C4 Suppress Mountain Tiger
"Roar!"
The Suppress Mountain Tiger King's massive jaws gaped open, lunging for Su Waner's throat!
"Ms. Waner!"
Su Lin cried out, clapping her hands together. A surge of Martial Qi enveloped her, the distinct energy of the Spirit Martial Stage.
"Swoosh!"
Charging forward, Su Lin's fists, engulfed in Qi, hammered against the Suppress Mountain Tiger King's forehead. The beast howled, its eyes seething with rage!
"Su Lin, have you lost your mind? I told you to get out of here!" Su Waner parried the tiger's attack, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth as she staggered back.
"The Ocean Pavilion ambushed us, stealing Master's Jade Core Flower. If you don't make it back, Sister, I'll never forgive myself!" A faint smile graced Su Lin's ashen face.
"Roar!"
The Suppress Mountain Tiger King bellowed, charging at them once more. Su Waner and Su Lin, both Spirit Martial Stage masters, were too injured to defeat the beast but together managed to cling to life.
Time wore on, draining their strength, while the Suppress Mountain Tiger King bore a multitude of wounds.
"Thud!"
The tiger's claw came crashing down, and Su Lin, at the forefront, grunted as she was flung back, slamming into a tree before collapsing. Her eyes slowly closed, a look of defiance etched within them: "Ms. Waner..."
"Su Lin!"
Now, Su Waner was running on fumes. With Su Lin unconscious, her composure shattered. As if to add insult to injury, the Suppress Mountain Tiger King lunged, pinning her down with no chance for escape. Its gaping maw snapped viciously towards her head.
A single tear escaped Su Waner's eye. "Master, I'm sorry I let you down."
Overwhelmed by the Demon Beast's aura emanating from the Suppress Mountain Tiger King, Su Waner closed her eyes, powerless to fight back, her body riddled with wounds, the most lethal being the arrow wound on her left shoulder inflicted by an Ocean Pavilion disciple.
"Clack!"
As the Suppress Mountain Tiger King prepared to deliver the final blow, a stone struck its skull with a sharp crack. Enraged, the beast let out a thunderous roar, turning its attention to the assailant.
On a nearby hillside, a young man around sixteen or seventeen years old stood in tattered linen, holding a glowing red iron sword. Indeed, this was none other than Jiang Xiaofan.
Upon seeing a girl lying on the ground and another leaning against a tree, both charming and innocent, Jiang Xiaofan couldn't help but exclaim internally. Damn, after being single for over a decade without so much as touching a girl, it would be a travesty if these fair maidens were devoured by a tiger!
In his mind, Jiang Xiaofan had already conjured up a fantasy where the grateful young women would have no other way to repay him but with their affection. Unable to contain himself any longer, the impassioned youth bellowed, "Halt! Fiend! Release the ladies at once!"
The Suppress Mountain Tiger let out a ferocious roar and released Su Waner, lunging straight for Jiang Xiaofan. "Crap!"
As the beast approached, Jiang Xiaofan felt an overwhelming aura of dominance, realizing that the Suppress Mountain Tiger's level was unquestionably higher than his own.
With lightning speed, the tiger gave Jiang Xiaofan no chance for escape. He steeled himself for the confrontation, driven not only by the desire to save the girls but also by the quest that had just been activated by the System Prompt:
[Rescue the Disciples of the Divine Wind Sect (Difficulty: A)]
[Objective: Assist Su Lin and Su Waner to ensure their safety.]
...
Panting heavily, Jiang Xiaofan attempted to evade the Suppress Mountain Tiger's onslaught, but it was too swift. Left with no choice, he hoisted the Blazing Sword in front of him to parry.
The tiger's massive paw struck the sword, eliciting a pained howl from the beast as it stumbled backward. Jiang Xiaofan fared even worse; he was sent hurtling through the air like a kite with its string cut, crashing through a large tree before finally coming to a halt.
A sweet taste filled his mouth as blood surged forth. In that moment, the stark disparity between him and the Suppress Mountain Tiger became painfully clear.
The tiger licked its wounded paw, its eyes blazing with fury, and charged at Jiang Xiaofan once more.
Ignoring the searing pain, Jiang Xiaofan pushed himself to his feet and, with a surge of will, unleashed the Wolf Totem. A sudden rush of boundless strength filled his legs, and he leaped aside just in time, evading the attack. The Suppress Mountain Tiger collided with the thick trunk of a tree, shattering it into a cloud of splinters.
In that moment, Jiang Xiaofan was sweating bullets—the creature's destructive power was immense. How on earth was he supposed to fight this thing?
The Suppress Mountain Tiger King was clearly out for blood, giving Jiang Xiaofan no quarter to catch his breath. Shaking its head, the beast charged at him once more.
Meanwhile, Su Waner had managed to get to her feet. With her Maple Sword in hand, she lunged and thrust it at the tiger king's back!
At the Spirit Martial Stage, Su Waner's strike was undeniably more potent than anything Jiang Xiaofan could muster.
Realizing that Su Waner posed a greater threat, the Suppress Mountain Tiger King whirled around and lunged at her with ferocity.
In the midst of the chaos, Jiang Xiaofan spotted the beast's Achilles' heel—a dark brown chrysanthemum on its back. It was a low blow, but survival trumped honor. Without hesitation, he unleashed the Wolf Strike. A surge of energy burst from his hands, and his Blazing Sword glowed a deeper red as he viciously stabbed at the tiger king's vulnerable spot.
The Blazing Sword hissed as it pierced the chrysanthemum, and the stench of charred flesh filled the air. Jiang Xiaofan grimaced, withdrew his sword, and retreated swiftly.
