The forest had become completely silent.
Even the wind seemed unwilling to move.
Beneath the enormous Golden Spirit Tree, only two figures remained standing.
Lin Shuan.
And the golden-scaled tiger.
Above them, twenty Golden Spirit Fruits swayed gently upon ancient branches.
Each fruit glowed like a miniature sun.
Pure spiritual energy flowed endlessly from them.
The surrounding air shimmered from the sheer concentration of Luo Essence.
The tiger's molten-gold eyes never left Lin Shuan for even a moment.
To the beast—
Lin Shuan was an intruder.
A thief.
A threat.
Meanwhile—
cold frost continued spreading around Lin Shuan's body.
The Frost Luo Essence surged through his meridians.
Tiny crystals of ice formed beneath his feet.
His gaze remained calm.
Focused.
Steady.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen spoke gravely.
"Be careful."
"This creature is not ordinary."
Lin Shuan narrowed his eyes.
"I can tell."
The old monster continued.
"Golden Spirit Fruits attract countless spiritual beasts."
"But for one beast to guard an entire tree for so many years..."
"It means the beast itself has received tremendous benefits."
Lin Shuan immediately understood.
This tiger had likely consumed Golden Spirit Fruits before.
Many of them.
Its strength was far beyond a normal Nine-Star Energy Core beast.
As if proving Tian Wuchen correct—
the tiger suddenly released its aura.
BOOOOOOM!
Golden spiritual energy erupted outward.
Ancient trees shook violently.
Leaves exploded into the sky.
The ground cracked.
Lin Shuan felt pressure descending from every direction.
His expression became serious.
This beast was much stronger than Yan Lie had ever been.
Far stronger.
ROOOOOOAR!
The tiger attacked.
Its massive body transformed into a streak of golden light.
Fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
Crack!
Lightning burst beneath Lin Shuan's feet.
The Lightning Immortal Path activated instantly.
His figure blurred.
The tiger's claw swept past his chest.
Only inches away.
BOOOOM!
The earth behind him exploded.
A gigantic crater appeared.
Before Lin Shuan could stabilize himself—
the tiger spun around.
Its enormous tail whipped through the air.
Like a golden steel whip.
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
He crossed both arms instinctively.
BANG!
An overwhelming force slammed into him.
His body shot backward.
He smashed through three ancient trees before finally stopping.
Dust rose everywhere.
Pain surged through his arms.
Lin Shuan clenched his teeth.
"What terrifying strength..."
Tian Wuchen laughed.
"It appears the beast underestimated you."
Lin Shuan wiped blood from the corner of his mouth.
Then smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Good."
The tiger paused.
For some reason—
something about Lin Shuan had changed.
The relaxed attitude from before had vanished.
Only battle intent remained.
The kind of battle intent born from countless life-and-death struggles.
Cold wind swept across the forest.
The temperature dropped rapidly.
Frost formed upon rocks.
Ice crept across tree trunks.
Even the tiger became serious.
ROOOOAR!
It charged again.
This time—
Lin Shuan did not retreat.
Instead—
he advanced.
BOOM!
Human and beast collided.
The tiger's claw descended.
Lin Shuan twisted aside.
The attack narrowly missed.
At the same moment—
his fist slammed into the tiger's shoulder.
Frost Explosion Palm!
BANG!
Ice erupted.
The tiger staggered backward.
For the first time—
surprise appeared in its eyes.
It had been injured.
Not severely.
But injured nonetheless.
Lin Shuan's eyes brightened.
"It worked!"
The tiger became furious.
Golden flames suddenly erupted from its scales.
The surrounding temperature soared.
Ancient trees began burning.
Even the air distorted.
Tian Wuchen immediately shouted.
"Careful!"
"Those flames aren't ordinary!"
Lin Shuan instantly retreated.
The next moment—
golden fire exploded where he had been standing.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire area vanished beneath the attack.
Lin Shuan inhaled sharply.
Had he taken that strike directly—
he would have been seriously injured.
The tiger lifted its head proudly.
Golden flames danced around its body.
It truly resembled a king among beasts.
A primordial predator.
Tian Wuchen's voice became thoughtful.
