Beast spirits didn't just appear—they erupted from the wildest, most untamed creatures of the world.
Most wild beasts survived on instinct alone. They didn't think about cultivation or ambition. But every so often, a rare one emerged: exceptional bloodline, resilient body, uncanny luck. Feed them the treasures of heaven and earth, and they might just walk the path of cultivation.
Some endured hardship, mutating slowly over time. Strength built. Intelligence sparked. Through relentless training, they absorbed demonic energy, becoming true demonic beasts.
Demonic beasts were ranked. The first tier? Barely stronger-than-average wild beasts. Second tier? Real demonic beasts—capable of cultivating their own energy. And a rare, rare few? Supreme bloodlines, intelligence rivaling humans. They became legends: the Demon Clan.
The Dark-Red Blood Lion standing before them was a lower second-tier demonic beast. Fierce, brutal. Limbs like weapons. Strength rivaling a mid-stage Yinpo Phase cultivator. Even a Martial Body Grand Perfection cultivator could be torn apart in seconds.
Seraphina's brow furrowed as she explained to Darian and Selene. By memory, this lion should have measured eight paces long—not five.
"Oh? Fortune smiles on us. A demonic beast served on a silver platter. Let me handle it," Selene said, stepping forward. A faint glint of bloodlust shimmered in her eyes. Seraphina mirrored it.
Darian's chest stirred. Both had faced life-or-death combat before. Of course—they came from the Lin and Sima families, two of the greatest clans in Drake Flare Main City. Their prodigies had probably been thrown into countless deadly trials. Real growth, it seemed, came only at the edge of life.
Cultivators who never braved the storm—who meditated without testing themselves—would never become true powerhouses.
Darian himself had trained in the Douzhan Sacred Art's Source for ten years, yet real combat experience remained scarce. He was strong, yes—but much of it came from instinct and guidance of the Sacred Art. He had never truly tasted blood.
In the Hundred-Yuan Realm, geniuses from a hundred cities gathered. Some had been forged by death itself. Calm under the shadow of mortality. If Darian, Selene, and Seraphina wanted to survive, Darian had to grow fast—battle-hardened, or shredded.
His eyes sharpened. Only one way forward: life-or-death combat. Only at the brink of death could he forge composure.
"This Dark-Red Blood Lion is mine. You two focus on the new Dragon-Strike Battle Array. I need to grow. Fast."
Selene hesitated, then nodded. Seraphina, recalling Darian's four-year pact with Jaren, understood the urgency behind his calm tone.
"Selene, let's familiarize ourselves with the new Dragon-Strike Battle Array immediately," she said. Together, she and Selene moved aside, ready to practice.
"Roar!"
The lion pounded the ground. Claws flung dirt, crimson eyes locked on Darian. Oddly, it didn't charge. Not yet. Just roared.
Darian let the moment stretch. Observed. Waited. Then the lion leapt—five paces of snarling force, claws slicing the air.
"Hum."
Sacred Dao Battle Qi flowed through him, steadying his heartbeat. Gaze sharp. Precise.
"Earthly Fiend Tiger Valor Fist!"
A tiger's roar echoed as he sprang, golden Sacred Dao Qi coalescing around his right fist into a pale-gold tiger head.
"Roar!"
The lion attacked faster, claws aimed to shred.
"Bang!"
Impact. Fist met beast. The collision reverberated through the forest. Darian's punch held firm. The lion was hurled back, crashing to the ground. At his current power, a lower second-tier lion—mid-stage Yinpo Phase—was no match.
Gap too large. Better finish this fast.
Darian unleashed a flurry of Earthly Fiend Tiger Valor Fists.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Blood trickled from the lion's mouth. Just as Darian prepared the finishing strike, the beast bolted—vanishing into the forest.
Darian exhaled, laughing bitterly. A lesson, he thought.
Seraphina had witnessed the retreat. A faint smile crossed her face.
Shaking his head, Darian joined his teammates to refine the Dragon-Strike Battle Array.
"Roar!"
A roar shattered the air—ten times fiercer than before. Ten paces away.
Before he could react, a massive claw slashed at his head.
Instinct. He rolled forward, narrowly evading. The attacker revealed itself—a mutated Dark-Red Blood Lion, ten paces tall, twice the previous size. Blood-red fury radiated from its body. A flame-shaped mark burned on its forehead. Eyes brimming with killing intent.
"Darian! Upper second-tier mutated!" Seraphina shouted.
Darian's gaze sharpened. The first was its offspring. This one? Its parent. Excellent.
"Roar!"
The massive lion charged with terrifying speed.
"Earthly Fiend Tiger Valor Fist!"
Golden Sacred Dao Qi swirled around both fists, forming twin tiger heads.
"Roar!"
Demonic energy clashed violently. The forest trembled.
"Bang!"
Dark-red energy tried to infiltrate him, but Darian's Sacred Dao Battle Qi annihilated it instantly. The lion's eyes widened—this human could block it bare-handed.
Gathering all his strength, Darian summoned the golden tiger behind him.
"Tiger Shatters the World!"
The tiger struck the lion's hind legs. Painful howls echoed. Darian merged fully with the tiger, eyes lightning-sharp, delivering a crushing punch to its neck.
"Bang!"
The ten-paces Dark-Red Blood Lion crashed, defeated.
Darian exhaled, replaying the battle in his mind.
"Whoosh."
He approached the fallen beast, placing the white Hundred-City Jade Seal above its head. The seal pulsed, drawing dark-red energy from the lion.
Seraphina and Selene placed their seals as well, absorbing energy effortlessly.
"The Hundred-City Jade Seal senses soul energy it can absorb. Makes things much easier," Darian murmured.
Glancing at the slain lion, Seraphina's expression turned serious.
"This is just the beginning. A mutated demonic beast near early-stage Yinpo Phase has appeared. Extreme caution will be necessary in the Hundred-Yuan Realm."