly descending towards the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion.
Not only that, but a spiritual energy shield around Dongfang Xiao's body instantly lit up, and the fire mass began to clash fiercely with it. Seeing the fire mass being blocked, Dongfang Xiao looked at the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion, his eyes filled with confidence.
Roar!
As if sensing the danger, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion let out a roar and charged towards the surrounding spiritual energy cage.
Bang!
With a single collision, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion was sent flying back. However, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion did not give up. With a flap of its wings, it once again charged towards the thick, arm-like spiritual energy cages.
However, the spiritual energy cages showed no signs of loosening.
"Dongfang Xiao's strength is actually this terrifying!"
"Looking at this, it seems this Fire-Spitting Flying Lion will eventually fall into Dongfang Xiao's hands."
"This is for the best. As long as Dongfang Xiao subdues this Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, our Huosuo City will have one less hidden danger. Moreover, we can use this opportunity to express our desire to submit to Dongfang Xiao, and perhaps then we can save Huosuo City."
"..."
Seeing Dongfang Xiao's swift action in trapping the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, Madam Hua's family discussed in shocked whispers.
Crack!
Just then, a crisp cracking sound echoed from mid-air. Madam Hua's family looked up immediately, and the confident smile on Dongfang Xiao's face instantly vanished.
Because one of the spiritual energy cages restraining the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion had just been broken by it.
Crack!
As the second cracking sound rang out, Dongfang Xiao could wait no longer. He quickly formed hand seals, and the two broken spiritual energy light pillars reappeared.
Roar!
Seeing the spiritual energy light pillars reappear, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion let out a roar, its eyes instantly turning blood red. A powerful beastly aura surged forth like a tide.
"What a powerful beastly aura!"
Feeling this aura, Madam Hua's family felt as if they were floating in water, struggling to breathe. Even Dongfang Xiao's eyes held a trace of solemnity.
"It seems it has indeed mutated. Otherwise, how could a seventh-tier Fire-Spitting Flying Lion emit a beastly aura comparable to an eighth-tier mystical beast? However, even so, you cannot escape my grasp!"
Seeing the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion's untamed defiance, Dongfang Xiao's eyes filled with greater satisfaction. Then, with a thought, a circle appeared in front of him.
Roar.
As this circle appeared, the Fire-Spitting Heavenly Lion seemed to sense something and instantly stopped its continued assault, slowly shifting its gaze towards the circle held in Dongfang Xiao's hand floating in mid-air.