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
Lin Shuan dodged another wave of flames.
"What now?!"
The old monster answered.
"Observe carefully."
Lin Shuan focused.
And suddenly—
he noticed something.
The Golden Spirit Fruits.
The Golden Spirit Tree.
The tiger's golden flames.
All three possessed nearly identical energy signatures.
A realization flashed through his mind.
"Did the tree raise it?"
Tian Wuchen laughed.
"Exactly."
"This beast has lived beside the tree for countless years."
"It absorbed the same energy."
"In a sense..."
"The tree and the beast grew together."
Lin Shuan's eyes narrowed.
Now he understood.
And perhaps—
he had found a weakness.
If their energies were connected...
Then maybe...
The tiger charged again.
This time—
Lin Shuan deliberately retreated toward the tree.
The tiger immediately pursued.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Then suddenly—
Lin Shuan smiled.
"Got you."
The tiger sensed danger.
But it was already too late.
CRACK!
Lightning exploded.
Lin Shuan vanished.
The tiger's massive body continued forward.
Straight into the Golden Spirit Tree.
BOOOOOOOOM!
The entire tree shook violently.
Branches swayed.
Golden fruits swung wildly.
The tiger stumbled.
Its attention faltered for only a moment.
But that moment was enough.
Opportunity.
Frost Luo Essence erupted completely.
The Frost Divine Heart began beating rapidly.
THUMP!
THUMP!
THUMP!
White frost exploded outward.
Hundreds of meters froze instantly.
The forest transformed into an icy world.
Even Tian Wuchen was startled.
The tiger struggled.
Its movements slowed.
Its golden flames weakened.
Lin Shuan appeared before it.
His palm thrust forward.
"Sky Dragon Smash!"
BOOOOM!
A colossal dragon formed entirely from frost burst forward.
Ancient icy scales covered its body.
Faint primordial symbols glimmered upon its surface.
The dragon slammed directly into the tiger's chest.
CRACK!
Ice spread across its scales.
ROOOOOOAR!
The beast screamed in pain.
Its body flew backward.
The ground shattered beneath it.
For several moments—
silence returned.
Lin Shuan breathed heavily.
A large portion of his spiritual energy had been consumed.
That attack was powerful.
But expensive.
Slowly—
the tiger stood up again.
Blood dripped from its mouth.
Ice covered its chest.
One scale had shattered completely.
Yet it still stood.
Lin Shuan's smile disappeared.
"...You've got to be kidding."
Tian Wuchen laughed.
"Did you think a guardian of primordial treasures would fall so easily?"
The tiger glared at Lin Shuan.
Its killing intent intensified.
Golden flames rose higher.
The surrounding forest trembled.
The beast lowered its body.
Preparing for a final charge.
Lin Shuan narrowed his eyes.
He understood.
The next exchange would decide everything.
The Frost Divine Heart pulsed.
Cold energy surged through every meridian.
Meanwhile—
ancient symbols suddenly appeared around his hand.
Not Frost Luo Essence.
Not ordinary spiritual energy.
Something deeper.
Something connected to his Divine Heart.
Tian Wuchen immediately noticed.
His eyes widened.
"Lin Shuan..."
The young man ignored him.
His focus had reached an unprecedented level.
The tiger roared.
And charged.
BOOOOOOM!
The earth exploded beneath its feet.
The beast became a streak of golden destruction.
Lin Shuan inhaled deeply.
Then—
he extended his hand.
Cold energy condensed rapidly.
A weapon began forming.
First the shaft.
Then the blade.
Then countless ancient symbols.
A magnificent frost halberd appeared.
Ancient runes covered its surface.
Each symbol emitted a faint divine glow.
Even Tian Wuchen was stunned.
Because he had never taught this technique.
The Frost Divine Heart itself had manifested it.
"Impossible..."
The old monster whispered.
The tiger arrived.
Lin Shuan stepped forward.
And threw the halberd with every ounce of strength he possessed.
"GO!"
WHOOSH!
The Frost Halberd transformed into a streak of white light.
The tiger tried to evade.
Too late.
The halberd pierced directly through its abdomen.
