Li Bufan darted through the snowy forest, his Perfection of Skin Refining cultivation and the footwork of Spirit Monkey Three Leaps allowing him to move through the snow far more easily and swiftly than before. His sharp gaze swept the surroundings as he searched for traces of snow foxes. Yet after searching for over half a shichen, aside from a few startled snow sparrows taking flight and several strings of hare tracks, he did not see even a single strand of snow fox fur.
He stopped, breathing lightly as white mist billowed in the frigid air. His brow could not help but furrow. It seemed snow foxes were not common prey that could be found everywhere. His earlier consecutive encounters, even his stroke of incredible luck in finding a Silver-Crowned Snow Fox, had been nothing more than explosive good fortune—the heavens had handed him a bowl of rice. Finding another one so easily on the outskirts of these vast snowy mountains would likely not be so easy. Continuing to wander aimlessly around the outskirts would probably only waste his strength and time.
Li Bufan drew a deep breath of icy air. The biting cold poured straight into his lungs, clearing his mind further. He raised his head and looked toward the deeper reaches of the mountain range, where clouds and mist coiled about more perilous peaks and the woods grew darker and deeper. Opportunity often coexisted with danger. Resources on the outskirts were limited; the truly good things were likely hidden in those deep mountain forests where few men ever set foot.
Yet the dangers of the deep mountains were in no way comparable to those of the outskirts. His experience during the last Winter Hunt remained vivid in his mind. Setting aside the two Qi Condensation Beasts whose mere battle aftershocks had nearly scared him out of his wits, even the ferocious beasts startled out of the deep mountains—Tiger Bears, Python Leopards... every one of them was an overlord of the forest, incomparably savage. Moreover, the deeper he went, the more complicated the terrain became. The wind and snow were unpredictable, and it was easy to lose one's way. The snow beneath his feet would soon cover every trace. If he became lost, the consequences would be unthinkable.
Li Bufan stood where he was, locked in a fierce internal struggle. Reason told him that venturing deep into the mountains was exceedingly risky, and one careless mistake could condemn him beyond redemption. But another, stronger emotion surged in his chest—unwillingness!
The path of martial arts had always been one of defying heaven: fighting men, contending with heaven, and battling oneself! If he shrank back merely because the road ahead was dangerous and stopped in these relatively safe outskirts, how would that differ from slowly cultivating within Lin Manor? Why had he chosen this difficult road in the first place? He craved strength, craved breakthroughs, craved seeing a broader world! More than that, he wanted to give his little brother a better life. How could this bit of risk stop his steps?
"How can one pursue martial arts without taking risks?" he muttered, his gaze gradually hardening, even carrying a trace of burning heat. "If I stop here, I will never be reconciled to it!"
His resolve made, he no longer hesitated. He carefully recalled the route from the last Winter Hunt and decided to first head toward the place where he had encountered those four Lin Family Guards. That area was already considered the boundary between the outskirts and the deep mountains. Wolf packs roamed there, and a dozen or so li farther in lay the battlefield where those two terrifying Qi Condensation Beasts had fought. He was relatively familiar with that path, and there were several obvious landmarks along the way.
After identifying the direction, Li Bufan took a deep breath, stepped forward, and resolutely set out toward the deeper reaches of the mountains.
The farther he went, the quieter the surroundings became—so quiet that they could even be called deathly still. The branches of towering ancient trees were blanketed in thick ice and snow, like silent white giants. The snow grew deeper, often reaching his calves, making every step more laborious. Even the cold in the air seemed more piercing, carrying a primitive, savage aura. The silence around him was terrifying; only the crunch of snow beneath his feet and his own powerful heartbeat could be heard.
He did not dare let down his guard in the slightest. His mind was stretched taut, his ears listening in all directions and his eyes watching every quarter, missing not the slightest rustle of wind or grass. At the same time, he constantly compared the route in his memory with the conspicuous landmarks along the way, ensuring that he had not strayed too far.
After walking for more than half a shichen, he had encountered no danger, but gained nothing either. Just as he estimated that he was nearing the area where he had encountered the servants before, where wolf packs also roamed, a faint yet highly penetrating low roar drifted downwind from a mountain hollow ahead!
Li Bufan stopped instantly. Every muscle in his body tensed on instinct, like a leopard that had spotted danger. He cocked his ear and listened carefully.
The roar was low and deep, brimming with power and a savage majesty that made one's heart tremble... This was... a tiger's roar!
And judging from the sound, it seemed filled with anger and warning rather than an ordinary howl.
Encountering a fierce tiger in the deep mountains! Li Bufan's heartbeat involuntarily quickened, but unexpectedly, he did not feel much fear. Instead, a strong sense of vigilance and... curiosity rose within him.
