Fortunately, on the third day, Xiao Yan finally found a lead on his Soul Ring.
"Luo, luo..."
"Something's up ahead."
Looking at Luo Sanpao ahead, the Grandmaster narrowed his eyes slightly and stopped Xiao Yan and Tang San. "There's a smell of blood."
They carefully parted the grass ahead, revealing a pool of crimson blood. In the sunlight, the blood looked hazy.
"Crimson sunlight, hazy blood..."
The Grandmaster looked at the blood on the ground, then turned to explain to Xiao Yan and Tang San, "This should be the blood of a Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger. Little Yan, you should be able to get your Soul Ring now."
A trace of excitement entered the Grandmaster's voice as he explained to the two of them, "The Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger is a fire-attribute Soul Beast, extremely sensitive to the fire element. Its blood is very valuable because it contains a rich concentration of the fire element."
"Judging by this, the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger should already be injured. We can hunt it down and make it your First Soul Ring!"
Xiao Yan's eyes lit up at those words, and he looked farther ahead.
The bloodstains left by the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger were conspicuous along the way. With Luo Sanpao's keen sense of smell as well, Xiao Yan and the others soon followed the trail to a low hill.
"The Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger's cave should be up there."
The three hid in the woods. The Grandmaster looked at a cave faintly visible halfway up the hill. That was the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger's lair.
"Sanpao! It's up to you!"
At the Grandmaster's command, the chubby Sanpao ran toward the hill, encountering no attacks from other Soul Beasts along the way.
"Roar!"
Only when he reached the mouth of the cave did a tiger's roar come from within.
The roar shook the mountain forest, but Xiao Yan and the others could hear a trace of distress and weakness in it.
Seemingly sensing Luo Sanpao's presence, a shadow gradually stepped out of the cave. A massive striped tiger, a full four meters long, appeared in their sight.
But at that moment, three claw marks on the great striped tiger's flank were deep enough to expose bone. The torn flesh curling outward was a vivid scarlet, and dried blood covered half its body.
"The key to a Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger's age lies in the black rings of fur on its tail. It gains another ring every ten years. By the look of it, this Soul Beast is already close to four hundred years old!"
There was a trace of excitement in the Grandmaster's voice.
Xiao Yan's eyes shone as well. A gravely injured fire-attribute Soul Beast whose age was close to the absorption limit for a First Soul Ring-Xiao Yan coveted it immensely.
"Tiger-type magical beasts are extremely ferocious. Their attacks carry tremendous force, and they're exceptionally swift. Moreover, this Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger possesses a rich concentration of fire-element power. If it weren't gravely injured, we wouldn't stand a chance."
The Grandmaster spoke slowly. Beside him, Xiao Yan and Tang San watched the giant tiger intently.
"Farts like thunder, Earth-Shattering Luo Sanpao!"
The Grandmaster suddenly shouted. Luo Sanpao leaped high into the air on the hill, his body swelling rapidly as he deftly unleashed a stinking fart attack at the giant tiger.
"Blue Silver Entanglement!"
At the same time, Blue Silver Grass spread from Tang San's hand. Strand after strand suddenly emerged from all around, their intricate patterns making them look like Mandala Snakes as they closed in on the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger, wrapping around its limbs and tightening.
Traces of paralyzing toxin flowed through the Blue Silver Grass into the demon tiger's body.
"Roar!"
Sensing their attacks, the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger roared in fury. Its fearsome roar carried far into the distance as waves of dense yellow Soul Power radiated from its body.
It raised an enormous paw, and the restraints formed by Tang San's Blue Silver Grass shattered at once.
But Luo Sanpao's attack landed as well, striking the demon tiger's already injured flank.
The wounds, already deep enough to expose bone, grew worse under the blow, its internal organs now faintly visible.
"Little Yan!"
The Grandmaster gave a low shout. Xiao Yan did not hesitate. Using Swift Step, he crossed the distance in a few breaths and landed not far from the giant tiger.
"Squelch!"
A dagger gleaming with cold light appeared in Xiao Yan's hand. He hurled it with all his strength, driving it precisely into the torn wound on the demon tiger's flank.
"Awoo~"
A mournful howl rang out. The demon tiger no longer had the strength to fight. It collapsed to the ground, its belly rising and falling as it gasped, though its eyes still held a deep, chilling coldness.
As if it were still the king of beasts.
"Sky-Rending Claw!"
Xiao Yan moved, striking while it was down to take its life. Attack after attack landed on the demon tiger's injured flank. At last, the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger breathed its last, unwilling to the end.
"Hum!"
A yellow Soul Ring drifted out of the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger. The Grandmaster said from the side, "Little Yan, go ahead and absorb it. We'll stand guard for you here."
The Grandmaster wore a smile.
Both of his disciples possessed Twin Martial Souls. At such a young age, they already had considerable combat strength and judgment, and both their First Soul Rings were close to the theoretical age limit.
This let the Grandmaster see the day when his theories would be accepted by everyone and his name would shake the continent!
Meanwhile, Tang San watched the yellow Soul Ring gradually merge into Xiao Yan's body, his heart filled with emotion.
Senior Brother's talent is truly terrifying... Fortunately, he and I are friends, not enemies!
Seeing Xiao Yan enter a state of cultivation, the Grandmaster walked over to the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger and took out a waterskin. After pouring out all the water, he began collecting the tiger's blood.
"Teacher, what are you..."
"Your senior brother has a fire-attribute Martial Soul, and this Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger is a fire-attribute Soul Beast. Its blood is a rare and precious material. Whether he uses it for cultivation later or sells it, it will definitely be worthwhile."
Paying no heed to the blood staining his hands, the Grandmaster also began teaching Tang San how to identify the useful parts of the Scarlet Yang Demon Tiger that could be collected.
Xiao Yan absorbed the yellow Soul Ring, and waves of terrifying energy suddenly burst into his body. Faintly, he seemed to hear a howl, but in the end, it all gradually faded beneath the burning of Bone Spirit Cold Flame.
Finally, the yellow Soul Ring slowly merged into the cold white Bone Spirit Cold Flame...
As Bone Spirit Cold Flame absorbed the Soul Ring, surging Soul Power roared through Xiao Yan's body. He felt as though he had broken through some kind of barrier, and his whole body felt immensely comfortable.
But immediately afterward, it was as though his soul had fallen into a great dye vat. Waves of dizziness washed over him, and he felt like a lone boat as a sensation of weightlessness overtook him. Images appeared one after another in his mind, as if... from another perspective.
In his vision, two beautiful girls stood around him, while gazes from all around fell upon him, their eyes full of admiration.
On a raised platform ahead, several large characters were gradually fading away.
"Dou Qi, seventh stage!"
A pulling sensation came over him. Xiao Yan's eyes snapped open, and he saw the Grandmaster and Tang San keeping watch over him not far away.