Crisis

"Swoosh~~~ swoosh~~~"

A tall and ferocious Flame Tiger with fire-red fur dragged the carcass of a level four Wind Antelope along the riverbank.

Suddenly, the Flame Tiger stopped. Its nose twitched, and its body crouched low, tensed and alert as it let out a roar toward an ancient tree.

"Roar—"

"What a vigilant beast." A voice drifted from behind the tree.

"Whoosh!"

Xiao Yan, holding a heavy ruler, stepped out from behind it.

"Roar—" Sensing a dangerous aura from Xiao Yan, the Flame Tiger launched its attack first.

"Boom!"

Facing the charging Flame Tiger, Xiao Yan kept his eyes locked on it. The Flame Tiger tribe is considered a major clan among tiger-type magical beasts. Even the most ordinary Flame Tiger is at least a level seven magical beast, while the elites reach level eight or nine. It is said that a thousand years ago, the Flame Tiger tribe even birthed a Saint-level magical beast!

This one before me brings a sense of crisis, but it isn't too overwhelming. It shouldn't reach level nine; it is an elite level eight Flame Tiger.

With the formidable combat power of tiger-type magical beasts, its strength should be close to mine. Xiao Yan's eyes were filled with gravity, yet a hint of excitement welled up in his heart. However, isn't this exactly what I seek? Only with a challenge does it have meaning!

"Bang!" While thinking, Xiao Yan swung his heavy ruler. Using the technique of "lifting heavy as if it were light," he blocked the Flame Tiger's attack while using the momentum to retreat.

Xiao Yan's gaze turned icy as he began to chant a magic incantation while falling back.

By the time the Flame Tiger launched its next attack, a look of confidence appeared on Xiao Yan's face.

"I was waiting for you to get close again!"

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"...

Just as the Flame Tiger reached Xiao Yan, a scorching heat spread behind him. Three massive fire snakes, each over ten meters long, materialized out of thin air and lunged toward the Flame Tiger's vitals.

Level seven magic: Dance of the Fire Snake!

"Boom!"

A low, muffled explosion rang out.

"Roar—" Caught off guard, the Flame Tiger couldn't dodge in time. Its hind leg was struck, and its speed plummeted.

"Hum~" Stung by the pain, the Flame Tiger's eyes grew even more vicious. It opened its mouth, and a red light radiating intense heat began to gather within.

"Not good, it's the Flame Tiger's innate magic!" Recognizing the red light, Xiao Yan didn't dare to be careless. He quickly flashed backward, attempting to escape the Flame Tiger's attack range.

"Shoo!" "Shoo!" "Shoo!"...

Before Xiao Yan could get far, a series of whistling sounds erupted from behind him. Countless crimson fireballs manifested in the air, striking toward Xiao Yan at extreme speed.

"No, I can't dodge it. I have to take it head-on." Feeling the scorching heat closing in, Xiao Yan made a split-second decision. He whipped around, raised his heavy ruler high, and slammed it into the ground in front of him to block the incoming fireballs.

"Rumble~~" The fireballs collided with the heavy ruler, generating high temperatures. Clouds of smoke rose from all sides, swallowing Xiao Yan's figure.

"Drip~ drip~ sizzle~~" Within the smoke, the sound of flowing liquid accompanied the crackling of flames. The pungent smell of melting refined iron filled the air, severely hindering the Flame Tiger's sense of smell.

"Roar—" Outside the scorching white smoke, the Flame Tiger watched the dense fog warily.

"Whoosh!" Just as it began to lower its guard, a black shadow lunged out from the fog.

"Bang!" A short black staff was thrown by the shadow with incredible speed, slamming heavily into the Flame Tiger's neck.

Taking advantage of the beast's pain, Xiao Yan pressed his attack. He tapped his feet lightly and closed the distance in a flash. As his palm flipped, a small black knife appeared, tracing a cold arc through the air before sinking into the Flame Tiger's abdomen.

Forged from black profound iron, the small knife could even wound a Saint-level magical beast; the hide of a mere level eight Flame Tiger could not stop it at all.

"Roar—"

Xiao Yan finished the disembowelment with ease and immediately retreated without hesitation.

"This beast is surely going to die, but it will definitely launch a final, desperate counterattack."

Xiao Yan pushed off the ground, darting into the distant forest like an arrow released from a bow, his figure leaping nimbly between the trees.

Behind him, the heavily wounded Flame Tiger gave chase, its aura even more intense than before—clearly, it had entered a state of final, frantic vitality.

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"...

Crimson fireballs flew wildly through the woods, setting the ancient forest ablaze. The Flame Tiger watched Xiao Yan, who maintained a safe distance, the light in its eyes dimming to nothing. Finally, after letting out one last roar of unwillingness, its massive body crashed to the ground.

"Boom!"

Perched on a tree a hundred meters away from the fallen beast, Xiao Yan watched the Flame Tiger. He did not approach immediately. Only after observing for a long while and confirming the Flame Tiger was truly dead did he step forward to collect his spoils.

"As expected of a level eight magical beast, its vitality is truly tenacious. Even with its belly ripped open, it still chased me for half an hour." Xiao Yan pulled the knife from the Flame Tiger, looking at the gruesome wound, and couldn't help but sigh.

In a place Xiao Yan didn't notice, within a nearby thicket, a cold, icy gaze was fixed upon him.

The figure hiding in the shadows moved its lips, silently chanting a magic incantation. A phantom-like black barrier appeared on its body, enveloping it.

Level four dark magic—Shadow. It creates a black barrier that wraps around the user, significantly reducing their presence.

Combined with the dim environment of the Sunset Forest, it was difficult to detect even with the perception of a level seven mage.

The figure shrouded in the shadow magic approached Xiao Yan silently. Once within twenty meters, the man's eyes turned cold, and he launched a sudden attack.

The terrifying speed indicated that the man was not only a Level 4 Dark-element mage, but his warrior rank had also reached at least Level 7!

Xiao Yan, who was in the middle of processing the Flame Tiger carcass, felt the hairs on his entire body stand on end in that instant; a chill surged forth, and his heart hung in his throat.

"Danger!"

Xiao Yan had no time to think, throwing his entire body to the side with extreme speed.

However, facing a sneak attacker who was also a Level 7 warrior, and with the opponent having the initiative, Xiao Yan simply could not dodge in time.

"No!"

With his life hanging by a thread, Xiao Yan had no time for further thought; his mind went blank, and he felt everything before his eyes slow down, staring with hollow eyes as the man wielded a dagger toward his vitals.

"Assimilate..." Far away at the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, the moment Xiao Yan fell into crisis, Lynn subconsciously wanted to use the Origin Bead to assimilate his clone.

However, before Lynn could even make the decision.

A shocking change occurred on the field once more; just as the dagger was about to pierce Xiao Yan's skull, at the final moment before his impending death, it was as if Yao Lao had possessed him—Xiao Yan's entire body flickered strangely, narrowly avoiding his vitals at the very last second.