Encountering the Fierce Beast Zhen, Killing in Despair!

The cultivation effect on the "Observation Rock Platform" far exceeded Lin Xuan's expectations. The balanced and peaceful Pangu pressure was like the best quenching agent, and the dense, pure Innate Spiritual Energy was an excellent fuel. Combined with the supreme technique, the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique, and the assistance of Body Tempering Spirit Liquid and low-grade spirit stones, his progress was truly a thousand miles a day.

In just a few days, he had completely stabilized the initial stage of the first revolution, his physical strength soaring. With every movement, he possessed hundreds of jin of strength. The bronze luster beneath his skin had also become much more restrained, appearing even more solid. He even attempted to move closer to the edge of the stone platform, nearer to the source of the pressure, to further temper his body.

[Host, a reminder.] The system's voice interrupted his cultivation. [Although the 'Observation Rock Platform' is good, resources are limited. Your bioluminescent mushrooms and meat reserves are running low. To continue improving rapidly, you need more resources, or... continue upwards.]

Lin Xuan opened his eyes and looked towards the higher, cloud-shrouded mountainside. Continuing upward meant stronger pressure and greater danger. But the system's suggestion was correct; stagnation would only waste this precious opportunity.

"Then upwards!" He took a deep breath and made his decision. Before leaving, he carefully collected the few "Wind-Greeting Grass" plants on the stone platform that had medicinal value. Even mosquito legs are meat; survival in the Primordial Era allows for no waste.

Leaving the "Observation Rock Platform," the path upwards became difficult again. The pressure returned, even exceeding its previous intensity, but Lin Xuan, having initially adapted and greatly increased his strength, handled it with much more ease. He maintained the Breath Concealment Technique at full power, like a ghost, darting through the jagged rocks and ancient trees.

The Insight Technique became his greatest reliance. He constantly scanned his surroundings, avoiding areas that exuded powerful demonic energy or obscure fluctuations.

[Iron-Backed Demonic Bear, cultivation: Refining Essence into Qi mid-stage, state: sleeping. Dangerous!]

[Bone-Corroding Flower, Spirit Plant/Poisonous Plant, emits a hallucinatory fragrance, accompanied by Bone-Corroding Ants. Dangerous!]

One piece of information after another was fed back, allowing Lin Xuan to avoid risks in advance and choose relatively safe paths.

Along the way, he also successfully hunted several lone demonic beasts in the early stage of Refining Essence into Qi, replenishing his meat reserves and collecting several new low-level spirit grasses, making for a modest gain.

One day, following an unusually sweet fruity aroma, he arrived at the entrance of a narrow mountain valley. The spiritual energy within the valley was dense, far surpassing the outside.

The Insight Technique swept into the valley, but the feedback was somewhat vague: [Unknown Spirit Fruit, contains pure Wood Spirit Energy. Protected by a powerful life fluctuation, it is advised to stay away.]

"Powerful life fluctuation?" Lin Xuan hesitated. The fact that the Insight Technique could not clearly detect it meant the guardian beast's strength likely surpassed the mid-stage of Refining Essence into Qi, or even higher. But the aroma had an inexplicable attraction for him; the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique's energy flow within his body had even become more active.

Fortune favors the bold! He decided to risk getting closer for a look. He pushed the Breath Concealment Technique to its limit, sticking to the valley walls like a gecko, silently infiltrating.

The valley was not large. At the end was a clear pool, and by the pool grew a small tree less than a person tall. It was emerald green and dripping with vitality, with three dragon's eye-sized, bright red fruits hanging from its branches. That alluring fragrance emanated from these fruits.

And just below the fruit tree, a ferocious-looking beast lay in a semi-slumber. The beast resembled a red leopard, as large as a calf, but with five tails and a sharp single horn on its head. It exuded a violent, malevolent aura that made the surrounding air slightly distort.

The Insight Technique focused again, barely obtaining information: [Fierce Beast Zhen, descendant of Ancient Fierce Beasts, cultivation: Refining Qi into Spirit late-stage (peak). State: lightly injured (old scar on left forelimb), guarding Vermilion Fruit. Extremely dangerous!]

"Zhen? Late-stage peak Refining Qi into Spirit!" Lin Xuan's heart trembled violently, and he almost retreated instantly. This strength far surpassed his current ability to handle! Moreover, "Zhen" was a notoriously fierce beast with astonishing combat power!

But at that moment, the three Vermilion Fruits seemed to have reached their peak ripeness. Their red light flared, and the aroma suddenly intensified several times!

The slumbering Zhen's scarlet eyes snapped open, revealing greed and vigilance as it scanned its surroundings. It stood up and paced anxiously around the Vermilion Fruit tree, clearly agitated by the impending ripeness of the fruit and unwilling to allow any mishaps.

And Lin Xuan, due to the sudden burst of fragrance, had a minuscule fluctuation in his aura! It was this tiny fluctuation that the extremely vigilant Zhen instantly captured!

"Roar--!"

A deafening roar exploded. Zhen's violent vertical pupils instantly locked onto the rock wall where Lin Xuan was hiding! Without hesitation, it transformed into a red lightning bolt, its five tails whipping through the air like steel whips, charging straight at him! Its speed was incredibly fast!

He'd been discovered!

Lin Xuan's soul was about to flee his body. Without thinking, he turned and sprinted towards the valley exit! He pushed the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique to its limit, unleashing his maximum speed!

But Zhen was faster! A foul wind was already closing in behind his head!

He couldn't escape!

In his desperate situation, Lin Xuan's ferocity was also ignited! He lunged forward, dodging Zhen's pounce at the last possible second, and grabbed a handful of dirt mixed with gravel from the ground, flinging it backward without looking!

This action, devoid of any killing intent, happened to interfere with Zhen's vision. Zhen instinctively closed its eyes and turned its head, its movement momentarily halted.

It was this split-second opportunity! A flash of inspiration struck Lin Xuan's mind, recalling the Insight Technique's information—"old scar on left forelimb"!

He stopped fleeing. Instead, using the momentum of his lunge, he abruptly turned. All the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique energy he had just cultivated was poured into his right fist without reservation. The bronze luster instantly covered his fist, carrying an unstoppable momentum. He punched directly and fiercely at the obvious old scar on Zhen's left forelimb!

"Attack the enemy's weakness by attacking its stronghold!" Attack what it must defend!

"Aowuu!" Zhen let out a cry of pain, a mixture of surprise and rage! It never expected this weak creature not only to not flee but to counterattack, and precisely strike its most vulnerable spot! The sharp pain from the old wound completely distorted its movements.

But a fierce beast is still a fierce beast. Under the intense pain, one of its tails, like a scorpion's sting, whipped towards Lin Xuan's chest with a blur of motion!

Lin Xuan had no time to dodge. He could only awkwardly turn sideways and cross his arms to block!

"Bang!" A dull thud echoed. Lin Xuan was hit as if by a speeding truck, sent flying backward. His throat sweetened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His arms ached as if his bones were about to crack! He crashed heavily several yards away.

And Zhen, its old wound heavily struck, its left forelimb went limp, nearly collapsing to the ground, letting out a painful hiss.

Lin Xuan struggled to get up, but it aggravated his internal injuries, and he spat out another mouthful of blood. Zhen used three tails to support its body, its single eye fixed on Lin Xuan, filled with fury and killing intent, but the injury to its left forelimb temporarily prevented it from exerting force.

The man and the beast, at this moment, formed a brief standoff!

Lin Xuan's heart turned cold. He was at the end of his strength, while Zhen, though injured, clearly still had the strength to fight.

Could it be that he was going to die here just after breaking through?