Level Seven Magical Beast

On the twentieth day, Lin Yun began to venture deeper into the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

This area was already a region frequently haunted by level-six magic beasts, and the air was thick with a more potent scent of beasts. The towering ancient trees grew closer together, their canopies blotting out the sky so that sunlight could barely penetrate; the ground, deprived of light year-round, was covered in thick layers of rotting leaves that emitted a damp, moldy stench.

Bebe crouched on his shoulder, his little nose twitching incessantly as he vigilantly observed the surroundings. His senses were even sharper than Lin Yun's, and during these days in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, he had discovered threats hidden in the shadows many times in advance.

"Bebe, can you find the trail of a level-seven magic beast?" Lin Yun asked.

"Chi-chi!" Bebe jumped off his shoulder and landed on the ground, pressing his little nose against the earth to sniff before darting off in one direction.

Lin Yun followed closely behind.

After passing through a dense thicket and crossing a ridge, Bebe suddenly stopped. His body arched, his fur stood on end, and he let out a low hiss—a warning that he had encountered a formidable enemy.

Lin Yun immediately cast Wind of Perception.

The aura fed back by his perception made his heart tighten—three hundred meters ahead, a powerful and tyrannical life force was perched atop a massive boulder. The intensity of that aura far exceeded any magic beast he had encountered before.

Level seven.

And, not an ordinary level seven.

Lin Yun approached cautiously, finally catching sight of the owner of that aura—

Black-Striped Leopard.

This was a black leopard-type magic beast, three meters in length, its entire body covered in ink-like fur marked with dark golden patterns that looked like flowing magma. Its limbs were thick and powerful, its claws shimmering with a metallic luster, and a long tail swayed slowly behind it, the tip as sharp as a spear.

At this moment, it was lying on a giant rock, eyes half-closed, seemingly resting. But Lin Yun knew that for a magic beast of this level, its perception was extremely keen; it had likely already discovered him.

Bebe let out an even more urgent hiss on Lin Yun's shoulder, his little claws gripping his collar tightly. He was warning Lin Yun—this guy was extremely dangerous, so he shouldn't act rashly.

Lin Yun took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

The Black-Striped Leopard, a level-seven Wind Element magic beast, was known for its speed. Its sprinting speed could reach over a hundred meters per second, its sharp claws could tear through steel, and its tail-spear was a lethal long-range weapon. Among the level-seven magic beasts in the Magic Beast Mountain Range, while the Black-Striped Leopard might not be the strongest, it was definitely one of the hardest to deal with.

But Lin Yun did not retreat.

He needed this battle. He needed a true life-and-death struggle to touch that barrier.

"Bebe, you are responsible for harassing its flanks and rear; do not engage it head-on," Lin Yun whispered. "The front is mine."

Bebe let out a "chi" and jumped off his shoulder, disappearing into the bushes without a sound.

Lin Yun slowly stood up and stepped out from behind a giant rock.

The Black-Striped Leopard's eyes snapped open.

They were a pair of dark green vertical pupils, cold and cruel, devoid of any emotional fluctuation. It stared at Lin Yun as if looking at an intruder who had trespassed into its territory—a prey that didn't know its own limits.

"Roar—"

A low growl rolled from the Black-Striped Leopard's throat, echoing through the mountain forest like muffled thunder. It slowly stood up, muscles bulging beneath its fur, and the dark golden patterns seemed to come alive, flowing slowly across its black coat.

Lin Yun did not wait for it to strike first.

He raised his right hand, and a purple Thunder Arrow shot out—

"Thunder Arrow!"

The Black-Striped Leopard didn't even move; it merely tilted its head slightly, and the Thunder Arrow grazed its ear, striking the rock behind it and shattering it into fragments.

So fast!

No, it wasn't just speed; its ability to predict danger far exceeded Lin Yun's imagination. It hadn't moved at all, relying purely on instinct to judge the trajectory of the Thunder Arrow and perform the smallest possible evasive maneuver.

Lin Yun's heart sank.

This kind of opponent was much harder to deal with than those magic beasts that relied on brute force.

The Black-Striped Leopard seemed to be angered by this strike. Its body sank slightly, and then—

It vanished.

