"That’s a storage ring, isn’t it?" Green Yun asked from the side.
"Something like that," Xu Zimo nodded slightly.
The two headed east. Though this Particle World was vast, the Lizard Race was a major tribe, densely distributed, so it wasn’t too hard to navigate.
"When we reach Black Wyvern River, you’ll face your first challenge," Green Yun warned.
"What do you mean?" Xu Zimo asked.
"The Black Dragon has four guardians: Black Wyvern, Black Python, Black Panther, and Black Tortoise," Green Yun explained. "They stand between the territories of the four lizard tribes, preventing communication among us."
"What’s the cultivation level of the Black Wyvern?" Xu Zimo asked while wiping his long blade.
It was a gift from a noble-looking young man during a previous duel.
"It should be at the early Fusion Heaven realm," Green Yun thought for a moment and replied, "I can’t say for sure. But I remember Brother Wrathful once told us that the Black Dragon is already a half-empyrean, only one step away from Grand Empyrean. His guardians shouldn’t be weak either."
"Why doesn’t your Lizard Race cultivate?" Xu Zimo asked curiously.
"The Black Dragon forbids it. Only its lackeys can receive some low-level cultivation techniques," Green Yun replied. "Otherwise, it’s afraid we’d rise up."
Xu Zimo nodded. He raised his right hand and summoned the Darksky Tiger from his True Fate World.
The massive black tiger appeared in front of them, several dozen meters tall, with immense beastly pressure radiating outward.
The Darksky Tiger roared, its fierce mouth wide open, fangs dozens of centimeters long.
When Green Yun saw the beast, she screamed and collapsed to the ground in fear.
She tried to run, but her legs were too weak to move.
"This... this..." she pointed at the Darksky Tiger, trembling.
"What are you afraid of? It’s my mount," Xu Zimo said with a smile.
"Your mount?" Green Yun was stunned, then sighed in relief, but still didn’t dare get close.
"You could’ve warned me first."
"I didn’t get the chance. Who knew you’d react so strongly," Xu Zimo replied. "We’re too slow on foot, riding this will be faster."
Though the Darksky Tiger hadn’t fought much lately, with Xu Zimo’s extensive resources, it had reached peak Imperial Meridian realm, equivalent to the peak of the Fusion Heaven realm.
Its body had become more powerful and muscular. Its eyes were deep and dark, and its claws nearly half a meter long.
With each step, it left deep gashes in the ground.
"Will it eat me?" Green Yun asked nervously.
"No. It only follows my orders," Xu Zimo shook his head.
He flipped onto the tiger’s back.
"Come on up."
Green Yun hesitated, then cautiously approached.
Xu Zimo grabbed her hand and pulled her up in one swift motion.
"Hold on tight," Xu Zimo reminded her.
The Darksky Tiger bolted forward at extreme speed, wind howling past their ears.
Green Yun felt the speed increasing, and the wind turned into a violent gale. Her thin body felt like a piece of paper, ready to be blown away.
"I can’t hold on!" she shouted from behind.
Xu Zimo waved his hand, forming a large hand of spiritforce to support her from behind.
After several hours, the Darksky Tiger finally stopped at the edge of a black river.
The river’s current was rapid, its color ominously dark.
It looked like dead water, with a foul stench rising from it. The surface surged violently, wave after wave crashing endlessly.
"This is the place. Once we cross this river, we’ll be in Red Lizard territory," Green Yun said. "But with the Black Wyvern here, no one dares cross."
Xu Zimo glanced at the Darksky Tiger. The tiger roared fiercely, opened its jaws, and released a spiritforce blast into the river.
With a loud boom, the water exploded, splashing everywhere. The center of the river burst open.
The already raging surface became even more turbulent.
"Who dares disturb this king’s slumber?" a gloomy voice rose from the riverbed.
Green Yun was clearly nervous. She gripped Xu Zimo’s arm and whispered, "If we can’t win, we run."
Suddenly, the murky river churned. A deep vortex appeared in the center.
With the vortex came a series of thunderous explosions.
A massive figure slowly emerged from the riverbed.
It was a dark Black Wyvern, over ten meters long. Its scales were half gray, half black.
Its mouth was pointed, with eight one-meter-long whiskers. Its small, round eyes spun constantly.
Two small horns grew from its head, seemingly not fully developed.
"What species is this?" Xu Zimo chuckled.
He had seen many types of flood dragons, but this one didn’t look fierce, more comical, really.
"Who are you?" the Wyvern asked, eyeing Xu Zimo.
"Cut the chatter. Kill it," Xu Zimo waved his hand and said indifferently.
The Darksky Tiger roared again and leapt dozens of meters into the air, pouncing at the Wyvern.
The Wyvern didn’t even have time to react before it was slammed into the river.
"How dare you offend the noble Lord Black Wyvern!" came an enraged roar.
The Black Wyvern wrapped its body around the tiger, trying to crush it in two.
The river churned violently as the two beasts battled, stirring up endless waves.
The Darksky Tiger raised a claw and slashed at the Wyvern’s neck, causing blood to gush instantly.
A shrill scream echoed.
The Darksky Tiger was clearly stronger, its overwhelming beast aura radiating outward.
It opened its bloody jaws and bit into the Wyvern, tearing off chunks of flesh.
Then, with both claws, it pinned the Wyvern’s head and slashed down its neck.
Explosions roared louder and louder. The black river shot waves dozens of meters high.
As the Wyvern’s resistance weakened, a resentful voice emerged.
"If you kill me, Lord Black Dragon will never let you go."
"About to die and still worrying about someone else. Ridiculous," Xu Zimo shook his head.
The Darksky Tiger slashed again, this time severing the Wyvern’s head from its body.
The foul-smelling black river turned red with blood.
"It... it died just like that?" Green Yun stammered in disbelief.