News of the Fire Python Tiger, the Mantis Stalks the Cicada!

At this moment, a steady stream of figures had already charged into the jungle, everyone remaining wary of one another.

The Hunting Competition had begun, and Lin Yi did not delay, walking into the dense jungle with an unhurried pace.

As he stepped into the woods, the clamor that had filled his ears was muffled by the thick foliage, and for a moment, it became much quieter.

Lin Yi identified his direction and quickly headed toward the massive stone platform at the center of the jungle.

In any case, all the participants would eventually end up there, so he did not need to run around searching for them.

In fact, before Lin Yi could even reach the central platform, he encountered several individuals on the way who tried to snatch his identity tag.

Lin Yi naturally showed no mercy, easily seizing their identity tags in return.

Among the juniors from Qingyang Town participating in the Hunting Competition, the strongest besides Lin Yi was only Lei Li at the early Earth Yuan Stage, who posed no threat to him at all.

Lin Yi collected over a dozen identity tags with ease.

As time passed, Lin Yi gradually ventured deeper into the jungle.

What surprised Lin Yi slightly was that he had not encountered a single acquaintance along the way.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a cluster of bushes trembled slightly, and an arrow shot violently toward Lin Yi!

Lin Yi's brows twitched. He lashed out with his hand, caught the arrow in mid-air, and then hurled it back toward the direction of the bushes with force.

"Hmph..."

The arrow pierced into the foliage, followed by a muffled grunt. At the same time, an agile figure sprang out and landed on a tree trunk, staring at Lin Yi with a vigilant expression.

Lin Yi lifted his eyes nonchalantly to see a young girl dressed in a tight-fitting leather outfit standing on the trunk.

Wrapped in her form-fitting clothes, the girl's lithe body appeared exquisite with captivating curves.

Unlike the fair skin of typical women, her complexion was a healthy bronze, giving her an air of wild beauty.

At this moment, there was a tear in the leather outfit on her left shoulder, revealing a faint bloodstain.

That scratch had been caused by the arrow Lin Yi had thrown back!

The girl was now gripping a Green Wood Bow, and a wooden arrow was already nocked once more before anyone could notice.

"If you fire that arrow, I won't hold back next time," Lin Yi glanced at the girl and said indifferently.

Lin Yi had been cultivating his Spiritual Energy for several months; although he had yet to condense his Life Talisman Seal, his Spiritual Energy had grown many times stronger, and his perception far exceeded that of ordinary people.

Because he had already guessed the girl's identity and purpose, the arrow he threw back had merely been a warning.

Otherwise, using his Spiritual Energy as a guide, he could have easily pierced the girl's heart or throat with that shot!

"Don't... don't be impulsive, we're on the same side!"

Just then, a familiar voice suddenly rang out from nearby. The leaves rustled, and a figure appeared before Lin Yi—it was Wu Yun from the Mad Saber Martial Hall.

Lin Yi looked at Wu Yun. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Don't misunderstand. We're looking for you because we want to cooperate," Wu Yun waved his hands repeatedly, explaining.

Lin Yi's heart stirred upon hearing this. He hadn't expected them to discover the Fire Python Tiger first, but he remained calm on the surface. "Oh? What kind of cooperation?"

"We found a Fire Python Tiger here," Wu Yun stepped forward and whispered.

"An adult Fire Python Tiger is comparable to a Heaven Origin Realm expert. Even if we join forces, we won't be able to handle it," Lin Yi shook his head slightly.

Wu Yun said softly, "The Fire Python Tiger is currently severely wounded; it must have escaped from the deep mountains. And most importantly, it has just given birth to cubs."

"You mean to snatch the Fire Python Tiger cubs?" Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, asking a question he already knew the answer to.

"Exactly," Wu Yun nodded and continued, "Lei Li and Xie Yingying have already headed that way and found some helpers, so I had no choice but to come to you."

"You wouldn't want the Lei and Xie families to get their hands on the Fire Python Tiger cubs, would you? How about it? Do you want to cooperate?"

Lin Yi's eyes flashed, and he said in a deep voice, "Fine, let's do it!"

"Haha, Brother Lin Yi is truly straightforward!" Seeing Lin Yi agree, Wu Yun couldn't help but laugh out loud, then introduced the girl beside him.

"Come, let me introduce you. This is Mu Lingsha; she was the one who discovered the Fire Python Tiger first..."

"So it is Miss Mu. I thought it was an enemy ambush just now, my apologies," Lin Yi cupped his hands toward Mu Lingsha and said.

Mu Lingsha looked at Lin Yi deeply. "I have heard your name. Lin Yi of the Lin Family—your strength is indeed impressive!"

"Hehe, let's put the earlier matter behind us," Wu Yun chuckled, then added, "There should be three Fire Python Tiger cubs. If we succeed, we each take one. No problem, right?"

"As long as we can get our hands on them, I have no objections," Lin Yi said with a faint smile.

Wu Yun nodded slightly upon hearing this and looked up at Mu Lingsha on the tree trunk. The latter leaped down with agile grace, glanced at Lin Yi, and said, "Follow me."

With that, she took the lead and dashed toward the right side of the jungle.

Lin Yi and Wu Yun exchanged a look and quickly followed.

Guided by Mu Lingsha, the group of three wove continuously through the jungle.

About ten minutes later, Mu Lingsha's speed slowed down. Her lithe figure flashed as she hid behind a large tree.

"We're here," Wu Yun leaned close to Lin Yi and whispered in a low voice.

Lin Yi nodded slightly, his gaze fixed beyond the thicket.

In a clearing, over a dozen figures stood holding wooden spears, with Lei Li and Xie Yingying leading the group.

A beast, standing a full ten feet tall and covered in fur as red as fire, was surrounded by them.

The beast had a ferocious and violent tiger head, while its tail, coiled upon its back, resembled a fire python flicking its tongue.

This beast was the Fire Python Tiger that had escaped from the deep mountains after just giving birth.

At this moment, the Fire Python Tiger bore gruesome wounds, with blood continuously gushing from its body, staining the ground a deep crimson.

With injuries like these, even if no one attacked it, it would likely bleed to death before long.

Lei Li and his group clearly understood this, so they were merely circling and probing the beast with tentative attacks.

Lin Yi scanned the area and quickly spotted three blood-stained, blind cubs huddled on a rock ledge behind the Fire Python Tiger.

"Heh, I told you so. What now?" Wu Yun whispered to Lin Yi with a chuckle.

"Wait until the Fire Python Tiger breathes its last," Lin Yi said in a low voice, casting a complex look at the dying adult beast.

Wu Yun and Mu Lingsha had no objections to Lin Yi's suggestion.

The three of them then watched Lei Li and the others tangle with the Fire Python Tiger while discussing their next move.

Under the watchful eyes of Lin Yi and his companions, the Fire Python Tiger was constantly provoked by Lei Li's group; it could only sluggishly give chase, its wounds worsening until it finally collapsed with a desperate, low roar.

Seeing the Fire Python Tiger finally fall and expire, Lei Li, Xie Yingying, and the others were overcome with wild joy. With greedy eyes fixed on the three cubs on the rock ledge, they surged forward.

"Move!"

At the same time, Lin Yi let out a low shout, stomped his foot against the ground, and shot forward, intercepting Lei Li and Xie Yingying.