I maxed out the Scholar talent at the start, but I want to be a Warrior.

Gu Cheng followed behind and walked out of the cave.

As he passed the location where the tiger had been trapped, he subconsciously glanced at the reconnaissance area—

[Mythical Beast - Tiger] [Current Behavior: Anger]

Separated by a huge rock.

It's safe for now.

As we emerged from the canyon entrance, the morning light bathed the ground.

Gu Daliang and the others waited outside. When they saw them come out, they breathed a sigh of relief.

"Did you get it?"

"Got it."

The three people walked back along the way they came.

After walking about a hundred steps, Gu Cheng looked back.

Broken Soul Gorge is very quiet.

But he knew that the rock wouldn't last long.

On the way back, Gu Cheng walked in front, and Gu Chang'an walked behind.

After walking for about half an hour, Gu Cheng realized something was wrong.

My uncle walked very slowly.

It wasn't the kind of slowness that comes from being injured—his steps were steady, his breathing was even, and there were no signs of discomfort.

But it's just slow.

Each step felt like measuring the land, neither hurried nor slow.

Gu Daliang noticed it too and turned to look at Gu Chang'an.

Gu Chang'an didn't react much, remaining leisurely as if he were out for a spring outing.

"Uncle, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Go on your way."

Gu Cheng didn't ask any more questions and continued walking forward.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, he looked back again.

My uncle is still moving at the same speed.

It's even slower than before.

Gu Cheng frowned.

He brought up the detection tool and scanned the area behind him—

There was nothing in the direction of Broken Soul Gorge.

The area within two hundred paces was thoroughly cleaned.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Perhaps I'm just overthinking it.

Another fifteen minutes passed.

When Gu Cheng looked back for the third time, his uncle almost stopped.

He stood next to a large tree, seemingly taking a rest.

"uncle?"

"I'm thirsty," Gu Chang'an said. "I'll have some water."

He untied the water pouch from his waist and slowly took a sip.

Gu Cheng stood there waiting for him.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, and the forest was quiet. The sounds of birdsong, the babbling brook, and the rustling of leaves in the wind filled the air.

Everything was peaceful.

But Gu Cheng felt inexplicably uneasy.

He couldn't explain why.

My uncle is acting very strangely today.

From the moment he left the canyon, he deliberately slowed down.

Drinking water, taking a break, looking at the trees by the roadside—these are not my uncle's style.

My uncle never drags things out.

Unless he's waiting for something.

What are you waiting for?

Gu Cheng suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

He abruptly activated his reconnaissance skill, scanning the area towards the direction of Broken Soul Gorge—

Red dot.

A huge red dot.

Moving rapidly.

Heading in their direction.

"uncle!"

Gu Chang'an put down the water pouch and turned around.

His expression was calm.

"You saw it?"

"Tiger—the tiger is out! It's chasing us!"

Gu Chang'an nodded.

"I know."

"You know?" Gu Cheng's voice changed. "When did you—"

"We knew that as soon as we left the canyon," Gu Chang'an said. "Tigers have an extremely keen sense of smell and are very vengeful. If we were covered in the scent of their territory, no matter how far we went, they would be able to track us down."

Gu Cheng was stunned.

"You—you're deliberately walking so slowly?"

"Um."

"Is this all you wanted to tell me?"

Gu Chang'an nodded: "I hope you won't be so careless in your work anymore. Now, prepare to hunt the tiger."

He turned around and faced the direction of Broken Soul Gorge.

The red dot is getting closer.

One hundred and fifty steps.

One hundred steps.

Eighty steps.

Gu Cheng heard footsteps.

Heavy, rhythmic footsteps that shook the earth.

The birds in the woods have stopped singing.

The sound of the stream seemed to have become quieter.

Fifty steps.

Gu Cheng saw it.

It emerged from the shadows of the woods.

His shoulder height exceeded the top of an adult's head, and his limbs were as thick as tree trunks. His body was covered in scars, with only a dented scar remaining where his left eye used to be. His right eye gleamed with an eerie yellow light, staring intently at them.

Its sharp teeth were showing at the corners of its mouth as it roared.

The claws scraped deep grooves in the mud.

[Mythical Beast - Tiger] [Strength: 72] [Stamina: 68%] [Warrior Skills: Tiger Pounce (Tier 1), Tiger Roar (Tier 2), Iron Claw Tear (Tier 3) (Sealed)] [Status: Blind in left eye, unhealed abdominal wound (combat power reduced by 8%), Rage]

Physical strength 68%.

It seems that escaping the predicament took a lot of the tiger's energy.

It is very angry right now.

Gu Cheng's hands were trembling.

"uncle……"

"You all stay behind and provide cover, I'll deal with this beast," Gu Chang'an said.

His voice carried a calm tone.

Gu Chang'an, carrying the iron spear, took a step forward.

"Daliang, take Cheng'er and retreat thirty steps."

Gu Daliang's face was as white as paper, but he didn't run. He pulled Gu Cheng back, and the two retreated to behind a large tree about thirty paces away.

Gu Cheng turned around and glanced at his uncle.

