Black Tiger, Giant Python

The small tree twisted like a coiled dragon, its entire body a blood-red hue, standing about five feet tall. At its apex hung a fruit the size of a fist, also blood-red like jade, though about a tenth of its surface was still green, indicating it hadn't fully matured.

"It seems the objective of these beasts is this single fruit," Lin Baichuan murmured to himself. "But what kind of fruit is this, to attract the covetous eyes of so many demonic beasts? Could it be some kind of natural treasure?"

As he spoke, a sharp glint flashed in Lin Baichuan's eyes, filled with fervent desire. Any natural treasure was immeasurable in value. Just like his Earth Spirit Milk, it was a type of natural treasure, and its value was terrifying.

For a moment, numerous thoughts surged through Lin Baichuan's mind. His gaze was fixed on the fruit of the blood-red tree that resembled a coiled dragon. He subconsciously swallowed, then his eyes narrowed, focusing on the eleven demonic beasts. The fruit wasn't going anywhere, and it wasn't ripe yet. It was the perfect time to eliminate these eleven demonic beasts and reap a harvest.

Having made up his mind, Lin Baichuan wasted no time. He stepped onto the Wind Shadow Steps and charged directly towards the mountain hollow. He didn't plan to call for backup, as no one knew when the fruit would ripen. Of course, the main reason was that he didn't want to call for backup because he was confident he could handle it alone. The strongest of the eleven demonic beasts was only at Soldier Rank 4, equivalent to a Sixth Rank Blood Refining realm human martial artist. Moreover, judging by their aura, they were only at the early stage of Soldier Rank 4. Lin Baichuan was confident that his own strength was more than enough to deal with them.

"Roar, roar..."

As he charged into the mountain hollow, he immediately drew the attention of the eleven demonic beasts within. The Black Tiger let out a sky-shattering roar, instantly alarming all the beasts in the hollow, who all turned to look at Lin Baichuan. Their blood-red eyes exuded a bloodthirsty killing intent.

In the next moment, hundreds of beasts moved simultaneously, forming a formation and charging directly at Lin Baichuan.

"Damn it, these guys really have gotten smart. They actually know battle formations," Lin Baichuan muttered softly. His Battle Saber was already drawn, and with the Wind Shadow Steps beneath his feet, he crossed hundreds of feet like a gentle breeze, rushing before the group of beasts. His Battle Saber slashed out like a cold gleam.

Puff, puff, puff...

With a flash of his saber, more than a dozen streams of blood shot into the sky. Under Lin Baichuan's strike, as if slicing through tofu, he dismembered more than a dozen beasts tainted with Demonic Aura. Blood flowed everywhere, and malevolent energy permeated the sky.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1 point of Merit.] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1 point of Merit.] [Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 1 point of Merit.] ...

At this moment, a series of system prompts sounded in his consciousness. A thick smile appeared on Lin Baichuan's face. As expected, his guess was correct. As long as they were tainted with demonic aura, regardless of whether they were demonic beasts or not, they would yield at least one point of Merit. Here were thousands of beasts tainted with Demonic Aura, which in his eyes translated to thousands of Merits. This was a great fortune.

"Roar, roar..."

Lin Baichuan's initial strike, which ferociously killed more than a dozen beasts, ignited the fury of the remaining beasts. Accompanied by low growls, the remaining nearly a hundred beasts unleashed bloodthirsty glints and charged towards Lin Baichuan.

Simultaneously, two demonic beasts emerged from the mountain hollow, leading hundreds of beasts. They split into two groups, intending to devour Lin Baichuan alive. It seemed these two demonic beasts knew that the hundred or so beasts alone couldn't stop Lin Baichuan.

"Hmph, a bunch of beasts. No matter how many come, they will die..." Lin Baichuan snorted coldly. He looked at the charging demonic beasts and wild beasts, completely unfazed. With the Wind Shadow Steps beneath his feet, his Battle Saber moved like chopping vegetables, instantly slicing through the first wave of a hundred beasts. Without any pause, he charged towards one of the demonic beasts.

Clang!

His long saber flashed, revealing a killing intent that permeated the sky. This was the Seven Kill Saber Art at the peak of perfection. Bolstered by Lin Baichuan's formidable physical strength, each strike unleashed over a hundred thousand jin of power. Even a Sixth Rank Blood Refining realm expert would find it difficult to resist. The demonic beast before him was merely at the peak of Soldier Rank 1, equivalent to the peak of the Ninth Rank Skin Refinement Realm for human martial artists. How could it possibly withstand Lin Baichuan's enraged strike?

Chich!

With a crisp sound, Lin Baichuan's Battle Saber sliced the demonic beast in half as if it were tofu, blood splattering.

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining 30 points of Merit.]

As the system prompt sounded, Lin Baichuan slid his foot, and like a gust of wind, he appeared before another demonic beast. He repeated the process, his long saber once again slashing out.

Seven Kill Saber Art: Po Jun's Fury!

A cold light flashed, the saber edge whistling. He forcibly split the Black Bear demonic beast before him in two, blood flying.

"Kill!"

Lin Baichuan roared, his killing intent surging. With his Battle Saber swinging, he immediately charged into the horde of beasts before him. At this moment, he was like a fierce tiger descending a mountain. Wherever he went, limbs and broken arms flew, and blood splattered. In less than a hundred breaths, he had cut down thousands of beasts, leaving none alive.

Boom... crackle...

Suddenly, just as Lin Baichuan was excitedly reaping Merits, his mind jolted. His expression changed drastically as he saw an afterimage carrying an astonishing storm, charging directly at him. It was the Giant Python's tail. After witnessing Lin Baichuan slaughter thousands of beasts, it could no longer contain its rage and finally attacked. The tail swept over, carrying a fierce storm, like a whistling blade, emitting an astonishing whistling sound. It carried at least a hundred thousand jin of force, enough to cleave metal and break stone. The air exploded as the tail, as thick as a water bucket, whipped towards Lin Baichuan, instantly arriving before him.

Clang!

Lin Baichuan swept his battle saber, striking the python's tail fiercely. Sparks flew as if metal clashed against metal, and a powerful force erupted, immediately sending Lin Baichuan staggering back.

Roar... Roar...

Just then, a tiger's roar echoed. After Lin Baichuan retreated more than ten steps, the Soldier Rank 4 Black Tiger lunged, like a small mountain, directly at Lin Baichuan. Its pitch-black claws swiped, faintly churning with Demonic Aura, like blades of metal, aimed directly at Lin Baichuan's head.

Shred... Bang...

As the claw descended, the air itself seemed to explode. If this strike had landed squarely, even metal would have been shattered. In just a single exchange, it was within three feet of Lin Baichuan's head, a strong wind gusting, its sharpness fully revealed.

Lin Baichuan wanted to dodge, but it was too late. He could only grit his teeth and immediately activate the Golden Bell Shield technique, his internal energy surging, rushing towards his head.

Dong!

Instantly, a flash of golden light appeared on his body's surface, his skin emitting a faint golden sheen, as if he had transformed into a bronze statue, enduring the Black Tiger's claw.

"Beast, die!"

Lin Baichuan was instantly enraged. He raised his hand, thrusting his battle saber upwards, and fiercely stabbed towards the Black Tiger's belly above him. His minor success in Saber Intent erupted fully at this moment.