C5 Peak Level One Magical Beast!
The Demonic Beast Forest was far more expansive than Xiao Xiaofan had ever imagined, surpassing any forest from his past life by leaps and bounds. Even the shortest trees towered over twenty meters, with the tallest ones reaching beyond a hundred meters. Yet, Xiao Xiaofan couldn't recognize a single one of these trees, which were likely unique to Lukish.
The area was thick with vibrant flowers and plants, all exuding a subtle, refreshing scent. The air was so fresh that it was intoxicating, especially for Xiao Xiaofan, who had breathed his fair share of polluted air in his previous life; he found the pure atmosphere almost overwhelmingly pleasant.
Despite the forest's beauty, Xiao Xiaofan remained vigilant. This was no ordinary woodland; it teemed with Demonic Beasts. Thankfully, Sylhasera was situated on the fringe of the Azure Dragon Empire, meaning the nearby creatures weren't particularly formidable.
Moreover, the most powerful Demonic Beasts typically stayed within their central territories and rarely ventured out. As a result, the most formidable beasts in the outskirts were merely at the initial stage of Third Grade, comparable to a human between First and Third Grade Grand Warmaster.
Most of the creatures he encountered were akin to the wild beasts of his previous life, indistinguishable from wolves, tigers, and leopards. Following those were First Grade Demonic Beasts, on par with an Apprentice, and Second Grade Demonic Beasts, equivalent to a Warmaster. Xiao Xiaofan hadn't intended to delve too deep, so the likelihood of encountering a Third Grade Demonic Beast was slim.
As he cautiously made his way through the forest, Xiao Xiaofan couldn't help but wonder if he had underestimated the task at hand. Three days might seem ample, but it was deceiving. He had been in the forest for over half a day and hadn't come across a single Level-1 Magical Beast. He had run into numerous wild beasts, which had at least acclimated him to combat and the sight of blood.
Yet, his mission was to slay a Magical Beast that was no more than one stage below his own strength, posing a significant challenge. His knowledge of the Demonic Beast Forest was limited, and he feared inadvertently wandering too deep.
With his current abilities, Xiao Xiaofan was confident he could escape from early Second Grade Magical Beasts. However, a confrontation with a Third Grade Magical Beast would undoubtedly spell his doom.
After felling another brown bear, Xiao Xiaofan had faced the attacks of wild beasts more times than he could count. As dusk settled in, even he understood the perils of traversing the forest at night. He cleared a space by a small stream and set about preparing his dinner. His past life's obsession with wilderness survival shows paid off; despite struggling for half an hour, he finally managed to ignite a fire.
Tending to the flames with care, Xiao Xiaofan wished he had awakened a fire-type Holy Mark. He expertly processed the meat and set it over the fire, embarking on the familiar task of roasting meat, a skill he had mastered in his previous life. After turning the meat over the fire, he washed up in the stream, revealing a face not overly handsome but brimming with vigor.
Despite his ragged clothes, he looked invigorated and exuded a sense of cleanliness. Gazing into the stream, Xiao Xiaofan murmured, "This guy still looks pretty good, about fifty percent as dashing as before I crossed over." After a moment of self-admiration, he returned to the fire where the meat was still cooking. He wasn't in a rush; instead, he sat down to practice cultivating Battle Aura as he recalled from memory.
Entering a state of deep concentration, he felt warmth emanating from his Holy Mark. Golden specks of light surged into his body, and a powerful current of Qi circulated, growing stronger. "Is this Battle Aura?" he pondered. "Each time I absorb these specks, I gain more strength, eventually converging at my dantian."
He could distinctly sense a red orb at his dantian, gradually shifting towards orange. When it fully turned orange, he would ascend to the rank of Warmaster. After a period of cultivation, the tantalizing aroma of the meat made his stomach growl. Exiting his meditative state, Xiao Xiaofan eagerly tended to the roasting meat.
He recognized that cultivation wasn't an overnight endeavor but required steady accumulation, so he remained patient and focused on the task at hand.
Based on his current pace of cultivation, it would take at least five more days for him to achieve the rank of Warmaster.
The meat roasting over the fire had turned a succulent golden brown, its juices beginning to drip and sizzle enticingly.
Once the meat was thoroughly cooked, Xiaofan couldn't wait to tear off a piece and pop it into his mouth.
The rich flavor of the meat burst forth, the juices flooding every nook and cranny of his mouth.
Having never indulged in such fine fare before, Xiaofan was so overwhelmed by the taste that he half-wished he could swallow his own tongue.
While he was savoring his meal, a sudden noise caught his attention.
Xiaofan turned towards the source of the sound and saw a massive black bear eyeing his roasted meat with covetous intensity.
This bear was no ordinary wild beast; it was larger than the average bear, and its eyes were not normal pupils but a deep, blood red.
Most crucially, Xiaofan could distinctly sense the presence of Battle Aura emanating from the creature.
The bear's Battle Aura was nearly as formidable as his own, marking it as a peak level one Demonic Beast.
The defining trait of a Demonic Beast, as opposed to a wild beast, was its Battle Aura. A Demonic Beast possessed a unique constitution that allowed it to naturally absorb the Battle Aura lingering in the air.
The more advanced the Demonic Beast's bloodline, the stronger its power and the quicker its absorption rate of Battle Aura.
Gripping his long sword tightly, Xiaofan's gaze remained locked on the Demonic Beast, his heartbeat thundering and breath steady in the eerie silence.
This was Xiaofan's first encounter with a Demonic Beast, and not just any, but a peak level one.
His Battle Aura surged within him, the golden sacred tattoo on the back of his hand glowing brightly.
With the augmentation of his Battle Aura, the already sharp blade became even more formidable.
The metal element, synonymous with slaughter, represented both hardness and sharpness.
Sensing Xiaofan's imposing aura, the giant bear shifted its focus from the meat to him, growling menacingly.
Xiaofan's expression grew taut as he felt an immense pressure emanating from the bear.
In the charged atmosphere, the bear could no longer withstand the allure of the delicious feast and, with a furious roar, charged straight at Xiaofan.
"Ha!"
Xiao Xiaofan let out a fierce shout, charging forward instead of retreating, his long sword colliding with the giant bear with a resounding impact!
He was immediately hit by a massive force, causing his body to involuntarily stagger back three steps!
Xiao Xiaofan's gaze sharpened as he silently acknowledged the beast's formidable strength.
The recent clash had sent his blood and Qi into turmoil, leaving his wrist tingling from the vibration!
Any Fighter witnessing this would be utterly astonished!
It was already a challenge for humans to triumph over magical beasts of the same level, much less engage them in direct combat!
This was particularly true for beasts like bears, renowned for their raw power!
Anyone with a bit of sense would opt to exploit their ponderous nature, engaging in more strategic, indirect combat.
Yet, this was Xiao Xiaofan's first encounter with a magical beast, and driven by a desire to test his Divine Body, he had chosen to confront it head-on!
In that moment, the benefits of the Divine Body became apparent. He felt a soothing warmth coursing through him!
The damage he had sustained and the depletion of his Battle Aura were swiftly being restored!
