Shi Hao had been waiting in place for quite a while, but there was still no sign of the striped tiger returning.
"Where is that big cat? My stomach's growling already. What's taking him so long?"
He frowned in confusion. After waiting another while and still seeing no movement, Shi Hao couldn't sit still anymore.
Something must've happened to the tiger!
…
Meanwhile, deep within the Star Dou Forest…
After a high-speed chase that could've worn down a cheetah, the white tiger finally caught up to the Wind Wolf. That beast's speed was no joke.
Even though the tiger had the higher cultivation, it still took quite some effort to pin the wolf down. Not only could it run like the wind, it was slippery as hell.
But after an intense battle, the white tiger managed to beat the wolf half to death and was about to finish the kill—
Whish!
Suddenly, several powerful attacks blasted in from afar, interrupting the strike.
"Stop!"
Three figures darted in like lightning, landing in front of the tiger. All three were breathing heavily.
"Ugh, finally! We caught up… That damn Windfang Wolf! It actually slipped right past the perimeter we set up."
"We've been chasing this thing forever…"
The tiger turned around with narrowed eyes, staring at the trio—two men and a woman.
The woman stood in the middle, long golden hair flowing like silk, her figure flawless. As her spirit flared to life, a fluffy fox tail extended behind her, radiating charm and allure.
To her left stood a broad-shouldered youth with a bold, handsome face. Fiery patterns ran across his skin, glowing faintly beneath his flame-forged armor.
On her right was a young man who shared some resemblance with the girl, with long black hair and a wicked-looking curved blade—the Moonblade, his Spirit.
These three needed no introduction.
They were the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall: Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue.
All three had reached the peak of Rank 50 and were currently deep in the Star Dou Forest to acquire their fifth spirit rings.
The Windfang Wolf had been their chosen target. After much effort luring it from its territory, it had managed to escape—until now.
They'd tracked the spirit beast here using the marks they'd left on it… only to find it already half-dead at the claws of this massive striped white tiger.
"We saw it first!"
"Back off now—or don't blame us for what happens next!"
The three immediately took up combat stances. They had worked way too hard for this prey to just give up now. Even if the tiger looked tough… maybe they could scare it off.
"ROAR!!"
The tiger's deep bellow exploded outward like thunder, shaking the forest to its roots. Every spirit beast within a ten-mile radius fled in terror.
It might've looked like a silly mount when following Shi Hao around, but in truth, it had a 30,000-year cultivation—and even carried a trace of divine white tiger bloodline.
Its power rivaled even high-tier 50,000-year beasts!
Seeing the sacred stripes flash across its body, the three golden prodigies instantly paled.
"Damn it! This isn't some ordinary ten-thousand-year beast. Be careful!"
They had clearly underestimated the enemy.
The tiger launched forward in a blur of white fury. How dare these humans interrupt its meal? It would teach them a lesson they'd never forget!
Hu Liena unleashed her Allure ability, hoping to trap the tiger in an illusion. Yan flared up his Hellfire Armor and launched waves of fire, while Xie Yue struck with sweeping arcs of his Moonblade.
But it was no use.
The tiger tanked their attacks like they were mosquito bites. Despite being talented prodigies capable of fighting above their level, the trio was clearly outmatched.
"Xie Yue!"
Hu Liena's sharp gaze met her brother's. The two nodded in perfect sync.
They needed to bet everything on their trump card—Martial Soul Fusion: Enchanting Demon.
The catch? It consumed nearly all their spirit power in one shot. If it failed, they'd be done for.
Yan gritted his teeth and charged forward, doing his best to buy them time.
In the span of a few seconds, Hu Liena and Xie Yue merged into one being. Their power surged—briefly approaching the level of a high-rank Spirit Emperor, maybe even a Spirit Sage.
"Now!"
The fusion being hurled the crescent-shaped weapon forward. A beam of moonlight cut through the air with devastating force, targeting the tiger's chest.
BOOM!!
Dust exploded into the air from the impact.
But when the smoke cleared… the tiger was still standing.
Bruised, yes. But very much alive—and very pissed.
"…No way…"
The three were stunned.
They had just used their strongest technique, and it barely scratched the beast. Worse yet, they were now out of power—completely vulnerable.
Then—
"STOP!"
A childish voice rang out.
Hu Liena blinked.
A tiny figure had suddenly stepped between them and the tiger. A little boy—maybe six or seven years old—wearing a grass skirt, a red gourd on his head, and a face full of innocence.
"Kid, what are you doing?! Get back!"
Hu Liena panicked. Without thinking, she lunged forward and grabbed the boy, shielding him with her body.
Xie Yue and Yan quickly moved to protect her in turn.
They were finished. Not only were they about to die—now a child would die too!
The two men clenched their teeth and waited for the end to come…
But nothing happened.
Seconds passed.
Still nothing.
They cautiously opened their eyes—and what they saw nearly made them question reality.
The terrifying spirit beast that had nearly slaughtered them… was now lying on the ground, paws folded, like a big, obedient housecat.
It looked up at the little boy with gleaming eyes and let out a surprisingly gentle meow:
"Meow~"
"…???"
The three stood frozen, utterly baffled.
_
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