Third-Tier Magic Core

The appearance of the icy mist left the mercenaries present momentarily stunned. But Xiao Lei immediately shouted, "What are you all staring at? Focus on the demonic beasts in front of you. That's Young Master's method—what's so strange about it?"

Within the icy mist, after a brief standstill, man and tiger faced each other from afar. Although the Magic Flame Tiger's senses had been blocked, its aura had already locked onto that figure, and its ferocity had been fully stirred.

Xiao Shuang held his spear in reverse and gave it a powerful swing, the tip carving a bloody gash directly across the Magic Flame Tiger's body.

The sudden pain made the Magic Flame Tiger's eyes turn crimson. It let out a tiger's roar, its tail whipping toward the figure before it like a steel lash.

Xiao Shuang's gaze remained fixed on the Magic Flame Tiger before him, his grip tight around the spear. When he saw the tiger tail chopping down at him, pride rose in his heart. Without dodging in the slightest, he swept his spear across and steadily blocked the tail.

The immense force made Xiao Shuang's palm go numb, but his body was formidable as well. He forcibly pushed the tiger tail back, and the way he looked at the Magic Flame Tiger now carried a trace of disdain.

A demonic beast at the Da Dou Shi level was nothing more than this in his eyes!

A flicker of astonishment appeared in the Magic Flame Tiger's eyes. It still could not believe that a human could take its attack head-on, especially when its opponent appeared weaker than itself.

This Magic Flame Tiger possessed considerable intelligence. After their first clash, it actually began to entertain thoughts of retreat. Even as it stared at Xiao Shuang, it quietly backed away.

Sensing the Magic Flame Tiger's little movements, Xiao Shuang could not help but laugh. He also gained a rough estimate of his own strength.

As a Four-Star Dou Master, with the special frost Dou Qi of the Extreme Cold Physique and a body strengthened by the Ice Spirit Cold Spring, he was fully capable of dealing with some Da Dou Shi who lacked high-level Dou Techniques.

This Magic Flame Tiger had only recently advanced. Otherwise, he might have needed to put in a little more effort.

"Hey, I won't let you get away." Xiao Shuang smiled and thrust out his spear, stabbing directly at the Magic Flame Tiger's eyes.

This enraged the Magic Flame Tiger greatly. After a tiger's roar, the flames around its body surged, even causing the surrounding icy mist to thin somewhat.

"Hmph." With a cold snort, the icy mist in the area thickened once more, slowing the Magic Flame Tiger considerably.

Strictly speaking, this icy mist could be considered an inherited technique of the Extreme Cold Physique. When the Extreme Cold Physique had awakened, the method for using this Dou Technique had appeared in Xiao Shuang's mind, as though he had suddenly comprehended it.

Even Xiao Shuang did not know what grade this Dou Technique was. Only those with the Extreme Cold Physique could use it, an extremely harsh requirement. There was probably no second Extreme Cold Physique to be found anywhere on this continent...

"Within this icy mist, this is completely my domain!"

Holding his spear, Xiao Shuang spread his arms, and his entire body vanished into the icy mist.

Having suddenly lost its target, the Magic Flame Tiger became somewhat panicked. Yet it remained where it was, the flames on its body burning even more fiercely as it prepared to defend against a sudden attack.

After a few seconds, the icy mist grew thicker still, until it was impossible to see the surroundings clearly. The Magic Flame Tiger could no longer endure it and began to grow restless.

"Since that's the case, I'll finish you in the thing you're most proud of!"

Xiao Shuang's figure appeared. His frost-white Dou Qi Gauze Robe fluttered in the wind, while the icy mist seemed to be torn open by a rift. He stepped out from that rift and kicked at the Magic Flame Tiger's head.

"Roar, roar!" With an enraged bellow, the Magic Flame Tiger actually rose onto its hind legs, its tiger paw tearing through the air as it slapped toward Xiao Shuang.

Suddenly, a cunning gleam appeared in the Magic Flame Tiger's eyes. Its tiger paw withdrew its force, allowing Xiao Shuang's kick to send its body reeling backward, while its tail whipped directly toward Xiao Shuang's chest.

"Tsk, what a treacherous beast." Xiao Shuang was briefly startled before pointing a finger forward.

"Ice Breaking Finger!"

The power of a Profound-grade Dou Technique was far greater than that of a tiger tail. The instant they collided, the tiger tail was pierced through, blood pouring out.

With one finger, he had pierced through the tiger tail. The Magic Flame Tiger cried out miserably in pain, then leaped back forcefully to open up some distance.

"Hehe, your blood isn't nearly as scorching as the flames on your body." Xiao Shuang shook his finger. Ice-blue Dou Qi enveloped his entire hand, instantly clearing away the blood clinging to it.

"Roar..." The Magic Flame Tiger's momentum had weakened considerably. It lowered its head slightly, seeming close to surrendering.

"I only want your magic core, so begging for mercy is meaningless." Xiao Shuang took out his spear again and smiled. He did not attack immediately, instead giving the Magic Flame Tiger a chance to counterattack.

He merely wanted to play around for a while. After all, every battle deepened his understanding of the Extreme Cold Physique and made his Dou Qi easier to wield.

Seeing that begging was futile, the Magic Flame Tiger instead arched its body, adopting a posture as though it were gathering strength to strike.

"Good, very good!"

Seeing the Magic Flame Tiger prepared to risk its life, Xiao Shuang's eyes lit up. The spear in his hand shone brilliantly, absorbing a considerable amount of the surrounding icy mist.

With power in its hind legs, the Magic Flame Tiger let out a long roar and pounced forward. The flames on its body surged in intensity, making it resemble a fireball.

Xiao Shuang thrust out his spear, ice-blue Dou Qi condensing into a spiraling spear tip as he met it head-on.

The instant they collided, a thunderous boom erupted. Man and tiger remained locked in confrontation for a moment before the Magic Flame Tiger's aura rapidly withered.

The surrounding icy mist affected it too greatly. It could not absorb the energy of heaven and earth to restore itself at all. After several clashes, it naturally became exhausted.

With a forceful movement of his arm, Xiao Shuang drove his spear directly into the Magic Flame Tiger's head. Then he flicked the spear tip upward, sending the blood-stained magic core arcing through the air before it landed on the ground.

The Magic Flame Tiger's massive body crashed to the ground, and the life in its eyes swiftly faded away.

Bending down to pick up the magic core, Xiao Shuang nodded in satisfaction.

A third-tier magic core—this time, he had made a profit. The Magic Flame Tiger's corpse could also be taken back, and it was worth quite a few Gold Coins.

The icy mist gradually dispersed, revealing Xiao Shuang standing before everyone with his spear in hand, a massive Magic Flame Tiger lying dead beside him.

By this time, the Xiao Family mercenaries had already dealt with all the Second-Tier Demonic Beasts. Only four Dou Zhe had suffered minor injuries, and they had been simply bandaged with Blood Coagulating Grass.

When Blood Coagulating Grass was crushed and applied to a wound, it quickly stopped the bleeding and also had some pain-relieving effect.

Seeing that Xiao Shuang was safe and sound, Xiao Lei finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had wanted to go in and help, but the moment he approached the icy mist, the circulation of Dou Qi in his body slowed greatly, forcing him to remain outside.

If he forced his way in, he would only hold Young Master back.