C27 The Doubleheaded Tiger

Qin Fei took a swift stride and dashed to the valley's entrance, where he stopped atop a large tree just outside the valley.

Concealing himself within the foliage, he used the tree's branches to shield his body from view.

About two hundred meters ahead, at the foot of a hill, five men were engaged in a fierce battle with a two-headed, black tiger emanating an evil, dark aura.

Sword lights and blade shadows assaulted the tiger from all directions.

Yet, the Double-headed Tiger was clearly formidable and battle-hardened. Despite the onslaught from the five men, it showed no signs of weakness. In fact, it seemed to grow stronger with each exchange, overpowering the five seasoned fighters.

Three of the men had sustained serious injuries, with two barely managing to withstand the assault.

"A Level-4 Demonic Beast Double-headed Tiger? These fools. Five Qi Gathering Stage experts standing together, yet they choose to attack separately. They're practically begging for death."

Qin Fei could discern the strength of the five experts at a glance, judging by their aura.

The Double-headed Tiger's might was unmistakable; under its powerful aura, anyone could recognize its strength.

The levels of human warriors and Demonic Beasts are vastly different. A Demonic Beast of the first or second grade is comparable to a warrior at the Astral Refinement Stage, while those of the third or fourth grade match a Qi Gathering Stage expert. This means the Level-4 Double-headed Tiger is on par with a peak Qi Gathering Stage expert.

"Regardless, this matter doesn't concern me. Best to move on."

After a brief survey, Qin Fei decided to leap down from the tree and depart.

"Miss Deng, watch out..."

As Qin Fei turned and prepared to leap down from his perch, a loud shout echoed from the slope below.

In that moment, as Qin Fei redirected his gaze, the Double-headed Tiger leaped into action. Like a shadow, it sent the weapons of two men flying.

Suddenly, the Double-headed Tiger bared its massive fangs and charged at a young girl in a green robe.

"Die!"

The girl bellowed, her sword sweeping through the air with deadly intent.

The sword plunged into one of the Double-headed Tiger's mouths, only to shatter like a lump of iron.

The other head lunged for the girl's head.

"Ah..."

The girl let out a piercing scream, powerless to do anything but watch the massive jaws close in on her.

"Miss Deng...!"

The other four cried out almost in unison, desperate to help, but it was already too late.

The Double-headed Tiger was incredibly fast, and they were helpless against its onslaught.

"Buzz!"

At the very moment the gaping maw was about to clamp down on the girl's head, Qin Fei, who had landed in the tree, sprang into action, his feet pushing off the trunk.

His body shot out like a stone flung from a sling, hurtling down the slope.

In a flash, his massive sword was in full swing.

"Boom!"

The hefty blade swept through the air, creating a wave of explosive force. The five-foot-wide sword intercepted the Double-headed Tiger's bite, then a fierce burst of sword light swept out.

The enormous Double-headed Tiger was sent flying backward by the force of the blow, crashing to the ground where a shower of rocks tumbled from its bloodied maw.

Blood poured out... "Splash!"

Then, under the watchful eyes of the five onlookers, a man nearly six feet tall dropped from the sky, clutching a sword over six feet long and five feet wide. He landed like a deity before the girl and her companions.

"This..."

Deng Yingyan gazed at Qin Fei's silhouette, dumbfounded. She had been so close, just a hair's breadth away from being devoured by that gaping maw.

But this figure, who had appeared out of nowhere, had saved her, descending before her like a god... "Roar!"

Before Deng Yingyan could fully grasp what had happened, the Double-headed Tiger sprang to its feet, letting out an enraged roar. Its four eyes glared at Qin Fei, filled with fury as the dark power of the Demonic Beast within surged forth, charging violently at Qin Fei.

"Be careful..."

Deng Yingyan shouted a warning as the Double-headed Tiger's rage boiled over.

They had clashed with the beast before and knew full well its ferocity and terror. Now that they had thoroughly enraged the Double-headed Tiger, Qin Fei was likely in grave danger.

"Buzz!"

As Deng Yingyan's words hung in the air, Qin Fei let out a cold snort and levitated something in his hand.

He deftly produced a Sword Talisman from his Interspatial Ring.

A surge of Gang Qi was channeled into it, and the once dim Sword Talisman erupted into a frenzy.

"Whoosh!"

The Sword Talisman transformed into a sword shadow, flickering through the void.

It charged ferociously towards the Double-headed Tiger.

"Splat!"

In a flash, the Sword Talisman struck.

The Double-headed Tiger opened its jaws wide, snapping down viciously like a gear.

But as its mouth clamped shut, one of its heads burst apart.

Blood and brain matter sprayed in all directions... "Roar..."

The loss of one head nearly knocked the Double-headed Tiger unconscious from the pain.

But as the pain struck, Qin Fei made his move.

Clutching his massive sword, a sheen of sword light enveloped the blade.

With a motion as precise as a gear, he delivered an upward slash.

"Boom!"

Qin Fei's strength was immense, with the force of thousands of kilograms behind it, sweeping through as if carrying an additional five hundred kilograms.

The headless Double-headed Tiger was hurled into the air.

It crashed violently backward.

"Thud!"

The tiger's body smashed into the mountain rocks, blood spurting from its severed neck as it landed with a thud, its vitality ebbing away.

"Hiss..."

This spectacle caught the eyes of Deng Yingyan and the others, leaving them with a glimmer of astonishment.

First, there was the Sword Talisman, then such an outburst of raw power.

Had he really slain the Level Four Demonic Beast, the Double-headed Tiger, in just two moves? What's more, the onlookers were no novices.

They were all Qi Gathering Stage warriors, clearly recognizing Qin Fei's formidable capabilities.

