Chapter 88: Thunder Demon Lion

An Qingsong pushed through the crowd, his figure charging straight at Du Zhenwu. A punch was unleashed, fueled by new and old grievances, and he directly chose to attack the Du family. Compared to the others, at this moment, he wanted to deal with the Du family first.

"An Qingsong, you're not qualified enough!"

Du Zhenwu countered with a punch, a violent surge of mystic energy spreading out. The two fists collided instantly, causing ripples in the surrounding air, and the ground around them shattered into powder.

In a short time, Bai Jiru and Qin Zongqiong also appeared in front of Ye Baolin. The three of them exchanged no words and immediately engaged in battle.

"I never thought we would end up fighting like this."

Bai Caiyi looked at Ye Zijin, her long sword drawn, the sound of the sword ringing out.

"I didn't expect it either!"

Ye Zijin held a peculiar long whip, infused with mystic energy, which emitted a radiant light.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Their eyes met, and then the two graceful figures moved in unison. The long whip danced, and sword beams shot out, accompanied by the spread of runes.

"Rumble!"

The sounds of battle echoed throughout the stone city, the collision of energy like thunder sweeping across the sky, the air stirring with wind and clouds.

"The sky over the stone city has changed."

"I wonder if the Ye family can hold out!" ...

Inside the stone city, countless eyes looked up at the sky above the city center, where four of the strongest were engaged in a fierce battle, the sounds of their struggle echoing through the sky.

No matter the outcome, everyone knew that the sky over the stone city had changed. The recent tension had begun to erupt, and after today, the stone city would undergo significant changes...

Stepping through the stone gate, following an ancient stone staircase, Du Shaofu arrived in a large stone room. The walls were made of green stone, and the room was completely bare.

However, as soon as Du Shaofu's gaze fell on the room, his pupils constricted sharply.

In his line of sight, Du Shaofu saw a lion several meters in size, with a majestic build, but its skin was somewhat loose, giving it a sense of decline amidst its grandeur.

However, in the lion's bright eyes, Du Shaofu felt a powerful energy fluctuation and pressure, making his heart race and his hair stand on end.

But this unease and fear quickly disappeared within Du Shaofu's body. The pale golden blood flowing within him seemed to emit a supreme aura, completely resisting the pressure from the lion.

If Du Shaofu hadn't deliberately suppressed it, the aura from his bloodline would have fiercely retaliated.

"Thunder Demon Lion!"

Du Shaofu was shocked. By his senses and the aura, this declining lion was undoubtedly the Thunder Demon Lion that his uncle had spoken of, the absolute king of demon beasts guarding the stone city and the Ye family.

"What a strange human, with the aura of the Golden-winged Great Peng. You're really lucky, but if the Golden-winged Great Peng clan knew a human could cultivate their techniques, they would chase you to the ends of the earth."

The lion lay on the ground, its eyes slightly open, speaking in a hoarse, elderly voice, filled with沧桑 (cang桑, meaning "aged" or "weathered"), like an old man in his twilight years.

Demon beasts at the Beast Rank level can speak human language. It was rumored that the Thunder Demon Lion of the Ye family had long reached the Beast Rank level, so Du Shaofu was not surprised to hear the lion speak, only slightly curious, a curiosity that did not show on his face.

"Greetings, Thunder Demon Lion, thank you for your assistance."

The pressure around him dissipated, and Du Shaofu walked into the stone room, bowing respectfully to the lion lying on the ground.

"It was just a small effort, no need for thanks."

The Thunder Demon Lion looked at Du Shaofu gently, like an old man looking at his descendants, his voice deep and aged, and said, "I'm curious, how did you manage to cultivate the techniques of the Golden-winged Great Peng?"

"I don't know either. It might have been a stroke of luck. Even now, I'm not entirely sure. I thought I was about to die, but when I woke up, I found that I hadn't died and could cultivate the techniques of the Golden-winged Great Peng."

Du Shaofu did not hide much from the Thunder Demon Lion, but he did not tell the whole truth.

"Yes, it is indeed an incredible thing."

The Thunder Demon Lion seemed to recall something, paused for a moment, and then looked at Du Shaofu again, saying, "Boy, are you not afraid of me?"

Du Shaofu smiled slightly and said, "Why should I be afraid? However, it is a bit nerve-wracking to meet a strong being of your level for the first time."

"You, human boy, are quite unique. You're much more interesting than that girl, Zijin. She's too rigid."

The Thunder Demon Lion, like an old man, actually smiled, then continued to look at Du Shaofu and said, "Have you heard of me?"

"I have."

