Though Zhu Zhuqing's attack didn't kill the Blazing Flame Tiger, it succeeded in enraging the beast completely.
Rage!
Sometimes it unlocked untapped potential—but more often, it made one reckless, exposing weaknesses to the enemy.
Yang Fan moved!
He stomped the ground, using the rebound force to propel himself forward. Flames erupted as he transformed his palm into a fist and struck.
With his current strength, this punch could've instantly crushed the 3,000-year-old tiger.
But Yang Fan held back.
He didn't want Zhu Zhuqing suspecting his age-defying power.
So this strike didn't kill the beast—just sent it rolling across the ground. Yet the hidden force within the blow did wreak havoc internally.
Though the surface damage seemed minor, Zhu Zhuqing—who'd just landed a successful sneak attack—couldn't help but think: Well done.
She'd felt all along that Yang Fan wasn't as weak as he'd first appeared. His initial move had already surprised her:
How could someone unleash such explosive power without even activating their martial soul?
The battle raged on.
Seizing the opening, Zhu Zhuqing unleashed her second soul skill:
Nether Hundred Claws!
Shh-shh-shh—!
Spinning like a whirlwind, her razor-sharp claws struck the same spot hundreds of times in seconds, leaving afterimages from sheer speed.
Watching her, Yang Fan felt a chill down his spine.
If only Zhu Zhuqing were stronger—this 3,000-year tiger would've been shredded to ribbons.
Meanwhile, Yang Fan struck again.
Left punch! Right punch!
Though the Blazing Flame Tiger was among Douluo Continent's top-tier beasts, its 3,000-year limit meant it barely matched a human Soul Ancestor.
Overwhelmed by their combined assault, it soon became a punching bag.
Finally, with one fiery punch from Yang Fan—the tiger collapsed, dead!
Outwardly, it looked beaten to death. But Yang Fan knew—the beast's innards were likely twisted into a pretzel by his hidden force.
Battle over!
Yang Fan pulled out a blade and stabbed the tiger's skull. Finding no soul bone, his face fell slightly.
Though no soul bone, he wouldn't waste the 3,000-year corpse. He swiftly harvested the tiger bones and penis—both valuable alchemy ingredients.
"Huh…?"
His attention snagged on the tiger's slit belly. There lay a small green-gold pouch, embroidered with an arcane pattern.
A storage soul tool?!
Holding it, Yang Fan sensed its quality.
That emblem? Exclusive to Star Luo's royal nobility.
Unlike Tian Dou's pampered elites, Star Luo's nobles fought tooth-and-nail for survival. No hand-fed soul rings here.
Perhaps that's why Star Luo endured while Tian Dou crumbled in history.
This pouch likely belonged to some noble who'd become tiger food—or more probably, was assassinated by clan rivals during a hunt.
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing—only to see her already scaling a distant ridge, heading toward civilization.
No farewell. No entanglement.
Good.
They'd planned to part ways here anyway. Without the tiger ambush, he'd already be out of the forest.
Yang Fan didn't hesitate.
He washed the slimy pouch clean and opened it like a loot box.
Royal nobles wouldn't be cheap, right?
Inside—
Gold coins.
Massive stacks—over a million!
Damn!
Yang Fan swore this was the most money he'd ever seen.
Of course—royal nobles were filthy rich. A casual soul tool held a million gold soul coins.
To them, it was pocket change. To his clan? Life-changing.
He dug deeper—finding healing supplies, including Blood-Clotting Powder.
Grandfather's influence really grew!
In three years, he'd infiltrated Star Luo's nobility with the Breaking Clan's medicine.
Then—a translucent pearl, pigeon-egg-sized, emerald-green. Sunlight revealed swirling halos within.
Holding it, Yang Fan felt a breeze brush his skin.
"Yin Wind Pearl?!" Yao Lao materialized, astonished.
"What is it, Master?" Yang Fan asked, sensing its significance.
"This is a Yin Wind Pearl," Yao Lao explained. "It refreshes the mind and grants slight speed boosts."
"I never expected to find such a treasure here."
He marveled—this trinket was rare. In his long life, he'd only seen one before, held by a Dou Zun in Zhongzhou.
"Can it be refined into a pill?"
Yao Lao chuckled. "You and your pills! This is a wearable item."
"Wearable?"
Yang Fan tested it.
Hi speed increased marginally; a cool sensation lingered.
Though subtle, its magic lay in its nature: an accessory, a passive gear piece.
Star Luo's royals had such treasures?
Well—Tian Dou had the legendary Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Why shouldn't Star Luo have some heirlooms too?
Yang Fan tucked the pearl away.
Better than nothing!
This little trinket would silently speed his journey home.
------------------------------------------------------
30+ Chapters Chapters Ahead: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)