Chapter 28 Fire-Striped Tiger

At this moment, Ye Fan was still unaware he had been targeted, completely immersed in the novel world before him.

Gazing at the boundless expanse of the Trial Assembly space, Ye Fan marveled at how perverse that Ancestral Master must have been to create an independent world.

"Golden Core Realm... or perhaps a successful transformation into an infant stage?"

Ye Fan fell silent for a moment before pulling his thoughts back, his eyes landing on the majestic Yin and Yang mountain in the distance.

"According to the Sect Head, the exit Teleportation Array is atop that mountain. Judging by the distance, I'll need to advance towards the summit while hunting Yao Beasts along the way."

"I wonder where Wan'er and the others were teleported to. It probably won't be easy to run into them within this Secret Realm."

Just as Ye Fan had this thought, an unusual disturbance came from a nearby forest, followed by the sudden appearance of a massive, fiery-red fierce tiger. Its roar echoed through the mountain woods, radiating boundless Killing Intent.

"Talk about a lucky start. Barely landed and a Yao Beast delivers itself to my doorstep."

This fierce tiger was clearly no benevolent creature. Intense fire-attribute spiritual power radiated from its entire body, scorching everything in its path to ashes. It was definitely not something an ordinary Qi Refining Realm Disciple could handle.

Facing the human Cultivator who had suddenly intruded into its territory, the tiger harbored intense hostility and pounced without hesitation.

Even before it got close, it stirred up powerful waves of fire-attribute spiritual power. Ordinary Magical Artifacts would be utterly incapable of blocking such an attack.

However, Ye Fan was protected by his top-grade magic treasure, the golden armor immortal robe. Even if he stood still and let the tiger attack, he wouldn't suffer the slightest harm.

Missing its first strike made the tiger even more ferocious, but Ye Fan didn't give it a chance for a second attack.

Ye Fan slowly extended his right hand. A seemingly feeble finger thrust through the air. Before the tiger could comprehend what was happening, a violent force from that finger shattered its skull.

With a dull *thump*, the tank-sized tiger died from a head explosion, without even a chance to struggle.

Ye Fan then retrieved the Hundred Yao Bestiary issued by the Sect. It documented nearly all first and second-rank Yao Beasts, with detailed information including text and illustrations.

"It's actually a first-rank Yao Beast, the Flame-Striped Tiger. My luck really is something."

The Flame-Striped Tiger innately possessed the ability to manipulate fire-attribute spiritual power. Its strength ranked among the top of first-rank Yao Beasts, comparable to Disciples at the eighth or ninth layer of the Qi Refining Realm.

If not for encountering a freak like Ye Fan, even Murong Wan would need to expend considerable effort to subdue it.

Ye Fan's cultivation had already reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm, just one step away from successful Foundation Establishment.

Coupled with the power of his Profound Rank top-grade Divine Ability, he could practically swagger through the Trial Secret Realm, finding almost no Yao Beast capable of withstanding a single finger from him.

Following the instructions in the Hundred Yao Bestiary, Ye Fan quickly located a fiery-red Yao Core, emanating pure fire-attribute spiritual power.

The Yao Core contained the essence of a Yao Beast's power. Although Cultivators couldn't directly refine and absorb it, it was excellent Materials for Alchemy, array-setting, talisman-making, and artifact-forging—absolutely a hard currency comparable to Spirit Stones.

All these Yao Cores had to be handed over to the Sect at the end of the Trial Assembly, used to calculate the number of Yao Beasts slain and the participants' achievements.

However, other Materials obtained were not within the Sect's collection scope, essentially giving the many Disciples a small taste of the spoils.

Every part of the Flame-Striped Tiger was a treasure. Its bones, blood, and even its... tiger whip were all top-quality Spirit Medicine.

Its hide could also be used to forge protective Magical Artifacts, offering far better defense than ordinary Materials.

Thinking this, Ye Fan swiftly dismembered the Flame-Striped Tiger, sorting and storing the various Materials. It counted as a small profit.

"This isn't some Secret Realm; it's basically a wholesale supply run for me," Ye Fan thought, barely suppressing a laugh.

With the experience of hunting the Flame-Striped Tiger, Ye Fan's subsequent actions felt as natural as a fish in water.

Since there was still plenty of time, Ye Fan wasn't in a hurry to rush. Instead, he conducted a carpet-like search along his route. The Yao Beasts in his path were utterly unlucky.

What was a life-and-death trial for others seemed no different from a leisurely trip to Ye Fan.

Seven days passed in the blink of an eye. Ye Fan encountered quite a few Yao Beasts, yet not a single one could withstand a single finger from him.

*Thud!*

Another Giant Earth Python died under the Mysterious Jade Finger. Ye Fan expertly performed the whole routine: extracting the core, draining the blood, skinning, and deboning. In moments, he had dismembered this colossal creature over ten meters long.

Looking at the more than thirty Yao Cores in his storage space, Ye Fan's lips seemed to twitch, barely holding back a grin.

Meanwhile, ordinary Disciples found it extremely difficult to kill even one Yao Beast. A slight misstep could lead to injury, and those with bad luck perished in the wilderness on the very first day.

Only Ye Fan treated it like a spring outing, not taking the trial seriously in the slightest.

Even someone as strong as Murong Wan, a top contender for first place, had only slain a dozen or so Yao Beasts, falling far behind Ye Fan.

At this rate, by the end of the Trial Assembly, Ye Fan would likely obtain over a hundred Yao Cores, almost guaranteeing him the top score.

After several days of exploration and familiarization, Ye Fan gained many new insights about the Trial Assembly space.

Firstly, the danger level at night far exceeded that of daytime, as most Yao Beasts were nocturnal.

Secondly, the greatest danger often wasn't the Yao Beasts, but those fellow Sect Disciples who usually called each other brothers.

Freed from the constraints of Sect rules, the line between human and Yao Beast instantly blurred.

Ye Fan witnessed fellow Disciples killing each other over a single Yao Core, even former Dao Companions turning their blades on one another without hesitation.

Although he had read about such scenes in countless novels in his past life, witnessing it firsthand was a completely different feeling.

"This is the brutal side of the Cultivation world."

Ye Fan had no interest in dealing with these "beasts." He changed his route and continued forward.

According to Ye Fan's estimation, at his current pace, it would take at most another ten-plus days to reach the high mountain where the Teleportation Array was located.

"I wonder how Lin Lei and the other are faring."

Ye Fan was quite confident in Murong Wan's strength. His only concern was for his own... 'precious son'.

Ye Fan had once considered persuading the two not to participate, but after hesitation, he abandoned the idea.

After all, the road ahead was long. Ye Fan wasn't sure he could always look after them. They needed to fight when it was time to fight.

Ye Fan shook his head, dismissing these thoughts, and focused on preparing tonight's dinner.

Ye Fan roasted the Yao Beast captured during the day. The campfire before him shone like a sun in the pitch-black night.

If outsiders saw this practice, they would surely think Ye Fan was insane, fearing it would attract Yao Beasts and leave no time for regret.

But Ye Fan was intentionally baiting the hook, eagerly hoping Yao Beasts would take the bait and save him a lot of trouble.

Just as Ye Fan was enjoying his roast, a panicked cry for help came from not far away.

"Help! Help! Someone save me!"

"Haha! Little Junior Sister, don't waste your breath. No one will come even if you scream yourself hoarse."

The cries for help grew closer. Before Ye Fan could go investigate, a staggering, frail figure stumbled into the circle of firelight.

The person was also startled upon seeing Ye Fan. Realizing the situation, they instinctively cried out.

"Senior Brother, please save me! Someone is trying to kill me!"