C14 The Territorial Dispute

As Lin Yuan erased the faint scent, a thunderous roar erupted from the distance, reverberating through the forest. The roar unleashed a violent surge of mountain air, heavy with the thick scent of blood and malice, hurtling towards Lin Yuan.

Startled from his thoughts, Lin Yuan couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation. He had been unwittingly overpowered by his primal instincts. Indeed, the territorial instincts of creatures were profoundly formidable.

Despite being accustomed to reining in the beast within, Lin Yuan had been unconsciously swayed by these instincts, thoughtlessly marking the territory with his presence.

As fate would have it, the territory's true master was in the vicinity. A confrontation seemed inevitable.

Lin Yuan gauged the black tiger's approach; its speed was alarmingly fast. In roughly a dozen breaths, it would be upon him.

Bracing himself for battle, Lin Yuan's attention was drawn to the long-dead male wolf nearby, sparking a sudden realization.

Moments ago, his primal side had been set on a direct clash with the incoming black tiger. But now, a flicker of human insight sparked a flurry of strategic thoughts.

With a plan forming, Lin Yuan bared his new fangs and sank them into the wolf's carcass, pumping in most of the venom from his glands. He reserved just a bit of the poison, then positioned the wolf's body where he had left his scent.

Having set his trap, Lin Yuan withdrew into the cave, his massive form melding with the shadows. From this hidden vantage point, he watched the wolf's carcass with a detached, silent intensity.

Then, the forest fell eerily silent, the usual chorus of wildlife replaced by a deep, ragged breathing.

A colossal, shadowy figure darted past. It was the black tiger, its muscular frame and powerful forelimbs a testament to its fearsome strength. This was the territory's ruler.

Without hesitation, the black tiger sank its teeth into the wolf's corpse, its frenzy palpable. A single swipe of its paw demonstrated a power so formidable, it sent shivers down the spine of any onlooker.

In a flash, the male wolf's body was shredded, its blood spraying wildly, drenching the black tiger's face and head.

With a gaping maw, the tiger roared skyward, a thunderous sound echoing for miles. But abruptly, the roar cut off, as though something had choked it.

The black tiger stumbled, steam rising from the fur on its head—a clear sign of the venom left by Lin Yuan in the wolf's remains eating away at it.

Lin Yuan's heart swelled with triumph; he hadn't anticipated such a seamless turn of events. The big black tiger, overconfident in its own power, hadn't bothered to inspect the wolf's body before crushing it in its jaws—a more perfect outcome than Lin Yuan had dared to hope for.

He had only meant to inject the venom as a crude trap, never truly expecting it to work. It was merely a ploy to draw the big black tiger's gaze.

Lin Yuan had figured the tiger would sense something amiss with the wolf's body and proceed with caution, testing it repeatedly, all the while oblivious to Lin Yuan lying in wait.

Yet, to his surprise, the big black tiger had foolishly bitten into the wolf's body, poisoning itself. This blunder would give Lin Yuan an overwhelming edge in the fight to come!

It was as if victory was already in Lin Yuan's grasp, even though the battle had yet to start in earnest.

Emboldened by this belief, Lin Yuan wasted no more time.

The moment was near perfect!

As the black tiger faltered, Lin Yuan burst from the cave like a streak of black lightning, outpacing the great beast!

This was the advantage of nearing four attribute points in speed, a prowess that allowed him to outclass most third-level demonic beasts.

Lin Yuan clamped his jaws around the black tiger's throat, draining every last drop of venom from his glands.

Simultaneously, his massive form gracefully coiled up from the tiger's neck to its midsection, ready to initiate Strangulation.

And all the while, Lin Yuan remained acutely aware of the black tiger's formidable front claws. Despite his size and defenses, he doubted he could withstand even a single blow.

Even if his body wasn't torn in two, a good portion of his muscle tissue would surely be ripped apart, and his internal organs were likely to suffer as well.

Under such circumstances, he would be at the mercy of the tiger. Considering the ease with which the big black tiger had shredded the male wolf's carcass, Lin Yuan feared he stood no chance of resistance!

Just as Lin Yuan was about to coil around him!

The big black tiger finally snapped to attention!

It thrashed violently, trying to fling Lin Yuan off. Simultaneously, its front paws lifted and slammed down towards Lin Yuan with a force he couldn't possibly withstand.

In a mere moment, Lin Yuan felt as though he would be catapulted away.

The big black tiger's burst of power was staggeringly fearsome, but thankfully, Lin Yuan was ready. He swiftly released his bite and spun away to evade the tiger's onslaught.

In that same motion, his massive tail whipped out with a terrifying gust, striking the black tiger's head like a steel flail and emitting a dreadful thud.

Blood quickly began to ooze from the big black tiger's eyes and ears.

Not only that, the big black tiger's movements grew sluggish, giving Lin Yuan the chance to swiftly assume a strategic position. He wrapped around a large boulder, ready to face off against the tiger.

The big black tiger shook its massive head, clearing the ferocity from its eyes. A spark of murderous intent flickered within them as it fixed its gaze on Lin Yuan.

But this time, it held back, crouching cautiously with its shoulders and forelimbs low, hindquarters raised, gathering its strength.

Lin Yuan had no illusions—if he charged now, he'd likely meet his end.

The big black tiger could easily take down Lin Yuan, a fellow Level Three Demonic Beast, a testament to the tiger's formidable might.

The standoff continued, with Lin Yuan remaining calm and collected, harboring no desire to strike first. Having already struck the tiger with his venom twice, Lin Yuan was confident of his impending victory.

Time seemed to stand still for a while.

At last, there was a shift in the big black tiger's menacing stare, a fleeting look of confusion crossing its face. A spark of hope flickered in Lin Yuan's chest—perhaps his venom was beginning to work?