"Senior, please follow me." Hua Shi nodded upon hearing this, then his figure flickered and he walked towards a small path on one side.
This cave dwelling was entirely hollowed out from underground. The surrounding walls were maintained by various formations to ensure the stability of the dwelling.
While waiting for the Hua family, Li Xuan had already surveyed the first level of the cave dwelling. Without these formations, this dwelling would have likely been completely buried underground by the earth's movements.
As they continued to turn, various paths connected in Li Xuan's mind. Then, as the view suddenly opened up, a vast open space appeared before Li Xuan.
"Senior, this is the dividing point between the first and second levels. The moment we step into this open space, that monster will surely appear. Senior, look, the cave entrance opposite is the passage to the second level," Hua Shi stopped and pointed at a single large cave entrance.
Li Xuan nodded and then turned to the Hua family, saying, "Wait here."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Xuan slowly walked towards the open space.
The moment Li Xuan stepped onto the open ground, a faint fluctuation of the formation spread towards the cave entrance on the wall.
Seeing this, Li Xuan understood. It was likely that the monster appeared because of this formation's warning. It was no wonder that every time the Hua family tried to enter the second level, they were driven back by the monster.
Thump.
Thump-thump!
A sound of the earth shaking echoed, followed by a thunderous roar and the sound of violent footsteps from the cave entrance. Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he heard it. The monster the Hua family spoke of had indeed rushed out.
Roar!
A giant silhouette flashed, and a monster with wings and a fiery red body shot out of the cave entrance. Li Xuan was taken aback. This monster was an eighth-tier Xuan Beast, a Fire-Spitting Flying Lion.
"So it's a Fire-Spitting Flying Lion. No wonder the Hua family couldn't defeat it," Li Xuan thought and slowly extended his hand towards the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, gesturing for it to come.
Despite Li Xuan's provocation, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion remained motionless, its eyes looking at Li Xuan with great apprehension.
"Mother, what's going on? Why isn't this monster attacking Senior Li Xuan?" Hua Yaoyu asked in a low voice, confused by the scene. Hua Yaorong and the other three also looked at Hua Shi with puzzlement.
Hua Shi gave a wry smile and explained in a low voice, "From the looks of it, this Senior Li Xuan is not as simple as we imagined. This monster seems to be very afraid of Senior Li Xuan."
"Moreover, animals have naturally strong senses. If it weren't for its inability to defeat Senior Li Xuan, why would it hesitate to act even when provoked like this?"
Meanwhile, Li Xuan, seeing the look in the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion's eyes, had a sudden thought and spoke slowly, "It seems you can understand my words. I wish to enter this place. Do you have any objections?"
After speaking, Li Xuan looked at the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, his hands now lowered and clasped behind his back.
A hint of struggle flashed in the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion's eyes. Finally, it lowered its head and nodded slightly three times. This scene once again left the Hua family stunned. The Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, which they saw as incredibly powerful, dared not even attack Li Xuan.
"Follow me." Li Xuan smiled slightly. He had only tested it, and to his surprise, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion had agreed directly. Seeing the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion move aside from the entrance, Li Xuan turned to look at the Hua family behind the rock crevice and said.
Hua Shi hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and stepping out, followed closely by Hua Yaoyu and the others. However, their eyes remained fixed on the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, fearing it might suddenly change its mind and attack them.
Roar!
When the Hua family appeared beside Li Xuan, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion suddenly let out a roar, glanced at the Hua family, and shook its head slightly.
Li Xuan was surprised. The Fire-Spitting Flying Lion's meaning was that it wouldn't allow the Hua family to enter the second level.
"Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, I have an agreement with them, and I will bring them into the second level. Since I promised, I must keep my word. I must take them into the second level," Li Xuan said, his gaze also fixed on the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion.
The Hua family felt uneasy. They all moved behind Li Xuan, their eyes filled with caution as they looked at the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion.
The Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, after hearing Li Xuan's words, clearly showed a hint of human-like struggle in its eyes. However, seeing Li Xuan's calm expression, it finally turned around and walked into the cave entrance.
Seeing this, the Hua family breathed a sigh of relief. The Fire-Spitting Flying Lion's actions clearly indicated it had agreed with Li Xuan.
"Senior Li Xuan is truly remarkable. This Fire-Spitting Flying Lion is so obedient," Hua Shi said to Li Xuan with emotion after the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion had disappeared into the cave entrance.
Li Xuan smiled and looked at the cave entrance, saying, "Since I promised you, I will naturally bring you into the second level. Let's go. I wonder what's inside the second level that a being like the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion is guarding."
The Hua family was invigorated. A flicker of excitement appeared in everyone's eyes. After Li Xuan took the lead towards the cave entrance, they all followed closely.
Upon entering, Li Xuan discovered that the second level seemed much wider than the first. The geological structure was also exceptionally hard. Of course, the formations here were also more powerful than those on the first level. Even Li Xuan himself would need to exert nearly sixty percent of his strength to break through them.
