Next to her, a cute big bear chuckled, "Yes, yes! Dilia knew that Lin Lei fellow, so she immediately figured out a way to come here."
"Ah Huang, you're asking for death!" Dilia pinched the big bear's small ear.
"It doesn't hurt, hehe, it doesn't," the bear said smugly.
"Hmph." Dilia wrinkled her nose and snorted. "You're so tough, Ah Huang. I know you're an Earth Bear with that thick hide. You don't mind me pinching your ear." With that, she turned and walked over to the middle-aged man, ignoring the bear.
The big bear rubbed his own head, looking honest. "Dilia, don't be mad. It was my fault, okay?"
Dilia looked at him and laughed.
"Hutton, Dilia was just playing with you. Do you think she gets angry that easily?" the middle-aged man said with a faint smile. Suddenly, he looked up at the sky. "Pylei is back."
In the sky, a massive eagle with a wingspan of five or six meters was flying toward their river vessel at incredible speed. It was as fast as lightning, with azure-blue feathers on its forehead and golden eyes. It looked incredibly majestic.
It was a ninth-level magic beast—a Gale Gale Eagle.
The soldiers on the vessel didn't stop it; they clearly recognized this Gale Gale Eagle. The eagle folded its wings and landed beside Dilia.
"Little Feng, you're back from hunting?" Dilia stroked the eagle's head affectionately.
When the Gale Gale Eagle stood with its wings folded, it was only about two meters tall. At this moment, it was thoroughly enjoying Dilia's touch, even closing its eyes.
"Pylei, go over there," the big bear said discontentedly.
The Gale Gale Eagle glanced at the bear and obediently moved aside. The Earth Bear was a Sacred Domain magic beast, and a very powerful one at that.
In truth, both the Earth Bear and the Gale Gale Eagle belonged to that middle-aged man, the Sacred Domain Grand Mage of the Yulan Empire—Master Longs.
Master Longs was a Wind System Sacred Grand Mage.
Wind System Sacred Grand Mages were terrifying. Once, Longs had entered the Sunset Mountain Range with his Gale Gale Eagle and used a Dimensional Slash to critically injure the Earth Bear.
The attack of a Dimensional Slash was horrifying—it could directly cut through space. Such power was likely enough to bisect even the peak Sacred Domain expert "Headsen." Moreover, Wind System Sacred Grand Mages had terrifying control over wind, making their speed incredibly fast.
It could be said that, given enough time, a Sacred Grand Mage could easily defeat a Sacred Domain Warrior. Of course, Sacred Domain Warriors weren't fools either, which was why Sacred Grand Mages generally strove to obtain a Sacred Domain magic beast.
Unfortunately, capturing a Sacred Domain beast was extremely difficult.
Dilia stood at the bow of the ship, her hand resting on a chain as she gazed east. The gentle breeze blew, rustling the tips of her hair, making her look as captivating as a goddess. Even some of the guarding warriors nearby couldn't help but feel their hearts stir.
In the Yulan Empire's capital, Dilia was very famous—a genius who had reached seventh-level mage at the mere age of twenty-two. She came from a powerful family and had been taken as a disciple by the Sacred Domain Grand Mage, Master Longs. In terms of beauty, she ranked among the top ten in the capital. Such a supremely talented and beautiful woman naturally had no shortage of suitors.
However, Dilia rejected everyone.
Because of her family's influence, Dilia held an important position in the empire. She was an excellent speaker and exceptionally skilled in diplomatic negotiations. Ever since the news of Lin Lei's battle against Oliveria had reached the Yulan Empire, Dilia had done everything she could to persuade the Emperor to send an envoy to the O'Brien Empire.
Of course, they had notified the O'Brien Empire beforehand, and the O'Brien Empire had naturally agreed.
"Red Flame City..." Dilia murmured.
In that place that haunted her dreams, there was also the person she had been constantly thinking of.
The river water rushed. On the foredeck, the Earth Bear and the Gale Gale Eagle stood behind Dilia as the massive river vessel sailed straight toward the capital.
Soon, the ship vanished into the distance of the Red Flame River.
The news that the Yulan Empire's envoy was about to arrive in the capital had already spread among the imperial and noble families. But for the capital's inhabitants, what they cared about were two great battles.
One was the recently concluded battle between the "Genius Sword Saint" Oliveria and the "Rock Sword Saint" Headsen. The other was the battle three months from now between the "Dragon Blood Warrior" Lin Lei and the "Rock Sword Saint" Headsen.
Having seen Oliveria's fate, would Lin Lei repeat the same mistake?
No one knew.
However, among the empire's populace, most believed that the Sacred Domain's number one expert, "Headsen," would emerge victorious.
On Fushi Road, within the Baron's manor.
"For the next three months, no one is to disturb Lord Lin Lei unless it's an absolute emergency!" This order had been circulated throughout the entire manor since that rainy night back.
The atmosphere in the manor had grown tense.
In the training yard in the backyard, Wotton practiced for a while before losing heart. He set aside his war blade "Slaughter" and sat down, feeling disgruntled.
"That Headsen is really going too far!" Wotton cursed. Thinking of Lin Lei made him feel anxious. "If he's so capable, let that Headsen wait another ten years until my brother reaches the Sacred Domain in his human form, and then challenge him! What's the point of fighting now?"
"Damn it, he's not just going too far; he's insidious!"
Gates walked over and grumbled, "The empire has plenty of Sacred Domain experts! The Martial God's Door has many strong fighters. Why doesn't Headsen challenge them? He insists on challenging the Master, who is only twenty-seven! That Headsen is already several hundred years old!"
"Cursing won't help," Bark said, walking over and leaning his giant axe against a nearby ornamental rock. "The Master has already agreed to fight Headsen. All we can do now is hope the Master wins."