He gradually slowed his steps, lowered his body, and used trees and rocks as cover. Like a ghost, he carefully crept toward the source of the sound. Every step was exceedingly light, making as little noise as possible.
The closer he came, the clearer and more violent the tiger's roar became, shaking loose flurries of snow from the forest branches. Mixed within it seemed to be another, more muffled roar, like rolling thunder. The two cries intertwined, full of brutality and confrontation.
"Not one... They're fighting?" Li Bufan's heart stirred, and his movements grew even more cautious.
As the distance continued to close, the roars, furious howls, and heavy impact sounds became increasingly deafening. He could even hear the crack of trees being smashed apart by immense force. The scent of blood in the air also gradually thickened.
With roughly two hundred meters remaining, Li Bufan hid behind a massive spruce that would require two men to encircle. He cautiously poked his head out and looked toward the forest clearing where the sounds originated.
The instant he saw the scene before him, even though he had been mentally prepared, Li Bufan could not help drawing a sharp breath. His pupils contracted slightly.
Only then did he see that, at the center of that devastated clearing, a breathtaking battle for supremacy was unfolding!
The two sides facing off were a tremendously muscular tiger and an enormous Black Bear standing upright like a small mountain of flesh!
The tiger was nearly a zhang long, with an astonishing shoulder height. The lines of its muscles were sleek yet packed with explosive power, while its yellow-and-black-striped fur stood out starkly against the snow. The distinct character for "king" on its forehead radiated the majesty of the King of a Hundred Beasts. It crouched low, letting out threatening growls. Its thick tiger tail lashed the ground like a steel whip, sending sprays of snow flying. Its amber tiger eyes were fixed unwaveringly on its opponent, filled with brutal killing intent.
The Black Bear confronting it was even more massive, so huge it made one gasp. Standing upright, it likely exceeded a zhang in height. Its entire body was covered in thick, coarse black fur, caked with snow and mud. Its paws were as large as cattail fans, and the claws extending from its tips were like ten curved blades, gleaming with a chilling dark light. It continuously let out thunderous, muffled roars, baring a mouthful of vicious yellowed fangs. Drool and traces of blood hung from the corners of its mouth, making it appear all the more savage and terrifying.
The clearing was in complete disarray. Several trees as thick as bowls had been smashed in half, while deep claw marks, rolling impressions, and splattered patches of blood covered the snow. Clearly, this vicious battle had been going on for some time, and it had been exceptionally brutal.
There was a distinct claw wound along the tiger's flank, blood staining its fur red. The Black Bear's shoulder blades likewise bore several tears deep enough to expose bone. Its left eye also seemed injured, half-closed as blood seeped continuously from it.
Both were terrifying beings at the top of the food chain in these mountains and forests, yet for some unknown reason, they were fighting here to the death!
Li Bufan held his breath and restrained his aura to the utmost, though his heart still began pounding uncontrollably. The scene before him was a hundred times more shocking and dangerous than hunting a mountain boar! The strength and savagery displayed by these two fierce beasts made his heart pound in terror.
Yet at the same time, an extraordinarily bold, even insane thought began to grow wildly within him like weeds beyond all restraint—
When the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman reaped the profit!
No matter which of these two overlord-level beasts won or lost, both would inevitably end up severely wounded. When that time came... perhaps it would be Li Bufan's chance!
Tiger bones, tiger whip, bear gallbladder, bear paws... all were priceless, immensely nourishing treasures! The vital energy contained in their flesh and blood likely far surpassed that of a mountain boar, perhaps even exceeding the Silver-Crowned Snow Fox! For Li Bufan, who urgently needed a massive supplement of energy to prepare for his charge into Muscle Tempering, this was undoubtedly a windfall fallen from heaven!
The risk was immense, but the reward was equally tempting!
He stared fixedly at the fierce battle in the clearing, his mind spinning rapidly as he calculated every possibility. His right hand slowly, silently reached toward the Hardwood Longbow and Armor-piercing Arrows on his back.
Whether he could become the fisherman who profited would depend on what happened next. He had to wait—wait for the best possible moment.
Like a stone statue, Li Bufan concealed himself behind the giant tree, keeping his breathing extremely shallow and all his aura suppressed. Only those sharp eyes remained locked upon the earthshaking battle in the clearing. He knew well that even the slightest unnecessary breath or sound might alert those two enormous beasts crazed with slaughter and drag him into a fate beyond redemption.
In the clearing, the tiger was clearly more agile. It used its advantage in speed to circle the Black Bear constantly, seeking an opening. Suddenly, it let out a deafening roar and its enormous body pounced forward, swift as lightning, aiming for the Black Bear's injured left shoulder!
