The Crimson Flame Tiger

The moment the Crimson Flame Tiger emerged from the shadows, the temperature inside the cave rose dramatically.

Its scarlet fur burned like living fire, illuminating the cavern with an eerie crimson glow. Each breath it exhaled sent waves of scorching heat across the rocky floor, while its golden eyes remained fixed on Lin Tian as though he were nothing more than prey.

The beast was nearly three meters tall and over five meters long. Every muscle beneath its blazing fur rippled with terrifying power. Even experienced Body Tempering cultivators would hesitate before facing such a monster alone.

Outside the cave, the distant sounds of frightened cultivators echoed through the forest.

"Someone is trapped!"

"That's a Second-Rank Crimson Flame Tiger!"

"Forget the Spirit Crystal—we're leaving!"

No one dared enter.

Inside the cave, however, Lin Tian stood perfectly still.

He slowly drew his sword.

Golden spiritual energy flowed through the blade like liquid sunlight.

The Infinite Sovereign System appeared before him.

Opponent Detected

Name: Crimson Flame Tiger

Rank: Second-Rank Spirit Beast

Weakness: A spiritual core located beneath the throat.

Success Reward: 300 Cultivation Points, Beast Core, Fire Spirit Blood.

Lin Tian smiled.

"So you're not just an obstacle..."

"You're an opportunity."

The tiger let out a thunderous roar.

BOOM!

Without warning, it lunged.

Its massive claws smashed into the ground where Lin Tian had stood only a heartbeat earlier, shattering stone into hundreds of fragments.

Using his Divine Spirit Eyes, Lin Tian saw every movement with astonishing clarity.

The beast was powerful...

But not fast enough.

He dodged left.

Then right.

Again and again, the tiger's claws missed by mere inches.

Each strike left deep scars in the cave walls.

The tiger grew increasingly furious.

Its flames intensified until its entire body became wrapped in blazing fire.

"So that's your true strength," Lin Tian muttered.

The beast opened its jaws.

A sphere of compressed flames formed inside its mouth.

The next instant—

A pillar of fire erupted toward Lin Tian.

He immediately activated the Heaven-Defying Dragon Emperor Art.

Golden dragon energy surged from his body, surrounding him like shimmering scales.

The fire struck.

BOOM!

Dust exploded throughout the cave.

When the smoke cleared, Lin Tian was breathing heavily.

His clothes were slightly burned, but he remained standing.

"I underestimated that attack."

The tiger roared triumphantly and charged again.

This time Lin Tian attacked first.

He poured spiritual energy into his sword.

The blade released a brilliant golden arc.

"Dragon Fang Slash!"

The sword energy flew through the air.

The tiger twisted its body.

Although it avoided a fatal strike, blood splashed across the cave floor as the attack cut deeply into its shoulder.

The beast screamed in pain.

Its fury became uncontrollable.

Instead of attacking immediately, it suddenly stopped moving.

Its body lowered.

Its flames began spinning around it like a fiery storm.

The System issued another warning.

Danger!

The Crimson Flame Tiger is evolving under extreme battle conditions.

Lin Tian's eyes widened.

"It can evolve?"

The beast's roar shook the mountain.

Its flames turned from crimson to deep violet.

The pressure filling the cave doubled.

Outside, every participant felt the terrifying aura.

"What is happening?"

"That beast is becoming stronger!"

Even Elder Mo, who was observing the trial from high above the forest, frowned.

"A Second-Rank beast shouldn't possess such pressure..."

He immediately flew toward the cave.

Back inside, Lin Tian realized there was no more time.

"If I let it complete its evolution..."

"I'll die."

He closed his eyes.

Instead of focusing on fear, he focused on the flow of spiritual energy around him.

For the first time since arriving in this world, he truly understood the Dragon Emperor Art.

He could hear the wind.

Feel the heartbeat of the mountain.

Sense every stream of spiritual energy flowing through the earth.

Golden light spread across his body.