Du Shaofu nodded and said, "My uncle told me that the Thunder Demon Lion has been guarding the stone city for many years. The demon beast kings in the Savage Beast Mountains dare not step into the stone city, and the forces outside the city who want to take control of it dare not move easily, all because of the protection of the Thunder Demon Lion."

The Thunder Demon Lion looked at Du Shaofu for a long time and then said, "There are few humans like your uncle who remember the past."

"My uncle is a good person, upright and honest." Du Shaofu nodded.

"Did your uncle tell you that I am about to die and won't last much longer?" the Thunder Demon Lion asked Du Shaofu.

"He did."

Du Shaofu looked at the Thunder Demon Lion and said, "My uncle said that for a being of your level, the secret bones and essence blood in your body are great treasures. Once you fall, it will cause a storm in the stone city. Over the years, many people have been preparing and waiting. Whoever gets your treasures will benefit greatly."

"Yes, they are all waiting for my old bones to die."

The Thunder Demon Lion, with its lowered head, looked up and smiled, saying, "So, what about you? Do you want my secret bones and essence blood? If you could get them, they would be of great benefit to you."

Du Shaofu's heart trembled, and his gaze on the Thunder Demon Lion was stunned. Then a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he said lightly, "To be honest, not wanting them would be a lie. Your secret bones and essence blood are enough to drive countless strong beings mad. How could I resist such temptation? However..."

Du Shaofu paused slightly, then looked at the Thunder Demon Lion and said, "But I am a person of the stone city, so I don't have the right to want your secret bones and essence blood. If I were not from the stone city, I would definitely try to get them, even by using underhanded means."

"Why?" The Thunder Demon Lion seemed intrigued.

Du Shaofu looked at the declining lion in front of him, his face unusually serious, and said softly, "You have guarded the stone city for so many years, and the people of the stone city have benefited from your protection. I have benefited even more. How could I take your secret bones and essence blood?"

The Thunder Demon Lion stared at Du Shaofu for a long time and then said, "You are indeed a unique human boy. I never thought that in my waning days, I would meet someone like you. Unfortunately, I can no longer protect the stone city."

"Thunder Demon Lion, is there no way to...?"

Du Shaofu's eyes trembled, looking at the lion lying on the ground, like an old man who had lived a life of greatness but was now being remembered for his wealth by his descendants, all waiting for his death.

And at this moment, the Thunder Demon Lion was still concerned about the stone city, like an old man who, on his deathbed, was still worried about his descendants. What a lonely feeling.

"There is no way. The Ye family has done their best. My injuries were too severe, and now my time has come. Everything has its end." The Thunder Demon Lion interrupted Du Shaofu, his eyes extremely calm.

Du Shaofu quietly looked at the lion lying on the ground, not knowing what else to say, like quietly accompanying an old man in his twilight years, the atmosphere filled with loneliness.

The Thunder Demon Lion spoke to Du Shaofu again, "Boy, you are extraordinary, one of the two strongest talents I have seen in the stone city over the years. Your talent is even stronger than the first. The Golden-winged Great Peng is a top existence among demon beasts. You cultivate the techniques of the Golden-winged Great Peng, and one day you will soar through the sky.

However, remember, before you have absolute strength, try not to reveal that you are cultivating the techniques of the Golden-winged Great Peng. Otherwise, you will be pursued by both humans and the Golden-winged Great Peng clan."

"Thank you for the warning, Senior." Du Shaofu nodded.

"Alright, you've been with me for a while. It's been a long time since anyone has talked to me so much. Actually, besides the one from the Ye family, I don't like talking to humans much. Perhaps it's because you have the aura of my demon beast clan, which makes you seem more familiar."

The Thunder Demon Lion moved its body, looking at Du Shaofu and said, "Now, there is bloodshed outside. You should go and see the commotion. More training will benefit you in the future!"

"Bloodshed?"

Du Shaofu was startled upon hearing this.

"Crack!"

Before Du Shaofu could react, a burst of lightning enveloped his vision, like a portal to a lightning space, and he was involuntarily sucked into it...

"Rumble!"

Outside the Ye family's square, energy collided, thunder rolled, lightning flashed, and dark clouds pressed down, the sounds of battle echoing through the sky!

"Roar!"

"Growl!"

The roars of demon beasts were terrifying.

Countless residents of the stone city looked at the distant battlefield, where the scent of blood spread, and the sounds of screams echoed through the city.

"Spit!"

Under the combined attack of Qin Zongqiong and Bai Jiru, although Ye Baolin's strength was slightly higher than the two, he could not withstand their combined efforts. After more than a hundred moves, he finally took a palm from Qin Zongqiong, flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood.