In the Monster Mountain Range, before a small hill naturally formed by rocks, He Qingfeng stopped.
"It's just ahead. I scouted it before; there's only one Spirit Rock Leopard on this mountain, a peak first-tier monster. Moreover, this Spirit Rock Leopard has a high chance of becoming a second-tier monster within a year," He Qingfeng said.
"Alright, then I'll go and meet this Spirit Rock Leopard," Liu Yun said confidently.
"Young Clan Leader, please be careful. The Spirit Rock Leopard is not like the Harmonious Ape; its combat power is terrifying. Don't underestimate it.
The Spirit Rock Leopard's danger lies in its camouflage. Because its fur is extremely similar in color to rocks, it often disguises itself as a rock, launching a fatal attack when its target is off guard.
Remember, if you find yourself outmatched, immediately shout for me, and I'll arrive as soon as possible," He Qingfeng said seriously.
"Yes, I understand!"
Liu Yun replied, then drew his longsword and carefully walked forward.
One step, two steps, Liu Yun slowed his pace, comparing the surrounding rocks with his surroundings with each step he took.
He proceeded cautiously until dusk, but still found no trace of the Spirit Rock Leopard.
"What a stealthy creature!" Liu Yun cursed under his breath, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead—partly from the high temperature in the forest, and partly from maintaining such concentration for so long.
Liu Yun knew he should retreat now; otherwise, his eyesight would definitely suffer in the dark, and if the Spirit Rock Leopard launched a surprise attack, he would be in serious trouble.
However, just as he was about to back away, a rock in front of him seemed to tremble slightly, causing Liu Yun to abruptly stop.
Comparing it again, he was astonished to find that this rock was exactly the same as the others, without the slightest difference.
Liu Yun was confident he wasn't mistaken, nor was it an illusion.
So, this Spirit Rock Leopard really could disguise itself perfectly as a rock—it was simply unbelievable!
Liu Yun was thankful it was dark, because the Spirit Rock Leopard was located precisely on his route.
If he had used his previous method, he wouldn't have been able to spot his opponent at all. By the time he reached it, he would have been met with its sudden barrage of fangs.
However, now that he had spotted it, Liu Yun had no intention of retreating. The reason the Spirit Rock Leopard had moved slightly earlier was probably because it sensed his intention to leave, and it reacted instinctively.
Liu Yun considered the Spirit Rock Leopard a deadly target, but in the Spirit Rock Leopard's eyes, wasn't he also prey?
These felines were strange; if you tried to escape, it would definitely unleash its full power in pursuit. Rather than that, it was better to catch them off guard.
You think you're in the shadows while I'm in the light, but actually, we're both in the open. Since you're lying still, I'll unleash my ultimate move, thank you!
The longsword in his hand shimmered with light, and Liu Yun used the same move again. He only knew one fighting technique, "Wind Spirit Fractal Sword," which put him in a very passive position.
It wasn't that he didn't practice fighting techniques; it was just that learning Xuan-rank fighting techniques was too time-consuming, and he looked down on Huang-rank fighting techniques, hence this awkward situation.
"Looks like I need to find some time to cultivate a relationship with Nalan Yanran!" Liu Yun thought to himself.
This thought only flashed through his mind for a moment before he realized something was wrong. He was currently in battle mode; how could he afford to be distracted?
Liu Yun quickly adjusted his mindset. A fierce battle was about to begin, and he absolutely could not afford to lose focus.
The azure sword shadow reappeared, a sword flashing through the air before slicing through the void and descending towards the location where the Spirit Rock Leopard was lurking.
Although the compressed battle qi was incredibly powerful, Liu Yun's true cultivation level was only at the tenth level of battle qi. This mid-level Xuan-rank battle technique instantly drained thirty percent of his battle qi.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Rock Leopard, at the critical moment, reacted in time, leaping away quickly. Liu Yun only saw a shadow jump away, its speed exceeding his expectations, dodging most of his attack.
However, even with half the damage, the Spirit Rock Leopard was still in considerable pain. When the dust settled, the Spirit Rock Leopard was covered in blood, baring its teeth at Liu Yun.
The Spirit Rock Leopard was utterly enraged. Like a phantom, it pounced on Liu Yun, its sharp fangs snapping open.
