WHOOSH!
After descending from Purple Spirit Peak, Luo Feng identified his direction and immediately activated the Teng Dragon's Step to begin his journey. Four Qi Dragons swirled around him unceasingly. With each leap, his speed far surpassed that of an average wild horse. While traveling, Luo Feng also focused on comprehending and cultivating the Teng Dragon's Step, further refining his movement technique.
Half a day later, Luo Feng finally arrived at the outskirts of the Red Chain Mountain Range. This was the largest forest in the southern part of the Canglan Dynasty, spanning dozens of surrounding countries. It was an extremely hostile environment, teeming with countless Demon Beasts.
Demon Beasts were unlike ordinary wild animals; tainted by the world's Evil Qi, they gradually underwent monstrous transformations, possessing terrifying strength. Furthermore, Demon Beasts could also cultivate. When the Demon Qi within their bodies reached a certain concentration, they would mutate and evolve to higher levels. People classified Demon Beasts into levels corresponding to the realms of Martial Artists. Level-1 Demon Beasts were equivalent to Martial Artists of the first to third Meridian Wheel levels; Level-2 Demon Beasts corresponded to those of the fourth to sixth Meridian Wheel levels; and Level-3 Demon Beasts matched Martial Artists of the seventh to ninth Meridian Wheel levels. Demon Beasts above Level-3 were quite rare, typically appearing only deep within the mountain forests.
In the outer areas of the Red Chain Mountain Range, Luo Feng initially encountered only some ferocious wild beasts. As he ventured deeper, Level-1 Demon Beasts gradually began to appear. In such a perilous place, Luo Feng dared not be careless. He avoided venturing rashly into the depths, instead hunting Demon Beasts in the outer regions to practice his Reheavy Saber Technique and Tiger Roar Fist, thereby gaining more practical combat experience.
「Three days passed.」
During this time, Luo Feng had been continuously hunting Demon Beasts in the outskirts of the Red Chain Mountain Range. Dozens of Demon Beasts had fallen at his hand! Most were Level-1, with occasional Level-2 Demon Beasts appearing. These Level-2 beasts were generally of medium strength within their tier, equivalent to Martial Artists around the fourth or fifth Meridian Wheel level. Relying on the sharpness of his Tiger Soul Saber and his increasingly proficient Martial Arts, Luo Feng managed to kill them all without any serious danger.
These three days of life-and-death battles yielded impressive rewards for Luo Feng. His Cultivation successfully broke through to the late stage of the Rigid-Soft Realm. Moreover, his Reheavy Saber Technique had reached Great Accomplishment, and his Tiger Roar Fist was also nearing Great Accomplishment, showing his rapid progress. Luo Feng believed that if he were to confront Li Tianyang directly now, his chances of victory would be no less than fifty percent!
Life-and-death battles truly are the best form of cultivation, Luo Feng thought as he withdrew his Tiger Soul Saber from the corpse of a Green-eyed Demon Wolf on the ground. However, this place is no longer suitable for my training. With a flick of the saber's tip, two sharp, green fangs landed in his hand.
He collected the materials into the beast-hide pouch on his back, then turned his gaze towards the deeper parts of the forest. His current strength was enough to contend with ordinary Martial Artists in the mid-stage of the Iron Bone Realm. Level-1 Demon Beasts no longer posed any threat to him. Even mid-level, Level-2 Demon Beasts could be easily killed if he was careful. Luo Feng decided to venture a bit deeper today to see if he could encounter any high-level, Level-2 Demon Beasts.
WHOOSH!
His body flickered, and Luo Feng leaped into the air. Like a great bird landing on the branch of a giant tree, he then glided forward through the canopy.
ROAR!
Suddenly, a terrifying roar reached Luo Feng's ears. The sound originated from hundreds of meters away, yet the oppressive might it carried sent a chilling dread through his entire body. Its roar alone can exert such pressure on me! It must be a high-level, Level-2 Demon Beast!
Luo Feng stopped, standing on a giant tree and gazing intently in the direction of the sound. Unfortunately, the surrounding terrain was treacherous and the trees were dense, making it impossible to see what lay ahead. After a brief hesitation, Luo Feng fully activated his Teng Dragon's Step and sped towards the source of the roar. A high-level, Level-2 Demon Beast was equivalent to a Martial Artist in the late stage of the fifth Meridian Wheel level. Although extremely dangerous, Luo Feng was confident that with the speed of his Teng Dragon's Step, ensuring his own safety wouldn't be a problem.
