Black Tiger Ridge

Black Tiger Town lay backed against Black Tiger Ridge.

Thus, nearly everyone passing through this town was a Martial Artist training in Black Tiger Ridge—some were Lineage Martial Artists, while others were hunters.

To the southeast of Black Tiger Ridge lay the Imperial Dao Sect and Qingyun Sect, and disciples from both major sects also came and went through this town.

At this moment, Lu Ren, Qin Yu, and the other two had traveled for half a day before finally arriving at Black Tiger Town.

"Come take a look! Shadow Cat Demonic Cores freshly collected from Black Tiger Ridge! Essential materials for crafting talismans—ten thousand Copper Coins each!"

"First-tier spiritual herbs, Gathering Spirit Grass! Eight thousand Copper Coins per stalk, or sixty thousand Copper Coins for a bundle of ten!"

Before even entering Black Tiger Town, Lu Ren heard the cries of hawkers coming from within.

As he walked inside, Lu Ren saw stalls lining both sides of the streets. Pedestrians came and went, stopping at the stalls as the sounds of bargaining filled the air. It was extraordinarily lively.

"So this is the martial world!"

Lu Ren sighed.

Before coming here, he had searched Disciples' Rules for information about Black Tiger Ridge.

The entries that appeared most often were about Monstrous Beasts.

From weakest to strongest, Monstrous Beasts were divided into first tier, second tier, third tier, fourth tier, and so on.

Each tier was further divided into low-grade, mid-grade, and high-grade.

First-tier Monstrous Beasts corresponded to Martial Artists of the Aperture Opening Realm.

Low-grade first-tier Monstrous Beasts like Shadow Cats could be found everywhere in Black Tiger Ridge. As long as one killed them and dug out the Demonic Core within their bodies, it could be sold for ten thousand Copper Coins.

Ten thousand Copper Coins was a huge sum to ordinary people, but to Martial Artists, it was merely the reward for casually killing a Monstrous Beast.

"Yu'er, I didn't expect you to come to Black Tiger Town too. Shall we form a team?"

Just then, a group of four approached them.

The leader was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in splendid clothes. His appearance was ordinary, yet he kept looking at people from the corner of his eyes. Especially when he looked at Lu Ren and the other two, his face was full of contempt.

"No need!"

After saying that, Qin Yu prepared to pass by the youth and leave.

Seeing that Qin Yu completely ignored him, the youth clearly grew angry. "Qin Yu, what are you so proud of? Sooner or later, you'll be mine, Ding Hai's!"

Following behind Qin Yu, Lu Ren could not help asking, "Senior Brother Wang Teng, who is Ding Hai?"

Wang Teng lowered his voice. "Ding Hai is an outer disciple of the Imperial Dao Sect. He has opened six Spiritual Apertures. I heard he and Senior Sister Qin Yu come from the same city. Seeing Senior Sister Qin Yu's exceptional talent, the Ding family intended to match Ding Hai with her!"

"So that's how it is!"

Lu Ren nodded.

However, Wang Teng said indignantly, "But who does Ding Hai think he is? He actually dreams of marrying Senior Sister Qin Yu. Which one of the three of us is inferior to him?"

"Senior Brother Wang Teng, don't drag me into this!"

Lu Ren waved his hand.

"Junior Brother Lu Ren, don't belittle yourself. Although you have a Scrap Bloodline, you are the only disciple taken in by Her Highness the Saintess. The disciple rises by the master's prestige!"

Wang Teng said.

"Wang Teng, if you don't want to train, you can return to the sect right now!"

Qin Yu said coldly.

Wang Teng covered his mouth and did not dare say another word.

Before long, Lu Ren and Qin Yu's group of four passed through Black Tiger Town and entered Black Tiger Ridge.

Ancient trees towered over Black Tiger Ridge, each over ten zhang tall. Every trunk was incomparably thick, requiring three people with linked arms to encircle it.

Beneath the ancient trees grew all manner of vines, tangled around the shrubs. Faintly, the roars of Monstrous Beasts could be heard.

Upon hearing those roars, Lu Ren's expression turned solemn.

In contrast, Wang Teng and Zhang Sheng looked exceptionally relaxed. They did not seem to be here training or carrying out a mission at all, but rather sightseeing.

"Lu Ren, relax. With Senior Sister Qin Yu here, we're absolutely safe!"

Zhang Sheng said leisurely.

Roar!

Suddenly, a gigantic tiger whose entire body resembled granite charged out. It glared at Lu Ren, Qin Yu, and the others. Blood still stained the corners of its savage mouth, and it was chewing on a human arm.

Its grayish-white tiger eyes locked tightly onto the four of them, radiating astonishing ferocity.

"That's a Rock Tiger!"

Lu Ren blurted out, his expression shocked.

