A deep roar echoed through the valley outside the cave.
The sound rolled across the cliffs like thunder, shaking loose small stones from the rocky walls.
Fan Lin stood at the entrance of the cave, gripping the rusty sword he had just used to practice the Wind Shadow Sword Technique.
His eyes were sharp.
His breathing steady.
Inside his mind, the system warning panel flashed repeatedly.
WARNING
Powerful Lifeform Detected
Distance: 220 meters
Danger Level: High
Fan Lin slowly stepped out of the cave.
The night air felt heavy.
Even the forest had gone silent.
Birds had stopped chirping.
Insects had disappeared.
Only the wind remained.
Something powerful was approaching.
Then—
Heavy footsteps echoed across the valley.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
A massive creature walked out from behind a group of boulders.
Fan Lin's pupils shrank slightly.
The beast was enormous.
Its body was covered in crimson fur that glowed faintly under the moonlight.
Flames seemed to flicker along its stripes.
Its eyes burned like molten gold.
Two long fangs protruded from its mouth.
The ground trembled beneath its weight.
The system panel appeared instantly.
Crimson Flame Tiger
Level: Body Tempering Level 7
Type: Fire Attribute Demon Beast
EXP Reward: 400
SP Reward: 30
Core Probability: High
Danger Level: EXTREME
Fan Lin frowned.
"Level 7…"
That meant the beast was stronger than him.
Even worse—
It was a fire attribute demon beast, meaning it possessed special abilities.
The Crimson Flame Tiger lowered its head and sniffed the air.
Its golden eyes locked onto Fan Lin.
The scent of blood from earlier battles had attracted it.
To the tiger…
Fan Lin was prey.
The beast released another thunderous roar.
ROAR!
The sound shook the entire valley.
Then it charged.
The tiger's speed was shocking.
Its massive body moved like a burning meteor.
Fan Lin immediately jumped aside.
BOOM!
The tiger smashed into the ground where he had stood.
The earth cracked.
Fan Lin quickly rolled across the ground and drew his Iron Hunting Bow.
He nocked an arrow.
TWANG!
The arrow shot toward the tiger's eye.
But the beast reacted instantly.
It swiped its claw.
CLANG!
The arrow shattered in mid-air.
Fan Lin's expression became serious.
"Strong."
Very strong.
The tiger roared again.
Flames suddenly burst from its mouth.
A stream of fire shot toward Fan Lin.
Fan Lin dashed sideways.
WHOOSH!
The flames burned across the ground, leaving black scorch marks.
"This beast can breathe fire…"
Fan Lin thought quickly.
Fighting it head-on would be dangerous.
He needed strategy.
The tiger charged again.
Fan Lin jumped onto a large rock.
The tiger followed.
But just as it reached the rock—
Fan Lin leapt away.
The beast's massive weight smashed the rock into pieces.
Fan Lin fired another arrow while mid-air.
TWANG!
This time the arrow struck the tiger's shoulder.
The beast roared angrily.
But the wound was shallow.
Fan Lin landed smoothly and immediately drew another arrow.
TWANG!
Another shot.
This arrow struck the tiger's neck.
Blood flowed.
The tiger became furious.
Its body suddenly ignited with flames.
Fan Lin's eyes widened.
"So it can strengthen itself with fire."
The beast's speed increased dramatically.
In an instant it appeared in front of Fan Lin.
SLASH!
Its claw ripped across Fan Lin's chest.
Fan Lin jumped backward but still received a shallow cut.
Blood stained his clothes.
Fan Lin gritted his teeth.
"This is dangerous…"
But his eyes remained calm.
He quickly retreated toward a narrow path between two cliffs.
The tiger chased him immediately.
Fan Lin ran deeper into the passage.
The space between the cliffs became tighter.
Soon the massive tiger could barely move freely.
Fan Lin stopped suddenly.
He turned around.
The tiger squeezed through the narrow path, roaring angrily.
Fan Lin smiled slightly.
"Got you."
The tight space restricted the tiger's movements.
Its speed advantage disappeared.
Fan Lin drew his bow again.
TWANG!
An arrow pierced the tiger's eye.
ROAR!!!
The beast screamed in pain and thrashed violently.
But the narrow passage prevented it from attacking properly.
Fan Lin dropped the bow.
Then he drew his sword.
"Wind Shadow Sword Technique."
His body moved like flowing wind.
SLASH!
The blade cut across the tiger's throat.
Blood splashed across the rocks.
The tiger tried to bite him.
Fan Lin dodged and struck again.
SLASH!
Another deep wound.
The tiger's movements slowed.
Fan Lin gathered his strength for the final strike.
"Wind Shadow Strike!"
His sword flashed like lightning.
CRACK!
The blade pierced through the tiger's skull.
The massive beast collapsed with a thunderous crash.
Silence filled the valley.
Fan Lin breathed heavily.
Then the familiar system voice echoed in his mind.
DING
Crimson Flame Tiger killed
EXP +400
SP +30
The system panel flashed brightly.
EXP: 950 / 600
LEVEL UP!
Realm: Body Tempering Level 7
Strength: 32
Agility: 29
Spirit: 23
Power surged through Fan Lin's body again.
His wounds healed quickly.
His muscles became stronger.
Fan Lin exhaled slowly.
"So this is Level 7…"
He felt incredibly powerful.
Even the earlier Shadow Fang Leopard would now be easy to defeat.
Fan Lin walked toward the tiger's corpse.
Using his dagger, he opened the beast's chest.
Inside—
A glowing red crystal appeared.
Crimson Flame Tiger Core
Grade: Mid Tier Fire Core
Value: 30 Gold
Can enhance fire-based techniques.
Fan Lin stored the core inside his Storage Ring.
His system panel displayed his current points.
SP: 180
Fan Lin smiled.
"Tonight's harvest is unbelievable."
But suddenly—
The system map flashed again.
A new golden marker appeared even deeper in the mountains.
NEW DISCOVERY
Ancient Ruins Detected
Distance: 8 km
Possible Rewards:
• Ancient Martial Arts
• Spirit Weapons
• Hidden Treasures
Danger Level: Unknown
Fan Lin looked toward the distant mountains.
A faint excitement appeared in his eyes.
"Ancient ruins…"
In martial worlds, ruins meant one thing.
Opportunity.
And danger.
Fan Lin wiped the blood from his sword and began walking toward the deeper mountains.
The night was far from over.
And his journey to becoming the strongest had only begun.