Long’er resented Ye Lingyuan, and Ye Lingyuan resented Long’er.
Thus, in the following days, Zi Linling’s surroundings were exceptionally lively.
The group’s speed was not slow, but even so, it took them over two hours to reach the center of the Misty Forest.
The air here was still permeated with a faint divine beast’s pressure.
This pressure only targeted beast races, especially those of lower cultivation, so Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan felt nothing.
Long’er himself was a divine beast of the divine dragon clan, so the pressure here had no effect on him.
Only the Windwing Phantom Tiger felt the divine beast’s pressure most clearly.
There were two types of divine beast pressure here.
One was dragon pressure, but because he was with Long’er, the Windwing Phantom Tiger had developed some resistance to dragon pressure.
However, the other type, White Tiger pressure, made it quite uncomfortable.
Although the Windwing Phantom Tiger possessed a trace of White Tiger bloodline within it, which was transforming its body, it was still only a trace. Therefore, it was currently unable to withstand this pure bloodline aura.
Fortunately, the divine beast pressure here was already very weak, so the Windwing Phantom Tiger was only slightly uneasy and unaffected otherwise.
The divine beast White Tiger’s cave was located at the very center.
As the group approached the divine beast White Tiger’s cave, the Windwing Phantom Tiger became increasingly agitated.
Long’er and the Windwing Phantom Tiger were closest, so Long’er felt the Windwing Phantom Tiger’s changes most acutely.
He placed his tender little hand on the Windwing Phantom Tiger’s neck and asked with concern, “Little Tiger, what’s wrong?”
Hearing this, Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan simultaneously stopped and looked at the Windwing Phantom Tiger beside Long’er.
The Windwing Phantom Tiger shook its head and let out a low growl.
Long’er scratched his little head and asked, “You mean there’s a voice in your mind?”
The Windwing Phantom Tiger nodded, looking at Long’er expectantly, hoping for an answer.
Long’er shook his head. “But I didn’t hear anything!”
He then looked at Zi Linling and asked, “Sister Zi, did you hear anything?”
Zi Linling shook her head, then looked at Ye Lingyuan.
Ye Lingyuan understood her meaning and also shook his head.
Long’er stroked the Windwing Phantom Tiger’s neck. “See, none of us heard anything. Are you sure you heard correctly?”
The Windwing Phantom Tiger shook its head and growled again, a hint of annoyance in its voice.
Long’er frowned. “Are you saying you’ve been hearing it since you entered here?”
The Windwing Phantom Tiger nodded humanly.
This surprised Zi Linling, Ye Lingyuan, and Long’er, and they all fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, Zi Linling remembered what had happened at the Goddess Temple. At that time, Xue Ying had also heard nothing, but she had.
Her eyes lit up. “Do you think that voice might be calling Little Tiger?”
Calling?
Long’er’s eyes widened. “But what would be calling it?”
A flash of inspiration struck Zi Linling, and she said confidently, “I think I know!”
A glint of light flashed in Ye Lingyuan’s eyes. He chuckled lightly, “I wonder if Lin’er and I guessed the same thing!”
Long’er and the Windwing Phantom Tiger’s gazes fell on Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan, eagerly awaiting them to continue.
But Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged a smile and remained silent.
Long’er grew impatient. “Sister Zi, you can’t just stop talking mid-sentence! You’re killing me!”
Ye Lingyuan glanced at Long’er arrogantly, then said gently to Zi Linling, “Lin’er, let’s go!”
Seeing that Ye Lingyuan not only refused to speak but also wanted to drag Zi Linling away, Long’er’s face fell. He glared at Ye Lingyuan and said, “Big bad guy!”
A cold light flashed in Ye Lingyuan’s eyes. He sneered, “Who are you calling a big bad guy?”
Long’er, unaware of the linguistic trap, said angrily, “I’m calling you a big bad guy!”
Ye Lingyuan smiled meaningfully. “Oh?”
Zi Linling burst into laughter. “Ye Lingyuan, stop teasing Long’er. How can he possibly be a match for you?”
Only then did Long’er realize he had been tricked by Ye Lingyuan. He shot Ye Lingyuan a hateful glare and then, looking wronged, threw himself towards Zi Linling.
“Sister Zi, this big bad guy always bullies Long’er!”
Ye Lingyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched Long’er about to leap into Zi Linling’s arms, and the spiritual energy in his hand quietly gathered.
He thought to himself, “Little bratty dragon, if you dare touch Lin’er, I’ll tie you up for three days and three nights!”
Long’er, forgetful of past reprimands, didn't sense the approaching danger at all.
Zi Linling looked at the charging Long’er and then at Ye Lingyuan, whose entire body exuded a dangerous aura. She couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.
What a pair of lively troublemakers!
Fine, she’d just ignore both of them!
Zi Linling activated her Myriad Dragon Steps and subtly dodged Long’er’s pounce, moving to the front of the Windwing Phantom Tiger.
Long’er missed and froze in place.
The dangerous aura around Ye Lingyuan vanished, and he retracted the spiritual energy from his hand.
They both looked at Zi Linling, only to find that she had no intention of paying them any mind.
Zi Linling was currently squatting in front of the Windwing Phantom Tiger, a smile gracing her lips.
“Little Tiger, do you feel that trace of White Tiger bloodline in you becoming excited, or perhaps yearning?”
The Windwing Phantom Tiger closed its eyes and sensed for a moment, then opened them and nodded its tiger head.
Zi Linling smiled. “Let’s go. The divine beast White Tiger’s cave should be ahead. You just need to follow the instructions of that voice later, alright?”
The Windwing Phantom Tiger nodded, as if understanding.
“Remember: follow your heart. Do you understand?”
The Windwing Phantom Tiger nodded again.
Zi Linling patted its tiger head. “Then let’s pick up the pace!”
With that, she stepped on the Myriad Dragon Phantom Steps and, with a whoosh, disappeared from in front of the two humans and the tiger.
The Windwing Phantom Tiger let out an excited roar, spread its wings, and chased after them at full speed.
Ye Lingyuan stared blankly as Zi Linling and the Windwing Phantom Tiger vanished before his eyes. He then glared fiercely at Long’er and circulated his spiritual energy to catch up.
Long’er refused to be outdone. He glared back fiercely at Ye Lingyuan, transformed into his dragon form, and shot forward rapidly.
The other beast races, already intimidated by the divine beast pressure, trembled even more violently when Long’er revealed his dragon form.
Outside the divine beast White Tiger’s cave, Qing Yu was anxiously looking around.
“At the Prince’s speed, he should be here by now, shouldn’t he?”