Chapter 3: It’s Not Like I Haven’t Seen It Before
Together, they found the second cave where the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire had appeared.
The cave’s original inhabitant had been a Tier 3 Winged Tiger, but it had been controlled by the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire, becoming its flame slave.
Winged Tigers were formidable opponents among Tier 3 Mystic Beasts. They possessed not only powerful bodies, but also high intelligence and Mystic Skills, their strength comparable to high-star Mystic Scholars. They weren’t enemies he and Yi Xian’er could currently handle.
However, his Beautiful Sect Master had said that flame slaves carried a demonic imprint from the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire. This imprint could help them pinpoint the flame’s location more accurately. Even if they couldn’t defeat the Winged Tiger, they had to find a way.
This was a key plot point, and the system had issued a corresponding task, requiring him to cooperate with Yi Xian’er to defeat the Winged Tiger and obtain its demonic imprint.
The plan was for her to brew a potent poison smoke and fill the cave with it, disorienting the Winged Tiger, while he, guided by the miniature dragon, would enter the cave through the underground fire veins, detonating the dragon, destroying the tiger’s wings, which were like giant blades.
The Winged Tiger’s strength primarily stemmed from its wings, which provided high mobility, allowing it to swoop down, slash with its wings, and defend itself.
Losing its wings would significantly weaken it, making it vulnerable to their attacks.
Although this would cost him a miniature dragon, it was a necessary sacrifice.
However, Yi Xian’er shook her head, claiming it wasn’t necessary. Then, to his astonishment, she charged straight into the cave.
“Holy crap!”
He quickly followed, finding her enveloped in a thick layer of Yin energy, her black hair turning silver, her eyes turning purple-red, as she fought the Winged Tiger on equal footing, even gaining the upper hand.
He immediately joined the fray, their combined attacks forcing the tiger to retreat.
As time passed, the Yin energy’s corrosive effect weakened the tiger further. Finally, she sent it flying with a palm strike, and he, seizing the opportunity, beheaded it with his sword before it could land.
…
The battle ended without any surprises, but he couldn’t feel happy. He looked at his soulmate, her Yin energy receding, her silver hair returning to its original black luster, her eyes turning back to their normal purple-black, her aura softening.
She smiled playfully.
“Why are you staring at me? Are you mesmerized by my performance?”
He glared at her.
“You nearly scared me to death! Charging in like that!”
She patted his shoulder.
“Don’t be so dramatic. Together, we can easily handle a Tier 3 Mystic Beast.”
He shrugged her hand off.
“You used your Yin Body’s power again! That’s dangerous, you know?”
“It’s fine, just a little bit.” She made an “okay” sign, a gesture she had learned from him. “Forget about that. Did you… like how I looked just now?”
“It was alright.”
“Just alright?”
She frowned. In her previous life, he had clearly told her he liked it!
He scratched his cheek, embarrassed.
“You were beautiful… and powerful.”
Her smile returned. She leaned closer, her voice a soft whisper against his ear.
“Did you… like it?”
“Ahem.”
He couldn’t answer, pretending to cough.
Seeing his reaction, her heart fluttered. She decided not to press him.
“Let me collect the demonic imprint from its forehead.”
He picked up the bloodstained tiger head.
The demonic imprint was a wisp of demonic fire residing in its glabella. He could extract it using the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
Then, with his Beautiful Sect Master’s help, he could refine this demonic fire, using it to track the Evil Spirit Dragon Breath Fire’s current location.
After collecting the imprint, he tossed the head aside, then drew Raikiri, the sword gifted by the Dream God Palace. Its sharpness, capable of piercing Mystic Power armor, easily extracted the beast core from the tiger’s body.
The beast core, containing the essence of a Mystic Beast, was incredibly valuable.
A Tier 3 fire attribute beast core was a treasure worthy of being auctioned at the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce, useful for both pill refining and Mystic Tool Crafting.
“This is a fire attribute beast core, Xian’er. You can’t use it. Give it to me, and I’ll compensate you with Mystic Pills.”
“I don’t want Mystic Pills.”
“Then what do you want? Crystal Coins?”
“I don’t want those either. I’ll tell you when I decide.”
“Fine. It’s getting late. Let’s rest here for the night.”
Mystic Beasts rarely approached the lair of a Tier 3 beast. It was relatively safe.
“I’ll clean up the blood and the smell.”
She sprinkled a powder on the bloodstains, dissolving them, then scattered another powder in the air, masking the pungent odor of the tiger.
He dragged the carcass to a corner, then cleared the debris, setting up the tent, building a fire, fetching water from a nearby stream, and gathering some wild vegetables. He added the vegetables and some dried meat to the pot, making a simple soup.
It tasted bland, nothing compared to the delicacies they enjoyed at Elegant Courtyard, but they weren’t picky, eating it with their rations.
He didn’t touch the tiger meat.
The Mystic Beasts in the Demon Dragon Mountain Range possessed a berserker factor. Consuming their meat could have unpredictable consequences. Unless they were truly desperate for food, they usually only harvested the beast core and other medicinal parts.
…
After finishing their meal, he used Raikiri to carve two bamboo cups, brewing some tea. They sat together, enjoying their drinks.
After a while, she suddenly said, “I want to take a bath.”
He nodded lazily.
“Go ahead. There’s a stream nearby. It’s quite clean.”
“Come with me and keep watch.”
“Don’t worry, no one will come here.”
They were in the heart of the miasma-infested region. Unless someone possessed Miasma Dispelling Pills, those below the Mystic Scholar realm wouldn’t dare enter.
“Just in case.”
“Fine.”
…
They left the cave, arriving at the stream. There was a small tree by the bank.
He leaned against the tree trunk, his back facing the stream, gesturing for her to enter the water.
She walked past him, undressing behind the tree, folding her clothes neatly before stepping into the stream.
“The water’s a bit cold… Want to join me?”
He imagined them both, naked, standing in the shallow stream, the scene feeling… inappropriate. He quickly shook his head.
She finished quickly, changing into clean clothes, then kicked his butt playfully.
“Go wash up. I’ll keep watch.”
He stood up, walking behind the tree, about to undress, when he felt a burning gaze on his back. He turned, finding her staring at him intently.
“…Xian’er, can you… turn around?”
She crouched beneath the tree, her chin resting on her hand, smiling.
“Why are you shy? It’s not like I haven’t seen it before.”
He grimaced.
That was his line from the script!
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