261: Chapter 269 Crimson Flame Tiger's Rebirth

The aftermath of the battle had not yet dissipated, and the air was filled with a thick scent of blood and a scorched aura. The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger lay weakly in Liu Yan's arms, its breathing faint. Its originally scorching body temperature was now plummeting rapidly, and its crimson fur had lost its luster, looking like a clump of embers about to burn out.

"Why... why is it getting colder and colder?" Liu Yan was frantic, her hands trembling as she stroked the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's body, her eyes filled with fear. "Lu Yang, look quickly, is it..."

"Don't panic." Lu Yang's expression was grave as he walked quickly to the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's side and reached out to check its breath. Although faint breathing existed, the Spiritual Power within its body was rampaging wildly as if it had lost control.

Just then, the massive corpse of the Black Fiend Tiger King suddenly trembled slightly. A fist-sized, black-and-gold Inner Core rolled out of its mouth and hovered in mid-air, emitting dense waves of Yao Power. The Inner Core seemed to possess a spirit of its own; it vibrated slightly and actually began to slowly approach the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger.

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's originally closed eyes suddenly snapped open, a strange light flashing within its amber pupils. It struggled to stand up from Liu Yan's arms, letting out a low whimper from its throat, its gaze fixed intently on the Black Fiend Tiger King's Inner Core. A longing from deep within its Bloodline awakened—it was an instinctive craving for power, the Yao Beast Law of the jungle.

"It wants to devour the Inner Core!" A look of realization flashed in Lu Yang's eyes. "This is the key to its advancement. The Black Fiend Tiger King's Inner Core contains massive Yao Power. If it can successfully refine it, perhaps it can trigger the ancient Bloodline within its body."

"But... it's so weak now, can it withstand it?" Liu Yan asked worriedly.

"This is its choice, and also its Opportunity," Lu Yang said in a low voice. "All we can do is protect it."

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger suddenly opened its mouth, and a powerful suction erupted from within. The Black Fiend Tiger King's Inner Core instantly transformed into a streak of light and vanished into its mouth. The moment the Inner Core entered its body, the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's body shook violently. Every strand of its fur stood on end, and the blood in its body seemed to boil, making a "gurgling" sound.

"Roar—!"

It let out a painful roar toward the sky, its body trembling violently as if countless blades were cutting inside it. Black Evil Qi and crimson flames intertwined wildly within its body, and black patterns emerged on its skin's surface, as if they were about to tear its body apart.

"Not good! The Evil Qi is entering its body; it's going to lose control!" Liu Yan cried out.

Lu Yang made a prompt decision: "Liu Yan, move back! I'll set up a Formation!"

He quickly took out twelve Formation Flags from his Storage Pouch and inserted them into the ground in the Bagua positions, with the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger at the center. His hands formed seals, and he shouted in a low voice: "Heaven and Earth without limits, borrow power from Qiankun! Suppress!"

The twelve Formation Flags lit up simultaneously, their golden light weaving into a large net that enveloped the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger. The power of the Formation slowly permeated the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's body, suppressing the violent Evil Qi and flames within.

Time passed minute by minute, and the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's roars gradually weakened, its body no longer trembling. Its breathing became steady and deep, as if it had fallen into a deep sleep. The golden light within the Formation gradually retracted, performing a Fusion with the crimson flames inside it to form a strange dark-golden light.

"Did it... succeed?" Liu Yan cautiously approached the edge of the Formation and asked softly as she looked at the sleeping Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger within.

Lu Yang nodded, a hint of exhaustion in his eyes: "It's suppressed for now. However, the power within its body is still undergoing Fusion; it needs time to be completely refined. During this period, we cannot leave."

The two settled down beside the Formation. Lu Yang was responsible for maintaining the Formation's operation, replenishing Spiritual Power at regular intervals; Liu Yan carefully cleaned the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's wounds and fed it some mild Spiritual Plants.

Three days later, a sudden change occurred.

The morning sunlight spilled into the Formation, and the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's body suddenly trembled slightly as golden patterns emerged on the surface of its skin. Those patterns moved like living creatures, wandering through its crimson fur and finally converging on its forehead to form a strange flame mark.

"This is..." Liu Yan's eyes widened as she pointed at the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's forehead. "Lu Yang, look quickly! There's something on its forehead!"

Hearing this, Lu Yang immediately leaned in to observe. He saw that the flame mark presented a complex spiral shape, its center faintly glowing with golden light. It was completely different from the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's original flame power, carrying an ancient and sacred aura.

"This is... the Bloodline mark of the Ancient Crimson Sun Tiger!" Lu Yang's voice carried a hint of irrepressible excitement. "Legend has it that if the Crimson Sun Tiger clan can achieve the Awakening of their hidden ancient Bloodline, a 'Red Sun Pattern' will appear on their forehead. This means it is evolving into a higher-tier Yao Beast!"

"Really?" Liu Yan was both surprised and delighted. "Then will it wake up soon?"

Lu Yang shook his head: "It's not that simple. Bloodline Awakening is a long process that requires the consumption of a large amount of Spiritual Power. Although it has fallen into a deep sleep now, the power within its body is undergoing a world-shaking change. All we can do is continue to protect it and wait for it to wake up."

Just then, the dark-golden light around the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger suddenly surged, enveloping the entire Formation. A powerful aura emanated from its body; though faint, it carried a heart-palpitating sense of pressure.

"Its aura... has become stronger!" Liu Yan felt that aura, her eyes full of anticipation. "Lu Yang, do you think it will become a true 'Crimson Sun Tiger' when it wakes up?"

Lu Yang looked at the sleeping little tiger within the Formation, a deep light flashing in his eyes: "Perhaps it will surpass the scope of a 'Crimson Sun Tiger'. With the Black Fiend Tiger King's Inner Core plus its own Bloodline potential, this transformation might bring unexpected surprises."

Sunlight spilled into the Formation. The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger slept quietly, the flame mark on its forehead flickering slightly, as if foretelling an approaching Nirvana. Meanwhile, Lu Yang and Liu Yan silently guarded by its side, waiting for the moment it would open its eyes.