The Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Follow-ups)

As the others stood in shock, Xu Tianlong continued:

"This time, I'm taking Haoyu deep into the Ten Thousand Mountains. If we cause any major commotion, there's no need for you to investigate. Just guard Town South Pass."

Everyone nodded in acknowledgment. The Second Elder looked eagerly at Xu Haoyu, then puffed out his chest and said:

"Brother Tianlong, do you need us to assist from the side?"

Xu Tianlong shook his head in refusal. He alone was enough; too many people would only get in the way. He said:

"No need. The two of us, grandfather and grandson, will be enough."

The Second Elder did not press further, merely saying with some regret:

"Since that's the case, then I wish you both all the best."

The banquet continued until late into the night, when everyone finally dispersed. Xu Tianlong and Xu Haoyu spent the night in the City Lord's Mansion.

The next day, personally escorted by the Second and Third Elders, they left Town South Pass. Before them lay the endless, winding Magical Beast Mountain Range.

The Ten Thousand Mountains was merely a general term, for it consisted of countless mountain ranges piled together. Beyond one mountain lay another, and every range was home to numerous magical beasts as well as countless rare treasures.

At the entrance to the mountains, besides Xu Tianlong and Xu Haoyu, the grandfather-grandson pair, there were many mercenaries. Some entered alone, while others formed groups. Some even raised flags and began calling out.

"Those heading into Black Wind Cave, come quick! We're hunting second-order Bear Monsters and still need three people! Dou Shi or above only! First come, first served—once we're full, we leave!"

"Those heading into Monkey Mountain, come quick! Monkey Mountain is filled with Spirit Fruits! We'll explore together—whoever picks a Spirit Fruit keeps it! If we run into Fire Apes, we advance and retreat together!"

"..."

Xu Haoyu glanced around curiously. It felt like entering an instance dungeon to fight monsters. The life of a mercenary seemed rather interesting.

Xu Tianlong smiled knowingly at the sight. His well-behaved grandson had grown up in the clan, so it was only natural for him to yearn for the outside world. He then said:

"Haoyu, let's go. We won't find what we need in these explored areas. Fifth- or sixth-order fire-attributed magical beasts—magical beasts worthy of being called Beast Kings—are all in those undeveloped regions rarely visited by people."

Xu Haoyu answered, withdrew his gaze, and followed Xu Tianlong into the mountain range with his chest held high and a long saber at his waist.

Upon entering the forest, a breath of nature washed over him. Xu Haoyu cultivated several kinds of Dou Qi and could clearly sense that energies of every attribute were especially active within the forest.

He raised his brows. If he could cultivate here, it should greatly benefit the growth of his Dou Qi.

Xu Tianlong slightly raised his head, stretched out his palm, and grabbed forward. Various colors began to emerge from the originally transparent air—Heaven and Earth Energy of different attributes.

After being compressed, it had become relatively dense, which was why it could be seen.

Rubbing his fingers together and sensing for a moment, Xu Tianlong found the direction where fire-attributed energy was more active. There had to be one volcano there, perhaps even several. Such places were the favored habitats of fire-attributed magical beasts.

Then, a sharp glint flashed through Xu Tianlong's eyes. He grabbed Xu Haoyu by the shoulder with one hand and laughed heartily.

"Haoyu, Grandpa will take you to find some fire-attributed magical beasts."

With that, Xu Tianlong rose into the air with Xu Haoyu. It was as though they had been enveloped by Heaven and Earth Energy, before turning into a streak of light and vanishing in a rapid flash.

Watching the forests, mountains, and rivers below race backward, Xu Haoyu smiled helplessly.

He had originally wanted to experience the life of an ordinary mercenary, but it seemed that would not be possible now.

Less than half a day later, Xu Tianlong brought Xu Haoyu to a volcanic mountain range. They descended directly and, after searching around for a while—

They easily found the master of the mountain range: a fifth-order Exploding Flame Bear, comparable to a human Dou Wang expert.

Xu Tianlong stepped forward and suppressed it with one hand. He merely extended his palm, and a hand condensed from Heaven and Earth Energy smacked the Exploding Flame Bear unconscious.

The crimson flames on its body were extremely hot and possessed explosive properties. They were indeed a decent kind of flame.

However, after the grandfather and grandson discussed it briefly, they both shook their heads.

Even if Xu Haoyu nurtured the flame of a fifth-order magical beast using Dou Qi, its limit was fixed from the start. It had little potential, making it not worth the effort.

Afterward, Xu Tianlong quickly left with Xu Haoyu to seek their next target.

As for the Exploding Flame Bear, it only woke up much later. Recalling what it had seen before losing consciousness, it let out a low roar, then turned around and scrambled back into its Mountain Cave on all fours.

Elsewhere, over the course of several days, Xu Tianlong and Xu Haoyu challenged more than a dozen mountain peaks. Most of the magical beasts on those peaks were fifth-order, while the few sixth-order magical beasts they found were listed as possible candidates.

After making their selection, they finally found a magical beast that satisfied both grandfather and grandson.

A peak sixth-order magical beast—the Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger!

Tianling Mountain Range!

For the time being, they called it that. Above the mountain range, the Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger sensed danger and took the initiative to rush out, standing in the sky.

It was a gigantic tiger over thirty meters long. Its white fur was covered in black stripes, while the intersecting markings on its forehead formed a majestic king character.

A pair of wings extended from its back, spanning over forty meters when spread. Blazing white flames burned upon those broad wings, carrying a faintly sacred air.

Within its blood-red Beastly Eyes lay deep vigilance, as well as an unruly arrogance. It stared at Xu Tianlong and Xu Haoyu, then spoke in human language to issue a warning:

"Human, what have you come here for?"

Xu Tianlong held Xu Haoyu in one hand and looked at the Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger with satisfaction in his eyes. Then, in an unquestionable tone, he said:

"Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger, I want to collect your Origin Flame. If you agree, you may live. If you refuse, then you can only die."

Roar!

The Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger let out an earthshaking roar. The tiger's roar carried for a thousand miles, its piercing force immensely powerful as it stirred up airwaves that spread in all directions like a violent gale.

It was enraged. Flames of fury blazed within it. As a fire-attributed magical beast, once it drew out its Origin Flame, it would suffer severe injuries at best, or fall in cultivation at worst.

It was a peak sixth-rank magical beast. Having its Origin Flame extracted would likewise deal a devastating blow to its vitality.

The Blazing Heavenly Flame Tiger let out another roar:

"You've gone too far! Damn human, even if I die today, I won't let you have your way!"

Xu Tianlong's expression remained as calm as ever as he spoke lightly:

"If that is the case, then I'll take your Magical Core as well. A sixth-rank fire-attributed tiger Magical Core is precisely the finest material for refining a Pure Yang Pill..."