Though wounded, the Black Bear's reaction was not slow in the least. Its massive upright body displayed agility that did not match its size, and its huge paw swept toward the pouncing tiger with a vicious wind! This blow was immensely powerful and heavy; if it landed solidly, even rock would crack apart.
The tiger seemed to have expected it. Its pounce had actually been a feint. Its waist twisted strangely in midair, forcibly halting its momentum. The instant it landed, all four limbs exerted force, allowing it to narrowly evade the deadly bear paw. At the same time, its thick, long tiger tail snapped like a steel whip, striking viciously near the Black Bear's injured left eye with a sharp smack!
"Awooo—!" The Black Bear let out an agonized, frenzied howl. Its left eye was completely burst open, blood pouring down its face. The excruciating pain instantly drove it into complete madness. No longer caring about defense, its enormous body charged forward like a war chariot. Its remaining eye was blood-red, leaving only the instinct to destroy.
Having landed its blow, the tiger was about to retreat, but it had not expected the Black Bear to charge so madly and fearlessly. It was a fraction too slow in dodging and was struck viciously in the side by the Black Bear's enormous shoulder!
Bang! A muffled crash rang out, accompanied by the teeth-grinding sound of bones cracking! The tiger let out a painful shriek as its body was sent tumbling away, plowing a deep furrow through the snow. It struggled several times before barely managing to rise, but one foreleg had clearly suffered heavy damage, leaving its movements unsteady.
The Black Bear was not faring well either. After its mad charge, its massive body swayed slightly. The wounds on its shoulder blades, torn open by the tiger's claws, split apart from the violent movement. Blood gushed out like a small stream, staining a wide patch of snow red. It panted heavily, its single eye fixed on the injured tiger as it released threatening growls, but its imposing aura had already weakened greatly.
Both sides had suffered grievous losses!
An opportunity!
Li Bufan's heart nearly leaped from his chest. Now! Both fierce beasts were at the end of their strength. This was the best moment for him to strike!
Without the slightest hesitation, he moved like lightning, drawing his bow, nocking an arrow, and pulling the string! The motions flowed together in one seamless sequence, incomparably steady! The principles of Basic Archery flowed through his mind, and the precise control granted by [Heaven Rewards Diligence] was displayed to the fullest.
His first target was the relatively greater threat—the faster tiger!
The bowstring trembled!
"Whoosh!"
The Armor-piercing Arrow became a streak of cold light, tearing through the air as it shot with flawless precision toward the joint of the tiger's only remaining intact right foreleg! Li Bufan's objective was clear: first, completely cripple its ability to move!
The injured tiger's senses remained keen. At the instant danger arrived, it attempted to dodge, but its grievously wounded body dragged down its reaction.
"Pfft!" The arrow buried itself deep within its joint!
"Roar!!" The tiger let out a shrill, despairing roar. Its right foreleg buckled, and its enormous body crashed to the ground. It could no longer stand, only struggling futilely with its remaining three legs as the brutality in its tiger eyes was replaced by pain and despair.
The commotion instantly alerted the Black Bear on the other side. Though its vision was impaired, its hearing and sense of smell remained. It immediately sensed the presence of a third party. Its single eye snapped toward the direction where Li Bufan hid, and it let out a threatening roar. Dragging its heavily injured body, it staggered as it tried to charge toward him!
Li Bufan's gaze was icy, and he did not panic in the slightest. He drew another Armor-piercing Arrow, his eyes locking onto the depths of the Black Bear's bleeding shoulder wound! Its defenses were weakest there, and it was enough to kill!
The bow drew into a full moon!
The arrow flew like a meteor!
"Pfft—!"
This arrow shot with flawless precision through the Black Bear's huge shoulder wound and drilled deep into its body, perhaps even injuring its internal organs!
The Black Bear's charge came to an abrupt stop. It released a muffled, mournful howl mixed with pain and unwillingness. Its enormous body swayed twice before crashing down like a mountain of gold collapsing and a jade pillar toppling, sending snow dust flying into the sky. It convulsed a few times, then stopped moving.
In the blink of an eye, the two great overlords of the forest had both fallen!
Li Bufan slowly stepped out from behind the tree, gripping his longbow tightly. There were still arrows in his quiver as he approached vigilantly. He first observed from afar for a while, confirming that the Black Bear was dead. Though the tiger was still gasping and struggling, it was clearly not far from death and could no longer pose a threat.
An immense rush of joy and accomplishment surged into his heart, but he forcibly suppressed it.
Rather than stepping forward, he fired another two arrows at the tiger still gasping for breath—one aimed at its throat, the other piercing through its abdomen.
Only when the tiger's breathing gradually weakened and finally ceased did Li Bufan walk toward the two beasts.
He had just reached the Black Bear when—whoosh! An arrow shot through the air.
Before you continue