No, it didn't vanish; its speed was so fast that Lin Yun's naked eye couldn't track it at all!

Lin Yun cast Wind Guardian almost by instinct while rolling to the side—

"Rip!"

Three deep claw marks appeared where he had been standing a moment ago, leaving grooves half an inch deep in the rocky ground. If he had been a split second slower, those three claws would have landed on him.

Lin Yun scrambled up from the ground, his back soaked in cold sweat.

Too fast. At this speed, his Wind Guardian couldn't keep up.

The Black-Striped Leopard landed five meters behind him, its dark green vertical pupils watching him coldly, its long tail swaying slowly behind it. It wasn't in a hurry to launch a second attack, as if it were toying with its prey.

Lin Yun gritted his teeth and quickly adjusted his strategy.

In a contest of speed, he couldn't beat the Black-Striped Leopard. In a head-on collision, his defense couldn't withstand its sharp claws. His only advantage was the versatility of his Seven-Element Magic.

He needed to restrict its speed.

"Earth Spike!"

Dozens of stone spikes erupted from beneath the Black-Striped Leopard's feet. But the Black-Striped Leopard was faster—with a light leap, it jumped onto a nearby tree, and all the stone spikes missed.

Lin Yun did not stop. He waved his left hand, and a water-blue light flashed—

"Heavenly Water Curtain!"

A curtain of water unfurled before him, not for defense, but to obscure the beast's line of sight. At the same time, he condensed a Wind Blade in his right hand and slashed toward the treetop where the Black-Striped Leopard was perched.

"Wind Blade Slash!"

The treetop was severed and came crashing down with a roar. But the moment the canopy fell, the Black-Striped Leopard had already leaped to another tree, its speed despairingly fast.

Lin Yun's heart sank lower and lower.

Earth Spike, Water Curtain, Wind Blade—he had cast spells from three different elements in quick succession, yet he hadn't even touched a hair on the Black-Striped Leopard. Its speed and reflexes far exceeded his expectations.

The Black-Striped Leopard seemed to have grown tired of this cat-and-mouse game.

Its body crouched low once more, and then—

A streak of black lightning flashed across the air.

Lin Yun only had enough time to layer an Armor of Light and the Saint Armor of Earth Protection in front of him before the Black-Striped Leopard's sharp claws arrived.

"Boom!"

The first layer, the Armor of Light, was shredded like paper. The second layer, the Saint Armor of Earth Protection, held for less than half a second before shattering with a loud crack. The claws pierced through his defenses and slammed heavily into Lin Yun's chest.

Blood splattered.

Lin Yun was sent flying, his back slamming into a large tree with enough force to snap the bowl-thick trunk instantly. He tumbled across the ground, rolling several times before finally coming to a stop.

A searing pain erupted in his chest. Three wounds, deep enough to expose bone, stretched from his left shoulder to his right ribcage, with blood gushing out steadily. If not for the Saint Armor of Earth Protection absorbing the majority of the impact, that single strike would have claimed his life.

"Cough..." Lin Yun coughed up a mouthful of blood and struggled to climb to his feet.

The Black-Striped Leopard stood where he had been moments ago, licking the blood from its claws, a flicker of cruel satisfaction in its dark green, slit-like pupils.

Bebe darted out from the bushes, positioning himself in front of Lin Yun and letting out a sharp hiss at the Black-Striped Leopard. His body arched, his fur stood on end, and a momentum completely disproportionate to his small size erupted from his tiny frame.

The Black-Striped Leopard's ears twitched; it seemed somewhat wary of Bebe's aura. But after glancing at the wound on Lin Yun's chest and then at Bebe's diminutive size, it ultimately chose to ignore the little creature.

It began to walk slowly toward Lin Yun, each step taken with unhurried composure.

Lin Yun gritted his teeth, pressed his left hand against the wound on his chest, and cast a Light Element healing spell.

"Healing Spell."

White light flowed over the wound, and the bleeding gradually slowed, but the injury was too deep to heal in such a short time. The intense pain made his consciousness blur, but he forced himself to stay awake.

He could not fall.

If he fell, he would truly die.