The Monstrous Beast section of Disciples' Rules had introduced the Rock Tiger. It was a high-grade first-tier Monstrous Beast, its entire body as hard as granite and its defenses astonishing. Its strength rivaled that of a Martial Artist who had opened seven Spiritual Apertures.

Yet even Martial Artists who had opened seven Spiritual Apertures generally did not dare clash head-on with a Rock Tiger.

"Lu Ren, it's only a Rock Tiger. There's no need to make such a fuss."

Wang Teng patted Lu Ren's shoulder, signaling him to relax.

Yet Lu Ren remained extremely nervous. This was the first time since coming to this world that he had encountered a Monstrous Beast face-to-face. It was more than ten times fiercer than ordinary animals.

Roar!

The Rock Tiger let out another roar and pounced at Qin Yu. Its sharp tiger claws tore through the air with piercing whistles as they fiercely struck toward her.

Such an attack was truly terrifying.

Qin Yu shifted sideways, her body tilting slightly. She actually evaded the Rock Tiger's pounce with exquisite precision.

The Rock Tiger's attack missed and slammed into an ancient tree, directly snapping it in half.

Yet Qin Yu's feet moved like butterflies weaving through flowers, and she had already arrived beside the Rock Tiger. She fiercely drove a fist into its abdomen.

Boom!

The seemingly delicate punch contained fierce and tyrannical power, instantly piercing through the Rock Tiger's abdomen.

Awoo!

The Rock Tiger let out a miserable cry before heavily collapsing onto the ground. It groaned repeatedly, its body struggling without cease.

A moment later, the Rock Tiger stopped moving. It was dead beyond any doubt.

At this moment, a huge bloody hole had appeared in the Rock Tiger's abdomen, blood continuously gushing from it.

"What a powerful punch. What incredible footwork."

Lu Ren exclaimed in admiration.

"Senior Sister Qin Yu has cultivated the Human Tier High-grade Martial Skill Diamond Fist to mastery, and the Human Tier Mid-grade Martial Skill Star Shadow Steps to mastery as well. Of course she's formidable!"

Wang Teng said dismissively.

If I faced this Rock Tiger alone, I should be able to kill it too. If my Spirit Cat Steps reached perfection, perhaps I could even contend with Senior Sister Qin Yu!

Lu Ren silently pondered.

However, for this mission, Senior Sister Qin Yu probably would not give them any opportunity to act. He could not be bothered to make a move either.

He had mainly come this time to broaden his horizons and experience the strength of Monstrous Beasts.

After dealing with the Rock Tiger, Wang Teng immediately rushed over, took out a dagger, and dug a fist-sized crystal resembling granite from its head.

This was a Monstrous Beast's Demonic Core. A single one could sell for no less than ten thousand Copper Coins.

The three of them had done nothing, yet each could already receive two thousand five hundred Copper Coins.

After seeing that the battlefield had been cleaned up, Qin Yu said, "My mission this time is to find a second-tier spiritual herb in the outskirts of Black Tiger Ridge. We may encounter quite a few first-tier Monstrous Beasts along the way, but don't worry. With me here, those Monstrous Beasts won't be able to hurt you. Let's continue onward!"

After saying that, Qin Yu continued forward, with Lu Ren and the other two following behind her.

Along the way, Lu Ren, Qin Yu, and the others encountered quite a few first-tier Monstrous Beasts, including extremely swift Gale Wolves and immensely powerful Diamond Apes.

But none of those Monstrous Beasts could last more than three moves before Qin Yu.

The four searched the outskirts of Black Tiger Ridge for three days and three nights, killing nearly twenty Monstrous Beasts.

On the fourth day, Qin Yu finally spotted an emerald-green spiritual herb beneath an ancient tree.

The spiritual herb resembled a small lantern, giving off a faint fragrance all around it.

"Finally found it!"

Qin Yu's eyes gleamed. With this Hundred Aperture Grass, perhaps she could successfully open her eighth Spiritual Aperture.

However, when she plucked the Hundred Aperture Grass, she discovered that emerald-green poison had actually seeped into her palm.

"Why is the Hundred Aperture Grass poisonous?"

Qin Yu's pretty face changed.

"Senior Sister, what happened?"

Lu Ren stepped forward and asked.

"I've been poisoned. Someone must be trying to deal with me!"

Qin Yu frowned. She tried to circulate the spiritual energy from her seven Spiritual Apertures to expel the poison from her palm, only to discover that it was spreading faster and faster.

"Hahaha, naturally, I'm the one who did it!"

Just then, laughter rang out from the distance. Four figures rushed out from the distant forest—it was Ding Hai and his group.

Ding Hai walked up to Qin Yu, a wicked smile in his eyes. "Qin Yu, I guessed long ago that you came to Black Tiger Ridge to pick Hundred Aperture Grass, so I merely sprinkled a little poison on it. But don't worry, this poison won't harm your body. It'll only leave you weak all over. Hehehe!"