After dashing forward for five or six hundred meters, the terrain suddenly steepened. The forest began to thin, and an indescribable, scorching heat filled the air.
WHOOSH!
Luo Feng reached the edge of the forest, perched on a tree, and looked ahead.
Before him was a barren hillside. Not a single blade of grass grew there, only exposed, crimson rocks. Coiled upon this earthen slope was a colossal python, its body as thick as a water barrel and entirely crimson red.
A high-level, Level-2 Demon Beast—the Blood Cloud Python!! Luo Feng couldn't help but draw a sharp breath as he stared at the enormous serpent.
The python before him was as thick as a water barrel and fifteen to twenty meters long. Its scales were a faint crimson, with a delicate, rock-like sheen. Its triangular eyes glinted with a vicious light as it stared towards the other side of the forest. Roars issued from its massive maw, intimidating the surrounding forest for many miles!
"Run! This Blood Cloud Python's strength is close to the sixth Meridian Wheel level! We're no match for it! Go get Senior Brother Chen Xin!" On the other side of the slope, two terrified youths fled towards the forest, the Blood Cloud Python in hot pursuit.
Those two probably won't escape, Luo Feng thought, shaking his head slightly as he watched their retreating figures.
The two only possessed strength at the mid-stage of the fourth Meridian Wheel level, and their Light Martial Arts weren't particularly skilled. In contrast, the Blood Cloud Python was incredibly fast, covering over ten meters in the blink of an eye and rapidly closing the distance.
Just as Luo Feng thought the two were about to be devoured, the Blood Cloud Python, having chased them to the forest's edge, suddenly stopped. It turned and returned to the slope, coiling up once more.
Huh, that's strange, Luo Feng wondered. Why did it let them go?
Luo Feng was greatly surprised. As he looked at the Blood Cloud Python again, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a patch of crimson beside it.
The Red Flame Fruit! Luo Feng's breath caught in his throat, and he licked his lips in excitement.
On the rocks near the Blood Cloud Python grew an entirely crimson plant. At its tip was a thumb-sized fruit emitting a faint red glow. Even from a hundred meters away, Luo Feng could feel the potent Spiritual Energy fluctuations emanating from it. He recognized this fruit; it was called the Red Flame Fruit, a rare natural treasure with the spiritual effect of tempering flesh and skin. For Martial Artists in the Rigid-Soft Realm, it was an exceptionally precious Spiritual Medicine!
So that's it! Luo Feng's mind raced. Those two earlier must have been after this Red Flame Fruit. They were no match for the Blood Cloud Python, so they fled in panic. The Blood Cloud Python relies on the terrestrial fire heat emitted by the Red Flame Fruit for its cultivation, so naturally, it wouldn't risk leaving it unguarded. He instantly understood the sequence of events.
Gazing at the Red Flame Fruit, his mind whirred. If he could obtain this Red Flame Fruit, he might even have a chance to break through directly to the fifth level of the Iron Bone Realm!
However, this Blood Cloud Python will be difficult to deal with... Luo Feng frowned slightly. The creature's strength was equivalent to a late-stage, Fifth Level Iron Bone Realm Martial Artist, making it extremely dangerous.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained! he thought. If I can get this Red Flame Fruit, I'll have a hundred percent certainty of placing in the top three of the Challenge King Competition! I'll risk it! After a moment of focused contemplation, Luo Feng made his decision.
Taking a deep breath, Luo Feng placed his pouch of Demon Beast materials on a tree branch, then leaped down and charged towards the Blood Cloud Python. From the earlier conversation between the two youths, they were undoubtedly going to find powerful help. If he didn't act now, he would lose his chance once their reinforcements arrived.
SWISH!
The instant Luo Feng leaped down from the tree, the Blood Cloud Python sensed him. Its triangular eyes, glinting viciously, fixed on Luo Feng. Enraged by the repeated invasions of its territory, the Blood Cloud Python let out a furious roar. Its eyes filled with a blood-red light. Its massive, coiled body sprang forward, its enormous head crashing towards Luo Feng like a small mountain. A man-high boulder in its path was instantly pulverized into countless fragments upon impact.