He still had trump cards left. He had yet to use the majority of his peak-level-six magical power across seven elements. Throughout the previous skirmish, he had been using low-level spells to probe and exhaust the beast, but now—there was no need to hold back.

Lin Yun took a deep breath, and the magical power within him surged like boiling magma.

The Black-Striped Leopard was now only ten meters away.

Lin Yun snapped his head up, a flash of seven-colored light flickering in his eyes.

"Earth Crack!"

He pressed both hands against the ground, pouring his Earth Element magical power madly into the earth. The ground beneath the Black-Striped Leopard suddenly split open, a bottomless fissure yawning like the maw of a giant beast, ready to swallow it whole.

The Black-Striped Leopard shrieked and leaped to the side. But this time, it was a fraction slower than before—the range of the Earth Crack was too vast, forcing it to jump with all its might.

Lin Yun seized this momentary opening—

"Gravity Spell!"

Advanced Earth Element spell: Gravity Spell.

This was the highest-level Earth Element spell he had learned from Delin, capable of increasing gravity several times over within a specific area. As the Black-Striped Leopard landed, its body suddenly plummeted, and its limbs visibly buckled.

Though it lasted less than a second, it was enough.

"Thunder Chain!"

A purple chain of lightning flew from Lin Yun's hand, wrapping around the Black-Striped Leopard's hind legs. Electricity ravaged its body, and the beast let out a pained roar.

But it was, after all, a level-seven magical beast. The Thunder Chain held it for less than two seconds before it snapped the bindings. Wisps of blue smoke rose from its black fur, but the murderous glint in its eyes grew even more intense.

The Black-Striped Leopard roared, ignoring the injury to its hind legs, and lunged madly at Lin Yun.

Lin Yun did not retreat.

He knew that against an opponent with this kind of speed, retreating meant death. Only by meeting attack with attack could he find a sliver of hope.

"Water Dragon Bullet!"

A water dragon surged from his hands, slamming heavily into the Black-Striped Leopard. The beast was knocked off course, but its claws still raked across Lin Yun's right arm, tearing away a chunk of flesh.

Lin Yun let out a muffled groan as his right arm went limp, blood dripping down his fingers.

But he did not stop.

His left hand condensed a Light Element spell—

"Spear of Light!"

The Spear of Light shot out. Unable to gain leverage in mid-air, the Black-Striped Leopard was struck in the flank. White light exploded upon impact, scorching a large patch of its black fur and dimming its dark golden markings significantly.

The Black-Striped Leopard slammed into the ground, rolled twice, and struggled to its feet. A charred wound marred its flank, and its hind leg trembled slightly—the damage caused by the Thunder Chain had severely hampered its speed.

But it did not flee.

The dignity of a Level 7 Magic Beast did not allow it to run away when facing a Level 6 Mage.

The Black-Striped Leopard let out a low growl, and the dark golden patterns all over its body suddenly flared, glowing like burning magma. Its speed surged, becoming faster and more ferocious than before—

"ROAR!"

Lin Yun knew this was its final burst of strength.

He took a deep breath and mobilized all the remaining magic power within his body. Seven-Element magic power surged wildly inside him, like seven distinct rivers converging into a single torrent.

This was something he had never attempted before—the combined casting of Seven-Element magic.

"Earth Binding!"

The ground beneath the Black-Striped Leopard suddenly softened, turning into a quagmire that trapped its four limbs.

"Wind Shackles!"

Invisible ropes of wind coiled around its body, tightening.

"Water Cage!"

Water elements condensed into a massive sphere, enveloping the Black-Striped Leopard within.

Three binding spells were cast simultaneously, restricting the Black-Striped Leopard's movements to the absolute limit. But it was a Level 7 Magic Beast after all; it struggled frantically. The Earth Binding began to crumble, the Wind Shackles snapped, and the Water Cage teetered on the verge of collapse.

Lin Yun gritted his teeth, his right hand—the uninjured one—condensing the final spell.

It was not Thunder-Element, nor Light-Element, but Fire-Element, which he rarely used in combat.

"Fire Dragon Technique!"

A fire dragon erupted from his hand, baring its fangs and claws as it lunged at the trapped Black-Striped Leopard. The temperature of the fire dragon was so intense that even the air around it distorted.

