"Brother, watch out!"
A sharp voice echoed from the shadowed woods, urgent and filled with dread. It was the hidden archer issuing a warning.
The iron-tailed tiger demon, after ruthlessly tearing down one of their companions moments earlier, now lunged ferociously toward the burliest figure among them—their strongest man.
Boom!
The ground trembled as the iron-tailed tiger demon charged, its claws effortlessly rending apart tree trunks like paper. Though the burly man was an eighth-level body refinement cultivator, against such a monstrous beast, even he teetered on the brink of death.
Their desperate strikes barely left scratches on the demon's hide. Blades clanged uselessly against its armored skin, while arrows glanced off, unable to pierce deeper than the surface. Only a lucky shot from the archer at the beginning had grazed its vulnerable neck, but since then, no one could land a meaningful blow.
"Run! This beast is beyond us!" the burly man roared, veins bulging as he pushed his inner energy to its peak. "I'll hold it off now go!"
With a bellow, he raised his twin axes high, channeling his strength.
"Opening Axe!"
The axes gleamed coldly, slicing through the air like thunder as they descended toward the tiger demon's forehead.
Bang!
The force of his strike was undeniable. The iron-tailed tiger demon staggered, blood trickling from a deep wound on its brow. Yet victory was fleeting. The beast's iron tail whipped violently, cracking against the man's waist with a sickening crunch. Bone shattered. Flesh split. The burly man was thrown back like a rag doll.
"Brother!" Several others cried out in horror.
The man gritted his teeth, forcing himself upright despite his ruined body. Blood streamed down his side, but he stood tall, determined to shield his comrades.
Arrows rained down from the archer's position, desperately trying to divert the demon's fury, giving the burly man precious seconds to breathe.
But the tiger demon wasn't swayed. With a thunderous growl, it lunged again. Another head-on clash sent the man flying, blood spraying from his mouth.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye. From the moment A Fei was slaughtered to now, barely ten breaths had passed.
Dustin, watching silently from the shadows, clenched his fists. Though he'd seen beasts slain before during his time hunting in Shuwu Mountain, this was the first time he'd witnessed a human life snuffed out so easily.
His heart chilled.
Enough.
With a swift step, Dustin's figure blurred, his body slipping through space like a phantom. He leaped forward, his foot crashing down atop the tiger demon's skull.
Bang!
The sheer force of his kick sent Dustin flipping backward. He spun mid-air, absorbing the momentum, before landing gracefully a few meters away.
"ROAR!"
The tiger demon recoiled, its bloodshot eyes locking onto the black-clad youth. Pain throbbed through its skull—its instincts screamed that this young human was dangerous.
The burly man stared, dumbfounded. Moments ago, death had seemed certain, yet now the beast was... hesitant?
Without hesitation, Dustin shifted into a combat stance.
"This one's dangerous. Care to lend a hand?" Dustin said coolly without looking back.
The burly man, startled but grateful, scrambled to his side.
"Little brother, you've saved my life. I'm Lennox. Let's finish this!"
Before they could speak further, the iron-tailed tiger demon charged again, rage burning in its eyes.
Dustin moved like flowing water, evading easily with his inch-step movement technique.
Lennox, though injured, roared and struck with all his might.
"Opening Axe!"
The axe met the beast's hide, drawing another thin line of blood. But even with his full strength, the wound was shallow—barely a scratch.
Dustin's eyes, however, glimmered coldly. The demon's lifeline was laid bare before him, glowing faintly.
"Tiger Form!"
Like a coiled spring, Dustin lunged, his inner energy swirling. His fist crashed down precisely at the demon's temple.
Bang!
The tiger demon reeled, its steps unsteady, stars flashing before its eyes.
Lennox gawked.
This kid... he's even stronger than me? Using bare fists?!
But Dustin wasn't done.
"Soaring Dragon!"
Spinning mid-air, his fists became meteors, crashing down like a thunderclap.
BOOM!
The tiger demon's skull finally gave way, and the lifeline within shattered under Dustin's unrelenting assault. With a final whimper, the monstrous body slumped heavily to the forest floor, lifeless.
Dustin exhaled, wiping away sweat.
"As expected of a peak first-level monster. Three precise strikes were needed to break through."
It wasn't brute strength alone—his inch-step mastery and ability to sense lifelines had been key.
The others, who had fled earlier, slowly crept back, cautiously moving toward the corpse. Yet even before they could celebrate, Dustin's brows furrowed slightly. A chill prickled his skin.
His perception honed sharply since fusing with the Life and Death Pearl, detected a faint killing intent—one aimed squarely at him.
A glance toward the woods revealed the archer's faint silhouette, bowstring drawn taut.
Meanwhile, whispers stirred behind Lennox.
"Big brother… this kid's only sixth-level body refining. If we let the tiger demon's body fall into his hands, wouldn't it be a waste?" one muttered greedily.
Dustin caught the words, and his lips curved into a faint sneer.
"I killed the tiger demon," he stated flatly.
A thin, mocking laugh answered.
"Hmph! If it weren't for our brother Lennox, would you have even stood a chance?"
"Kao, enough!" Lennox snapped, glaring fiercely.
"If it weren't for this young man, I'd be dead already. Without his aid, this beast would've devoured all of us!"
He stepped forward, cupping his fists solemnly toward Dustin.
"My life was saved today. This tiger demon rightfully belongs to you."
Dustin nodded, offering a rare smile. Lennox's straightforwardness earned a flicker of respect.
But Kao's eyes gleamed with veiled malice.
What an idiot... Giving up tens of thousands of silver for some petty gratitude?
Lennox, sensing Kao's thoughts, shot him a warning glance.
"Listen, I know what's running through your head. But that young man's skill is no fluke. He might hail from a noble family in Novaridge City. Don't invite trouble."
"Understood, big brother," Kao said smoothly, though his heart remained twisted with greed.
Lennox sighed and gestured for his team to carry their fallen comrade away.
"I'll find a place to heal up. We'll camp here tonight."
Later, in a quiet clearing, Lennox sat beneath a tree, tending to his injuries. He frowned slightly.
That boy... sixth-level body refining, yet stronger than me. Who exactly is he?
His muscles and bones mended quickly, but something gnawed at him—a sense of unease.
A glance around revealed two missing figures.
"Kao? Onyx?"
"Big brother, they went to scout nearby," someone answered casually.
Lennox's face darkened.
Scout? Nonsense!, A terrible thought struck him.
Those two fools—are they planning to kill him for the tiger demon's materials?!
Meanwhile, Dustin worked methodically. The tiger demon's body was far too large to carry whole, but the valuable parts? Tiger hides, bones, heart blood, iron tail—all were carefully stripped and packed away.
As dusk deepened, he realized he'd need to spend the night in the mountains.
Suddenly, the silence shattered.
Thwip!
The hum of a bowstring.
Dustin twisted instinctively. An arrow sliced past, embedding itself in a tree trunk.
His senses flared. Two figures—one hidden, one approaching.
Kao stepped out with a sly grin, sword in hand. The archer flanked him, eyes cold.
"What's the meaning of this?" Dustin's voice dropped several degrees.
"Hand over the package and your sword," Kao sneered. "Do that, and we'll spare you."
Dustin's gaze sharpened.
Ungrateful dogs.
But he felt no panic—only a creeping, lethal calm.
So… this is what they meant by "human hearts are sinister."