Gu Chang'an stood alone in the middle of the road.

He held the iron spear horizontally in front of him, its tip slightly lowered.

The opponent is a fierce tiger.

The man and the tiger were less than forty paces apart.

The tiger did not pounce immediately.

Its nostrils twitched, and its right eye swept over the three people, finally locking onto the one with the strongest smell of blood—Gu Chang'an.

Then it lowered its head.

A low growl escaped from his throat.

Like thunder.

Gu Cheng's ears rang.

The search results displayed a line of text—

[You are affected by Tiger's Roar, all your attributes are temporarily reduced by 10% for 2 seconds.]

Gu Cheng's legs went weak, and he grabbed the tree trunk for support.

He glanced at his uncle—

[Gu Chang'an] [Current Status: Tiger's Roar Effect (All attributes reduced by 15%, lasting 3 seconds)]

You're going to suffer.

He didn't have time to think.

The tiger moved.

A tiger pounces.

This is not a test, but a full-scale attack.

The tiger pushed off with its hind legs, its entire body crashing down like a small mountain. It moved with incredible speed, whipping up fallen leaves that drifted into the air.

It covered the distance of forty steps in less than two breaths.

Gu Cheng's heart skipped a beat.

fast.

too fast.

But Gu Chang'an did not move.

He stood still, the tip of his gun slightly raised.

Thirty steps.

Twenty steps.

Ten steps.

The tiger was right in front of them.

Gu Chang'an made a move.

His movement was small—he simply pushed the gun forward.

But the delivery was so fast that Gu Cheng didn't even see it clearly.

The spear tip pierced the tiger's right eye with pinpoint accuracy.

The tiger twisted its head mid-air, narrowly avoiding the attack. The spear tip grazed its cheek, drawing a line of blood.

The tiger landed, its four paws digging into the mud, and its body slid forward two steps due to inertia.

It didn't stop.

Turn around and pounce again.

The second tiger pounce.

Gu Chang'an sidestepped and swept the gun barrel horizontally.

"Snapped!"

The gun barrel struck the tiger's waist.

The tiger's body was knocked to the side, shifting half a step, its four paws carving four deep furrows in the ground.

But it did not fall.

It steadied itself, let out a low growl, and slapped its right paw toward Gu Chang'an's chest.

Gu Chang'an took a step back and flicked the tip of his spear upwards.

The spear tip and the tiger's claw collided.

"clang!"

The sound of metal clashing.

Gu Chang'an took half a step back.

The tiger took a step back.

Gu Cheng watched this scene in astonishment.

When did my uncle become so strong?

He remembered it clearly. When his uncle fought Hao Yin before, he had to retreat several steps after every strike. Hao Yin's strength was far inferior to that of the giant worm.

What now?

He activated his reconnaissance device and scanned it at the tiger—

[Mythical Beast - Tiger] [Stamina: 68% → 62%] [Status: Blind in left eye, unhealed abdominal wound (combat power reduced by 8%), enraged]

My stamina is dropping.

Gu Cheng gritted his teeth and continued to investigate.

My uncle is consuming it.

With each encounter, the tiger's stamina waned. And the uncle—

He glanced at Gu Chang'an's condition.

[Gu Chang'an] [Stamina: 91% → 89%]

It hardly fell off.

Gu Chang'an didn't give him time to think.

The third encounter.

The tiger pounced, but Gu Chang'an did not dodge.

He went to meet him.

The tip of the gun twitched—

prick.

These are not ordinary thorns.

The spear tip left a trail of afterimages in the air, moving as fast as three spears thrusting out at the same time.

The first shot was aimed at the tiger's right eye.

The tiger turned its head to avoid it.

The second shot was aimed at the tiger's throat.

The tiger tilted its head back to avoid it.

The third shot—

It pierced the tiger's old abdominal wound.

"Awooo—!"

The tiger let out a scream.

The spear tip pierced the old wound, penetrating three inches deep.

Fresh blood gushed out.

The tiger thrashed about frantically, trying to pull out the gun. Gu Chang'an swiftly drew it, the tip of the gun spraying out a cloud of blood.

The tiger staggered back three steps.

It looked down at the wound on its abdomen—the old wound had been torn open.

Fresh blood dripped down the tiger's fur.

[Mythical Beast - Fierce Tiger] [Stamina: 62% → 45%] [Status Update: Old abdominal wound torn open (Combat power reduced by 15%)]

The combat power reduction rate surged from 8% to 15%.

Gu Cheng clenched his fist.

The tiger had less than half its strength left.

But it did not fall.

It slowly raised its head, and the yellow light in its right eye changed—it was no longer anger, but murderous intent.

Pure, undisguised murderous intent.

It opened its mouth, and a roar deeper than before surged from the depths of its throat.

The ground is shaking.

Gu Cheng's investigation revealed a line of text—

[Mythical Beast - Fierce Tiger] [Status Update: Rage (Temporarily increases all attributes by 10%, doubles stamina consumption rate)]

It's going to fight desperately.

Gu Chang'an gripped the iron spear tightly, the tip of the spear sinking slightly.

"They're here."