The Valley and the Crimson Flame Tiger

"I'm merely an unaffiliated cultivator, with no faction behind me. I happened to meet Miss Xiao Yi Xian, and we decided to travel together."

"An unaffiliated cultivator?" A flicker of surprise crossed the steward's eyes before his genial expression returned, and he silently weighed the matter.

An unaffiliated cultivator with no backing, yet he had brought Xiao Yi Xian this deep into the mountains and emerged safely from the cave dwelling. Such ability could not be underestimated.

"So you're an unaffiliated senior." The steward offered the courteous address, then continued probing.

"Where do you intend to go next, young friend? If you're leaving the Magical Beast Mountain Range, you could travel with our Myriad Medicine Pavilion party. We could look out for one another along the way."

Beside him, Xiao Yi Xian's delicate brows drew together. She understood the steward's intentions. He spoke of traveling together, but in truth, he wanted to bring Xiao Yuan back as well and investigate his background.

She was about to refuse when Xiao Yuan shook his head first.

"That won't be necessary. I have other matters to attend to. I'll leave on my own later."

The steward's smile briefly faltered at Xiao Yuan's refusal, but he quickly concealed it. Rather than press the matter, he turned to Xiao Yi Xian.

"Miss Xiao Yi Xian, now that we've found you, we should head back to camp. The pavilion master is still waiting for news of you."

Xiao Yi Xian turned toward Xiao Yuan, reluctance lingering in her eyes, and said softly, "Xiao Yuan, then I'll... go back with them."

Xiao Yuan nodded gently, his gaze warm. "Take care on the way. If you run into trouble in the future, remember the method we discussed."

Xiao Yi Xian murmured her assent, then turned and prepared to leave with the Myriad Medicine Pavilion party.

Before leaving, the steward could not resist looking back at Xiao Yuan once more, his gaze searching. His doubts had not faded, and he silently committed the youth to memory.

Watching Xiao Yi Xian's retreating figure, Xiao Yuan considered his next steps.

The Xiao Clan's coming-of-age ceremony is in four months, and Jia Nan Academy's recruitment is still eight months away.

He silently weighed his options. There was still plenty of time, so he did not need to rush off to find Xiao Yan. Opportunities lay everywhere in the inner reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range. He could use this time to hone his cultivation while seeking fortunate encounters.

The ice spirit flame grass was safely stored in his Storage Ring. When the time was right, he would take this spirit medicine to Xiao Yan and exchange it for Yao Lao's Alchemist notes, taking his first steps on the path of alchemy.

He looked deeper into the mountain range. Ancient trees blotted out the sky, and dense spiritual energy mingled with the rank scent of beasts as it washed over him.

Since there's still time, I'll keep training in the Magical Beast Mountain Range. I can consolidate my Nine-Star Dou Zhe cultivation while searching for Spirit Herbs. Perhaps I'll come across other opportunities too.

With that thought, Xiao Yuan lingered no longer. He sprang forward and sped down a forest trail into the depths of the mountains.

Branches and leaves streamed past him as purple-and-crimson Thunderfire Dou Qi circulated slowly through his body, keeping him constantly on guard.

In the inner reaches of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, the deeper one ventured, the stronger the beasts became. A moment's carelessness could plunge him into a bitter battle.

As Xiao Yuan traveled, he kept an eye on his surroundings, identifying the various medicinal herbs growing along the way.

Though he had yet to formally become an Alchemist, he had already memorized the appearances and medicinal properties of many spirit medicines from the books he had obtained in the cave dwelling.

Whenever he encountered useful ingredients, he gathered them to save for refining pills in the future.

Roughly two months passed. Tempered by several battles, Xiao Yuan's cultivation had firmly advanced beyond Dou Zhe, and he had become a One-Star Dou Shi.

He was now moving swiftly through the woods. After passing through a dense, ancient forest, he found the trees ahead gradually thinning.

Waves of heat bearing a faint scent of blood, sulfur, and something mysterious drifted from the Valley ahead.

Xiao Yuan abruptly halted, his eyes narrowing.

The scent lingering around his nose was distinctly strange. Beyond the scorched heat of sulfur and the smell of blood, there was an exceptionally peculiar trace of flame.

The Ten Thousand Transformations Source-Dividing Art suddenly accelerated within him. The Dou Qi in his dantian trembled faintly, and an almost irresistible hunger to devour rose from the depths of his heart.

It was as though that unusual aura was constantly calling to him, tempting him to approach and absorb it.

"This aura... it doesn't seem to belong to any ordinary treasure."

Xiao Yuan suppressed the restless hunger in his heart and carefully examined the scent. Rather than charge straight ahead, he lowered his body and crept toward the Valley under cover of rock walls and shrubs.

After he passed through a patch of low, withered bushes, the view abruptly opened up.

The valley floor was littered with crimson rocks cracked by intense heat, and waves of scorching air rolled through it.

At the center of the Valley, an enormous red tiger lay atop a massive lava rock.

Its fur was crimson as molten lava, its markings like burning flames. Wisps of fiery mist continually rose around its body, and its aura was powerful and imposing. It was unmistakably a Crimson Flame Tiger.

Its eyes were closed, and it appeared to be resting, but the fire-aspected Dou Qi emanating from its body was far stronger than that of an ordinary Tier 1 beast.

Judging by its enormous, stretched-out body and the aura spilling from it, it was probably already a tier 2 magical beast.

At that thought, Xiao Yuan made his slow steps even lighter.

Holding his breath, Xiao Yuan carefully approached. Just as he was about to deliver a fatal strike, the Crimson Flame Tiger snapped open its scarlet eyes!

A tiger's roar exploded through the valley, sending scorching waves of air sweeping in every direction.

The Crimson Flame Tiger drove all four limbs against the ground. Its immense body became a streak of crimson light, wrapped in billowing flames, as it lunged at him!

"Come on, then!"

Xiao Yuan's gaze sharpened. He drove his One-Star Dou Shi Dou Qi at full force, and interwoven purple-and-crimson Thunderfire Dou Qi enveloped his body, forming a thin gauze-like Dou Qi mantle over his skin.

Then he activated his movement technique and darted sharply to the side.

A searing tiger claw skimmed his shoulder. Its heat instantly pierced his Dou Qi mantle and scorched his clothing, sending burning pain through his shoulder.

The Crimson Flame Tiger's strike missed. As it landed, the rocks beneath its feet shattered.

It growled and opened its jaws wide. Several condensed blades of fire tore through the air in succession, cutting off every route Xiao Yuan could use to dodge.

Xiao Yuan dared not meet them head-on. His footwork shifted constantly as he maneuvered around them. At the same time, he raised his hand, and the sonic Dou Qi of Mad Lion's Roar erupted.

Violent sound waves shook the air, shattering every incoming blade of fire and scattering sparks across the sky.

Seizing that brief opening, Xiao Yuan surged forward. Thunderfire gathered in his palm as he slammed it viciously into the Crimson Flame Tiger's flank.

Bang!

A heavy impact rang out. The Crimson Flame Tiger staggered half a step in pain, but the body of a peak Tier 2 beast was immensely tough. The blow had injured it, but had not dealt any serious damage.

The Crimson Flame Tiger flew into an utter frenzy. Flames surged around its body, and a massive crimson fireball condensed in its mouth. Carrying heat that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth, it blasted straight toward Xiao Yuan.