The Black-Striped Leopard let out a desperate roar and fought to break free from all the restraints, but it was too late.

The fire dragon slammed into it and exploded, swallowing it in a raging inferno.

The flames dissipated.

The Black-Striped Leopard lay on the ground, charred all over, its dark golden patterns completely dimmed, stripped of their former luster. Its chest rose and fell slightly as it made a final, futile struggle, but it could no longer stand.

Lin Yun stood where he was, gasping for air.

There were three deep, bone-exposed wounds on his chest, a long gash ran down his right arm, and he was covered in blood. His magic power was nearly exhausted, and he barely had the strength to remain standing.

But he had won.

A peak Level 6 had defeated a Level 7 Magic Beast.

Bebe jumped down from a nearby tree and crouched on the Black-Striped Leopard's head. It chirped twice and patted the beast's head with its small paw to confirm it was truly dead. Then, it scurried back onto Lin Yun's shoulder, rubbing its little head against his cheek and letting out a soft cry.

Lin Yun gave a bitter smile and reached out to stroke Bebe's head.

"Almost lost my life there," he muttered.

He slumped to the ground, leaning his back against a large tree, breathing heavily. The wounds on his chest were still throbbing with pain, and he could no longer lift his right arm. He rummaged through his pack for a healing potion and poured it onto his wounds; white foam bubbled up, and the pain made him gasp.

But he dared not stop.

This was, after all, the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, and the scent of blood would soon attract other beasts. He had to recover some strength as quickly as possible and leave this place.

Lin Yun closed his eyes and entered a state of meditation. Magic power slowly recovered within him, like water returning to a dried-up riverbed. Bebe crouched on his shoulder, watching the surroundings vigilantly, acting as his guardian.

Half an hour later, Lin Yun opened his eyes. His magic power had recovered less than thirty percent, but it was barely enough. He struggled to his feet, walked over to the corpse of the Black-Striped Leopard, and extracted its Magic Crystal.

A Level 7 Magic Crystal, the size of a fist, pitch-black, with dark golden patterns faintly flowing within. This was the most precious trophy he had ever obtained.

"Let's go, Bebe." Lin Yun stowed the Magic Crystal away and turned to head toward the outer perimeter of the mountain range.

Bebe chirped and followed in his footsteps.

Three days later, Lin Yun returned to a safe cave on the outskirts of the Magic Beast Mountain Range.

During these three days, he had been traveling while recovering from his injuries and replenishing his magic power. With the help of the Light-Element Healing Spell and healing potions, the wounds on his chest had scabbed over, and he could move his right arm again.

But he was in no rush to return to the academy.

From this battle, he had gained more than just a Level 7 Magic Crystal; he had gained a brand-new understanding of magic.

Against the Black-Striped Leopard, his speed hadn't been fast enough, his defense hadn't been strong enough, and individual spells could not pose a threat to it. However, by rotating the seven elements and using composite casting, he had found a path to victory.

Earth-Element restricted movement, Water-Element and Wind-Element provided auxiliary control, Thunder-Element and Light-Element served as the primary offense, and Fire-Element delivered the fatal blow—the Seven-Element magic each performed its own duty. Only by using the right magic at the right time could one unleash the greatest power.

This was the significance of cultivating all seven elements.

It wasn't about leveling all seven elements to the same rank, but about choosing the most suitable combination of magic for different combat scenarios.

Lin Yun sat cross-legged in the cave, eyes closed, savoring every detail of that battle. His mental energy was slowly growing, his magic power was gradually solidifying, and that invisible barrier seemed to have developed a hairline crack.

"Just a little more," he muttered.

Bebe curled up beside him, its small body rising and falling as it slept soundly. It had been exhausted these past few days, secretly guarding Lin Yun during every battle, ready to strike at any moment.

Lin Yun opened his eyes, looked at the moonlight outside the cave, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

A Level 7 Magic Beast—he had won.

But he knew this was only the beginning. In the depths of the Magic Beast Mountain Range, there were Level 8, Level 9, and even Saint Realm Magic Beasts. The road he had to walk was still very long.

However, that was a matter for the future.

For now, he needed to heal his wounds, consolidate the gains from this battle, and then—break through to Level 7.