268: Chapter 276 Awakening

The eruption of that Aura was like a long-suppressed volcano suddenly erupting!

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger, which had been lying quietly on the ground, suddenly grew in size. Its body, originally about ten feet long, rose even higher now. Its crimson fur stood on end like burning flames, emitting a suffocating pressure.

"Roar—!"

A world-shaking tiger's roar erupted from its mouth!

This roar was no longer immature or tentative as before, but filled with endless majesty and dominance. The sound waves were like physical ripples, spreading frantically in all directions with the stone cave as the center.

Rumble!

The mountain forests within a hundred-mile radius seemed to have encountered an invisible earthquake. Those low-level Yao Beasts wandering and foraging at night, whether it was the Gale Wolves hunting or the Poison-Tailed Scorpions lurking in the shadows, were all struck as if by lightning the moment they heard this roar.

"Thump, thump..."

Countless Yao Beasts trembled and collapsed to the ground. The Yao power within them seemed suppressed by some supreme power, and they couldn't even muster a single thought of resistance. This was a fear originating from the depths of their Bloodline, an instinctive submission when facing a king.

Even the stealth Talismans placed at the cave entrance flickered several times under the impact of the sound waves, nearly collapsing.

Liu Yan's blood and Qi surged from the impact of the sudden sound waves, her face turning pale. However, she gripped Lu Yang's sleeve tightly, her eyes devoid of fear, instead filled with wild joy: "Lu Yang, look! Crimson... Crimson succeeded!"

Lu Yang also showed joy, but his reaction was lightning-fast. With a wave of his hand, a gentle spirit power barrier blocked the front of Liu Yan, isolating most of the sound wave impact for her.

He looked up and saw that the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger had now completely stood up. The flames on its body were no longer just crimson, but had gained a faint golden edge—a sign that its Yao power had been refined to the extreme and was about to undergo a qualitative change.

Yao General Middle Stage! No, half-step Yao General Late Stage!

With just one promotion, combined with the medicinal power of the spirit gathering pill, it actually crossed a minor Realm directly, approaching the Late Stage!

"What a strong talent," Lu Yang marveled inwardly.

No wonder the Beast Taming Sect was determined to get this tiger. With this kind of growth speed, if it were allowed to grow, achieving the position of a Yao King in time would not be impossible.

"Roar!"

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger roared to the sky again, its voice filled with excitement and a sense of power. It turned its head, and in those giant tiger eyes, the figures of Lu Yang and Liu Yan were reflected. The originally violent Aura instantly retracted, replaced by a sense of closeness and affection.

It lowered its head and rubbed its massive body against Lu Yang, just like it did when it was still a cub.

"Alright, stop acting spoiled."

Lu Yang smiled and patted its broad back. What he felt was no longer the previous warmth, but a scalding burning sensation, yet he didn't mind at all. "You've just promoted, and the Yao power in your body isn't stable yet. Go wash in the mountain spring over there and force out the Impurities."

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger seemed to understand his words and nodded obediently. Then, its figure flashed, turning into a red stream of light as it ran toward a mountain stream not far away.

There was a clear spring there that Lu Yang had discovered during his previous investigation. The water quality was pure, perfect for a Yao Beast to refine its Physical Body.

Watching Crimson's departing back, Liu Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She slumped onto the ground and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. "That Aura just now... was truly terrifying. If the Elders of the Beast Taming Sect come again, Crimson should be able to defeat them, right?"

"It can," Lu Yang said with certainty. "A Yao General Late Stage is equivalent to a human Cultivator at the Peak of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Moreover, Yao Beasts naturally have strong physical bodies. Among those of the same rank, it's hard for human Cultivators to be its match."

"That's great!" Liu Yan cheered, then asked with some concern, "So what do we do next? Keep hiding in these desolate mountains?"

Lu Yang shook his head, looking toward the distant night with a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Hiding is not a long-term solution. Besides, I suspect the Beast Taming Sect won't let this go. Since they could track us here, it means they have some special methods."

He paused and continued, "Furthermore, Crimson has just promoted, and its Foundation isn't stable yet. It needs a lot of resources to consolidate. Although these desolate mountains are safe, resources are too scarce. We need to go to a larger place to find more Opportunities."

"A larger place?" Liu Yan was stunned. "You mean... go to a human city?"

"Exactly," Lu Yang nodded. "The cultivation world has rules. Although great Sects are domineering, they also care about their reputation. In human cities, they won't dare to act lightly. Moreover, there are auctions and trading markets in cities where we can use the Spiritual Plants and Materials we have to exchange for the Medicinal Pills Crimson needs."

"But... we don't have many Spirit Stones left," Liu Yan said, sounding troubled.

"I have a way to handle the Spirit Stone problem," Lu Yang said, a confident smile playing on his lips.

He pulled a pitch-black command token from his robes, engraved with a ferocious Yao Beast pattern. It was the trophy he had seized from that Beast Taming Sect Disciple in the valley earlier.

"This is the Beast Taming Sect's 'Yao Beast Token.' Holding this, one can conduct special transactions in the black markets of various cultivation fairs. And..."

He pointed to a tiny mark on the back of the token. "This mark indicates that the owner of this token has a high status. Perhaps it can save us a lot of trouble."

Liu Yan looked at the token, her eyes flashing with admiration. "Lu Yang, you're amazing, knowing even this."

Lu Yang smiled and said nothing more. This knowledge was all experience gained from his countless struggles on the brink of life and death in his past life.

"Alright, take a rest. We'll set off once Crimson returns."

Lu Yang sat cross-legged and began to regulate his breathing.

About half an hour later, a red figure flew from the direction of the mountain stream and landed in front of the stone cave.

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger was back.

After being washed by the spring water, its fur was even more shiny and smooth, and the flames had retracted significantly. It looked like an ordinary red tiger, but only those who came close could feel the terrifying power within its body.

"Roar!" The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger growled lowly at Lu Yang, its eyes filled with Battle Intent.

"Eager to show off?" Lu Yang asked with a smile.

The Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger nodded, then looked toward a small mountain Peak in the distance, where a group of low-level Iron-Backed Bears were roaring.

"Go ahead, but don't make too much noise," Lu Yang waved his hand.

Having received the order, the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger's figure flashed, instantly disappearing from the spot.

The next moment, several dull thuds came from the distant Peak, followed by a series of shrill bear roars, before everything fell silent.

A moment later, the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger ran back with a huge bear paw in its mouth, placing it before Lu Yang like a trophy.

"Not bad."

Lu Yang nodded with satisfaction. "It seems you've completely mastered your current power."

With the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger as a powerful combatant, Lu Yang felt more confident.

"Let's go, it's almost dawn."

Lu Yang stood up and led Liu Yan and the Crimson Flame Blazing Sun Tiger toward the depths of the desolate mountains.

Their destination was the nearest cultivation city—Qingyun City.

There, it would be their new starting point and the center of a new storm.

Not long after they left, a faint dark shadow emerged above the stone cave they had occupied. It was a mysterious person dressed in black robes, looking in the direction Lu Yang and the others had departed, a strange smile playing on his lips.

"So they really are here... The Beast Taming Sect's Yao Beast Token actually fell into the hands of an outsider. How interesting."

The dark shadow whispered to himself, then his figure swayed, turning into a black mist and quietly following them.

A new crisis was quietly approaching...