Blazing Flame Mad Tiger

"Kid, are you joking? How could you know what's happening five kilometers away?"

One of Ji Xuejun's subordinates asked doubtfully. They had already been curious about why Ji Xuejun had brought someone so young into the secret realm to investigate. If they did not know Ji Xuejun well, they might have suspected that she had taken a fancy to someone.

It could not be helped—Lin Yu was indeed a little handsome. Paired with those mysterious eyes, his entire being exuded an indescribable allure.

"I..." Lin Yu had just begun to speak when a voice interrupted him.

"Eh! Aren't you that young man who stepped in at the arena before? Your name is Lin Yu, right? I almost didn't recognize you after you took off your glasses."

Another person spoke at that moment. It was Wang Defa, the referee from the arena.

"Haha, Boss, so you'd already found little brother Lin Yu! I was worried I wouldn't be able to find him. Little brother, I told you to contact me, but you never did. I wanted to give you your reward, yet I couldn't even find you."

Wang Defa spoke excitedly. If Lin Yu had not stepped in before, Ji Xuejun would probably have skinned him alive. He was sincerely grateful to Lin Yu, but Lin Yu had never contacted him, and Wang Defa had regretted that for quite some time.

"Uh, it wasn't a big deal. I just happened to be there, so don't take it to heart."

"How could that do? A promised reward can't be withheld. I've already applied for it anyway, so you can just ask Boss for it later."

"Alright, no need to say more. That reward isn't suitable anymore—I'll prepare something else. Let's not talk about this for now. Xiaoyu, are you certain?"

Ji Xuejun spoke up at the right moment, cutting off their conversation.

"Mm!"

Lin Yu nodded firmly. "My clone is still watching over there!"

"Alright, let's go!"

After speaking, Ji Xuejun immediately rushed toward the direction Lin Yu had indicated. Seeing that their boss had already set off, the others temporarily put their doubts aside and followed close behind.

Five kilometers was a short distance for them. Before long, they arrived at the spot indicated by Lin Yu's clone.

"Where is it?"

Ji Xuejun got straight to the point and asked Lin Yu.

Lin Yu's Wood Clone pointed ahead. There, a massive blood-red tiger lay quietly on the ground, its ten-meter-long body motionless. As the breeze blew past, its crimson fur resembled blazing flames.

The giant tiger's eyes were tightly shut, its enormous head resting atop its two thick front paws. The character for king on its forehead radiated dominance. If not for the violent aura emanating from its body, Ji Xuejun would not have sensed anything unusual.

"Are you sure? Didn't you say magical beasts in an abnormal state were all extremely violent?"

"I'm sure!"

Juvenile Blazing Flame Mad Tiger (Abnormal State), peak fourth rank (peak third rank), medium danger level.

The giant tiger's detailed information was completely exposed before Lin Yu's eyes. Although he did not know why this Blazing Flame Mad Tiger had not entered a berserk state, the information detected by the system could not be false. Seeing that conspicuous abnormal-state label, Lin Yu was certain that this magical beast, like King Slime, had been affected by something.

"Fine, then I'll capture this Flame Tiger King alive. Today, I'm going to find out exactly what the problem is!"

Ji Xuejun directly summoned a three-meter-long halberd. A lifelike azure dragon coiled around its shaft, its jaws wide open at the spearhead as though roaring toward the heavens. A sharp point pierced out from the dragon's mouth, while two crescent-shaped blades connected to its tip. Anyone with discerning eyes could tell at a glance that it was an extraordinarily lethal weapon. This was Ji Xuejun's innate weapon-type gift, the Azure Dragon Heaven-Piercing Halberd.

"Flame Tiger King?"

Lin Yu froze for a moment. How was this a Flame Tiger King? Wasn't it a Blazing Flame Mad Tiger, even if it was only a juvenile?

"Sister Xuejun, wait."

Lin Yu grabbed Ji Xuejun, who looked at him in confusion.

"What is it?"

"Sister Xuejun, this isn't a Flame Tiger King. It's a peak fourth-rank Blazing Flame Mad Tiger!"

"What??? You're saying this is a Blazing Flame Mad Tiger? How is that possible! This is a third-rank secret realm. Do you know what rank of magical beast a Blazing Flame Mad Tiger is?"

Ji Xuejun blurted out without thinking.

"Boss, this really doesn't seem to be a Flame Tiger King. Look at its markings. A Flame Tiger King's markings are gray, but this one's are pure black. And most importantly, this seems to be a saber-toothed tiger. Look at its teeth—a Flame Tiger King isn't a saber-toothed tiger!"

Wang Defa also spoke up at the right moment. Ji Xuejun paused. Her habitual assumptions had gotten the better of her just now. A low-rank secret realm like the Flame Secret Realm should not possibly contain a high-rank magical beast like the Blazing Flame Mad Tiger.

The Blazing Flame Mad Tiger was a genuine Emperor-tier magical beast. It was the overlord of the ninth-rank Heavenly Flame Secret Realm, a secret realm that even Ji Xuejun was not qualified to enter.

Ji Xuejun hurriedly looked closely. Sure enough, just as Wang Defa had said, it had glossy black stripes, as well as a pair of terrifying, blade-like fangs that had been hidden beneath its front paws while it lay on the ground.

"It really isn't a Flame Tiger King. But why is it so weak? Xiaoyu, are you sure this is a Blazing Flame Mad Tiger and not some other magical beast?"

"Sister Xuejun, there's no mistake! This is a juvenile Blazing Flame Mad Tiger."

"A juvenile? No wonder it's so weak. But that still doesn't make sense. Why would the offspring of a magical beast at this level be here? It should be protected by other magical beasts, shouldn't it?"

Ji Xuejun found this hard to understand. The higher-ranked a magical beast was, the harder it was for it to produce offspring. Especially magical beasts with ninth-rank imperial bloodlines—calling them a clan was generous when there might be no more than ten of them. Their offspring should have been extremely important to them, so how could one have been left outside?

Lin Yu shrugged, indicating that he did not know either. The system's detection function only inspected things; it was not omniscient.

"Forget it. No matter what, let's capture it first."

Ji Xuejun could not make sense of it and could not be bothered to waste any more brainpower. So what if it had an imperial bloodline? Its parents were not here anyway. She was going to bully it!

"Sister Xuejun, how about letting me try?"

Lin Yu stared at the Blazing Flame Mad Tiger before him, his eyes filled with eagerness. Ever since awakening, he had not truly fought an opponent of the same rank. This Blazing Flame Mad Tiger was just right.

"Hmm? This is a peak fourth-rank magical beast. Are you sure you can handle it?"

Ji Xuejun tilted her head as she sized Lin Yu up, somewhat doubtful.

"There shouldn't be any problem. Besides, aren't you watching from the side? This little tiger would be nothing to you. If I really can't handle it, you can step in then!"

"Mm... alright. If you can't beat it, run to me immediately."

Ji Xuejun thought it over and felt that it was not impossible. A peak fourth-rank magical beast might be quite powerful for Lin Yu, but it posed no threat to her at all. She could subdue it easily. Since there was no real danger, she would let Lin Yu have some fun. It was also a good chance to witness the power of an SSS-rank talent.

"Mm-hm."

After speaking, Lin Yu walked toward the Blazing Flame Mad Tiger ahead.