CRACK!
Time seemed to freeze.
The tiger stopped.
Its golden eyes widened.
Then—
its body began dissolving.
Not blood.
Not flesh.
Golden particles.
Pure energy.
The beast slowly disintegrated.
From head to tail.
Its body transformed into countless golden lights.
Then vanished completely.
Silence.
Lin Shuan stared.
"No energy core?"
Tian Wuchen quickly understood.
His eyes narrowed.
"It wasn't a true beast."
"What?"
"It was a manifestation."
"A guardian created by the Golden Spirit Tree itself."
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
The old monster continued.
"The tree used its own energy to create a protector."
"No wonder the beast possessed such pure Golden Spirit Energy."
"The guardian and the tree were originally one existence."
Lin Shuan looked toward the enormous tree.
Now everything made sense.
The guardian had not truly died.
It had merely returned to the tree.
The forest became peaceful again.
The Golden Spirit Tree continued glowing softly.
As though nothing had happened.
Then—
Lin Shuan's eyes immediately shifted toward the fruits.
Twenty Golden Spirit Fruits.
No guardian.
No competition.
His heartbeat accelerated.
Without hesitation—
he rushed forward.
WHOOSH!
He leapt onto a branch.
Then quickly harvested one fruit.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
Six.
Seven.
Eight.
The moment he grabbed the eighth fruit—
Tian Wuchen suddenly roared.
"LIN SHUAN!"
The young man nearly fell from the tree.
"What?!"
The old monster sounded furious.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Lin Shuan blinked.
"...Maybe?"
Tian Wuchen almost exploded.
"Every disaster in cultivation begins with greed!"
"Leave some behind!"
Lin Shuan scratched his head awkwardly.
"But there are still twelve more..."
"Exactly!"
Tian Wuchen replied.
"This tree has survived for countless years."
"If you strip it completely bare, its natural cycle may collapse."
"Furthermore, leaving some fruits behind ensures future growth."
Lin Shuan looked at the remaining fruits.
Then nodded.
The old monster was right.
Eight fruits were already an incredible harvest.
Greed could become a disaster.
Reluctantly—
he stopped.
The remaining twelve Golden Spirit Fruits continued swaying gently above.
Almost as if the tree itself approved of the decision.
Lin Shuan carefully stored the eight fruits inside his sleeve.
The moment he did—
he felt incredibly satisfied.
He had only just entered the Treasure Region.
And already obtained a fortune.
But before he could celebrate—
Tian Wuchen suddenly became silent.
Very silent.
Lin Shuan immediately noticed.
"Master?"
No answer.
"Master?"
Several moments later—
the old monster spoke.
His voice was serious.
"Someone else is here."
Lin Shuan instantly became alert.
"What?"
Tian Wuchen's spiritual sense expanded.
Far away—
deep within the ancient forest—
he sensed movement.
Several figures.
Moving rapidly.
Hunting.
Searching.
Not beasts.
Humans.
Lin Shuan concealed his aura immediately.
Then climbed onto a high branch.
Several minutes later—
he finally saw them.
Black robes.
Dragon symbols embroidered upon their clothing.
Each figure moved through the forest with discipline.
Like trained warriors.
Their eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.
As though searching for something.
Or someone.
Lin Shuan's expression hardened.
"Who are they?"
Tian Wuchen's voice became solemn.
"I don't know."
"But they definitely don't belong here."
Far away—
one of the black-robed warriors suddenly stopped.
He looked toward the forest.
Toward Lin Shuan's general direction.
For a brief moment—
their eyes almost met.
Then the warrior turned away.
The group continued deeper into the forest.
Vanishing among the ancient trees.
Lin Shuan remained motionless.
His instincts told him something.
Something dangerous.
These people had entered the Treasure Realm through another route.
And their purpose was clearly not treasure alone.
Meanwhile—
far beyond the forest—
hidden among floating fragments of broken land—
an ancient ruin drifted silently through the void.
And within that ruin—
something dormant for countless years slowly began to awaken.
As if sensing the arrival of outsiders.
As if recognizing that the long silence of the Treasury Realm...
was finally coming to an end.