Casting a scornful glance at Jiang Xiaofan, Su Waner delivered a decisive stab with her sword, piercing the Suppress Mountain Tiger's neck.
The two could feel the beast's oppressive presence waning. The fight was brutal, but in a battle of life and death, there was no room for mercy. Any hesitation, and Jiang Xiaofan risked being reduced to excrement within hours.
With a look of defiance, the Suppress Mountain Tiger made one last desperate charge at Jiang Xiaofan. Empowered by the Wolf Totem, he nimbly dodged, avoiding a direct confrontation. That final lunge drained the last of the tiger king's energy. It let out a mournful cry and collapsed to the ground.
Jiang Xiaofan's condition was far from good. Grievously wounded, he nearly passed out then and there, and his Martial Qi was utterly depleted after the skill's execution.
To truly become stronger, one must ascend to the rank of Spirit Martial. Only upon reaching the Spirit Martial Stage can one cultivate Martial Qi, the very essence of imposing pressure. With this power, one can effortlessly vanquish a lesser foe, which explains why Jiang Lun could render his opponent powerless without even striking a blow.
A blinding white light began to emanate from the body of the Suppress Mountain Tiger, attempting to escape. But then, Jiang Xiaofan, unseen by Su Waner, summoned tendrils of black Qi that enveloped and absorbed the light, forcibly drawing it into his own body. This was the power of the Devouring System!
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, for slaying the Demon Beast Suppress Mountain Tiger and earning a substantial amount of experience."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, for defeating the Demon Beast Suppress Mountain Tiger and receiving five Healing Pills as a reward."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, for vanquishing the Demon Beast and acquiring the skill of Divine Tiger Boxing."
[Divine Tiger Boxing: Harnesses the might of the Suppress Mountain Tiger King to deliver a triple punch combo. The first punch breaks the skin, the second induces bloodlust, and the third crushes bones, with each strike dealing escalating damage.]
...
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on your successful advancement. Your current Martial Level is now Level Two."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on your successful advancement. Your current Martial Level is now Level Three."
"System Prompt: Congratulations, player, on your successful advancement. Your current Martial Level is now Level Four."
...
Bathed in a cascade of golden light, Jiang Xiaofan's excitement was palpable as he ascended three levels in quick succession. Defeating the Spirit Martial Level Demon Beast, the Suppress Mountain Tiger, had granted him an experience bonus typically awarded for overcoming an enemy of a higher level—a common feature in many games. He was tantalizingly close to yet another level up, if only he had a bit more experience.
Beyond the Divine Tiger Boxing technique, Jiang Xiaofan also gained five Healing Pills, a godsend considering the two stunningly beautiful girls who were gravely injured.
Without hesitation, Jiang Xiaofan rushed to Su Waner's side, offering support as he presented her with a Healing Pill. "Take this first," he urged.
Su Waner cast a glance at Jiang Xiaofan. Despite harboring a hint of suspicion, she accepted the Healing Pill. In a soft voice, she implored, "Please, save my junior sister."
"Absolutely. You focus on healing," Jiang Xiaofan replied before swiftly making his way to Su Lin.
After swallowing the Healing Pill, Su Waner began to meditate. Meanwhile, Su Lin, who had been unconscious, gradually came to after Jiang Xiaofan administered another Healing Pill to her.
Opening her eyes, which sparkled like stars, Su Lin tilted her head to gaze at Jiang Xiaofan, then shifted her view to Su Waner and the lifeless form of the Suppress Mountain Tiger nearby. With a gentle smile, she asked, "Big Hero, was it you who saved us?"
At her words, Jiang Xiaofan's mind raced with a flurry of thoughts, words clamoring to escape his lips. Yet, they were all stifled by the genuine beauty of Su Lin's gaze. Flustered, he managed to stammer out, "Ah? Yes!"
"Thank you," Su Lin said with a smile that was breathtakingly beautiful.
Jiang Xiaofan's heart skipped wildly. After more than a decade of solitude, he thought even a sow appeared graceful, let alone the adorable, innocent girl before him.
"Don't mention it. Please, tend to your injuries," he urged.
Both women closed their eyes to heal, their wounds visibly mending. Jiang Xiaofan couldn't leave their side; the Gloom Forest was fraught with danger, and there was no telling if more Demon Beasts lurked nearby. Until they were fully recovered, he had no choice but to stand guard.
Leaning against a tree, Jiang Xiaofan watched the two stunning girls as they healed, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions. Lintian City was teeming with beauties, each more captivating than the last.
Once considered the Jiang family's disgrace, he was determined to return with newfound respect. With his improved martial prowess, he fantasized about finding a partner within his family for dual cultivation—a delightful prospect indeed.
But he wouldn't dare cross these two, both formidable at the Spirit Martial Stage. In a world where life was as cheap as dirt, a single misstep could mean his end.
He had gone through great lengths to cross over to this world, and now his exciting life was cut short before it truly began. What a frustrating end.
...
"They've been injured; they can't have gotten far!"
A man's voice carried through the forest, causing Jiang Xiaofan's brow to furrow. From his words, it was clear he was after the two young women.
"I've heard that each disciple of the Divine Wind Sect carries precious treasures, and those two ladies are quite the lookers. If they're still alive..."
Lewd chuckles from several men followed. Su Lin and Su Waner's expressions tightened as they slowly opened their eyes.
Jiang Xiaofan was ready to intervene when four figures emerged from the thicket onto the slope, revealing themselves in full view to the trio.
