Scorpion Tiger

The group quietly approached the mountain cave. As they got closer, a beastly stench filled Zeng Fan's nostrils, making him gag. White animal bones were scattered throughout the nearby bushes, clearly the work of this Scorpion Tiger.

Yao Ling'er and Chen Yan hid around the cave entrance, giving the two men a signal that they were ready. Zeng Fan and Wang Ying exchanged glances.

"Attack!"

Zeng Fan picked up a stone the size of a human head from the ground and swung his arm. The stone whistled through the air and into the cave.

"Roooar!" A furious roar echoed from within the cave, followed by a gust of foul-smelling wind. A demonic beast, about three meters long, appeared before them. It resembled a tiger but had a shining black scorpion's tail. Its eyes were blood-red as it glared at Zeng Fan and Wang Ying, its sharp claws impatiently gouging deep marks into the ground.

"Now's our chance!" Zeng Fan shouted.

Two packets of powder flew from the nearby grass towards the Scorpion Tiger. The beast, possessing some intelligence, tried to dodge the incoming objects. However, it was too late. The packets exploded mid-air, instantly enveloping the Scorpion Tiger in powder. White smoke billowed where the powder touched its fur, seeming to corrode its skin.

The Scorpion Tiger let out a pained roar. This tactic was Zeng Fan's idea. Humans were adept at using tools, and while divine weapons would be more effective against demonic beasts, Zeng Fan couldn't obtain any yet. However, some simpler methods could still be quite potent.

He had Yao Ling'er prepare some poison that could be effective if scattered directly. Feeding it to the beast was unrealistic. This powder could corrode the Scorpion Tiger's fur, reducing its defenses and allowing Zeng Fan and the others' attacks to penetrate more easily.

After another roar of pain, the Scorpion Tiger, eyes still red, charged at the two women. Wang Ying quickly intercepted it. Facing such a ferocious beast, Wang Ying didn't dare to be careless and went all out. He took a step back to avoid the Scorpion Tiger's swipe and landed a powerful whip kick to its abdomen. However, the beast merely paused before attacking Wang Ying again.

"This thing's hide is really tough," Zeng Fan observed. Seeing that Wang Ying's attack hadn't done much damage, he knew this would be a tough fight.

"Aim for the areas where its fur is corroded!" Zeng Fan called out to Wang Ying, then joined the fray. The Scorpion Tiger, seeing both of them charge, showed no fear, becoming even more ferocious. It gathered strength in its hind legs and leaped, charging directly at Zeng Fan. A tiger claw swiped down towards Zeng Fan's head. Zeng Fan channeled all his spiritual energy to his arms, executing the Fish Dance technique to evade the most powerful frontal strike. Still, his arm was grazed by the claw, sending Zeng Fan flying backward. As the Scorpion Tiger prepared to follow up, Wang Ying intercepted it again.

Zeng Fan rolled twice on the ground to absorb the impact. He raised his arm and saw two long, bloody gashes on his skin, accompanied by a burning pain.

"This thing is truly strong," Zeng Fan's expression grew serious. They had to attack the Scorpion Tiger's weak points quickly, or they wouldn't stand a chance in a head-on fight and would have to retreat.

With this thought, Zeng Fan advanced again. Wang Ying was now fighting with all his might, constantly fending off the Scorpion Tiger's claws. The beast's tail occasionally lashed out from unexpected angles with a chilling glint. Whenever Wang Ying was about to falter, Zeng Fan would step in to block. The two cooperated, managing to hold their own against the Scorpion Tiger. Yao Ling'er and Chen Yan observed from a distance, as their cultivation levels were not high, and they lacked combat experience. They could only closely monitor the situation and assist in a retreat if necessary.

When the Scorpion Tiger knocked Wang Ying away again, Zeng Fan finally found an opening. He landed a powerful punch on the Scorpion Tiger's abdomen, where the fur had been corroded away. The beast let out a pained roar, its movements becoming sluggish. It was clearly injured.

"It's finally working!" Zeng Fan and Wang Ying felt a surge of energy. If they couldn't inflict any damage on the Scorpion Tiger, they would have to cut their losses and run.

The two cooperated, pulling the Scorpion Tiger back and forth. As the fight wore on, their grasp of the combat rhythm improved. The Scorpion Tiger's injuries grew more severe. Finally, as Zeng Fan blocked a lunge, Wang Ying seized the opportunity to unleash his finishing move.

"Eagle Claw Hand!"

Wang Ying's palm plunged directly into the Scorpion Tiger's abdomen. With a forceful pull, he ripped out its internal organs. A mournful cry, and blood sprayed uncontrollably. The Scorpion Tiger madly attacked them both, but it was at its last breath. Now, they just had to wait for it to bleed out.

The Scorpion Tiger's frenzied attacks only accelerated its blood loss. After venting its rage, its massive body crashed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"It's finally dead!" Zeng Fan slowly calmed the fluctuations of spiritual energy within him. Although physically exhausted, he couldn't contain his joy. The Body Tempering Fruit was within reach, and his cultivation speed would soon increase significantly.

Beside him, Yao Ling'er cheered and headed towards the cliff to harvest the Body Tempering Fruit.

Just then, something unexpected happened. Zeng Fan's scalp tingled, and a sense of danger washed over him. Three sharp whistles reached his ears. Though he didn't know what they were, Zeng Fan immediately rolled on the ground, shouting a warning.

"Everyone, be careful!"

But it was too late! Two cries of pain rang out. Zeng Fan's heart sank. He looked at the spot where he had been standing. A sharp arrow was embedded there, its tail feathers still quivering. The arrowhead had disappeared into the ground. Judging by the force, if it had hit him, it would have left a gaping wound.

"A surprise attack!" Zeng Fan's heart sank further. He looked at Wang Ying, who had an arrow lodged in his left shoulder. Wang Ying gritted his teeth, forcefully gripping the arrow and pulling it out with a low growl, bringing a spray of blood with it.

Wang Ying had reacted slightly slower than Zeng Fan. Upon hearing the warning, he had only managed to twist his body, diverting the arrow aimed at his heart to his shoulder. While he avoided a fatal blow, his left arm was now severely impaired.

The other cry of pain came from Chen Yan. She lay on the ground, an arrow protruding from her abdomen. Though still alive, she was no longer able to fight.

"Arriving just in time. You've all worked hard. The Scorpion Tiger is dealt with, the Body Tempering Fruit is ripe, and we have two lovely ladies. Quite a haul for today," a mocking voice approached from a distance. Three figures slowly appeared.

Zeng Fan focused his gaze. Three men stood before him. They looked ordinary, but their features were strikingly similar.

"Three brothers?" Zeng Fan's heart grew heavier. Only he, Wang Ying, and Yao Ling'er still had combat capability. Wang Ying was seriously injured, he himself had minor injuries and was significantly depleted of stamina, and Yao Ling'er was not skilled in combat.

Most importantly, in Zeng Fan's perception, all three newcomers were at the Body Tempering Bone Perfection stage!