"Beast!" Luo Feng roared. He didn't dodge or evade. His fist, carrying a ferocious gale, shot out, creating a series of piercing sonic booms in the air. This was 'Angry Tiger Coming Out of the Cave' from the Tiger Roar Fist!
BOOM!
The earth trembled. Luo Feng's punch landed squarely on the Blood Cloud Python's lower jaw. The colossal serpent's body was sent flying, flipping over from the impact. Luo Feng, too, felt the shock and stumbled back more than ten steps!
Such powerful defenses! Truly worthy of a high-level, Level-2 Demon Beast! Luo Feng thought in astonishment, feeling a slight numbness in his right fist as he watched the Blood Cloud Python. His Tiger Roar Fist was now nearing Great Accomplishment, its power at least thirty percent greater than before! Combined with his immense strength, this punch could have blasted a hole through a small hill, yet it had only managed to crack a few of the Blood Cloud Python's scales.
Feeling pain, the Blood Cloud Python became utterly enraged. It roared at the sky, and CRACK! Its barrel-thick tail lashed down at Luo Feng like a massive whip! The strike was incredibly powerful, the tail creating a deafening series of cracks as it tore through the air. Even before it reached him, the intense wind pressure sent the loose stones around Luo Feng tumbling wildly.
WHOOSH!
Luo Feng didn't dare to be arrogant and immediately executed the Teng Dragon's Step, leaping away.
SMACK! The serpent's tail struck the spot where Luo Feng had just been standing. A three to four-meter-wide fissure instantly appeared in the ground. If anyone had been caught beneath that strike, they would undoubtedly have been pulverized.
Its first strike having missed, the Blood Cloud Python flipped its body, its tail whipping towards Luo Feng in mid-air once more!
"You're courting death! Fierce Tiger Descending into the Valley!" Luo Feng roared, ignoring the incoming attack. Generating force from the void, he stepped onto a Qi Dragon and unleashed the most ferocious and domineering move of the Tiger Roar Fist. His entire body spun violently, crashing down towards the Blood Cloud Python like a meteorite, his fist accurately striking its massive head.
THUD! THUD!
The Blood Cloud Python's enormous head was smashed deep into the ground by this immense force. Under the terrifying pressure, both its triangular eyes burst, splattering a foul, dark liquid everywhere.
ROAR!
Excruciating pain caused the Blood Cloud Python to thrash its body wildly. Its massive tail slammed against the hillside, making it tremble and leaving behind huge cracks. Worried that the Blood Cloud Python might destroy the Red Flame Fruit in its death throes, Luo Feng decisively drew his Tiger Soul Saber.
"Break Mountain River!"
With a low shout, the Tiger Soul Saber became a black shadow, slashing down with an imposing aura, as if it could cleave mountains and sunder rivers!
SQUELCH!
The five-foot blade descended, and the Blood Cloud Python's massive head was instantly severed, rolling to one side. Thick, viscous blood gushed out, staining half the hillside crimson.
In just three moves, a formidable high-level, Level-2 Demon Beast like the Blood Cloud Python had been slain by Luo Feng's saber!
After slaying the Blood Cloud Python, Luo Feng let out a breath. His gaze fell upon the Tiger Soul Saber, and a faint smile touched his lips. The Tiger Soul Saber deserved much of the credit for being able to kill the Blood Cloud Python so easily. Otherwise, given the python's formidable defensive power, it certainly would have required a much greater effort.
Sheathing the Tiger Soul Saber, Luo Feng turned and hurried up the hillside. At the summit, he found the plant bearing the Red Flame Fruit. The fruit had not been damaged in the preceding battle. It was bright red and emitted waves of heat. A point of red light flickered erratically within its center, as if a small candle flame burned inside, its Spiritual Energy impressively potent.
Seeing the Red Flame Fruit intact, Luo Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. He carefully plucked the fruit and stored it away.
RUSTLE!
Just as Luo Feng had stored the Red Flame Fruit and was preparing to leave, five figures suddenly burst out from the woods. The two at the forefront were the same youths who had fled into the forest earlier.
"Senior Brother Chen Xin, the Red Flame Fruit is right here..."