Liu Yun was startled, his sword flashing to meet the leopard's jaws, but it was easily caught by the leopard's claws.
Just as the leopard's jaws were about to press against his face, Liu Yun roared, his left fist clenched, and he slammed it into the leopard's mouth.
In a flash, Liu Yun heard a cracking sound, like bones breaking. His fist shattered the leopard's upper jawbone. As a price, his arm was deeply scratched by the leopard's teeth, blood gushing out, causing him to grit his teeth in pain.
At this moment, he couldn't care less, for the Spirit Rock Leopard had gone completely berserk!
With its wounded mouth, the leopard lunged again, its sharp claws like deadly scythes, making Liu Yun feel the approach of death.
He could clearly see the Spirit Rock Leopard's sharp claws, its razor-sharp teeth that seemed capable of crushing rocks, and the blood spurting from its nostrils.
"Is this real combat? A battle where you could lose your life at any moment, squeezing out your potential and honing your reflexes in real combat," Liu Yun thought.
At this moment, he seemed to understand the purpose of the system's mission: to prevent him from becoming a mere ornament pursuing cultivation levels without being able to fight. He knew that cultivation level didn't equate to combat power, and talent didn't represent strength.
Faced with the Spirit Rock Leopard's desperate struggle, the clear-headed Liu Yun chose a different approach. He switched his sword to his left hand, used one foot to brace against the leopard's abdomen, met the leopard's swinging claws with his right hand, and then, with his left hand holding the sword, plunged it into the leopard's throat. (
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Liu Yun was sent flying by the terrifying impact of the Spirit Rock Leopard. He landed on the ground, breathing heavily. His body, comparable to a Battle Master, was covered in wounds. His left hand bore a deep gash from the leopard's teeth, and his right hand had been nearly torn to bone by a claw attack. The damage was horrific.
Liu Yun had no doubt that this Spirit Rock Leopard had already reached the initial stage of a Battle Master's strength.
Compared to Liu Yun's condition, the Spirit Rock Leopard was in even worse shape. It kept covering its mouth with its front paws, its body unsteady, gasping for breath through its nostrils, but only exhaling blood.
It must be said that as a peak first-tier magical beast, the Spirit Rock Leopard was not only powerful in combat but also possessed remarkable vitality. Despite suffering such potentially fatal injuries, it struggled for a full ten minutes before gradually losing all signs of life.
"Ding, congratulations to the host for killing a Tier 1 peak magical beast: Spirit Rock Leopard, current mission progress (1/10)."
Hearing the mechanical voice in his mind, Liu Yun breathed a sigh of relief, then searched for healing medicine in his storage ring.
After the battle ended, He Qingfeng rushed over. Seeing the corpse of the Spirit Rock Leopard beside him, he was completely bewildered. What kind of monster had he been protecting?!
"Elder He, quickly help me apply medicine, I feel like I'm about to die," Liu Yun howled.
He Qingfeng snapped out of his daze and, hearing Liu Yun's cry, couldn't help but smile wryly. The boy was indeed badly injured, but not fatally.
Shaking his head, he picked up his treasured high-quality healing medicine and gently applied it to Liu Yun's body.
"These are all superficial wounds; your bones aren't broken. You'll probably need a couple of days to fully recover," He Qingfeng concluded.
"Oh, that's alright. Peak-tier magical beasts are too powerful; I almost got killed this time," Liu Yun sighed.
"That's because you lack experience fighting magical beasts. You might have an easier time next time. This Spirit Rock Leopard is comparable to half a tier-two magical beast; it's rare to find such a powerful tier-one magical beast in the Magical Beast Mountain Range," He Qingfeng said.
The Spirit Rock Leopard was very wary. When He Qingfeng came to investigate, it had hidden itself, which was why he hadn't assessed its strength and misjudged it. Otherwise, he would never have chosen it as Liu Yun's first target.
Pulling the longsword out of the Spirit Rock Leopard's throat, He Qingfeng was pleasantly surprised to find that a demonic core had been unearthed. It was a truly unexpected delight. In addition, the Spirit Rock Leopard's undamaged hide could definitely be used to make a very valuable inner armor.