An Unexpected Windfall from a Finishing Move

Monster Mountain Range.

Liu Yun found a place to meditate. After waiting a full day, He Qingfeng finally arrived late.

"Young Master, that Lion Tiger Beast...?" He Qingfeng asked.

"It's already dead. Where is the Crimson Flame Tiger now? I've recovered, so let's hurry and find it!" Liu Yun said.

"So quickly?" He Qingfeng was stunned. Had the Young Master suddenly become stronger? A Peak Tier 2 Magical Beast had been killed so easily? And judging by his appearance, he was completely unharmed. That was outrageous!

Not just He Qingfeng—even Liu Yun himself was secretly alarmed. He had actually crushed the Lion Tiger Beast in such a manner.

"Is this what real combat is like?" Liu Yun muttered. How many chances to catch their breath had he given his opponents in his previous battles?

After recovering from his shock, He Qingfeng began describing the Crimson Flame Tiger's location.

"The Crimson Flame Tiger entered a lair in the end. I suspect there is more than one Crimson Flame Tiger inside. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the cave to be so large.

However, after repeatedly confirming it, I can say for certain that there is indeed only one Crimson Flame Tiger in the cave right now," He Qingfeng said.

Liu Yun fell into deep thought. If there was more than one Crimson Flame Tiger, things would become troublesome. Elder He's round trip alone had taken a day. By the time they got there again, it would take at least another half day. Who knew what might happen during that time?

Still, since they had come this far, Liu Yun decided to take another look. If there was still only one Crimson Flame Tiger in the lair, wouldn't that be a huge gain for him?

Thus, the two rushed over without stopping and reached the Crimson Flame Tiger's lair in less than half a day.

He Qingfeng cautiously stepped forward. After probing the area several times, he hurried back to Liu Yun in ecstatic delight and told him that there truly was only one Crimson Flame Tiger in the cave.

Without further hesitation, the two slipped into the cave. After winding through several turns, they finally saw the tiger, its entire body emitting crimson flames.

At that moment, the Crimson Flame Tiger was sleeping soundly, its snores thunderous.

Was this an opportunity? It was absolutely an unprecedented opportunity. Liu Yun dared say that one finishing move would be enough to send the sleeping Crimson Flame Tiger to meet the Buddha.

But he could not do that. The system's mission clearly stated that he had to kill it head-on. No tricks were allowed, nor could any person or Magical Beast assist him.

For this mission, Liu Yun had even suppressed his breakthrough to Dou Master. He absolutely could not waste this opportunity.

Under He Qingfeng's dumbfounded gaze, Liu Yun strode right up to the Crimson Flame Tiger. Then he shouted, "Crimson Flame Tiger, I, the human Liu Yun, have come to challenge you!"

Startled by the commotion, the sleeping Crimson Flame Tiger jolted awake. Every hair on its body stood on end as it leaped three meters into the air, landing more than ten meters away.

It had been thoroughly frightened. Once it came to its senses, however, it immediately flew into a rage from humiliation, its dangerous eyes sizing Liu Yun up and down.

"Brother Tiger, excuse me."

Liu Yun chuckled. He pointed the Liu Yun Sword, shimmering with a faint green glow, forward and struck an outrageously flashy pose. Then, without waiting for the Crimson Flame Tiger to react, he lunged forward, sword dancing as he charged straight at it.

He was not acting entirely without thought. While the Crimson Flame Tiger had been asleep, he had already surveyed the surrounding terrain.

At that moment, he occupied higher ground. Even if his opponent counterattacked, it would be at a complete disadvantage.

However, as a king among Magical Beasts, the Crimson Flame Tiger was no pushover. It was naturally extremely sensitive to danger, and the enemy before it gave it an overwhelming sense of peril.

Seeing Liu Yun charge at it with his sword, every strand of crimson fur on its body trembled. The character for "king" on its forehead began glowing a scorching red as destructive energy erupted forth to meet Liu Yun's attack.

This was the Crimson Flame Tiger's finishing move. It fused all the flames across its body into a beam of light and fired it at the enemy directly ahead, its power comparable to a Mysterious Tier High-grade Dou Technique used by a human.

The charging Liu Yun was greatly startled. He had never expected this beast to unleash its finishing move right from the start. Were they not even going to test each other with a few moves first?

At that critical moment, Liu Yun used the same technique again.

"Flying Catkins Movement Technique!" With a flash, Liu Yun traced a long zigzag path. Two Flying Catkins afterimages crisscrossed in his wake as he approached the Crimson Flame Tiger like a ghost.

Although the Dou Technique and movement technique were of the same grade, the movement technique Liu Yun had obtained through the system's Return had long surpassed this realm in proficiency. Thus, he perfectly evaded the Crimson Flame Tiger's killing strike.

When he appeared again, Liu Yun was already beside the Crimson Flame Tiger.

The Crimson Flame Tiger had just unleashed its finishing move and entered a brief period of weakness. Unsurprisingly, it was struck by the sword and chased down by Liu Yun's relentless slashes.

What followed was Liu Yun's assault. A set of Chaotic Wind Casual Sword Art strikes sent the Sabertooth Tiger fleeing in miserable defeat. Its fur was nearly shaved off, crimson tiger hairs scattering throughout the cave while blood covered the ground.

A tiger's roar shook heaven and earth, sounding both mournful and furious. The Crimson Flame Tiger gathered another finishing move, the "king" mark on its forehead shining brilliantly like a tiny sun.

Liu Yun knew that this bastard was about to risk its life!

"Then let us clash head-on!" Liu Yun laughed. He had wanted to test the strength of his own finishing move anyway.

"Extreme Wind: Meteoric Kill!"

With a loud roar, Liu Yun circulated the Carefree Wind Riding Art. The Dou Qi within his body transformed into Wind Attribute Dou Qi, pouring forth as though it cost nothing and coiling around the Liu Yun Sword.

Liu Yun thrust his sword forward. Ripples spread through the air as a terrifying ray of light shot toward the Crimson Flame Tiger.

At that moment, the Crimson Flame Tiger's charged finishing move was complete as well. The two attacks collided in midair.

"Boom!"

The violent tremor echoed through the cavern, cracks appearing all around its spacious walls. In the end, Liu Yun's finishing move proved superior. The ray shattered the Crimson Flame Tiger's attack, pierced through its tough body, and even blasted a huge hole into the ground.

The Crimson Flame Tiger had fallen!

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for killing a Peak Tier 2 Crimson Flame Tiger. Current mission completion progress: (9/10)."

While Liu Yun rejoiced, he also noticed the hole he had blasted open.

Looking closely, he saw red light shining from within the hole, which was large enough for a person to enter. It was actually a Small Secret Realm!

When their eyes met, Liu Yun and He Qingfeng both saw shock in each other's gaze, along with irrepressible delight.

"Elder He, we hit the jackpot!" Liu Yun said with a smile.

"We hit the grand prize. In a secret realm like this, one can usually gather quite a number of medicinal herbs that have grown for many years. If we're lucky, we might even find a Heaven and Earth Rare Item." He Qingfeng recounted what he knew.

Liu Yun danced with excitement. What were Heaven and Earth Rare Items? The Heavenly Flames that drove countless people mad were one kind of Heaven and Earth Rare Item.

Although he could obtain them through the system's Return, what the system gave him was one thing. Something gained through his own efforts was what truly brought satisfaction from the depths of his heart—the difference between money given by one's parents and money earned oneself.