After observing this, Li Xuan's curiosity about what lay within the second level intensified. After all, the creator of such a dwelling would undoubtedly be of considerable strength. Furthermore, with such meticulous preparation, the items within the cave dwelling must be extraordinary.
As for the Hua family, although they didn't understand the formations well, they could still feel their presence. They suppressed their excitement and followed Li Xuan in an orderly fashion.
As their vision cleared, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion's figure reappeared before them. The Hua family's expressions turned solemn.
However, Li Xuan didn't pay much attention. Since the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion was here, whatever it was guarding must also be nearby.
Li Xuan stopped and looked around. He found that apart from some low-grade spirit weapons, there seemed to be nothing else on the second level, which made him frown inwardly. Logically, this shouldn't be the case.
However, the Hua family was currently looking around with excitement. If Li Xuan hadn't spoken yet, they would have already rushed towards the boxes containing the spirit weapons.
"You can each go and search, but try not to stray too far. If anything happens, it will be too late for me to provide assistance," Li Xuan said, waving his hand as he observed the Hua family's expressions.
Hua Shi and her family expressed their gratitude and immediately scattered, rushing towards the numerous spirit weapons placed inside the cave.
At this moment, within the stone cave, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion saw the actions of the Hua family and a look of mockery appeared in its eyes.
Li Xuan was slightly surprised by this. Although ordinary ninth-tier Xuan Beasts could develop some intelligence, they wouldn't be as discerning and calculated as this Fire-Spitting Flying Lion. Furthermore, since the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion was guarding the second level, there must be something it cared about.
With this thought, Li Xuan walked towards the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion.
Sensing Li Xuan's approach, a hint of apprehension flashed in the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion's eyes, and its gaze was fixed on Li Xuan.
"Don't worry. If I wanted to attack you, you wouldn't be able to escape," Li Xuan said with a slight smile and then casually sat down beside the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, looking at it with interest.
As if sensing Li Xuan's power, the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion showed a hint of suppressed frustration after hearing Li Xuan's words. It then lay down again, its eyes slightly closed.
"Human, you are very strong, so I do not wish to provoke you. However, if you continue to disregard me, the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, I will defend my dignity even if it means death!" Just as Li Xuan was about to speak again, a rather young voice suddenly echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Li Xuan was stunned. Looking at the Fire-Spitting Flying Lion with its eyes slightly closed, he understood. This creature was not a Fire-Spitting Flying Lion as he initially thought, but a Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, which was several times stronger than a Fire-Spitting Flying Lion.
Although there was only a single word difference, the gap between them was extremely significant.
The Fire-Spitting Sky Lion was a ninth-grade existence and had a high chance of becoming a tenth-grade overlord.
However, Li Xuan now understood. If it were truly a Fire-Spitting Flying Lion, how could it be so intelligent? And the ability to communicate with humans was enough to prove that this Fire-Spitting Sky Lion was not of low rank.
"Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, I apologize for my presumption earlier. I never expected to encounter a ninth-grade Fire-Spitting Sky Lion like you in this mortal world. I am very curious, why are you here?" Li Xuan's mind stirred, and he also transmitted his thoughts to the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion.
"Alas, there is a presence on you that I fear greatly. This is why I dared not attack you. As for why I am here, I don't know either. I only know that from the moment I suddenly remembered many things in my mind, I have been here."
The Fire-Spitting Sky Lion's voice echoed in Li Xuan's mind again.
A look of surprise appeared on Li Xuan's face. He thought for a moment and transmitted, "If that's the case, why don't you leave this place? I believe with your strength, it shouldn't be too difficult to leave, right?"
"There is a presence here that has been with me since I can remember. I don't want to leave this place because this presence still exists. And where would I go if I left? Over the years, the things that have appeared in my mind also seem to have been told to me by that presence."
A moment later, the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion's voice came.
Upon hearing this, Li Xuan understood. Beasts, like humans, are not necessarily enemies just because they are different species.
Just like this Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, it had grown under that presence since its earliest memories, and over time, it had developed an emotional attachment. The reason the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion was unwilling to leave was essentially because it considered this place its home.
After contemplating this, Li Xuan suddenly had an idea and transmitted to the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, "Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, do you want to find the whereabouts of that presence?"
"Human, can you find the whereabouts of that presence?" Upon hearing Li Xuan's transmission, the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion's emotions clearly became agitated.
It was evident that in recent times, the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion had indeed tried to search for the presence of that aura. Hearing Li Xuan's words now, it was naturally tempted.
Li Xuan nodded and transmitted, "I said I can find it, so there will be no problem. However, in return, shouldn't you give me some compensation that is worth my help?"
"What do you want?" the Fire-Spitting Sky Lion immediately transmitted back.
Li Xuan chuckled inwardly. This Fire-Spitting Sky Lion had indeed taken the bait.
After a moment of thought, Li Xuan transmitted, "Fire-Spitting Sky Lion, you yourself don't seem to have anything particularly good to give me, do you? How about this, tell me something that interests me. As long as I believe what you say is true, I will help you find the whereabouts of that presence. And rest assured, I will definitely help you find it. How about it?"