The spiritual energy fluctuation was exceptionally dense, far surpassing that of any Demon Beast Shen Hao had encountered before. His heart stirred, and driven by curiosity, he headed deeper into the Dense Forest.
Carefully parting the undergrowth, he saw a fiery red Demon Beast lying in a clearing ahead. It had the build of a tiger and was covered in flame-like markings—it was a Crimson Flame Tiger. Crimson Flame Tigers were low-tier Demon Beasts, their cultivation equivalent to that of a Qi Refining Third Layer cultivator. They excelled at controlling fire, and their power was boundless.
At that moment, the Crimson Flame Tiger was covered in wounds, its aura weak and listless. It had clearly endured a brutal battle. A wound so deep that bone showed gaped across its abdomen, blood continually pouring from it.
A glint flashed through Shen Hao's eyes. He knew this was a perfect opportunity. If he could kill this Crimson Flame Tiger and obtain its Demonic Core, his cultivation would surely rise another step.
But he also knew that though the Crimson Flame Tiger was badly wounded, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse. Its cultivation far surpassed his own. If he attacked rashly, he would surely suffer dearly.
After pondering for a moment, Shen Hao decided to observe first and wait for the best moment to strike.
He hid behind a large tree, held his breath, and carefully watched the Crimson Flame Tiger's movements.
The Crimson Flame Tiger lay on the ground, panting heavily, its eyes filled with exhaustion. It licked at its wounds and let out a low roar.
Shen Hao knew the Crimson Flame Tiger's injuries were severe and that it had little strength left. Taking a deep breath, he gripped his Flying Sword and silently circled behind it.
The Crimson Flame Tiger seemed to sense the danger. It abruptly turned around, a savage gleam flashing in its eyes. Opening its blood-filled maw, it spewed out a stream of flame at Shen Hao.
Shen Hao had been prepared. He swiftly retreated and evaded the flames. They struck the ground, reducing the grass and trees to ash.
What formidable flames! Shen Hao inwardly shuddered.
He did not dare delay. With Flying Sword in hand, he fiercely stabbed toward the Crimson Flame Tiger's wound.
Badly injured, the Crimson Flame Tiger was much slower than before. It had no time to dodge before the Flying Sword pierced its wound.
The Crimson Flame Tiger let out a shrill cry and violently swung a claw at Shen Hao.
Shen Hao quickly retreated, dodging the Crimson Flame Tiger's claw. With his Flying Sword in hand, he stabbed fiercely at its wound once more.
The Crimson Flame Tiger's wound had already been deep enough to expose bone. With Shen Hao's two attacks added on top, its injuries became even more severe. Its aura grew increasingly weak.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen Hao gripped his Flying Sword and fiercely stabbed toward the Crimson Flame Tiger's neck.
Squelch!
The Flying Sword pierced the Crimson Flame Tiger's neck, and blood instantly burst forth.
The Crimson Flame Tiger's body twitched a few times before it collapsed to the ground, its aura gone.
Shen Hao let out a breath of relief and walked to the Crimson Flame Tiger's corpse. Holding his Flying Sword, he carefully cut open its abdomen and removed a fiery red Demonic Core. The core was roughly the size of a fist and contained dense fire-aspected spiritual energy. Mixed within that spiritual energy was a faint trace of the power of flame.
Holding the Demonic Core in his hand, Shen Hao felt scorching spiritual energy flow through his fingertips and into his body. Delighted, he took out the Companion Jade Pendant and pressed it against the Demonic Core.
The Companion Jade Pendant instantly lit up with a streak of azure light and began devouring the spiritual energy within the Demonic Core. Like a flowing stream, the spiritual energy continuously poured into the jade pendant. After purifying it, the pendant transformed it into even purer spiritual energy, which flowed through Shen Hao's meridians and into his Sea of Qi.
A feeling of comfort instantly swept through every limb and bone in Shen Hao's body. He could clearly feel the spiritual energy within his Sea of Qi growing increasingly dense.
Half an hour later, the Crimson Flame Tiger's Demonic Core had become dull and lusterless. The spiritual energy within had been completely devoured by the jade pendant.
Shen Hao slowly opened his eyes and examined his Sea of Qi inwardly. The spiritual energy within it had already reached the Early Qi Refining Third Layer.
"Wonderful! I've broken through to the Early Qi Refining Third Layer!" Shen Hao's eyes were filled with delight.
He tucked the dim Demonic Core into his clothes, intending to take it to the Market and exchange it for Spirit Stones.
Shen Hao looked at the sky. It was gradually growing dark. He did not dare linger long in the Dense Forest and hurried toward his residence.
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