To think, this young man was merely at the ninth level of the Astral Refinement Stage. The ninth level and already mastering sword light? Possessing a Sword Talisman? Such immense strength? To kill a Level Four Demonic Beast with his bare hands in two moves? What kind of immense power was required to achieve that? "Clang!"

Qin Fei paid no mind to the five onlookers as he sheathed the colossal sword on his back.

He drew a dagger and approached the Double-headed Tiger. Having slain it, all its possessions were rightfully his.

He began by severing the two horns of the Double-headed Tiger, then extracted two crystals from its shattered skulls—these were Demon Pills.

Only Demonic Beasts of Tier 3 or higher could refine Demon Pills, and even then, it was a matter of chance.

The fact that this Double-headed Tiger had two heads, each with a Demon Pill, was extraordinary.

Qin Fei also needed to collect the Demonic Beast's blood, a crucial ingredient for crafting Sword Talismans.

Once he had taken care of these tasks, leaving behind only the carcass, Qin Fei placed his hand on the Double-headed Tiger's head. Instantly, he channeled sword energy into it, drawing upon the Sword Soul within his dantian to exert a devouring force on the Double-headed Tiger. The Sword Soul effortlessly absorbed the beast's soul into Qin Fei's body, refining it with ease.

After absorbing the soul of the Double-headed Tiger, Qin Fei stood and walked in a different direction, seemingly indifferent to the five individuals behind him.

"Benefactor, please wait."

Deng Yingyan and the others had been observing Qin Fei's actions silently.

Now, as Qin Fei rose to leave, she was the first to call out to him anxiously.

"Is there something else?"

Qin Fei paused, casting a brief glance at the young girl in the green robe behind him.

The girl appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a green robe with her hair tied back in a ponytail.

Her face was delicate, exuding a mix of shyness and elegance.

At first glance, she struck one as a lady, someone who would put men at ease.

"I wanted to thank you for saving my life just now," Deng Yingyan expressed her gratitude with a graceful air.

"It was nothing," Qin Fei replied nonchalantly, ready to walk away but then added, "All of you are Qi Gathering Stage experts, yet your practical combat skills are lacking. Go back and tend to your wounds! You wouldn't want to run into another high-level Demonic Beast."

"Hey! Watch how you speak! Don't get cocky just because you saved Yingyan."

No sooner had Qin Fei finished speaking than a tall, slender girl in her twenties, clad in a pink robe, stormed out from behind Deng Yingyan. She pointed at Qin Fei, her voice raised in anger. Qin Fei, taken aback, regarded the girl with a mix of surprise and curiosity. His warning had been well-intentioned; it was clear these were disciples who had yet to face true life-and-death situations. Otherwise, they wouldn't have sustained such injuries from a battle with a Double-headed Tiger despite outnumbering it five to one.

"Xiao Rong..." the young woman began, but she was quickly restrained by a tall, thin young man at her side. He gave her a stern look, then turned to Qin Fei with a smile and a respectful fist salute. "Brother Zhang, I didn't say anything wrong. He's underestimating us. We could have taken down that Double-headed Tiger without his help. His arrival was unnecessary. Why is he trying to act so cool?"

Huang Rong was seething. Qin Fei's demeanor left her feeling deeply insulted. They had been rescued by a mere Astral Refinement Stage youth, and to add insult to injury, they had been subjected to his scorn.

"Huang Rong!" Before the tall, thin man could interject, two burly, similar-looking men stepped forward, one of them sharply rebuking Huang Rong. She fell silent, her indignation palpable.

With a huff, Huang Rong stalked off toward a large tree nearby.

"Brother, please excuse us. Miss Huang is known for her fiery temper," one of the stout men said, stepping forward with his companion to offer Qin Fei a friendly fist salute. "I'm Wang Dao, an Inner Sect disciple of the Giant Sword Sect, and this is my brother, Wang Jian."

"Zhang Xiao! Inner Sect disciple of the Purple Cloud Sect," the tall, thin man introduced himself with a bow.

"I... am Deng Yingyan, an Inner Sect disciple of the Void Soaring Sword Sect," Deng Yingyan said, her cheeks flushed. She stood confidently, her gaze fixed on Qin Fei, then glanced at Huang Rong, who was sitting sullenly under the tree. "Her name is Huang Rong, a disciple of the Spring Sect. The five of us ventured into the Flame Mountain range for training and unexpectedly encountered a Double-headed Tiger. We owe you our thanks, benefactor. Without your intervention, we would have faced grave danger."

"Qin Fei!"

Qin Fei recognized the greeting as one of friendship from the martial arts community.

Had it not been a friendly greeting, they wouldn't have revealed their true names and identities.

"It's Brother Qin! Your skills have truly astounded me, Brother Qin!"

Wang Dao and Wang Jian were generous and openhearted men.

Upon hearing Qin Fei reveal his name, they knew he was open to forming a bond of friendship.

"Indeed! Brother Qin, we've been at our wits' end with this Level Four Demonic Beast, the Double-headed Tiger. Yet, you arrived and dispatched it with just two moves."

Wang Jian chimed in.

Each member of the Giant Sword Sect wielded a massive sword, priding themselves on their immense strength.

But Qin Fei's recent display of skill had left them utterly amazed.

What incredible strength he must possess! How heavy must his sword be? In comparison, their own swords seemed almost insignificant.

"Demonic Beasts have their vulnerabilities, and the Double-headed Tiger is no different. It's fast and its attacks are fierce, but its strength isn't all that formidable. Once you pinpoint this weakness, defeating it becomes much easier. You were struggling because you dispersed your strength instead of concentrating it."