Behind him, the faint outline of an ancient dragon appeared.

The dragon opened its eyes.

A pressure older than heaven itself descended upon the cave.

The Crimson Flame Tiger froze.

Its instincts screamed at it.

Kneel.

The tiger hesitated.

That single moment was enough.

Lin Tian moved.

His speed doubled.

Then tripled.

He appeared directly beneath the beast.

His sword glowed brighter than the sun.

"Dragon Emperor's First Art..."

"Heaven-Piercing Strike!"

The blade shot upward like a golden comet.

Slash!

Everything became silent.

The tiger stood motionless.

A thin line appeared beneath its throat.

Moments later...

Its enormous body collapsed.

BOOM!

The cave trembled violently.

The battle was over.

The System chimed.

Congratulations!

Mission Completed.

Rewards Received:

- 300 Cultivation Points

- Crimson Flame Beast Core

- Fire Spirit Blood Essence

- Dragon Scale Armor Blueprint

A warm current flowed into Lin Tian's body.

His cultivation advanced once more.

Body Tempering Realm: First Stage → Third Stage.

Power flooded every muscle.

His senses became sharper.

His body felt lighter than ever before.

He walked toward the Spirit Crystal resting at the center of the cave.

As he picked it up, something unexpected caught his attention.

Behind the tiger's corpse was a narrow stone passage hidden by centuries of dust.

"There wasn't supposed to be another chamber..."

Curiosity overcame caution.

Lin Tian entered.

The passage stretched deep beneath the mountain before opening into a magnificent underground palace.

Thousands of glowing crystals illuminated the chamber.

Ancient murals covered every wall.

One mural depicted a colossal golden dragon battling nine immortal kings beneath a shattered sky.

Another showed countless cultivators kneeling before a lone figure whose face had been mysteriously erased by time.

At the center of the palace rested a black stone altar.

Floating above it was a weathered bronze ring.

The moment Lin Tian approached, the ring began to vibrate.

An ancient voice echoed throughout the palace.

"Ten thousand years..."

"I have waited ten thousand years..."

Golden runes appeared across the altar.

The bronze ring slowly floated into the air before gently landing in Lin Tian's hand.

The instant his fingers touched it, an overwhelming torrent of memories flooded his mind.

He saw endless wars.

Ancient dragons.

Immortal emperors.

Broken heavens.

And finally...

A man dressed in white standing alone against an army of gods.

The man's face slowly turned toward him.

It was...

Lin Tian himself.

He staggered backward, his breathing uneven.

"What... was that?"

The Infinite Sovereign System appeared again, but this time its voice carried an emotion he had never heard before.

Hidden Legacy Detected.

Ancient Sovereign Ring Recognized.

Identity Verification...

...

...

Verification Failed.

Reason: Host is too weak.

Requirement: Reach the Spirit Sea Realm to unlock the truth.

Before Lin Tian could ask another question, the palace began to shake violently.

Cracks spread across the ceiling.

The ancient chamber was collapsing.

He quickly stored the ring and dashed toward the exit.

Massive rocks crashed down behind him.

Just as he escaped the cave, Elder Mo landed outside.

The old man looked at the destroyed cave, the lifeless body of the Crimson Flame Tiger, and the Spirit Crystal in Lin Tian's hand.

For a long moment, he said nothing.

Finally, he smiled.

"Young man... tell me."

"Who exactly are you?"

Lin Tian simply bowed.

"I am only Lin Tian of the Lin Clan."

Elder Mo stared into the young man's calm eyes.

He knew the answer was incomplete.

But he also knew one thing with absolute certainty.

The Azure Cloud Sect had just accepted a disciple who would one day shake the entire cultivation world.

Far beyond the Heavenly Sky Continent, in a palace hidden among the stars, nine mysterious figures slowly opened their eyes at the same time.

"The Ancient Sovereign Ring..."

"It has awakened."

The long-forgotten prophecy had begun.

And destiny had finally found its chosen heir.

End of Chapter 4

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